The smell of blood and rancid smell filled the dark prison cell, and the few living people with all four limbs lowered their heads, silent as if facing the scene in front of them.
"Nine thousand years old... What a good one... What a nine thousand years old, cough cough..."
An old man with white hair and disheveled clothes tied to a cross pole, with bloodshot eyes, stared at the feminine man not far away, and said with difficulty.
"You will be punished, old man... this old man is waiting for the day when you will be hacked into pieces!" He roared angrily, and his screams echoed in the narrow cell.
The eunuch-like people on both sides turned a deaf ear to the old man's words. They watched their noses, noses, and mouths, waiting for orders from the man in the middle of the cell in a dark red robe.
"Li Yushi."
The man in red looks beautiful, his skin is as white as snow under the crimson brocade, in stark contrast to the dark prison cell, his eyebrows are like black ink, his lips are like dawn flowers, so gorgeous that he looks like manjusha blooming on the other side of the underworld Hua, captivating, makes people's breathing stagnate.
His figure is slightly thin, and a red gold belt is tied around his waist. Because of his unattractive sitting posture, his clothes are slightly opened, revealing a white chest. Enchanting, people completely ignore his gender, and they are ups and downs for this bloodthirsty goblin.
Even if Li Jinzhong hated the man in front of him so much, he had to admit that he had a good skin.
"In the eighteenth year of Chengqing, Li Yushi's second son forcibly occupied the fertile land, causing four deaths and nine injuries to the villagers of Taohua Village. The four sons of Yu Shishu coveted the beauty of Sanniang, the fisherman's queen, and forced her to be a concubine, but raped her. Unable to bear the humiliation, Wang Sanniang hanged herself; Cheng Qing... "
The man casually looked at the booklet in his hand, and slowly recited the content described above. Li Jinzhong listened to the man's words, his face turned pale, embarrassment and anger.
"Nonsense, it's all slander!"
He tugged at the iron chain in his hand and roared: "The traitorous eunuch is in power, and heaven will destroy my great businessman."
"Ah-"
The man in red let out a soft snort, and the dragging tone made the ears go numb and his legs go limp.
Some young eunuchs with poor concentration couldn't help but look up at the direction of the man in the center of the cell. Their eyes flinched when they touched the instruments of torture that were still stained with blood and flesh. Thinking of the man's vicious name, they felt timid. , even if the other person is extremely charming, he dare not take a second look.
"Li Yushi's loyalty and courage are naturally inferior to eunuchs like me, but fortunately, after entering the palace and purifying himself, everything disappears. Sometimes I really envy Li Yushi. There are such a group of The children and grandchildren who are holding back, unlike me, just want to worry about these children and grandchildren, and they don't have that chance."
The man sneered and threw the booklet in his hand into the fire beside him, and let the flames lick it, his smiling expression gradually condensed until he lost all anger.
"These crimes are enough to kill all of your Li family. How about I take the lives of these people in exchange for a question for you?"
The man walked forward, his steps were light and slow, his crimson robe grew lotuses every step of the way, as if he was in the Lingxiao Palace instead of a cramped and dark prison cell.
He leaned into Li Jinzhong's ear and asked in a low voice. After he spoke, the other eunuchs all looked at him and left in an orderly manner. At this time, there were only him and Li Jinzhong left in the cell.
Li Jinzhong really wanted to spit on the face of this troublesome courtier in front of him to show his integrity, but he didn't dare, because the accusations dictated by the other party just now made him afraid after all.
He thinks that he has been a clean and honest official in this life, and only made a lot of mistakes on the issue of his children. However, he believes that his contribution to the people of the big business, the merits and demerits can be offset, and his future generations can be kept innocent. It's a pity that the big business law The law is strict, and there is a traitor like Xiao Chu in power, how can he be so loyal, and he is caught by the other party to make use of it. Now he can't even protect himself, let alone other children and grandchildren.
Li Jinzhong hates it. If it was only himself who died at the hands of that treacherous sycophant, when the court is restored to integrity, the history books will at least leave him with a reputation of loyalty, courage, and fear of power, but if his children and grandchildren Xiao Chu told the world about his sins, and the Li family's good reputation accumulated for a hundred years will be ruined in one go, and even he will be criticized by the historian, which is not what Li Jinzhong wants to see.
"What do you... want to ask..."
Li Jinzhong closed his eyes and didn't wait for him. He didn't expect that Li Jinzhong would bow his head to an eunuch one day.
"Twenty-three years ago, in the massacre of Zhen Guo General Yan's family, what did Mr. Li, who was then governor of Shuntian Mansion, know?"
The man whispered in Li Jinzhong's ear, and the other party's eyes that were originally closed widened suddenly, looking at him suspiciously, and refused to speak for a long time.
The Yan family, more than 20 years ago, was also well-known in Dashang. The head of the Yan family, Yan Zhaobei, the general of the country at that time, had a high reputation and was as remote as the extreme north. At one time, only General Zhenbei was known. , but did not know that Emperor Chengqing, the power of the Yan family at that time was so high that they wanted to rebel, and it was a breeze.
On the side of the couch, how could others be allowed to snore? At that time, Emperor Cheng Qing had just ascended the throne not long ago, and his foundation was not yet stable, but he had already regarded the Yan family as the fishbone stuck in his throat, and wanted to get rid of him quickly.
The massacre of the Yan family's extermination occurred in the seventh year of Chengqing. That day was Emperor Chengqing's 30th birthday. All the generals stationed at the border were summoned to Beijing. In the palace, that night, when all the troops in Beijing were concentrated in the imperial city, a group of bandits entered the mansion of General Zhen Guo, and all the family members and servants died tragically at the hands of the bandits. Woke up early in the morning and learned the news of the death of his parents, wife and children, the old injury relapsed, his heart was full of rage, the treatment in the palace was ineffective, and he died suddenly.
The once vigorous Yan family disappeared so easily in the long river of history. This is beyond everyone's expectation, including the people who used to befriend the Yan family, and they all saw other hidden murderous intentions from it. Come and express their positions one after another, for fear that they will not break away from the Yan family.
In the end, this massacre ended with the capture of a group of bandits entrenched hundreds of miles away from the capital, and because the dragon robe that Yan Zhaonan had privately hidden in the secret room of the Yan Mansion, and his Private letters with several other small border countries, the originally loyal Yan family was charged with treason and treason, all the Yan family's descendants were exposed to the wilderness, and Yan Zhaonan was whipped to death. After death, there is not even a decent coffin.
More than 20 years have passed, and it is unknown whether their bones can still be found.
Li Jinzhong couldn't remember how long he hadn't heard the word Yan's family. He couldn't help but think of the man in armor and riding on a tall horse with high spirits.
At that time, he was still the governor of Shuntian Prefecture. It is reasonable that there was a tragic case of an important official being massacred by bandits in Beijing. He should know the whole story of the case, especially that day was the birthday of Emperor Chengqing. All military officers should be implicated.
How many thieves and bandits should be able to slaughter General Zhen Guo's mansion? Even if many dignitaries in the inner city went to the palace to celebrate the emperor's birthday that day, the people who lived near General Zhen Guo's mansion should not have heard of it. If the case is not handled properly, everyone in the capital will be in danger.
But beyond everyone's expectations, and within everyone's expectations, some officials involved in the case were indeed all relegated, including Li Jinzhong who took over the case, but in the next ten years, the name of General Zhen Guo became less and less When they were mentioned, those who were relegated began to be promoted in various names.
Just like Li Jinzhong, he was promoted from the third rank Shuntian Fu Yin to the current first rank Inspectorate Youdu Yushi. Considering his age and experience, his promotion was indeed a bit fast.
"General Zhen Guo..." Li Jinzhong's voice was a little dry, and he racked his brains, but he couldn't think of an explanation.
It's just Xiao Chu, a eunuch, why would he be interested in the Yan family whose family was exterminated more than 20 years ago and later charged with two crimes of treason and treason
Li Jinzhong couldn't help looking at him a few more times, because Xiao Chu was purified early, like most of the eunuchs in the palace, his face was soft, his behavior was more feminine, especially Xiao Chu's facial features were bright, and he had both The rich and noble complex demeanor caused him to be favored by Emperor Chengqing. Since then, there have been rumors that he is Emperor Chengqing's favor both inside and outside the palace.
The man in front of him is undoubtedly alluring and eye-catching. Before he gained power, no one knew that there was such a seductive beauty in the palace. After he gained power, the vicious methods revealed made people frightened , At most, it is lust in the heart, but absolutely dare not put it into action.
Such a man makes it completely impossible to connect with the thick-browed, burly, and bold-tempered General Zhen Guo back then.
If the other party hadn't suddenly brought up the massacre of more than 20 years, Li Jinzhong would not have imagined that this eunuch who was reviled by thousands of people in the court might have come from the loyal Yan family back then.
How could someone like Xiao Chu be a descendant of the Yan family
Li Jinzhong wondered if he was thinking too much. Maybe the other party suddenly mentioned the Yan family, just because his ambition was not only satisfied with a nine-thousand-year-old, and the Yan family was the opportunity for him to change the dynasty.
"The case of the Yan family is still archived in Dali Temple. More than 20 years have passed, and I can't remember it clearly."
Li Jinzhong avoided the man's sight and said in a steady tone.
"yes?"
The man was noncommittal, but when Li Jinzhong thought the other party would continue to question him, the other party had already walked to the door of the cell.
"Serve our Master Li well."
As soon as the other party finished speaking, some eunuchs who had been waiting outside came in in an orderly manner. They picked up the instruments of torture that were placed aside. The flesh and flesh of the previous victim still remained on them. The strong smell of blood made people sick.
"What do you want to do? I'm an imperial court official, you guys let me go quickly, ah—"
The shrill screams were blocked by the stone door of the cell. Standing outside the cell, Yan Chu took a deep breath of the fresh air outside. Hearing the miserable screams that faintly came through the gap in the stone door, his heart was at a loss. shock.
"Nine thousand years old, His Majesty is waiting for you in Qianqing Palace."
A young man in a smoky blue eunuch's uniform ran up to him and whispered, the other party has delicate features, the most outstanding thing is the pair of flexible eyes, in the other party's line of sight, Yan Chu could not see the emotion of fear.
"Aren't you afraid of me?"
Yan Chu's voice was a little hoarse, although it was a little less clear, but it was even more seductive when combined with his aggressive appearance.
"Don't be afraid, Nine Thousand Years respects you with peace of mind, why would you be afraid if you are young."
The little eunuch spoke calmly, with a bit of courage, unlike some eunuchs and maids in the palace, whose legs were limp when they saw Yan Chu appear, and they all looked like quails, and they didn't even have the courage to speak.
"Heh—" Yan Chu snorted softly, and looked at the little eunuch in front of him with interest: "From now on, you can serve me by my side."
After finishing speaking, he brushed off the invisible dust on his clothes and walked towards Lanqin Palace where he lived.
From the cell to Lanqin Palace and Qianqing Palace, there are two directions.
The little eunuch thought about the oral order from Qianqing Palace, and then looked at Yan Chu's actions. He struggled for a moment, gritted his teeth and followed Yan Chu away, without saying a word of doubt from the beginning to the end.
When Yan Chu heard the sound of the little eunuch closely following him, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and he felt a little satisfied.
*****
"Mommy, what do you think he is doing now?"
Yan Yunxuan, in Concubine Lan's palace, a woman in concubine's uniform looked at the field of orchids outside the window and asked an elderly mother.
"The old servant doesn't know." The old mother's expression was a bit complicated.
"Your Majesty, the fourth prince is coming back from the palace school soon, should we prepare some snacks for the fourth prince?"
"Yeah, Qi'er is about to leave school."
The woman glanced at the blooming orchids outside the window and sighed.
Her Qi'er is the most important person to her now.