my brother-in-law is the prince

Chapter 398

After Hu Guang listened, he was silent.

After a while, he sighed and lowered his voice, "It's strange that His Majesty died..."

Yang Rong stared at Hu Guang and said, "If you have something to say, be careful."

Hu Guangdao: "After all, we are courtiers, why are we still cautious at this time? Now that there are internal and external troubles, the government and the public are in an uproar, and the country has reached this point, I..."

Hu Guang puffed up his cheeks, and said: "He died for no reason in Jiangxi. It is said that it was caused by water thieves. When will water thieves be able to break through Jiujiang Prefecture? This is too unclear. Is it true? Jiangxi This is a place where literati gather, how could such a thing happen?"

Yang Rongdao: "Since you said it wasn't done by water thieves, then tell me, who did it?"

Hu Guangdao: "These days, I also want to understand. Behind this...someone must be instigating, but those who dare to instigate people to do such a thing, and can benefit from it...I don't think...are ordinary people."

"Stop playing charades."

Hu Guangdao: "Mr. Yang, if you can collude with the water thieves, you can make the Jiangxi chief envoy unanimously say that the water thieves did it. You may even instruct the defenders in Jiujiang Mansion to open the door for the water thieves. How many people are there in the world who don't worry about being held accountable afterwards?"

Yang Rongdao: "I don't know how many people there are, but I know that this must be someone from Jiangyou. Mr. Hu, this person can't be you?"

Hu Guang's eyes widened all of a sudden, anxious, and said angrily: "Absurd, absurd, I, Hu Guang, have the heart, how can I have the courage?"

Yang Rong said: "Okay, then tell me, who is this person?"

Hu Guang glanced around, then lowered his voice and said: "Didn't you notice that Jin Gongcheng was negotiating with people in the past few days? I heard that he was the first to hear about His Majesty, so he quickly took someone to see His Highness the Crown Prince. "

Yang Rong glanced at Hu Guang lightly, and said meaningfully: "Some things should not be said indiscriminately."

Hu Guangdao: "He usually hides his secrets..."

Yang Rong smiled and said: "So, anyway, he looks like the person behind this scene?"

"Look, I got the news so early, and I have been in close contact with so many people, and what's more,..."

Yang Rong looked at him with piercing eyes and said, "If you say that, Mr. Hu is actually very suspicious."

Hu Guang: "..."

Yang Rong went on to say: "You are so concerned about His Majesty's affairs, and you rashly accused it of being related to Duke Jin. It can be seen that you are a guilty conscience and want to bring trouble to the east. Not only that, but you usually act honestly and say No, this is your great wisdom and foolishness, you are honest on the surface, but in fact it is unfathomable, and you have already planned secretly for today's overall situation."

Hu Guang suddenly got angry and stared at him, and cursed: "You..."

Yang Rong sighed and said, "The reason why I said this is to tell you that there is no conclusion on the matter right now. At this time, it is better not to think wildly."

Hu Guang could only droop his head and said, "Okay, you can speak eloquently."

While talking, unexpectedly, someone outside coughed: "Mr. Yang..."

Hearing this voice, Hu Guang shuddered. It was Jin Youzi's voice.

Yang Rong said calmly, "Please come in."

Jin Youzi walked in and said with a smile, "Mr. Hu is here."

Hu Guang smiled dryly and said, "Is Mr. Jin doing something? Then I... I just happen to have some proposals, so I'll take my leave, I will take my leave."

He resentfully, with a strange expression on his face, hurried away.

With his hands behind his back and deep eyes, Jin Youzi watched Hu Guang leave, then he sat down slowly, looked at Yang Rong and said, "What did Mr. Hu say?"

Yang Rong shook his head indifferently and said, "It's nothing, just some gossip."

"Among the gossip, I'm afraid it has something to do with Jin."

Yang Rong just smiled and said nothing.

Jin Youzi didn't go any further, but immediately said, "I found something today."

"Huh?" Yang Rong said, "Please tell me, Mr. Jin."

"Jiang Chen, the left servant of the Ministry of War... seems to know something. He has been testing me."

Yang Rong raised his eyes slightly and said, "This person is from Ruizhou Prefecture, isn't he?"

"Exactly." Jin Youzi said: "Eight years ago, he was recommended by Xie Jin and transferred from the magistrate to the capital, and his official career has been smooth since then."

Yang Rong pursed his lips, and then said: "A mere left servant of the military department should not be able to make such a big commotion."

"Nine times out of ten, this person is just an errand runner." Jin Youzi said: "He may know a lot of things, but he may not know a lot. I have talked with him. This person is frivolous. If I were the mastermind, I would definitely not I'll tell him too much."

Yang Rong sighed: "At the beginning, the township party was used to enrich one's wings, but all fellow townsmen were vigorously promoted. The scourge of all this began with Xie Gong."

Jin Youzi was silent for a moment and said: "Besides, there are some people... These two days seem to be full of joy, and there are quite a few people involved..."

After he finished speaking, he took out a roster from his sleeve and handed it to Yang Rong.

Yang Rong took it, only took a closer look, and then raised his head: "I expected... If His Majesty dies, someone will definitely contact you. Although Mr. Hu is also from the right side of the river, he has always been secretive. I'm afraid there will be some Few people, put hope on you."

Jin Youzi said: "In recent years, my relatives in Xingan have been taken care of by others, and there are also many children in the village who have been taken care of. Nephew, take him as a disciple. Did they, the great Confucians who are famous all over the world, see what my idle nephews really read? I know very well that they just want to use this , just climb up on me."

Yang Rong smiled and said: "No wonder your official voice is so good. Everyone praises you, saying that you are a gentleman in Wenyuan Pavilion."

"Yang Gongxiu wants to make fun of it." Jin Youzi forced a smile and said, "These false names are really worthless."

Yang Rong sighed again, and quietly said: "Now Your Majesty... something happened, what are your plans?"

Jin Youzi said: "Youzi was just a scholar at the beginning, and He Meng was favored by His Majesty, and he never forgot how the virtues of heaven and earth will be repaid. Now if His Majesty is really in trouble, he must try his best to dig out these masterminds! So that's it. , in order to live up to the grace of the saints, it can be regarded as not having read those poems and books in vain."

Yang Rong nodded: "You are from Jiangyou, and sooner or later someone will contact you secretly. It's just... when the truth comes out, I'm afraid that many of your township parties will be affected, and in the future, they will scold you for being ruthless."

Jin Youzi had a calm face, but showed a look of disdain: "Although I am a fellow villager, such behavior is disgusting. Not to mention, when I was a white man, I didn't flirt with him, and invited me to be a fellow villager." Today, because of His Majesty's great love, I got this wealth. This is a big family. Everyone wants to be married to me. Everyone says they are fellow villagers. It seems that distant relatives and fellow villagers have become a big deal. This kind of friendship is really ridiculous .”

Yang Rong nodded and said, "Then continue to contact them, but you have to be careful."

Jin Youzi smiled and said: "Mr. Yang, don't worry, don't you know my temperament? Since I entered Wenyuan Pavilion, how many people in Wenyuan Pavilion can remember that there is a Jin Youzi in Wenyuan Pavilion?"

Yang Rong laughed casually.

Although Jin Youzi has the youngest seniority in Wenyuan Pavilion, he is basically a transparent person. He seldom makes suggestions or shows up in public. All ministries will subconsciously look for Yang Rong and Hu Guang when they have something to do.

His taciturn character, who seems to be missing in the Wenyuan Pavilion, is enough to show how deep his scheming is. Such a person must be impeccable in everything he does.

While speaking, suddenly, someone outside panicked and said, "Holy... Holy..."

Yang Rong and Jin Youzi got up immediately, and they looked at each other.

"The holy car is about to enter the palace, the holy car is about to enter the palace." It was the voice of a Zhongshusheren, breaking the silence in Wenyuan Pavilion.

Yang Rong and Jin Youzi were shocked, but there was suspicion in their eyes.

Suddenly Yang Rong laughed loudly and said: "The holy man enters the palace? Yes, this is the temperament of the holy man. The holy man is unpredictable and never acts according to the usual principles. Jin Gong, your majesty is still here!"

Jin Youzi immediately said, "Hurry up and meet him."

Among the ministries, everyone was originally taciturn. At this juncture, almost everyone was extra cautious, for fear that they would do something wrong or say something wrong.

But now, this news is like a big rock, which fell directly into the ancient well that was originally calm, and suddenly the waves rolled up.

Outside the Daming Gate, ministers in twos and threes arrived.

The ministers were either sad or happy, but even though they were sad and indignant in their hearts, there was a forced smile on their faces.

But Zhu Di seemed to be dawdling on purpose, and Xingyuan didn't walk fast.

Therefore, outside the Daming Gate, there are already hundreds of officials gathered.

After a while, I saw Zhu Gaochi rushing over.

He heard the news in Da Nei. Empress Xu fainted immediately when she heard the bad news.

But now... having received the news, Zhu Gaochi hurried over, and when he was out of breath, Sheng Jia finally arrived.

Prince Zhu Gaochi led all the officials to bow down to welcome the holy driver.

Zhu Di rode a horse and arrived in front of Prince Zhu Gaochi without any haste.

One turned over and got off the horse, and he looked down at Zhu Gaochi, who was out of breath and flushed with anxiety.

At this time, it is estimated that the most embarrassing one is the crown prince.

When the sad news of the old emperor's possible death came out, it was inevitable that some people would suspect that the prince was secretly happy.

But on the other hand, the prince should be sad when his father died.

"Father." Zhu Gaochi bowed.

Zhu Di smiled and looked at him with complicated eyes, but with a calm and meaningful look, he said slowly: "I heard that many people are looking forward to my death, the crown prince and Qing... seem to be ready The grand ceremony for the new king's ascension to the throne, isn't it?"

All of a sudden, the expressions of the prince and all the officials changed.

Zhu Di paced back and forth, looking at the crowd of people kneeling on the ground.

He narrowed his eyes, and said with a half-smile, "Is it... Yang Qing's family?"

This is to ask Yang Rong.

Yang Rong calmly said: "Rumors spread from the right side of the river, and the court was indeed flustered for a while. Hearing that His Majesty has changed, everyone in the court is sad, especially His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

He answered very firmly.

Zhu Di stared at him: "Really?"

Zhu Di strolled up to another person and said, "Does Hu Qing's family see it that way?"

Hu Guangdao: "Everything that Mr. Yang said is true."

Zhu Di went to Jin Youzi again: "Does Jin Qing think so too?"

Jin Youzi was silent.

After a while, he said calmly, "I'm dealing with bills, and I don't dare to spy on His Royal Highness, so... I don't know."

Zhu Di laughed, but was noncommittal.

Almost everyone, in theory, gave the correct answer.

Of course, any answer may not be correct.

Because...it depends on how His Majesty understands it.

Your Majesty is the one who knows the tricks of power the most. In other words, this son of heaven who was born in Jing Nan is the best person in the world who is good at playing tricks with power.

After all, he has experienced too much and seen too much.Therefore, his understanding of things must be unique.

Zhu Di suddenly came in front of Jin Zhong: "Jin Qing also speak."

At this time, Jin Zhong glared at Zhu Di and said: "It is a great fortune for Your Majesty to return to the palace safely today. Why did you return to the palace without asking whether the country is stable and whether the people live and work in peace and contentment, but only ask about your own son?"

He will continue to speak.

Zhu Di waved his hand: "Okay, okay, stop talking, stop talking."

Zhu Di walked a few more steps, and suddenly stopped in front of a person. He looked at this person deeply, and said, "Is that Jiang Chen, the left servant of the Ministry of War?"

The man kowtowed and said, "Jiang Chen, the left servant of the minister's military department, has seen His Majesty."

Zhu Di smiled and said: "You have always known soldiers, do you also think so?"

Jiang Chen hesitated for a moment.

He said: "The minister is a mere servant, and he dare not talk about the affairs of the palace. The prince is sad and happy, and the minister has no way of knowing."

But Zhu Di said: "What if you speculate?"

"I dare not speculate." Jiang Chen said.

Zhu Di nodded, but suddenly said slowly: "But... since you have no way of knowing the prince's sorrows and joys, but as far as I know, you have not only met the prince, but also met the prince twice in the past few days."

As soon as this remark came out, Jiang Chen's face suddenly changed.

He hurriedly said: "This... this is the first time..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhu Di interrupted: "You don't need to explain the first time. The first time you met Zhou Yan, the commander of Jinyiwei, and Zhou Yan...has been sent to prison. Don't worry. , he will definitely be worse than death in it. Now, come and talk to me for the second time."

Jiang Chen prostrated on the ground, his body began to tremble slightly, and then he said in a hoarse voice: "The second time, after hearing the bad news, I, Duke Jin, etc... go to the East Palace to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. At this time, His Highness can preside over the overall situation."

Zhu Di nodded, with no expression of joy or anger, he just said: "It seems that your eyes and ears are quite good."

The general tried his best to keep his voice steady and said, "I... I also heard about it."

"Who did you hear?"

"Anecdote."

Zhu Di smiled and said, "After that, you went to see Jin Youzi three times, Jin Zhong once, and Xia Yuanji twice, right?"

Jiang Chen hurriedly said: "This is just the etiquette of the minister."

Zhu Di said: "You have a lot of etiquette."

Jiang Chen was trembling all over, he was a little panicked.

At this moment, everyone's eyes were on him, but he became more cautious, and replied: "Minister...Minister...It's a minister...It's an extraordinary time..."

Zhu Di said: "Speaking of it this way, it's been hard work for you. You have been running back and forth these days. Is this to help the building to collapse, or to relieve the country's worries?"

"It's for the sake of the country," Jiang Chen said.

Zhu Di nodded, turned around suddenly, and looked back at the dark minister who was still kneeling on the ground.

Instead, he took a deep look at Prince Zhu Gaochi.

Zhu Gaochi was tense all over, not daring to vent his breath.To be honest, whoever has such a father is heartless.

Zhu Di seems to have taken two steps.

Seeing Zhu Di's leg slowly leave him, Jiang Chen paused and heaved a sigh of relief.

But at this moment, Zhu Di suddenly raised the horsewhip in his hand, slammed it hard, and the horsewhip was thrown out quickly in the air, hitting Jiang Chen directly.

This whip was like a spirit snake, with a snap, it tore apart the official clothes on Jiang Chen's body, and even the flesh inside was suddenly ripped apart.

Jiang Chen cried out unexpectedly.

But before he continued to howl louder, another whip came down quickly.

This whip was even more ruthless, and fell directly on his black gauze hat.

The black gauze hat was smashed into pieces in an instant, and Jiang Chen suddenly felt that his head was not his own. He hugged his head with his hands in pain, wrinkled his face, and rolled on the ground.

Zhu Di's boots quickly stepped on them again, and they clung to his sleeves, making him unable to break free.

Zhu Di rolled the whip, and then the wooden handle of the whip turned into a dagger, stabbing him hard at the throat.

The handle of the whip was rhombus-shaped and made of hardwood. The whip handle was not sharp, but under Zhu Di's extremely strong force, it suddenly pierced Jiang Chen's throat.

Jiang Chen's body twitched, clutching his throat, he only felt that the cartilage of his Adam's apple was broken.

Immediately, he spurted out a mouthful of blood, fell to the ground, opened his eyes suddenly, his pupils contracted, as if seeing a ghost, looking at Zhu Di in fear and pain.

He squirmed, and with all his strength, he uttered a sentence: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Don't kill me... I... I said..."

Zhu Di only smiled, and raised his foot, and immediately, his boots stepped on his face hard. With this hard kick, his head was placed in a strange posture, as if it was separated from his neck. Straight into a weird shape.

Jiang Chen's seven orifices were bleeding, and he couldn't breathe.

The air was suddenly terribly quiet, and everyone watched this scene in trepidation.

Zhu Di stomped his boots on Jiang Chen's corpse.

Seeing this, a eunuch hurried forward, bowed down, and carefully wiped the blood on Zhu Di's boots with silk.

Zhu Di didn't even bother to look at the people under his feet, and calmly said: "It's too late to say it now, some people in your party want to say it, and you are not alone."

As Zhu Di spoke, his gaze moved towards a person's face like a shuttle.

It's just... At this time, everyone was kneeling down as much as possible, and no one dared to meet Zhu Di's eyes.

Only Zhang Anshi's heart was bleeding, and he complained silently, "It's all right now, Your Majesty, you are just pretending to be forced. Pity my clue, another one is broken."

(End of this chapter)