In the Taiji Hall, the courtiers looked at Gao Yan, who was sitting on the dragon chair. He said nothing, listening to the speech of the Imperial Censor Taizhong Cheng.
"I believe that no matter what the truth of the Xia Ji case is, it should not affect the decision of the imperial examination examiner."
Gao Yan did not answer immediately. The courtiers in the hall noticed the emperor's hesitation. At first, most people chose to wait and see what the Jin family would say.
Since Jin Ziji left the capital, the Jin family has spoken less and less in court, but everyone knows that the power of the Jin family is deeply entangled, and it cannot be shaken without one eldest son of the Jin family.
Since the Baili family has never been affiliated with the party, it is naturally impossible to guess their movements. For a moment, the court where the heated discussion was supposed to be was silent.
Bailihan didn't get a reply from Gao Yan, so he repeated his advice.
"Your Majesty, I thought..."
This time Gao Yan stopped Bailihan from speaking.
"This matter will be discussed again. The Bailiqing family does not need to say anything more."
Bailihan wanted to continue speaking, but was continually blocked by another minister.
"Your Majesty, the Master Jiujiu of the Imperial Academy was assassinated last night and he is still awake."
Gao Yan said: "This matter has been handed over to the Ministry of Criminal Justice for investigation. The Qing family does not need to worry."
Zhou Qi, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, said, "I dare to ask your majesty whether the case of my son's suicide can be concluded."
Baili Xi said: "Hasn't Master Shangshu already made a conclusion?"
Zhou Qi asked: "What do you mean, Lord Baili?"
Baili Xi said calmly and forcefully: "Isn't suicide the final word?"
Zhou Qi said angrily, "Sir, don't be pretentious. Why did my son kill himself? He is the student with the most hope of passing the exam this year. Why did he kill himself at this time? Isn't it worth investigating?"
Baili Xi said, "Your Excellency, you have reported the case to the Ministry of Punishment. Didn't the Ministry of Punishment give you a reply?"
Zhou Qi raised his head slightly and glanced at Gao Yan hastily, "The head of the Criminal Department tried his best to investigate the case, but no suspects were questioned."
Baili Xi asked deliberately: "What? There are people in Jinling City that the Punishment Department can't find."
Zhou Qi became silent and did not continue the topic.
The court fell into an atmosphere of silence again.
Jin Zijue, who had been silent until now, stood up from the queue and said: "Your Majesty, the imperial examination is a first-class event of the country. Let's not mention that the deceased Zhou Jin was the child of a fourth-rank official in the imperial court. Let's just say that an outstanding student died in the Imperial College.
This matter should be thoroughly investigated."
Everyone could hear the meaning of Jin Zijue's words. The Jin family and the Zhou family were standing together.
Gao Yan asked, "Jin Qing's family, how do you think we should conduct a thorough investigation?"
"Bring all the suspects to the Criminal Department for interrogation." Jin Zijue said.
There was no silence as expected, Gao Yan nodded and agreed.
Seeing the progress of the matter, Zhou Qi further confirmed the Holy Will.
"Your Majesty, are there any suspects, regardless of rank, who can be questioned?"
Gao Yan nodded, "Yes."
As if he had received a clear answer, Zhou Qi no longer hesitated, and even said with a sense of certainty, "Then, on behalf of the Ministry of Punishment, I request the interrogation of Anning Princess Luo Qingzhi."
The court was in an uproar. After two days, everyone in the court knew that Princess Anning was placed in the palace by His Majesty. At this time, Zhou Qi's request was undoubtedly a reminder to the emperor not to protect Luo Qingzhi.
Gao Yan did not answer. Everyone was worried about Zhou Qi's fate. After all, in the past, Gao Yan always protected Luo Qingzhi whenever she had anything to do with her.
"good."
Gao Yan's simple words once again made the ministers panic, and they all speculated whether Princess Anning had really offended His Majesty the Emperor and fallen out of favor as rumored.
Luo Qingzhi, who was still "imprisoned" in the side hall, waited until Gao Zhen arrived.
Gao Zhen informed him of what happened in the Imperial College last night.
Luo Qingzhi asked: "Has it been verified?"
Gao Zhen nodded, "The imperial doctors are all from the palace, Luo Chen has verified it."
Luo Qingzhi
He continued to ask: "Have you found out everything about Huang Si?"
Gao Zhen shook his head, "There is no information available."
Luo Qingzhi lowered her head and thought, and Gao Zhen began to hesitate whether to tell Bailihan's story.
"What?" Luo Qingzhi looked at Gao Zhen, who was obviously hiding something, and asked, "Is there anything else?"
Gao Zhen took a breath and said, "Yesterday I went to Huqiu and found Mrs. Xia. She told me that the person who taught privately was, yes, Lord Bailihan."
"What?" Luo Qingzhi was very surprised and asked again: "What is Mrs. Xia's evidence?"
Gao Zhen took out the seal from his arms.
Luo Qingzhi weighed it repeatedly and shook her head, "You can make many such seals, but they can't prove anything."
"Yes." Gao Zhen nodded, "Mr. Fan said the same thing."
"But." Luo Qingzhi couldn't help but worry, "Mrs. Xia won't bite my uncle for no reason. There must be something we have overlooked."
Luo Qingzhi looked at the guards outside the palace and said, "You have been in here for a long time. Get out quickly and let me think about how to solve it."
Gao Zhen picked up the food box and nodded.
The door was closed, and Luo Qingzhi stared at the letter left by the man in black last night in a daze.
Shortly after Gao Zhen left, the order came for Luo Qingzhi to go to the Ministry of Justice for investigation.
Luo Qingzhi received the order and came to the Ministry of Punishment from Xianyang Palace under the protection of the imperial army.
As expected, the person in charge of the interrogation in the Criminal Department is the Chief Secretary.
Li Shen smiled and said, "We meet again, Your Highness the Princess."
Luo Qingzhi smiled back, "It seems that we are destined."
It was obviously a question, but Luo Qingzhi was taken to the torture room. Luo Qingzhi stared at the various torture instruments on the table and asked: "I didn't expect that the torture department has a lot of torture instruments. Are they all going to be used today?"
"What did the princess say?" Li Shen said with cupped hands: "How can the princess' body of a daughter be used to torture? It's just that your majesty personally ordered this matter, so I have to wrong the princess. Don't worry, as long as the matter comes to an end.
, I will immediately ask Your Majesty to let you go home."
Luo Qingzhi smiled contemptuously, "My lord, what you are saying is that if there is no result, I will have to stay in the Criminal Department."
Li Shen said: "The Ministry of Punishment was appointed by His Majesty to investigate this matter, and the princess is a suspect. Whether there are any results depends on whether the princess can cooperate."
Luo Qingzhi looked at the person in front of her and asked softly: "Master Li, how do you want me to cooperate?"
Seeing how docile Luo Qingzhi was, Li Shen thought that even Princess An Ning, who was a woman, would be scared when she saw a room full of torture instruments.
He took out a piece of white paper from the table next to him, with the word "crime" mentioned above.
Luo Qingzhi glanced at it and smiled, "Master Li, I remember that you were transferred from a small policeman in Liumen to the Criminal Department as the chief of the Criminal Department five years ago. It was only five years. Why do you think,
You and the people behind you can touch me."
Li Shen put down the accusation and smiled, "You can't move anymore. Princess, you are now in the Ministry of Punishment and in my hands. Princess, I advise you to be more sensible."
Luo Qingzhi asked: "How to recognize faces?"
"If you sign this confession, I can plead for you in front of His Majesty and save you from death."
Luo Qingzhi said: "My hands are tied by you, how can I sign it?"
Li Shen was a little hesitant. He heard that Luo Qingzhi was very good at martial arts and was worried that letting her go would make her escape.
"This is the Ministry of Justice. Besides, there are people from the Imperial Army outside, so I can't escape." Luo Qingzhi said.
Li Shen thought for a while and said, "I think the princess is also a smart person."
Luo Qingzhi's hands were freed, she rubbed her wrists, took the charge, and asked: "You have made such a great contribution, how will your family reward you?"
"Of course it's the Minister of Punishment," Li Shen said.
Luo Qingzhi shook her head and said, "I heard that Master Shangshu thinks highly of you. In a few years, this position will also be yours."
"How many years will it take?" Li Shen laughed sarcastically, "I can't wait any longer.
.”
Seeing that Luo Qingzhi had not signed, Li Shen said impatiently: "Princess, the entire punishment department belongs to me. Stop struggling. I don't want to torture you."
Luo Qingzhi glanced at the torture instruments around her and shook her head, "I don't want to be tortured either."
She picked up the brush, and Li Shen was a little excited. He thought Luo Qingzhi had resigned herself to her fate. He was so focused on the placement of the brush strokes that he didn't notice that Luo Qingzhi's eyes had changed.
She pressed his arm with her right hand and broke the writing brush with her left hand. In an instant, the writing pen became a tool that could kill people.
"Princess Princess, the Criminal Department are all my people, you can't escape." Li Shen shouted.
"Escape?" Luo Qingzhi said: "Why should I escape?"
Luo Qingzhi pressed Li Shen against the wall and stabbed his neck with a brush, "Li Shen, you are the one who should run away."
Li Shen didn't understand at all. Then when he saw the imperial army rushing in, he thought he had found reinforcements and quickly shouted: "Come here, Princess Anning has rebelled."
Luo Qingzhi let go slightly, and Li Shen pushed with his backhand and ran into the encirclement of the Forbidden Army.
He held the hand of Meng Feng, the deputy commander of the imperial army, and shouted: "Quick, quick, take her down."
Meng Feng looked at Luo Qingzhi.
"Take it down." Luo Qingzhi said softly.
Meng Feng nodded and suppressed Li Shen with his backhand.
Li Shen didn't understand the current situation at all, and there was some panic on his face, "What, what's going on?"
Luo Qingzhi knelt down and said, "Why, do you really think that you can convict me just based on a case of suicide?"
Li Shen looked at Meng Feng behind him and said, "His Majesty asked you to take care of Princess An Ning, but you actually joined her in rebellion?"
Meng Feng looked at Luo Qingzhi, and after getting her nod, he replied, "The order we received is to guard Princess An Ning and prevent her from being harmed."
Li Shen was still yelling, and Luo Qingzhi said: "Take him back to the palace and let His Majesty judge it in person."
"Yes, Princess."
Meng Feng personally escorted Li Shen, with Luo Qingzhi following behind, and the pair slowly walked out of the Criminal Department.
Luo Chen, who was waiting at the door, finally saw someone coming out and breathed a sigh of relief silently.
"Master, if you don't come out, I will rush in."
Luo Qingzhi said: "Don't worry."
Luo Chen said to Meng Feng: "Deputy Commander, let me do it."
Meng Feng nodded and relaxed a little. Just as the two were exchanging, Li Shen took out the black sphere from his arms and slapped it on the ground, emitting thick black smoke.
The people present did not rush out of the way and covered their noses one after another.