A brothel and restaurant in the west of the city was brightly lit, and music and singing could be heard everywhere. There was a sense of decadence that did not dissipate a little until late at night. In the Ministry of Punishment, the candles were lit all night, officials, officers and soldiers came in and out, and evidence of all sizes was constantly being taken away. They were delivered and piled up in the lobby.
Changsun Wuzheng wandered around the hills with a solemn expression, his daughter waiting beside him, not daring to disturb him.
Some of these exhibits were collected from the house in the wasteland, some were testimonies recorded by the Ministry of Justice overnight from the woman who was raped, and some were found from the residences of Yu Zhixiao and Wang Liang. Most of them were records and accounts of transactions. , the record is very detailed, but there is only a few words about Tan Cen.
Changsun Wuzheng worriedly said to his daughter on the side: "Tan Cen must be alert due to two big movements in a row. If he still can't find it after dawn, I'm afraid he will be in trouble!"
Changsun Yue held his father's arm, his face full of worry: "Father, we will definitely find him, don't worry."
Wang Yan came back at this time to report: "Sir, we have made an important discovery. The house in the wasteland northwest of the city has been found to belong to Tan Cen's ancestral house. It has been abandoned for many years and no one has cared about it."
Changsun Wuzheng's eyes suddenly opened up. It turns out that the breakthrough is here!
"Sir, can I ask the Holy One for instructions?" Wang Yan asked.
"I'm afraid it's too late to go to the palace now... Wang Yan, I authorize you to immediately lead everyone to surround Tan Mansion. You must control Tan Cen before dawn and not let him leave Tan Mansion. I will go immediately Please ask your Majesty for instructions in the palace!" Changsun Wuzheng pinched Wang Yan's shoulders and said solemnly: "I will definitely recommend you to your Majesty to serve as the left minister of the Ministry of Punishment!"
When Wang Yan took the examination at the Ministry of Justice, some people said that the position of Zuo Shilang had not been replaced since Master Nangong left. There were different opinions at the time, but he never thought that it would be his turn! Wang Yan immediately kowtowed, and he was already determined in his heart. Even if I risk my life on this trip, I will not let you down.
The sky gradually turned white, and the people had just woken up from their dreams when a harsh sound passed through their ears. Some people kicked off their shoes and rushed out of the door to find out what was going on. They met a large number of officers and soldiers orderly coming from the door. As I ran past, dust suddenly flew up, and the sound of footsteps was deafening.
Some people whispered that if the Ministry of Punishment dispatched officers and soldiers early in the morning, something big was going to happen in Kyoto!
The cautious person immediately closed the door and told his family not to go out to work today. It was important to save their lives!
Talk about the house.
The concubine served Tan Cen and got dressed. He wanted to say a few affectionate words, but Tan Cen pushed him away. Seeing his serious face, the concubine did not dare to make any mistake, and then left the door.
Tan Cen looked at himself in the bronze mirror, wearing an official hat and official uniform, leather belt and black boots, a second-rank official of the imperial court! He had been in this position for so many years, and he had always been smooth and thought he was perfect. But to this day, I don’t know how long I can last...
He cheered up and pushed the door open.
The housekeeper rushed from outside, shouting that it was bad. Tan Cen's steps froze and he asked him in a panic: "What's wrong?"
"Someone from the Criminal Department is here. Sir, please run away through the back door!"
Hearing the word "Xingbu", Tan Cen was so frightened that his legs went weak: "Why did Changsun Wuzheng come suddenly? Is... Yu Zhixiao?" Tan Cen guessed that Yu Zhixiao betrayed him, otherwise how could they have the courage to lead him? Come with troops?
"Sir, stop thinking about it and run away for your life!"
"Why are you running away!" Tan Cen broke away from the housekeeper, turned around and took out a leather box from the house, "I want to see if he dares to come in! You go out and stop them first, I will be there soon!"
The outside of Tan's house was heavily surrounded, and the cool air was filled with the smell of sand and cold weapons.
When Wang Yan saw the door open a crack and an old man came out, he immediately jumped off his horse, walked a few steps over and said, "The Criminal Department is handling the case. Please open the door, sir!"
The steward hurriedly raised his hands and said: "This gentleman looks unfamiliar. Although I am just a steward, I also know that the surname of the Minister of Punishment is Changsun, but I don't know that you are..."
Although the old man in front of him has silver hair, his eyes are sparkling, and there is a hint of cunning in his eyes. Wang Yan was too lazy to argue with him, and directly showed his token: "Lord Changsun personally appointed him, but he hasn't opened the door yet!"
The housekeeper took a step forward and said, "Even if the Ministry of Justice handles a case, there must be evidence to arrest someone. Even if you suspect a court official, you must have an order from the Holy One. If not, you have no right to take a step forward."
The tone is calm, but every word is pressed!
Wang Yan ignored him, took a step back, and slowly raised his right hand. Everyone immediately raised their weapons and prepared to attack. At this moment, Tan Cen came out holding a leather box, sweating profusely, obviously running all the way.
When I came, I was still out of breath.
Tan Cen asked the young man outside the door: "Where is Changsun Wuzheng?"
"Your Excellency will arrive soon. Wang Yan, a humble official, handles the case for Lord Changsun."
Tan Cen narrowed his eyes and looked at him: "How old are you? How dare you lead troops to attack our courtyard! Did Changsun Wuzheng give the order? What are the intentions of your punishment department!"
Wang Yan couldn't help but look at this middle-aged man with a panic-stricken look. This was the first time he met the rumored Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. This man was indeed good-looking, but unfortunately he had a heart of snakes and scorpions and was not a kind person.
"Sir Tan, please forgive me for coming here rashly. It's just that I discovered a group of women who disappeared half a month ago in your ancestral home in the wasteland northwest of the city. These women were all kidnapped by a man named Yu Zhixiao. Yu
Zhixiao is your bodyguard, right? There is also a dark market, I guess I don’t need to say more about it. The evidence is conclusive, and I came here under orders from a humble official. It’s better for you to cooperate, sir."
"What dark market?" Tan Cen glared angrily, "Did Changsun Wuzheng listen to the instigation of some villain? Tell me the name of that person, and I will give you an explanation."
"Sir, don't delay, please cooperate with the Criminal Department in handling the case."
Tan Cen said angrily: "As the Minister of the Ministry of Punishments, Changsun Wuzheng is in charge of the criminal cases of Rongguo Law. You should know that I am a second-rank official of the imperial court. If I want to lead troops to search the official residence, I must have His Majesty's decree! Do you have an decree?
make?"
Wang Yan was not afraid in the face of danger: "The imperial court has such a rule, but if there is an emergency, a humble official will go to His Majesty to accept the punishment afterwards."
"Yellow-mouthed boy! Who do you think you are? How dare you go before His Majesty? Are you qualified? I really admire Changsun Wuzheng. He is so courageous. He dares to ignore the law of the country. Do you still have His Majesty in his eyes?"
!”
"Master Changsun only deals with matters, not people." Wang Yan said calmly: "Sir Tan, please give way and cooperate with the Criminal Department in handling the case."
Tan Cen realized that the situation was more serious than he thought. He had just said this, but he was still indifferent. With no way to go, Tan Cen hurriedly opened the suitcase and took out a long object wrapped in brocade cloth.
, raised high above the head.
At first glance, Wang Yan thought it was some kind of hidden weapon, but until Tan Cen took off the brocade cloth, he suddenly discovered that it was actually an imperial edict.
"My father saved the late emperor's life, and the late emperor gave this imperial edict. Anyone who dares to break into the house privately will be regarded as a violation of the late emperor and a great disrespect to the late emperor!"
Wang Yan had never seen what the imperial edict looked like, and was worried that Tan Cen would fake the imperial edict and deceive him. However, if it was true, entering rashly would cause serious trouble.
The incident happened suddenly, and he didn't know what to do for a while.
Just when Wang Yan was hesitating, he suddenly heard the sound of cavalry approaching from behind, followed by a loud voice: "The Kyoto Patrol Army is assisting the Criminal Department in handling the case, you cannot stop it!"
All the officials of the Ministry of Justice immediately knelt on the ground and shouted respectfully in unison: "Your Majesty!"
Ge Zheng jumped off his horse and stepped towards Tan Cen. The soldiers behind him dispersed randomly, and together with the officers and soldiers of the Ministry of Justice, they surrounded Tan Cen's house.
A man who is over fifty years old is still majestic. Wang Yan thought he had seen it wrong for a while, but the man in brilliant clothes in front of him is indeed the current prince, a hero who once conquered the country for Rong!
Ge Zheng glanced at the imperial edict and said disapprovingly: "This imperial edict of yours is indeed a talisman left by the late emperor to Tan Mansion, but it is not a tool for you to use to hinder the Ministry of Punishment from handling cases. However, these patrol troops behind me can order you
Open the door immediately!"
"It's just a patrol army, how can it compare to this imperial edict from the late emperor?"
"The patrol force was established by the late emperor himself and gave me the power to dispatch and command. Mr. Tan, do you think I am qualified to enter your Tan residence?"
"Your Majesty, please don't think of me as a fool! Ruoshui, who doesn't know that your patrol army is just a palace soldier given to you by the late emperor. Normally, it is just a guard. The patrol army only has a good reputation! I have never seen you in so many years.
The government soldiers were dispatched once?"
Ge Zheng sneered and said: "Sir Tan has only been in office for more than ten years. I'm afraid he doesn't know the imperial edict of the late emperor, and he doesn't even know the role of the patrol army. Then let me tell you." Ge Zheng's tall and straight figure is like a statue.
The Buddha statue stood tall, looking down at the ant in front of him.
"The Patrol Army was established in the 10th year of Dacheng Dynasty. There are a total of 1,050 people in the army. They are all battlefield soldiers! They can guard the country's gates, kill rebels, protect the safety of the people, and also assist the Ministry of Punishment in handling cases. In addition to me, the Patrol Army
I only obey your Majesty's orders, just like the Xuanting of today. Although thirty-one years have passed, the patrol troops are still there, and their number is increasing day by day. Now there are three thousand people!"
"Three thousand people..." Tan Cen's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Now in this peaceful and prosperous age, when people live and work in peace and contentment, the patrol army naturally does not need to appear anywhere in Kyoto. But this does not mean that it disappears. As long as the Ministry of Justice has troublesome things, as long as there is darkness in Kyoto, and I need to take action, the patrol army will
There, three thousand soldiers can be dispatched at any time! This is also authorized by the late emperor and is recognized by your majesty today! Sir Tan, do you understand?"
"Even if you risk your life today, I will not allow you to break in privately!" Tan Cen still struggled desperately: "Prince Zheng, you respect your own troops! Your Majesty has already set up a separate Xuanting, but you are stubborn and guard the patrol.
Refuse to let go! You have violated the court and His Majesty! I am going to give you a copy in front of His Majesty. Yes, I want to tell Mr. Mo, and he will definitely let you understand what it means to retreat when faced with difficulties!"
Ge Zheng was a little disgusted when he saw his incoherent words and his eagerness to jump over the wall.
"Sir Tan, you can go to see me and see if your majesty believes in your so-called 'supporting soldiers and self-respect'! But now I have to remind you that the Ministry of Punishment is handling the case, and the patrol army has come to assist. Do you think you can still
Is there any room for redemption? I would like to advise you, stop shouting like a madman and save some dignity for yourself!"
Tan Cen still wanted to argue, but was stopped by the housekeeper, who said something he couldn't hear at all. Desperation instantly surrounded him, and he collapsed to the ground in pain.
Ge Zheng gave an order, and officers, soldiers and patrol troops quickly rushed into Tan Mansion.
The early morning sunlight shines on the courtyard wall, but it is still dark except where Tan Cen is.
When Tan's house was turned upside down, Changsun Wuzheng also came with the imperial edict. Now the officers and soldiers no longer had any scruples, rolled up their sleeves and started tearing down walls and smashing vats.
After searching for three days, a large amount of gold, silver and jewelry were found in Tan's house, along with detailed accounts, and five carts were taken to the Ministry of Punishments.
On March 15, the twenty-sixth year of Wei Sheng's reign, the Ministry of Punishment arrested the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs for corruption for personal gain, buying people, and murder. Almost at the same time, the Ministry of Punishment received a large number of petitions, all pointing to Tan Cen. Many of the evidences also pointed to Tan Cen.
Meet another person - Jia Yushen.
Over the years, Tan Cen and Jia Yushen have protected each other, allowing their subordinates to plunder the people's wealth and oppress the people countless times. Among them, Jia Yushen's nephew Jia Wei, who had been killed long ago, once seriously injured a person. Not only did he not pay compensation, Jia Yushen also injured the victim.
He was driven out of Ruoshui, causing the victim to become permanently disabled. If Jia Yushen had not been exposed today, I am afraid he would never return to Ruoshui in this life.
Jia Yushen confessed to this.
A month later, Tantan Cen was beheaded in public, and Jia Yushen was punished by his father-in-law for fifty years. His official title was removed and he was exiled to the border. Emperor Rong also ordered all officials to go and watch as a punishment.
There was also an unexpected gain. Wang Yan asked Changsun Wuzheng for instructions to investigate the 'Dajing Gambling House', suspecting that this gambling house was involved with Tan Cen. Although Changsun Wuzheng was not convinced, he still sent people to search. Unexpectedly,
The secret room was discovered, and there were a large number of information rolls in the dark room. Records were recorded by the children of the royal family, aristocratic families, ordinary people, and people from abroad! Among them, the most information was against Prince Zheng. Changsun Wuzheng was granted the title.
After entering the gambling house, he took all the information except Prince Zheng's information to the Ministry of Punishment.
After a thorough investigation, it was found that Dajing Gambling House was the right-hand man of the dark market, secretly collecting useful information for Tan Cen to facilitate transactions.
Wang Yan was thus credited with great merit, and Changsun Wuzheng specially requested an order from His Majesty to appoint Wang Yan as the Left Minister of the Ministry of Punishment.
In the Changle Hall, Emperor Rong stared at the closing memorial submitted by the Ministry of Punishment with a serious look on his face.
Lord Shangshu Mo Fei had just entered the palace gate. When he saw this scene, he knew the general situation and stepped forward to explain: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Punishment has thoroughly investigated. Although an official has been lost, this kind of corrupt official should not be ignored."
Emperor Rong held his forehead and said: "Jia Yushen of the Ministry of Industry, Tan Cen of the Ministry of Personnel, Ji Yu, the minister, Yin Zhuo, the minister of Dali Temple, and Ge Yiyan, the son of Ge Zheng, have committed corruption, cover-up, murder, and fornication.
They are simply the worms and scum of Rong Guo!"
"The way to serve as an official is to be honest and upright. These people should be punished if they make mistakes. Your Majesty does not need to worry too much."
"Mo Qing," Emperor Rong raised his head and looked at him with tired eyes: "How many years have you been an official?"
"Thirty-one years, Your Majesty."
"Thirty-one years have passed, and apart from Prince Zheng, you are the only one who is still by my side. Looking at the entire court, I don't know which officials are honest, and I don't know who to trust!"
Mo Fei slowly knelt down and solemnly swore: "I swear to be loyal to your majesty to the death!"
Emperor Rong looked at Mo Fei, who was kneeling on the ground, and was slightly moved. This man had been an official for thirty-one years, and he had been in office for twenty-six years, which was longer than he had ever seen this court.
Can you believe him?
A flash of vigilance flashed in his eyes, followed by a calm smile.
Emperor Rong changed his embarrassment and said with a smile: "Mo Qing and I have known each other for so many years, and I naturally believe that you will risk your life and death for Rong Guo! But you are getting older, and you should enjoy peace and happiness. Now that the academy has been handed over to the
Zuo Qing, you should let him go and guard the three provinces and six departments for me wholeheartedly, and nothing like this should happen again!"
Mo Fei looked up in fear, then lowered his head in a hurry: "I will correct the atmosphere of the three provinces and six ministries. I will definitely not let anything happen to the three provinces and six ministries again!"
"By the way, Zuo Qing has officially been appointed as the head of the academy. Shouldn't you hold a promotion banquet for your adopted son?"
Murphy quickly said yes.
"Let's hold it in the academy. You can pick a good day and I'll leave it to you to host it."
"yes."
After exiting the palace, Mo Fei walked slowly. After an unknown amount of time, a man blocked his way. Mo Fei looked up and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was Liang Luan from Zhongshu Province.
Liang Luan looked at his lost friend and asked, "Why did you look like this when you came out of Changle Hall? Did your Majesty punish you?"
Mo Fei smiled bitterly and said: "There is no punishment, but His Majesty ordered me to host the promotion banquet."
"Promotion banquet? Whose promotion banquet?"
"Who else could it be? My good son, Zuo Qing!"
Liang Luan seemed to smell something and asked hurriedly: "Do you suspect that Zuo Qing was the one who interfered with Tan Cen's matter?"
Mo Fei narrowed his eyes, his deep eyes showing exhaustion: "I'm afraid it's not just Tan Cen, it should be him in everything!"
Liang Luan was stunned: "It's all him?"
Mo Fei was silent for a moment and said solemnly: "I should have listened to Shan'er a long time ago. Now I only regret that it is too late."
The current situation of the three provinces and six ministries quickly appeared in Liang Luan's mind. The Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Industry, and the Minister of Provincial Affairs were all gone. There were not many capable people left around Lord Mo!
"You single-handedly brought Zuo Qing out, what can he gain from harming you?" Liang Luan didn't understand the reason why Zuo Qing did this. He said it was to assist some prince, but looking at the entire palace, he didn't see any movement from any prince.
.
"A Su Yan came from an unknown town in Chu State, but he knew some heretical pharmacology, so he was able to make an exception for Zuo Qing to accept him as an academy teacher. Many things recently have to do with her. I don't believe that a mere woman can still
I have solved the case many times by myself! I sent people to Chu State to conduct a secret investigation a month ago, and they should be back soon. Then you can go and listen together."
Liang Luan couldn't bear to see his best friend in such a state of despair, so he patted his chest, said a few words of comfort, and hurried into the palace to meet Emperor Rong.
It was late at night, and Zhangsun Wuzheng was still awake. There was a drizzle outside the window, and the rain fell silently.
The fire in the stove flickered on and off, illuminating his face, which made him look particularly haggard. He finally looked at the piles of yellowed rolls in the wooden box and dumped them all into the stove.
The fire suddenly broke out, illuminating the entire room.
Changsun Wuzheng privately left records of the investigation of Ge Zheng in the Dajing Casino, starting from Wei Sheng's early years. Most of them were about his daily life and contacts, and there was nothing special. But in these records
, Changsun Wuzheng discovered that there were three records among them, but the names on them made him suspicious.
The first one: On the third day of February in the first year of Wei Sheng, I checked Xuanqing's residence in Dongshi outside the palace. There was nothing unusual. There was only a letter from home, and there was nothing suspicious about what was said in the book.
The second copy: In the 14th year of Wei Sheng, on April 20th, Xuanqing returned to Zhao State and disappeared at the entrance of the market.
The third copy: In the fifteenth year of Wei Sheng, on the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, more than ten people were sent to Zhao State to search. Xuan Qing disappeared, and his life and death were unknown.
Changsun Wuzheng stared at this name and these three paragraphs of records, but he still couldn't remember who he was.
The third day of February in the first year of Wei Sheng was one month after His Majesty ascended the throne. In that month, nothing major happened, except that His Majesty had his first child, but no celebration was held in the palace. The child was named
Guard prisoners.
April 20, the 14th year of Wei Sheng's reign, was the month when the plague broke out in the palace. Wei Zhen contracted the disease, and His Majesty ordered the palace to be sealed off. Unfortunately, the prisoners died of the plague.
In the fifteenth year of Wei Sheng's reign, which was the year when Empress Yu and the prince died, a war broke out at the border of Zhao State. Emperor Rong sent reinforcements to drive away the Lin army. Later... Later, Zhao State narrowly won, but lost thousands of soldiers.
The soldiers and Rong's reinforcements were also implicated in numerous casualties. In that war, only the Xuan generals survived. Emperor Rong ordered a thorough investigation and sent Mo Fei to supervise the case.
In the end, the entire Xuan clan was slaughtered and no one was left!
Changsun Wuzheng suddenly remembered that in the eleventh year of Dacheng's reign, at the banquet of Prince Zheng, His Majesty, who was still the Crown Prince, was followed by a woman. His Majesty called her "Miss Qing"! And Mo Fei, who had arrived late, was very interested in this woman.
Miss Qing was very concerned. At that time, Mo Fei should have been planning for His Majesty.
At this point, combined with the three records, Changsun Wuzheng always felt that the girl Qing was Xuanqing, and Xuanqing was naturally a member of the Xuan clan!
In the first year of Wei Sheng's reign, His Majesty's first child should be hers. Xuan Qing should have left the palace during the fourteen-year plague, and she should have died during the Xuan clan's extermination in the fifteen-year period.
But why did Your Majesty never mention Xuan Qing to anyone, and even though he gave birth to the emperor's eldest son, he still didn't give him a title? Did the prisoner of the guard really die of the plague? How did Xuan Qing leave the palace? Where is Mo Fei?
Why are we still looking for her after the Xuan clan was wiped out? Is it because she is not dead yet? Why are the records about Xuanqing included in Ge Zheng’s records, and what is the connection between them? Is it also related to the death of Queen Yu?
?
What kind of existence was Xuanqing back then!
Changsun Wuzheng had a splitting headache and had no choice but to give up.
(Changsun Wuzheng guessed that they were inseparable, but he did not guess that Xuanqing and Mo Fei teamed up to kill the Xuan clan and Queen Yu)