In order to hold the emperor's birthday ceremony well, the furnishings in the Wuying Hall have been refurbished. Those who are eligible to enter the hall are set up according to their status and rank. The males of the clan are headed by King Ji and occupy the first step on the right side of the hall. The rank is divided to the left and right. The lower the rank, the farther away from the throne. The officials of the fifth rank and below can only withdraw after bowing outside the hall, and are not eligible to participate in the next banquet.
Since we cannot sing and dance for entertainment, there is no need to leave too much space in the hall. The Ministry of Rites deliberately arranged for everyone to sit compactly, and only spread a 10-foot-square brocade carpet at a distance of three feet from the front of the steps of the throne for the ceremony. The psalmists stand there and recite it. For the Ministry of Rites, these are familiar things, and there are systems and routines for procedures, rules, and hall layout, and there is no difficulty other than trivialities.
But a few days before the birthday ceremony, this set of errands that could be completed step by step with eyes closed suddenly changed, because a person was temporarily added to the list of participants. As a guest of the Liang Dynasty, Mei Changsu could not be linked to any group of people in the palace. He is not a clan, and he does not have a clear-cut official position. He personally said that he wanted to invite him. At that time, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also specially instructed him to "take care of his life", so it was impossible to get him to sit in the corner of the hall. For this reason, the members of the Ministry of Rites were quite troubled and could not think of a solution. The way, anxiously devastated.
Who would have thought that on the day of the birthday ceremony, the knot would be unraveled. Before Mei Changsu, who had just stepped up the steps, had time to say a word to the ceremonial officer who came to guide him, Mu Qing jumped up and greeted him with a smile on his face. It was like a flower, and it looked too familiar, and insisted on pulling him to sit with him.
The Book of Rites was originally a big head. Seeing that it was just right now, he vaguely dismissed Mei Changsu as someone from Prince Mu's mansion. Anyway, he was sitting at the same table as Mu Qing. Don't crowd others, it's close to the throne. There is no grievance, but everyone is happy.
When the golden bell rang nine times, Xiao Jingyan helped Emperor Liang to sit on the golden steps, and his footing was steady. His eyes quickly scanned every corner of the hall. Seeing that Mei Changsu was sitting beside Mu Qing with a smile, and Princess Liyang's expression was calm, it was only then that she felt relieved and officially started. Except for the reduction of singing, dancing and musical performances, the procedure of the ceremony is not much different from previous years, that is, the pro-noble ministers bow in batches, offer congratulatory messages, and the emperor rewards them one by one. Afterwards, the singing official announced the feast, and waited for the emperor to order the chopsticks, and the wine was full. Then, the princes, who are qualified to present gifts, will present their carefully selected birthday gifts in public one by one.
Generally speaking, the whole hall is relatively solemn when worshiping. But it's time to present a birthday present. The atmosphere in the hall has basically turned light, and all the gifts are displayed in public one by one. Confident courtiers will ask for decrees, stand on the brocade carpet in the temple, recite their own hymns, and use their wonderful words or funny jokes to win praise and the attention of superiors. According to previous experience, there will be one or two particularly prominent people on this brocade carpet every year, so everyone is eating and drinking and waiting for who will make a blockbuster here this year.
"Haha, hahaha, that's also a poem...haha..." Mu Qing clapped the table and laughed after a worker from the Ministry of Industry finished chanting, "Mr. Su, if I want to do such a poem, I will definitely be taken by the master. Sucked…”
"This poem can make you laugh like this. It has its own witty interest. Those old masters who taught you really can't make such lively words." Mei Changsu corrected Mu Qing's views with a smile, but his eyes were light and fluttering. Sweeping towards the front side, the line of the corner of the lips closed slightly.
At the end of his line of sight, Princess Li Yang with lowered eyebrows straightened the cuffs of her plain-colored thin shirt, and brushed the black cloud veil that was half hanging from the side of her face to the back of her head. Shortly after meeting Xiao Jingyan's eyes secretly, she slowly stood up.
"Little aunt, where are you going?" Princess Jingning, who was sitting next to her, whispered in surprise, but Princess Liyang didn't seem to hear at all. Besides, he walked slowly to the brocade carpet in the hall, and stood upright.
There are many talented women in the Daliang royal family, and there are not a few people who wrote poems for the emperor to celebrate his birthday, but they were all privately dedicated to the palace and boudoir. No one has ever stood on the brocade carpet in public during the ceremony, let alone Princess Liyang. She is also a woman who has experienced ups and downs and is full of stories. Therefore, as soon as her figure appeared, the hall was full of silence. Everyone couldn't help but push the cup and stop, and looked at her with wide eyes. Even Emperor Liang on the throne couldn't help but put down the golden cup in his hand. Surprised, he asked, "Liyang, do you want to write a poem?"
"Chenmei is lacking in literary talent, so how can you do poetry..." Princess Liyang showed decisiveness in her eyes, took a deep breath, and raised her chin, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, Chenmei takes this opportunity, I just want to be in the audience. In front of the nobles, the offending minister Xie Yu confessed to the crime of deceiving the emperor and killing Zhongliang. It disturbed His Majesty Yaxing, and the minister and sister deserved death, but Xie Yu's crime was so monstrous that people and gods were indignant. I don’t dare to hide it, if you don’t submit your confession to the imperial front and make it clear to the world, I’m afraid it will lead to the condemnation of the heavens, and I also ask Your Majesty Shengming, Rong Chenmei to play it in detail.”
"What are you talking about..." Emperor Liang said with some displeasure in his confusion, "I heard that Xie Yu is already dead? I have dealt with his sins... Li Yang, although I have not forgiven him, but it is your concern. It's still light on the face, and it doesn't involve you and the children, what's wrong with you, you want to make such a scene on my birthday ceremony?"
"Why did the younger sister confess on behalf of her husband on this birthday hall? Your Majesty will naturally understand after listening to it." Facing the gloomy gaze of the emperor's brother, Princess Li Yang gritted her teeth, but the timidity in her chest faded. The voice is also clearer, "Thirteen years ago, Xie Yu and Xia Jiang conspired to make a scholar imitate the handwriting of Chi Yan's forward general Nie Feng, forged a secret letter, framed Lin Shuai for treason, deceived the monarch, and finally made a big case of throwing the sky. , this is also a sin…”
With just such a sentence, the entire Wuying Hall exploded like a spoonful of cold water in boiling oil. Emperor Liang's complexion also changed, he raised a trembling finger to the eldest princess, and said angrily: "You... you... are you crazy?"
"To be honest about the content of the false accusation. Xie Yu secretly sealed the Valley of Juehun, forcing Nie Feng's troops into a desperate situation and annihilating the entire army. He also blamed Lin Shuai, which is the second crime." Princess Liyang completely ignored the surrounding The interference was still loud, "Xie Yu took advantage of being in the army to understand the battle situation on the front line and the dynamics of Chi Yan, and lied that Lin Shuai wanted to send troops to the capital. He deceived His Majesty's military talisman, and attacked Meiling with Xia Jiang, taking advantage of Chi Yan. When the bloody battle between the Yan Army and the invading Da Yu Army was exhausted, they did not declare their decree, did not surrender, and slaughtered and stabbed 70,000 loyal souls unintentionally. Destroy the earth. This is the third crime…”
"Shut up! Shut up!" Emperor Liang finally couldn't listen anymore, his whole body trembled like a sieve, and shouted loudly. "Someone! Drag her to me! Drag her down!"
Several guards in the palace looked at each other for a while, and walked over hesitantly. Just reached out and touched Princess Liyang's clothes. As soon as she was earned, she immediately showed the expression that she did not dare to force the action. Stay aside.
"After the Meiling Massacre, Xia Jiang and Xie Yu used the golden seal and private seal of Lin Shuai they handed over to counterfeit the documents, falsely accusing Chi Yan of conspiracy by King Qi, with the intention of forcing the palace to usurp the throne, causing King Qi to be unjustly wronged. , the whole family was destroyed, and this has four sins." Princess Liyang knew that she could not stop at this time, and she did not look at the soldiers of the forbidden army beside her. He and Xia Jiang relied on military power and power to seal up all the ways to complain about grievances. Anyone who had a little knowledge of the inside story but had no intention of reporting his conscience was cut off one by one. His words were not up to the heavens, and these were five crimes. Xie Yu's own handwritten confession, and there is absolutely no false statement. After the minister and sister read his handwriting, she was shocked and uneasy day and night, so the emperor made the first complaint, and hoped that His Majesty would clarify the grievances and follow the laws of heaven, and decreed that Chi Yan's case should be re-examined. With peace of mind, soul and people's hearts. If you are granted permission, even if the ministers and sisters die... you can rest in peace."
Tears rolled down from the eyes of Princess Liyang, she spread out her sleeves and bowed down, touching the ground with her forehead. This slowly kowtowed head was like a heavy hammer, hitting the chests of everyone in the hall. Although her words were concise and without pretense, the truth she confessed today was really shocking, and anyone with a little bit of right and wrong and conscience in their hearts was more or less aroused by some grief and anger. In the tumultuous uproar in the hall, Shi Yuanqing, the minister of officials, was the first to stand up and cupped his hands: "Your Majesty, what the eldest princess said was horrifying, and Xie Yu's handwriting proved it, it's not maddening and false, if you don't investigate it thoroughly. It is not enough for the people of the An Dynasty Bureau. Please allow His Majesty to approve what he has made, and appoint a fair minister to review the Chi Yan case from now on, find out the truth, and show His Majesty's virtuous virtue!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhongshu Ling Liu Cheng, Cheng Gelao, Shen Zhui, Cai Quan and others had already appeared, and they all said loudly: "Shi Shangshu's words are very true, this minister agrees!" I was a little excited, these were all courtiers with a lot of weight, as soon as they stood up, a large group of them followed immediately, even King Ji, who had always been idle, got up slowly, his eyes were slightly red, and he said: "My brother thinks that all the ministers The request is very reasonable, please allow your majesty."
"You...even you..." The loose cheeks on Emperor Liang's face trembled. He coughed and panted several times. "What are you doing? Are you forcing me? Xie Yuren is already dead, and what is wrong with him? It's just a handwritten letter, and it's hard to tell whether it's true or false. It's not a big deal to make a big deal out of this? get down... get out..."
"Your Majesty," Cai Quan took a step forward and raised his head, "The truth of this matter is not only about what crime Xie Yu deserves, but more importantly, it is about convincing the world of the court's handling. If this is wiped out, there will be a lot of discussion, the people will be detached from the morality, the soldiers will be afraid of the cold heart, and the people who will be hurt are His Majesty's moral name and the stability of the Liangjiang Mountains.
"This minister agrees! I agree!" Mu Qing almost waved his hand and said, "With such a strange injustice through the ages, who in the hall dares to feel the conscience and say that they can listen to it and not hear it, and do not investigate it? Of course, if the case is wrong, it must be re-examined. , this is the simplest truth!"
"Presumptuous!" Emperor Liang was so angry that his hair and beard gushed, his teeth rattled, "Roaring Golden Temple, Mu Qing, are you going to rebel?!"
"The minister also agrees," Marquis Yan interjected coldly, "The eldest princess made the first report in public. The past context of what she said was clear, the facts were clear, and there was no absurdity. According to the situation, reason and the law, she should approve what she said. File a case for retrial. I really don’t know, why is Your Majesty hesitant?”
His words pierced into Emperor Liang's heart like a knife, making him so angry that he was speechless. At this moment, His Highness the Crown Prince, who had been watching with cold eyes and silent, finally stood up in the eyes of everyone. The body wrapped in the embroidered dragon embroidered robe slightly tilted towards the old emperor, showing the signs of weakness and old age. A dazzling majesty and strength.
"My son agrees."
It was just four words, but it seemed to carry the energy of thunderbolts and lightning, and it landed with a sound, which instantly overwhelmed Emperor Liang's last defense and persistence.