turmoil

Zhang Jingche carefully read the files of Uncle Zhongyong's case, not for himself, but because of Yang Fan——Duan Hongshi is a thorn in Dingbianhou's heart. rebellion.

"Yuanzhou once told me that Duan Hongshi was his father's subordinate. After the old Dingbian Marquis passed away, Duan Hongshi once took over the garrison of the four borders, and controlled the border peace by himself," Zhang Jingche said in a low voice, "Yuanzhou can inherit it from his father." His father's career and his young man's command all depend on Uncle Zhongyong's unwavering support, he regards Uncle Zhongyong as half of his father, and no matter what, he refuses to believe in the Duan family's conspiracy."

You Yunwei thought and said: "The case of Uncle Zhongyong happened suddenly, there was no sign before, until Jin Yiwei copied the uncle's house with a driver's note, many people were still in the cloud... But afterwards, Jin Yiwei did take out the case of Uncle Zhongyong. The secret letter communicated with Bei Le, and the general of the Bo family will personally testify..."

"Evidence is dead, people are alive, dead things can be forged, and living people can collude. In terms of truth, they are not credible," Zhang Jingche said lightly. , Scheduling the soldiers and horses of the four realms is already suspected of being the master of the earthquake. The late emperor was afraid of Duan Hongshi, and wished to find an excuse to take away the military power. Even if he knew that the case was wronged, he would not say anything..."

You Yunwei was dumbfounded, even though he was used to fighting in the court, he was also taken aback by the indifferent meaning of the words: "No...it won't happen, right? Anyway, Uncle Zhongyong is also a meritorious minister, If the late emperor knew..."

Zhang Jingche thought of the letter he brought back from Beile's near death, and he did not escape the fate of being neglected in the end. He couldn't help but smiled mockingly: "The emperor's mind has always been like this. As long as he can maintain the stability of the imperial power, the unjust death is counted as a hero." What?"

You Yunwei stopped talking.

Zhang Jingche was talking about the 19th year of Taiping, and always felt that this year was too subtle, like a thread connecting countless fragmented clues.Suddenly, he seemed to have thought of something, and blurted out: "Uncle Zhongyong... If I remember correctly, the native place of Uncle Zhongyong Duan Hongshi is Zhili Qinghe?"

You Yunwei was shocked, and just about to say something, there were hurried footsteps outside the hall.The two looked at each other, You Yunwei picked up the tea on the table, bowed and walked out, and bumped into the little servant who came to pass the news.

There was only a crisp sound, and the tea was splashed on the ground. The little waiter, who was known to be dizzy for a moment, hurriedly knelt on the ground: "My lord, hurry up, Your Majesty..."

Before he finished speaking, staggering footsteps broke in, Liu Yanzhao, smelling heavily of alcohol, pushed away the supporting palace servants, and knocked over a precious sweet white glaze incense burner inadvertently.

The spices fell on the ground like powdered snow, and the smell of incense and alcohol mixed together, giving people a faint headache.Zhang Jingche rubbed his temples, but before he said anything, he suddenly felt dizzy, but it was Liu Yanzhao pretending to be crazy by being drunk, and grabbed him by the collar and pinned him down between the beds.

The servants serving in the palace were not short of eyesight, so they withdrew early in the morning.You Yunwei was a little hesitant, but Zhang Jingche stretched out his hand from the sleeve of his robe and shook it lightly at him.

You Yunwei heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that Zhang Jingche could handle it, he followed the little servant out of the hall, and quietly led him to the door.

After waiting until there was no third person in the hall, Zhang Jingche lowered his face and said coldly, "Why are you crazy!"

Liu Yanzhao grabbed his collar, his eyes were red.Ever since he saw Zhang Jingche, this person was as cold as ice, and he never showed a good face.Liu Yanzhao originally thought that he had been living among the people for these years, had suffered too much, and his temperament became more and more perverse, but in the evening, he heard the servant report that Concubine Xian came to visit, and the two not only drank tea together, but also talked for a long time.

Liu Yanzhao knew the feeling of jealousy at this moment, like insects and ants gnawing at his heart, which made him restless and restless.He is the son of heaven, and he has three thousand miles of mountains and rivers under his control, but with a single sentence, no one in the subordinates would dare to be loyal to the death, but he was crushed in front of Zhang Jingche.

But...but...can't get a person's sincerity!

Liu Yanzhao respects the Buddha and does not believe in Buddhism. Buddhism emphasizes purity and enlightenment, but he is the Ninth Five-Year Supreme with power in his hand, and he is destined not to have pure ears.However, thanks to Zhang Jingche, he has an unforgettable understanding of love, parting and not wanting among the eight sufferings of Buddhism.

Just like what Zhang Jingche said, even if Emperor Xinglong owned the country, he couldn't hold everyone in his hands.

"You... you are so kind!" Liu Yanzhao gritted his teeth, "You are not pretending to me, but in a blink of an eye you are chatting and laughing with my concubine... Concubine Shu is your sister, what about concubine Xian? You just met yesterday for the first time. When I saw her, why did I treat her so differently!"

When Zhang Jingche heard the word "Concubine Shu", his expression was already half-sunk, and when Liu Yanzhao finished speaking, his eyes were already full of hostility.He pushed hard, but who knew that the drunk Emperor Xinglong was so strong that he couldn't break free in a hurry, but because of his struggle, his eyes became redder: "You...you hate me so much! I would rather be with you Others are chatting and laughing, and they don't want to give me a good face!"

Zhang Jingche impatiently dealt with the drunk, and mocked: "Otherwise? You forced my sister to death, used me in every possible way, and almost killed me a few times... And you expect me to be grateful to you? Your Majesty the Emperor, in your eyes , Is there water in my brain?!"

Liu Yanzhao's breath was stagnant in his chest, and he almost couldn't get up: "Zhen..."

"Don't come and go with me, you know, I hate your hypocrite tone the most, it's disgusting!" Zhang Jingche looked at Emperor Xinglong with disgust, "You don't even ask me what you want, but you just give me the errands that offend others. I, I have worked so hard to get it done, and I think I am ruthless and scheming - Your Majesty the Emperor, you are bright, clear and benevolent, and the difficult and dirty things are done for you by the people below. Those hands are of course clean, only suitable for singing the wind and admiring the moon, playing the qin and playing the flute!"

"While being a bitch, you still want to set up a memorial archway. You alone occupy all the good things in this world—His Majesty the Emperor, you are too good at planning!"

Liu Yanzhao: "..."

It was the first time that Emperor Xinglong was scolded by someone, and he was dumbfounded for a moment. He never expected that such words would be forced out of Zhang Jingche's mouth.This man tore away the disguise he had put on for a long time, revealing his true face that had never been shown in front of others. This was what Liu Yanzhao had been looking forward to all along, but he never dreamed that Zhang Jingche's self was so unbearable and despicable.

Zhang Jingche kept saying "Your Majesty the Emperor", it was the first time Liu Yanzhao knew that the most honorable title in the world could contain such chilling sarcasm.

"Zhen, I..." Liu Yanzhao didn't know whether it was shock or anger, but he was filled with unspeakable gloom, "You, you are simply... presumptuous!"

Zhang Jingche didn't bother arguing with him, he looked at the drunk and didn't pay attention, and suddenly cut the back of the neck with a knife in his hand - he was a medical student, his strength and position were just right, Liu Yanzhao fell down on the bed without saying a word.

Zhang Jingche turned over quickly, not letting Liu Yanzhao fall on him, and immediately took two steps back. The posture of avoiding it, as if the person on the bed is not the king of a country, but the one who is stained and cannot be shaken off or washed off. dirty things.

It may be due to the doctor's professional habits, Zhang Jingche loves cleanliness more than ordinary people. He smelled it in his sleeve, and smelled a strong smell of alcohol, and his face turned dark immediately.It was night now, and the concubine could not move around without authorization, let alone a foreign minister with no rank or rank.But if Zhang Jingche were to be in the same room with the drunk Xinglong Emperor, it would be more enjoyable to take his skin off.

Zhang Jingche stood expressionlessly for a while, then got up and opened the door of the palace. Yuezhao was guarding the outside. Hearing the movement, he couldn't help being stunned: "Master Zhang, Mr. Zhang? Why did you come out? Your Majesty..."

Zhang Jingche looked at the little eunuch without any trace, and compared it with the portrait of Uncle Zhongyong in his memory, he had a vague suspicion in his heart.He said nonchalantly: "Your Majesty is drunk, help him back to Qinzheng Palace."

He spoke lightly, but Yuezhao didn't dare to follow through: "This...the Holy Majesty didn't make a decree, how dare the servants make their own decisions? I beg you, Mr. Zhang, to be tired and take care of His Majesty for the night..."

"I'm a foreign minister, and I have no rank or rank. It's not appropriate to stay in the palace," Zhang Jingche said lightly, "If I'm not mistaken, there have already been a lot of discussions in the previous court. Your Majesty will stay in the Taiji Hall tonight. The court will start tomorrow morning. The Qingliu of the two courts will join forces to attack, and I will be accused of 'fornicating the harem' and 'charming the king'!"

Yuezhao didn't dare to speak anymore.

"It's not a big deal for me to be a scapegoat. I don't have a good reputation anyway. It doesn't matter if I have one more felony and one less felony," Zhang Jingche said suddenly and harshly, "But Your Majesty is the king of a country. If you are stained with stigma, you are a little servant. Don't worry about it." Do you deserve this crime!"

Yuezhao was startled, and hurriedly knelt on the ground: "Master Zhang forgives the sin, it's because the servant is not thinking too much...Master Zhang is only thinking about His Majesty, but the emperor is already drunk, and the servant is soft-spoken, and really dare not make decisions without authorization!"

Zhang Jingche softened his tone: "I'm not embarrassing my father-in-law. In this case, you go to the Palace of Compassion and Ning, report the situation here to the queen mother, and ask her to give her an idea... You are all for your majesty, and the queen mother has spoken, the emperor tomorrow Sober up, I'm sure I won't blame you."

Yuezhao was in a bit of a dilemma. It was a well-known fact that the Empress Dowager was not on good terms with Emperor Xinglong's mother and son, and Liu Yanzhao didn't like to be entangled with those in the harem the most, even if it was his own mother.He secretly raised his eyelids and saw that Zhang Jingche's expression was calm, but there was a hint of impatience between his brows. Can do it.If Zhang Jingche got impatient and kicked the drunk Emperor Xinglong out of the house, it would be a lot of fun.

"Since this is the case, please wait a moment, Mr. Zhang." Yue Zhao weighed again and again and had to make a concession, "I will report to the queen mother now."

Yuezhao went quickly, and in less than half an hour, the Empress Dowager Yizhi had been invited to help the drunk Liu Yanzhao back to the Qinzheng Hall, and the concubine Xian was sent to serve her personally.For a while, the noisy voices went far away, Liu Yanzhao rubbed his swollen and sore temples, and sat down on the big bed with beautiful drape.

You Yunwei sent Sheng Jia away, and slipped back quietly: "Master, you just sent the emperor away like this... won't there be any troubles?"

Zhang Jingche didn't take it seriously: "Nowadays, I have always claimed to be clear and benevolent. If it happened because of such a trivial matter, wouldn't I be afraid to ruin my reputation as a sage? He won't say anything!"

You Yunwei then said nonuo: "It's getting late, my subordinates will leave first... Tonight is my subordinate's night duty, if the master has orders, just call me."

Zhang Jingche was indeed a little tired. After waving his hand, You Yunwei walked out of the hall.Kankan retreated to the door, Zhang Jingche suddenly called him: "Wait!"

You Yunwei stood still: "What is the master's order?"

Zhang Jingche closed his eyes and meditated on his face: "Cai Yun is a concubine adopted by Taiping in 19, and Yuezhao, like Uncle Zhongyong, is from Qinghe, Zhili. Find the dossiers of Cai Yun and Yuezhao's family, and send them to me as soon as possible."

You Yunwei responded, and went away like a gust of wind.

That night, Zhang Jingche slept very soundly while hugging the folding fan that Marquis Dingbian had touched, but Liu Yanzhao tossed and turned all night with a hangover headache.In the early morning of the next day, Emperor Xinglong struggled to open his eyes, the depression in his chest had not yet dissipated, he turned his head and saw the concubine Xian who was lying on the side of the pillow first.

Liu Yanzhao's surprise was no small matter. His last impression last night was that he was dragging Zhang Jingche to bed and rolling in bed. As for what happened afterwards, he had no idea.Zhang Jingche's strike with the knife was so ingenious that even the right owner who had suffered a loss didn't notice it, and only thought that he had passed out from too much alcohol.

Lost memories gradually came back, remembering what happened last night, Liu Yanzhao was shocked and angry, and walked out of the hall quickly, regardless of the concubine Xian who was at the side.Yuezhao, who was on guard at night, heard the movement and hurriedly stood up: "Why did the emperor wake up so early..."

Liu Yanzhao's chest was filled with gloom, and he didn't know how to vent it. When he saw him, he had a bad face: "I ask you, I clearly visited the Taiji Hall last night, why did I stay in the Qinzheng Hall? And Concubine Xian, she is what happened?"

Yuezhao knew that Liu Yanzhao was doing it for this, and said tremblingly: "Back to the emperor, you passed out last night, Mr. Zhang said...that he is just a foreign minister with no rank and no rank. If you stay in the Taiji Hall, you will definitely attract former officials." In discussing things in the court, the servants are also thinking about the emperor's honor..."

Liu Yanzhao's face turned ashen when he heard this, but who knows that Yuezhao has the following text: "Master Zhang also said that the emperor was drunk, and I'm afraid it would be inappropriate at night, so this maidservant invited the queen mother's order, and also invited the concubine Xian to come Serving Your Majesty..."

Liu Yanzhao was furious, got up and went out, but Hong Lu hurried into the palace gate at this moment, almost colliding with Emperor Xinglong.

Liu Yanzhao was full of depression and had nowhere to explode, he raised his leg and kicked him: "You bastard, what are you running around like a headless chicken? I can't wait to see you!"

Hong Lu was taken aback, and knelt down and slapped herself: "The emperor's forgiveness is all the fault of the slaves! It's just that the emperor, Mr. Xu, the servant of the household department, Mr. Guo, the censor of the Inspectorate, and Mr. Han Xun, the commander of Jinyiwei Arrived, and said that I have something to see."

Liu Yanzhao paused, his eyebrows twitched, and he turned around: "Go to the Imperial Study Room!"

Xu Qian, the minister of the household department, was born as Liu Yanzhao's companion, and the relationship between the emperor and his ministers is different. Emperor Xinglong gave him enough face, and when he entered the room, he had restrained his anger: "What day is it today, why did you get together? "

Han Xun and Guo Chen glanced at each other, then lifted their clothes and knelt down on the ground: "Report to the emperor, I have ordered a thorough investigation into the case of Northwest military ration swap. Now that there is a result, I am here to report to His Majesty."

Liu Yanzhao calmed down, and the last bit of anger dissipated: "Say it quickly!"

Withholding military rations and making good ones is not a new thing, as early as the reign of the first emperor, there were frequent occurrences, and after Emperor Xinglong ascended the throne, the relationship with Marquis Dingbian became more and more tense.The people below are used to meeting the wind and making the rudder, seeing that Yang Fan has no sacred heart, worshiping the high and stepping down, and taking advantage of the fire to rob are also the proper meaning of the question.

It's just that no one expected that it was just this time, when the military rations were being exchanged, the Beile people broke through the border defense and drove straight in!

"This case involves a lot of people. On the surface, it was Xing Cheng, a doctor in the household department, but Xing Cheng is only a fifth-rank official. How can he have such courage and clever means?" Han Xun buried his head and said, "According to my investigation You know, Xing Cheng was a Jinshi in the 17th year of Taiping, and the examiner at that time was Jian Sihui, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs."

Liu Yanzhao looked indifferent: "Speak on!"