The Minister of Punishment nodded. He also knew about this matter. It was the details that were to be reported today, and the emperor was originally supposed to investigate the final destination of these crossbows.
Don't underestimate these nearly a hundred crossbows. If they are used to assassinate court officials, many people will die, enough to create chaos.
When Xiao Pingsi heard this, he already understood who was probably behind this incident.
Suddenly angry: "Have you ever asked He Louqian where those crossbows went?"
"Asked...He Louqian has been sentenced to death, but he doesn't want to tell." The Minister of Punishment was helpless. It was difficult for him to help someone who was already dead.
Xiao Chaoguo said coldly: "If you hand him over to the Xuanjian Division, you won't believe that he can't speak!"
Everyone was silent.
If it were in the past, I'm afraid everyone would object to the Xuanjian Division using torture like this.
But this matter concerns the Young Master, and neither His Majesty nor the Xuanjian Division dare to uphold justice.
Zhuge Qingshan said: "Even if He Louqian doesn't say anything, he must be more than one person who handled this matter. Can't we ask for the confessions of others?"
"The Chief Assistant is right, the Criminal Department is interrogating He Louqian's staff and accomplices..."
Xiao Pingsi also knew what these people meant, but Fang Jue still didn't speak, but he couldn't pretend to be stupid.
"Do you still need to investigate? The group of people who assassinated Ye Hongyi yesterday used Fuzhou standard crossbow arrows. Follow this line of investigation... No matter who is found, they will be dealt with in accordance with the law!"
"Your Majesty, your Majesty..." Xiao Chaoguo said immediately.
Once the emperor has expressed his stance, he can go ahead and investigate. Even if there is a prince involved, he can still investigate.
It's just that we can't arrest people, but there are no obstacles to questioning.
"Your Majesty the Holy Ming..." Fang Jue seemed to be a little slow.
…
After the court dismissed in the morning, the emperor took people to the imperial study.
There are some things that are not convenient to talk about in person.
Zhuge Qingshan, Xiao Chaoguo, Mo Yuan, Lu Xin...
In addition to Fang Jue, relevant insiders have already arrived at the scene.
"Tell me, what's going on?" The emperor looked at several people.
Zhuge Qingshan was also confused, but he understood the importance of this matter. Apart from anything else, the young master's attitude had to be taken seriously.
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid this case involves a lot of things."
"The person who assassinated Mr. Ye was Wanjianshan who was on the list of evildoers in Emperor Zun Pavilion."
"That famous flower-picking thief?" the emperor said disgustedly.
Suddenly thinking of something, Xiao Pingsi glared: "What about Ye Hongyi?"
"Your Majesty, don't worry. Wan Jianshan was killed by Master Ye before he succeeded."
"That's good..." Xiao Pingsi breathed a sigh of relief and sat back on the chair.
If he really succeeded, the young master would be extremely angry today.
"The person behind the scenes must be using Wanjian Mountain as a cover to allow him to assassinate in the name of picking flowers. As long as the crossbow arrows and horse corpses are taken away, no one will know that a crossbow team has appeared." Zhuge Qingshan suddenly analyzed it.
.
Lu Xin said: "But they didn't expect that Wan Jianshan would be killed, so no one would wipe out the evidence."
"Exactly...but how could Wanjian Mountain be hidden in the capital?" Xiao Pingsi frowned.
At this time, Mo Yuan apologized and said:
"I have failed in protecting the capital. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Xiao Chaoguo shook his head: "The commander-in-chief does not need to blame himself. The fault of this matter does not lie with the Forbidden Army. The city defense and curfew are under the control of the patrol camp. The Forbidden Army is mostly near the palace wall."
"To be able to bring a wanted criminal into Beijing, the person behind the scenes must have someone in the patrol camp to support him."
Except for special periods, the gates of Jinling City are generally controlled by patrol camps. The imperial army only controls the imperial city and helps the patrol camps suppress uncontrollable unrest.
Lu Xin took advantage of the situation and said: "Your Majesty, last night, the Imperial Guards patrolling the palace wall heard the noise and rushed there, but the patrol camp did not show up... Maybe Chief Xiao's suspicion is right."
It's smooth.
Everyone nodded, realizing that the patrol camp was not clean.
The emperor said seriously: "Check, check thoroughly for me, no matter who is involved, get to the bottom of it!"
Not to mention giving an explanation to the young master, just daring to place people in the patrol camp and steal a large number of bows and crossbows from Fuzhou is already a sign of disobedience.
Not to mention being a high-ranking official in the capital, even if the prince dares to commit this crime, Xiao Pingsi will not let it go.
For the emperor, military force must be in his hands, and he can only hold it in his hands. Anyone who attempts to test or provoke will be seeking death.
When the other ministers all left one by one, only the people from the Xuanjian Division were left in the Imperial Study Room.
Xiao Pingsi finally asked: "With such a large number of crossbows entering the capital, don't tell me that your Xuanjian Division has found nothing?"
"Your Majesty, the people who were in charge of this before were Xiao Luoye's people." Xiao Chaoguo didn't want to pass the blame, but it's really not his fault for this matter.
This Xiao Luoye belongs to Your Majesty. Everyone thinks that everything he does is authorized by you.
How dare I check him normally?
Isn't that provoking the monarch's authority?
"Ahem..." Xiao Pingsi felt embarrassed and slightly annoyed, "Are you even the slightest bit suspicious?"
Xiao Chaoguo said coyly: "Maybe we can only find out the insider in the patrol camp first, and then follow the clues."
This is official enough.
The patrol camp on Zhuque Street was deliberately transferred last night. This will definitely leave traces. Whoever ordered it can be easily traced.
But the emperor still rolled his eyes at Xiao Chaoguo: "Now you want to hide it from me too?"
Xiao Chaoguo knelt down quickly: "I don't dare..."
"Then tell me, who is the most suspicious?" Xiao Pingsi glanced at Xiao Chaoguo.
Xiao Chaoguo was speechless, wondering who was the most suspicious. Your Majesty, you have no idea?
But after all, he did not dare to deceive the king. Xiao Chaoguo said helplessly: "Your Majesty is wise, why should I make it clear... Where is the crossbow in front of the building, Fuzhou guard Li Chuan..."
Even when he saw the emperor, he still held it, and Xiao Chaoguo stopped being a riddler:
"He Louqian and Li Chuan, as well as other people who should be implicated in this case, are mostly from His Highness King Qi..."
What? Xiao Chaoguo stopped talking.
"Party?" Xiao Pingsi sneered and added the two words Xiao Chaoguo didn't dare to say.
Xiao Chaoguo was silent and did not dare to answer.
Xiao Pingsi frowned and thought carefully about how to deal with it.
"His Majesty……"
Wang Feng reminded: "I heard that Master Ye was injured, so the young master went to guard her for half the night."
Xiao Pingsi was shocked and understood Ye Hongyi's position in the young master's heart, and knew that he had to make a choice.
If it's partiality, I'm afraid both the Xuanjian Division and the Young Master will be displeased with me.
"Xiao Chaoguo?"
"I'm here!" Xiao Chaoguo looked serious, knowing that the emperor was about to give an order.
Xiao Pingsi sighed: "You personally lead the palace soldiers and go to Prince Qi's palace with Mo Yuan from the Forbidden Army."
"Your Majesty?" Xiao Chaoguo was surprised. We haven't found any conclusive evidence yet. Are you going to arrest your own son?
"Go and search, and bring back those who work for King Qi for interrogation... Regardless of whether there are any results, we will temporarily close the palace of King Qi."
Xiao Pingsi said: "In the Helouqian case, most of King Qi's gang members were co-defendants. How could he not know anything about it?"
Using this reason to search Prince Qi's Mansion is quite reasonable.
However, the Sanfa Division did not dare to do this without proof, and only the emperor could issue such an order.
"Your Majesty, if you find out something, can you conceal the information?" Xiao Chaoguo asked.
If someone else is around, naturally you can't ask this question.
Xiao Pingsi said calmly: "I didn't even hide Xiao Luoye's case. How dare Prince Qi rebel?"
"Your Majesty is wise, I will go now..."
After Xiao Chaoguo left with his decree, only the emperor and Wang Feng were left in the huge imperial study.
Xiao Pingsi let out a long sigh and pinched the corners of his eyes. He was only halfway through the day, but he was already very nervous.
"My prince, why are all of you so careless?"
Wang Feng didn't dare to answer the call.
Xiao Pingsi said: "Wang Feng, tell me, why are they not satisfied? Being born as a prince, being aloof, gold, silver, silk, delicacies, eating, drinking and having fun are not enough."
"Why do each one of them not know how to share his father's worries, but instead only care about their own selfish interests... With such a prince, how can I dare to establish a prince?"
Wang Feng originally planned to persuade him, but after hearing the second half of the sentence, he continued to pretend to be dumb.
You talk to me about the prince's affairs, but if I dare to talk too much, I'm afraid I'll get tired of living...
"When I was young, my situation was much higher than theirs, so the late emperor finally chose me...Why don't they understand this?"
Wang Feng still didn't talk.
In my heart, if there were sensible people in the world, there would be no conflicts and wars.