As expected, Wu Zetian was enraged. She shouted, "They even dared to break into the prison and killed many officials. They are lawless!"
If it wasn't for the fact that Little Hai had already gone to pass down the decree, Wu Zetian wouldn't have even bothered to send people to investigate whether or not anyone was being tortured. There were actually people who disregarded the law and broke into a prison, killing so many officials. Did these people still have the law in their hearts? There were no less than ten people breaking into the prison. What did this mean? It meant that they had accomplices. A group of lawless accomplices. Was there any doubt that they were plotting a rebellion?
Not long after, the messenger Qi Feng hurried to the Lovely Spring Stage and left with Lai Junchen.
Shanghai Wan'er knew that this was not the time to speak. But Xiao Man was still waiting in the side hall. She was also worried about Yang Fan's safety. She could not help but ask, "Everyone, Xiao Man..."
Wu Zetian was still angry. She flicked her sleeve and said, "Tell her to go home first. We will talk after I investigate Di Renjie's matter." Then she went to rest with Wei Tuan'er.
Shanghai Wan'er was helpless. She went to the side hall and told Xiao Man. Xiao Man, who was waiting anxiously for news, could not help but feel depressed. No matter how daring Lai Junchen was, he would not lie about something like this, especially about the death of fifteen jailers. Who was it that wanted to break into the prison? Who was it that wanted to save? The two were also puzzled. They only knew that because of this matter, the glimmer of hope was gone. They could only hope that Qi Feng's trip to the Censorate Courtyard would be fruitful.
The messenger Qi Feng, as the name suggested, was a minister who was responsible for conveying the emperor's edict. The emperor's edict would be conveyed by the eunuchs. Most of the matters that involved the yamen outside the palace would be carried out by the messenger Qi Feng.
The messenger Qi Feng and Lai Junchen arrived at the Censorate Courtyard. Lai Junchen said with a beaming face, "Qi Feng, please take a seat in the hall and rest for a while. I will take you to examine the prisoners."
Facing the emperor's favorite minister, the famous King of Hell in the capital, Qi Feng was anxious. He did not dare to refuse. He hurriedly nodded and was accompanied by Lai Junchen into the hall to rest. Just in time, the servants served cold drinks and two plates of dried fruits. Lai Junchen started chatting with him.
Taking advantage of this time, Wei Suizhong, Wang Deshou, and the others, who had received Lai Junchen's order, hurriedly got to work. Just like the day when Xue Huaiyi visited, they modified Yang Fan's cell in advance. At this time, they hurriedly dressed up Di Renjie and the other ministers.
In the main hall, Lai Junchen and Qi Feng sat down according to the host and guest, and they chatted cheerfully and wittily.
Lai Junchen said, "That day the Great General of the Left Imperial Guard Zhang Qianxun made a ruckus in court, trying to harm this Zhongcheng. In the end, he was hacked to death by this official's Imperial Bodyguards; he deserved it. Ah! His head was right under your feet. Thinking about it today, it's still vivid in my mind. "
"Ah!"
Qi Sheren jumped in fright, and his legs immediately shrank back. Recalling the bloody scene a few days ago when a Great General was hacked to death and his head was right under his feet, he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
At this time, a servant walked into the main hall and whispered a few words in Lai Junchen's ear. Lai Junchen stood up and said, "Qi Sheren carries the Emperor's orders. It's not good to delay for too long. Let's leave now."
Qi Feng felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He hurriedly said, "Alright, alright, alright!"
The two of them left the main hall and walked towards the backyard. Halfway there, someone locked up a prisoner with disheveled hair. When the prisoner saw Qi Feng, he kept babbling non-stop. Qi Feng fixed his eyes on him and couldn't help but be shocked. He cried out involuntarily, "Eunuch Fan!"
It turned out that the prisoner who was being escorted over was the Chief Chamberlain, Fan Yunxian. Qi Feng was the Chief Chamberlain and often walked around the palace, so he naturally recognized him. Fan Yunxian kept babbling non-stop, but unfortunately, his tongue had been cut off, so he couldn't say a word.
Lai Junchen's expression didn't change as he said, "Qi Sheren recognizes him? This person is the Chief Chamberlain. When I interrogated him in court, I asked him to confess his crimes. But this person didn't know what's good for him. He only talked about how wise the late Emperor Gaozong was and scolded our Great Zhou Emperor for being muddle-headed and tyrannical. How preposterous. In a fit of anger, I cut off his tongue. Oh, His Majesty also knew about this and reprimanded me a few times, saying that I shouldn't lower myself to the level of a eunuch. Hehe! I was also angry at that time. When I heard him insult His Majesty, I couldn't hold it in anymore. "
Qi Feng responded with "Oh, oh." His face turned slightly green.
At the back of the Censorate Courtyard, in front of the row of small rooms of different heights and sizes where Yang Fan and the others were imprisoned, was a spacious area. It was rare that it wasn't raining. Many prisoners with leg shackles were 'taking a breather' in that spacious area.
Qi Feng and Lai Junchen accompanied him to the opposite corridor and stood still, looking forward. They saw Ren Zhigu, Pei Xingben, and the others dressed in official robes and hats. They were stretching their bodies with their feet splayed out. Di Renjie was wearing a loose and loose Daoist robe. He was standing there with his hands behind his back, looking around.
Pei Xuanli and a few other officials were sitting on a few large logs placed horizontally by the wall. They were also talking about something, looking very relaxed. Today was the first time these officials were released. Pei Xuanli and the others were injured and couldn't move easily, so they were carried out and made to sit there.
Would Lai Junchen be kind enough to let them take a breather? Even if they were, why would he force them to dress neatly? Some of these officials only wore underwear because of the hot and stuffy atmosphere in the prison. Some of them were injured but no one applied medicine on them. They were afraid that the injured parts would rot, so they didn't dare to wear clothes. They could only bare their backs. What was Lai Junchen's intention?
These officials had all been promoted step by step from minor officials. With such deceitful behavior, they immediately understood that the imperial court had sent people to inspect. They didn't make a sound and allowed Wei Suizhong and the others to do as they pleased. They all pretended to leisurely stretch their bodies and look into the distance. In reality, they had long been observing their surroundings. Since Lai Junchen had made such arrangements, there would definitely be people coming.
Wei Yuanzhong's eyes were sharp. He suddenly saw a few officials appear in the distant corridor. One of them was Lai Junchen in a red robe. Beside him were a few in green robes. Wang Deshou and Wei Suizhong recognized the green-robed officials. There was another person in the green robe of a low-ranking official, but he stood shoulder to shoulder with Lai Junchen. It was obvious that he wasn't his subordinate.
Wei Yuanzhong immediately called out, "They're here!"
In the corridor, Lai Junchen pointed at the officials and said, "Every day, this official will arrange for them to come out and take a breather. This is the first batch. In a moment, there will be a second batch."
"We're innocent! We're innocent! Angel, please report to the Son of Heaven that we're innocent! "
When the officials in custody rushed over, the servants who had been lying in ambush saw that the situation wasn't good. They hurriedly raised their wind and fire sticks and formed a row to stop them. The officials pushed and shoved, but it was difficult for them to break through their line of defense. They could only jump and shout, "Which angel has come? We've been tortured and forced to confess. We're innocent. Please report to the Son of Heaven … "
When they shouted, Lai Junchen's expression immediately changed. His gaze immediately pierced towards Qi Feng like a blade. Qi Feng shuddered and hurriedly turned around. He didn't even spare a glance at the wall-like bailiffs that ceaselessly jumped up, and he only stared fixedly at the eaves of an office room in front of him.
Lai Junchen stared closely at him. He looked at his strained expression, his taut cheeks, and the faint beads of sweat on his forehead. Suddenly, he revealed a hint of a gentle smile. He smiled warmly and said, "Qi Sheren, in your opinion, have I ever mistreated these criminal officials?"
Sweat rolled down Qi Feng's forehead as he mumbled, "No … no …"
Lai Junchen said, "Other than not being able to move freely, everything is normal in this prison. All their confessions were personally admitted by them. Not a single one of them was tortured. What does Qi Sheren think? "
Qi Feng grinned and squeezed out a smile that was uglier than crying. He said, "Yes, Deputy Minister Lai is right!"
"Which angel has come? Please report to the Son of Heaven that we're innocent! We're innocent! "
Lai Junchen turned a deaf ear to the cries of injustice. He said with a smile, "Qi Sheren, this way please."
Lai Junchen accompanied Qi Feng as he turned around and walked back. He said leisurely, "The current Son of Heaven has become the Empress with the body of a woman. This is an unprecedented event. There will always be people who are unconvinced! What nonsense are they spouting about 'a woman usurping the dawn'! It's fine if they're just saying it, but there will always be people who refuse to give up and want to chase the Emperor down from the throne. "
"Yes, yes …"
"Actually, I came from a humble background. I wasn't recommended by the court officials, nor was I a scholar. Does Qi Sheren know why I was placed in an important position by His Majesty?"
"Wh … why?"
"Because of loyalty! Because I, Lai Junchen, am actually a dog by His Majesty's side, guarding His Majesty's home. If anyone harbors ill intentions towards His Majesty, I'll be responsible for biting him to death. Not only will I bite him to death, I'll bite him until he's too horrible to look at. This way, others will be afraid, and there will be fewer people who dare to cause trouble for His Majesty. Therefore, His Majesty needs a lackey like me. He can't do without a lackey like me. And a lackey like me is also willing to attach myself to His Majesty and serve His Majesty wholeheartedly! Hahahaha … "
Qi Feng laughed along and said, "Hehehehe …"
Lai Junchen suddenly restrained his smile and said sinisterly, "Qi Sheren is laughing so happily. I presume you understand what I said?"
Qi Feng was stunned. He nodded like he was pounding garlic and said, "Understood! Understood, understood! This lowly official understands … "
Lai Junchen put his hands behind his back, raised his head and laughed out loud. "Hahahaha …"
Wu Zetian returned to the bedroom and slept for more than two hours before she woke up. She was old and had just woken up, so her mind was still not clear. She leaned on the bed and was in a daze for a while. She asked Tuan Er to talk to her for a while before she finally woke up. At this time, Tuan Er said, "Everyone, Emissary Qi Feng has returned. He's waiting for the decree outside the bedroom."
"Oh? Help me up and change my clothes! "
Although Wu Zetian didn't want to move at this time, and the other party was just a small emissary, so there was no harm in seeing him like this, but Wu Zetian still had to get up. In front of her subjects, she had to maintain a dignified, dignified, and spirited manner. She didn't want her subjects to see any signs of old age.
Qi Feng waited for a long time. Finally, he received the order to summon him. He lowered his head and tiptoed into the spacious and deep hall. He thought of the head of the General of the Left Guard, the tongue of the Chief Eunuch Fan, and Lai Junchen's falsehood. He finally made up his mind.
Wu Zetian sat majestically behind the table and asked in a deep voice, "How's the matter I asked you to investigate?"
Qi Feng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, after my inspection, the officials in custody … have not been interrogated by torture."
"Oh …"
Wu Zetian's face darkened, and the hall was terrifyingly silent for a moment. After a short while, Qi Feng gulped down a mouthful of saliva and braced himself as he said, "All the criminals have confessed to their crimes. Their Death Apology Form is here, and I've been entrusted by Vice Minister Lai to present it on my behalf!"
Qi Feng took out the travel book from his sleeve, bowed and raised it.
The eunuch took it and sent it to Wu Zetian's table. Wu Zetian took the Death Apology Form and silently looked through it. She said with a gloomy face, "I treat people with sincerity, but what I get in return is always bad karma! Haha, it's nothing more than chopping off a few more heads! Send the decree to Lai Junchen. After seven days, all the criminals will be hanged and the market will be abandoned for three days! "
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