"Yes," Li Rong knelt and said calmly, "In the outskirts of the city, after being massacred, the corpse was abandoned in the wilderness. After a long time of hard investigation, the corpse was finally found. Father, now there are no witnesses. Now, I have to put the Qin family in the Ministry of Punishment, so I don't worry about it."
"So what Your Highness means is that now all the witnesses are dead, and there is no possibility of overturning the confession. The witnesses are all there, and Qin's crime cannot be changed."
Xie Lanqing said slowly: "The Qin family's sins cannot be corrected, and Your Highness firmly believes that the Qin family is innocent, so now you must protect the Qin family. Then, Your Highness, why do you believe that the Qin family is innocent? Now, get the Any evidence?"
"In any case," Li Rong said calmly, "the witnesses were all killed. Is there any problem with this case?"
"Who killed this person?" Xie Lanqing raised her voice, as if reminding something. Li Rong turned her head and looked at Xie Lanqing coldly. Xie Lanqing smiled, "Your Highness, if you say something disrespectful, the witnesses are all dead. It may be that there is a problem with the case, or it may be that there is no problem with the case."
Xie Lanqing didn't finish speaking, but Li Rong already understood what he meant. A young court official seemed puzzled and whispered: "How can the case be okay?"
Immediately, another court official laughed, his voice was not too loud or not too small, it seemed to be discussing privately, but it just happened to let everyone hear: "Master Zhang doesn't understand, the witnesses in one case are all dead, it seems that there must be something wrong. , but what if there is actually no problem, and some people insist that the case cannot be sentenced?"
When the person died, everything became a suspense. If Li Rong insisted, it would postpone the case indefinitely without any evidence.
"So, Your Highness, the witness is dead and can't prove anything. Even if the witness is dead, the evidence is still there, Yang Lie's letter is true, and the gold they received the bribe was also found from the Qin family. The Dali Temple has been inspected one after another, does Your Highness think that the three divisions are deceiving you?"
Xie Lanqing said, and sneered: "Your Highness, you just got married, so don't participate in the affairs of the court, go back and do things that women should do, embroider and read the scriptures, and cultivate one's self-cultivation."
After Xie Lanqing finished speaking, all the court officials whispered in agreement.
Li Rong knelt on the ground and pretended not to hear anything.
This is the case for women in this world. Even if you are a genius, if you do something wrong one day, your identity is the original sin.
When Li Rong heard these words when she was young, she felt indignant and often wanted to prove something, but now listening to these words, even though it was unfair, she was calm.
She only said: "Since the three divisions think there is no problem, why is it so difficult for me to collect files, adjust evidence, and interrogate prisoners?"
"His Royal Highness is joking," Xie Lanqing said calmly, "The Ministry of Punishment always acts in accordance with the rules and regulations, and will not deliberately embarrass anyone."
"Lord Xie is a veteran of the two dynasties, and a minister of the Ministry of Punishment," Li Rong said. She put one hand on her knee and stood up slowly. Xie Lanqing frowned and saw Li Rong turn around. , looked up at Xie Lanqing, and said calmly, "A clever mouth fools people's hearts, and things are not done well, but their mouths are very neat."
"His Royal Highness is getting angry because of the old minister's central matter?"
"Angry, of course I'm angry, how can this palace not be angry?!" Li Rong shouted, "You are a dignified minister of punishment, facing a case with many doubts, you don't think about how to investigate the case, don't think about restoring the truth, you just want to play Power and art, treat human life like a mustard, how can you make this palace not angry?!"
"Inspector of the construction of this palace, you people," Li Rong raised her hand and pointed at the court officials one by one, "I think day and night about how to seize power, how to make this palace retreat in the face of difficulties, this palace transfers the file, and the Ministry of Punishment is in a dilemma. , you push me and I push you, if you can’t get an approval after running for an afternoon, how can I get the file if this palace doesn’t force it?”
"The evidence from the Ministry of Punishment is still refusing to show it to me. How does Ben Gong know whether it is true or false?"
"You keep talking about the process and the rules. If everyone's case handling process is such that it takes a month for the presiding judge to get evidence, I don't think your Criminal Department is necessary. Rebuild it!"
"Just you guys who can't even protect the witnesses well and only know how to make things difficult for the people. If I call you an adult, I will give you a face. Do you really want me to rip your face off and step on it?"
Li Rong shouted, Xie Lanqing's face darkened, and an official of the Ministry of Punishment stood up and said loudly: "Your Highness, this is the main hall, not the place where you spill, you..."
"Retreat!" Li Rong shouted angrily at the official, "How dare you talk to this palace like this?!"
"What you are going to do, this palace knows."
Li Rong looked around: "But this palace also wants to tell you today that the Qin family that you may have unjustly died, they are not just a few courtiers, not just a few lives, they are also the high wall of the border. Backbone! What you have destroyed today is Daxia's country and Daxia's future! This palace is here today, and it is absolutely impossible to make concessions for this."
"But Mrs. Qin is guilty," Xie Lanqing said calmly, "His Royal Highness can't produce any evidence, so he is guilty."
"I know whether he has sinned against you or not!" Li Rong shouted angrily, "Xie Lanqing, I will not mention many things in the court, so I will ask you one question, are you worthy of your conscience? You can't hear the sound, can't you see the blood left by the second girl Qin in front of my princess mansion?! You are bullying the Qin family today, but it's just because the Qin family was born in a poor family, and you have no power and power to bully! But you think Has it been passed, if the Qin family leaves today with such grievances, who will be loyal to the frontier in the future? And in the future, as long as you are from a poor family, will you be able to endure such humiliation from you?"
"His Royal Highness has said too much," Su Minzhi, the right minister, frowned. "The trial and sentencing are based on evidence. Your Highness has already taken a stand. If you are so emotional, how can you be fair?"
Su Minzhi's words were right, and the old officials all agreed with them, but they never noticed that among the young courtiers, there was a hint of loosening.
Li Rong naturally did not tell these old foxes to make such a statement of affection, but in this court, there were not only politicians who had been immersed in power for a long time, but also ministers who were worried about the world. The door, and those poor men who run the business and wander in the lower ranks.
After Li Rong reminded her, seeing that her goal had been achieved, she turned her gaze back to Su Minzhi and said calmly, "Yes, what Su Xiang said is that everything should be evidenced, so now that the witnesses have been killed en masse, is it possible? Prove that the case is suspicious?"
"There is a connection, but it cannot be absolutely proved." Su Minzhi calmly said, "Your Highness, you have been investigating the case for so long. The Qin family's case should have been settled long ago. You insisted on overturning the case, and now you have not found any What is coming, it is impossible for you to delay this case again and again for the sake of your inner belief. Please return the Qin family to the Department of Punishment, and return the power to Your Majesty, who should be rewarded and punished, and dealt with in accordance with the law.”
"Su Xiang's worry is that Ben Gong uses the pretext of investigating the case to delay the death of the Qin family, then we might as well take a step back," Li Rong stared at Su Minzhi, "This Gong will not delay the execution of the Qin family, but the Qin family will Before they are executed, they need to be protected by the people of this palace in the princess mansion, and no one can be brought to trial. The people of this palace can also continue to review the case, and if they find evidence that the Qin family is wronged at any time, they can overturn the case. "
Su Minzhi hesitated for a moment when he heard these words, but Xie Lanqing said categorically: "No, Your Majesty has given His Highness many opportunities, but His Highness has made many troubles in our Punishment Department. What we are discussing today should not be the Qin family case at all. It's the matter of how His Highness has repeatedly made a case for the punishment department."
"I'll take the responsibility for trespassing in the Criminal Department!" Li Rong shouted, "I'll ask the Qin family if you dare to let me investigate the Qin family case! Since it is said that the death of the witness will not prove the Qin family case. If there is a problem, what are you afraid of me checking?!"
"Wei Chen is not afraid that His Highness will investigate the case," Xie Lanqing said, "Wei Chen is afraid that His Highness will cause trouble!"
"Then what do you want?"
Li Rong stared at Xie Lanqing: "I must investigate the Qin family."
"Your Highness must also be punished."
Xie Lanqing returned to Li Rong and said coldly: "Wei Chen is the minister of punishment, and I cannot tolerate someone trampling on the king's law like this. Even if your highness is a princess, you should abide by the principles of the Son of Heaven."
"Okay," Li Rong nodded and said, "Thank you sir, then I will do what you want."
As Li Rong spoke, she opened her sleeves, turned around and kowtowed towards Li Ming, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, my son trespassed the penal department, it was my son's fault, I would like to ask the staff to be held accountable for thirty, and the Beiyan Pagoda recites the scriptures. January."
After Li Rong finished speaking, Xie Lanqing showed a satisfied look, and immediately listened to Li Rong: "But the people in the punishment department are not good at handling things, they don't give much protection to key witnesses, record their whereabouts, and indirectly cause all the witnesses to die at the hands of others. This is a crime."
"Despising the power of the father, the father granted the son and minister the position of superintendent and director, but the Ministry of Punishment refused to obey the imperial decree and fully assist in handling the case.
"Now, knowing that the witnesses are all dead, the case is suspicious, but he is lazy and refuses to investigate deeply. These are three crimes."
"Master Xie is the Minister of Punishment and is in charge of the Department of Punishment. Today, the Department of Punishment is full of drawbacks. Master Xie is not to blame. My son is willing to accept the punishment, but it is imperative to rectify the Department of Punishment. Although these three crimes are concentrated in the Qin case, they are not To be able to see the leopard in the middle of the control, and to know the way the Ministry of Punishment handles cases on weekdays, this is a matter that endangers the society, and I also ask the father and the emperor to investigate strictly, and we will never tolerate it!"
Li Rong stated sentence by sentence, and the faces of the people in the Ministry of Punishment gradually became ugly. Li Rong kowtowed to the ground and said calmly: "As for the Qin case, since my son has intervened, he will not let it go. …”
"No..."
The courtiers shouted, and before they could finish, they heard Li Rong shout: "Twenty days later, if this palace really can't find out anything, it will be enough to prove that the Qin case is not wronged, it is the son's mischief, the son's son. Willing to accept the punishment, willing to be expelled from Huajing, return to the fief, and never enter the capital again!"
Since returning to the fief, he will never enter Beijing again.
For a princess, this is to be completely expelled from the center of power, and there is no turning back in her life, which is equivalent to a kind of disguised devaluation and exile.
Everyone fell silent, Shangguan Xu frowned, and couldn't bear it: "His Royal Highness..."
"I beg Father's favor!"
Li Rong knelt on the ground and shouted loudly. Li Ming looked at his daughter who was kneeling on the ground with an unpredictable expression. After a long time, he finally spoke, with a bit of hoarseness in his voice: "Since Princess Pingle is willing to expel her Huajing is gambling, so I will give you a chance to atone for your sins. It's just that you offend the Ministry of Justice in the first place. In order to prevent you from causing trouble again, during the investigation period, you will be grounded in the Beiyan Pagoda, copy Buddhist scriptures, and cultivate your life. The stick responsibility is exempted, after all, it is a girl's house, and if you go down thirty feet, isn't this going to kill you?"
Li Ming said, looked up at Xie Lanqing, and said a little tiredly: "Master Xie, what do you think?"
Xie Lanqing frowned, and Li Ming reminded: "Actually, some of Pingle's words are not unreasonable. The punishment department has been too old-fashioned in doing things these years."
Li Ming's words are a threat in disguise. If Xie Lanqing continues to speak, he will start to punish the punishment department for reasons.
Xie Lanqing understood Li Ming's words, and respectfully said: "Weichen are only courtiers. This matter should be discussed by everyone, and His Majesty will decide."
Li Ming nodded and looked up at everyone: "What do you think?"
No one spoke, Li Rong knelt on the ground and kowtowed silently. After a long time, a smiling voice came from below, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, Wei Chen thinks that this is the best way."
These words made everyone look at them collectively, and Li Rong also secretly glanced at the speaker.
But I saw the speaker standing at the back of the court. It was an unprofessional little official. He was very young, and his eyebrows and eyes seemed to be born with a smile, which made him a little more romantic. Very eye-catching in the hall.
Li Rong looked at it for a moment, then recognized the person, and then heard Gu Zidao, Minister of Rites, let out a low voice: "Cui Yulang, what are you crazy about?"
The young official held the wat board and smiled: "Master Gu, Wei Chen said it from his heart. You see, His Highness deserves to be punished, and the execution time of the Qin family has not been delayed. Why not protect a general? If the Qin family is guilty, His Highness will not delay anything. If the Qin family is innocent, then His Highness has accumulated great merits. Isn’t it wonderful to do such a beneficial and harmless thing?”
Cui Yulang said, knelt down with a smile, and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, this minister thinks that what the princess said is very true, please be gracious to your majesty and accept what the princess said."
After Cui Yulang opened his mouth, not long after, a young official came out, closed his eyes and knelt down: "I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and accept what the princess said."
Then, in twos and threes, a few officials came out. Although there were not many people, kneeling on the main hall seemed to have a silent power.
Li Ming looked at those people, and after a long time, he looked at Li Chuan who had been standing beside him: "What do you think of the prince?"
"My son..." Li Chuan seemed to be embarrassed. After a long time, he finally said: "My son, listen to the father and the emperor."
"In that case, just follow what the princess said."
Li Ming said: "From today onwards, Princess Pingle will be confined to Beiyan Pagoda, copy 100 Buddhist scriptures, pray for the Queen Mother, show her filial piety, go directly to the court, and let the servants take what she needs. The execution date of the family remains unchanged, and the princess will take care of it for the time being. The punishment department will rectify from top to bottom and streamline the process. After streamlining, the entire case handling process will be handed to me.
"Yes." Xie Lanqing saluted respectfully.
After Li Ming dealt with these matters, he inquired about some other political affairs, and finally announced the next court.
After waiting for the court, Li Rong turned her attention to Cui Yulang, who was chatting and laughing with the people next to him and walked out. She hesitated for a moment, did not step forward, but turned to look at Li Chuan who was walking towards her.
Li Chuan didn't look very good, Li Rong glanced at Shangguan Xu behind him, and knew that Shangguan Xu should have asked Li Chuan to come to her.
Li Chuan still has to deal with the aristocratic family now. Since Li Rong is now standing opposite the aristocratic family, Li Chuan has to show too much in front of the aristocratic family.
As soon as Li Chuan walked in front of him, Li Rong's face turned cold, and she said directly, "You don't have to say anything to me, you don't need to talk to me if you're different. Forget it."
"Sister," Li Chuan frowned, "you are too much."
The words of the siblings attracted the onlookers of the courtiers who had not yet left. Li Rong sneered, "Am I going too far, or are they going too far? The punishment should be punished. I'm leaving, the crown prince will do what he wants."
After Li Rong finished speaking, she left immediately. Li Chuan frowned, as if she was going to say something, but she couldn't say it in the end.
As soon as Li Rong walked out of the door, many courtiers gathered around and said with a bitter face: "Your Highness, the princess has a temperament, what is she going to do!"
"Everyone, I'll try to persuade her, but she's my sister after all..." Li Chuan said, showing a look of embarrassment, "I used to spoil too much, and when I find the opportunity in private, I will talk to her well. After all," Li Chuan lowered his voice, "she is also the princess of the Shangguan family."
Hearing these words, everyone calmed down a little and sighed: "I also hope that Your Highness can turn the corner. If it is serious enough to be expelled from Huajing..."
After speaking, the minister who spoke shook his head and left with a sigh.
Li Rong didn't need to listen to the conversations between these ministers and Li Chuan, and guessed that they were inseparable.
She is the best candidate for the Construction Inspectorate, not because of her ability, but because she is the princess of the Shangguan family and the elder sister of the prince.
This is her amulet. If someone else did what she did today, how could the noble family forgive her so easily
But she just believed that she would eventually stop her hands in the face of the prince, and dared not do it in the face of the Shangguan family.
This is why Li Ming is willing to use her, but it is also the reason why Li Ming is not willing to help her completely, always watching her from behind and testing her.
Li Rong thought about everything in the court and walked towards the Beiyan Pagoda.
The Beiyan Pagoda was a star-gazing place specially built by Li Ming for her mother when she was young. Later, the emperor and the queen seldom went there. Over time, it was abandoned. Later, due to its remoteness and cleanliness, it became a common practice in the palace. place.
Li Rong ordered Jingmei what she wanted to bring, and went to the front of the tower. Beiyan Tower is the tallest building in the palace. went in.
She followed the stairs and climbed to a higher place. When she reached the top floor, she arrived at her usual place of residence. The attendant pushed open the door for her. As soon as she entered the door, she saw Li Ming sitting inside, drinking tea with his head down.
Li Rong paused for a moment, then showed a surprised expression, and couldn't help but say, "Father?"
Li Ming was sitting at the table making tea, and said calmly, "Come in."
Li Rong didn't speak. She put on her skirt and entered, kneeling respectfully beside Li Ming. Li Ming poured tea for her and said slowly, "I haven't been to Beiyan Pagoda for several years."
Li Rong didn't dare to answer, and Li Ming's voice carried a bit of nostalgia: "When this pagoda was built, your mother was pregnant with you. I was a father for the first time, and I was very happy. At that time, I had a very good relationship with your mother, then I don’t know what she likes when she was born in 2009, I always see her looking at the sky, I think she likes looking at the stars, so in the first year of her enthronement, I started to build this Beiyan Pagoda.”
There was water boiling on the small fire, making a faint sound of boiling water. It seemed that it had just risen. Li Ming turned his head and looked at the open window in the distance.
The windows in this room are all wide open, and when they are opened, the sky outside looks like a painting, Li Ming said slowly: "Sometimes I also wish that I can always be like that time, thinking about nothing, what If you don't understand, you might have a good life. At least, my wife and I should be very affectionate, with you, Chuan'er," Li Ming turned his head and looked at Li Rong, he looked at her, after a long time, slowly Said, "I should have a good relationship, I will be a good father."
"Father has always been very good."
Li Rong opened his mouth to comfort, Li Ming waved his hand, and said with a smile, "I know who I am, and you don't need to tell me."
Li Ming said, he paused for a while, and after a long time, he said, "You are a smart kid, smarter than Chuan'er."
"Father, Chuan'er is only young."
"You're also young," Li Ming chuckled, "but you see it more thoroughly than him, if only you were a man."
Li Rong didn't speak.
In fact, she is not much smarter than Li Ming. If there is, she only knows the ending of her life in advance because she has lived through it.
In the last life, like her Li Chuan, they chose a seemingly better path together, completely relying on other people, and then as they grew older, Li Chuan became the next Li Ming, and the cycle went back and forth.
"I always thought that you were just a little smart, and you were no different from your mother. You helped me to pacify the Yang family, but it was for your own marriage, the establishment of the supervisory department, and it was only because of Pei Wenxuan's instigation that you wanted to gain more power. , but today I suddenly feel that you are actually better than I imagined. Rong Er," Li Ming sighed, "I have to force many things, I don't ask you to blame me, but if I ask for one day, I will return to heaven in a hundred years, you Can know, in fact, in my heart, I also hope that you and Chuan'er can live well."
Li Rong looked at Li Chuan quietly. In fact, Li Chuan was under forty years old now, but he looked like an old man over fifty years old.
His time is running out.
Li Rong clearly understood that in the last life, Li Ming was going to die in the winter two years later.
In the past, she felt that her feelings for Li Ming had faded, but now seeing this person apologize to her, she knew that the power in this person's heart was far above her, but she still felt an indescribable sourness. come up.
"Why is the royal father telling me this now?"
Li Rong smiled bitterly: "You never said anything before."
"I didn't say it in the past, because I was afraid that one day you would feel sad." Li Ming's expression was flat, "I didn't know what you would do in the end, what if you and Chuan'er sent me away in the end? Say these words, you remember In my heart, I will suffer for a lifetime in the future, why bother."
"Today is different," Li Ming laughed, and he looked at Li Rong, "I am very happy."
"My father can be honest with my son," Li Rong laughed. "My son is also very happy."
"It's good that you don't have any grudges in your heart." Li Ming sighed, "Today's court, I can't favor you too much. If the noble family feels that I am determined to deal with them, I am afraid that they will make too radical plans."
"I understand." Li Rong said slowly, "The family is intertwined, it's not a one-off evil, it still has to be done step by step. Moreover, this son is indeed reckless and should be punished."
"Why aren't you a kid?" Li Ming felt a bit regretful, and Li Rong couldn't help laughing, "Father, Chuan'er is actually very good, you'll know if you get to know him more."
"He's very good," Li Ming said slightly. "It's too similar to me. If I keep walking, I'm afraid that he will be the next me. Maybe it's better."
Li Ming smiled, remembered something, waved his hand and said: "But he is still young, let's see later. After all, he is a prince, and if he doesn't make a big mistake, I will not do anything."
"Erchen knows," Li Rong said, knowing that Li Ming was afraid of her being over-hearted, "I just want Chuan'er to do better."
Li Ming replied, he didn't say more, after a while, he slowly said: "Above the court, you also saw it. You must know why I quarreled with your mother. In the future," Li Ming hesitated for a moment. , and finally said, "Our father and daughter are united, don't be grumpy."
"Father, don't worry," Li Rong said calmly, "My son has Daxia in his heart."
Li Ming laughed, raised his hand and patted her shoulder, then remembered something: "Pei Wenxuan left Beijing?"
"Yes." Li Rong said calmly, "Don't worry, Royal Father, he will come back."
Saying that, she raised her eyes and hinted, "Bring back what the father wants."
"Okay." Li Ming clapped his hands and laughed loudly. He took a sip of tea and said happily, "Refreshing."
"Okay," Li Ming stood up and looked around, "You are here to rest and recuperate. If you need anything, let someone tell you with Fu. I will be with you and wait for Pei Wenxuan to come back."
Li Rong stood up and saluted respectfully: "Respectfully send off to the emperor."
Li Ming nodded and walked out quite happy.
After Li Ming walked out, Li Rong sat down and took a sip of tea.
She didn't believe what Li Ming said.
She knows Li Ming too well. He has feelings for both her and Li Chuan, but in front of power, feelings are not worth mentioning. On the one hand, his appeasement today is because he is certain about her taking refuge in him. Joy, on the other hand, is that he finally made sure that she was available, and he deliberately cultivated feelings.
Li Ming held the cup, his heart was a little cold and a little sour.
She didn't know why, but suddenly she thought of Pei Wenxuan very much. She felt that Pei Wenxuan was sitting opposite her, with a smile on Qing Jun's face, and asked her, "Your Highness, what are you worrying about?"
Thinking of Pei Wenxuan's tone, she couldn't help but smile.
She had just poured the tea when there was a creaking sound from the door.
Li Rong raised her head and saw Shangguan Yue standing at the door in a palace uniform.
Li Rong was stunned for a while, then laughed: "Mother."
Shangguan Yue looked a little tired. She stood at the door and watched Li Rong not move.
Li Rong thought for a moment, then said slowly, "Won't the mother come in and sit down?"
"Rongrong," Shangguan Yue said in a low voice, "Do you know what's wrong?"
"What did I do wrong?"
Li Rong's voice was calm: "Am I blocking your way, or am I taking your power?"
Shangguan Yue didn't speak, Li Rong saw that she didn't speak for a long time, and reminded: "Won't the mother come in and sit?"
"No." Shangguan Yue's voice choked, "I'm here to tell your uncle a word."
"Pei Wenxuan is dead."
Li Rong's movements froze. Birds chirped and flew past the window. She slowly raised her head in disbelief and looked at the woman at the door.
Shangguan Yue pretended to be calm, as if it was no different from the usual sitting high.
"Everything that goes against the torrent has a price."
"Rong'er, in the future," Shangguan Yue said with extreme difficulty, "don't be self-willed."
The author has something to say: Li Rong: "My husband is not on the first day. I miss him a little bit. Let's find out how he is."
Shangguan Yue: "He's dead."
Li Rong: "...that's not asking."