When the officials in the Shangshu Province heard what Wei Zheng said, they couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
"Prime Minister Wei, haven't all the investigations in Qizhou been completed?"
"Is there anything else we need to review now?" an official from Shangshu Province asked Wei Zheng curiously.
Although the others did not speak, they looked at Wei Zheng with strange expressions.
They were all very aware of the Qizhou matter, which had been almost resolved a long time ago, and were waiting for Zhao Chen to come back and review all the cases again.
After Zhao Chen has completed his review, it will be time to punish the Qizhou officials as they should.
There shouldn't be any matters related to their Shangshu Province.
Why is it now...
"This is a booklet sent by Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment. You should take a look first!" Wei Zheng handed the booklet in his hand to the official of Shangshu Province in front of him.
The official from Shangshu Province took the folding book with a puzzled look on his face.
The rest of the people also came over, their eyes falling on the contents of the book.
"He...Hejian County Prince?"
"Did His Highness the King of Han make a mistake?"
"How could Prince Hejian..."
After reading the contents of the brochure, the official of Shangshu Province immediately changed his expression.
How could he have thought that Li Xiaogong, the prince of Hejian County, was actually involved in Qizhou's affairs, and was actually the mastermind behind Ma Zhiyuan's affairs.
"Xiang Wei, is this true or false?"
"How is this possible?"
"Prince Hejian has been working diligently for the court. How could he be the mastermind behind Ma Zhiyuan?"
"Yes, when His Majesty the Emperor was away from Chang'an, it was thanks to Prince Hejian that the court was stabilized. Now it is said that he is the mastermind behind the scenes. How is this possible?"
"But the confession does indeed say Li Xiaogong, Prince of Hejian County?"
Although the officials of Shangshu Province did not believe it, it was written clearly in black and white.
"His Royal Highness the King of Han personally examined it, and Ma Zhiyuan drew it himself. The matter is very outrageous, but we have to believe it." Fang Xuanling spoke slowly.
He himself didn't quite believe this, but Zhao Chen would never joke with them about such a thing.
If Li Xiaogong was actually identified, it must be related to Ma Zhiyuan and others.
Now Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling just don't know what kind of opinion they should make on this matter.
"Everyone, we have to think about what to do now. As for the rest, we don't need to worry about it." Wei Zheng said to everyone.
What the emperor will do with Li Xiaogong is not up to them.
Since Zhao Chen chose to bring this matter out, he definitely didn't want to make things easier for Li Xiaogong.
But these have nothing to do with them.
"Here are the words in black and white. Everything has been settled. There is nothing more to say." An official from Shangshu Province said slowly, with a look of shock on his face.
Even at this time, they still find it difficult to believe this.
"Yes, since Ma Zhiyuan has confessed and been imprisoned, we can just report this matter directly to His Majesty."
"As for the rest, it is up to His Majesty to decide. Let's not get involved in this matter." Another official from Shangshu Province said.
The emperor's previous actions were obviously to protect Li Xiaogong.
This allowed many people to see the emperor's attitude towards this matter.
And now that Zhao Chen has exposed this matter again, he is undoubtedly forcing the emperor to punish Li Xiaogong.
If these two people fight, the consequences will be too great.
It's better for ordinary people like them to stay away.
"So, everyone agrees to submit this confession to His Majesty the Emperor?" Fang Xuanling asked everyone.
Everyone nodded.
Letting the emperor handle this matter personally is the best choice.
This is because they are good at making opinions, but it will anger the emperor or Zhao Chen.
…
The emperor is handling government affairs in Ganquan Hall.
During the days after returning to Chang'an, the emperor lived quite comfortably.
Everything returned to its original track without any danger.
Zhao Chen also returned safely from Qizhou and actively asked to go to the border frontline in a few days.
The emperor felt that he had killed two birds with one stone and was very successful.
I'm in a pretty good mood today, and the news from all over the place is good.
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Wei and Prime Minister Fang have come to pay their respects." The eunuch accompanying him reported to the emperor.
"Why are they here today? Let them in." The emperor said with a smile.
Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling entered Ganquan Hall.
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty!" The two of them bowed their hands to the Emperor.
"No need to be polite, come to see me today, but what's the matter?" the emperor waved to the two of them and asked.
The two looked at each other with a trace of hesitation on their faces.
"Your Majesty, Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment have sent me some information." Finally, Wei Zheng stood up and said to the emperor.
"The excerpt from Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment?" The emperor was stunned, and then continued: "It's the excerpt from the Qizhou case. Mr. Chen has reviewed it."
"That guy is quite fast. I thought he would have to rest for a while before going to Dali Temple to deal with this matter."
The emperor was in a good mood and talked a lot more.
The more the emperor behaved like this, the more worried Fang Xuanling became.
"Your Majesty, it is indeed a Qizhou case, but what is different from before is that Ma Zhiyuan's confession is attached to the fold."
"In addition, Ma Zhiyuan also identified his behind-the-scenes instigator." Wei Zheng hesitated for a moment, and then said to the emperor.
At first, the emperor still had a smile on his face, but when he heard that Ma Zhiyuan was instructing people behind the scenes, his face suddenly turned gloomy.
"The person behind the scenes?"
"Who is behind the scenes?" The emperor's voice was slightly colder.
Of course the emperor knew who was behind the scenes, he just didn't want to punish Li Xiaogong.
Otherwise there will be no sound at all.
But today Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling unexpectedly brought news that Ma Zhiyuan had identified his behind-the-scenes instigator.
Doesn't this mean that he, the emperor, will personally punish Li Xiaogong, the prince of Hejian County?
After all, the emperor didn't want to do this.
But if Ma Zhiyuan really identified Li Xiaogong, how could he convince the public if he didn't do so?
"Your Majesty, you are the person behind the Qizhou case. There is another person behind Ma Zhiyuan who has been directing their plans in Chang'an. Ma Zhiyuan identified that his person behind the scenes is Li Xiaogong, the prince of Hejian County." Fang Xuanling suddenly took a step forward.
, and said to the emperor.
"Presumptuous!" The emperor slammed the table and became furious.
Wei Zhengyu and Fang Xuanling were all standing in the palace. They had expected the emperor to be so furious.
Apart from being slightly nervous, I didn't have any other worries.
The emperor did not deal with Li Xiaogong because no one had ever exposed the matter before.
But now Zhao Chen went to interrogate Ma Zhiyuan in person, and Ma Zhiyuan identified Li Xiaogong.
Even if the emperor didn't want to punish Li Xiaogong, he couldn't pretend that nothing happened.
"Your Majesty, the emperor broke the law and was as guilty as the common people. Since Ma Zhiyuan identified the Hejian County Prince, he should be punished." Wei Zheng looked at the emperor expressionlessly and said calmly.
The emperor raised his head, his eyes a little cold.
After a few breaths of silence, the emperor said leisurely: "Prince Hejian is my royal brother, and I will never do anything to him."