"Master Yang, what is the purpose of entering the palace this time?!"
The prince put down the wine glass in his hand and asked.
Although he knew it, Yang Qingyuan was actually very tired of fighting with these people, or in other words, everyone liked to be straightforward.
And Liu Wangshu is what Yang Qingyuan most yearns for and expects.
When there is injustice in the world, ask me about the sword in my hand!
But how can you be alone in a temple?
Yang Qingyuan put down the cup in his hand, "This is indeed a good fruit brew."
The so-called fruit juice is actually blended fruit juice, without alcohol.
The prince looked at Yang Qingyuan, who seemed to be tasting the fruit wine at the moment, with bright eyes.
Yang Qingyuan didn't seem to notice, but started eating the food by himself, "Well! The imperial cuisine in the East Palace is indeed delicious. I have been traveling abroad and haven't eaten such delicious food for a long time!"
The prince's expression remained unchanged, "It's really hard for Mr. Yang to travel around to serve the country! This opportunity is rare. Eat more. When you are out on business, you won't be able to eat such good food."
Yang Qingyuan wanted to arrest someone, while the prince wanted to save Zhou Mingsheng without falling out with Yang Qingyuan.
Both sides are waiting for the other to take the initiative to speak.
Yang Qingyuan had to speak out first because of his clear purpose.
The prince can slowly repair the relationship with the "first and third lines", but Yang Qingyuan must catch Zhou Mingsheng as soon as possible.
"Thank you for the hospitality, Your Highness!" Yang Qingyuan put down the jade chopsticks and wiped the stains on the corners of his mouth with a brocade handkerchief.
"Wei Chen is here for another purpose."
Although the prince had an elegant and indifferent expression on his face, he was actually slightly proud of himself because he finally took the initiative.
"I'm here to ask for someone from His Highness?!"
"You want someone?!" The prince pretended to be puzzled, "Is this really weird!? Mr. Yang wants someone to come to my place. Are there any prisoners from your Dali Temple in the Wude Hall?!"
The prince said to Yang Qingyuan in a half-joking tone.
"The person I want is only available here, His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"How to say?!"
Yang Qingyuan stared into the prince's eyes and said, "What I want is the prince's brother-in-law, Zhou Mingsheng!"
The prince seemed to be shocked by Yang Qingyuan's words, and frowned, "Zhou Mingsheng?! He is indeed Gu's brother-in-law, but he has always been law-abiding, low-key and modest. How could he have anything to do with Dali Temple!"
"It's not that he is the murderer, but I just want to ask him to come out and assist in the investigation! Please also ask Your Highness to support Dali Temple."
The prince agreed, "Okay! I will definitely agree. I will go to Zhou Mingsheng's house now and order him to assist in the investigation of Dali Temple."
As soon as the prince said this, Yang Qingyuan knew that the prince was not sincere in solving the matter.
Yang Qingyuan also said directly: "Your Highness, there is no need to be so provocative. We have already found out everything."
"Oh?! What are you talking about, Mr. Yang? Does Mr. Yang think that he is protecting Zhou Mingsheng?!"
Yang Qingyuan drank a glass of fruit wine again.
Then he took out an evidence bag from his arms and took out a wooden stick.
"Your Highness, does he know what this is?!"
The prince looked at the wooden stick in Yang Qingyuan's hand and wondered why.
"What did Mr. Yang show?"
Yang Qingyuan turned the wooden stick slightly to one side to reveal the side with writing. Although one side of the wooden stick was completely covered with scorch marks, the vague words on it could still be vaguely seen.
Chang Linjun, Xuan Jia Qi.
"Your Highness, don't you recognize this thing?!"
The prince was slightly angry. These losers really succeeded more than they failed. Even though he had ordered the Changlin Army not to be directly related to this matter, these people still left such fatal evidence.
Of course, the prince still had a look of doubt on his face.
"What is this?! Why does it have the name Changlin Jun?! Where did Mr. Yang get it from!?"
"On the way from the capital to Wannian County, I was surrounded and killed by unknown people. I luckily escaped with my life, and this is what was left by the killer who besieged and killed me that day."
The prince looked at it carefully and said: "I am so talented and have little knowledge. I really don't know what this is!?"
"This is a part of the Tianji Crossbow. What is engraved on it is its origin. This is the Changlin Army's Tianji Crossbow!"
When the prince heard Chang Linjun's name, his face darkened.
"What do you mean, Mr. Yang?! Do you think it was me who ordered the siege of Mr. Yang?!"
"Could there be someone other than the prince who can command the Changlin Army?!" Yang Qingyuan did not beat around the bush.
"I really don't know about this matter. Please give me some time, Mr. Yang. I will have someone check it out and give Mr. Yang an explanation!"
Yang Qingyuan indeed smiled and said, "I won't bother Your Highness with this matter. This is the dereliction of duty of the Ministry of War. Naturally, the Ministry of War will take charge of it. I have already handed over the clues to Mr. Yu Yanyi."
"This is very good. Your Majesty, with a fair heart and a wise man, will surely be able to investigate this matter and get to the bottom of it."
There didn't seem to be anything strange on the prince's face, and he seemed indeed happy that the matter had been handled.
"That's good, let's get back to the business! Dali Temple suspects that Zhou Mingsheng has an inseparable connection with the murder of Xianguan and the Wannian County murder case. We also ask His Highness the Crown Prince to hand over this person."
The prince's face also darkened, "Does Mr. Yang think that Gu is deliberately covering up!?"
"His Highness is serious in his words, I am just talking about the matter!"
Even though he said that, Yang Qingyuan had such an expression on his face that it was enough to say that this is what I thought!
"Huh!" The prince snorted coldly, and just as he was about to have a fit, Yang Qingyuan continued.
"Your Highness should know that I am not very talented among the scholars."
The prince was skilled in political struggle, and his face darkened. He naturally knew the meaning of Yang Qingyuan's words. Yang Qingyuan's reputation among scholars was enough to greatly damage his reputation among literati.
Yang Qingyuan can also support other princes. No matter which prince he supports, the prestige of the person supported will greatly increase.
What's more, Yang Qingyuan directly supported the King of Chu.
Although the King of Chu had a tit-for-tat confrontation with Yang Qingyuan before, Yang Qingyuan did not take the initiative to target the King of Chu. He only involved the forces of the King of Chu's party during the investigation.
If Yang Qingyuan clearly chooses to support the King of Chu at this time, even if the King of Chu has resentment in his heart, he will accept Yang Qingyuan's kindness and put aside the previous grievances between the two parties.
After all, it is nothing to get the support of the "first and third parties" headed by Yang Qingyuan!
"Master Yang! Are you threatening the lonely king?!"
Yang Qingyuan did not answer immediately. After it was estimated that the time was almost up, Yang Qingyuan said: "Not only that, please also listen attentively, Your Highness!"
The prince listened carefully with doubts, but didn't hear anything?!
After dozens of breaths, the prince still had no results. He thought Yang Qingyuan was playing tricks on him, but at this moment, there was a wave of noise in the direction of the palace gate.
"Zhou Mingsheng is suspected of a murder, please His Highness not to cover up and hand over the culprit!"
"Zhou Mingsheng is suspected of a murder, please His Highness not to cover up and hand over the culprit!"
"..."
The prince's expression changed drastically, and he was no longer as calm and calm as before.
He didn't expect that Yang Qingyuan would really dare to do this?!
Wude Hall is located on the east side of Daming Palace. Such movements can be heard both inside and outside the palace. Once this matter spreads, his reputation as a virtuous man among the people will no longer exist.
If a young man who had just entered the official career acted like this, the prince would still understand.
But who is Yang Qingyuan?!
He is recognized as a future important minister in the court, and his political level is not inferior to those old foxes. He would use such a face-breaking move to force himself. This was not what the prince expected at all.
The sound didn't last long before it stopped.
"Whether you hand over someone or not depends solely on His Highness's thoughts!"
Zhou Mingsheng is the prince's brother-in-law. This is certainly Zhou Mingsheng's biggest supporter, but also, under certain conditions, this will also become Zhou Mingsheng's biggest flaw. As long as the prince still cares about his reputation, he will inevitably choose to make friends with him.
Out of Zhou Mingsheng.
"Zhou Mingsheng is really not in the East Palace!"
The prince said through gritted teeth.
"It doesn't matter whether you are in the East Palace or not. It doesn't matter whether His Highness protects you! What matters is what the Holy One thinks?! What do the officials think?! What do the people of the world think!?"
In fact, when Yang Qingyuan's arrangements came into effect, the prince faced almost a dead end.
Regardless of whether he protected Zhou Mingsheng or not, in the eyes of the world, if Dali Temple failed to catch Zhou Mingsheng, it would definitely be because Dali Temple was incompetent, but because the prince protected him behind his back, which made Dali Temple return without success!
This is a conspiracy and a decisive move!
The prince's doting on the crown prince Zhou Mingyu is well known to everyone. If someone is protecting the criminal Zhou Mingsheng, then the prince will not be able to escape suspicion.
As long as the prince still cares about his reputation and prestige, he must find Zhou Mingsheng. Even if he really doesn't know, he must find a way to help Dali Temple find someone.
The prince's eyes flickered.
As far as Zhou Mingsheng is concerned, to the prince, he is just a discarded son that can be thrown away at any time.
The identity of a wealthy businessman in the capital was not in the eyes of the prince of Zhou Dynasty.
But Zhou Mingsheng's most important identity is that he is the younger brother of Crown Princess Zhou Mingyu.
At other times, the prince is always wise and calm, but once it comes to Crown Princess Zhou Mingyu, the prince will seem to be a different person, losing his reason and calmness.
Zhou Mingyu is in poor health, and Zhou Mingsheng is his only younger brother.
Originally, the prince did not intend to let Zhou Mingyu know about this matter, but something happened in the East Palace and the matter actually reached the ears of the prince concubine Zhou Mingyu.
The prince is now trying to protect Zhou Mingsheng, also for Zhou Mingyu.
Zhou Mingyu was born with heart palpitations and could not bear events of great joy or sorrow. If Yang Qingyuan really allowed Yang Qingyuan to kill Zhou Mingsheng, it would definitely affect Zhou Mingyu's condition.
Therefore, the prince wanted to save Zhou Mingsheng's life no matter what.
The prince sighed and chose to take a step back.
"Master Yang is upright, not flattering, and talented. He is indeed the pillar of the country!"
The prince took the initiative to flatter Yang Qingyuan, which seemed very inconsistent.
Under such circumstances, the prince still had a clever move.
"With Mr. Yang's qualifications, talent, character, and virtue, after long live my father, he is the best candidate to be the chief minister of the cabinet!"
With this opening, even Yang Qingyuan's heartbeat accelerated.
The emperor's health is not good, and has been deteriorating in recent years. Without external intervention, his life is indeed short.
Then the prince's words were no longer empty praise, but a political deal.
Trade his position as the future chief minister of the cabinet in exchange for Zhou Mingsheng's life.
This step can be said to kill two birds with one stone. If Yang Qingyuan agrees to this matter, it will not only save Zhou Mingsheng's life, but also take Yang Qingyuan and others under his command.
The chief minister of the cabinet is the first assistant minister in the cabinet.
During the Great Zhou Dynasty, there were four halls, Zhongji Hall, Jianji Hall, Wenhua Hall, Wuying Hall, Dong Pavilion, and Wenyuan Pavilion, and two pavilions. The chief officer was a bachelor.
These six academicians are responsible for the government affairs of the DPRK and China. Ordinary government affairs can be decided by these six academicians with one word.
Important government affairs need to be resolved through consultation between the cabinet and the emperor, but the cabinet still has a great say in them.
Although the chief minister of the cabinet does not have the title of prime minister, he has the power of prime minister.
This is a position below one person and above ten thousand people.
The ultimate dream of many civil servants is to become the chief minister of the cabinet.
If you can successfully retire naturally from the position of chief minister of the cabinet without encountering political liquidation, then it is very likely that you will be recorded in the history books.
The prince thought that he had given enough weight, and Yang Qingyuan was not afraid of going back on his word.
Let’s not talk about this case! What about the political power behind Yang Qingyuan?! What about Yang Qingyuan’s party members?! The fact that Yang Qingyuan was born in Wudang and is Zhang Sanfeng’s junior disciple can make the prince dare not go back on his word.
"This is Gu's sincerity, Master Yang should be able to feel it."
Not only is it full of sincerity! Yang Qingyuan can also feel full of annoyance.
Just when the prince thought Yang Qingyuan would agree, Yang Qingyuan hesitated.
To be honest, Yang Qingyuan was also very moved.
In fact, the prince's request was not excessive. He did not ask Yang Qingyuan to withdraw the case or stop the investigation. Instead, he asked to save Zhou Mingsheng's life!
This isn't even something out of the ordinary.
In the Dazhou Code, the "Eight Discussions" that can reduce punishment are clearly stipulated.
The first item of the Eight Discussions is "discussing relatives", that is, relatives of the emperor and the country.
When a person in the Eight Tribunals commits a crime and commits a capital crime, the Ministry of Punishment or Dali Temple cannot directly try them. They must first report to the emperor, explain the crime they committed and the type of crime that should be discussed, and then ask the ministers to discuss the punishment plan, and finally submit it to the emperor for decision and approval.
Leniency is generally given.
If Yang Qingyuan had dealt with the matter in accordance with the "Eight Discussions", not only would he not have done anything illegal, but he would even have been praised for his strict enforcement of the law and for acting in accordance with the law.
After dozens of breaths, Yang Qingyuan closed his eyes slightly and used his wisdom sword to kill all the delusional thoughts in his mind. Then he stood up and said to the prince.
"Your Highness's kindness, I will let you down! Li Shou's family, the hundreds of dead souls in Wannian County, and the brothers from Dali Temple who died in this case make it impossible for me to make this choice!"
The prince glanced at Yang Qingyuan in disbelief, "Are you going to give up your position as the chief minister of the cabinet and become an enemy of Gu Gu for the sake of those common people?!"
Yang Qingyuan smiled slightly, feeling calm in his heart.
Although I know that the universe is vast, I still pity the green grass and trees.
