Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 396: Temperament and Law

The Queen Mother held Aunt Meng in her arms, and both the master and servant cried bitterly until the sky was dark.

Dai Quan and Tao Xingjian came to look in, and Zijuan hurried out to greet them, and quietly explained outside the door: "...If you cry, you won't feel depressed. Aunt Meng knows her limits."

The Emperor received the report in the front hall. Although he felt somewhat relieved, his beard was still shaking with anger when he saw the several "important ministers" kneeling and trembling with fear below.

After Emperor Zhaoming received Tao Xingjian's detailed account of the night, he observed these people carefully at close range for the first time. He sat next to the Emperor Taishang and stared at them intently.

Just one look made several people sweat profusely.

The prevarication that had been prepared in advance was said with particular stammering: "Your servants dare not be too harsh, no no, we dare not force you too much...

"The Taiji Palace is vast but sparsely populated. If we force the issue too far, the thieves will hide, or the accomplices will do something desperate..."

The Supreme looked at them coldly, his eyes moving among several people for a few circles, and finally fell on the head of the palace guards:

"Han Liwen, you are the brother of the Earl of Jinxiang, and he recommended you. Since I moved to Taiji Palace, you have been the leader of the palace guards.

"Things like hidden arrows can be smuggled in - what do you say?"

Han Liwen shuddered and immediately knocked his head to the ground: "I have failed the grace of the Lord! I am ignorant, incompetent, and lazy!

"I deserve to be beheaded for my crime! I beg the Lord to execute me to deter the other thieves!"

Emperor Zhaoming raised his eyebrows.

This man is smart.

After he said that, it would be hard for Tai Shang to really kill him...

Tai Shang sneered: "You want to die? How can there be such a cheap thing in the world?!"

Han Liwen's body trembled again, and his entire face almost pressed to the ground: "Please punish me, Supreme Lord!"

"As for your crime, you will certainly not survive. But whether I kill you alone or your whole family depends on whether you are willing to show your true ability to do the job."

The Supreme Lord raised his hand to stop Han Liwen from trying to defend himself, and issued an order in a loud voice, "Han Liwen is allowed to make meritorious contributions while serving his sentence, and a thorough investigation of the malpractices of the palace guards is required within seven days!

“If this assassination case can be solved, Han Liwen will be allowed to be dismissed and return home.

"If nothing is found, both crimes will be punished, and the property will be confiscated! And the guarantor will be held accountable!"

Han Liwen suddenly raised his head, his face pale!

Therefore, if the case is not solved, not only will his own life be in danger and his entire family be implicated, but the Jinxiang Marquis Mansion will also be implicated!

Emperor Zhaoming watched quietly from the side.

The Supreme Being acts more according to his nature than according to the law.

What happened last night, the attempt to assassinate the Emperor, the Supreme Lord, and the Empress Dowager, was treason.

Treason will result in the execution of nine generations of the clan.

According to the law, all those people kneeling before His Majesty Dan should be demoted three levels and retained even if His Majesty wants to show extra favor; the palace gate guard should be killed directly and his deputy should be ordered to conduct a thorough investigation.

If they act like this now, I'm afraid the remaining few will push all the responsibilities onto Han and cry bitterly about the past.

As expected, the minister who was extremely afraid of death was the first to burst into tears: "I have failed the grace of Heaven and failed the Majesty!

"I have been sidelined since I took up this position. I have been unable to do anything for several years! Please, Your Majesty, dismiss me from my position!"

The Supreme glanced at him with disdain, snorted, and turned away: "But——"

"We can talk about it later." Emperor Zhaoming said, smiling warmly, "You have been the Minister of Internal Affairs for more than ten years. Even if you have no merits, you have worked hard.

"Besides, I have had someone check your evaluation, and the words 'diligent' and 'prudent' are clearly visible.

"In that case, you have watched people come and go, things change, and you have seen this for at least ten years.

“You’ll still see something.

"Since you don't want to mention it in front of your colleagues, then just tell the Supreme Lord and my palace department quietly."

After saying this, he looked at the Supreme with a smile, "What do you think, Father?"

Tai Shang frowned and looked at Dai Quan.

Dai Quan suddenly remembered what Tao Xingjian said in the early morning, "This fear is inappropriate," and nodded in agreement.

"Yes." Tai Shang gave a simple answer.

However, as soon as these words came out, the expressions of the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard and the chief of the guards changed slightly.

The Supreme Lord understood all of a sudden and flew into a rage. He raised his hand and pointed at me: "As for you, go to the prison in the Palace and think carefully about how I treated you and how you treated me!"

The remaining few people all bowed their heads deeply, muttering self-blame.

Emperor Zhaoming still smiled slightly and interrupted again: "Let's live separately and keep it cleaner."

The expressions of several people changed again.

This means that you are still afraid that they will collude with each other? !

They have been kneeling here since early morning. They have already made many confessions. Do they still care about how they are imprisoned and how they “live”?!

Dai Quan glanced at Tao Xingjian.

Tao Xingjian understood, bowed, turned and walked down the stairs, intending to personally arrange the detention of these people.

At this moment, the eunuch outside the palace hurriedly reported: "The Palace Chief Chu Sizheng has obtained the assassin's testimony and is seeking an audience outside."

The Supreme Lord glanced at the tense faces of the people below, sneered, and waved his hand, saying, "Take it away!"

Then he ordered: "Xuan Chuqian came in."

People on both sides passed each other.

Several ministers were still wearing court robes and crowns, but their faces were panic-stricken and their steps were staggering.

Chu Qian was wearing a eunuch's robe, the hem of his robe was wrinkled, and there were dark red bloodstains on his shoes and sleeves. But his eyes were piercing, and his face was full of murderous intent!

The eyes of several ministers involuntarily swept over the stack of papers in his hand.

Is this a confession?

There are so many! ?

Several people were dragged out of the palace.

Chu Kui arrived in front of the Danbi, bowed, and then presented his confession with both hands: "It took some twists and turns, but the confession is relatively clean."

The confession was presented to the Supreme Being by Dai Quan.

Emperor Zhaoming withdrew his gaze from behind the ministers, looked at the Supreme, and said:

“Father, these people are all senior and meritorious.

“No matter which official in the court is asked to judge, I’m afraid they will have to be cautious.

"Even the ministers in charge of the imperial guards on my son's side might even come up with some nonsense like 'the lips and teeth are cold when one is gone, and the fox mourns when the rabbit dies'.

"My son, why don't we invite Ke Jin and Dun Cheng over?

"After all, Hongchang from the Kejin family happens to be here to accompany the queen mother. Family members are always more concerned than outsiders."

Taishang's heart moved, he looked up at him, and nodded slowly: "It is your blessing that you value your relatives so much."

Emperor Zhaoming did not say anything, but just smiled and nodded with his hands folded.

Dai Quan glanced at the emperor, then at the emperor, and said softly, "Your Majesty is filial."

Tai Shang's eyes turned slightly colder, he said nothing, and was too lazy to even nod, instead he lowered his head and looked at the confession.

"...She is actually the personal maid of honor of Concubine Qian?!

"The one who brought the hidden arrow to her was someone who had just entered the palace—"

Dai Quan broke out in a cold sweat!