Reincarnation of the powerful minister

In front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Emperor Jinglong got off his shoulders.Lan Xi walked up the steps to meet him, and softly said: "The emperor looks a little different today."

The emperor squinted at him from the corner of his eye: "What's the difference?"

Lan Xi smiled and said: "The emperor's face is radiant, he must be in good spirits on happy occasions." She pointed to the side of her neck with her finger.

The emperor stretched out his hand to touch the side of his neck, and there was still a slight pain in the dry tooth marks, and he sneered, "Old eunuch, you have very sharp eyes."

Lan Xi saw that the emperor was not angry, so she continued to flatter her: "Congratulations to the emperor, congratulations to the emperor, your wish has been fulfilled."

The emperor didn't want the bite mark to be seen by others, lest the palace people get nervous when they saw the damage to the dragon's body, and make wild guesses, so he said, "Is there any scarf to cover it up?"

"It's getting hotter, so it's hard to wear the scarf... How about I find a plaster for the emperor to put on? After all, the skin is broken." Lan Xi suggested.

The emperor nodded and said, "Don't disturb the imperial physician, you can get it."

Lan Xi took the order to leave.The emperor walked up the steps and saw the prince at the gate of the hall.

The crown prince Zhu Helin stood with his hands down and waited by the gate of the palace. His broad shoulders, long legs and raised waist were like a newly grown poplar.

The emperor was in a daze for a while, as if he saw the young He Lin laughing and running around, not to mention the Hall of Mental Cultivation, even the Fengtian Hall where all officials discussed politics was once a place where he had a lot of fun.

In the past, when He Lin came to look for him, and saw that he was not there, he would sit in the hall, eat tea, eat fruit, cross his legs, and so on.Now, this child seems to have grown up all of a sudden, with more rules, more calmness, and... more birthright.

The prince bowed to him from a distance: "Welcome to the father. The son is here to pay his respects to the father."

Emperor Jinglong walked up to him and looked at him carefully—it was indeed as Lan Xi said a few days ago, the prince was thinner and tanned, but he was still full of energy. in the casket.

The emperor was briefly in a trance.

The prince felt strange and called out, "Father?"

The emperor came back to his senses, and said lightly: "Okay, I'm fine, you go back to the East Palace."

The prince was very aggrieved, but he didn't get angry, and asked: "Father, don't you ask your ministers, how is the investigation of the case of food transfer?"

The emperor nodded casually and walked into the hall.

The prince was following the emperor, and accidentally caught a glimpse of half a blood-scrubbed tooth mark on the side of his neck, looming between his collar, and his face suddenly changed——

Who would dare to bite the Son of Heaven, even on such an intimate part?

Harem?Those obedient concubines don't have the guts.The only Wei family who dared to be pampered and spoiled is now also locked up and locked up.

Outside the palace?

The prince thought of a person, and his face turned pale and pale, extremely ugly.

He comforted himself for a while in his heart: No, the emperor likes to put on airs and restrains himself. Even if he has that kind of meaning for Qinghe, he will not easily cross the line of monarch and minister.After a while, I thought again: After holding it for so long, what if I can't hold it anymore?Who in this world would dare to bite the Son of Heaven except Qinghe, who disregarded dignity!

After thinking about it like this, the bottom of my heart became more and more anxious, almost burning inside, and I forcibly endured not to show my face.

The emperor sat behind the table, picked up the freshly brewed Pu'er, without lifting his eyelids: "Sit down and talk."

The prince tried his best to calm down, swallowed the constriction in his throat, cleared his throat, and began to report the situation he had verified.From which floor did the disaster relief food in Baizhifang be distributed? Which officials were involved in stealing and selling the food? After the food arrived at the Yishan Bureau, there was not much left. What happened to the Yishan Bureau who threw the well? Coerced by others, the mildewed old rice was used as relief food, which caused the victims to be poisoned... All the inside stories were explained clearly one by one.

In the end, the prince concluded: "On the one hand, this case is due to the fact that some officials in the Ministry of Households disregarded the laws of the country and the people's livelihood, and ignored the father's repeated orders, and pretended to be rich and corrupt; The purpose of corruption and coercion is not to poison the victims, but to draw out the stone pillar in the well with the help of my son-in-law."

Emperor Jinglong asked: "What kind of power do you think this 'other power' is?"

The prince replied calmly: "I have evidence, and I suspect it is a conspiracy of the Vacuum Sect."

The emperor didn't ask him for evidence, but asked instead: "Do you know that the Vacuum Sect has been uprooted in the capital, and the current leader fled after being arrested?"

The prince insisted: "But this does not hinder his design layout before his identity is revealed."

The emperor continued to ask: "What is it for? Just to let you dig out a stone pillar, and there are some nonsense words on the pillar?"

The prince took a deep breath, looked directly at the face of the emperor who was not angry and self-imposing, and said solemnly: "The purpose is to frame the ministers, to provoke the father-son relationship between the emperor and the ministers! The purpose is to fabricate rumors and spread rumors, so that people all over the world Falling into the panic of the imminent catastrophe, shake the foundation of our people's hearts!"

The emperor closed his eyes and meditated, then opened them for a moment and asked, "How do you deal with the rumors about the stone pillars in the capital?"

"Kill one as an example. Erchen ordered spies in plain clothes to go deep into the market, and caught many people who took the lead in spreading rumors and intentionally spread them. Under torture, they discovered their identities as followers of the Vacuum Cult. They made a public announcement to expose their rebellious conspiracy, and then beheaded them for public display. The head and the list After a few days of publicity, the rumors were completely eliminated." On the prince's young face, there was a sharp light intertwined with insight and decisiveness.

The emperor took a leisurely sip of tea, and finally asked, "If you were in my position, how would you deal with the officials involved in the case?"

The prince obviously hesitated.

According to his idea, all the officials involved in the case will be dismissed from their posts and sent to prison for breaking the law, and those who cover up will be thoroughly investigated to the end, but he feels a little tricky.Because even Xu Ruiqi, the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, was worried that the case would involve a lot, and he didn't want him to investigate it further, so he made all kinds of perfunctory excuses.Those veteran ministers in the household department even came up with all kinds of tough ways to wear down his energy.

More importantly, his naturally sensitive intuition told him that this question should not be answered in this way.

After thinking about it for a few times, the prince cupped his hands and said: "Officials break the law, only the emperor can deal with it. The sons and ministers are not in their positions and do not seek to govern, but obey the will of the father and the emperor."

The corner of the emperor's mouth seemed to have a vague smile, he put down his teacup and said, "I will deal with this case separately, you don't need to follow up later, just go back to the East Palace."

The prince got up to leave, walked a few steps, stopped and turned around.Knowing that this question shouldn't be asked, he still asked, "Father is going to let Su Yan go to Shaanxi again?"

The emperor didn't hide anything from him, and replied: "That's right. When he returned to Beijing to report on the new policy at the end of last year, I discussed this matter with him."

The prince asked: "The framework of the new policy for officials and herdsmen has been determined, how long does it take for him to consolidate before sending another person to take over?"

"—how long do you want him to go?" the emperor asked lightly.

Can't touch the line anymore!So far, it's still too late.

The crown prince gritted his molars, knowing intellectually that he had to resign, but emotionally he finally asked his innermost thoughts: "The northwestern border is unstable, and Shaanxi may be implicated. Why can't he stay in the capital?"

The emperor's tone became more and more cold: "Because this is my will. If you have any dissatisfaction or objection, you can complain behind closed doors, and you don't have to come to me to say it."

The prince clenched his fists in the sleeves of his robe, roaring angrily in his heart: If you get someone in your hands, if you are addicted, you can throw them out mercilessly, right?In this way, you are still an unimpeachable Mingjun, but what about him?Who cares about his safety?Father, father, when did you become so cold and ruthless—or is this your nature that is hidden under the virtuous and benevolent?

Full of bitterness, anger and disappointment, it turned into a frightened expression on his face.The prince stuck out his tongue like he was coquettishly begging for mercy when he made a mistake when he was young, and said: "I don't have any dissatisfaction, but I just don't want him to leave after only returning to Beijing for more than two months. But since my father asked him to go, let's go. It's enough for Erchen to go see you off when you have time."

The emperor's tone eased a little, and he ordered: "Su Yan, who is also the Shaoqing of Dali Temple and the supervisory censor, does not need to be named as a servant of the East Palace. If you want a new servant, choose another one from the Imperial Academy. As for Seeing you off... There is no need, you are the crown prince and he is a courtier, it would be too disrespectful to be flattering you. Just stay in the East Palace and study hard!"

After speaking, he waved his hand, signaling him to leave.

The prince took his leave and hurried out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.Lan Xi walked over with a plaster tray, saw this and said with a smile: "Master, walk slowly, and step carefully." The prince didn't want to talk to him, but he still squeezed out a stiff smile: "I'm sorry to remind you, my father. After the report is completed, I am about to return to my palace."

"Congratulations to the young master."

The prince didn't ride in the car, nor did the palace attendants take it with him. He walked along the long corridor for a long time, and suddenly he punched the vermilion lacquered wooden pillar next to him——

The vermilion lacquer and wood veneer on the cylinder surface cracked and a pit was sunk.The flesh on the face of his fist was also torn, and blood oozed immediately.

The prince gasped for breath, stared at the cracks and fist marks on the pillar, let the blood stain his sleeves, and said resentfully: "I don't want anything, just him!"

"Your Highness, please put the overall situation first."

"Zhu Helin, you have no right to choose now, let alone a way out. There are some things that you must never say until you reach the top of the peak and see the mountains, understand?!"

The words are still in my ears.

The prince gradually calmed down, tore off a piece of silk from the hem of his clothes, tied it on his bleeding hand, held his head high, and strode towards the East Palace.

At noon on the second day of March.

On the execution ground next to the West Fourth archway, a brand new mat shed was set up. It was the supervisor and execution officer appointed by Xicheng Bingma Si to please the Holy Majesty. The old one was demolished and a new one was built.

The beheading platform has been washed repeatedly, but the bloody smell of the years still cannot be washed away, and the tall wooden pillars erected beside it are also stained mottled brown because the heads are often hung for public display.

According to the usual practice, the criminals executed in Xishi Wenju were executed at [-]:[-] noon. After the decapitation, the head was hung on the top of the wooden pillar to deter the world from breaking the law.

For the people in the capital, "watching beheadings" is also a rare entertainment in ordinary life. Every time an execution is carried out, the whole family will come out to watch, surrounding the execution ground with three floors inside and three floors outside.

But this time, the person who was executed was actually a notorious relative of the state—Marquis of Feng'an, Wei Jun. The people who suffered from it were so excited that they ran to tell each other, and the day of the execution was even more empty.

Wei Jun was wearing a plain prison uniform, with disheveled hair, a prison card stuck behind his neck, and was taken to the execution ground with five flowers tied up.He lost his arm, was sick and haggard, and was dragged along by soldiers.

"Old dog thief, pay back my wife's life!"

"The sky has eyes, the sky has eyes, my poor daughters can finally rest in peace today!"

"Kill him! Skin him and eat his flesh!"

Many people around were yelling loudly and throwing tiles and stones at Wei Jun, hitting him with blood all over his face.If it wasn't for the soldiers who maintained order to stop him, he might be beaten to death by the people if he couldn't get to the beheading platform.

On the other side of the court, the official sedan chair landed.Su Yan got off the sedan chair, dressed in the fourth-grade crimson gown of the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, and a black gauze cap, walked into the mat shed surrounded by guards, and sat behind the bill covered with a table curtain.

Wei Junben knelt on the stage with a numb face. After seeing the supervisor's appearance, he suddenly struggled to rush over with a ferocious expression, and the soldiers beside him hurriedly held him firmly.Like a dying beast, Wei Jun screamed hoarsely: "Su Twelve! You made my Wei family all over the house, I curse you to die, even if you turn into a ghost—"

His mouth was blocked with a rag, and he let out an unwilling "muh" sound from his throat.

The official of the Ministry of Punishment who accompanied the execution said embarrassingly: "It's just nonsense before dying, Mr. Su don't mind..."

Su Yan looked calm and solemn, and raised his hand to stop the other party from continuing. "What time is it?" he asked.

The official took out his pocket watch and looked at it, and replied, "It will be three quarters in the afternoon soon."

Su Yan called the guard to come forward and asked him to take the object in his hand and show it to Wei Jun.

The guard walked up to Wei Jun and tore off the cloth covering the object. It turned out to be a spiritual tablet.

Wei Jun squinted tremblingly, and it was engraved in unattractive handwriting-"The God of the First Sister Jing Hongtao".

He showed a confused expression, he didn't seem to remember who this "Jing Hongtao" was - too many women died at his hands, and in the end he didn't remember a single name.

Su Yan's teeth were so cold that he raised his voice and said, "You don't have to think about who she is, you just need to use your blood and head to pay her justice!"

Wei Jun struggled to hit the flying spirit card, but the guard quickly put it away, returned to Su Yan, and put the spirit card on the public case.

Su Yan stroked the spirit tablet lightly, and said in a low voice, "Sister, today I will avenge you for Ah Zhui."

"The time has come—" the soldiers who told the time shouted.

Su Yan pulled out the warrant stick expressionlessly, threw it on the ground, and said loudly, "Cut!"

The executioner raised the knife and fell, blood spattered, and a human head flew a long distance away, falling on the edge of the platform and rolling.

The people watching the execution all clapped their hands and cheered loudly, cheering and cheering.

Su Yan felt pleasure in his heart, but it was more heavy.His eyes swept across the crowd, his face suddenly changed, and he stood up abruptly——

He rushed to the booth quickly, hurriedly heading in a certain direction.

The officials of the Ministry of Punishment who accompanied the execution were astonished, and called behind him: "Master Su? What happened, Master Su!"

The guards quickly followed.

Su Yan's official robes are very conspicuous, and wherever he goes, there is no need to fight to push the crowd away, the people will retreat to the sides, whispering: "He is Mr. Su!"

"Is that Su Twelve?"

"Are you a fool? Call me Master Su!"

"It's him. In the past, Jin Yiwei's surnamed Feng Hades was the one who took care of him. Now, even the relatives of the state who care about human lives have been overthrown..."

"This is the real Master Qingtian!"

Some people knelt down and kowtowed to Su Yan for his kindness, and more people were infected, and they knelt down in the loess.

Su Yan couldn't care less about appeasing the people at the moment.His heart was beating wildly, he only had a familiar figure in his eyes, he finally caught up with that person, grabbed his arm, and shouted, "Ah Chai—"

The man turned his head abruptly, saw him wearing an official robe, showing fear, and immediately fell to his knees: "My lord, the villain did nothing wrong, my lord..."

Su Yan was stunned, and unknowingly let go of his hand.

It's not Ah Zhui, it's just the similarity in the back... No!He could not be mistaken, he clearly saw Jing Hongzhui's face through the gap in the crowd just now!Ah Zhui did not leave, he is still in the capital!

That's right, how could he miss the day when he killed his sister and asked her to kill her? He will definitely come to the scene to comfort her spirit in heaven.

Su Yan looked around and continued to look for Jing Hongzhui's figure. After a while, his eyes lit up and he chased after him again.The guards were clever this time, and stopped the man before he could make a move himself.

The man turned around in shock, gesticulating and yelling "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh".

Su Yan gritted his teeth fiercely, the corners of his eyes turned red, and his nasal cavity felt sore.He was sure that Jing Hongzhui was nearby, but where?Why avoid him?

He looked around - the bustling and crowded people were all people, all people, except for his personal bodyguard, his family "concubine", and his Ah Zhui!

"... Ah Zhui," Su Yan murmured, "You come back now, the master will not blow your dog's head off. Did you hear that? I will only give you one last chance, master, I will count to three—"

"One... two... two, two..."

Su Yan counted "two" more than a dozen times, the light in his eyes finally gradually went out, and in a tired and weak voice, he uttered: "Three."

"My lord, are you looking for someone? Do you need to inform the soldiers and horses of the five cities to seal the city gates and search every house?" the guard asked.

Su Yan slowly shook his head: "No need. He doesn't want to see me, he can't find it...even if it is found, so what? People's hearts are the last thing that can't be forced."

He recognized the direction in a daze, and headed east.

The guard brought over a horse: "Your Excellency, if you don't want to sit in an official sedan chair, you can just ride a horse."

Su Yan got on the horse, thinking out of his mind: Where am I going?

Go home, yes, go home.

He raised his whip and whipped it, and the horse neighed and galloped, leading him home.

Outside the gate of the Su Mansion, Su Yan got off his horse and galloped towards the old peach tree in the courtyard—he remembered that in Lingzhou Qingshui Camp, before Jing Hongzhui committed suicide in pain because she went crazy and violated him , once said that he secretly buried his sister's ashes under the peach tree.

After they returned to the capital, they originally wanted to build a grave for their sister, but Jing Hongzhui changed her mind, saying that her sister loved peach blossoms the most, and she would definitely like the scenery in this courtyard.Just let yourself spend more time with your sister, and wait until the big revenge is avenged, and then choose a place with beautiful mountains and rivers to build a grave.

"My lord?" Xiao Bei Xiao Jing heard the sound and greeted him.

Su Yan panted, "Hoe, give me the hoe!"

Su Xiaobei immediately found a long-handled hoe from the nursery and handed it to him.Su Yan spotted an open space under the old peach tree and dug the soil with a hoe.The soil seemed to have been loosened by someone, and he quickly dug out a big hole - the bottom was empty and there was nothing.

Jing Hong chased her sister's ashes away...

I have no grievances with you, and I will never see you again in this life.

Su Yan gasped heavily while leaning on the handle of the hoe, beads of sweat were beaded on his forehead, his eyes were red, and tears fell silently.

Xiao Bei and Xiao Jing had never seen him cry before. They were terrified and said at a loss, "My lord? What's wrong with you, my lord?"

Su Yan just shook his head.

The sound of footsteps approaching hurriedly from the direction of the courtyard door, a pair of warm arms stretched out from behind and embraced him.

Shen Qi hugged him tightly, her face was as gloomy as iron, she gritted her teeth and said, "Don't cry."

Su Yan was startled suddenly, and asked, "Qilang, Ah Zhui... did he really leave voluntarily?"

Shen Qi hugged her arms even tighter: "Yes. No one forced him, this is his own choice. "

After Su Yan was silent for a long time, he let out a long sigh as if disheartened.

"Sanggong is always here." Shen Qi wiped the tears on his face with her cuff, and said in a deep voice, "Sanggong will always be with you."

Outside the city gate, a young man in civilian clothes wearing a bamboo hat, with a small white porcelain altar in his arms, was walking on the official road leading to Gyeonggi.

He staggered a little, his face was pale, and his lips were peeled, as if he hadn't had a good rest for a long time.Only a pair of eyes still shone with a cold and sharp light from the tired shadows.

He stopped in front of the stall and said to the vendor, "Give me wine."

"Okay, how many gourds do you want, guest officer?" The peddler pointed to the wine gourds on the ground.

"It's all."

The young man threw out an ingot of broken silver, hung three wine gourds around his waist, and continued to stagger forward.

Gourds filled with wine weigh heavily on the waist.It used to weigh less than a hair on him, but now he feels dragged into the dust.

Not knowing where he was going, he touched the urn in his arms and asked, "Sister?"

The columbarium likes the old peach tree in the courtyard of the Su residence.

The young man pursed the corners of his mouth as if stung, and begged in a low voice: "Sister..."

He got no more response—like an empty heart, dead and silent in the spring wind that blows across the wilderness.