Chapter 257: The Emperor's Mind, It's Hard to Guess
The front hall of the East Palace.
Yao Xiaoren and Tang Mingren both had anxious looks on their faces.
They got news from the Minister of Justice today that the second prince went to interrogate Chen Qingzhi.
Chen Qingzhi suffered severe torture and the scene was tragic.
This made both Yao Xiao and Tang Mingren worried.
Although Chen Qingzhi is still relatively young in the court, he is a great help to Chen Changfeng. If Chen Qingzhi is imprisoned by the Ministry of Punishment, the loss to Chen Changfeng will be huge.
But this time it was related to the private transfer of the Black Armored Guards, and the two of them had no way to intercede with the emperor.
The current plan is to hope that Tang Wan'er can help to ask for an audience with the emperor, and that the emperor will not execute Chen Qingzhi for the time being for the sake of the princess.
"Old Tang, do you think the Crown Princess is willing to help?" Yao Xiaoren was a little worried.
After all, you are going to plead with the emperor, and if you don't do it, you might offend the emperor.
"It's okay to help, but it's not that easy to persuade His Majesty the Emperor." Tang Mingren shook his head.
He still knows his daughter well.
There is no problem in persuading the emperor, but the problem is how could the emperor listen to a woman so easily?
What's more, Chen Qingzhi transferred the Heijiawei without permission.
This is a felony.
The reason why Chen Qingzhi has not been dealt with yet is simply that the emperor is waiting for Chen Changfeng to come back and give him an explanation.
Others advise that it is not that simple.
While the two were talking, Tang Xueer came over in palace attire and greeted them: "Dad, Prime Minister Yao."
Both of them returned the gift. Tang Mingren glanced at Yao Xiaoren, and then briefly told Chen Qingzhi's story.
"Daughter, Chen Qingzhi is useful to His Highness the Crown Prince. If something happens to him, His Highness the Crown Prince will definitely lose an arm. So I discussed it with Xiang Yao and I hope you can go and beg Your Majesty to issue a decree that no one is allowed to contact you.
Chen Qingzhi." Tang Mingren looked at Tang Xueer.
Tang Xueer frowned slightly.
Of course she is willing to do things related to Chen Changfeng.
But she was worried that she could not persuade the emperor, and if she, as a princess, interfered in court affairs, it would be counterproductive and instead anger the emperor.
"Dad, if I try to persuade him, will it offend His Majesty?" Tang Xueer felt unsure.
But she was also worried that something would happen to Chen Qingzhi, which would be detrimental to Chen Changfeng.
Now that Chen Changfeng is not in the capital, as the princess, she naturally has to help Chen Changfeng take care of the affairs of the capital.
"Princess, I do have a plan that I can try!" Yao Xiaoren, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.
…
"Your Majesty, the Crown Princess wants to see you." When he went to the study, the emperor was handling government affairs. He suddenly heard Liu Xi saying that Tang Xueer asked for an interview, and he couldn't help but be stunned.
Apart from courtesy, Tang Xueer would never come to look for her.
Why are you here today?
"What's the matter?" The emperor looked up at Liu Xi.
"I said I was bringing soup to His Majesty, as a sign of filial piety." Liu Xi replied.
Liu Xi knew Tang Xueer's purpose of coming.
He also heard about the prison of the Ministry of Punishment, but he didn't tell the emperor.
Using lynching is completely normal.
Moreover, Chen Qingzhi made a big mistake, so how could Liu Xi tell the emperor about it?
"Let her come in." The emperor put down his ink pen.
Tang Xueer walked into the study room and after saluting the emperor, the maid Xiang'er delivered the soup to Liu Xi.
Liu Xi delivered the soup to the emperor.
The emperor did not drink directly, but looked at Tang Xueer.
The emperor was still very satisfied with the princess.
No matter how much of a bastard Chen Changfeng was before, the princess never made any inappropriate remarks to the public.
He has always tried his best to maintain the royal majesty.
It's a pity that it's been almost two years and I still haven't conceived a child.
When can he become the Grandfather of the Emperor?
"Princess, please take a seat." The emperor waved his hand, and Liu Xi immediately gave him a stool.
"Thank you, Father." Tang Xueer opened her mouth to express her gratitude, but a look of hesitation suddenly appeared on her face, which happened to be seen by the emperor.
"What's the matter? That's all you have to say." The emperor smiled.
"Father, I heard someone talking outside today, saying that after being imprisoned, the commander of the Black Armored Guards, Chen Qing, was tortured to extract a confession."
"I believe that since Chen Qingzhi made a big mistake, he should either be executed directly, or be tried in three courts and tortured in prison to extract a confession. There is always a suspicion that he was beaten into submission."
"Furthermore, Chen Qingzhi has an irreconcilable relationship with the prince. He tortured him to extract a confession. My sons and ministers were always worried that someone would want to deal with the prince." Tang Xueer said slowly, with a look of worry on her face.
Tang Xueer never exonerated Chen Qingzhi. She was just saying that she was worried that Chen Qingzhi would be beaten into a trap and bite Chen Changfeng.
This is very consistent with her image as a woman who only cares about her husband.
When the emperor heard this, he frowned slightly. If Tang Xueer came to plead for Chen Qingzhi, he would definitely tell Tang Xueer to get out immediately.
But Tang Xueer said that she was just worried that Chen Changfeng would be framed, and she didn't even care whether Chen Qingzhi lived or died.
This made the emperor quite satisfied, and he looked at Liu Xi who was standing aside.
"Your Majesty, the Second Highness went to the prison of the Ministry of Punishment. Chen Qingzhi received some punishment, but he didn't say anything." Liu Xi quickly explained to the emperor the affairs of the Ministry of Punishment.
"You also heard that Chen Qingzhi didn't say anything." The emperor smiled lightly.
Tang Xueer was slightly startled, and then she smiled and said, "This will make me feel relieved. I will retire now."
After Tang Xueer said that, she stood up and saluted the emperor to leave.
This puzzled the emperor. Is this what Tang Xueer came here to say?
Didn't she come to plead for Chen Qingzhi?
"Chen Qingzhi belongs to the prince, why don't you intercede for him?" The emperor couldn't hold back his doubts and called out to Tang Xueer.
"Chen Qingzhi made a big mistake, which will be dealt with according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty. I was just worried that he would be lynched and bite the prince indiscriminately, so I came to see my father."
"As for interceding for him, the Ming Dynasty governs the country according to the Ming Dynasty laws. Naturally, my father will not wrong him, nor will he let others mess around."
"My dear, please retire." After Tang Xueer said this, she left under the emperor's slightly surprised gaze.
It's a little quiet in the study room.
Liu Xi was secretly stunned. Although the Crown Princess Tang Xueer did not directly intercede with the emperor for Chen Qingzhi, she did mention the Ming Dynasty laws and regulations.
There is no article in the Ming Dynasty law that allows the use of lynching.
Isn't this just telling the emperor that punishing Chen Qingzhi is against the laws of the Ming Dynasty?
The emperor picked up the jade spoon and took a spoonful of the soft and glutinous soup, which tasted delicious.
"Liu Xi, pass on my order to have the second and third princes join forces with the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment to conduct a joint investigation. We must find out Chen Qingzhi's private deployment of the black armored guards." The emperor's decree was completely unexpected to Liu Xi.
By asking the second and third princes to interrogate Chen Qingzhi, doesn't this mean they are being asked to deal with Chen Qingzhi?
Is the emperor planning to help the second and third princes deal with the prince?
Liu Xi didn't understand it at all, but at this moment he could only accept the order: "Yes, Your Majesty!"
…
"How could this happen?" When Tang Xueer heard the news from the palace, her expression suddenly changed.
She thought that if she came forward and showed no favoritism to Chen Qingzhi, the emperor would not be particularly disgusted.
But who would have known that just after she returned to the East Palace, news came that the emperor had ordered the second and third princes to interrogate Chen Qingzhi.
Before, Chen Qingzhi was only tortured in private, but now that he is better, he can be tortured in public.
"The thoughts of our Emperor are really difficult to guess." Yao Xiaoren looked ugly.
He originally wanted Tang Xueer to come forward and save Chen Qingzhi, but he didn't expect that now it was really impossible to steal the chicken and lose the rice, so he asked the emperor to hand Chen Qingzhi directly to the second and third princes for interrogation.