In the next few days, Mei Changsu seemed to have adjusted his emotional turmoil, and he could tease Fei Liu while listening to Tong Lu's detailed report on the movements of all parties in the capital. He no longer thinks about the woman who disappeared in the vortex of the family's fate. Although that woman once swayed by his legs and grabbed the corner of his clothes when he was a child, those memories are too old, not like him. His own, and for Xie Qi as an adult, his impression is shallow, just the background of some of his plans.
So if you don't want to, try not to think about it.
King Yu did not move slowly. On the third day, Xie Yu was imprisoned, and the court shook. Prince Fang's people quickly used all their strengths to inquire about the inside story, while taking turns to intercede.
The fall of the first-rank military marquis in an instant is a major case in recent years. But to the surprise of some people who didn't know the inside story, neither the King Yu, who initiated the case, nor the Crown Prince, who tried his best to protect it, did not ask for a joint trial. This procedure should have been necessary.
Therefore, Xie Yu's case was indeed left to Emperor Liang's decision alone, and no foreign minister was allowed to publicly intervene.
Under such circumstances, Xie Qi's funeral was delayed accordingly. After doing a few small and low-key rituals, her coffin was parked in a quiet clean room in the ancient temple in western Beijing, lit with an ever-bright lantern, waiting for her husband-in-law to pick her up and move into the ancestral tomb of the Zhuo family. Xiao Jingrui's injuries have not yet healed, so he struggled to help his sister's coffin. Princess Liyang has asked for a decree to become a monk and live in seclusion in Shanggu Temple to keep incense for her daughter. Despite the repeated blows over the past few days, even Li Yang, who has been through the trials and tribulations of life, couldn't bear it, and his condition gradually developed. And due to not being able to rest, Xiao Jingrui's injury has not improved. Therefore, Xie Bi had to grit his teeth and fold his mind, and start to deal with some affairs again, taking care of his sick mother and his wounded brother.
Xie Xu, who was studying at Songshan Academy, was shocked to hear the great changes in his family at this time, but because Princess Liyang wrote a letter in his own hand, he could not return to Beijing, and his teacher, Mr. Mo Shan, was also entrusted by Mei Changsu to keep him, so he did not return to Beijing. able to come back.
Emperor Liang, who was disturbed by so much anger, still went to the Jinxie paddock for spring hunting according to the original arrangement. Ten pieces, one jade Ruyi handle, and Meng Zhi also received a number of pearls and shells. The Crown Prince and Prince Yu who returned empty-handed couldn't help but feel a little sour in their hearts, but one of them believed in the status of the prince, and the other thought that Su Ri's own reward was far greater than this, and he wanted to show friendship and generosity, so they didn't show anything on the face, but Prepare a gift to congratulate King Jing on his bravery and power, and save face for Daliang. Some officials followed suit and naturally came to give gifts. King Jing only accepted the gift list from a few princes, saying that it was "a gift from a brother but not a friend", and he returned the gift according to the rules, while the gifts from other courtiers were declined one by one, only a cup of tea, and then said goodbye after seeing him. I would like to talk more. When the news reached Emperor Liang's ears, he was very satisfied.
On the fifth day after the spring hunt, there was still no news of Xie Yu's disposal. Mei Changsu was not in a hurry, and took iron scissors to trim flowers and trees in the courtyard leisurely. In the afternoon, Li Gang came to report King Yu's visit, and before he could return to the room to change the coat that was soiled when he was rummaging through the flowers and trees, King Yu strode angrily. The two walked into the room together, and before the people had completely withdrawn, King Yu couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty is really crazy!"
"Your Highness, please use tea," Mei Changsu handed a small celadon bowl to King Yu and asked quietly, "What did Your Highness just say?"
"Uh..." King Yu knew that he had made a slip of the tongue, and hurriedly changed his words, "I mean, I don't know what Your Majesty is thinking, Xie Yu's case is settled, and we should discuss it in person, rather than being involved, the death penalty is inevitable after all, so what's the hesitation? "
"Your Majesty hesitated?" Mei Changsu was still calm, "Isn't it okay a few days ago?"
"You don't know, Xia Jiang is back. This old man, I never saw that he had such a relationship with Xie Yu. Xuanjing Si Mingming should stay out of it, but he broke a big case for Xie Yu and took the initiative to ask to see the holy driver. , I don't know what kind of tongue he twitched, but His Majesty's tone changed today, and he called me to inquire about the situation that day, as if I suspected that Xie Yu was framed by someone."
"Iron evidence is like a mountain. Isn't Tianquan Villa still some letters written by Xie Yu, and Zhuo Qingyao still has the floor plan of the residence of Shen Zhui, drawn by Xie Yu, and he used illegal means to assassinate the officials of the court. Sin, I'm afraid someone can't turn their tongues over, right?"
"That being said, I feel uncomfortable in my heart after all. Xia Jiang has the means, and His Majesty trusts him. After I heard that he came back, because Xia Dong helped us that night, he scolded her a lot. He is under house arrest and is not allowed to move. Looking at his battle, he is reckless and determined to protect Xie Yu. They have never had close contact with each other.
Mei Changsu's eyes flickered, and he asked lightly, "Did he go to Heaven Prison to see Xie Yu?"
"I saw it once. Throwing all my people out, couldn't find out what they were talking about."
"Where's Xie Yu's confession?"
"He recognizes some, others don't."
"That is to say, he admitted that he had done some wrongdoing for the prince, but he denied all the major cases involving the royal Tianwei like the killing of the inner prisoner?"
"Yes, he insisted that he had indeed used Zhuo Dingfeng's power, including the assassination of Shen Zhui. He also admitted that. Other important things, he cried and complained of injustice, and countered that Zhuo Dingfeng deliberately planted him in order to avenge himself on the body."
"Well," Mei Changsu nodded, "it seems that Xie Yu only wants to save his life. That's right, as long as he saves his life, he can endure all kinds of exiles. As long as the crown prince can successfully ascend to the throne in the future, he is worried that he will not make a comeback. any chance?"
"He's wishful thinking," Yu Wang snorted coldly when he was stabbed in the sore spot. "If this king can't kill him this time, it will be a waste of all your painstaking planning for me, sir."
"By the way," Mei Changsu did not answer, and instead asked someone else, "The day before yesterday, I asked His Highness to ask Zhuo Dingfeng to make a list of all things over the years. I wonder if I have made a list?"
"I brought it today," Yu Wang took out a piece of paper from his boots and handed it to Mei Changsu, "This Xie Yu is really daring, it's really lucky that this king hasn't been killed by him all these years."
Mei Changsu took the paper slip, and seemed to browse it casually, and asked casually, "Some people, I'm afraid Zhuo Dingfeng doesn't know why Xie Yu wants to kill them, right?"
"That's right. Some even this king can't figure out what he's going to do when he kills him, like that... what kind of teacher... it's really weird."
Mei Changsu didn't seem to remember clearly, so he took out the paper and looked for it again, "Oh, your Highness is talking about this Li Zhongxin, right? Zhenping killed it in the 23rd year, it's been almost 12 or 13 years since now, and he's still alive. It's an old case. Maybe a personal grudge."
"A teacher who has a personal grudge with Ning Guohou? Is the teacher joking?"
"It's really a joke," Mei Changsu said lightly, "Don't worry, Your Highness, although Xia Jiang is trusted by the Emperor, is His Highness's holy favor in front of the Emperor inferior to him? If Xie Yu escaped this time, he survived. , not to mention whether he has a chance to revive, what I am afraid of is that the power of His Royal Highness in the eyes of Baiguan will be diminished, but it is something that cannot be compromised."
King Yu's face was gloomy, and it was obvious that this sentence was on his mind. In fact, Xie Yu has no authority now, and there is not much difference between death and immortality, but since it opened with such momentum, if it ends bleakly, I am afraid that the people in his camp will be unstable, thinking that the emperor's favor has diminished.
But... is it really just "thought"
The few times I met him recently, Emperor Liang's attitude was still mild, but his words were a lot more indifferent. With King Yu's sensitivity, he naturally noticed the difference, but he couldn't think of the root cause for the time being.
"Your Highness," Mei Changsu's voice interrupted King Yu's contemplation, "You still have some strength in the Heavenly Prison, right? Can you let me in and see Xie Yu?"
"You want to see Xie Yu? This man's heart is a wolf, and now his life is the most important thing. I'm afraid it's not just words that can be moved, right?"
"It depends on what you say." Mei Changsu slowly folded the paper sheet in his hand, "Your Highness, you also said that Xie Yu and Xia Jiang did not have a deep personal relationship, so in my opinion, he tried his best to protect Xie this time. Jade, I think it's not for love, but for profit."
"What is Xia Jiang's profit? Could it be that he is also the prince..."
"No," Mei Changsu shook his head flatly, "Xia Jiang's loyalty to His Majesty must not be doubted in the slightest. For him, everything he does is for His Majesty's sake. I am afraid that even His Highness will not deny this, right? "
"It's true, Xia Jiang is loyal to his father and emperor to the core, so I can't figure out why he jumped out at this time."
"Speaking of this, I just realized that a few days ago, a person is loyal to you, it does not mean that he will not deceive you, and sometimes he will do something without you, and I think it is for your own good. of."
"Sir, does Xia Jiang deceive his father too?"
"It's just speculation." Mei Changsu raised the long list in Yang's hand, "It's speculation, it's natural to think about any possibility. For example, I'm just thinking... Will there be some people in this list? ... Xie Yu killed it for Xia Jiang?"
As soon as he said a word, Yu Wang had already jumped up, his right fist slammed into his left palm at once, and he said ruthlessly: "That's right! Mr. is really quick-witted, what kind of relationship can there be between Xia Jiang and Xie Yu? It must be Xia Jiang. There is a handle in Xie Yu's hands, he saves his life, but he keeps silent, this is a deal! This is definitely the deal they made when they met in the prison!"
Mei Changsu slowly stretched out a hand and made a gesture to Yu Wangjing, with a smile on his lips, "Your Highness, don't get excited. As I said just now, all this is just speculation. Presuming to formulate countermeasures for the facts, I am afraid that there will be deviations. Please arrange for me to see Xie Yu first, even if I can't ask anything, it is always possible to explore the wind."
"Yes, this king is reckless." King Yu also felt complacent, and calmed his expression. "Going to the prison is easy to arrange, sir, don't worry. I will also let them lock Xie Yu, so that he does not hurt the gentleman rudely."
"It's okay, Fei Liu will follow me..." Mei Changsu paused and asked, "Can we go together?"
"Yes, yes," Yu Wang replied in a hassle-free voice, "but I forgot, there are Feiliu guards, so I am worried about Xie Yu."
Mei Changsu bowed and said, "Your Highness should continue to monitor the situation of other people in the court. I wonder if there are any new developments recently?"
When he mentioned this, King Yu's brows wrinkled unconsciously. Qin Banruo did not know what to do recently, and things were not going well. The eyeliners that were originally placed in many ministers' palaces as concubines had troubles. Either they were accidentally discovered while gathering intelligence, or they were expelled and arrested in an affair case, or they fell out of favor inexplicably. She was sent to another courtyard, and some even eloped and escaped quietly. In a short period of time, she broke seven or eight important eyeliners, which made this talented woman devastated and busy dealing with the follow-up mess, and did not provide any useful information for a long time. .
Mei Changsu glanced at him, and did not ask any further questions, but said lightly, "It doesn't really matter, courtiers, isn't it all about your highness now? It's just that the prince's aura has been easily overwhelmed now. Go down, Your Highness must not be exhausted afterward."
A suffocating aura flashed across King Yu's face, his palms were secretly clenched into fists on his sleeves, and there seemed to be a cloudy wind swaying between his teeth when he spoke.
"Don't worry, sir, this king... I understand..."
Mei Changsu slowly lowered his eyes, picked up the thin white porcelain tea bowl in his hand, put it to his lips, and took a small sip.