The weather this year has been cold very early. It is only early September, the corn harvest is about to be finished, and the willow leaves beside the valley water are already turning yellow.
The palace is no longer as hot and humid as in summer, and a breeze comes from time to time, making it feel cool.
The Double Ninth Festival will be in a few days. If it were previous years, Tai Chang would have already set up an altar outside the temple. When the festival comes, the emperor will bring his ministers to celebrate the harvest, worship ancestors, pray for longevity, and then hold a grand banquet.
However, this year there was not even an altar outside the city. Someone who asked about it found out that since February 2, the Queen Mother had issued an edict to ban strings and cut off music in the palace to save money. Therefore, this year's Double Ninth Festival,
At most, they would just place a few incense tables in the palace, and then the Queen Mother, Your Majesty and several important ministers would pay homage to the gods and ancestors.
Of course, the common people don't care, at most it's just one less lively event. The lower-level officials are as usual, going to the Yamen when they should, going on duty when they should, having banquets when they should, and visiting brothels when they should.
Only a few people have a vague intuition that a storm is coming...
In the Zhaoyang Palace, Gao Ying was sitting on the couch. His first assistant was Yuan Cheng, his second assistant was Yuan Quan, Yanwei Qing Youzhao and Yushi Lieutenant Li Daoyuan were waiting on the steps.
In addition, Yuan Yuan, the leader of the army, and Yuan Hui, the protector of the army, were kneeling in front of the collapse. Their armor had been removed and they were only wearing middle clothes. There were still blood marks on the left and right on their bodies.
At the beginning of June, King Yuanjia of Guangyang passed away, and his second assistant was the grandson of Emperor Wencheng Tuoba Jun and the son of Tuoba Hong. Yuanhong took over from his younger brother Yuanquan and took over the post of Taiwei.
Because Gao Meng had rebelled, there was a vacancy in the central leadership. After discussions between the Empress Dowager and the assistants, Yuan Yuan, who had succeeded to the title of King of Guangyang, moved him to the post. In addition, because Yu Wenfu was old and frail, Gao Ying'en allowed him to be promoted to the guerrilla general, Hanoi.
The prefect, Chengyang Wang Yuanhui, was appointed as the Central Protector of the Army, serving as Yuan Yuan's assistant and jointly in charge of the imperial army.
Yuan Hui was also a blessing in disguise: because Yuan Yuan had an affair with his wife, Yu Shi, Yuan Hui was so ashamed and resentful that Yu Shi sank into a lake. Later, his body was delivered to the gate of the Guangyang Prince's Palace, which caused an uproar in the capital and became a legend.
This move greatly damaged the royal family's face, forcing Gao Ying to issue an order to punish Yuan Hui. It also made Yu Zhong feel extremely humiliated and vowed to be incompatible with Yuan Hui. However, Yu Zhong was forced by the situation and had no choice but to raise troops, and he happened to kill Yuan Hui.
Picked it clean.
It was also because Yuan Hui and Yuan Yuan turned against each other that he not only was not implicated by the Yu family, but was promoted a step higher and took over the post of Yu Wenfu's Central Guard.
Anyone with eyes can see that Gao Ying and all the ministers who cared about their lives have been deeply impressed by the betrayal of loyalists and the assassination of the late emperor. They knew that Yuan Yuan and Yuan Hui were incompatible with each other, but they still insisted on it.
The two of them were forced to take charge of the palace together and protect the imperial city.
It is always better to constrain each other than to undergo sudden changes.
Today, just because of a trivial matter, the two of them had a quarrel in the palace. Gao Ying was furious and punished the two of them with twenty lashes each, and then knelt down in the palace to make a speech.
After receiving a beating, the two of them finally became more honest and no longer acted as arrogantly as before and made trouble in court.
It's a bit ridiculous to say it: just because of a look, the two of them almost started fighting.
Yuan Yuan felt regretful in his intestines. He knew that Yuan Hui was a mad dog, so why did he bother to provoke the Yu family?
If not, how could the Guangyang Palace become a laughing stock in the world, and the royal family lose its dignity?
Because of this, my father had the title of Taiwei but no authority, so he died in depression...
While feeling regretful, he subconsciously thought of Li Chengzhi.
At that time, the late emperor was still there, and not long after Li Chengzhi took office as General Hu Ben, the restaurant he and Yuan Chen opened opened, and he invited himself to try the newly made hot pot.
I remember that during the drunken dinner, Yuan Chen laughed at him, who was nearly 10 years old, already had two engagements, and had a stunningly beautiful concubine at home, but she was still a child.
Li Chengzhi was not upset, but said to himself meaningfully: It is better to be a chicken than to be unable to control your crotch, which may lead to disaster.
Now that I think about it, Li Chengzhi was clearly reminding himself to break up with the Yu family as soon as possible.
Yuan Hui was still kept in the dark at that time, and how did Li Chengzhi find out?
Could it be that he is truly a gifted person?
While he was secretly wondering, he suddenly heard Gao Ying calling him: "King Guangyang, I have been hunting him inside and outside the capital for three days. Is there any news?"
Yuan Yuan's face darkened: "The Empress Dowager Bing is incompetent, and there is no news so far..."
I thought he would be scolded, but Gao Ying just nodded lightly and turned his gaze to Yuan Hui: "King Chengyang, is there any news from Sizhou?"
Yuan Hui was much calmer than him. Although he was respectful but not panicked, he replied with a normal expression: "There is no news about Queen Bing!"
"Where is Sizhou Guard? Is there anything unusual?"
"Business as usual!"
Why ask about Sizhou Wei?
Yuan Yuan was surprised. He accidentally noticed that Gao Ying seemed to be secretly relieved, and a flash of inspiration flashed through his mind: the previous Sizhou pastor was Yuan Yong, who was Yuan Huai, and Yu Zhong rebelled. The previous Sizhou pastor was Li Xian.
, and a member of the Gao Zhao party.
Yuan Yong was executed, and Li Xian also moved to Lianghuai, but it was difficult to guarantee that there were two close followers hidden in the Sizhou Guard...
Thinking about it this way, does the Queen Mother think that Mrs. Guo was kidnapped by Gao Zhao, and how could she cope with it because she was separated from the state?
Otherwise, how could a group of more than ten people be thrown away at random, with no one alive or dead, just as if they disappeared out of thin air?
In the midst of secret suspicion, Gao Ying waved his sleeves and said, "Get out!"
Yuan Yuan didn't know why, and he didn't know who the Queen Mother was scolding. When he was stunned, Yuan Hui actually stood up, bowed and left. After turning around, he bared his white teeth like a wild beast and sneered at himself.
This thief, the higher he is in the palace, the more arrogant and unscrupulous he becomes...
He suddenly felt angry and gritted his teeth involuntarily. Then he heard Gao Ying shout coldly: "What, do you want me to invite you out?"
Sensing the trace of disgust in the Queen Mother's eyes, Yuan Yuan was horrified, and then he realized that the Queen Mother probably wanted to discuss important matters with the assistants, so she expelled the irrelevant people from the palace.
Although Li Daoyuan is not an assistant minister, he is a lieutenant of the Yu family and ranks among the nine ministers. How can he be compared with Yuan Hui?
Yuan Yuan felt secretly in his heart, stood up at a distance, and saluted respectfully.
Watching him and Yuan Hui leave the hall one after another, Gao Ying felt lost in his thoughts.
If Li Chengzhi was still here, why would he need these two idiots?
I regret that I should have...that's all!
She sighed secretly,
Then he asked in a quiet voice: "How is the investigation by You Qing going?"
You Zhao raised his hands and bowed, "Old ministers have reviewed it separately several times. Ten people in the Li family all said that the night before was just as usual, but when they woke up, they arrived at the Jishui River (the ancient river has disappeared. In today's Jiyuan
Within the city, about eighty miles away from the capital)...Other than that, I don't know anything..."
After a pause, You Zhao said again, "I suspect that these ten servants of the Li family must have been poisoned by smoke, poisonous incense, etc., just like drunkenness after drinking strong wine, so they know nothing..."
Gao Ying's heart was slightly shaken.
Poisonous fragrance, drunken to death... Isn't it the medicinal wine that can make people as drunk as dead with just half a cup, even if they cut it with a knife, they won't even notice it?
Without this thing, how could Li Chengzhi have saved her from dying twice?
Without this thing, she would never have had skin-to-skin contact with Li Chengzhi!
But in addition to the Li family, Gong You also has this thing, Gao Zhao also has this thing...
She raised her eyebrows sharply, and was about to ask again, when You Zhao added: "When I was interrogating Zhi County (now Jiyuan), I sent an old official named Yanwei to follow him north, but when he reached Qinshui, the trace was cut off.
I only found a carriage on the shore, with the lingering fragrance of powder lingering in the carriage... The old minister secretly thought that the thieves abandoned the carriage and changed boats, heading north against the current..."
Heading north?
Qinshui is a tributary of a large river (Yellow River). You only need to go upstream to the north to reach Xia, Shuo and other states. You can also change horses or take a car directly to Jinming...
You Zhao clearly meant that it was Gao Zhao who robbed people?
Gao Ying's eyes were slightly cold and he said with a calm expression: "Although the Fenhe River is small, there are many ferries and water passes, all of which require checking the order letter before passing. And two days ago, Gu Bian had issued an edict, and he quickly issued an edict to all counties.
Check the Chi Road and guard the water pass.
What's more, there are large armies south of Jinming and outside Lishi Town, so how can the thieves get through easily and rob people to the north?"
Do you really think that the land of Jin is a place of peace and tranquility for the imperial court?
Otherwise, how could Gao Zhao escape from Fenzhou, and how could Li Chengzhi be killed in Shangdang?
I’m afraid the Queen Mother herself doesn’t believe this, right?
You Zhao chuckled in his heart and replied with neither humility nor arrogance: "If I were a thief, there would be no need to go all the way north by water, let alone Jinming or Xiazhou. You only need to take a boat and travel dozens of miles of water to cut off the clues.
, so that there is no trace of the court's pursuers. Then, if we change horses, we can bypass Lishi Town and reach Sizhou..."
What an old thief, he has already admitted that this matter must have been done by Gao Zhao?
Gao Ying couldn't help but clenched his pink fist, with a look of anger on his face.
They say you don't expose someone's shortcomings when you scold them, and don't slap people in the face when you hit them.
If it weren't for Gao Ying and Yuan Cheng, plus the late Yuan Ying didn't listen to Li Chengzhi's persuasion, how could Gao Zhao have become so powerful that all the Northern Territory is now lost?
As for You Zhao, the less you want to hear it, the more I have to say it. However, he has extremely high prestige and upright conduct. Even though Gao Ying gritted his teeth with hatred, there was nothing he could do.
She held back a breath of anger and said coldly: "I hope You Zhao will persevere and don't let the thief go... If you don't show mercy anymore, just retreat!"
You Zhao was too lazy to look at Gao Ying's face, and immediately said, "I'm resigning!"
As soon as You Zhao left, Gao Ying's face suddenly collapsed and turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Yuan Cheng hurriedly held up his hands and persuaded: "Queen Mother, please calm down. You Zhao is upright and upright. Even Gaozu (Yuan Hong), the late emperor, was always outspoken..."
The so-called desire-free approach is strong!
Before Yuan Ke succeeded Dabao, You Zhao was the prince's tutor. He would swell Yuan Ke's palms at every turn, and Gao Ying naturally still remembers this.
Otherwise, even if he was not punished by whipping and let the strong men fight You Zhao out, how could Gao Ying endure this bad breath?
She took a few strong breaths and then asked suspiciously: "Have Lieutenant Li ever found out why Mrs. Guo lives alone in the capital, but there is no old servant of the Li family in the capital? The whole Li family is all purchased by Li Chengzhi after he came to the capital.
Slave status?"
Li Daoyuan bowed and replied, "I have asked the Luoyang Order and the Henan Yin: Li Chengxian was sent by the Ministry of War to join the army in the north. Mrs. Guo was worried, so she lent all the old servants in the mansion to Li Chengxian to protect her...
"
"Li Chengxian...Li Chengzhi's younger brother?"
Gao Ying tried hard to recall, "I remember that he was a subordinate officer of Taichang. When did he arrive at the Ministry of War?"
"It was around the Qingming Dynasty that when Minister Xi recruited troops to build a government in the capital, he transferred officials and officials from various ministries, including Li Chengxian... Furthermore, not all the others in the capital were new servants, such as Li Shixian and Li Chenghong. Li Chengxue and other wives and concubines still have more than 20 people..."
So, is it a coincidence?
Gao Ying pondered for a moment and then asked: "In the lieutenant's opinion, who should have done this?"
Li Daoyuan was not ambiguous at all, and said bluntly: "I have the same opinion as the traveling attendants!"
Gao Ying choked violently, and there was a lump in his throat.
How could you forget that this guy in front of you is more upright than You Zhao?
"You should also step back!"
She waved her long sleeves impatiently, waiting until Li Daoyuan stepped out of the palace door, then asked impatiently: "Why are the Tingwei and the lieutenant so sure that Mrs. Guo was robbed by Gao Zhao?"
Yuan Cheng paused, but for a moment he didn't know how to answer.
All clues point to Gao Zhao, why doesn’t the Queen Mother believe it?
He thought about it for a moment and came up with a plan.
The Queen Mother was angry, so she must not be too direct, otherwise she would also end up being kicked out, but she had to tell the truth, so she could only use circuitous methods:
"What You Shizhong and Lieutenant Li said is somewhat reasonable: now that the Northern Expedition is continuing, various ministries in the capital and Xi Sikong and Cui Yanbo (Cui Yanbo, leading the army stationed in Lishi Town) have many messages and reports, so if The thief was well prepared, copying the order letter, or even pretending to be an edict, so that it was not difficult to pass the customs..."
Copying the order letter and pretending to be an imperial edict...isn't Yuan Cheng still referring to Gao Zhao?
If he hadn't forged the imperial edict, how could Gao Zhao have been one step ahead of the imperial court and fled to Jinming?
Gao Ying's anger could no longer be suppressed. He raised his hand and pointed forward: "Then tell Gu that Gao Zhao robbed Mrs. Guo. What's the use?"
It’s been of great use!
Otherwise, why would Gao Zhao be like a lost dog, and when he was running for his life in a panic, he would kidnap Li and his son and go north with him?
Just to blackmail Li Chengzhi...
But now, no one dares to report directly that Li Chengzhi is not dead?
If it is a metaphor, although Gao Zhao was in pain, it was just a scar to the Queen Mother, but Li Chengzhi felt like a sharp knife piercing his heart, and a handful of salt was sprinkled on it.
If the Empress Dowager hadn't pressed harder, how could Li Chengzhi have made such a move?
Yuan Cheng had no choice but to look at Yuan Quan, who was the only one left in the palace.
In terms of seniority, the two of them were still father and son. They originally wanted to let their nephews take advantage of them, so as not to vent all the anger of the Queen Mother on themselves. But Yuan Quan was like a clay statue, just looking at his toes, not even showing off. Dare to breathe?
What a waste of life...
Yuan Cheng was so angry that he wanted to vomit blood, so he had to bite the bullet and replied: "I have spoken nonsense, and I ask the Queen Mother to forgive me: Now everyone in the court is suspicious that Li Chengzhi is definitely not dead. For this reason, Gao Zhaocai first kidnapped Shixian and his son, and then robbed Li Chengzhi." Chengzhi’s biological mother only wanted to force Li Chengzhi to submit and be used by him..."
"absurd!"
Gao Ying stood up and said, "Half a year ago, I asked you why Gao Zhao wanted to rob Li Shixian and his son. You were right at that time, saying that Li's husband was not guilty and had a jade. It was like a firearm. The secret recipe of the sword and armor, as well as many ways to make money, are unparalleled magical techniques. Gao Zhao kidnapped Li Shixian because of this..."
Yuan Cheng's face changed slightly, and he cried bitterly in his heart: Queen Mother, Queen Mother, don't you know this moment and that moment?