Wei Zheng and others were dumbfounded. They did not expect that His Majesty the Emperor would come like this.
Li Yuan was also a little embarrassed, but it was hard to get rid of Li Qian at this time, so he had to force a smile and ask: "What's wrong with your majesty? Is there anyone in this country who is so bold? How dare you ignore your majesty?"
"These thieves are so audacious!"
Li Qian didn't cry like he did just now, but gritted his teeth and said: "They deceived me just after I ascended the throne and caused such a messy scandal in my first trial!"
"Now I have become the laughing stock of everyone, but I will never let them have an easy time!"
"Those who are doing this stupid thing behind the scenes, no one will be spared, and we must not let them go!"
After Li Qian finished his harsh words, he looked at Li Yuan pitifully: "Uncle Emperor, you must help me say this!"
Li Yuan twitched his hands, which had nowhere to rest, and opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.
But Li Qian continued to talk and cried: "Just now, when I heard that someone was doing such a treasonous thing, I immediately thought of the emperor's uncle. Only the emperor's powerful Dinghai Shenzhen can suppress those monsters!"
"The emperor's uncle is the person I trust the most..."
Li Yuanxin has forty-nine holes in his eyes, so it is impossible to be fascinated by his sweet words.
But no matter what, the impact is still somewhat slight, after all, there are so many people watching in the study.
His Majesty the Emperor is like this. This is so pitiful.
The censors all lamented that although he was a bit stubborn and irrational a while ago, he was still a person who corrected his mistakes after he knew them. That's good, that's good!
And now when something goes wrong, instead of rushing in recklessly, he knows how to delegate power. Nothing makes the minister more happy than this.
Moreover, he has good vision and good luck, and he appointed the Duke of the country, an uncle who is loyal to the country...
"Your Majesty, please don't get excited."
Wei Zheng advised from the side: "Your Excellency is indeed an important minister of my country. Now that something so heartbreaking has happened, even if Your Majesty doesn't say anything, I will investigate the matter thoroughly and find out all the people behind the scenes." come out."
The corner of Li Yuan's mouth twitched, but he handed over his hand and expressed his attitude in a deep voice: "Your Majesty has such trust, I feel very frightened. Even if I am completely ruined, I will definitely handle this matter."
There are so many censors watching here. If you continue to be coy, I'm afraid the entire court will know about it tomorrow.
"Moreover, when Cai Chen, Doctor Wei and the Censors were investigating the case, they also found some clues."
Li Yuan added: "At this time, I came here to report to Your Majesty first, so that Your Majesty will not worry too much about this matter."
"I see."
Li Qian was stabbed secretly, but he was not angry, but looked at Li Yuan in surprise: "I saw it right, the emperor's uncle is really an important minister of my country, and he can easily deal with such villains!"
The Duke of Guo ran out to do something, but what he said made you look at him...
All the censors were speechless.
But Li Yuan himself didn't care. After all, he didn't do anything on his own initiative. Everything was watched by Wei Zheng and the censors, and it was done in accordance with the court regulations. This was a fact, and everyone saw it.
"Your Majesty, after receiving the order, I will immediately set off for Gongyuan..."
Li Yuan briefly described the situation in Gongcai Gongyuan just now, and then said in a serious tone that this matter may have affected thousands of candidates. Li Qian gritted his teeth after hearing this.
Li Yuan then brought the topic to the search.
"Your Majesty, while searching the official residence in the inner curtain, Yushi Bao found something."
As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Bao Xuan behind him.
After all, the search of the official residence was an operation mainly carried out by the Huben Guards, so just now Li Yuan secretly received the report from the Huben Guards and knew whose examination house the "evidence" was found from.
But at this moment, not only Li Yuan, but others also focused their attention on Bao Xuan. Many censors were shocked, apparently knowing this news for the first time.
"His Majesty."
Bao Xuan first saluted Li Qian, then slowly took out a small white silk bag from his sleeve and slowly unfolded it.
His Majesty the Emperor, the most powerful Emperor, the Duke of Tang, who held a large number of soldiers, and several upright Imperial Censors all stared at this scene intently.
I saw the cloth bag gradually unfolding, and what was preserved inside was... half a piece of white pancake.
Li Qian raised his head and looked at Bao Xuan with a strange expression. What does this mean?
Li Yuan was also stunned. Although he knew from Huben Guards that Bao Xuan had obtained evidence, he did not say what specific evidence it was, and he did not have time to say it.
Now when I saw it, I realized that it was actually this thing?
"Bao Zhongcheng..."
A censor looked at Bao Xuan in confusion, wanting to hear what was going on.
Bao Xuan had no intention of showing off. He directly pinched half of the pancake to reveal a yellow note inside, then pulled it out and slowly unfolded it.
At this moment, everyone couldn't care less about anything else and joined in one after another.
"It's over a long time ago, but the rumors haven't subsided yet, so be careful."
Just such a word without beginning or end, seemingly saying nothing, yet seeming to reveal everything.
Everyone present was lost in thought.
Li Qian also frowned. He was originally looking forward to this evidence, but now he was a little disappointed when he saw it.
With such a sentence alone, it would be difficult to pin the label on leaking test questions, and it cannot be conclusive at all.
Unless we can find out some real information based on this clue...
Bao Xuan continued: "Your Majesty, Your Excellency, this was found from the official residence of Minister Han Mulu Han."
Han Mulu?
Everyone was stunned. They thought it was some kind of fellow examiner, but they didn't expect that it was directly involved with the deputy examiner, a minister of the third grade!
Li Qian was also shocked.
"No matter what these words mean, at least Han Mulu can be punished for the crime of communicating internally and externally!"
Bao Xuan said in a deep voice: "If we interrogate him more strictly, we may discover more of this person's accomplices!"
The other censors around him were both surprised and excited. Most of the people at the censorship station were experienced in interrogating cases. Among the three law divisions, they had interrogated the most senior court officials. This was because they were in their old profession.
There was a hint of worry on Li Yuan's face, and he suddenly said: "Your Majesty, I didn't take this thing out at that time. If I take it back now, I'm afraid Han Mulu will deny it."
Li Qian was also suddenly startled, this was not impossible.
Tsai's party is so powerful that they can turn black things into white under the influence of public opinion.
Li Yuan looked at Li Qian solemnly: "Your Majesty, when Cai Chen left Gongyuan, he specifically ordered all the inner curtain officials to live separately, and they were not allowed to live in the original official residences."
"If we don't send this thing back to Gongyuan now and say that we found it now, Han Mulu will definitely not be able to deny it."
This makes sense. Who said that the Huben Guards' search had stopped? Even if the Duke and the censors left, everyone was still searching, but this evidence was only found now.
Li Qian hesitated for a moment. This method seemed feasible, but in fact it was somewhat inappropriate...
Bao Xuan also looked at Li Yuan and said, "My lord, the Duke, is very meticulous in his affairs, and I am impressed by my subordinates."
"It's just that the official didn't publicize the matter at that time, just to avoid alerting others. If the mastermind behind it is found out so early, then the subsequent investigation will be inconvenient, and how can we find other people?"
Bao Xuan went on to explain: "Just as the strange thing that the Duke of the State found in the Ministry of Rites can implicate Song Qiaonian, but if Han Mulu is charged with leaking test questions too early, then what crime should Song Qiaonian be investigated for later? ?”
After having caught a criminal of the rank of minister, there will definitely be resistance if you want to convict an official of the same level.
There are many reasons, such as the dignity of the court, the psychological tendencies of the ministers, and the resistance of the Cai Party...
Li Yuan paused for a moment, then nodded slowly, as if he had just thought of this statement.
But Li Qian's eyes lit up and he discovered the key point: "Uncle Huang took action and he was able to capture it. I don't know what clues he found in the Ministry of Rites."
Li Yuan didn't want to continue talking, but said: "Your Majesty, I don't know very well how the examination questions are selected. The strange things in the Ministry of Rites are not so much discovered by Chen as they are by Mr. Wei."
Li Qian turned to look at Wei Zheng again.
"Back to Your Majesty, when I went to the Ministry of Rites to investigate the case, I found that Minister Song..."
As Wei Zheng explained, Li Qian kept nodding, thinking that at least two of them could be killed this time, which was much better than previously expected.
Of course, this is just an estimate. Nothing will be counted until it is implemented. We cannot celebrate in advance just yet...
"check!"
"Strict investigation!!"
Li Gan looked solemn, looked at Wei Zheng and Li Yuan and said, "I didn't expect there to be so many moths in the imperial court!"
He gritted his teeth and said: "These people buy and sell test questions for their own selfish interests, so that the decades of hard study of tens of thousands of candidates have been wiped out! How is this fair to the candidates?"
His Majesty the Emperor's words were so shocking that everyone present was stunned.
Li Qian looked at Li Yuan and the censors: "For the tens of thousands of people who will take the exam, this matter must not be left unanswered! We must investigate thoroughly and let the people behind the scenes get the punishment they deserve! Return the scholars." Let us have a bright future!"
What you said is very high-level, not to avenge yourself or regain face, but so that the scholars can be treated fairly!
Some people just fall for this.
The imperial censors at the rear all responded like chickens to blood: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I will definitely investigate this matter even if I'm messed up!"
"What is black cannot be whitened, and what is fake cannot be true! The masterminds behind the scenes must be severely punished..."
In this case, Li Yuan and Wei Zheng also bowed their hands and saluted at the same time, expressing their attitude: "I will obey the holy orders!"
"good!"
Li Qian nodded solemnly: "Then we will conduct a thorough investigation, not only to find out who sent the note to Han Mulu, but also to find out Song Qiaonian's whereabouts on the day of the exam!"
"This matter does not need to go through the Three Laws Division, it will be investigated and handled by your noble families!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The officials responded and left.
Watching these people walk out of Dongnuan Pavilion and head south, until they were far away and couldn't see their backs clearly, Li Qian let out a long sigh of relief and fell back on his chair.
"His Majesty."
The old eunuch brought a bowl of hot tea and held it next to his face.
"No need for now." Li Qian rubbed his brow and waved his hand.
It was only then that the tight string in his heart relaxed a little and he breathed a sigh of relief.
At present, everything seems to be normal. Li Yuan did not jump over the wall in a hurry. Between Cai Jing and all the civil servants, he still chose the civil servants.
This is normal. Now that the leak has caused such a big fuss, the matter has attracted the attention of all officials in the DPRK and China.
If Li Yuan still chooses to favor Cai Jing under this situation, first of all, his relationship with Cai Jing will be exposed, and secondly, his good reputation among civil servants will be ruined.
Anyone who is smart knows how to choose.
But Li Qian was afraid that Li Yuan would be irrational and jump over the wall in a hurry.
For this reason, Li Qian also made a lot of preparations. For example, he temporarily transferred the Huben guards guarding the imperial city and asked Zhao Kuangyin's people to defend in the north city. Once Li Yuanzhen decided to give it a go and lead his troops to counterattack the imperial city, Li Qian would be able to There is also a buffer gap.
Of course, that doesn't mean he trusted Zhao Kuangyin and Yang Jian that much. Li Qian also made some preparations in the north of the capital.
The Yulin Guards guarding the capital and the north of the imperial city are the Yulin Guards, but the composition of the Yulin Guards is very mixed. There are people from Li Yuan, people from Yang Jian, people from Zhao Kuangyin, and others who are not subordinate to anyone, even Lu Bu... As long as he is a A general in his right mind would not use this kind of army to launch a coup.
Therefore, the north of the city was relatively safe for Li Qian. He also asked Lu Bu to provide support there. As long as there was trouble in the capital, Li Qian could leave from there at any time.
Fortunately, none of these plans were used and no accidents occurred.
It seems that Zhao Kuangyin and Yang Jian are also smart people and have seen Li Yuan's current situation. They both know that as long as they sit back and watch this situation, they can see that Li Yuan's strength is weakened.
This was a good thing for them, so their actions were in line with Li Qian's expectations.
After thinking so much, Li Qian let out a long breath, sat up straight, took the tea cup from the old eunuch's hand, and sipped gently.
Since there are no surprises now, the next step is to see how Li Yuan treats Cai Jing. He didn't give it a try before, but now he is in a real dilemma.
After all, if Cai Jing were to give up, his losses would be huge. Let’s not mention the loss of a political ally. Let’s just say that if Cai Jing bites him in a hurry, he will lose a piece of his flesh.
The two must have collaborated many times, and Cai Jing may also have something against Li Yuan.
If Li Yuan attacks Cai Dang too harshly, Cai Jing may be tempted to jump over the wall and expose Li Yuan.
But if Li Yuan lets Cai Dang go easily, the censors who are following him to assist in handling the case will definitely not agree. After the two sides break up, all officials' impression of Li Yuan will probably change suddenly. At least his popularity among civil servants will change. I can’t keep my reputation...
After thinking here for a moment, Li Qian stood up and said, "Let's go back to Qianyuan Palace."
Now the crisis has not been completely resolved. In recent days, Li Qian has decided to stay in the harem more. Once things change, he can evacuate quickly...
Li Yuan and Wei Zheng's investigation went smoothly at first. The only people who delivered meals to Han Mulu every day were his servants, so the Military and Horse Division took advantage of the situation and surrounded the Han Mansion and began to search it.
Song Qiaonian's affairs cannot be concealed. When did he leave the mansion, when did he come to Gongyuan, who did he come into contact with, and where did he go after delivering the examination questions...
In the meticulous handling of the case by the censors, all these dirty things will be revealed.
But at this critical juncture, we encountered resistance again.