The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

As Wang Ruhuai blurted out the accusations of impeaching the Xue family, the atmosphere in the hall became more and more quiet.In the huge Zhaoyang Palace, only the crackling of lanterns could be heard, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the members of the Xue family.

Seeing that Xue Zhizhang, who was sitting on the seat, stroked his beard slowly, got up and left the seat, walked to the center of the hall, saluted the disciple above him in a smooth manner, then turned around, and arched his hands at Wang Ruhuai , smiled and said: "Just now, Mr. Wang said so many crimes eloquently. From my Xue family's point of view, it is just a one-sided statement. My Xue family will not comment here. I would like to ask Mr. Wang to take it." If it is not the case, this Marquis will have to join Mr. Wang to frame the imperial court official and commit the same crime."

Wang Ruhuai looked at Xue Zhizhang's calm and unhurried actions.He snorted coldly, cupped his hands and said, "This ledger is the most conclusive evidence—"

"The account books are also written by people. If there is no conclusive evidence, I, Xue, will naturally suspect that your Tong family has framed me. I don't know where to fabricate these charges, but I will put them on my Xue family." Xue Zhizhang said At this point, he took a leisurely look at Cheng Guogong Tong Moke in front of him, and said with a soft smile: "Perhaps, it is your Tong family who did these outrageous and unconscionable things, and framed us instead. Otherwise If so, how did your Tong family know about such confidential matters?"

When Cheng Guogong heard the words, his face darkened immediately, he got up and said: "The Xue family in Jinling has always acted arrogantly and domineeringly. It is normal to do such a conscienceless thing with the favor of the Holy One. Why do you bother to bite our Tong family again? Who doesn’t know that our Tong family has always been self-restraining and respectful, diligent and frugal in managing the family. Besides, Jinling is the headquarters of your Xue family, how can my Tong family have such ability to cover the sky with one hand?"

"Duke Cheng is careful. Is it the land of the king in the whole world, and the land of the land is the king's minister. Jinling Shuntian Mansion is the land of the Dayong Dynasty, and it is the land of the sage. My Xue family is just messing around in Jinling Shuntian Mansion. It’s just a merchant for food. I dare not think that I am the master. Duke Cheng, don’t judge others by yourself!” At this point, Xue Zhizhang paused deliberately, and glanced at the empress dowager who was sitting upright , said meaningfully: "After all, my Xue family does not have a female family member who promises everything in the harem. It is impossible for my Xue family to suppress the market price in the ancestral home relying on the status of the harem pepper house, and buy it for less than [-]% of the price. The mansion in good land, gold, silver, copper and tin, is also euphemistically called a family-friendly villa for the empress."

"Faithful Hou Shenyan, my ancestors in the Yong Dynasty have an order. The clan heirs and harem women are not allowed to leave Beijing without an order. The clan heirs with official positions cannot leave the territory without an order. Repair the manor palace in a different place And so on, it must be registered in the clan mansion before proceeding. The king has not received the request of the empress dowager to build a provincial palace in the ancestral home, which means that the empress dowager never built a palace in the ancestral home. Please be faithful to Hou Shenyan. Qian Don't tarnish the empress dowager's reputation of being virtuous and virtuous." Prince Zhongyu said, stood up and cupped his hands at Xue Zhizhang.

Huang Taiji, who had been sitting firmly on Mount Tai, looked at Prince Zhongyu who stood up and interjected, and pursed his lips a little uneasy.The queen Tong Man'er on the side immediately said: "If you go back to the second emperor's uncle, the palace built in the ancestral home is—"

"Empress, please speak carefully." Prince Zhongli got up and said: "This is a major matter for the court. As the female family member of the harem, according to the laws of the Yong Dynasty, you are not allowed to intervene."

In a word, Tong Man'er's face was flushed red.She really didn't expect that Prince Zhongli would be so shameless, directly accusing her of interfering in politics in front of so many civil and military ministers in Zhaoyang Palace.At that moment, her pretty face turned gloomy, and she thought she was secretly giving Prince Zhongli a sideways glance.

All the ministers and workers present, especially the princes and nobles, frowned unobtrusively when they saw it.

And the Empress Dowager Tong felt more and more uneasy when she saw the elders of the Tu family's clan making words one after another to run on the Tong family.She cleared her throat, and said softly: "Brother Zhongyu, Brother Zhongli is well. Although I and other women and children in the court should not be involved in important court affairs, this matter is related to my Tong family. Let me say a word How are you?"

Prince Zhongli and Prince Zhongyu looked at each other, then at the empress dowager sitting upright with a proper smile, got up and left the table, walked to the center of the hall and bowed and said: "But according to the orders of the Holy One."

In a word, the smile on Queen Mother Tong's lips froze in embarrassment.She glanced at Tu Zhen with some embarrassment, and asked softly, "What does the emperor think?"

One sentence, Huang'er, made the disciples sitting below frown again.Although it is a royal family banquet at the moment, this matter is a major matter for the court.Logically, the empress dowager should honor Tuzhen as "Holy One" on this occasion.With just one sentence, the Empress Dowager Tong's heart really grew.

Prince Zhongli, who had the most staid personality and valued the rules of his ancestors the most, immediately turned gloomy, cupped his hands at the empress dowager, and said coldly: "The empress dowager is careful. In such an occasion, it is better to call her 'Holy Majesty' to show respect." .”

Before saying a word, the smile on the empress dowager's face became more and more forced.

Tu Zhen glanced at the Queen Mother Tong lightly, and said, "The Queen Mother has always cared about the affairs of the Tong family. It is reasonable to intervene this time. But the Queen Mother should rest assured that as long as the Tong family is not at fault, I will never be wronged." Their."

Everyone present is shocked.Tu Zhen's words were clearly complaining that everyone in the Tong family dared to attack the Xue family because they relied on the power of the Queen Mother Tong.The Tong family was Tu Zhen's most trusted confidant, and what the Tong family did was clearly slapping Tu Zhen in the face.Presumably, it was the Tong family's unscrupulousness that made the little emperor who was in power feel unhappy.

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, sitting more and more upright, but laughed and said nothing.

But Queen Mother Tong was blocked by Tu Zhen and couldn't say anything.After a long while, the Empress Dowager Tong, who had recovered from her surprise, slightly hooked the corners of her mouth and said softly: "Since that's the case, I don't have to worry about it."

Tu Zhen glanced at Empress Tong indifferently, and said to Wang Ruhuai, "Since you impeached the Xue family, you must have all the witnesses and evidence. I'm afraid it took a long time to prepare. If that's the case, you can just show the evidence."

Wang Ruhuai immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty Qizuo, this account book is physical evidence—"

"If you want to talk about the account books, I also have a copy. After all, [-]% of the Xue family's annual income has to be turned over to the internal treasury. Therefore, I have to spare some time every year to listen to Zhongxin Hou's report on last year's business. But my hand The account books on the website are quite different from those owned by Wang Qing's family." Tu Zhen said, waving casually at Dai Quan.

Dai Quan cupped his hands and stepped back slowly.After a while, he walked in with a few young eunuchs holding stacks of account books.

Tu Zhen waved his hand again, and the little eunuch put the account book in front of Wang Ruhuai.Only then did Tu Zhen calmly say: "That said, I suddenly thought of it. [-]% of the Xue family's annual income will be handed over to me, so if the Xue family really has collusion and corruption, I can't get rid of it." I don't know if Mr. Wang is going to accuse me of competing for the interests of the people and bringing disaster to the country and the people?"

When Wang Ruhuai heard the words, he knelt on the ground sweating profusely, kowtowed repeatedly, and shouted: "I don't dare, your majesty will see clearly."

"This matter has something to do with me. I'm afraid I'm suspicious of whether I've observed it clearly. In that case, I might as well find a highly respected official to judge. Does Wang Qing's family think so?" Tu Zhen said, leaning slightly, as if With a smile not a smile, he looked at Wang Ruhuai who was kneeling in front of him and begging for mercy.

Wang Ruhuai knelt down on the ground, sweating profusely and listening to Tu Zhen's successive runs, he really wanted to die.Before that, he also thought that the impeachment of the Xue family would make the Holy Majesty dissatisfied.It can be seen that it is the duty of the imperial censor to play after hearing the wind, so he didn't take it to heart.Now that he heard Tu Zhen's heartbreaking words, he knew what "the dragon has reversed scales". I am afraid that this time he will pull down the Xue family's lineage, and his bright future for Wang Ruhuai will be over.

Tu Zhen looked at Wang Ruhuai, who knelt and kowtowed, silently, and couldn't help chuckling. "Does Wang Qing's family agree with my statement, or are they dissatisfied with my handling?"

Wang Ruhuai immediately replied: "My lord, please forgive me. My minister is just...just..."

As Wang Ruhuai said, he subconsciously looked towards the Queen Mother Tong who was at the top.

Seeing this, Xue Pan who was sitting at the side slowly shook his head, pretending to be enlightened and smiled: "Ah, I think Mr. Wang is thinking about who to invite to judge. But why does Mr. Wang keep looking at the Queen Mother? You have been an official for ten years, and now you are the fourth-rank inspection censor of the Yong Dynasty. You should be as clear as a mirror about the ancestral laws of the Yong Dynasty. Although the Queen Mother is smart and resolute, she is a harem concubine after all. The like. My Dayong law clearly stipulates that the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics, otherwise it will be regarded as rebellion. You must not embarrass the queen mother."

After hearing the sound of "Kala", everyone followed the prestige, only to see that it was the empress who accidentally knocked over the teacup.Everyone looked into their eyes and frowned again.

Xue Pan glanced at Queen Tong Man'er calmly, and continued to smile slowly: "But Lord Wang, don't worry, the Holy Majesty is not inferior to the Queen Mother in terms of wisdom, determination and fortitude. Let him make decisions for you, and he will definitely not wrong you. of."

Seeing Wang Ruhuai still pale and frightened.Xue Pan paused, then frowned and said suspiciously: "Maybe...you don't believe His Majesty. But it doesn't matter. Many people here, civil and military officials, princes and dignitaries all have clear eyes and hearts. It won't let Mr. Wang suffer injustice."

Without allowing Wang Ruhuai to reply, Tu Zhen stood next to him in the phoenix crown court dress, and the handsome Empress Tong Shi reprimanded him: "Hmph, you are just a dandy who relies on the shadow of your ancestors. How can such an important court matter concern the country and the country?" There is a reason for you to intervene. Don't just rely on the Holy Spirit to favor you, so you don't know the rules."

Xue Pan immediately laughed and said, "I'm a mere third-ranker, and I have no right to speak in charge, and you, a woman and child, have no reason to intervene. Empress, do you think I'm right?"

When Queen Tong heard this, she felt angry.Subconsciously, he glanced at everyone in the hall, and saw the unanimous ridicule and disapproval in their eyes.Couldn't help but blushed from shame.She snorted coldly from embarrassment, and scolded, "You—"

"Queen!" The queen's anger was interrupted with a serious tone, and Gu Jing looked at Tong Man'er, who was still expressionless.Tu Zhen frowned unobtrusively, with a look of disgust flashing in his eyes, he said calmly: "Prince Zhongyu is the patriarch of the royal family, with high morals and high status. Prince Zhongyu has the full authority to handle this matter. Does the Queen Mother think so?"

The Empress Dowager Tong saw with her own eyes that Tu Zhen treated everyone in the Xue family, especially Xue Pan, so generously and preferentially, but treated her niece with a cold face with no nose, no eyes.I couldn't help feeling angry, and immediately said with a cold face: "The emperor is the king of a country, and he can say what he says. You can do what you say. This palace is just a woman and child, how can I interfere with politics with words! I just hope that the Holy One will see clearly, my Tong family Although the first branch is not considered to have worked hard, it has been conscientious for so many years and has never made a mistake. I hope that the Holy One will deal with it fairly."

When Tu Zhen heard the words, he fixedly looked at Queen Mother Tong, and a vague coldness flashed in his eyes.He slightly hooked the corners of his mouth, turned his head to look at everyone in the Tong family, and said with a light smile, "That's natural."

As he said that, without looking at the Queen Mother's reaction, he waved his hand at Prince Zhongyu and said, "So, I will trouble Uncle Zhongyu."

"The old minister obeys the order." Prince Zhongyu bowed his body and responded.

After straightening up, he walked up to Wang Ruhuai and asked, "Since Mr. Wang started this matter, I should ask Mr. Wang first! Mr. Wang impeached the Xue family for various crimes. Is there any real evidence, witnesses and material evidence?"

After Wang Ruhuai's previous beatings, she knew that she had completely offended the Holy Majesty and the Xue family's lineage to death.Now he can only look forward to defeating the Xue family, flattering the empress dowager, and protecting his glory for the rest of his life.Immediately, he said with some hesitation: "If you go back to the old prince, the witnesses are Zhen Shirong, the former head of the Zhen family in Jiangnan, and Xue Zhiyi, the fifth room of the Xue family. Besides, there is nothing else. However, if the prince can ask the sage to seal it up, he will definitely gain something."

When Prince Zhongyu heard this, he nodded slightly and concluded: "That means there are only witnesses, and there is no conclusive physical evidence."

When Wang Ruhuai heard this, his heart sank.Subconsciously turned his head to look at Xue Pan, but saw Xue Pan showing his white teeth and smiling at him.Then I heard Prince Zhongyu continue to ask: "You said that there are people who testify to Zhen Shirong and Xue Zhiyi, is the witness at this moment?"

Wang Ruhuai immediately interjected: "The witnesses are waiting outside the palace, just wait for the Holy One to say a word, and then they can be brought in."

Empress Dowager Tong immediately smiled and said, "Since that's the case, for the sake of the Xue family's innocence, let's ask someone to come in and confront them face to face!"

"The Empress Dowager is careful. What are the identities of the servants of the Zhen family and the concubines of the Xue family? How can they meet the Holy Majesty easily? If any cat or dog can easily enter the palace, wouldn't it be a trifling matter for the safety of the Majesty and the concubines and officials? "Prince Zhongli said, cupped his hands at the Holy One and said: "It's better to bring the person to the Criminal Division for interrogation first, and then let the person present the witness's confession."

Tu Zhen raised his eyebrows and refused to comment.Empress Dowager Tong pondered for a moment, and had no choice but to agree.It's just that the uneasiness in her heart is even worse.I always feel that after planning for a long time, it was so easily resolved.There was an indescribable depression in his chest.I just feel that the political affairs of the court are changing, and they are much more unpredictable than the battles in the harem.

For a while, everyone ordered the subordinates to bring people for interrogation, but he himself waited quietly in Zhaoyang Hall.Tu Zhen felt that the good night banquet was tossed and lonely and empty, so he ordered the dancers and singers to sing and dance.For a while, the singing and dancing, and the sound of silk and bamboo are much lighter.

It's just that no matter how mellow the singing voice is, no matter how graceful the dancing skills are, no matter how outstanding the look is, it will not be able to attract everyone's attention.

About two hours later, a white man dressed in the uniform of a prison officer walked over with lowered eyebrows and eyes under the guidance of the little eunuch.Walking to the center of the main hall, bowed and knelt down, and after shouting Long Live, he took out a stack of confessions from his arms and raised them above his head with both hands, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty Qizuo, this is the testimony that was interrogated by the Criminal Division. Please sign it and mark it, please have a look."

Tu Zhen raised his eyebrows casually, motioning for Dai Quan to take over the confession.Dai Quan bowed slightly, stepped forward to take two stacks of rice paper and came back.Hand it to Tu Zhen respectfully.

Tu Zhen took the confession casually and opened it to read.Time gradually passed with Tu Zhen's silence, and everyone felt that their hearts became more and more oppressed in such a quiet process, as if they could hear the constant beating heartbeat in their ears.Everyone in the depressed atmosphere involuntarily opened their mouths and breathed lightly.

After about a stick of incense, Tu Zhen finally read the confession, he curled the corners of his mouth and chuckled softly.He casually threw the two stacks of confessions on the table, tapped the smooth surface of the table lightly with his fingers, waved at Dai Quan and said: "Give this statement to Prince Zhongyu, and then show it to Mr. Wang. "

Dai Quan complied with his promise, and quickly handed over the statement on the table to Prince Zhongyu.After Prince Zhongyu took it, he couldn't wait to look through it.After that, he looked at Wang Ruhuai with a strange expression on his face.

Seeing this, Wang Ruhuai felt more and more uncertain.He swallowed his saliva, and asked in a low voice, "My lord?"

Prince Zhongyu gave Wang Ruhuai a mocking look, handed the confession to Wang Ruhuai, and said, "Look for yourself!"

Wang Ruhuai looked at the confession in front of him with some hesitation, and was stunned for a while, but dared not take it.

The members of the Tong clan waiting beside, including the Queen Mother, couldn't help waiting anxiously.Seeing this shape, he immediately urged: "Since the prince asked you to watch it, you can take it and have a look."

Wang Ruhuai made a promise in a low voice, stretched out her arms and took the two confessions respectfully.After reading it, he couldn't help but widen his mouth in astonishment, and said again and again: "How is this possible, how is this possible? He said it to me himself, how can he go back on his word?"

Empress Dowager Tong's heart tightened, and she subconsciously turned her head to look at Tu Zhen who was beside her.But seeing that his face was flat and his eyes were clear, he was looking at Wang Ruhuai with a look of sympathy and disgust.That attitude is like that of a god on high.The Empress Dowager Tong's breathing was stagnant, and she felt more and more stuffy in her chest.

Prince Zhongyu sighed softly, looked down at Wang Ruhuai who was paralyzed on the ground like a fool, and said: "You impeached the Xue family for all kinds of crimes. What else do you have to say?"

"Your Majesty, I have been wronged, I have been wronged!" Wang Ruhuai knelt on the ground, walked up to Tu Zhen, and kowtowed repeatedly: "It is true that the fifth house of the Xue family came first to expose the corruption and perversion of the law and conspiracy of the Xue family. The humble minister just heard the news and played Ah! The holy mirror, the holy mirror! The Xue family must have heard that the ministers impeached them, so they bought the witnesses!"

"You have no physical evidence, and now you deny even the personal evidence. How can you tell me?" Tu Zhen looked at Wang Ruhuai on the ground with a detached and indifferent look, as if looking at a dead person. "Fortunately, I have handed over this matter to Prince Zhongyu. If not, would you still suspect that I used power to force people to testify and dare not speak?"

Wang Ruhuai was so choked by Tu Zhen that he couldn't speak, so he had to kowtow again and again, saying he was wronged.

Tu Zhen pursed her lips in dissatisfaction, and said in a low voice: "It's a good annual meeting. It was a good day to carry on the past and usher in the future. Now it's very boring to be disturbed by you idlers."

"The decree is passed down, and the inspector Wang Ruhuai's conduct is inappropriate, and his advances and retreats are improper. Abandoning public affairs, forging false certificates, slandering courtiers, and committing crimes are unforgivable crimes. It is not advisable to lightly use weapons at the palace's annual banquet. Usha—”

"Your Majesty!" The Queen Mother Tong suddenly said, "This matter is indeed a bit strange. It was obvious that the fifth household of Xue's family was the first to report it, but now they have changed their words. It is really puzzling. Why don't you send someone to ask, and you can clearly understand what's going on. Why?"

"Is there something you don't understand?" Xue Pan snorted coldly, and said with a sneer: "Obviously some people wanted to frame Zhongliang, but in the end, I didn't have the diamond, so I made things happen. What reason do you want from others?" ah?"

The Empress Dowager Tong glanced at Xue Pan proudly, raised her head slightly, and said with a reserved smile: "Young Lord, please be careful. Although you are a third-rank official in the imperial court, this palace is also a dignified empress dowager. How can you be so presumptuous? You just say Others have slandered you, and you have offended your superiors. Don’t you know that you have publicly slandered me in the past few days, isn’t it slander? Isn’t it the same as your superiors?”

Seeing that the Empress Dowager Tong couldn't help being aggressive at last, Xue Pan snorted softly and said, "I beg your empress dowager to be careful. This is a matter for the imperial court, and there is no room for the women and children in the harem to talk. You interrupt me again and again." In other words, it’s fine if I waited for the former officials not to pursue your repeated violations of the ancestral system. Why did you bite back and drag yourself into the water?”

"you--"

"What's more, I, Xue Pan, have always spoken frankly and never lie. All the things I discuss in public are all facts, and the evidence is solid. How can we talk about slander?"

When Xue Pan said this, he looked at the Queen Mother Tong more and more disdainfully, and continued to emphasize: "The Queen Mother Tong kept saying that I slandered you. I don't know what I said to slander the Queen Mother? It means that the Tong family relies on women's skirts to make the world prosperous. Is it a word of slander? Or is it a slander to say that the Queen Mother’s personal virtues are bad, and she still misses her mother’s family after being married for many years? Or is it a slander to impeach the Tong family who relied on the Queen Mother’s Fengwei Yurou Township, domineering, oppressing the people, and wantonly amassing money? "

Xue Pan pressed every sentence, staring at Queen Mother Tong with a sneer and said, "Today I will also impeach the Xue family once. Let's make it clear that the horses and horses are making trouble in front of everyone, and confront them face to face. See also Let's see whether you are slandering people or I am slandering people."

As he spoke, he took out two account books from his pocket and raised them above his head respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty Qi Zuo, my minister Xue Pan also impeached the Tong family for the above crimes. The witnesses and material evidence are gathered together, and not only are all the certificates of all people attached to the account books. The signatures and deeds, as well as the land deeds of the fertile land and houses forcibly seized by the Tong family, and the details of the antiques and jewelry that were wantonly extorted from the people in the name of the concubine, are by no means empty-handed slander. Please also learn from the Holy One."