When Xia Yan saw Zhu Hao, he was extremely respectful, because he knew that he was meat on the chopping block now, and any powerful person might kill him, but they might also save him from disaster.
He took advantage of opportunities whenever possible.
When Zhu Hao entered the cell, someone immediately brought a chair to Zhu Hao. Zhu Hao sat down, while Wang Zuo could only stand aside. The scene in front of him made Xia Yan even more frightened.
What's happening here?
Even if you are the right minister of the Ministry of Etiquette, you can be considered an important minister of the imperial court, but you are a piece of shit when you are in front of the dignified commander of the Imperial Guard, who is the true direct descendant of the emperor? You can change positions with me at any time, but you still dare to command the Imperial Guard.
Showing off in front of you?
Zhu Hao said: "I came here to ask about what happened in front of Zuo Shun's gate."
Even though Xia Yan wanted to curry favor with Zhu Hao, but his face didn't allow it, he tried to use a less cold tone and said: "I have nothing to tell you." "That means that you, Xia Yushi, will wait until tomorrow for another thirty."
Until you are beaten to death?" Zhu Hao said in an almost threatening tone. "What do you... Mr. Zhu, what do you mean by this? I don't understand."
Xia Yan was nervous.
Thirty strokes with the imperial staff had kept him awake for several days, and now his whole body felt like falling apart. He could only go to the ground in these two days, and he was going to receive another thirty strokes the next day. He probably would have lost half of his life if he didn't die.
Zhu Hao pointed to Wang Zuo on the side, meaning that Wang Zuo would come out to explain.
Wang Zuodao: "Tomorrow and night, all prisoners in custody will be punished with thirty canes! This is His Majesty's decree and cannot be violated!" "Huh..."
Xia Yan felt like he was spinning in front of the gate of hell.
Zhu Hao said: "So, Xia Yushi, are you still going to hide it? The only chance is that as long as you confess who was responsible, as well as the detailed process, and make a list later, you can avoid the pain of flesh and blood! But you also
You can no longer stay in the capital as an official, and you will be transferred to another place, which is not a bad thing for you."
Xia Yan gritted his teeth and said, "Why does Zhu Shilang force others to do something difficult?"
After hearing this, Zhu Hao stopped talking and stood up to leave. "Please stay, Mr. Zhu."
At this point, Xia Yan was really scared.
Zhu Hao turned back to look at him and said coldly: "Do you understand?"
Xia Yan said with a sad face: "Xiaguan doesn't know much because he was not deeply involved in it..."
Wang Zuodao: "Xia Yushi, you'd better answer truthfully. Everyone in the court knows your usual temperament. Since you are involved in this incident, you must be the leader, and the court will never wrongly arrest someone! No.
If you report it truthfully, your results will definitely not be very good!"
After hearing this, Xia Yan wanted to cry but had no tears.
Qing Qing always puts on an upright look and speaks out in the face of nobles and illegal things in the court. Is there such a disadvantage? But I really haven’t done much in protecting rituals!
But he also knew that no matter what he said now, no one would believe it. Zhu Hao sighed: "I am here to help you, not to harm you."
Xia Yan said: "The official knows, but can the official...see Zhang Xueshi?"
At this time, Xia Yan obviously didn't pay much attention to Zhu Hao, or he felt that the most favored person around the emperor was Zhang Cong. Although he still didn't understand what Zhang Cong's purpose was in looking for him at that time, but
At this moment, he felt that there was a power struggle between Zhang Cong and Zhu Hao.
What are the two fighting about... Xia Yan is still a little confused. It's just a feeling.
"Bachelor Zhang? You mean Zhang Bingyong, the Hanlin scholar? He will not come to the imperial prison recently. What do you want to say to him? I will pass the message on your behalf," Zhu Hao said.
Xia Yan sighed and said, "I won't bother you, Mr. Zhu. If you have anything to ask, just ask. I will tell you everything I know!"...
Not surprisingly, Xia Yan became the first traitor in the Zuo Shunmen incident. This was the result of Xia Yan's self-protection.
Zhu Hao didn't care how much Xia Yan knew, but directly compiled a "confession" for him, detailing the details of some people in the court.
, under the instruction of Yang Tinghe, he wanted to argue with the emperor on matters of ceremony, in order to weaken the imperial power and other related rhetoric.
After Xia Yan saw this thing, he was shocked and said: "Shilang Zhu, how can you write down such things casually? Also, these things... are all unheard of!"
Although Xia Yan wanted to protect himself, he obviously never thought of betraying his colleagues so completely. But Zhu Hao seemed to have no regard for his political future and directly took advantage of the traditional civil servants.
Zhu Haodao: "Xia Yushi, I heard that you have military status, and I am also a military member, and you have the idea of leaving the military status for the sake of your family, but you also know that Ming Dynasty cannot leave the military status until it reaches the position of minister. Now if I give it to you
Are you willing to sign a pledge to get out of the military?" "No!"
Xia Yan seemed to be very principled, "A gentleman has certain things to do and things not to do. A lower official would never do such an unjust thing. At this time, he still calls himself a lower official, which shows that he has a higher regard for Zhu Hao in his heart."
Awe-inspiring.
Zhu Hao nodded: "It is a good thing to have principles, but today I have left my words here. I have even told you the secrets hidden in my heart and what your Majesty has to do. It seems that tomorrow the staff will be punished
Your thirty years is not enough! Commander Wang, is that right?"
Wang Zuo clasped his fists and said, "What Zhu Shilang said is absolutely true. Tomorrow, if you hold a low position, you will be punished more." "Zhu Shilang, are you trying to disregard human life?"
If Xia Yan hadn't been injured on his butt, he would have jumped up and fought Zhu Hao immediately.
Zhu Hao said: "I only want your signature, not to ruin your reputation. If you do this, you will still be exiled to the local government like those people. They will not doubt you. The only difference is that in the future you will
You have a better chance of returning to the imperial court than they do, and then you will be able to rise to prominence."
This is painting cake.
"Then what if the official doesn't agree?" Xia Yan still wanted to bargain.
Zhu Hao shrugged: "Xia Yushi, Zhang Yuan has already died. He was also one of the leaders. Do you want to follow in his footsteps?" Xia Yan's face was pale.
He thought for a long time and did not directly answer Zhu Hao whether he would do it or not. Instead, he asked: "Zhu Shilang, what is your position?"
Zhu Haodao: "Don't ask me about my position. I am saving you, not harming you. As long as you understand this, you should know what choice to make! The six of you were the first to be taken to prison for whatever purpose.
Come on, the results are almost the same, are you still stubborn to this day?"
"Understood!"
Xia Yan finally accepted his fate, "But there are some things that Xiaguan people say lightly, and no one believes them when they say it. In other words, Xiaguan is not qualified to represent Mr. Yang Ge and Mr. Jiang Ge, nor is he qualified to represent civil servants. I'm afraid I will disappoint you.
.”
Zhu Hao said: "It's okay, just sign and post it. You will be exempted from punishment tomorrow, and you can wait for your transfer to another place with peace of mind!"
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After Xia Yan "confessed", Zhu Hao personally collected the confession. After walking out of Xia Yan's prison, Zhu Hao went to see Feng Xi.
Compared with Xia Yan's fear of death, Fengxi seemed to take everything lightly. As the person with the highest official position in this ceremony, Fengxi had the opportunity to join the cabinet, but he chose a path of no return. Zhu
Hao felt sympathy, ridicule and disdain for Yang Shen, but for Fengxi, he completely admired him.
No matter what people's stance is, at least they have adhered to the principle.
"Scholar Feng."
Zhu Hao entered the cell and brought Feng Xi a cup of tea.
After all, Fengxi was older, two years older than Tang Yin, and not exactly senile, but he really couldn't bear this cane punishment.
Fengxi greeted with a wry smile: "Jingdao, are you here? Sit down."
Zhu Hao nodded and sat down on a stool nearby, while Wang Zuo was still standing aside. Fengxi probably understood something when he saw this scene.
"Alas!" Fengxi sighed quietly.
He was probably regretting that he didn't see Zhu Hao's position clearly before, but now that Zhu Hao has become the winner, he has fallen into a complete defeat.
Zhu Hao said: "I think Academician Feng must have known
, there will still be a cane punishment tomorrow, but I have reminded your Majesty that officials over fifty years old can be exempted from punishment tomorrow... In fact, there are only three of them."
Zhu Hao told Feng Xi about this.
Because most of the people arrested were officials below the fifth rank, and there were only three people over fifty years old, including Fengxi, it means that these three people will not need to be beaten with a cane tomorrow.
Fengxi nodded: "Thank you very much."
He was also a gentleman. Knowing that Zhu Hao had helped him, Fengxi sincerely expressed his gratitude even if his position was contradictory.
"Xueshi Shi will join the cabinet the day after tomorrow. Things have been decided and nothing will change." Zhu Hao said, "There is not much I can do. Xueshi Feng will be exiled to the Border Guard Station. As for the empress, I hope that Xueshi Feng can take care of his health."
, there may be a day in the future when I can return to the countryside."
Zhu Hao told Feng Xi his next fate.
You can't continue to be an official. It's good to be sentenced to guard the border and save your life.
Don't even think about returning to the court as an official after being acquitted in the future. As long as the current emperor is in power, it will be impossible for you to wash away your grievances. Besides, this is not an grievance. If you go against the emperor, you should expect this outcome.
Even if someone gives you an apology in the future, it will be because of political stance.
Fengxi said: "Jingdao, the court will depend on you in the future!"
Zhu Hao shook his head: "Sister Feng, don't say that. I am not capable of taking on the affairs of the court. I just want to be a courtier with peace of mind and fulfill my dream when I was young."
"Dream?" Fengxi was speechless for a while. What nonsense is this?
You have already become an official, and it seems that you are still a core member of the new emperor's side. You will have no problem joining the cabinet in the future. You actually say it is for a dream?
What are your dreams? "What about Yongxiu?" Fengxi asked.
This is his biggest concern.
Judging from the current situation, Feng Xi and Yang Shen have the highest official positions among those in prison. Of course, He Mengchun, the left minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, was also involved in the crying scandal. However, He Mengchun was not imprisoned, but his salary was suspended.
Zhu Haodao: "I'm a loser just like you, and his situation is even more pessimistic. As for the reason, you should know it." Hearing this, Fengxi sighed: "It's all because of his father. Whatever, whatever!"