Manchu traitor, how can you let me be the emperor of the ages

Chapter 228 Various trends, Song Qiaonian's suspicion.

The Ministry of Rites sealed off the yamen, and the other yamen in the imperial city did not give up much.

Although there was no guard handle outside their door, they sealed their own door.

At this time of right and wrong, everyone should try to reduce going out as much as possible, so as not to be contaminated with right and wrong again.

Although the door was sealed, the news about the leak spread like wings.

"When misfortune comes, happiness rests on it, and when blessings come, misfortune rests on it..."

In the yamen of the Ministry of Industry, Yan Lide's face was inexplicably complicated: "If I was selected as the deputy examiner that day, I'm afraid I won't be good this time..."

Su Ling'a nodded in approval.

As long as you are going to be an examiner, who can't meet some requests?
Unless you are a perfect person, this kind of thing is unavoidable.

But this time the turmoil is really too big, and that private matter may also be exposed, which was just a common thing before, but this time it will be infinitely magnified and become a big mistake that cannot be ignored.

"I don't know if the two examiners can get away."

Su Ling'a thought about Cai Jing's round old face, and couldn't help but silently bless him in her heart: "I hope something happens to someone..."

After sweating hard for this kind old man, Su Ling'a opened his eyes only to find that Yan Lide was looking at him strangely.

"What did you just say?"

"what?"

Su Ling'a was startled, did I say it?
"It's nothing, I didn't say anything..." Su Ling'a hastily refused to admit it...

At the same time, in the Ministry of Punishment not far from the Yamen of the Ministry of Industry, an atmosphere of uneasiness filled the entire Yamen.

After all, Cai Jing is the minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, and the head of the yamen is now caught in the suspicion of fraud. It is strange that people's hearts are not fluctuating.

It's just that the officials below didn't dare to discuss this matter openly, most of them just made eye contact, and then dodged away.

In a value room just one door away from the lobby, Cai Bian looked at the scratched letter paper in his hand, and fell into a daze again.

Yuanwailang, who was also in the duty room, looked at his boss cautiously. He obviously knew that this was not the first time this happened.

Sometimes this Cai Langzhong even lost his mind suddenly during the internal meetings of the Criminal Ministry.

But despite this, no one in the entire yamen of the Ministry of Punishment had any dissatisfaction or disrespect towards him. Not to mention anything else, just being the younger brother of Lord Shangshu is enough to make the two Lord Ministers be more courteous to him up.

What's more, this Mr. Cai himself is also a capable and knowledgeable person. It is said that he used to be a servant of the Ministry of Rites, but for some reason, he was reduced to such a point that even Cai Shangshu didn't protect him until last year. Just returned to the Criminal Department...

But I don't know what will happen to Cai Shangshu this time, will he suffer a big loss?

If Cai Shangshu is really unlucky, I am afraid that Master Cai will also be implicated...

While Yuanwailang was thinking wildly, Cai Bian seemed to come to his senses, saved the letter, and carefully put it back in his bosom.

Yuanwailang immediately looked back without any trace, and didn't look any further.

At the same time, on the upper floor separated by a wall, Deng Xunwu and Gao Xun were frowning.

"You can't go on like this, you have to think of a way!"

Gao Xun walked back and forth a little anxiously: "If you continue to investigate like this, something will happen even if nothing happens."

Isn't that right?
The examiner in the Tribute Court is from Cai Dang, and the person in charge of delivering the questions from the Ritual Department outside the Tribute Court is from Cai Dang. In the end, this matter will definitely not be found on anyone else. The key is how much the loss is.

Deng Xunwu's face was also not very good-looking: "This matter must be ended as soon as possible, so that Mr. Cai can get out as soon as possible!"

The Cai party without Cai Jing still lacks a soul after all, and even Cai You cannot replace him.

It's just that if you want to rescue Cai Jing, how can the dangers involved be summed up in one word?

Now most of the imperial court's energy is devoted to this matter, with so many people staring at it, it is impossible to fool around!
The two discussed for a while, and finally reached a consensus that there must be some kind of chaos, so that the court will want to stabilize the situation in the capital, and then quickly quell the leaking incident, and instead focus all its energy on the chaos superior.

And the mess had to be big enough, otherwise it wouldn't be able to attract the court's attention at all.

In addition, it takes time to brew troubles, and they have to struggle with the power of Cai party officials in the capital to delay the time a little, so that others will be cautious and dare not do anything to the Cai party.

This is not difficult for the two of them, the difficulty lies in how to create trouble.

Like the last Longxi incident, it probably won't work. There is only one Longxi in the whole Dagan, and it is located in the heart of the capital. The troubles in other counties are not as important as Longxi.

What else is there to do?Rebel uprising?The imperial court didn't know how much it had been dealt with, and it didn't work either.

"The war in Wu State is going well. I heard that 300,000 troops have surrounded the capital of Wu State."

Deng Xunwu and Gao Xun looked at each other, this option was rejected.

"I heard that Qi State has been in chaos for a long time, and I don't know if it can really become chaotic..."

This can be used as an option.

"Chu still criticizes the remnants of the party, and has been thinking about restoring the country, but I heard that they are no match for the imperial army..."

You can try it, but don't get your hopes up.

Thinking about it, Gao Xun's eyes suddenly lit up, and he turned his head to look at Deng Xunwu: "Brother Deng, at the end of the new year, didn't there be a few people in the Ming Kingdom Mission who had dinner with you and me?"

Deng Xunwu was stunned: "It seems that there is such a thing, but those people don't seem to be kind..."

"What kind of kindness do you want?"

Gao Xun sneered: "Can kindness help us create trouble?"

Deng Xunwu sighed and nodded: "That's true..."

As soon as they said that, the two began to plot...

~~
The Yamen of Taichang Temple was not far from the Ministry of Punishment, and the atmosphere was also very oppressive at the moment. The officials walking in it were walking on tiptoes, as if they were afraid of making too much noise.

Zhao Wenhua, Shaoqing of Taichang Temple, walked out of the gate of the yamen cautiously, looked left and right for no one, and then hurried towards the south of the city.

After leaving the imperial city from Hanguang Gate, he got on a sedan chair and headed south all the way to Yan Mansion.

"The big thing is bad, brother Yi! The big thing is not good!"

Zhao Wenhua ran into Yan Song's small courtyard crying his father and mother, his voice loud and clear.

"What are you yelling for?"

The door of the main hall was opened, and a stinky shoe flew out, but Zhao Wenhua dodged it with a clever figure.

Yan Shifan came out angrily with a limp, and stared at him with an unkind expression.

But before Zhao Wenhua started to cry, a kind voice came from inside the door: "What's wrong? Did something happen to Wenhua?"

Only then did Yan Shifan suppress his anger, and gave him a hard look.

However, Zhao Wenhua's eyes lit up, and he immediately shouted loudly: "Mom! Mom, you are here today!"

As he said that, he ran into the main hall, rushed forward, hugged the legs of a plainly dressed old woman in the hall, raised his head and said emotionally:
"Mother, I haven't come to see you for a long time. I don't know how your body is doing these days? Does your leg still hurt?"

"I'll press it for you now, baby..."

As he spoke, he really knelt on the ground and helped Ouyang Shi pinch his legs.

"You kid..."

Ouyang patted him on the shoulder and cursed with a smile: "Didn't you just deliver something the day before yesterday? Why haven't you been here for a long time?"

"Mother, you don't know, if you don't see your baby for a day, it's like three autumns..."

Zhao Wenhua's mouth was as sweet as honey, which made the old lady laugh so hard that she forgot what she wanted to ask just now.

Zhao Wenhua pressed a few times, only to find that there was still a person sitting in the room.

"uncle!"

Zhao Wenhua was startled and hurriedly saluted.

"Ah."

Ouyang Bijin was not very enthusiastic, he just nodded lightly, as if he looked down on Zhao Wenhua very much.

But Zhao Wenhua didn't seem to see his attitude, he still licked his face and smiled and leaned forward: "I haven't seen you for a long time, uncle is fine..."

In less than a quarter of an hour, Ouyang Bijin was so annoyed by him that he got up to leave.

"Sister, little brother is leaving first, and I will come to see you another day." Before leaving, he bid farewell to Mrs. Ouyang.

"Okay, okay, remember to bring Ting Yuan with you when you come next time, I haven't seen him for a long time as a nun..."

Old Mrs. Ouyang held her younger brother's hand all the time, showing great reluctance, so she just sent him out the door.

"Mother, let me send uncle off for you."

Yan Shifan led Zhao Wenhua all the way to send Ouyang Bijin out of the Yan Mansion, and then turned back.

"Brother Yi, something is wrong!"

Walking on the road, with no one around, Zhao Wenhua kept looking at Yan Shifan with a mournful face.

Yan Shifan gave him a hard look: "Let's talk when we go back."

The two came to the study together, Yan Shifan sat down and rested for a while, and then said impatiently: "Speak, what's the matter?"

"Did the matter of the exam questions get exposed?"

Zhao Wenhua was taken aback: "Brother Yi, how did you know? Could it be that the truth is true?"

The veins on Yan Shifan's forehead twitched, and he said angrily, "I don't know how big you are! Someone told me just now!"

"If I wait for your news, I may not know if the house raider arrives at the door!"

"Oh……"

Zhao Wenhua was a little aggrieved, but then he couldn't care less about it, and hurriedly said, "Then what should we do?"

"Is there something wrong with selling exam questions?"

Yan Shifan narrowed his eyes, then shook his head, and glanced at Zhao Wenhua: "How is it going with what I asked you to do?"

"Absolutely flawless." Zhao Wenhua patted his chest for assurance.

Yan Shifan breathed a sigh of relief: "Since the clothes are seamless, we can't be found out."

In fact, when the matter of selling test questions first appeared, he was followed by Mr. Yan, who is economically savvy. Facts have proved that his vision is really good.

Because this transaction is a huge profit.

Yan Shifan and Zhao Wenhua first bought a set of test questions from a Cai party son for 500 taels, which was forced by Yan Shifan, otherwise they would not ask for money for the sake of the young minister.

Then the two started a journey of reselling test questions. The questions bought for 500 taels were resold for 1000 taels, and they could buy unlimited copies. If they don't make a fortune, who will get rich?

The market for 1000 taels is saturated, so we sell 800 taels, 500 taels, and finally 100 taels.

"I... I'm just panicking..."

Zhao Wenhua still looked at Yan Shifan pitifully: "Brother Yi, you don't know how big the trouble is this time, if it really involves us..."

"Don't worry, it will definitely not implicate you."

Yan Shifan rolled his eyes, and said in his heart that it took so much effort and made such a big commotion just because of you, the young minister of Taichang Temple, don't you think you are worth enough?

"This matter has been counted from the beginning to the end. We just took advantage of the fire and took advantage of the opportunity to make a fortune. It will definitely be fine. The only ones who have the accident can only be Cai Jing and the others."

Zhao Wenhua was taken aback for a moment, and although he was still puzzled, he didn't dare to ask any more questions. After all, Yan Shifan was not such a good-tempered master.

Then he rolled his eyes, and seemed to think of something again.

"Brother Yi, who in the Cai party can have an accident?"

Zhao Wenhua looked at Yan Shifan tentatively: "Will there be any deputy examiner, deputy prefect and so on..."

Yan Shifan glanced at him: "What do you want to say?"

Zhao Wenhua sneered: "My little brother is just thinking... If there is a servant available, can I make it up?"

Yan Shifan was laughed angrily by him, and kicked over: "You are really a fucking talent!"

Zhao Wenhua didn't hide either, and was kicked by him directly, and then he crawled over with a playful smile: "Brother Yi, isn't this fat and water not going to outsiders' field!"

"Now that I have a seat, can I still reserve it for outsiders instead of my younger brother?"

Yan Shifan seemed to have expected such a move a long time ago, and scolded with a smile: "Don't think about the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Households. If you can catch up with the seat and move out, I will find you a Ministry of Industry!"

"The Ministry of Industry can do it, the Ministry of Industry can do it too!"

Zhao Wenhua is bubbling beautifully. Although the minister of the Ministry of Industry is the bottom of the six departments, he is a minister after all!

From the fourth rank to the third rank, how many people can't overcome this hurdle in their lifetime?

Now, there is a show!

~~
No one knew about the conspiracy in Yan's mansion, and Li Yuan and the others in the imperial city did not encounter any difficulties in their investigation. The officials in the Ministry of Rituals had long since spontaneously locked up several officials who were suspected of having come into contact with the examination questions.

Not many people, only four in total.

"My lord, Doctor Wei."

Sima Guang introduced them: "The test questions were brought by Song Shilang from the Gong Yuan."

He led Li Yuan and the others to walk in a corridor, and came to the door of a room: "On the ninth day of February at three o'clock, the Ministry of Rites has already started to be on duty. Song Shilang brought the examination questions and entered through the south gate of the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites."

"At that time, there was another secretary who was walking with him, and he was in this room."

Li Yuan frowned slightly, Si Wu was a junior official from rank nine, so he didn't seem like someone who could make such a big commotion.

But the Ministry of Rites doesn't seem to be fooling them...

Sure enough, Sima Guang continued helplessly: "However, the secretary kept saying that he was just late for his duty that day, met Song Shilang outside the door, and came to the Yamen together. He didn't know that Song Shilang was still carrying the exam questions."

"But at that time, everyone in the Yamen lobby saw that the two of them came in together, so I still decided to lock him here."

Li Yuan nodded slightly, exchanged glances with Wei Zheng, walked into the room together, and came out after a while.

"Let's go to the next one."

"Yes, my lord."

Sima Guang responded and led him and Wei Zheng to the next door.

"This is the head of the host and guest department. After Song Shilang came to the yamen that day, he took the documents and went to Song Shilang's duty room to ask for instructions about the fine dining department..."

Li Yuan, Wei Zheng and several censors examined the four suspected officials face to face, but in the end they found nothing.

The few people had no choice but to walk out of the yamen of the Ministry of Rites and head towards the imperial city.

"Doctor Wei, do you think those people just now are suspected of leaking?"

Li Yuan's expression was serious, and he turned to look at Wei Zheng.

"Except for those two accidental people, everything else was carried out in accordance with court regulations."

Wei Zheng frowned and said, "It's just that Song Shilang returned to his room with the test questions, which is a bit inappropriate."

According to the regulations, after Song Qiaonian got the exam questions from the Tribute Court, he should go directly to the Ziwei Hall to ask His Majesty the Emperor to decide the exam questions, instead of coming to the yamen of the Ministry of Rites.

Song Qiaonian not only came to the Yamen, but also returned to his valet.

In terms of procedure, he should return to the Ministry of Rites after finalizing the examination questions, and leave the examination questions in the Ministry of Rites for archiving.

But it shouldn't be back to the value room!

Just now, Li Yuan and others checked the room where the test questions were sealed in the Ministry of Rituals. The seal on the door and the test questions inside were all intact, and the Ministry of Rites has been on duty according to the corresponding procedures. No one has stepped into the room where the test questions are stored and the surrounding areas.

Therefore, even if there is a problem with the Ministry of Rites, this problem will only appear on Song Qiaonian!
Thinking of this, Li Yuan's steps became a little heavier.

"In any case, this matter must have something to do with Song Shilang."

Bao Xuan responded in a cold voice: "After reporting to His Majesty, I will go back to the Tribute Court for a proper trial!"

Wei Zheng nodded approvingly, but Li Yuan didn't speak.

The few people went all the way, came to Dongnuan Pavilion, and finally met His Majesty the Emperor.

"Uncle!"

As soon as they met, Li Gan didn't ask how the investigation of the case was going. Instead, he quickly rushed up and held Li Yuan's hand, feeling aggrieved like a two-hundred-pound child: "Those people are too much! In the eyes!"

(End of this chapter)