Volume 1: Swan Goose Chapter 94: Still Worrying About Empty Tomorrow’s Bed (3)
The time it took for Jin Jiawei to summon Ruan Lang was not short, but it was not long enough for Wang Su: a drop of cold sweat flowed from the edge of the black gauze hat into his mouth along his shrewd eyes and high cheekbones, making his mouth full of bitterness and astringency.
There was a clanking sound of iron chains. Ruan Lang, who was covered in blood and bruises, was carried through the door by two golden-armored guards. When they walked into the hall, they let go, and Ruan Lang fell to the ground as if he had no bones. He struggled for a long time.
He reluctantly knelt down.
"Your Majesty, Ruan Lang... pays homage to the Emperor..." A dignified man of eight feet, spoke feebly, as if he was about to die at any moment.
"Did Wang Jing torture you?" Emperor Yu looked him up and down, frowning involuntarily.
"Back to the emperor, Jing'er was just ordered to interrogate——" Wang Su quickly interrupted to explain.
Emperor Yu raised his hand to interrupt him and signaled Ruan Lang to continue speaking, so Wang Su had no choice but to shut up.
"Go back to the emperor, Wang Jing...he wants to kill people and silence them..." Ruan Lang managed to say a word and then coughed violently.
"Ruan Lang, don't slander anyone!" Wang Su took advantage of every opportunity and hurriedly retorted.
"Wang Su!" Emperor Yu slapped the table and shouted angrily: "You are not allowed to interrupt without my permission! If you do it again next time, I will take away your position as Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs!"
"Yes, I—I obey the order." Wang Su gritted his teeth and stepped aside.
"Ruan Lang, why did Wang Jing want to kill you to silence you?" Emperor Yu looked at Ruan Lang and his tone softened a lot.
"It's because he wants to cover up the crime he committed on the night of the Dragon Boat Festival!" Ruan Lang tightened his chin, looked up at Emperor Yu with his eyes rolled up, and said each word in pain.
Emperor Yu continued to ask: "That day in the hall, I did not investigate you in detail because you were drunk. What happened on the night when Pingyang Hou and his son died suddenly?"
Ruan Lang closed his eyes, and the scenes of that night reappeared in front of his eyes. He was so sad that he gnashed his teeth with hatred: "On the Dragon Boat Festival, it was my turn to be Mu Xiu. I took two jars of wine to the Royal Guards Department to visit my colleagues.
At that time, Wang Jing was drinking with everyone, and everyone was drunk. When I left, Wang Jing suddenly suggested that I go to my home to drink. I was worried that there was no one in the prison, and I was disobeying His Majesty's instructions, but Wang Jing said that he had a father.
Cover it up, there will be no accidents——"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yu glared at Wang Su. Wang Su immediately lowered his eyes and cursed "the traitor" in his heart.
"Wang Jing was both my fellow countryman and my superior. I didn't dare to disobey him, so I invited him to drink at home. Unexpectedly... he was rude to my wife when I was out. She was stubborn and refused to give in, so he beat her to death.
He married a maid... Finally, he called in thugs to knock the minister unconscious and took the opportunity to seize the wife..." At this point, Ruan Lang collapsed to the ground and was shaking all over, with tears already flowing down his face.
Emperor Yu picked up the blood letter and asked, "Did you write this blood letter?"
Ruan Lang gritted his teeth and nodded sadly: "Madam's uncle is General Lan Yu. After the incident, I knew that Wang Jing would not let him go easily, so I wrote the matter in a book and asked someone to bring it to General Lan Yu.
I hope he can seek justice for his deceased wife..."
"Your Majesty, Wang Jing is such a bold person. He is looking down on human life and confusing right and wrong! Please Your Majesty, severely punish these evil people and bring justice to the dead!" Lan Yu was filled with indignation when he heard this and couldn't help shouting loudly.
"The Emperor has given you a clear lesson!" Wang Su suddenly lifted his robe and knelt down, and bowed deeply on the ground. When he raised his head again, he was already in tears: "The whole Imperial Guard Bureau has testified about what happened that day. Ruan Lang is the one who turned the tables on right and wrong.
! And the matter of occupying the *** is even more unfounded! The emperor must not listen to his nonsense and wrong his loyal ministers!"
"Fart! The guards in the Imperial Guards Department are all your people, so they naturally talk to you! The testimonies of these people don't count!" Lan Yu rushed over and picked him up, his eyes as wide as copper bells.
Almost ready to crack the whip.
"Lan Yu, do you have evidence for what you said? My son has a witness! Also, where is the woman Ruan Lang keeps talking about at this time? Since she is the victim, why not let her stand up and face him?
Confrontation?" A trace of pride flashed in Wang Su's eyes. As long as the other party couldn't produce conclusive evidence, he would refuse to admit it, and even the emperor would be helpless.
"Wang Su, don't bully others too much!" Lan Yunu started from scratch and almost stretched out his fist at Wang Su: "My niece is dead! How can a dead person come out to confront you?"
"Since you have no evidence, you are setting up a frame-up!" Wang Su frowned and gritted his teeth without letting go.
"That's enough." Emperor Yu roared with a cold face, interrupted the confrontation between the two men, and ordered Eunuch Shuangxi: "Man Tingfang, Minister of the Ministry of Propaganda and War, come quickly."
Soon, Man Tingfang walked into the hall with slow steps.
"Man Aiqing, I asked you to investigate the case of the murder of Marquis Pingyang. What was the result?"
As soon as Emperor Yu spoke, Wang Su's face was covered with frost: He didn't expect that Emperor Yu sent people to investigate secretly, but he didn't even know it. He turned his head to look at the white beard and white hair, his back slightly
The hunchbacked Man Tingfang suddenly felt that this "good old man" in everyone's eyes seemed not that simple.
Man Tingfang lowered his eyes and cupped his hands, with a calm expression: "Back to the emperor, I investigated the crime scene in detail and found nothing suspicious. I also interrogated the government officials who were on duty that night, and their confessions were consistent with the previous ones——"
At this point, he suddenly paused. From the corner of his eye, he saw that Wang Su seemed to be relieved, while Ruan Lang's face was ashen...
"But..." Man Tingfang suddenly changed the topic: "The interrogation minister discovered something interesting."
Emperor Yu raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's the interesting thing?"
Man Tingfang pondered for a moment and then said: "It was as if I had memorized the confessions of the imperial guards. Everyone's testimony was almost exactly the same. But when I asked further questions, they either didn't know anything or were full of loopholes..."
Hearing this, a discerning person will feel like a mirror.
"Wang Su, what explanation do you have for this matter?" Emperor Yu's eyes were like fire and his voice was like ice. Wang Su was so frightened that he took a step back, but he always denied any crime.
"Come here!" Emperor Yu's deep voice made everyone in the palace breathless: "King Yi, arrest all the government officials who were on duty that day, drag them outside and beat them! Beat them until they tell the truth!"
Not long after, the sound of crying and screaming could be heard outside the hall, as well as the muffled sound of crackling boards hitting meat. It sounded like a lot of force had been used.
Emperor Yu closed his mouth tightly and remained silent for a long time. Everyone lowered their heads and kept silent. The hall was completely silent for a while, and the silence was almost suffocating.
After about a stick of incense, King Yi returned to the Zichen Palace with a confession in his hands and reported it to Emperor Yu: "Your Majesty, those government officials could not bear the punishment and they all confessed - it was indeed Wang Jing who was on duty that night, and he brought the confession with him.
Everyone was drinking. It was Wang Jing who coerced Ruan Lang to go to his house to drink. After Pingyang Hou and his son died suddenly, it was he who coerced the government officials to conspire to frame Ruan Lang!"
Emperor Yu glanced at the testimony on the desk, stared at Wang Su for a long time, and said in a cold voice: "Wang Su, the witnesses and physical evidence are all there, do you still want to quibble?"
Wang Su slowly took off the black sand from his head, raised it high and slowly knelt on the ground, kowtowing solemnly: "I did not teach my son well, and the dog neglected his duties and covered up the facts. It is a heinous crime. I hope your majesty will be strict with you! As for the
He was forced to death by force. Ruan Lang’s confession alone is unconvincing. I forgive you for not admitting this unjust injustice for Quanzi!”
"Wang Su, everyone says you are cunning. I just learned your skills today! Do you think you can get away with it by avoiding the important and taking the easy?" Seeing that he refused to admit it, Lan Yu immediately became furious.
"Okay." Emperor Yu waved his hand, with a look of displeasure on his face: "Don't be arrogant in front of me! I will order people to investigate and get to the bottom of this matter. What is right and what is wrong will be concluded soon. As for Wang Jing, he neglected his duties.
Deceive Shengcong, remove the responsibility of the commander of the Royal Guards Department, and receive forty spine staffs after the injury is healed!"
After a pause, he added: "Wang Su, you are trying to deceive me by shielding a bad man. I will punish you with a three-month grounding and a half-year salary fine!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!" Wang Su bowed his head, his attitude was respectful, and there was no hint of dissatisfaction.
"Your Majesty!" Lan Yu raised his eyebrows and shouted: "You must kill someone to pay for your life! Such a sentence is so unfair!"
"Unbridled." Emperor Yu snapped at the case and angrily said, "Your niece's case still needs to be investigated in detail. How can I make rash assertions until the whole story is clear?"
Emperor Yu really couldn't like this general who repeatedly committed crimes. However, despite his strong temper and great ability, the border area could not survive without him, so he had to be patient with him again and again.
He slowed down and said, "Don't worry. I will definitely get to the bottom of this matter. If Wang Jing is really the murderer, I will not forgive him lightly!"
"My lord - but it is up to the emperor to make the decision!" At this point, Lan Yu had to give in.
Finally, Emperor Yu looked at Ruan Lang, who had a look of death on his face, and said earnestly: "Ruan Lang, now that you are innocent, go back and recover from your injuries. After you recover from your injuries, you will be the commander of the Royal Guards Department, and you will temporarily take over the responsibility for him."
"
"Thank you, Your Majesty—" Ruan Lang kowtowed slowly, and there was no trace of joy in his calm tone. His eyes were filled with mist: Only at this moment did he realize how childish and ridiculous he had been.
Considering Wang and his son as benefactors, they actually believe that there is justice in this world!
It was still raining when everyone entered the Zichen Palace, but now it was a slanting drizzle, not much worse than a thick fog.
Wang Su was afraid of Lan Yu and knew that he would not give up, so he ran away as soon as he went out. When Lan Yu rushed out, he was no longer visible.
Seeing Emperor Yu lying on the couch, frowning slightly with a look of pain on his face. Yu Fengjin took the initiative to stay and ordered Eunuch Shuangxi to cook a bowl of soothing soup and bring it to him. He knelt down beside the couch and carefully
Serve Emperor Yu as he used to live in the palace.
"Your Majesty, the dragon body is important. Don't get angry because of them." Yu Fengjin scooped up a spoonful of hot soup, put it under her lips and blew on it before carefully bringing it to Emperor Yu's lips.
Emperor Yu took a sip of the soup and exclaimed: "Just let Shuangxi do these. You are a noble prince, why are you doing this?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Eunuch Shuangxi hurriedly came over and took the ginseng soup, cursing himself repeatedly: "Oh, I deserve to die, old slave! How can I bother the prince to do these things!"
Yu Fengjin smiled nonchalantly: "Elder brothers are like fathers. These are what a younger brother should do."
"You haven't changed at all. You are as obedient and obedient as you were when you were a child." Emperor Yu glanced at him and sighed meaningfully.
Yu Fengjin sat upright beside him, smiling and saying nothing.
"Hey, Zhang Heng died suddenly a few days ago, and the responsibility of the commander of the Golden Armor Guard has been vacated. Now that Wang Jing has committed an offense, the commander of the Imperial Guard Department has been vacated again! Important posts are having troubles one after another, and I have trouble sleeping and eating!" Emperor Yu
These words sounded sad, but there was no sadness in his eyes.
"Brother, there is no need to be too hasty. Beiyu is full of talents. I believe that it will not take long for these vacancies to be filled." Yu Fengjin responded respectfully.
"Does King Yi have anyone to recommend?" Emperor Yu suddenly changed the subject.
Yu Fengjin lowered his eyes and lowered his eyebrows, and said respectfully: "My brother has always been idle, has no interest in government affairs, and doesn't know much about the ministers of the government. When you ask this question, I really can't think of any suitable candidates for a while.
Come!"
"How could there be no candidate?" Emperor Yu took a sip of ginseng soup and smiled: "I think Yan Rong is good."