Pei Yan randomly wiped the blood stains on his chest and mouth, and the blood stains in Xuanzheng Palace were also wiped clean by the eunuch immediately.
He pointed at Fang Xianzhong with trembling fingers: "Fang Xianzhong, I, Pei Yan, have no grievances with you these days and in the past. Why do you want to frame me for corruption? Since I entered the official career, I, Pei Zilong, have devoted myself to the Tang Dynasty. After all your hard work, have you ever thought about wanting to be greedy for money? Fang Xianzhong, you know you are bound to be blamed, so why did you drag me along?"
"Whether it is corruption or not is not up to you, nor is it up to Fang Xianzhong. You can tell it by checking the accounts, and you can tell it by checking the banknotes. Since you insist that Fang Xianzhong framed you, then You have to try your best to clear your name. If you maliciously threaten your colleagues in the court, you won't be able to explain the problem, right?" Li Hong put his hands in his sleeves and walked up to Pei Yan, whose eyes were red and full of anger.
Li Zhi, Wu Mei, and all the officials in the court were shocked by this move. Now everyone can see that Pei Yan is furious now. I am afraid that if he provokes him a few more words, Li Hong will be hurt. .
But Li Hong didn't care at all. He stared at Pei Yan's eyes with clear eyes and continued: "One million taels of silver is not a lot of money in today's Tang Dynasty. With your official position as a highly respected minister, Pei Yan, you can't come here." I won’t sell my personality for a mere one million taels of silver…”
"Your Highness, what I said by Fang Xianzhong is true. I am willing to prove on the spot where he hid the silver I gave Pei Yan!" Fang Xianzhong took a step forward and said with a deep expression.
Li Hong turned his head and glanced at Fang Xianzhong with a firm look, and secretly praised him in his heart. As the saying goes, those who understand the current affairs are heroes. Fang Xianzhong knew that the situation was over, and now he immediately joined his camp. In order to bring down Pei Yan, he took great pains. .
"You? Haha." Li Hong turned around and said calmly: "I'm afraid you can't do it. If you go there, who knows if you might have framed him? Well, you tell me where you are. , How about Pei Yan assigning someone else to do it? This will be fair and just, and it will also convince his colleagues above the court."
Fang Xianzhong looked firm, thought about it secretly, and said, "I am willing to obey His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's orders, but I don't know if Lord Pei is willing?"
Pei Yan looked at Li Hong, and then at Fang Xianzhong. The two of them sang in harmony, especially His Highness the Crown Prince, who seemed to be fair and just, but in fact, he had probably already prepared a backup plan, right
A search found millions of silver at home! He believed that it would not be difficult for these people. If the prince had the intention to harm himself, then of course he would do it flawlessly.
And no matter who I assign, I am afraid that they will not be able to escape the trap that has been laid out long ago. It is impossible for Xue Yuanchao and Gao Zhizhou. The two of them just secretly investigated and slandered the prince. They are already guilty of death and cannot escape life. Moreover, Even if he assigned the two of them to go there, it would obviously not convince others.
The only chance now, the only one who can save himself in the court, and the only one who can dissipate all the evidence that is not good for him, is the Queen.
"Okay, I am willing to send someone to search my home. I know that no one I appoint will be able to convince my colleagues in the court. Therefore, I ask the queen to appoint her personally and ask the queen to uphold justice for me!" Pei Yan looked at Li Hong. The handkerchief was handed over, he was stunned for a moment and then took it, wiped the remaining blood on the corner of his mouth and said.
"I wonder what your majesty thinks?" Wu Mei slowly raised her head and looked at Li Zhi beside her and asked.
"Yes!" Li Zhi also had a calm expression. He was still a little worried. Is Li Hong's big move aimed at Pei Yan or Li Xian
Needless to say, asking the queen to designate a candidate to go to Pei Yan's house is Pei Yan's last hope. But when the queen makes a choice between him and the prince, any blind person knows that the queen will naturally choose to side with the prince, but will she choose from the side of the prince? What was found in Pei Yan's home that was not conducive to Li Xian!
After all, when he was conquering Liaodong, the queen and Li Xian were also unhappy. But now that the arrow was on the line, he couldn't help but refuse, so he had no choice but to turn his attention to Li Hong.
Wu Mei assigned Wang Lou to lead the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to verify the matter. Obviously, in the minds of the ministers above the court, this was the most fair candidate.
Pei Yan's expression also softened. If it were verified by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it would be difficult to convict him even if he found the silver. After all, he could still argue that Fang Xianzhong deliberately framed him. Thinking of this, Pei Yan A cold light flashed in Yan's eyes. As long as he passed today's test, he swore that he would drive Li Hong out of the East Palace and from the position of crown prince.
Li Hong didn't pay attention to the expression on Pei Yan's face. When Wang Lou was sent to Pei Yan's home by his mother, he decided to confirm the position of Youpu She first before getting down to business. As for the position of Zhongshu Ling, it was just for fun. .
But now, he needs to face his father Long's questioning eyes, whether he wants to bring down Li Xian.
Li Hong looked at his mother who looked calm, and then at Father Long who occasionally short-circuited, and finally shook his head, indicating that he was not doing it for Li Xian. Only then did Li Zhi breathe a sigh of relief and nodded subconsciously.
"Father, I think that whether Pei Yan is greedy for money or not, and whether Fang Xianzhong's accusation is fabricated or true, Pei Yan is no longer qualified to hold the post of Minister Youshe. In order to serve as the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, I ask my father to grant permission for Pei Xingjian to serve as the right servant of the Ministry of Finance."
"I think it's inappropriate. I think we should wait for the queen to check the situation in my family before discussing whether I should be excluded from the post of Minister Youpu She. If I was wrongly accused and framed by Fang Xianzhong, wouldn't I be the minister? I lost the opportunity to serve as the right servant for no reason." Pei Yan saluted Li Zhi and said firmly.
"I think there is no need for this. Even if Mr. Pei Yan Pei was framed by Mr. Fang, what will happen to Mr. Pei Yan Pei that you falsely accused His Highness of being greedy for money and money? Feng Yanzou is Xue Yuanchao and Gao Zhizhou. Responsibility, but it is not the reason for Mr. Pei to speak freely and slander the prince at will. As the Secretary of the Zhongshu Province, if he arbitrarily slanders others in the court without being punished, then in the future, everyone in the court can slander. Others? Is it because His Highness the Crown Prince is a minister, that he can slander His Highness the Crown Prince as a courtier at will? I believe that regardless of whether Mr. Pei was wronged by Mr. Fang or not, just slandering His Highness the Crown Prince is enough to be handed over to the court. "Dali Temple discussion." Li Qiao was gentle and gentle, but his tone was really tough and domineering. He stared at Pei Yan's eyes and spoke eloquently.
"Since Mr. Li Qiao knows that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is also a court minister, as a colleague, from the perspective of extending the foundation of the Tang Dynasty, not to mention the memorials of Xue Yuanchao and Gao Zhizhou, as Zhongshu Ling, I Sir, why can't you impeach His Highness the Crown Prince?" Pei Yan was not afraid and still argued with reason.
"Pei Yan is right. There are imperial censor memorials. As a Zhongshu Ling, I naturally have the right to impeach any courtier in the court, including me. But Xue Yuanchao and Gao Zhizhou bypassed Li Qiao and concealed the report. I don’t know if there is anything hidden in the report to you, the Minister of Civil Affairs, the official of Yushitai deceived his superiors, ignored his superiors, and then reported government affairs to other courtiers. "
"The most serious person will be exiled for three thousand miles, and the light person will be dismissed from his post on the spot." Cui Zhiwen, the Minister of Punishment, said calmly.
"Is the imperial censor uniting with the court officials to criticize the prince's corruption of ink?" Li Hong looked directly at Pei Yan and continued to ask.
"The most serious person will be exiled for three thousand miles, and the light person will be dismissed from his post on the spot." The Minister of Punishment continued.
"It is slandered that the prince embezzled ten million taels of ink and silver, instead of the minister of the province, who embezzled ink and silver taels. Shouldn't he be exiled for three thousand miles?" Li Hong continued to ask.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Pei Yan, what else do you have to say?"
"Xiaoguan..."
"It's too late. Just now you have been calling me a minister in front of me, and now you want to change your title to a lower official to confirm that when you impeached me just now, you impeached me as a minister. Such clever words and deeds are really not the same as ours in the Tang Dynasty. Aren’t you ashamed of what Zhongshu Ling did?”
"My lord..."
"My son requested that the Ministry of Civil Affairs be immediately ordered to draw up an edict, and Pei Xingjian be appointed as the right servant of Shangshu Province. Pei Yan was immediately abolished from the post of secretary and order, and was imprisoned in Dali Temple for handling. Xue Yuanchao and Gao Zhizhou left their posts at Yushitai and secretly colluded with Pei Yan , slandered and wrongfully accused my son of being greedy for money and money, and was immediately dismissed from his post and exiled!"
"Your Majesty, although I am guilty, my crime will not lead to death. As the Secretary of the Zhongshu Province, I am fully aware of my responsibilities. I am impeaching His Highness the Crown Prince today solely for the sake of the prosperous Tang Dynasty..."
"Your Majesty, Queen, and Your Highness, it has been found out that there is one million taels of silver hidden in Pei Yan's home. At the same time, some jewelry was also found..." Wang Lou wore a futou on his head, and his head was trembling. Smelling with heat, it was obvious that he had rushed back from Pei Yan's house.
"Impossible! How is it possible?" Pei Yan was shocked. All his hopes were on the queen. As long as the queen sent someone to explain that there was no solid evidence, he could clear away the suspicion. But... why did the queen also...
"Keep talking." Li Hong pushed away Pei Yan, who was blocking Wang Lou and wanted to confront Wang Lou face to face, and said coldly.
"Yes, Your Highness. My slave also found some jewelry in his home. These jewelry were not made by my Tang craftsmen. Judging from their style and form, they are very similar to the jewelry you brought back when you were in Qiuci. The style of jewelry." Wang Lou bowed and handed a brocade box to Li Hong.
Li Hong casually gave it to Lian Tie and asked him to present it to Li Zhi and Wu Mei for review.
"Pei Yan, do you have anything else to say? Everyone has gained the stolen goods. One million taels of silver were found in your home, and jewelry was also found in your home. Do you think Fang Xianzhong framed you?" Li Hong pointed at his face. Pei Yan, who became pale and bloodless again, asked coldly.
Li Hong knew very well that when he gave these jewelry to Bai Chun's father, he was just in case of emergency. Most of the jewelry was used by Bai Sunizhi to restore the country and was scattered in many places in the Tang Dynasty. The homes of high-ranking officials, and some others, fell into the hands of the Turks and Tibetans.
All this, with Bai Sunizhi's suicide, everything became a fact! And the leader is Pei Yan! As for the knife he left with Bai Chun and Bai Sunizhi in the rain that day... I guess no one knew what he was thinking at the time. Maybe Bai Chun knew something
(End of chapter)