Zhao Chen was relaxed and comfortable here, but Kong Yingda was not having an easy time there.
Li Tai is missing and there is no clue yet.
Kong Yingda was also very anxious.
At this moment, he summoned a group of ministers to discuss matters in Taiji Hall.
It's said to be a summons, but in fact it's basically a coercion.
All the family members of the officials were arrested and taken to the imperial city. Who dared to say no to Kong Yingda?
"Colleagues, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was kidnapped by Zhao Chen, and now he is not sure whether he is alive or dead. What can you do?" Kong Yingda and the officials asked in the Taiji Hall.
None of the officials spoke.
Zhao Chen has returned to Chang'an and kidnapped Li Tai.
By this time the situation was basically clear.
Who is willing to follow Li Tai all the way to darkness?
At this time, those who still want to be enemies with Zhao Chen, except for some people who have a deep hatred for Zhao Chen and it is impossible for both parties to abandon their past grudges, who would be considered a fool?
Although the emperor never personally acknowledged Zhao Chen's identity.
But someone had previously received information about Zhao Chen's identity from Queen Changsun.
Zhao Chen comes back and Li Tai is captured. The future crown prince of the Tang Dynasty will definitely be Zhao Chen.
At this time, are they trying every means to help Kong Yingda deal with the future prince?
Got kicked in the head by a donkey?
There was deathly silence in Tai Chi Hall, no one spoke a word.
Even though Kong Yingda had long expected such a scene, when he actually saw it, he couldn't help but feel anger welling up from his heart.
"What's going on, you just watch something happen to the prince?"
"I'm telling you, if something happens to the prince, I'll take care of you first." Kong Yingda shouted angrily.
His two words made all the officials' expressions change.
All the officials and their families here were imprisoned by Kong Yingda.
Kong Yingda said he was taking care of them, but in reality he was taking care of their family members.
But even so, they did not dare to confront Kong Yingda.
They can disregard their own lives, but their family members...
"Kong Zhongshu, we don't even have any news about Zhao Chen. How can we think of other solutions?"
"Speaking of a thousand truths, you should at least know where they are, right?" an official said.
If you don't speak now, Kong Yingda will definitely not show mercy.
"Know where they are?"
"If I know where they are, do I still need you to find a way?"
"Why don't we just bring the army and surround them!" Kong Yingda was furious and glared at the officials who came out to speak.
When Kong Yingda said this, the official did not dare to say another word and returned to the queue in fear.
Seeing that some officials were scolded, the others did not dare to speak.
"how?"
"At this point, you all want to give up on His Highness the Crown Prince and wait for Zhao Chen to come back, right?" Kong Yingda's voice was low and his eyes were sharp.
"Kong Zhongshu, there has been news from the queen's side that Zhao Chen is actually your majesty's eldest son."
"What does the fight between two princes have to do with us and the ministers?"
"Now that His Highness the Crown Prince is captured, it must mean his failure. In the future, Zhao Chen will definitely be my Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty."
"If we deal with the future prince of the Tang Dynasty now, wouldn't we be seeking death?" Another official came forward.
His few words made all the officials nod.
Everyone felt that if they helped a prince who committed a crime to deal with the future prince, wouldn't that be causing trouble for themselves?
"Seeking death?"
"I would like to remind you that there was only one prince in the Tang Dynasty, and that was Prince Li Tai."
"As for Zhao Chen, he is just a country boy. Because of some rumors, he is called the eldest son of the emperor."
"If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is killed because of these, you will all be guilty of an unforgivable crime." Kong Yingda said again.
Ever since he followed Li Tai to deal with Zhao Chen, Kong Yingda had no way out.
It can be said that the other officials were forced to deal with Zhao Chen, but he, Kong Yingda, had been fighting for Li Tai.
Li Taigui is the prince, and even if the emperor wants to deal with him in the future, he may not be killed.
But Kong Yingda has absolutely no chance of survival.
Even the family behind him will be implicated.
A thousand-year-old family was destroyed in one day?
Kong Yingda cannot bear this responsibility!
"What good advice does Kong Zhongshu have?" an official asked.
Although it was just a question like this, everyone knew that this was a squeeze on Kong Yingda.
Kong Yingda himself had no solution, so how could he blame them for not being able to come up with a solution?
"Good strategy?"
"I have a good idea."
"Isn't Zhao Chen very close to Wei Zheng?"
"It just so happens that I invited all of Wei Zheng's family into the imperial city yesterday."
"I plan to ask Wei Zheng to perform a play for me. Starting this afternoon, within three days, if Zhao Chen does not send His Royal Highness back safely, I will kill all of Wei Zheng's family."
"Let's see if Zhao Chen is willing to do this!" Kong Yingda glanced at the ministers and said slowly.
In the Tai Chi Hall, there was once again a dead silence.
They never imagined that Kong Yingda's so-called good strategy would be so vicious.
With the lives of Wei Zheng's family, Zhao Chen was forced to send the prince back.
Everyone knows the relationship between Wei Zheng and Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen only had a few people he was good with in Chang'an.
Wei Zheng is one of them.
Given the lives of Wei Zheng's family, Zhao Chen will definitely show up.
None of the officials would have any doubts.
But is this really a good thing?
Do you no longer need the face of the court?
If the people of the world knew that Kong Yingda had done this, what credibility would the Tang Dynasty have?
Who would trust a court that could make such a dirty decision?
But even so, no one among the officials present spoke.
What can they say?
Now that Kong Yingda has said it, it proves that he has made a decision.
Nothing these people say can affect the final decision.
It is better to save some energy to avoid harming yourself.
"Everyone, who of you has any opinions?" Kong Yingda saw that the officials were silent and asked again.
Everyone shook their heads.
"Then it's decided. I will send an order later and inform Zhao Chen that if His Royal Highness is not returned safely within three days."
"Wei Zheng and his family have to go see the King of Hell." Kong Yingda waved his hand with a cold look.
…
"Oh my God, how could such a thing happen?"
"The prince was captured by Zhao Chen, and Kong Yingda actually forced Zhao Chen to put the prince back at the cost of the lives of Prime Minister Wei and his family."
"Prime Minister Wei served the country his whole life and was loyal, yet he ended up like this."
"Kong Yingda, as the head of the Kong family, has committed such an unfaithful, unfilial, unkind and unjust act. He must be punished by God."
"When Kong Yingda prevented the women's college from opening classes, I said he had sinister intentions. Look at today, it has indeed come true."
"It's really ridiculous. A person with such a vicious heart is actually a model of scholars in the world. He does everything to the best of his ability. I just hope God will open his eyes."
Chang'an City was full of people scolding Kong Yingda.
In the eyes of the people of Chang'an, Wei Zheng was tall and majestic and loyal to the Tang Dynasty.
But today's notice said that if Zhao Chen did not release Li Tai, Wei Zheng's family would be killed.
How could the people not be excited?
Everyone in the world is indignant at Kong Yingda's rebellious behavior.