The eunuch bowed down and reappeared a moment later, saying, "Your Majesty, Commander Meng has a word to order the servants to report on his behalf, saying that he had captured a foreign minister Sima Lei who had trespassed outside the Zhaoren Palace.
As soon as this statement came out, the whole hall was shocked. But after being surprised, his expressions were different.
Concubine Yue's face was tense, the prince's color was earthy, King Jing and the county master were thoughtful, the queen and King Yu were secretly happy, while His Majesty the emperor, who was sitting high on the throne, had a cloudy face and looked extremely emotional. is complicated.
After a long, almost suffocating silence, Emperor Liang raised his somewhat heavy arm and motioned for the eunuchs who came to report back to step down.
"Concubine Yue... What else do you have to say?" Different from the fierce voice in front of him, this sentence was asked in an unusually gentle and exhausting way, but it was extremely chilling to hear...
Concubine Yue Gui's gorgeous makeup could no longer hide her pale background. After looking back at Aiko blankly, she rushed to the throne and knelt down, hugged Emperor Liang's leg, and cried out in a trembling voice; "Injustice..."
"At this time, you still want to complain?"
"The concubine knows that she is not wronged," Concubine Yuegui raised her head, her eyes were full of tears, and her expression was very sad and moving, "But the prince was wronged!"
"What did you say?"
"All of this is the plan of the concubine, the arrangement of the concubine. The prince doesn't know anything... It was the concubine who lied to see and told him to bring Sima Lei into the palace, he just obeyed his mother's order. You know, the emperor, Xuan'er has always been filial, not only to his ministers and concubines, but also to the emperor!"
"If the prince is completely innocent, why didn't he dare to argue a word since he asked you to enter the hall?"
"Your Majesty, how do you want Xuan'er to defend himself? Do you want him to be in front of so many people and put all the blame on his mother? Xuan'er is born with pure filial piety, he can't do such a thing! The concubine is because he doesn't know how to protect himself and is always bullied by people with ulterior motives. That's why he cares so much for him and wants to have more support from his side, so that he won't get hurt. was plotted against..."
"Nonsense!" Emperor Liang was furious and knocked Concubine Yue to the ground with one palm. "Prince is the crown prince, how could someone plot against it? As his mother-in-law, you should have taught him to be good at cultivating morality and diligently fulfilling his responsibilities. , share the worries of the emperor, and set an example for the subjects, this is the real good for him! But look at what you are doing? You can do such a sinister and despicable thing? If Nihuang loses today, I am afraid You will never be redeemed! Even the reputation and status of the prince will be implicated by you, it is extremely stupid, extremely stupid!"
This scolding can be said to be a thunderbolt king, shocking like a thunderbolt, enough to make people tremble and lose their souls. But it was because he scolded so fiercely, but a sneer flashed across Nihuang's face, and the Queen and King Yu also showed disappointment.
Because no matter how hard he scolded, he was only scolding Yue Guifei, especially the last sentence, which had already made it clear that he would take responsibility for the prince. In this situation, it doesn't matter whether the emperor really believes that the prince is innocent, the important prince is faced with the unkindness and unfilial piety of "using the prince to trap the minister, helping the mother to rape the county lord, and trying to kill the brother to silence the mouth". The big crime of being unfriend, really should be dealt with according to this crime, I am afraid that his storage position will be shaken. But for Emperor Liang, he didn't want to abolish the prince just because of such a thing, so that the relatively stable court situation would bring big shocks. So after Concubine Yuegui took the blame, he could just go down this step and talk about it.
After scolding, Emperor Liang took a deep breath, and instead of rushing to deal with Concubine Yue, he ordered someone to pass Mengzhi in.
After a while, Meng Zhi entered the hall to salute. Emperor Liang asked him a few words about how to capture Sima Lei. Meng Zhi replied that his subordinates met him during a routine inspection. Dare to deal with it without authorization, only to come to the face of your request. Emperor Liang didn't hear anything unusual, but felt that it was human beings who were not as good as heaven. He couldn't help but sighed and asked, "Where is Sima Lei now?"
"Temporarily detained in the compound where the guards are resting, and sent people to guard."
Emperor Liang snorted, thinking that this case was about the reputation of the daughter of the county lord and could not be handed over to Yousi for trial. Who would have guessed that Xiao Huangmen had been away for a long time, then rushed back and said, "Sima Lei was beaten so badly that his face was bruised and tragic. Now he's in a daze, he really can't see the driver."
Emperor Liang frowned and looked at Meng Zhi sternly. The commander of the Imperial Army was stunned for a moment and said, "Impossible, my subordinates won't beat people casually without permission..."
"No," the little Huangmen said hurriedly, "it wasn't the guards who fought, I heard it was... yes..."
"Say what!"
"It's Prince Mu, who rushed in after hearing some letter, but the guards didn't dare to stop him. He punched and kicked himself, and even broke one of Sima Lei's arms..."
Emperor Liang snorted, and glanced at Nihuang at the end of his eyes, wanting to see her reaction. In fact, before the case was finalized, Mu Qing was definitely guilty of lynching the suspect by rushing into the forbidden garden. But when His Majesty the Emperor's gaze swept over, the female marshal in the southern region was still sitting with an expressionless face, without moving, and even stood up and said in a perfunctory manner, "Brother, please forgive me for being reckless." There were no such words, which made Emperor Liang embarrassed and scolded the little Huangmen: "If you interrupt, you will interrupt, and you will come back and forth with me for anything important, hurry up!" After scolding, he swept his eyes again, Princess Nihuang's face was still cold, and he didn't mean to thank him at all. That arrogant arrogance was probably not even among the boys. Not only did Emperor Liang not feel displeased, but he felt a sense of appreciation in his heart. Secretly admire.
Although Sima Lei can't stand trial now, he is actually very easy to deal with. It doesn't matter if he is tried or not. Emperor Liang hastily ordered that he be sentenced to exile on the charge of "foreign minister trespassing in the forbidden garden", and his father Sima Taiwei was also executed and demoted. Penalty, no one expressed the slightest objection.
But for the more noble concubine, Emperor Liang had some difficulties. This woman entered the palace when she was young, and she has been favored for many years. Her rank is second only to the queen, and she is also the biological mother of the prince. The treatment was heavy, and she couldn't bear it. What's more, with so many eyes watching, the word "fair" has to be considered. While hesitating, the prince fell to the ground and cried, "My son would like to make amends to the county master on behalf of the concubine, and ask the royal father to give light to the concubine for the sake of serving the concubine for many years..."
"Nie Barrier!" Emperor Liang kicked the crown prince to the ground. "Why didn't you stop your mother from doing such a stupid thing? Where has your filial piety gone?"
The crown prince cried out loudly, then got up and hugged Emperor Liang's leg again, tears streaming down his face.
Looking down at the man lying on his knees, Emperor Liang suddenly felt in a trance, his chest seemed to be crushed by something, and the pain was like a twist.
A figure that had been deliberately forgotten for many years flashed across my mind, with that tall and straight posture, that handsome face, that cold, arrogant and stubborn expression, and those eyes that were as fierce as burning a majestic flame.
If that person was willing to cry in front of his knees like Jing Xuan, would he soften his heart and put him in his arms again
It's a pity that time is like water, and it will never return. Perhaps it was because Hua Fa was born and Twilight grew old that she was shocked to realize that the harsh treatment of the year, not only destroyed others, but also became a hidden wound engraved in her heart, no one could detect it.
Emperor Liang's trembling hand finally touched the back of the crown prince's head. Concubine Yuegui felt relieved and fell to one side softly, barely supporting her body with her arms.
"The Yue clan has no virtue, behaves vilely, and is difficult to be tolerated by the palace regulations. From now on, he will be deprived of the title of noble concubine, and will be demoted to concubine. As soon as he should provide courtesy, it will be reduced. He will move to the Qingli Yuan to think about it, and he will not go out without permission." Emperor Liang spoke slowly, word by word, and finally turned his attention to Empress Yan, "What does the Empress think?"
According to the Queen's wishes, of course, it would be best to enter Ye You Ting. But she is also a sensible person. Since the prince is fine, then the mother is the son, and Emperor Liang cannot be too humiliating to the concubine Yue. At this time, nothing will work, so it is better not to say it.
Seeing that the queen was speechless, Emperor Liang turned his attention to Nihuang again: "Does the princess have any objection?"
Nihuang Mianjun complained, but for the sake of his own justice, he actually knew in his heart that it was impossible to really waste it because of this matter. Although Emperor Liang is a little protective of his shortcomings now, he has already banned the prince's biological mother for himself, a noble concubine of the first rank. shook his head.
"And you," Emperor Liang glared fiercely at the crown prince, "you must also be imprisoned in the East Palace for three months, study hard, and think about the way of the prince. If you want to get involved in such a bad thing in the future, I will Never forgive me!"
"My son... I respectfully obey my father's decree..."
"Get up." Emperor Liang's expression darkened slightly, he raised his head, his penetrating gaze made a circle in the room and landed on King Jing.
"Jingyan..."
"My son is here."
"Are you guilty?"
King Jing pulled out his clothes and knelt down, "My son is convicted."
Emperor Liang snorted coldly and said, "I ask you, how did you know that the county master was in trouble, and just broke in to save her?"
In fact, King Jing had been thinking about how to answer when Emperor Liang asked this, but when he really asked, he still didn't expect the best answer, and he hesitated for a while. He came to save the county master because Mei Changsu asked him to come, but he didn't know how Mei Changsu found out that the county master was in trouble, so he didn't dare to confess him rashly.
"What? Can't you answer this question?" Emperor Liang waited for a while, his tone turned slightly stern.
"No... Erchen is... Erchen is because..."
"Report to the emperor," a steady voice suddenly sounded, "It was the servant who asked King Jing to go."
"You?" Emperor Liang frowned, "How do you know?"
"That's right," King Yu stepped forward and said respectfully, "My son entered the palace to greet his mother, and entered the Puqing Gate, passed through Zhaoren Palace, and was running into the princess' maid hurriedly begging for help, saying that the situation inside was not right. Erchen knows that this matter is no trivial matter, and would rather mistake himself for the crime of colliding with the mother-in-law than to mistake the princess because of hesitation. However, Erchen knows that his martial arts is too poor, and he is afraid that he will be stopped and delayed if he cannot enter the inner courtyard. Just in time, King Jing passed by at this time, and Erchen begged him to take a step forward, stabilize the situation, and go to move the queen himself. King Jing is a heroic person, so he immediately agreed to Erchen, but I didn't expect the imperial concubine... uh no... The concubine actually He was so mad that he ordered the prince to be shot and killed, and that's what happened. Although it wasn't the son who instructed King Jing to kill the prince, he was entrusted by the son. If the father wants to commit crimes, the son is willing to same crime."
He talked eloquently, but there was nothing unreasonable about it. Of course, Concubine Yue and her son knew very well that it was impossible for the maids to ask for help before they moved to King Jing, but at this time they no longer had the qualifications to open their mouths to doubt, and entangled in these details would not change anything, so they did not open their mouths. Although Emperor Liang understood that Prince Yu was not as noble as he himself boasted, and most of the time he was very happy when he heard that he had the crown prince's handle, he still believed what happened, nodded and said: "So it is. But Jingyan If the following crimes are committed, the Crown Prince should be held hostage, and should be severely punished according to the law."
Princess Nihuang just changed his face, and Emperor Liang continued: "But I think about it, after all, there is a reason for the incident, and King Yu is willing to share the blame for you. Besides, you have saved the county master. Reward or not punish. King Yu can be sensitive to detect abnormalities and make timely decisions, I am very relieved, and reward one hundred brocades, one thousand gold taels, and one tin king pearl as a reward."
"My son, thank my father, Huanglong."
"I'm tired, let's all leave."
Emperor Liang closed his eyes tiredly and leaned back on the pillow. Everyone in the hall did not dare to say any more, and quietly withdrew out.
Queen Yan was naturally the executor of the punishment for Concubine Yue, and the Crown Prince had no choice but to look at his mother being brought back to the harem, but he could only throw a few resentful eyes at King Yu.
So far, King Yu, who has not been very forthcoming, has turned into the biggest winner. He not only showed his face to win the emperor's praise, but also won a lot of favor for protecting King Jing, and he also became the master of the county by running to save the county. The only downside of the benefactor of the Mu Mansion in Yunnan was that he took most of the prince's resentment on him, making the feud between the two families deeper. However, he and the prince were at odds with each other for a long time, and they killed each other, and there was no difference in this one, so the only disadvantage seemed to be not a disadvantage. My heart blossomed with joy, and I secretly admired that the unicorn genius Su Zhe was really knowledgeable. Fortunately, I happened to meet him on the way to the palace after receiving the notification from the queen. Fortunately, my corporal Li Xian disclosed this matter to him for advice. Otherwise, I would have never thought that I would be able to take advantage of the opportunity to protect King Jing. Take all the credit into your own hands. However, Prince Jing is really as bold as a fight, but unfortunately he is too reckless. He is not a person worth dealing with. This time, he was so protective of him in front of his father, he must be grateful. As for Princess Nihuang, of course it's more...
Just thinking of this, Princess Nihuang has come over, bowed his head as a gift, and said with a smile: "Thanks to His Royal Highness Yu Wang for saving his righteousness today, Nihuang can't express his gratitude. If there is a chance in the future, I will repay it."
King Yu hurriedly returned the salute with a smile on his face: "The county master is polite, what is the status of the county master, this king will do his best to serve."
A perfect smile floated on Nihuang's face, just as she was about to say a few more polite words, she saw King Jing walking away silently out of the corner of her eyes, her heart was slightly anxious, but she didn't show anything on her face, she still said slowly: "I I am really angry with the Yue family, but I don't want to watch the empress treat her, I don't know about you, Your Highness..."
"Don't worry, the county master, let this king handle this matter. This king will go into the inner palace to tell the queen, it will definitely make the county master breathe a sigh of relief." King Yu hehe laughed, turned and walked quickly to the inner palace go in the direction. Princess Nihuang saw that he had gone far, so he hurriedly caught up with King Jing.
Hearing Nihuang calling him from behind, Xiao Jingyan stopped and said, "Is there anything else the county master has to do?"
"When I was thanking King Yu just now, did you really want to come over and tell me it's none of his business?" Princess Nihuang smiled with a smile, "Why didn't you say anything?"
King Jing lowered his head slightly and remained silent.
"Actually, you will save me more and more because of Mr. Su, right?"
Xiao Jingyan was taken aback by what she said, "How did the county master know?"
"Because Mr. Su also warned me in advance to be careful about the conspiracy of the harem, but unfortunately it was vague. I only guarded the queen, not the concubine Yue..."
Prince Jing's brows moved, and his heart suddenly became suspicious, and he asked slowly, "Didn't he explicitly say to beware of Concubine Yue? But when he asked me to enter the palace, he clearly pointed out that Zhaoren Palace was coming?"
"Oh, we were interrupted in the middle of our conversation at the time. He probably didn't have time," Nihuang County Master Jiyue's heart was born, and he didn't care about it at all, and still smiled, "But even though he was saved by him , I can't thank him publicly. Instead, I can only go to thank King Yu, and it's not just a thank you just now, I'm going to bring my younger brother to the door tomorrow to thank him."
King Jing was a little puzzled, "Why is this? You know..."
Nihuang smiled lightly and turned to look in the direction of the East Palace: "Although Concubine Yue was convicted, the prince is still the prince, and his power is still strong. The more I thank the prince, the more hatred the prince will put away. With him, I naturally don't have the heart to trouble you for the time being. After all, you can't fight the prince head-on and push Prince Yu to the front, isn't that bad?"
King Jing didn't understand these trade-offs, but he was reluctant to think about it. Nihuang explained it a little, and his heart became clear. He couldn't help but fix his eyes on the front, shook his head and sighed. The two walked out of the palace side by side, and did not continue the topic along the way.
As soon as he stepped out of the Shenwu Gate, he heard someone shouting "sister", Mu Qing rushed over, and stopped right in front of Princess Nihuang, shouting: "Sister, are you alright? ?Scared me!"
"You've already become an adult, and you're still so unstable. What big thing will scare you to death? There are more big things in the world!" Messy hair.
"I'm afraid that my sister will suffer," Mu Qing said coquettishly, "The palace is not a good place. You should not come to the palace in the future. Although the house in the capital is not as big as that of Yunnan, it is enough for my sister to live in. Let's go back quickly. ."
Princess Nihuang smiled and tapped him with his hands, then turned to invite King Jing: "Is Your Highness going back to the manor? Let's go together."
"No need, I won't go back for the time being," Xiao Jingyan thought for a while, and finally told the truth, "I'm going to go to Ningguohou's mansion first."