Pei Wenxuan was thinking about how to reply when an old man called out, "Your Highness."
The two of them looked over at the same time and saw Xie Lanqing walking over from a distance.
Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong looked at each other and saw the surprise in each other's eyes. Xie Lanqing walked in front of them and bowed to Li Rong, "Your Highness."
"Minister Xie." Li Rong nodded as a greeting, then smiled and said, "Minister Xie usually doesn't talk to me. Why did you take the initiative to greet me today?"
These words were very embarrassing, especially for Xie Lanqing, who had been in the key position of the Minister of Justice for many years. It was even more difficult to see.
However, Xie Lanqing's expression did not change. She said calmly, "I heard that Your Highness was assassinated yesterday. This old official is quite worried. I'm afraid that Your Highness is young and inexperienced, so I came to ask if you need help from the Ministry of Justice."
"I've caught the person and interrogated him." Li Rong looked into Xie Lanqing's eyes, "Minister Xie doesn't need to worry."
"Then Your Highness knows the mastermind now?"
Xie Lanqing asked directly. Li Rong put his hands in front of him and looked at Xie Lanqing with a smile. Xie Lanqing frowned, "Why didn't Your Highness answer?"
"Why do you ask, Minister Xie?" Pei Wenxuan interrupted at the right time. Xie Lanqing looked at Pei Wenxuan and saw Pei Wenxuan say with a faint smile, "Is there something that Minister Xie is worried about, so you specially came to confirm with Your Highness?"
"This old official is just worried that Your Highness asked casually. Lord Pei is thinking too much."
Xie Lanqing's face was cold and she was quite dissatisfied. Pei Wenxuan put his hands in front of him and bowed as an apology.
"Since Your Highness is suspicious, this old official will not ask." Xie Lanqing turned around and said coldly, "Your Highness, investigate it yourself."
Xie Lanqing said and returned to her seat. Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Rong and then smiled, "Your Highness, this official will leave first."
Pei Wenxuan said and bowed, then returned to his seat.
Not long after, Li Ming arrived at the main hall and started the morning court as usual. Li Ming looked a little tired and seemed to be very irritated. After he went to court, he asked about the weather, then turned to Li Rong and said stiffly, "Ping L...."
"Imperial Father.
................ to Li saw her actions, to ask for forgiveness... Li saw her movements and slowed down Li said, "I heard that you were assassinated yesterday to to you........... to...... to. to...... to....... Li see.
. it..............
.........
. "Li Ming suddenly stood up and shouted," Who dares to assassinate you?! Do they want to die?! "
"Imperial Father, the arrested murderer confessed that he is from the family of Chen Guang, the former manager of the Cang Division. He came for revenge."
"Revenge?" Li Ming heard this and laughed, "He is not dead yet. What revenge? Moreover, he embezzled the army's funds and committed such a heinous crime. Doesn't he deserve to die?! His family still has the face to seek revenge? "
"Your Majesty, this official has a memorial." A censor stood out from the Censorate. Li Ming looked up and said coldly, "Zhen is talking to the Princess. What do you want to report? Can't you wait?"
"Your Majesty," the censor did not retreat and continued, "This official's memorial is related to the Princess."
Li Ming frowned. Li Rong also turned his head and looked over. After a moment, he finally recognized the person. It was Chen Guang's cousin, Wang Huan.
Li Rong raised his eyebrows and saw Li Ming waving his hand impatiently. Wang Huan bowed and said, "This official requests Your Majesty to summon Chen Wangshi."
"Chen Wangshi?"
Li Ming was a little confused. Wang Huan said respectfully, "It is Chen Guang's mother, Chen Wangshi."
Li Ming hesitated for a moment. Then, he seemed to think of something and said impatiently, "Announce it."
Li Rong observed Li Ming's expression and had some thoughts in his mind. After a while, there was the sound of hurried footsteps at the door. A moment later, an old woman with white hair came in and said respectfully, "Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty."
Everyone looked over. Li Ming seemed to think for a moment, then said hesitantly, "You … seem to be …"
"Your Majesty," the woman raised her head and said respectfully, "This official was originally a female official in the palace. When Her Highness was young, she took care of Your Majesty for some time. I didn't expect Your Majesty to still remember."
"I remember," Li Ming's face relaxed a little and nodded, "You were originally a servant in the Empress Dowager's palace for some time."
When Chen Wangshi heard this, she quickly kowtowed again with tears in her eyes. Li Ming saw Chen Wangshi's white hair and said in a low voice, "Madam Chen is not young anymore. Please take a seat. Why did you come to the imperial court today? "
"Your Majesty, this official came today to seek justice for my son."
As Chen Wangshi spoke, she raised her head and cried, "Today, I came to the imperial court to accuse Princess Pingle of extorting my son, Chen Guang, by torturing him to make him confess. I hope Your Majesty can judge clearly!"
Li Ming frowned and glanced at Li Rong.
Li Rong just finished accusing Chen Family of trying to assassinate her, and this Chen Wangshi came to accuse Li Rong of torture. Everyone looked at Li Rong like watching a show. Li Ming hesitated for a moment and said, "You said that Ping LE beat Chen Guang. You are a woman. How did you know?"
"Your Majesty, although this official is a woman, but I miss my son very much. So, I asked the servants to ask around. Finally, I got a chance to see my son. This official knows that what I did is wrong, and I am willing to bear it. But what this official said is true. Your Majesty, please order other officials to re-examine the military pay case and clear my son's name. "
"Besides you, are there any other witnesses?"
"In addition to this official, there are also the servants who came with me. There are also other guards in the Inspection Department. But whether they are willing to tell the truth or not, this official doesn't know."
"Your servants are surnamed Chen, so they should avoid suspicion. As for the guards in the Inspection Department, you can't find them. In other words, what you said has no evidence."
Li Ming thought and said slowly, "Today, Ping LE accused your Chen Family of trying to assassinate her. But there are witnesses and evidence. Do you admit it?"
"My Chen Family tried to assassinate the princess?"
Chen Wangshi's eyes widened. Then, she hurriedly said, "No, impossible. Your Majesty, my Chen Family has been loyal to the Emperor for hundreds of years. We don't dare to disobey the Emperor. Even if Her Highness killed my son and exterminated the Chen Family, we don't dare to assassinate Her Highness! "
"Then, do you have evidence?"
Li Ming asked calmly. Chen Wangshi's face became pale. She knelt down in a daze. After a long time, she kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, I don't have it. This official is just a woman in the backyard. Even if I use all my wealth, I can only see my son once. I can't extort a confession by torture, nor can I bribe others. I don't have a master to forge evidence and reverse black and white. But this official believes that in this world, there are gods watching over us. This official doesn't have evidence, but this official, "Chen Wangshi said calmly," is willing to die to prove my innocence! "
After that, Chen Wangshi's head fell to the ground.
Li Rong suddenly stood up and shouted, "Stop her!"
At the moment when she stood up, Pei Wenxuan had already rushed out. The others were shocked. When Pei Wenxuan rushed to the front of Chen Wangshi, the old woman was still kowtowing on the ground. There was already a pool of blood on the ground.
Pei Wenxuan hurriedly turned the old woman over and put his hand on the tip of the old woman's nose. Li Rong calmly called, "Imperial Physician, call the imperial physician over!"
After that, Li Rong went to the front of Chen Wangshi. Her hand was slightly trembling. Pei Wenxuan raised his head and shook his head with a calm face.
After that, he stood up. The imperial physician rushed in and checked Chen Wangshi's pulse. After a while, the imperial physician raised his head and said in fear, "Your Majesty, this madam … has passed away."
Li Ming's face was extremely ugly. He seemed to be trying hard to control himself for a long time. Then, he said, "Take her away first."
The imperial bodyguard received the order and hurriedly went forward to take Chen Wangshi away. The court was dead silent. After a long time, Li Ming took a sip of tea and said, "Let's adjourn first."
Everyone saluted and then left silently. Pei Wenxuan walked to Li Rong's side and called in a low voice, "Your Highness."
"I'm fine."
Li Rong calmed down. At this time, Fu Lai walked over and whispered, "Your Highness, His Majesty asked you to go over."
Li Rong responded and turned to Pei Wenxuan, "You go back first."
Pei Wenxuan didn't say anything. He saluted Li Rong and Fu Lai. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "I'll wait for Your Highness outside the imperial study."
Li Rong didn't have the heart to respond to him. He nodded and left with Fu Lai.
Fu Lai led her all the way to the imperial study. When she entered the room, Li Ming stood with his back to her. As soon as she entered, she knelt down and saluted, "I kowtow to father …"
"Look at what you've done!"
Li Ming hit Li Rong's head with a booklet. The booklet instantly bruised Li Rong's forehead.
Li Ming saw the bruise on Li Rong's head. He paused for a moment, then said in a tough tone, "How many times have I told you to be steady and not act rashly? Look at yourself now. How can you act so recklessly when you're interrogating such a big case? Do you really think that you can do whatever you want just because I pamper you?! "
"This son doesn't know what Imperial Father is blaming me for."
Li Rong kneeled on the ground and said calmly, "Does Imperial Father think that this son shouldn't be interrogating the Qin Clan case and the military pay case?"
"What kind of attitude is this?" Li Ming was furious when he saw Li Rong's attitude. "Are you threatening me? I asked you to handle these two cases, not to cause trouble for me! You don't know that you can't punish the landowning households, and you actually tortured the officials … "
"I didn't."
Li Rong said decisively. Li Ming looked around, then raised his hand and waved for everyone to leave. Then he walked in front of Li Rong and squatted down. "Do you think that I'm angry because you tortured them? If you want to investigate a case, then use your own methods. I only want results. What I'm angry about is that you didn't clean up the mess properly! "
"I didn't." Li Rong raised his head and said firmly, "Imperial Father, why don't you believe that I didn't torture them? They were the ones who wanted to harm me and assassinate me. It's fine if you don't blame them, but you're actually blaming me today?! Imperial Father, don't you know how much resistance there is to these two cases? For the sake of Imperial Father, for the sake of justice, do you not understand how much pressure I've endured? "
Li Rong's eyes reddened as she spoke. She stared at Li Ming. "You clearly know how many of them wanted to harm me, but you still believe them …"
"Ping L E …" Li Ming saw Li Rong cry and suddenly felt a little guilty. "It's not that Imperial Father doesn't believe you. It's just that your temper … "
"What's wrong with my temper?" Li Rong didn't care about her manners. She knelt on the ground and cried loudly, "My temper isn't good, is it? I don't deserve to be a princess or a daughter, is it? They want to kill me every day. How can I have a good temper? You're my Imperial Father. It's fine if you don't protect me, but you still want to bully me with them. "
"Why are you talking about this?" Li Ming had a headache. "What do you mean by bullying? You're now an official of the imperial court. Why are you still acting like a child? What's wrong with you? "
"I don't want to be an official anymore," Li Rong cried. "I don't want to be an official anymore. Let me go back. Changle and Hua Le are living well. Why should I get involved in this mess? Why should I? Imperial Father, what do you think I want?! "
As Li Rong spoke, she raised her head and clutched the clothes on her chest. "Didn't I go through life and death just for Imperial Father? I can't bear to see those aristocratic families force Imperial Father. Did I do something wrong? "
These words instantly hit Li Ming's heart. He looked at Li Rong, who was crying pitifully at his feet. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
His heart ached. Li Rong cried painfully. After hesitating for a long time, Li Ming couldn't say anything. He sighed and finally said, "You go back first. Don't worry about the military salary case and the Qin Clan case."
"If I don't care, who will care?"
Li Rong said in a low voice, "Imperial Father? Or the Crown Prince? Or someone else? Whoever cares about this matter will be unlucky. After working so hard, Imperial Father wants to lower his head again, isn't that right? "
Li Ming remained silent. Li Rong supported himself and slowly got up. "Imperial Father, you can decide. This son won't care about anything else."
"Rong 'er," Li Ming looked at Li Rong's dispirited back and hesitated. After a long time, he finally said, "Then, let Pei Wenxuan make the decision. You should be relieved that he's here to convict you, right? "
Li Rong's back was facing Li Ming. After a long time, she said respectfully, "Thank you, Imperial Father."
Li Rong bowed. "This son will take his leave."
Li Ming nodded. Li Rong wiped her tears and left. After she left, Fu Lai brought a cup of tea and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, Her Highness is still a child. She's still young."
"I thought she had grown up," Li Ming sighed. "She's still young."
Li Rong wiped her tears and walked out of the Imperial Study. As soon as she walked out of the corridor, her expression became cold.
Today, Li Ming's mood was not right. He was obviously dissatisfied with her. Chen Wangshi's matter was also prepared. She estimated that when she set up the ambush yesterday, those people in the dark came up with today's play.
But who influenced Li Ming?
Li Rong thought and stepped out of the door. As soon as she walked out of the courtyard, she saw a young man standing in the corridor. He was wearing a black and red official's robe and holding a ceremonial tablet. He was quietly looking at the dead branches in the courtyard.
Hearing the sound around him, he turned his head and looked at Li Rong. Seeing that it was Li Rong, he smiled and respectfully said, "Your Highness."
Li Rong didn't expect that Pei Wenxuan had been waiting here. She suddenly panicked. She lowered her head and wanted to hide the traces of her crying. She walked to his side and said in a hoarse voice, "Why didn't you go to the government office?"
"Just now, Your Highness didn't listen to what this official said," Pei Wenxuan said as if he didn't see anything. He sighed and said, "This official said to wait for Your Highness, but Your Highness didn't care at all. It seems that this official's weight in Your Highness' heart is still not enough."
Li Rong heard his words and couldn't help but laugh. "How heavy do you want it to be?"
"Not too much, not too little," Pei Wenxuan gently tapped his heart with the ceremonial tablet. "The whole heart is enough."
"Your appetite is too big." Li Rong sneered. "Daydreaming."
Pei Wenxuan gently nodded. "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. This official's biggest strength is that I have a good appetite, great ambition, insomnia at night, and good luck."
Li Rong was amused by his words. She lightly glanced at him and raised her eyebrows. "Didn't you want to sleep in a separate bed from me yesterday? You're not angry today? "
"Your Highness must be joking. When have I ever been angry at Your Highness?"
Pei Wenxuan said calmly. "This official just felt that I should keep a distance from Your Highness. Our relationship hasn't reached that stage yet. I can't let Your Highness sully this official's innocence and take advantage of this official."
Li Rong: "… …"
Very good, very bad temper.
Pei Wenxuan saw that Li Rong's expression had calmed down. He felt that the atmosphere was about right. Seeing that there was no one around, he gently leaned over and whispered, "I just went to investigate. Last night, His Majesty stayed overnight at Consort Rou's place. Her Highness Hua Le threw a tantrum with His Majesty and was punished by copying the Precepts for Women ten times."
Li Rong glanced at Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan smiled. "I'm sure I can solve Your Highness's confusion."
Li Rong didn't say anything. She walked along the corridor with Pei Wenxuan, so she did indeed understand the situation.
Yesterday, she set up an ambush at the Butterfly Gorge. The Chen family planned this assassination. Logically speaking, they should be able to use this assassination as a bargaining chip to force the military salary case and the Qin Clan case to be settled.
The mastermind behind this must have thought of this as well. They didn't want these two cases to be settled. Once they were settled, not only would there be a large number of changes in the officials, but more importantly, there would be many of Li Rong's people who would be promoted. This would stabilize Li Rong's position in the imperial court.
They were afraid that Li Rong would gain a foothold in the imperial court, but at the same time, they were also afraid that Li Rong would investigate this matter. The people involved in the assassination were also very fearful, so they must have reached an agreement overnight. At the very least, they must have reached an agreement with Consort Rou. Consort Rou must have used Hua Le as a mouthpiece to say something to Li Ming today.
Based on Li Ming's attitude today, Hua Le probably said that she didn't do a good job, that she was too arrogant, and that she was too unruly. Therefore, Li Ming punished Hua Le. However, Li Ming took these thoughtless words to heart and came to make trouble for her.
When Li Ming had a problem with her, he asked Chen Wangshi to come to the imperial court to prove her innocence. This would make it difficult to investigate the assassination case. After all, the "mastermind" was already dead. Moreover, the cases that Li Rong was involved in, no matter how much evidence there was, would still be some doubts in the eyes of ordinary people.
Whether it was for the sake of public opinion or to appease the aristocratic families, Chen Wangshi's death in such a way would most likely prevent the military salary case and the Qin Clan case from being heavily punished.
Li Rong frowned and lowered her head. After taking two steps, she heard Pei Wenxuan respectfully say, "Minister Xie."
When Li Rong heard this, she looked up and saw Xie Lanqing standing in front of her.
Xie Lanqing looked quite happy. She raised her hand and saluted Li Rong, "Your Highness Ping L E."
"Minister Xie, where are you going?"
Li Rong's voice was a bit hoarse when she spoke. Xie Lanqing smiled gently, "This old official is going to find His Majesty. What happened to Your Highness? Your eyes are red. It seems like you've been crying."
"The wind and sand blinded my eyes," Li Rong pretended not to hear the mockery in Xie Lanqing's words and replied, "Since Minister Xie has other matters to attend to, I will leave first."
"Your Highness, please wait," Xie Lanqing called out to Li Rong. Li Rong turned to look at her. Xie Lanqing smiled, "Your Highness, the sea of bitterness has no bounds. Turn back and the shore is at hand."
Li Rong stared at Xie Lanqing. After a long time, she smiled, "Minister Xie, thank you for your advice. I also have a message for you."
"Oh," Xie Lanqing raised her hand, "I'm all ears."
"Mind your own business and enjoy the rest of your life." After speaking, Li Rong flung his sleeves and left. Pei Wenxuan saluted Xie Lanqing and followed Li Rong. Pei Wenxuan chased after Li Rong and whispered, "Don't be angry. Why are you angry with this old man? He won't live long anyway. "
In her previous life, after Li Chuan ascended the throne, Xie Lanqing was the first high-ranking official to be beheaded.
Li Rong looked coldly at Xie Lanqing's back and moved closer to Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan bent down slightly and heard Li Rong whisper in his ear, "I finally know why Chuan 'er beheaded him."
"Hm?"
Li Rong gritted her teeth, "This old man is so annoying."
Pei Wenxuan thought for a moment. In fact, Xie Lanqing didn't say anything just now. Li Rong was so angry because Xie Lanqing saw him crying.
Pei Wenxuan glanced in the direction Xie Lanqing left and smiled, "Your Highness is right. This old man isn't good."
Li Rong felt a lot better when she heard Pei Wenxuan standing on her side. When Pei Wenxuan sent her to the carriage, she remembered and said with some dissatisfaction, "Why didn't you comfort me?"
Pei Wenxuan sat across from her and smiled, "Your Highness, what are you referring to?"
"Don't pretend to be confused."
Li Rong raised her hand and hit him with her fan, "Why are you getting bolder and bolder?"
Pei Wenxuan knew that she was referring to how he didn't say anything when he saw her crying. Pei Wenxuan found it funny, but he didn't show it on his face. He lowered his head and opened the booklet, "Your Highness doesn't want face, but I do."
Li Rong frowned, then heard Pei Wenxuan say leisurely, "You haven't paid yet, and you want me to comfort you?"
Li Rong was speechless for a moment and couldn't help but feel a little guilty. She thought about it. When she went back, she would pay Pei Wenxuan the money for the peony. After the debt was settled, they could talk properly.
Pei Wenxuan secretly glanced at Li Rong's expression. He suppressed the smile on his lips and pretended to be focused.
He suddenly felt that Li Rong was very interesting.
She was like a cat that wanted to stretch out her claws and scratch you, but felt that she had lost face. She was scratching her heart and liver, thinking about how to attract your attention.
He had never seen Li Rong like this before. Now that he saw her, he found it new and interesting. He suppressed all his plans and didn't say anything.
Li Rong thought about returning the money. She saw Pei Wenxuan lowering his head and crazily smiling. She stopped what she was about to say and was speechless for a moment.
She was already so happy. If she had a tail, how could she still pretend to be so indifferent and distant?
She felt helpless with Pei Wenxuan. After thinking for a moment, she decided not to say anything.
Pretend.
She thought that after she paid him the money, she wouldn't owe him anything. If he still acted like this, then don't blame her for being impolite.
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