The general went out again at night

The candle lights went out in the middle of the night, and the two couldn't bear the exhaustion, so they fell into a deep sleep.

There was no dream all night, and this sleep was peaceful and comfortable.

Xia Qingshu woke up a little later than usual. She was lying on her side, and when she opened her eyes, she found that there was a person lying beside her in a daze.The raised outline scared her and quickly closed her eyes.

It was already broad daylight, and there were still a few rays of sunlight hitting the carved windows, which were extraordinarily dazzling.

Xia Qingshu wondered in his heart: No, at this hour, Her Royal Highness should be up, why are you still sleeping on the bed?

Xia Qingshu quietly opened her eyes again, and raised her head slightly. Only then did she realize that the quilt covering His Highness's body had fallen a bit, and she had to pull it up, otherwise she would catch a cold.

After thinking about it, she stretched out her hand, bypassed Ji Qianyao's back lying on her side, stretched it out in front of her body, carefully pinched the edge of the quilt with three fingers, and lifted it upwards with all her strength.The soft quilt fell down gently, covering Ji Qianyao's neck. Xia Qingshu pressed it with her fingertips again to make sure it was tightly wrapped around her and was about to close her hands. At this moment, the quilt arched upwards, revealing a white and clean His hand quickly reached out from under the quilt, and grabbed Xia Qingshu's hand that hadn't been withdrawn.

Ji Qianyao held that hand, turned around, raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "General Xia woke up very early today."

"Today's weather...is exceptionally good, so I'm not as sleepy as usual." Xia Qingshu smiled awkwardly, and found an excuse indiscriminately.

Ji Qianyao's eyes moved to the paper window, with a soft smile on his lips: "It is indeed a fine weather that cannot be disappointed. Since General Xia is also awake, let's get up together."

"it is good."

Xia Qingshu reluctantly sat up and put on her clothes slowly.

Coming out of the inner room, Ji Qianyao had already finished grooming, with a thin layer of rouge on his face, and sat neatly on a round chair, waiting for Xia Qingshu.It's just weird, more than half an hour has passed, why is this person still dawdling in the room?

"You guys step back first and put down the hot water."

"Yes."

The maid waited for a long time with hot water, Ji Qianyao wanted to go in and check it out himself, so he screened them away first.Just as she was about to get up, a figure walked out from the room with her head bowed, and she hurriedly sat down again.

"Your Highness Jin An." Xia Qingshu greeted respectfully.

Ji Qianyao had no expression on his face, and said: "General, wash up quickly, and have breakfast with me."

"Yes."

Xia Qingshu walked to the hot water, touched the temperature of the water with her finger, and immediately retracted it. The water temperature was very comfortable, but it was better that her hand didn't get wet.After thinking about it, her eyes lit up again, and she turned around expectantly, only to find that the person on the round chair had disappeared.

A servant girl pushed the door open, walked quickly to her side, bowed and said softly, "General Xia, Your Highness the Eldest Princess has ordered the servant girl to wait on you to wash up."

Xia Qingshu's look of anticipation froze on his face, and he waited for a long time before he said, "Okay."

Sure enough, at dawn, everything was different.

Breakfast is simple porridge and a few side dishes.Xia Qingshu squeezed the porcelain spoon, scooped up the porridge water, and brought it to his mouth. The porridge was delicious and delicious, warming the stomach. It can be seen that the chef who made the porridge put a lot of thought into it, but Xia Qingshu still missed the peanuts last night.

Ji Qianyao had never had a big appetite, so he put down the spoon after half a bowl of snacks, sat on the stool and waited quietly for Xia Qingshu.

This gaze made General Xia have a bad feeling, she had a faint feeling that His Royal Highness the Princess was about to chase her away.

Involuntarily, Xia Qingshu slowed down the speed of drinking the porridge, blowing on the cold slowly, chewing slowly.

"General Xia's movements of drinking porridge are so elegant." Ji Qianyao said with a smile.

"Eat with His Highness, naturally you can't gobble it up, and you can taste the chef's intentions if you eat slowly." Xia Qingshu had already thought up the words to deal with it.

It's just that no matter how slow you eat, the porridge will be finished at the moment.

"Since breakfast is finished, I have something to say to the general."

Xia Qingshu's heart tightened, and the expression on his face remained unchanged: "Please speak, Your Highness."

"Several royal relatives will come here to hang out later, it may be inconvenient for the general to stay for a long time."

Xia Qingshu understood, stood up and bowed: "I know, then I will leave first."

Ji Qianyao nodded.

As soon as Xia Qingshu entered the secret path, Yang Ming walked along the path, came to Ji Qianyao, and said: "Master, my subordinates searched around Quzhuang, but did not find Qu Yong's mother, wife and daughter."

"Have you looked around?"

"I've searched for miles around, but there's nothing there."

Ji Qianyao sighed: "I'm afraid they have already been murdered, let your subordinates return, don't investigate."

Yang Ming stared at His Royal Highness the Eldest Princess and said nothing. He wanted to say that even if these three people were murdered, they should leave clues, but he and his men searched for miles around, but they couldn't even find a single clue. , It was so strange.But since His Royal Highness the eldest princess ordered that there is no need to investigate further, Yang Ming would not be troublesome, so he said "yes" and withdrew.

***

The South Wing Room of Zhao Mansion in Nanjing City.

Ouyang Shijun was sitting on the armrest, drinking tea, with a relaxed smile on his face, obviously confident.

Zhao Yebin, on the other hand, was the complete opposite, with tight lips and an irritable expression, he paced anxiously in the room, and said worriedly: "Shi Jun, this Xia Qingshu doesn't know what's up her mind, after investigating the case for a long time, she stopped doing it, Now I went to some other garden to eat wild game. His Majesty gave her a five-day limit, why is she not in a hurry? Is it because she is too young and does not know the priority? Or is the city too deep and she deliberately avoids it?"

Ouyang Shijun raised his eyelids, his face still full of confidence, and he comforted: "Third brother, don't worry, relax, don't care what Xia Qingshu thinks, anyway, the final decision is the victory or defeat The chess pieces are in our hands."

Speaking of this matter, Zhao Yebin's complexion improved a bit.He quickly walked to Ouyang Shijun and sat down, took a cup of tea, took a sip of the tea, shook his head and said, "These two Fuyun brothers are also very powerful, and the guards of the Fifth Army Commander's Mansion are so heavily guarded that they can break in."

Ouyang Shijun took the opportunity to flatter: "After all, the third brother is looking for the person."

"However, Brother Jun, these two have cooperated with me for many years, and there is some kind of favor between them. After the Xia family is brought down, we must leave a way for them to survive."

"Don't worry, third brother, Shijun has made arrangements." Ouyang Shijun patted the back of Zhao Yebin's hand on the table, with an inscrutable smile on his mouth.

"Also, younger brother Jun, you must not tell your father about this matter. He always says that I am not good enough, and this time I will solve the serious problem of the Xia family for him, so that he will be impressed."

Ouyang Shijun nodded with a smile: "If this is done, the third brother will take the lead, and the godfather will definitely abandon his previous views."

Satisfied, Zhao Yebin took a sip of the tea cup, then said slowly, "But having said that, I don't know what idea Xia Qingshu has now, I always feel uneasy, should we get some for her? Trouble, toss it? Can you do it?"

"Of course there are ways." Ouyang Shijun squinted and smiled.

Zhao Yebin stroked his beard with great joy, and urged: "Quickly tell me."

The two leaned closer, whispering in secret.

After hearing the strategy, Zhao Yebin laughed so hard that he couldn't close his mouth from ear to ear, and boasted repeatedly: "Good strategy! Not only will it bring Xia Qingshu a bad reputation, but it will also help us in our last heavy blow."

Ouyang Shijun narrowed his eyes and said with a sneer: "As long as these key pieces are controlled by us, everything will be safe."

***

On the afternoon of the 21st of the twelfth lunar month, a rumor spread throughout the streets and alleys of Nanjing.Rumor has it that the person behind the assassination of the Zhou family's son has been found out, and it is the enemy of the Zhou family - the Zhao family.

All of a sudden, the Zhao family was pushed to the forefront.

In less than a day, the rumors became more and more outrageous. At first they were just guesses, but after they were passed on to a few people, they became a certainty. Many ignorant people surrounded the gate of the Zhao Mansion, forcing the Zhao Mansion to hand over the assassins to keep the peace of the capital.

Emperor Hongsu was furious when he heard about it.The investigators have not yet found out the real culprit behind the scenes, and there is no conclusion. Someone must be behind the scenes.Emperor Hongsu sent officials to appease the people, and ordered the soldiers and horses of the five cities to arrest those who spread rumors.

The public's anger was suppressed, but Zhao Ge's disciples were completely enraged, and they wrote letters one after another to complain about the university scholars. One or two of them pointed the finger at Xia Qingshu, saying that she deliberately used the Zhao family as a scapegoat if she couldn't catch the assassin.

Xia Qingshu didn't say a word, and stayed in the mansion to raise flowers and play with birds after returning from Bieyuan, leisurely.

There was another round of impeachment in the court, and Emperor Hongsu was the first and the second big.However, the direction of public opinion changed suddenly. Those who had previously spoken of the evil of the Zhao Mansion began to praise the virtues of the Zhao Mansion, and some people began to attack Xia Qingshu who was idle in the mansion and did nothing.

From the beginning to the end, Xia Qingshu didn't argue a word, and there were no officials in the court to complain about her, and the people were angry again.

***

Zhao Yanyuan did not expect that the current situation had evolved to this point. He knew a little about Ouyang Shijun's strategy, but he never participated or asked about it.But Xia Qingshu is easier to deal with than he imagined, this warrior who is not familiar with the depths of the court will definitely suffer a big loss when facing a counselor.As long as his cadres lead a few key people to the front of the palace, Xia Qingshu has no chance of fighting back.

Xia Qingshu fell, and if he forged some evidence to implicate the entire Xia family, the entire southeast coast would be under his control.

Zhao Yanyuan stroked his long gray beard, frowned slightly, and suddenly hesitated.At first, he felt that this plan was too risky, so he let Ouyang Shijun plan it alone, and he picked up the entire Zhao family.

Now he has a great chance of winning, it can almost be said that he has secured the victory, so he is ready to move.Ouyang Shijun was courageous and resourceful, but he was still young, and he did not pursue an official career. When he faced the emperor at the top of the golden palace, he would not be nervous.

He has been through three dynasties, he has seen big storms, no matter who he faces or what happens, he can be calm and calm, not surprised by favor or humiliation. Undoubtedly, he is the most suitable person to expose the Xia family's "conspiracy" in the Golden Palace.

What about the consequences, if... If he loses, he has to face the emperor's accusation and punishment... Can he bear this consequence...

Thinking of this, Zhao Yanyuan hesitated again and again.

"Knock, knock -" when he hesitated, there was a knock on the door of the study, Zhao Yanyuan came back to his senses, the coldness in his eyes dissipated, he leaned on the chair behind him, and asked warmly, "What's the matter?"

The butler outside the door hurriedly said: "My lord, Your Highness the eldest princess is here to visit! Hurry up and pick her up!"

"What!" Zhao Yanyuan suddenly leaned forward, grasped the crutch leaning against the desk, and walked anxiously to the door of the study.

After leaving the door of the study, the housekeeper and a servant girl supported him, and they both supported him to walk to the front hall.

As soon as he entered the hall, Zhao Yanyuan hurriedly went to the two people who were supporting him, and tremblingly said: "It's our house's great fortune that Your Royal Highness the Eldest Princess is here. The old minister is late, please forgive me, Your Highness!"

After finishing speaking, Zhao Yanyuan wanted to kneel down and salute, but Ji Qianyao quickly walked up to him and stopped him: "Old Zhao Ge, there is no need to be too polite, get up quickly."

Ji Qianyao's eyes were full of sincerity, and the servants of the Zhao family were overjoyed after seeing it.Her Royal Highness the Eldest Princess is indifferent, and she lives reclusively after leaving the court, and treats the ministers in the court very plainly, but treats her master differently. If she gets the elixir ginseng, most of them will be sent to Zhao's residence!

"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhao Yanyuan bowed slightly to thank, smiling so much that his eyes were covered by white eyebrows, leaving an indistinct curved line.

"Please sir."

"Your Highness, please."

The two sat down in the hall, and the servants brought good tea and snacks.Zhao Yanyuan knew that His Royal Highness the eldest princess liked to be quiet, so there was no need for many people to be in the same room, so while she was drinking tea, he secretly winked at the butler.

"I heard that Mr. Zhao Ge suffered from frequent leg problems recently, so I ordered someone to find good herbs from the East China Sea." Ji Qianyao's tone was slow, like the clear spring in the mountain, pleasant to the ear, and then waved his hand, Su Jin led With a few of his men, he carried a large box.

When the box was opened, it was filled with precious medicines for strengthening the body, most of which were hard to find with a lot of money.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness the Eldest Princess." Zhao Yanyuan raised his trembling hands and clasped his fists together: "It's just that these herbs are extremely precious, and the ones His Highness sent back last time have not been eaten, so I dare not take them again this time."

Hearing this, Ji Qianyao frowned: "Mr. Zhao Ge has worked hard for the court, and he must also pay attention to his health. It has been a while since the last one was sent. This time, the fresh one was sent to Beijing in a hurry, and the effect of the medicine is better. Ge Lao Mo refuses."

Zhao Yanyuan didn't dare to refuse such kindness, and he accepted it after thanking him again and again.

"I see that Ge Lao's complexion is a bit grim, is it because he didn't have a good rest yesterday?"

Zhao Yanyuan smiled bitterly, and sighed: "Recently, there are a lot of chores, making my head burnt out, and I really can't sleep well at night."

Ji Qianyao showed worry on his face, and then became very angry: "My palace has also heard about the matter in Ge's family. Ge Laobai was humiliated. If the person who spread the rumors is caught, he must be punished!"

His Royal Highness the Princess was indignant, Zhao Yanyuan couldn't help but be overjoyed.He immediately thought that if he revealed that Xia Qingshu had "framed" the Zhao Mansion, His Royal Highness the Princess would definitely be on his side.With the honorable status of His Royal Highness, Xia Qingshu would never be able to stand up if he said a few words in front of His Majesty.

Oh, by the way, Xia Qingshu was so bold as to be rude to His Highness the Eldest Princess, given this opportunity, she could also vent her anger on His Highness!

"Your Highness, calm down. Your Highness is a noble phoenix, and it is not appropriate to be angry with such a dirty villain. The old minister heard that Wucheng Bingmasi has tracked down the clues of those who spread rumors, and he will soon find out the people behind the scenes."

"Elder Ge is suffering."

"Your Highness speaks seriously, and the world is always dependent on good and bad. It is a great blessing for the Zhao family to receive His Highness's care!"

After sending off Ji Qianyao respectfully, Zhao Yanyuan was still immersed in boundless joy, a sense of comfort spreading from his whole body as he firmly stomped the enemy under his feet.

Then let him be the final terminator.

"Come here, call Master Shijun to the study."

"Yes."

***

"Report to Your Majesty, Mr. Zhao Ge is asking to see you." On the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, it was the last day of the five-day limit given by Emperor Hongsu to Xia Qingshu. It was Mr. Zhao Ge who wiped his tears with his sleeves.

Seeing this gesture, Emperor Hongsu was puzzled, how could a famous and promising scholar be so disrespectful?

Before the emperor could express his concern, Zhao Yanyuan threw off his crutches and knelt down, clacking his head heavily: "Your Majesty, please be the master of the old minister!"

Emperor Hongsu's face changed slightly, and he waved his hand to stop him: "Zhao Qing, don't be too polite, just take care of yourself. Come here, give me a seat!"

"Your Majesty, please allow me to kneel down. I have a big grievance and I need to kneel down to report it." Zhao Yanyuan bent down on the ground, his body was still trembling slightly, Emperor Hongsu really couldn't bear it, so he persuaded: "Zhao Qing, why bother? It's the same when you sit and talk."

"Your Majesty, please kneel down." Zhao Yanyuan kowtowed again, unable to kneel for a long time, the eunuch who was in a dilemma knelt with him, neither helped nor not, his eyes turned between him and the Holy One, His face was full of anxiety.

Emperor Hongsu had a premonition of the seriousness of the matter, so he stopped dragging the saw, straightened his expression and said: "What is your grievance, tell me and listen to me, and I will avenge your grievance."

Only then did Zhao Yanyuan raise his head: "Your Majesty, this veteran has dedicated his life to his duty, loyal to the emperor and loved the people, and never exceeded the rules, so that he can get a good reputation when he retires and returns to his hometown. Now that the treacherous people have poured dirty water on this veteran, please Your Majesty Clearly investigate, severely punish the people behind the scenes, and return the old minister's innocence!"

"Zhao Qing shared the worries of the emperor and worked for the people below. It is the blessing of the Great Yan. I am also indignant about the rumors. Listening to Qing's tone, it seems that the rumor spreaders have been caught?"

"Exactly."

"Where is the person? Quickly take him to the Golden Palace, I will interrogate him."

"Commander Shi Yang and farmer Wang Dabang of Xuanwu City entered the palace to have an audience—" Deng Li called out loudly, holding a whisk in his hand.

After a while, several people escorted Wang Dabang into the hall, who was wearing hemp shoes and a rough ragged shirt.Standing above the Golden Hall are many Jinyiwei dressed in flying fish suits and embroidered spring knives on their waists, all of them are vicious.

When Wang Dabang saw this battle, he was so frightened that he knelt down tremblingly, and kept shouting: "The emperor spares my life! The emperor spares my life!"

"Are you the one spreading rumors?" Emperor Hongsu looked up and down at the unkempt farmer with soil stains on his trousers, and asked a little puzzled, "Can you read?"

"Emperor... Your Majesty, the grassroots can't read... can't read..." Wang Dabang shook his head again and again, and his palms also shook violently.

"I don't even know how to write, how do you write rumors on the note? The indictment says that you sent the note with false information to teahouses, restaurants and other places."

"Back to the emperor, the grass people can't write, but... the lady at home can write, and she copied the notes... After writing them, the grass people threw them into the backyard of the teahouse... The grassroots know they are wrong, Your Majesty, spare your life! Your Majesty, spare your life!" Wang Dabang began to kowtow crazily, one after another, blood flowed from his forehead.

"Come on, stop him." Emperor Hongsu hurriedly ordered, and then Jin Yiwei stepped forward and pressed Wang Dabang's shoulder.

Emperor Hongsu thought for a while, his face became gentler, and his voice was not as harsh as before: "Da Bang, don't worry, I didn't say that I would behead you immediately, as long as you tell the truth about the incident From beginning to end, I will deal with it leniently."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty!" Wang Dabang clasped his fists in thanks again and again, and hastily wiped away the tears and snot on his face with his sleeve.

"I just heard that you used the word "copying". Didn't this accusation against the Zhao family come from your mouth?"

"Of course not! Caomin farms all day, how do you know this? The wife at home can know two characters, but she has never been to school, so she can only use some vulgar words. The copied sentences are complicated, and it is absolutely impossible for us to do it! Caomin. .....The grassroots are greedy for profit, and only agreed to take advantage of others...I thought it was a trivial matter, but I didn't expect such a big commotion afterwards...The emperor spare me!"

"Who is it with your money?"

"The grassroots don't even know that man, he is a burly man who took a lot of silver to the grassroots house..."

"But this person?" Emperor Hongsu held up a portrait and asked Deng Li to send it to Wang Dabang.

"It's him, it's him!" After a few glances, Wang Dabang nodded again and again: "The big man is holding a piece of cloth with words written on it, let us copy it. After copying, he threw the cloth into my stove. After getting up, they left. The grass people’s house was bare, and they were usually very tight in food and clothing. Seeing that the cloth was made of high-quality silk, they wanted to save their sweat, so they poured out the firewood with a basin of water, and took out the cloth.”

Emperor Hongsu was startled, his expression suddenly serious: "Where is the cloth?"

"It was confiscated by the officials."

"Your Majesty, those criminal witnesses have been handed over, under the indictment."

Emperor Hongsu rummaged through it a few times, and sure enough, he found a half-burnt piece of cloth from the bottom, with words of slander imprinted on it.He flipped through it again, and found another piece of wrinkled paper with crooked characters written on it. Obviously, this copy was copied by Wang Dabang's wife.

Then who wrote the characters on the cloth?Emperor Hongsu frowned, and read the incomplete characters one by one. When his eyes fell on the seal on the final signature, he took a deep breath.

This is the chapter of General Fuyuan's Mansion!

The emperor was stunned. Now he finally understood why Mr. Zhao Ge lost his composure, and also knew why he asked him to avenge his injustice!

"Come on, bring Xia Qingshu here, I have something to question her face to face!" Hong Sudi's voice was hoarse and ugly, and his face was very gloomy.

Deng Li raised his eyelids, and was about to step forward to pass tea, when Zhao Yanyuan, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly spoke, and he had to stop.

Zhao Yanyuan said: "Your Majesty, I still have something to report here."

"Zhao Qing, please tell me."

***

A dozen or so fast horses drove out from the palace gate, and ran aggressively towards Fuyuan General's Mansion. When they stepped across the streets of Nanjing City, a burst of yellow sand was raised.

The people on both sides of the street were talking about it, and the person wearing the flying fish suit was very easy to recognize, he was the famous Jinyiwei!

Everyone in the world knows that Jin Yiwei obeys the order of the emperor, and if he enters the mansion to arrest people, it must be the emperor's will, and these people who were arrested will never return.

Amidst the people's discussion, Jin Yiwei's horseshoe stopped at the gate of Fuyuan General's Mansion.

"General, general, it's not good! There are many Jinyi guards outside the gate of the mansion!" The servant rushed to report, his face was full of fear.

Xia Qingshu was whistling to tease the birds, when she heard this she laughed, and unhurriedly handed the birdcage in her hand to Liu Yan, saying: "When you come, welcome the guests well, what are you doing in a hurry."

"Master Jin Yiwei is coming in a menacing way, and the subordinates have to worry about the situation of the general..." the servant said anxiously.

Xia Qingshu waved her hands and said with a smile: "Don't worry, there is nothing to worry about, we have a clear conscience." After she finished speaking, she walked into the sun with her hands behind her back, looked at the clear sky, stretched her waist, and murmured: " Staying in this mansion for so many days without ever going out, I am suffocated. The big fish has already entered the net, it is time to collect the net."

"Xiong Cong, Fusi of Jinyiwei Town, has seen General Xia, and sent an order to His Majesty, asking General Xia to enter the palace immediately." The servant at the door couldn't resist, Jinyiwei broke into the inner courtyard with a knife, aggressive, and his tone was very bad.

Xia Qingshu was not annoyed, turned around and told Liu Yan: "I will enter the palace first, Master Hong and Shangshu Zhou, let them get ready."

After giving the order, she followed Jin Yiwei into the palace.

***

Cining Palace.

Just as Ji Qianyao coaxed the Empress Dowager to sleep, the news came that Xia Qingshu was brought into the palace by Jin Yiwei.After listening, she just nodded and didn't respond any more.

Walking together with Sujin to the Imperial Garden of the Compassionate Palace, Ji Qianyao couldn't help but think of Xia Qingshu's words in Twenty Nights. She confidently said that she could prove her innocence without two assassins.

But how can the current situation be reversed?

"Su Jin, do you think other than the confessions of these two assassins, what else can prove Xia Qingshu's innocence?"

"I can't figure it out either. General Xia has already entered the game and is tightly entangled. Only by breaking through the two assassins can we turn the tables. If Your Highness is worried about General Xia, go to the Golden Palace to have a look. If Xia The general has been suppressed too badly, and we can save him in time."

Ji Qianyao shook his head: "It's really inconvenient for me to go." Then, a smile rose on her lips: "And it was Xia Qingshu who didn't want those two assassins herself, and she said it very confidently. I believe she has a way."

"General Xia is good at martial arts, but he is not a man of few plans. He must have a way of counterattack that neither we nor the Zhao family can guess."

"Yeah." Ji Qianyao continued to walk towards the pavilion in the garden: "However, you still ask your subordinates to keep an eye on her. If she can't resist Zhao Yanyuan's means, I can protect her in time."

"Yes."

***

Fengxian Hall.

"Your Majesty, General Xia is here." Jin Yiwei replied.

"Okay, bring her up." Emperor Hongsu said with a livid face.

"Minister, Xia Qingshu, greet Your Majesty, Your Majesty's Holy Ann." Xia Qingshu didn't show any trace of fear on his face, and was very calm.

Emperor Hongsu shouted loudly: "General Xia, you are so courageous!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down. I don't know what mistake Qing Shu made to make Long Yan furious?" Xia Qingshu kowtowed again, wondering.

"See for yourself!"

Emperor Hongsu slammed Xia Qingshu's indictment in front of her.

Xia Qingshu picked it up calmly, and said, "Yes." Then, holding the indictment in his hands, he carefully read it word by word.

After a cup of tea, the emperor's cold voice came: "Xia Qing, can you plead guilty?"

Xia Qingshu closed the crime statement: "None of the criminal evidence listed in this book is true, please learn from your Majesty."

"There are all the witnesses and material evidence, and General Xia still wants to argue?" Emperor Hongsu showed a disappointed look on his face.

"It's not the minister's actions, the words are not true, how can the minister recognize it?"

"you!"

"Your Majesty calm down and ask the old minister to confront General Xia." Zhao Yanyuan who was sitting silently by the side suddenly got up and said.

"Yes." Emperor Hongsu glanced at him and nodded.

"Your Majesty, have a sip of tea." Deng Li smiled and brought the cup of tea, the emperor took it and took two sips.

Zhao Yanyuan leaned on crutches and walked in front of Xia Qingshu, looking down at her with a half-smile on his lips: "I have a few questions, General Xia, please answer them truthfully."

"Excuse me, Mr. Ge." Xia Qingshu said neither humble nor overbearing.

"When my grandson was handed over to the Yingtian Mansion, there was a criminal indictment, in which Zhao Xuexin was charged with ten crimes including robbing civilian women, harming property and killing his life, but you wrote it?"

"Yes."

"May I ask General Xia again, is Qu Yong your servant?"

"Yes."

"Then, can General Xia recognize this chapter? Is it the chapter from General Fuyuan's mansion?" Zhao Yanyuan handed her the half-burned cloth, and finally emphasized: "Your Majesty, please answer truthfully, General Xia. If it is not true, then It is the crime of deceiving the king."

Xia Qingshu glanced at her and nodded, "Yes."

"Then today is the fifth day, has General Xia caught the assassin?"

"No." Xia Qingshu replied truthfully, without a trace of expression on her face.

"I heard that most of General Xia spent the past five days planting flowers and amusing birds in the mansion, but is it true?"

Xia Qingshu raised her eyebrows slightly, without hesitation, she directly admitted: "Yes."

"Your Majesty, I have finished asking the old minister's questions, and General Xia has pleaded guilty. Your Majesty, please make the decision for the old minister!" Zhao Yanyuan knelt down and kowtowed.When he fell to the ground, his eyes were slightly narrowed, and there was already a little light of victory in him.

Emperor Hongsu was heartbroken, with a look of disappointment on his face: "General Xia, I trust you so much, yet you ignore the king's law, what else can you say?"

Xia Qingshu's mouth curled into a strange smile, and he said slowly: "Your Majesty, I still have something to say. I really don't understand, but I just answered a few questions from Mr. Zhao Ge. Why are you guilty?"

"Then let the old minister explain in more detail." Zhao Yanyuan stood up suddenly, pointed at Xia Qingshu's face and said, "General Xia used his power to fabricate evidence to harm my grandson Zhao Xuexin. This is a crime. Hiring assassins to assassinate important court officials My son, this is the second crime. Spreading rumors and framing the ministers is the third crime. Negligence of duty and deceiving the Holy Majesty is the fourth crime. General Xia, I don’t know when the old minister offended you, but he was framed by you like this? Fortunately, Your Majesty is wise , uncovered the truth of the matter, and returned the old man's innocence. General Xia should plead guilty earlier, and the old man will intercede with His Majesty and deal with it leniently."

"Xia Qing, do you still have something to talk to?" Emperor Hong Su's patience had reached its limit.

Xia Qingshu blinked, but still insisted on her words: "Your Majesty, I have been wronged. I have never done a single thing that Mr. Zhao Ge said. Mr. Zhao Ge's case is as solid as a mountain. Coincidentally, I have such strong evidence here as well." , each of which can prove the innocence of the minister, please be aware of it, Your Majesty."

Emperor Hongsu was startled, and a look of astonishment appeared on his face.Zhao Yanyuan's expression also changed slightly, and he hurriedly reprimanded: "General Xia, it's already this time, you still dare to play tricks in front of His Majesty!"

Xia Qingshu looked up at her, with a provocative smile on the corner of his mouth: "Why? Elder Zhao Ge still won't let me produce evidence to prove my innocence? Do you have to be able to cover it all with one word from Elder Zhao Ge?"

Emperor Hongsu looked at Xia Qingshu who was kneeling upright, and thought for a long time.General Fuyuan regained Yunnan, defended the northern border, and made great achievements in battle. If he doesn't investigate clearly, he, the emperor, will definitely be criticized by the Li people.

"General Xia, I'm sure. Where's your evidence to prove your innocence? Submit it quickly." Emperor Hongsu said.

Xia Qingshu: "Your Majesty, please announce the three of you into the palace."

"who?"

"Yin Hong, Yin Hong of Yingtian Mansion, Lord Wanghong, Minister of the Household Department Zhou Louxing, Lord Zhou, and..." Xia Qingshu paused when talking about the third person, then shifted his gaze to Zhao Yanyuan, and said softly The identity of the last person was revealed: "Zhou Bi, son of the Zhou family."

When he heard the name of the last person, Zhao Yanyuan's expression was as if he had been struck by lightning, and his figure was a little staggered. After a while, he became furious again, and he took a few steps to Xia Qingshu's front, pointing at her with his crutches. Said: "Aren't you crazy? Mr. Zhou's son was killed by you on the eighteenth day!"

"Master Zhao Ge is really sure that Young Master Zhou is dead?" Xia Qingshu asked rhetorically.

The provocation in Xia Qingshu's eyes and the sarcasm buried for a long time made Zhao Yanyuan take a step back. He shook his head and murmured: "Impossible, impossible."

At this moment, an eunuch ran in from outside the hall, with an expression on his face as if he had seen a ghost, and he said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, Yin Tianfu Mr. Hong, Mr. Zhou, Minister of the Household Department, and... and Zhou Bi, son of the Zhou family, ask to see you!"

Except for Xia Qingshu, all the people in the hall froze, and their eyes widened.

Zhou Bi is not dead?

Emperor Hongsu took a deep breath, and said to the eunuch, "Xuan... Xuan them come in."

When Zhou Bi's face appeared in everyone's sight, those who didn't know gasped. Zhao Yanyuan's face was pale, and he sat slumped on the round stool, his hands and feet twitching unconsciously.

"What's going on here?" Emperor Hongsu took the lead in recovering his composure and asked in a cold voice.

Xia Qingshu cleared his throat, and said slowly: "On the [-]th day of the twelfth lunar month, two men with high martial arts skills kidnapped Qu Yong's wife, daughter and old mother, and asked Qu Yong to be the inner ghost, stealing the map and patrol routes of the Fifth Army Commander's Mansion And asked Qu Yong to break into the governor's mansion with them two days later, assassinate the son of the Zhou family, and then turn the whole thing into a conspiracy by me, Xia Qingshu. But... these thieves miscalculated, Qu Yong is loyal, sixteen Ye told me the plot one by one. The people behind the scenes were hiding very deeply. After discussing with the two adults, I decided to follow the plan and use the assassination of Zhou Bi to lure out the people behind the scenes. He really died on the night of the incident. One is the death row prisoner who was replaced in advance to replace the Zhou family son, and the other is Qu Yong who is loyal to the minister."

When talking about Qu Yong, Xia Qingshu's voice was a little choked up: "The death row prisoner should be executed in autumn, and when he was dragged to winter due to illness, he died not unjustly. But Qu Yong was unjustly...he was He was an honest servant who was chosen by traitors because of his benevolence and filial piety. After using him, he made it difficult for others to control him, so he deliberately killed Qu Yong. Your Majesty, how innocent is Qu Yong?

"After Qu Yong's death, the other two assassins escaped. It wasn't due to negligence of the Dudu's Mansion of the Five Armies, but because the minister let them go on purpose. As for the chapter on this cloth, it is easy to explain. They were stolen together on the day when the map of the Dudu's Mansion was stolen. Mr. Zhao Ge, your old strategy is very perfect, unfortunately, one step was wrong, and that chapter was manipulated by me, and the pen at the end of the word Xia was picked up, it is not the real chapter!"