Lu Xinzhong's overwhelming power in the Ministry of Internal Affairs suddenly collapsed in one day. His followers dispersed like birds and beasts, and they all knelt down at Shen Jing's feet, begging for forgiveness from the general manager, and continuing to serve in the palace; only
He put on a rough brown prison uniform, was locked up by people sent by Dali Temple, and was taken to the lobby for interrogation. The previous dignity was gone.
"Criminal Lu Xinzhong!" The Hunanese stretched out his sleeves and slapped the table and shouted, "As a slave, you dare to form a clique for personal gain and commit rebellion. You have no sense of shame! Your crime has become an ironclad fact.
, it stands to reason that there is no need for another trial; however, there are still doubts in this case and we must not let it go easily. Tell me honestly, where did you get the news about the court meeting? Which accomplice told you?"
Lu Xinzhong was held down by two jailers on his shoulders, and he knelt on a wooden bench without saying a word. When he raised his eyes and saw that it was a Hunanese who was interrogating him, he thought to himself: "I have little contact with Party Chen, but I have little contact with Party Chen."
Their interests are at stake, and they won't want me to reveal the old uncle's name. If they treat him in a humble manner, they might be able to cooperate...'
Holding this glimmer of hope in his arms, he replied in the utmost humility: "If you are too old, the little ones deserve to die, the little ones deserve to die... But the little ones have a cheap life, and it is not a pity to die; the adults have precious lives, and the little ones deserve to die."
How dare you involve all the gentlemen? I hope you will convict me of death immediately and stop affecting others!"
The people from Guoxiang didn't hesitate at all, their expressions suddenly sank, and they bowed to the sky: "This is His Majesty's imperial decree. He asked me at Dali Temple to examine it carefully and find out the accomplices. How can I violate the Holy Will?"
The criminal, Lu Xinzhong, openly ignored the imperial edict, bargained with the official, and was evasive. It is really abominable! Come here, pick up the criminal and give me a hard beating with the cane!"
Lu Xinzhong was shocked. Before he could understand the intention of the Xiang people, he was dragged down on the stool. Without any explanation, the water and fire sticks were beaten down one after another, making Eunuch Lu scream in agony.
Not enough.
"I said, I said!" Lu Xinzhong couldn't hold on for a moment, stretched out a hand and said, "Put it down now!"
The person from Guoxiang winked, and the people on both sides stopped.
While feeling pain, Lu Xinzhong said: "Little one, the reason why the little one knows about the affairs of the imperial court is because the Secretary of the Imperial Guard told me the secret."
The people from Guoxiang were not surprised by his answer, and continued to ask without expression: "So, you really conspired with the old uncle to exploit the people in the capital?"
Lu Xinzhong was stunned for a moment: "Yes..."
"But that was not my idea," he quickly added, "Manager Shen took all the oil and water scraped out! I was just listening..."
"Presumptuous! Presumptuous!" Guoxiang people roared hurriedly to cover up his voice, "I'm about to die, but I still want to drag Mr. Shen into the water! He has made a clear explanation and put him in jail!"
Knowing that there was no hope of his life, Lu Xinzhong gritted his teeth and wanted to call out Shen Jing's name like crazy, shouting to the whole hall. The jailers on both sides suddenly became anxious, stepped forward, covered his mouth, and dragged him down.
Go to the hall.
Guoxiangren witnessed all this, and his heart was beating suddenly. Fortunately, his eyes were finally quiet. He sighed, tilted his head and looked at the clerk who recorded the confession: "Secretary, please erase his last few sentences.
Then give it to me, I will submit it to the Ministry of Punishment!"
"Are you ready to hand it over to Ye Yongjia?"
Chen Tongpao stood up slowly under the candlelight, took the confession from the Xiang people, and asked.
"According to your instructions, I asked that guy to come clean," the Guoxiang man lowered his head gloomily and muttered, "but I don't understand why I have to stand by and watch at this time? If Ye Yongjia gains power, the New Deal will really be transformed.
If it succeeds, then we will have no room to fight back."
Chen Tongpao smiled slightly: "Sixing shouldn't be so anxious. That uncle has been abandoned by the emperor, and siding with him now is tantamount to putting out a fire. It's better to stabilize our advantage first."
"Now, what advantage do we have?" Guo Xiang people waved their hands and sneered.
Chen Tongpao said slowly: "Although we can't help those two imperial guards, we must not sever contact with the prince. In my opinion, the prince is also likely to be involved, and he must be completely swayed to Qingliu's side, so that
The superior imperial power cannot be separated from us, and it will be difficult for Ye Yongjia to resist."
"What's your plan?" Guoxiang people didn't doubt his resourcefulness at all.
Chen Tongpao whispered in his ear for a while, then stroked his beard and said with a smile: "I'm going to tell you so much first. After all, you and I have to put a long line in order to catch the big fish!"
After taking over the case, Ye Yongjia, through Ming Huiguang, ordered Lu Tingci to go to surrounding prefectures and counties to investigate the actual situation.
Lu Tingci had always been meticulous in handling matters, so Ye Yongjia was relieved and allowed him to search slowly. Unexpectedly, no results were obtained within a few days, so he hurriedly called him back.
When Lu Tingci came to the Ministry of War, he saw Ye and Cai looking displeased and asked him face to face: "Lu Yushi, this is an opportunity for you to make meritorious deeds. Why didn't you notice any disadvantages?"
Lu Tingci did not panic and replied seriously: "If you use some unjust means, you can find out countless 'truths', but I despise such behavior. I went to those places and asked the local people,
but
Most of their answers were hesitant and their eyes were evasive, so the clerk around me advised me that these common people did not dare to tell the truth and had to be sent to the county government for careful interrogation. But I refused on the spot...
…”
"Isn't this a good idea?" Cai Xianqing interrupted him.
"Servant Cai," Lu Tingci bowed to him, "even if we are sure that they are hiding something from each other, then must the words they brought to the court and spoke under intimidation be the 'truth'? I believe that through unjust means,
Doing what you feel is right will not make the people feel any justice."
"What you said is indeed correct," Ye Yongjia sighed and said helplessly, "but if everything follows this law, we will not be able to defeat those Qingliu. I heard that Lu Yushi is a flexible person. Why are you today?
Have you forgotten this?"
Lu Tingci said: "Tingci knows very well that 'etiquette has its own rules and authority', but it is for treating others. To treat yourself, you must live up to your conscience."
Ye Yongjia was about to reply to his words when he suddenly saw someone pushing open the door and walking directly into the living room. He bowed his head and saluted Ye Yongjia without saying a word.
"Who is this?" Cai Xianqing glanced at him with cold eyes.
The clerk was dumbfounded and quickly said with a smile: "Two gentlemen, this is the minister of Dali Temple who has handed over Lu Xinzhong's confession to the Xiang people."
The Guoxiang man took a step forward and held the paper in his hands.