The case of the Donggong rebellion caused a sensation in the court and the public, and the three divisions did not dare to neglect.
Because it was related to things far away in Bozhou, and Zhao Lun was also guilty of fornicating with Nanzhao, it took a lot of effort when he heard the news and verified it. Fortunately, Zhao Lun's case has been investigated for a long time, and only needs to be verified.
The Zhao brothers and sisters were not from the East Palace, but they had to temporarily form an alliance due to the situation. Especially Zhao Yu'e, unwilling to be dragged down by Xiao Yu, even pushed all the responsibility of the mastermind to Xiao Yu alone.
Countless pairs of eyes in the court were staring at the progress of the case. Seeing such a situation, even if it was clear that Erniang Zhao's words were somewhat exaggerated, the prince's rebellion was indeed voluntary.
More importantly, when the prince was conspiring with the Zhao family, he clearly knew that they had colluded with Nanzhao privately, corrupted army salaries, and disregarded the safety of the people over the past few years, but they did not care at all and went their own way!
Not only that, when the Ministry of Punishment interrogated the vassals of the East Palace, they discovered that not long ago, the East Palace had sent someone to the north to communicate privately with the Beirong people. Dare to provoke suddenly, take the opportunity to rob.
Such behavior is far from the heart and morality that the prince should have, and even the ordinary upright and honest officials of the court are not comparable.
More than a dozen courtiers in the court who originally had concerns and dissatisfaction with Xiao Kezhi's succession to the throne were ashamed.
"I don't know about the East Palace, and I have spoken for the East Palace many times before, and I have failed Your Majesty's painstaking efforts and trust. I feel extremely ashamed and ask Your Majesty to punish!"
Under the scorching July sun, a group of drooping old people bowed their heads and kowtowed on the hot slate-paved ground, attracting the attention of the officials and servants on the side.
When Xiao Kezhi saw such a situation, he knew that the most stubborn courtiers in the court had been completely surrendered, and there would be no more two hearts from now on.
"Okay, the weather is hot, all the ministers are the servants of the Great Liang, get up quickly." He waved his hands and asked the servants to help them up, led them to the seat one by one and sat down, with a warm smile on his stern face. , "The past is over, as long as the rulers and ministers are united in the future to seek well-being for the people of Great Liang, it will be a beautiful thing."
When several people saw that he really did not have any intention of holding him accountable, they became more and more ashamed, and they all bowed their heads and sincerely answered "Hey".
"I have been an official in the dynasty for decades, and my lifelong long-cherished wish is to benefit the society and the people. Only if Your Majesty does not abandon it will you have room to perform, and I will definitely live up to Your Majesty's trust in the future."
Xiao Kezhi nodded and asked Liu Kang to serve them herbal tea to cool off the heat and food. After a while, he seemed to be inadvertent, and said, "The fact that all the ministers are like this reminds me of the time when the Duke of Chu was still there, when the court officials ruled the court. Qingming is a situation that is praised by the people. At that time, I was still young, but I also thought that the Great Liang in the future should be like that day, so that the country can be strong and the people are safe."
When everyone heard the words "Chu Daxianggong", they were all stunned, and then they remembered the poisoning and treason case that shocked the court and the public three years ago.
At that time, almost everyone thought that Chu Qianyu was clearly innocent, but he was inexplicably involved. It must be a trap set up by the Qi family to get the position of Shuling. Only the prince knew the righteousness and insisted on marrying the Chu family's daughter.
But now that I think about it, no one knows what the prince did in it.
"Your Majesty, there are still a lot of doubts about the case of Chu Xianggong. I want to come to the East Palace to be involved in it. I think that I might as well take this opportunity to conduct a thorough investigation." One of them thought for a moment, got up from his seat, and bowed respectfully. He salutes himself and speaks to the emperor.
What Xiao Kezhi was waiting for was this moment, he nodded immediately, and said, "Yes, since you mentioned it, I will immediately order someone to bring the case up again. If there is a hidden secret, it would be better to find out as soon as possible."
After all, he immediately ordered someone to go to the Hanlin Academy to draw up a decree and send it to the third division, ordering it to transfer the case file and try it again.
…
At night, when Chu Ning heard that Chu Qianyu's old case had been brought back to the agenda, he couldn't help but have mixed feelings.
She waited for so long, but Xiao Yu, who promised to return her father's innocence at the beginning, failed to fulfill his promise, but lied to her. Fortunately, she found out in time, and fortunately Xiao Kezhi was there, and finally waited for this day.
"The people from the Third Division have gone everywhere to find the people involved in the case, from the officials who tried the case files, to the people from the Qi family, to the people from the East Palace, and the old people in your family. As long as they are related, they will try their best to find them. Come out." Xiao Kezhi personally supervised the matter and told her everything clearly, "At that time, they handled it cleanly, and they have been doing things for the past two years. It is not easy to find out. I will try to get them to take the initiative to confess their guilt. ."
Chu Ning listened carefully and understood how difficult it was to find out the facts. Fang Bo who told her the truth had passed away, and most of the others who knew the inside story were removed by Xiao Yu and Xu Rong. She only had a letter from Fang Bo in her hand.
"Thank you for the arrangement, Your Majesty." She thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty, I want to meet him and ask him personally, okay?"
Xiao Kezhi pondered for a moment, but did not respond immediately.
It wasn't that he was reluctant, but he was worried that if she asked her to see Xiao Yu at this time, if the trouble was too embarrassing and touched her past, it would make her sad.
However, this is an unavoidable fact in the end, and it is also a good thing for her to solve the problem in person, but the stone is pressing in her heart.
"Okay, you can meet him and Zhao Erniang." He nodded and instructed, "However, you don't have to go to the prison in person, just let the third division bring people to you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Chu Ning calmed down and thanked him with a smile. He changed clothes and ate with him, and then took advantage of the cool night to take a few more steps outside.
They had walked many times around the roads near the Hall of Nectar, and even remembered how many lamps and flowers there were by the road.
The moon was bright and the breeze was cool. Looking at the familiar scenery, Chu Ning suddenly glanced in the direction of the Baifu Palace in the west, and said with a smile, "In the past few days, I have asked the female officials of the Sixth Bureau to renovate and decorate the Qianqiu Palace. I think I will be able to move in soon.”
She has lived in the Manna Hall for a long time, and Xiao Kezhi has not asked her to choose another palace to live in. She still eats and lives with her every day. After thinking about it, she felt that it was not right, so she first sent someone to Qianqiu Palace to clean up.
However, when Xiao Kezhi heard the words, he suddenly stopped and asked in surprise: "Why, you are moving to Qianqiu Temple? Is it bad to live in the Ganlu Temple?"
Chu Ning didn't expect him to react like this, so he also stopped, nodded first, then shook his head: "Nanlu Palace is naturally good. But this is His Majesty's bedroom, even the queen, there is no reason to live forever. The back bed is the residence of the concubines."
Xiao Kezhi did not speak, glanced at her, and continued to walk slowly forward.
She was right in saying that Ganlu Hall was always the place where the emperor lived alone, and the rest of the women, whether the queen or ordinary concubines, all had other residences.
However, he never told her that he didn't plan to let her move elsewhere.
"When I was young, what I wished the most was that my family would be together every day, that my husband and wife would be harmonious, and that children would wrap around their knees, just like the folks." If you are married, the Ganlu Palace is my home. If you have a wife at home, how can you let your wife live elsewhere? Besides, the palace is empty. If you live in the Qianqiu Palace alone, you still have to come to the Ganlu Palace every day, so why bother? so busy?"
Chu Ning couldn't help looking sideways, carefully observed his expression, and said softly: "It's empty now, there will always be people in the future."
"Aning, I haven't told you yet." He stopped again, turned sideways, put his hands on her shoulders, leaned over slightly, and said seriously, "There will be no one else in the Tai Chi Palace. ."
"Your Majesty?" Chu Ning was stunned and looked at him in surprise. He couldn't believe if what he meant was what he thought, "How can there be such a reason..."
"This is my reasoning." Xiao Kezhi laughed, with a look of contempt in his tone that was a bit like in the battlefield and the court, "My Taiji Palace, as long as one wife is enough. I said, I don't want to. As a person like a father, if that's the case, you shouldn't let anyone down."
Chu Ning stared at him blankly, and suddenly burst out laughing: "Your Majesty is always so unusual, teach the courtiers to know, it's time to discuss again. Fortunately, everything has stabilized now..."
Probably because of his usual reliability, he has unknowingly melted the shell of her past, looking forward and backward, shy, and when she heard such shocking words, she did not have the slightest doubt, but her eyes were hot, and she subconsciously believed it.
Who doesn't want their husband to be single-minded and focused? In particular, her parents are rare loving couples in the high school, and she naturally yearns for such a marriage in her heart.
"Don't worry, they won't care about the affairs of the palace any more - as long as we work hard and have a few lively and healthy children." He changed his words and hugged her before she could react. He leaned closer to her ear and said vaguely.
Chu Ning's cheeks were hot, but he didn't avoid the topic, but took a deep breath and whispered: "Your Majesty, we have to pay attention to this matter, and we have to find the right day..."
Xiao Ke was stunned. After seeing that she was not joking, he hurriedly hugged her and asked seriously, "Tell me, how to be careful and how to find life?"
"This matter has something to do with my Guishui..." Chu Ning thought about what Feng Yu had said before, and told him one by one.
Xiao Kezhi listened very carefully, kept a few days in his heart, calculated it, and said slowly: "In this way, I should work harder on weekdays, and in those days, I should work harder..."
…
In the prison, it was dark and damp, and the atmosphere was eerie.
Xiao Yu sat silently and withered on the worn out futon. The wrinkled prison uniform made his thin body even thinner, and a dazzling sunlight filtered through the window, illuminating his withered face bleakly.
The jailer never treated him harshly. Although the daily food and water were not comparable to those in the palace, they were also provided on time and according to the amount. He still wore his hair and crown meticulously, and his appearance was neat, but the whole person seemed to be drained of most of his anger.
"Open the door and bring people out." The jailer guarding outside stepped in quickly, opened the door of the cell, and gestured at him, "It's time to go out."
Xiao Yu's eyes moved, and he slowly got up from the futon. He pursed his lips and stepped out of the cell without asking.
Over the past few days, he has been interrogated almost every day. At first, he had some reactions, but now, he is almost numb, and there is no more fluctuation.
Compared with the happy death, being isolated in a narrow world, it can consume people's will more.
"Go this way." The jailer stopped him from walking towards the place where he was usually tried. "Today, I'm going to Tai Chi Palace."
Hearing the words "Tai Chi Palace", he suddenly had a reaction.
"In the Tai Chi Palace, who wants to see me?"
"It's Her Royal Highness."