Nightwatcher

Now the imperial palace has become a place of right and wrong, no foreign ministers are allowed to enter the palace, and the princes, princesses, and concubines in the palace are naturally unable to summon foreign ministers.

So Princess Huaiqing has something to tell me? Xu Qi'an immediately followed the chief guard, rode on his beloved filly, and rushed to Huaiqing Mansion.

Huaiqing Mansion is the highest and most heavily guarded area in the imperial city.

In this area, there are the mansions of the royal family, and the mansions of Lin'an and other princes and daughters. It is an important place next to the imperial palace.

"At any rate, I'm the officer in charge of the Chuzhou case. Although I'm not in the center of the storm, I'm still one of the main people involved. Why is Huaiqing looking for me at this time? It's definitely not too long since I haven't seen me. I miss you very much."

To tell the truth, Xu Qi'an came to Huaiqing Mansion for the first time, but it was the second princess's mansion. He had been there many times. If it wasn't for too much eyeliner and not following the rules, Xu Qi'an would have asked for an exclusive guest room in Lin'an Mansion.

The layout of Huaiqing Mansion is the same as that of Lin'an Mansion, but overall it tends to be deserted and elegant. From the plants in the yard to the decorations, there is a sense of indifference.

In the spacious and bright living room, Xu Qi'an saw Huai Qing, who had been missing for a long time, this elegant woman like a snow lotus.

She was wearing a plain palace dress, covered with a light yellow gauze, simple but not simple, half of her black hair was loose, half was tied up in a bun, with a jasper hairpin and a golden step rocking.

Her facial features are extremely beautiful without losing the three-dimensional sense, her eyebrows are exquisitely long and straight, her eyes are big, bright and deep, just like a clear lake after autumn.

"Your Highness!"

Xu Qi'an clasped his fists together and wanted to ask her with a smile if he liked the seal he gave her, but when he got to the point of his mouth, he lost the interest in making a joke, and sat down under Huai Qing's signal.

"Tell me the details of the northern border." Huaiqing's face was indifferent, his eyebrows and eyes were a little dignified and gloomy, and he seemed not in the mood to talk or laugh.

Xu Qi'an then reported what happened in Chuzhou in detail.

After listening, Huaiqing was silent for a long time, his beautiful face was full of joy and anger, and he said softly: "Come with me for a walk in the yard."

The back garden of the Princess Mansion is very large. The two walked side by side without speaking, but the atmosphere was not awkward. There was a sense of harmony as if the time was quiet and old friends reunited.

"Father is wrong. Duke Huai is a prince first, and a martial artist second. In life, the higher the status, the more important thing to consider is the seat. This is the foundation of one's life."

After a long time, Huaiqing sighed and said, "Therefore, King Huai's death deserves more than justification, even though Dafeng lost a top martial artist because of it."

What about your father? Did he deserve to die too?

Xu Qi'an said softly: "Your Highness is righteous."

Huaiqing shook his head, a look of sadness appeared on his pretty face, and he said softly: "What does this have to do with righteousness? It's just that the blood is not cold. I am very disappointed in Father."

Xu Qi'an was about to speak when he suddenly received a voice transmission from Huaiqing: "Father is not out of the palace, it's not because of cowardice, but because of his strategy."

Princess Huaiqing's cultivation level is not shallow. If she wants to pass the sound transmission, she must reach the state of refining the gods. She has been keeping a low profile. Xu Qi'an was taken aback, and the sound transmission asked:

"Strategy?"

Huaiqing nodded slowly, and explained via voice transmission: "Have you ever noticed that during the past three days, among the civil servants blocking the palace gate, who has left, who has come, and who is just watching the fun?"

Xu Qi'an was dumbfounded.

After glancing at him, Huaiqing continued to transmit the voice:

"Whether the story of King Huai's slaughter of the city is reported back to the capital, no matter whether it's a traitor or a good minister, no matter if it's outrageous or for the sake of gaining fame, it's impossible for any scholar to remain unresponsive. At this time, the crowd is passionate and the tide is at its most ferocious. So the father avoided his sharp edge and closed the palace.

"Of course, let's go all out, then decline again, and exhaust three times. When the princes calm down, when some people achieve their goal of making a name for themselves, and when other voices appear in the officialdom, it is the time when the father really ends up wrestling with the princes. And this day It won't be too far, I promise, within three days."

After finishing speaking, she let out another "huh" with a hint of sarcasm and disdain: "Nowadays, rumors are everywhere in the capital, people from all walks of life are agitated, and people from all walks of life are talking about it. Above the court. Not those traffickers and pawns."

Xu Qi'an frowned, and said in a deep voice: "But Duke Huai has slaughtered the city after all, he must give an explanation to the princes and the people of the world."

Huaiqing sighed pessimistically: "Let's see how Wang Shoufu and Wei Gong will make moves."

In the heavy atmosphere, Xu Qi'an changed the subject: "Your Highness once studied in Yunlu Academy, but have you heard of a book called "Great Zhou Supplements"?"

Huaiqing recalled it carefully, shook his head and said, "I've never heard of it."

On this day, the civil officials who were filled with righteous indignation still failed to break into the palace, nor could they see Emperor Yuan Jing. After dusk, they dispersed separately.

But the civil servants did not give up, and agreed to come back tomorrow. If Emperor Yuan Jing didn't give an explanation, the entire court would be paralyzed.

It was also on this day that there were indeed different voices in the officialdom.

Someone worriedly asked a question: "Everyone knows about the massacre of the king of Zhenbei. What is the majesty of the court? The people of the world are probably extremely disappointed with the royal family and the court."

King Zhenbei is His Majesty's younger brother, a dignified prince, not an ordinary prince.

At the same time, he is also the god of the army, and the guardian of the northern border in the hearts of the people.

Such a person, for his own selfishness, slaughtered the city!

The aftermath of this incident is that the people lost their trust in the imperial court, the royal family was disgraced, and the hearts of the people were lost.

Can the sentence "The king of Zhenbei has been executed" really heal the wounds in the hearts of the people?

This is two different things from killing corrupt officials.

In the past twenty years, the image of King Zhenbei has been stalwart and tall, the god of war, the guardian of the northern border, and a generation of princes.

Is it comparable to corrupt officials? Killing corrupt officials will only show the majesty of the court and the majesty of the royal family.

However, if the royal family committed such a brutal act, would the common people applaud like killing corrupt officials? No, they will collapse in faith and lose trust in the royal family and the court.

It turns out that the Zhenbei King we sang and loved is such a character.

Even greater overreactions can occur.

Also on this day, the Crown Prince of the East Palace was assassinated in the bedroom after dusk.

That night, the gates of the palace were closed, and the forbidden army filled the palace to search for the assassin, but to no avail.

The next day, the four gates of the capital were locked up. Wang Zhenwen and Wei Yuan, the first assistants, mobilized the five guards of the capital, the government officials, and the policemen to search for the assassins throughout the city.

door to door.

The whole capital city is flying like dogs and dogs.

"What does the crown prince have to do with this matter? Why was he assassinated for nothing? Is it a coincidence or a part of the game? If it's the latter, it would be too miserable."

Early in the morning, Xu Qi'an heard about this and immediately went to see Wei Yuan, but Wei Yuan didn't see him.

In desperation, he had no choice but to turn to the post station, intending to discuss with Zheng Xinghuai.

"Master Zheng is out, not at the station."

Li Han, who was carrying an ox horn bow, greeted Xu Qi'an into the room, and said in a deep voice:

"Recently, there have been some different voices in the officialdom, saying that the Zhenbei Wang massacre case is very difficult, it is related to the prestige of the imperial court and the hearts of the people everywhere, and it needs to be treated with caution.

"Master Zheng is very angry. He went out this morning. He seems to be going to the Imperial College to preach."

Those are the navy of the old emperor! Xu Qi'an sighed, but he admired Emperor Yuan Jing a little bit. After so many years of playing tricks, although he was an incompetent emperor, his mind was not insane.

Together with Li Han, he rode to the Imperial College.

From afar, I saw Political Envoy Zheng Bu standing outside the Imperial Prison, full of emotion.

"The sage said, the people are the most important, and the king is the least"

"The king of Zhenbei slaughtered the people as a prince, and treated the people like livestock and lambs. He is the common enemy of my scholars."

"Scholars of my generation should seek happiness for the people of Li, and make meritorious deeds. Therefore, when I return to Beijing, I vow to seek justice for the 380,000 people in Chuzhou City."

Does it work for him?

Of course it is useful. Some newly promoted great Confucians (academic great Confucianists) like to preach in places like Guozijian before they become famous all over the world.

Spread your academic ideas.

If you can get the approval of the students and become famous, then it is no problem to establish a sect.

Zheng Xinghuai is not spreading ideas, he is criticizing King Zhenbei and calling on students to join the army of criticism.

The effect is very good. Scholars, especially young students, are full of ambitions, and their blood is not cold. They are far purer than the old fritters in the officialdom.

From ancient times to the present, most of the rioters and parades are young people.

"Is there no one to stop it?" Xu Qi'an asked.

Li Han shook his head.

This is unreasonable Xu Qi'an frowned.

He waited patiently by the side of the road until Zheng Xinghuai finished venting his anger and returned with Shentu Baili and other guards, Xu Qi'an went up to meet him.

"This is not a place to talk, Xu Yinluo will follow me back to the station." Zheng Xinghuai nodded slightly with a serious face.

Returning to the post station, Zheng Xinghuai led Xu Qi'an into the study room, and after Li Han served tea, this scholar with ups and downs in his life looked at Xu Qi'an and said:

"Is it because of the rumors in the officialdom today?"

"This is just one of them. He spread the rumors, but they are not unreasonable. We have to guard against them." Xu Qi'an sighed and said:

"I'm mainly working on the case of the assassination of the prince."

Zheng Xinghuai pondered: "In this case, who is the most active?"

Xu Qi'an was taken aback: "Wei Gong and Wang Shoufu."

Zheng Xinghuai sat upright, nodded his head and said: "This matter is mostly planned by Wei Gong and Wang Shoufu. As for the purpose, I don't know."

ah? Duke Wei and Wang Shoufu want to assassinate the prince?

What is the reason, what does the crown prince have to do with this case? This answer is beyond Xu Qi'an's imagination.

After discussing for a long time, Zheng Xinghuai glanced at the water leak in the room, and said in a deep voice: "I still have to visit my old friends in Beijing and walk around, so I won't leave Xu Yingong."

Xu Qi'an stood up, and when he reached the threshold, Zheng Xinghuai's voice came from behind: "Xu Yinluo"

He looked back.

The scholar, whose back was gradually hunched, straightened his gray hair at the temples, bowed and said:

"A man's promise is worth a lot of money. I really like Xu Yinluo's half poem. I promised the three hundred thousand people who died in vain that day in the city that I would seek justice for them. Once I made the promise, I would have no complaints or regrets.

"After this incident, Mr. Zheng resigned and returned to his hometown. I fear that we will never see each other again in this life. Therefore, I would like to thank you in advance."

Xu Qi'an turned around, with a serious face, and returned the salute meticulously.

He opened the door, stepped out of the threshold, and walked a few steps. Zheng Xinghuai's chanting came from the room behind him:

"Young chivalry, making friends with Wuduxiong. He has a gallbladder. His hair is standing up. He is talking. Life and death are the same. A promise is worth a thousand dollars"

The world is turbulent and noisy, if you can retire with success, you will only be left with a leisurely, idyllic pastoral, which is not bad Xu Qi'an smiled.

royal palace.

Emperor Yuan Jing sat cross-legged on the futon, half-closed his eyes, and said calmly, "Did the assassin catch it?"

The old eunuch shook his head, respectfully said: "There is no news."

"Since you can't catch it, you don't need to catch it."

Emperor Yuan Jing opened his eyes, his smile was cold and stern, but his tone was full of emotion: "Only Wei Yuan and Wang Zhenwen are a bit interesting in this court, and the others are not so good."

The old eunuch lowered his head, neither made nor dared to comment.

Emperor Yuan Jing continued: "Send people out of the palace to bring messages to those on the list. You don't need to be ostentatious, but you don't need to be cautious."

After a pause, he went on to say: "Inform the cabinet that I will call the princes to discuss the matter in the imperial study tomorrow. Discuss the Chuzhou case."

The old eunuch breathed heavily and said, "Yes!"

PS: You can support the little mare in the "Discovery" section of the app and in the activity center, and it (she) is the first one. The brightest moment of the filly's life.