In the palace, in the study room.
Emperor Wen Mo Xiangbin was sitting on the throne, with a cold and solemn face; Mo Junhao was standing directly opposite the emperor, with his head lowered, as if he was being scolded.
The two of them 'confronted' like this for nearly a quarter of an hour.
Mo Xiangbin suddenly asked: "Hao'er, do you know your guilt?"
Mo Junhao pretended to be stupid: "I don't know what happened to my son to offend my father. Please forgive me this time for the sake of my filial piety in the past!"
These words did not admit his fault, but also softened him. Even if Mo Xiangbin was angry again, he would be a little moved by his well-behaved attitude.
However, this time Mo Xiangbin did not let him go as softly as usual, and said with a sneer: "Someone told me that you privately raised troops and intended to rebel. Is this possible?"
Mo Junhao's heart trembled violently. He was no longer as calm and calm as before. He quickly knelt down and kowtowed, and argued eagerly: "This is absolutely not the case. This must be someone who framed my son. Please take a closer look!"
He would take it easy on other matters, but this matter must be denied resolutely, quickly and categorically, otherwise Mo Xiangbin would be suspicious. If he had spoken slower, the crime would have been firmly placed on his head, preventing him from ever turning over.
"So, that village in the outskirts of Baicheng doesn't belong to you? The man who trains soldiers there is not your uncle?" Mo Xiangbin pointed out the fact with an expression on his face, and threw a stack of accounts on the table at Mo Junhao.
"Isn't this account book also recording the military supplies you transported to that village?"
Mo Junhao didn't dare to hide, so he was hit on the head by the heavy booklet, which bounced to the ground.
He stopped picking it up because he knew that everything Mo Xiangbin said was true and the evidence was conclusive. There might even be more 'criminal evidence' about him on the desk.
"Father..." Mo Junhao called in a low voice, his voice was sad, and various countermeasures were quickly scanned in his mind, but it seemed that every path he had was blocked.
He has been convicted!
Just when Mo Junhao was feeling frightened to the extreme, the eunuch's report came from outside: "Concubine Liu Guifei asks to see the Holy One."
The atmosphere in the study room suddenly paused, and Mo Junhao clearly felt that the pressure on him was relieved a lot - Liu Yiyi's appearance was undoubtedly the best tranquilizer for Mo Xiangbin.
He secretly breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but secretly raise his head, but he happened to meet Mo Xiangbin's half-smiling gaze. His heart trembled, and he quickly lowered his head.
"You really have a good mother-in-law!" Mo Xiangbin said in a nonchalant manner. It was hard to tell whether it was pure emotion or sarcasm.
Mo Junhao did not dare to think deeply, and cautiously agreed: "My mother, my concubine, what she cares about the most is your father, the emperor. Your son and minister are just witnesses of your love for each other!"
The coldness on Mo Xiangbin's face remained unchanged, but Mo Junhao was keenly aware that the other person's eyes were less sharp when he looked at him.
Seeing that this was the best opportunity, Mo Junhao clenched his fists, lowered his head lower, and admitted his mistake in a sincere and sad voice: "My son knows that it is against the law for my son to carry soldiers privately, and it is also a violation of the law for your father. The child is willing to be punished for being disrespectful, but the child really has no choice but to do this!"
First, he took the initiative to admit his mistake and put himself in a positive position. Then he characterized the "private army" as a violation of the law and cleared the charge of rebellion. Finally, he used "last resort" to express his extenuating circumstances.
There is also Liu Yiyi assisting outside.
Even though Mo Xiangbin did not meet with Liu Yiyi, his attitude towards Mo Junhao was somewhat softer, and he asked calmly: "Then tell me, what are your last resort difficulties?"
Mo Junhao gritted his teeth, looking like he was deeply humiliated but helpless, and said pitifully: "To be proud and complacent, my son knows that his father is the most proud of his subjects among many princes. The child has always been very grateful, but After all, the royal family does not have to be an ordinary family. Even if the son wants to have brothers and sisters, and wants to live in peace with others, the number of people who want to harm the child has only increased since he was a child."
He slowly raised his head, as if he was being forced into a panic, his eyes were red, "Father, you must not know how many times my son has been assassinated and how many times he has narrowly escaped death over the years.
Faced with the imminent life and death crisis, even though my reason tells me that this is wrong, I still can't help but think that just getting your favor is not enough. Without a certain amount of strength, I can't save myself.
My son…”
Two tears fell down Mo Junhao's cheeks. He quickly lowered his head to cover it up and murmured in a duller and helpless voice: "I just want to live."
A man doesn't shed tears lightly, but it's just not the time to feel sad.
Mo Junhao's sincere confession is 90% true, and even the most hard-hearted people will be moved when they hear it.
What's more, Mo Xiangbin's love and respect for Mo Junhao cannot be faked. After hearing these words, even though he was still angry, the sadness and helplessness in Mo Junhao's words aroused his fatherly heart.
There was another long silence.
Mo Xiangbin finally sighed, seemingly sternly, but in fact he said calmly: "I won't do this next time!"
He was also afraid that Mo Junhao would really be bullied by others, so he added helplessly: "I don't care about the soldiers raised in Baicheng, but if I find out that you have similar things elsewhere, don't blame me for turning your back on them. !”
"Thank you very much, Father, for being generous!" Mo Junhao was overjoyed, kowtowed repeatedly to express his gratitude, and swore to promise: "My son, I only want to protect myself, I have no greed, and I have no intention of harming others. Please rest assured, Father. "
Mo Xiangbin snorted angrily, "That's how it is."
Even though it was clear that the situation would not turn out so peacefully, both father and son tacitly avoided talking about it.
"You should go back and think carefully about your mistake. As for the left prime minister..."
Mo Xiangbin spoke slowly, and the pause made Mo Junhao's heart rise again.
He learned his lesson this time and still bowed his head to listen to the instructions, waiting for Mo Xiangbin's next words.
Mo Xiangbin glanced at Mo Junhao with satisfaction, then threw another pile of things on the desk in front of Mo Junhao, and said lightly: "I'm too lazy to talk about it, you can see for yourself!"
Mo Junhao hesitated for a moment, then opened the documents as instructed and scanned them one by one.
He browsed faster and faster, and his face became more and more ugly, and finally turned completely black.
When Mo Xiangbin saw this, he sighed with half a smile: "Hao'er, you have really found a good father-in-law!"
"My son..." Mo Junhao's face was as bitter as his heart this time.
He wanted to express that he really did not find Qin Shirong, his father-in-law. Mo Xiangbin had clearly forced it on him, but after all, he was the one who got the advantage, so he had to silently take the blame.
His face became more and more frightened, "My son is guilty..."
Mo Xiangbin asked in confusion: "What does Qin Shirong's accepting bribes, corruption and bending the law have to do with you? Are you going to plead guilty on his behalf?"
Mo Junhao paused and immediately understood that this was Mo Xiangbin giving him a chance to clear up his relationship with Qin Shirong.
It was a matter of life and death, but in the blink of an eye, he had already made a decision.
"As a minister, Prime Minister Qin should obey the law and abide by the law. If he violates the law, he should be punished. Even if he is my father-in-law, he will not be exempted from punishment. As for how to deal with him, I will obey my father's instructions." Mo Junhao The voice of the answer was sonorous and powerful, and the words were sincere. He solemnly expressed his position from the commanding heights of morality and law.
Mo Xiangbin looked at Mo Junhao quietly for a while, with no emotion or anger on his face.
After a long time, I heard him say softly: "Well, this matter should finally come to an end. Get up and draft a decree for me!"
Drawing up edicts for the emperor was generally the work of the Hanlin, but for some crucial or urgent edicts, the emperor might write them himself or leave them to someone close to him and whom he trusted.
"Here." Although Mo Junhao was favored by Mo Xiangbin, he had never done the work of drafting an edict before, so he was flattered when he heard this.
It is still worthwhile to trade Qin Shirong for Mo Xiangbin's closer trust.
The bright imperial edict was spread out in front of Mo Junhao. He held the wolf hair in his hand, waiting for Mo Xiangbin's instructions.
"Responsibility, the Prime Minister of the Left, Qin Shirong, accepted bribes from his disciples, took bribes, violated the law, formed a clique for personal gain, and ignored the laws of our country. He is now dismissed from his official position and imprisoned in a prison. After..." Mo Junhao wrote down the imperial edict bit by bit according to Mo Xiangbin's words, and listened. He didn't look up until the latter paused.
Seeing Mo Xiangbin's eyes looking deep in thought, he whispered in confusion: "Father?"
Mo Xiangbin came back to his senses and continued: "After thorough examination by Dali Temple, I will punish you according to the law. This is my honor."
As soon as Mo Junhao started writing, his hand suddenly stopped and he almost missed the imperial edict. He suddenly raised his head and looked at Mo Xiangbin in shock without moving.
Although the Dali Temple of Mo State was responsible for jailing and detailed punishments, it had always only punished the faults of the clan nobles and rarely interfered with the culpability of ordinary people or even officials. However, Mo Xiangbin actually wanted to send Qin Shirong to Dali Temple.
"Keep writing!" Mo Xiangbin urged nonchalantly.
Mo Junhao understood immediately.
If the Ministry of Punishment belongs to his sphere of influence, then Dali Temple and the Ministry of Rites are in the same line, and they are definitely the most determined princelings. Dali Temple is completely controlled by Prince Rui's Palace.
Mo Xiangbin's move was clearly to send Qin Shirong to Mo Junyang to vent his anger.
Only then did Mo Junhao completely throw away the last bit of luck - he had no chance of helping the Qin family - lowered his head and completely recorded the holy intention into the imperial edict stroke by stroke.
Watching Mo Xiangbin stamp the royal seal and then the eunuch took it out to read out, Mo Junhao felt complicated and difficult to distinguish in his heart.
Although he was glad that he had escaped safely, he couldn't help but be unwilling to give up - Qin Shirong was definitely the most stable and reliable force in the four princes' faction - this time he fought with Mo Junyang from a distance, and his vitality was severely damaged. His future plans are really worrying!
Before Mo Junhao could figure out which mood was more dominant, the eunuch Liang Eunuch hurried in and knelt down to report: "Your Majesty, Concubine Liu has something important to report, and I beg your Majesty's permission to be granted permission to face the emperor."
Mo Xiangbin glanced sideways at Mo Junhao and nodded, "Let her in!"
Liu Yiyi entered the house in a hurry. After entering, she greeted Mo Xiangbin directly, and then stood quietly in front of the emperor, without even looking at her son from beginning to end.
Even though Mo Xiangbin knew Liu Yiyi's purpose of coming to the study, he nodded secretly when he saw this, and his voice when he spoke again was unconsciously gentle, "Your Majesty, you are urgently seeking to see me. What's the matter?"
"Back to Your Majesty, Concubine Qin was kidnapped by a masked assassin. Your Majesty, please send troops to rescue Concubine Qin immediately!" Liu Yiyi answered with an urgent voice and quickly threw a huge thunder.
"What?" Mo Xiangbin stood up in shock.
Mo Junhao's pupils suddenly shrank, but he couldn't help but be overjoyed in his heart: Here is his chance to fight back!