Emperor Zhengde of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 178 Dilemma
The next morning.

The Meridian Gate opened, and Emperor Luan entered the Forbidden City mightily.

Cao Zhengchun, the governor of the East Factory, was carefully accompanying Zhu Houzhao and waiting on him carefully.

Entering the imperial study, the eunuch Xiao Fangzi carefully brought the tea bowl and stood aside with a bow.

Zhu Houzhao picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, Cao Zhengchun put a stack of memorials on the dragon case in front of him.

"Your Majesty Qizuo, I have already found out that Shangguan Haitang was inseparably related to the poisoning incident in the imperial dining room before, and the murder of Liu Meiren is also inextricably related to her. Now, Shangguan Haitang has fled in fear of crime. trace."

Zhu Houzhao opened the secret booklet and read it carefully. It was all evidence collected by Cao Zhengchun, and part of it was Cao Zhengchun's deduction of the case.

However, the most definite answer I got so far is that Shangguan Haitang has disappeared without a trace, and even Jin Yiwei, who was placed in the East Factory, disappeared.

Zhu Houzhao was also shocked when he heard the news.

At first he thought this was Cao Zhengchun's inference, but when he finally saw that Haitang had indeed disappeared, his heart skipped a beat.

He casually put the memorial aside, if Zhu Houzhao didn't know what bad things Shangguan Haitang would do in the future, he would definitely not be able to doubt Haitang.

However, Haitang is a brave person in the end, if she really knows that he rebelled, it will be very embarrassing to face this situation in the future.

Duan Tianya and Gui Hai also risked their lives to protect Lord Tiedan, but after all, they were the subjects of Daming, the spies of Hulong Villa, and in the face of the ultimate life and death, they still chose to be loyal to His Majesty today.

However, why did this Shangguan Begonia disappear for no reason?
"Your Majesty, Shangguan Haitang left behind the Dragon Huling Order and the costumes of the inner guards, and left Hulong Villa without taking anything with her."

"It was supposed to be a hasty escape without anything."

"Furthermore, from my point of view, this Shangguan Haitang may have obtained some mysterious evidence, and must have fled in fear of crime."

"She must know a lot, otherwise why doesn't she even wear the clothes of the secret agent given by His Majesty?"

Cao Zhengchun spoke clearly and logically, but Zhu Houzhao listened without saying a word.

"Then, is there another possibility, that the emperor's uncle sent her to do something else? She has a new mission, which is uncertain." Zhu Houzhao kept listening to Cao Zhengchun, and Cao Zhengchun insisted that the palace The murderer who poisoned the house was Shangguan Haitang.

"By the way, didn't your reply to me last time say that Uncle Shou Ning had huge doubts? You don't even have any evidence. With all the doubts inside and out, which one do you make me believe to be true?"

"Your Majesty, it's not impossible for Shouning Bo. I did search for evidence from him before. However, although there is evidence, his purpose of committing the crime is not pure. He just wanted his daughter to become the queen."

"However, this Shangguan Haitang's purpose is very pure, and the evidence is conclusive. Your analysis is correct."

Zhu Houzhao's face darkened.

Cao Zhengchun is following his own hand to eliminate dissidents, he will definitely use all means, and sometimes he can do things that deceive the superior and the inferior.

However, Zhu Houzhao can't just kill this person. He and Yu Huatian are his right-hand men, and if he can easily remove his right-hand men, who will he use in the future?

"Go and announce Yuhuatian to see me!"

"According to the order!"

Xiao Fangzi hurriedly trotted out of the imperial study, Cao Zhengchun hesitated to speak, but seeing Zhu Houzhao getting busy again, he stood aside with his hands folded.

He believed that Shangguan Haitang's disappearance was true, and it was impossible for him to be sent out by Tiedan Shenhou. If she was not charged with a major crime at this time, it would be a good opportunity wasted.

If it is confirmed that Shangguan Haitang was poisoned, the nine clans will be implicated. By then, won't his uncle Zhu Zhu be in trouble?
The imperial court has always had incidents that could affect the whole body. If Shangguan Haitang is found guilty this time, then he will completely overthrow Tiedan Shenhou.

For Cao Zhengchun, Hulong Villa is more difficult to deal with than the old foxes in the cabinet.

In less than a stick of incense, Yuhuatian entered the palace to meet the emperor.

Zhu Houzhao put down the imperial brush in his hand, and said to Yuhuatian: "Cao Zhengchun told me just now that Shangguan Haitang is suspected of poisoning. According to your investigation for a period of time, what results do you have?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, I think there are still many suspicions about this matter. The eunuch who poisoned him is dead, and the forces behind him have not yet surfaced. Last time Eunuch Cao said that this matter was done by Marquis Shouning, but again Without sufficient evidence, Dongchang wants to blame the White Lotus Sect, but things are far from that simple."

"What I'm asking you is, do you think Shangguan Haitang did it?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, I think there is absolutely no such thing, because the last time the highly poisonous seven-step heart-breaking poison basically has nothing to do with Hulong Villa, and as far as I know, the last time Shangguan Haitang entered the palace, it was only accepted by the Ouchi guards. , and there are so many imperial guards around her, there is no chance to attack her at all."

"As far as I know, she has never stepped into the harem, and the imperial dining room is in the harem. Based on this, there is basically no possibility of Shangguan Haitang being poisoned."

After Yu Huatian finished speaking, Cao Zhengchun's face was a bit embarrassed, and even the cold sweat on his back began to ooze.

The offer from Xichang was enough to cost him half a year's salary.

Meeting this Yuhuatian, I really felt miserable!

While thinking wildly, Zhu Houzhao shouted loudly: "Cao Zhengchun!"

Cao Zhengchun was frightened out of his wits immediately, knelt down on the ground and said, "Your maidservant is here!"

"Is what Yuhuatian said the truth?"

"Return to Your Majesty, what Eunuch Yu said is true, but this old servant is blind, please forgive me!"

Zhu Houzhao looked at Cao Zhengchun and sighed, waved his hands and said, "You all go down!"

This, he still learned from his father, Emperor Hongzhi.

At this time, Zhu Houzhao was the only one sitting there in the imperial study, thinking a little.

Shangguan Haitang left Hulong Villa, where is she going?
What is she going to do?
Is it true that she is pregnant as the secret notes say?Could it be that he really went away to a foreign country and became anonymous?
There are strict regulations in the palace. Even if she came to see me and explain the real situation, it would be difficult for her to gain a foothold in the palace. If this matter gets out, it may become a joke to the outside world.

Was she sent by Zhu Wushi to be an eyeliner elsewhere?
However, Zhu Houzhao quickly dismissed this idea, because only he knew that the emperor's ambition and the city's government were nothing more than Shangguan Haitang, and the Lord Tiedan would always be her master, and she would never be able to rebel.

But after all, a couple's favor lasts a hundred days.Although the two were not called husband and wife, they were considered husband and wife. The romantic and joyful night only resulted in an empty building.

Now the prince is caught in the middle, in a dilemma.

In fact, in Zhu Houzhao's mind, Shangguan Haitang is still very obedient, as long as she is willing to put down her face and enter the palace, he will definitely protect her when the time comes.

However, now she chooses to disappear, even I can't help her.

While Zhu Houzhao was still thinking wildly, Ouyang quietly walked over.

She came in without saying anything, just filled Zhu Houzhao with tea, and was about to leave.

(End of this chapter)