Why did the emperor rebel?

Chapter 424
At this moment, the Son of Heaven on the throne looked exactly the same as when he was discussing politics, modest and approachable, as if everything that happened just now had been forgotten.

However, the screams outside the hall had just disappeared, and it was still fresh in people's memory.

Zhang Mao, the British princess who just turned ten years old, had a pale face and looked like he wanted to cry but didn't dare to cry. If it wasn't for the etiquette education he received since childhood, he might have hid behind his second uncle long ago for fear of losing his manners in front of the imperial court.

As everyone knows, Zhang Yu is not much better at the moment.

He was originally a playboy, a typical bully and shy of the tough. In his early years, he was dealt with by Zhang Fu countless times.

In the past, he was protected by Zhang Fu, and after Zhang Fu's death, the British government was supported by Zhang Fu, so there were hardly many things he needed to worry about.

Although it was Zhang Fu's idea to beat the Dengwen drum to the hall this time, it was the first time he faced the pressure of the court.

And once you get started, it's at the level of Wang Zha.

You know, even when Wang Zhen was in power, there was no precedent for punishing seventeen ministers at once.

But now, in front of his face, it really happened.

At this time, the emperor's gentle inquiry fell into his ears, but inexplicably there were screams from outside the hall.

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xiang kept telling himself to calm down, the British government was relying on him now, and it must not collapse at this time.

I reorganized the speeches I had prepared in my mind, but when it came time to speak, it turned out to be.

"Your Majesty, my brother Zhang Fu has been arrested by Jin Yiwei for many days, and there has been no news. I have requested to visit and announce the case, but he was not allowed. My uncle and nephew are very anxious and cannot be summoned, so I just rang Deng Wengu, asking Your Majesty to be the master of the British government is really a last resort, and there is absolutely no intention to offend the imperial court."

Seeing Zhang Min's cowardly appearance, Zhu Qiyu couldn't help but smile in his heart.

A dude is a dude, regardless of age.

If it was Zhang Fu who came here, this kind of scene would not scare him at all, but Zhang Fu is different.

He was very well protected by Zhang Fu, because Zhang Fu had already seen that this younger brother was unbearable, so he never let him participate in any political affairs.

As a result, now that the British government has no successors, Zhang Xiang had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to the palace to play the right thing, but he was so frightened that he lost his mind.

Zhu Qiyu's expression remained unchanged, and his voice was still gentle, said.

"Don't worry, Zhang Qing. The Dengwen Drum was set up by Taizu. Anyone who has a grievance can go to the Wendrum to express their grievances. What's more, the old Yingying has worked hard for the country all his life and has made great contributions to the country."

"I have always distinguished rewards and punishments. How could I blame the British government for beating the Dengwen Drum? I still say the same thing, since you have sounded the Dengwen Drum, how do you want to redress your grievances?"

After this buffering, Zhang Min's mind finally settled down.

Although he still hasn't figured out what the Son of Heaven means, but until now, he has no other way to go.

So, he gritted his teeth and said.

"Your Majesty, there is still no word on the case of the mission. It is inappropriate for Jin Yiwei to arbitrarily arrest the court officials. I dare not speak falsely about the circumstances of the case, but I believe that my younger brother is wholeheartedly loyal to the country."

"Nowadays, the imperial prison is deep, the inside and outside are blocked, and the case is unknown, but the brother-in-law is kept in custody. The minister dare not interfere with the court's criminal trial, but he is really afraid that Jin Yiwei will torture him and extract a confession."

"Therefore, I have the courage to invite the court to judge this case, and clarify the truth in front of civil and military officials. At that time, even if the members of the mission are guilty, they will be able to convince the world."

After the words fell, before the emperor could respond, many ministers in the palace frowned.

It is true that although they were also quite critical of Jin Yiwei's behavior, Zhang Min's words still aroused the dissatisfaction of many ministers.

In fact, after the Zhennan King incident last time, many ministers have been quite critical of Dengwengu's system.

They generally believe that the original intention of Dengwen drum is to give the people who have grievances a chance to hear directly from heaven.

However, the clan, the noble family, often used the Dengwen Drum to intervene in judicial trials, which violated the original intention of the Dengwen Drum.

So during this period of time, the Ministry of Criminal Justice has been discussing how to improve Dengwengu's system, but it has not yet been determined.

In the end, when the case turned around, the case of the British government came out again. It can't be blamed that the courtiers generally advocated a killing blow first.

Now, from the attitude of the emperor to Zhang Min's court court request, it all shows one thing.

As the British government, the meaning of beating the Dengwen drum is different from that of ordinary people.

After all, as an honorable official of Sheji who has made numerous military exploits for the imperial court, and one of the few remaining duke mansions in the Ming Dynasty, to "claim grievances" in this way is more or less meant to coerce the imperial court with merit.

This is why Zhang Min must take Zhang Mao to beat the Dengwen drum.

After all, Zhang Mao is the legitimate British Duke, even if he is only ten years old, but above the court, only he can represent the British Duke.

And only the British government who beat the Dengwen drum can really have the qualifications to bargain with the imperial court.

After all, a mansion not only represents a title, but also represents the intricate forces behind it, as well as the countless feats it has made for the court.

To put it bluntly, it is not the title that makes the British government eligible to bargain with the court, but the countless achievements made for the country behind the title, so that the British government can stand here after the sound of the Dengwen drum, and openly face the court. Request.

But this is exactly what the elders are dissatisfied with.

Leaving Jin Yiwei aside, this case has not yet been concluded. There is neither a final decision nor a punishment. It is only detained for interrogation and visits are prohibited.

If it were ordinary people, this kind of complaint would not have any results at all, at most it would be the next decree, ordering the Secretary to be more cautious when interrogating.

But just because it was the British government that sounded the Dengwen Drum, Zhang Xiang dared to question the fairness of the interrogation without any evidence, and dared to make an inch of it and demand court judgment.

Many ministers who are well versed in prisons are already worried that if the lord's family commits a crime in the future, they will ring the Dengwen Drum to make trouble, then how will you judge these dandy relatives in the future, and let them do whatever they want ?

At that moment, Chen Yi, the censor of Zuodu, stood up and opposed, said.

"Your Majesty, I think it's inappropriate. The imperial court has its own rules for interrogating criminal cases. Although it's inappropriate for Jin Yiwei to refuse to announce the details of the case, it's even more inappropriate to suspend the trial because of this. The British government's request is to intervene in criminal cases. , not allowed."

Du Ning, Minister of Dali Temple, also said.

"Your Majesty, it depends on the circumstances of the case. If the case involves serious matters and cannot be dealt with by a judge, then Xu Tingju should not be disturbed just because of the sound of the drum."

"What's more, according to the old system of our dynasty, the case sued by Deng Wengu should be tried by Dali Temple or the third division depending on the situation, and there is absolutely no reason for direct court judgment."

It should be said that Zhang Min's request actually violated the authority of Dali Temple.

Compared with Jinyiwei's Imperial Prison, the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple are more responsible for the interrogation and review of criminal cases.

Last time in the case of King Zhennan, Zhu Yinyu bypassed the third division and directly requested an imperial trial, which already made the officials of these yamen quite dissatisfied.

But there are a large group of clans standing behind them, the situation is special, and the clan's house has already been interrogated, so it's justified.

But now that the case of the mission has not been concluded, Zhang Xiang directly asked the court to judge him. He simply didn't take the third division seriously. How could the elders bear it.

Seeing that Jin Lian couldn't help but come out to object, Zhu Qiyu raised his hand to stop all of them from talking.

After pondering for a moment, he turned his head and asked Zhang Min.

"This case is of great importance. I have kept the Jin Yiwei interrogated in secret for the sake of the reputation of the members of the mission, not deliberately concealing it. But since the British government has beaten the Dengwen drum, I will ask you again, Zhang Wei, Are you sure you want to bring this case to court in front of civil and military officials?"

This familiar way of asking again made Zhang Fu feel a little flustered inexplicably, but thinking of Zhang Fu's instructions to him, his heart settled down again.

"...Only at the top of the court, in front of all the officials, can we make a final decision and not give some people a chance to save..."

So, Zhang Min took a deep breath, nodded heavily, and said.

"Your Majesty, I invite the court to judge this case. No matter what the result is, the British government will be convinced."

Now, the faces of many ministers on the side became more and more ugly.

Including Jin Lian, several prison officials were about to step out, but the emperor took the first step and said calmly.

"Since that's the case, then I will grant your request. After seven days, the court will judge the case!"

"Retreat."

After the result was announced, the emperor left the throne without staying any longer.

Zhang Min wiped the cold sweat off his head, and let out a long sigh of relief. Although he received hostile looks from many civil servants, no matter what, the matter was finally done.

But for some reason, Zhang Yu always felt that he just vaguely saw that when the emperor left, there was a vague smile on the corner of his mouth.

Pulling his ten-year-old nephew and quickly leaving the hall amid all kinds of gazes, Zhang Min said silently in his heart.

Third brother, my brother has done all the things you ordered, and it is up to you whether you can escape the catastrophe...

(End of this chapter)