Emperor Zhou did not agree directly, but just said,
"But what Qingyuan said makes sense! After all, it is hundreds of lives and justice for hundreds of people!"
"Father! Don't be fooled by Yang Qingyuan's words!"
Emperor Zhou was puzzled by the prince's words and asked, "What do you mean?!"
"Of course I know that I can't criticize important ministers at will, but Yang Qingyuan's behavior is really bad! If you really act according to Yang Qingyuan's words and retry Li Shou's case, then it will damage the name of your father and the emperor's benevolence.
Asking for orders for the people is selfless! Is this the way to serve as a minister?!"
"Shut up!" Emperor Zhou looked a little ugly, "As a prince, criticizing ministers behind their backs and hurting others with harsh words, how can it be the way of a prince?!"
"Father, my sons and ministers naturally do not dare to maliciously attack or speculate on the ministers. But judging from the results, it is Yang Qingyuan who has made a name for himself by stepping on the majesty of the court and the holy name of his father. He completely ignores the overall situation and disrespects his father..."
The prince did not stop because of Emperor Zhou's scolding, but instead sped up his tone.
"shut up!"
Emperor Zhou dropped the tea cup in his hand on the table.
"According to you, is it wrong to want to investigate the case thoroughly and bring justice to those who have been wronged!?"
What kind of person is Emperor Zhou? Naturally, he would not fall into the logical trap set by the prince. Although some people were deceived at the beginning, Emperor Zhou had already figured out the joints.
What the prince said is simply a fallacy.
What Yang Qingyuan asked for,
Is it wrong to find out the truth?!
Is it wrong to seek justice for the people?!
Is it wrong to bring justice to the dead?!
It should be said that regardless of whether it would ultimately damage the court's majesty and Emperor Zhou's reputation, Yang Qingyuan's behavior was not problematic.
Not to mention a wise king like Emperor Zhou, even a coward and mediocre king could not deny Yang Qingyuan's actions openly.
Yang Qingyuan's actions were not wrong. What was wrong was those of them whose interests were harmed.
"Father! Right or wrong is not the most important thing at this time. Of course Zhou Mingsheng deserves to be killed, and the people who died are certainly worthy of mercy, but compared with my great Zhou Dynasty's eternal foundation and my father's eternal holy name, these can be compared!"
The prince's firm tone shocked Emperor Zhou.
Regardless of whether the prince was looking for an excuse to save Zhou Mingsheng's life, what he just said was indeed reasonable.
Emperor Zhou valued the majesty of the imperial court and his posthumous reputation.
No matter what Yang Qingyuan thinks in his heart, if the case is really retried and everything is investigated, it seems that only Yang Qingyuan will benefit in the end.
Zhu Wuwu nodded slightly. The prince was indeed talented, but a prince who was too wise and stable was not a good thing for him and other careerists!
Zhu Mingli didn't have the slightest objection to Emperor Zhou, his royal brother.
Emperor Zhou treated Zhu Wuwu like a brother and a father, and he trusted and relied heavily on him. Moreover, Emperor Zhou's own literary, Taoist and military strategies were enough to convince Zhu Wuwu.
At this moment, Zhu ignored the idea of rebellion.
However, Emperor Zhou was in poor health, so Zhu Wuwang obeyed Emperor Zhou, which did not mean that he obeyed Emperor Zhou's son.
If the prince's power is too strong and his position is too stable, it will be difficult for Zhu Wu to achieve anything.
Therefore, it is a good thing for Yang Qingyuan to confront the prince. If Yang Qingyuan is used to weaken the prince's power, if done properly, the King of Chu will definitely not miss this good opportunity and will definitely take action.
At this moment, there was no sound in the imperial study, only the sound of rain hitting the tiles.
After a long time, Emperor Zhou finally said, "What do you mean?!"
"Zhou Mingsheng can die, but the crime must not be to create injustice, poison the people, or set fire to the village!"
"In your opinion, what crime should be punished?!"
"Zhou Mingsheng once confessed to his son that he once killed a Dali Temple policeman in the backyard of Changyin Garden. Why not convict him on this crime?"
At this point, Emperor Zhou fully understood the purpose of the prince. This crime had nothing to do with the "Ten Evils" and the "Eight Discussions" could be used to reduce Zhou Mingsheng's punishment.
Killing a police officer, if it were done to a civilian, would be a serious crime against law enforcement. But for a powerful person like Zhou Mingsheng, it would not be a big deal. A sentence of exile would be enough.
"Fourth brother, what do you think?!"
Emperor Zhou was already moved, but still did not make a decision. Instead, he consulted Zhu Wuwu who was standing aside.
Zhu Wuwu also understood what Emperor Zhou meant, and he had to bear this bad reputation himself.
"Brother Imperial! Although what the Crown Prince said is not in compliance with the law, it is indeed a mature and prudent statement. It is the most beneficial approach for the country and for you."
Emperor Zhou nodded slightly, and then said to the prince in a deep voice: "Zhou Mingsheng's crime will be determined by attacking and killing the Dali Temple policeman! As for the remaining charges, what should I do? It is determined by national law, and you can no longer interfere with it."
Although the tone was harsh, the meaning of the words had changed.
Originally Zhou Mingsheng had to die, but whether Zhou Mingsheng can survive now depends on the prince's own methods.
"get out!"
Although Emperor Zhou's tone was still harsh, the prince knew that he had won this round!
As long as the remaining matters are carried out according to the plan of the previous prince, Zhou Mingsheng's life can be saved.
After the prince knelt down with great etiquette, he exited the imperial study.
Tonight, if he has divine help, all his goals will be achieved. I really look forward to Yang Qingyuan's expression at the meeting tomorrow.
After the prince left, Emperor Zhou rubbed his eyes tiredly, and the imperial study fell into silence again.
But Zhu Wuli stood aside and said nothing. He was looking at Emperor Zhou.
"Fourteenth Brother, did I do something wrong in this matter!?"
Zhu Wuwu also understood how Emperor Zhou was feeling at this moment. His royal brother's moral bottom line was still very high. He must have been troubled by doing such a thing against his will.
Under normal circumstances, good people usually fail to be emperors, but for some reason, my royal brother became a wise emperor.
Taizu opened up the territory and established the great Zhou Dynasty.
But the people were able to recuperate and live in the hands of Emperor Zhou.
After Taizu's death, all parties who had taken advantage of Taizu's power were ready to take action, including King Zhao of Yancheng in the north.
However, the Emperor of Zhou taught the common people internally and governed the prefectures and counties; externally he coordinated with the Rong and established border rivers. He promoted water conservancy, focused on agriculture and mulberry trees, worked on settlements, accumulated good grain, and made the public and private warehouses abundant.
He insisted on managing the great Zhou Dynasty, which was full of hidden dangers, in a smooth manner. The merits of internal affairs alone were not weaker than those of Wen and Jing.
Regarding this imperial brother, Zhu Wuwu admired him from the bottom of his heart for his arrogance. If he were to change places, Zhu Wuwu felt that he would definitely not be able to do this.
But even such a wise man will sometimes become confused when he gets old.
"Brother, what you said is wrong. Although the prince's matter does not comply with the law, it is beneficial to the country and should be decided by the emperor. As for the family members of the deceased, the local prefectures and counties can provide more compensation!"
Emperor Zhou nodded, and with Zhu Wuwu's explanation, his originally troubled heart felt much better.
"It's just that Qingyuan will be wronged about this matter!"
Yang Qingyuan took such a big risk to invite him out of the palace and heard Zhou Mingsheng's confession with his own ears, but now he is about to change his mind.
Seeing that Emperor Zhou was not in a high mood, Zhu Bu knew that the time was coming and said, "Brother, you are worrying too much. Mr. Yang is the subject of Brother Huang no matter what. There is nothing wrong with him. It's just that he is still a little bit."
He looks young, so he doesn’t understand the deep meaning of the emperor’s actions, but in the final analysis, he is still loyal to the emperor!”
Emperor Zhou agreed, "Yes! I still like Qingyuan very much because he is fair-minded and talented. He has the talents of the Nine Ministers!"
He was very satisfied with Yang Qingyuan's background, conduct, character, and abilities.
Zhu Wuwu agreed, "Yes! Mr. Yang has never been involved in the struggle between princes. He was not afraid when he faced the King of Chu before. Now he is still upright when facing the prince. He is a rare loyal minister and an upright minister!"
Emperor Zhou was also a bit more cheerful when he mentioned Yang Qingyuan, "My two sons actually fell into his hands one after another. It's a pity that if the prince or the king of Chu can be half as good as him, I can pass on the throne with peace of mind."
Not only did the powerful people in the capital regard Wang Hua and Yang Qingyuan as role models in raising children, in the eyes of Emperor Zhou, the three of them were also other people's children.
"Hahaha! The emperor's words are true. Both the prince and the King of Chu have the demeanor of the emperor. The other princes also have their own strengths. Although Mr. Yang is extremely talented, the most important thing is his loyalty. Many ministers in the court today
, are all trying to show their goodwill to the new king in advance, including some important ministers, but Mr. Yang has offended both the King of Chu and the prince, and refuses to be on good terms with the adult prince! It can be said that he is so bold!"
Zhu ignored the pause and continued, "Not only that, he also taught Xiao Jiu and Shi San for the emperor brother. Although they are not very old, my brother has seen their martial arts. Even if they are placed in the world, they are still useless."
It is difficult for ordinary people from famous families to compete with such outstanding people."
Speaking of Xiaojiu and Thirteen, Emperor Zhou was even more delighted, "Fourteenth brother, I tell you, they are much more than that!"
"Xiaojiu was originally smart, and under Qingyuan's teachings, he was no less talented than ordinary girls. Although Thirteen is young, he is already capable of both civil and military skills. He is kind but wise, much better than his two brothers.
…”
Speaking of this, Emperor Zhou suddenly paused, and then felt a little strange.
When Zhu Wuwu saw Emperor Zhou's reaction, he felt happy that something big was about to happen.
During the conversation just now, he was guiding the topic intentionally or unintentionally.
Although Yang Qingyuan is fair-minded, there is no need to offend the two most promising princes at the same time!
Emperor Zhou suddenly recalled Zhu Wuwu's words just now - Yang Qingyuan had never been on good terms with any adult prince.
Although he is not on good terms with the adult prince, one of the underage princes can be his student!
Under Zhu Wuwu's deliberate guidance, Emperor Zhou began to have doubts in his heart.
"Ignore it, do you think Qingyuan has any other ideas!?"
Zhu Mingli sighed in his heart. Duke Zhou was afraid of the day of rumors. No matter how loyal his ministers were, they would be doubted by the emperor under the guidance of others' slander.
Only when you sit on that supreme seat can you truly be free of mind and body.
Although he was feeling emotional in his heart, Zhu Wuwu pretended not to understand.
"What does the emperor mean?"
"Tell me, has Qingyuan ever thought about helping Thirteen to ascend to the throne?!"
Zhu Wuwu was stunned for just the right moment.
"Thirteen?!"
"Yeah! I didn't think about this at first, but what you said just now made me feel a little weird."
Zhu Wuwu immediately leaned over and saluted, "Brother Emperor, I have no other intentions!"
Emperor Zhou raised his hand and interrupted Zhu Wuwu's self-defense, "Although you said this unintentionally, the listener meant it."
"Although Yang Qingyuan was trying to investigate the previous water transport case, it did disrupt the power created by the King of Chu. But this time, if the prince Xiao Xiao had not begged me with his own interests, the prince's reputation would have been greatly damaged."
Judging from the results alone, Yang Qingyuan is no longer not close to the two most promising princes, but he has been attacking them.
"Fourteen, do you think this is a coincidence?!"
Zhu Wuwu hesitated for a moment and said to Emperor Zhou, "Brother, please forgive me for my sin of lying."
"It doesn't matter!" Emperor Zhou waved his hand, "Although you and I are not of the same mother, we are better than our brothers. Just speak frankly, there is no need to avoid taboos."
Zhu Wulan took a deep breath and then said slowly, "Brother, do you remember the story of Emperor Wu Jing of the former Liang Dynasty?!"
It is said that after the two Jin Dynasties, during the First Liang Dynasty, there was a counselor who weakened the power of the prince while weakening the most powerful prince.
Forcibly, Emperor Wu Jing, who was originally an inconspicuous concubine prince and led troops outside, was promoted to the position of Ninth Five-Year Plan.
Emperor Zhou froze when he heard this and savored it carefully. The current situation seemed to be very similar to the battle for the right to inherit the throne in Qianliang.
The Thirteenth Prince Zhu Zhanhe was a minor and a concubine, so no one thought that the throne would fall on him.
And Yang Qingyuan first weakened the power of the King of Chu, and then attacked the prince's prestige. How similar was this to the approach of the counselor who had a mysterious plan?!
Does Yang Qingyuan really want to be the emperor's master?!
This suspicion had begun to take root in Emperor Zhou's mind.
But taking roots is not enough. Zhu Wuli still needs to continue watering to let it sprout and bloom.
Although Zhu Wuwu admires Yang Qingyuan, the existence of Yang Qingyuan is extremely detrimental to his future plans!
Even the entire "first and third series" need to be eliminated.
"But Yang Qingyuan is from Wudang after all... he wouldn't do such a thing!"
Emperor Zhou believed in Wudang. Others did not know the relationship between Wudang and the Zhou family, but Emperor Zhou knew it, and Zhu Wuwu, who was now the representative of the Zhou family's military force, also knew it.
"Brother Emperor, Zhang Zhenren is certainly a gift from heaven and transcendent, but Yang Qingyuan is not Zhenren Zhang. How many people in the world can be like Zhenren Zhang, who is not greedy for fame and wealth?! Brother Huang should compare Zhenren Zhang, Wudang, and Yang Qingyuan
The distinction between these three must not be based on the fact that Zhenren Zhang loves the house and the bird!"
This is the purpose of Zhu Wuli appearing here.
Of course, he would not have come here just by chance. He had received the news about the private transaction between King Zhao and Jiannu this afternoon, but he had not reported it immediately.
The help that the man in black was referring to just now was Hulong Villa.
What Zhu Wuwu said made Emperor Zhou feel uneasy, and his thoughts were like the lights in the royal study, flickering on and off.
"You go down first! I have to think about it carefully!"
Zhu Mingwu knew that the heat was on, and any more words would arouse Emperor Zhou's suspicion, so he bowed and left immediately.
And when the deep turmoil was brewing in the palace, the Dali Temple was not peaceful either.
Yang Qingyuan, who was in the study, thinking about tomorrow's meeting, suddenly opened his slightly closed eyes.
"Girl, since you have already arrived at Dali Temple, why don't you show up and tell the truth? It's not in line with Buddhism to hide in hiding!"
