first minister

Chapter 258 The Public Trial Begins

On February 21, in the afternoon, the first exam ended.

Like a released prisoner, Xia Jingyun waited for someone to unlock the small door of Room No. [-]. Like a walking corpse, he walked from Room No. [-] to the gate with his luggage on his back, and then walked out of the Gongyuan.

Everyone in the Hou Mansion rushed forward to greet him, and then sent him to an inn not far away that had been rented in advance.

Of course, Baiyunbian also received the same treatment, and came here under the welcome and escort of his own book boy and guards.

When they arrived at the room, the two of them swept away the delicious food that Feng Xiuyun had prepared in advance. They didn't even bother to wash up. They wiped their mouths and fell asleep on the bed, as if there was poison in the food.

The imperial examinations these days not only test knowledge, but also physical strength and willpower.

Everyone also experienced or knew this, so no one urged them, only two guards were guarding their master, and the rest sat silently in the lobby and waited.

It's not that the Marquis of Jiang'an can't afford an inn, but that Xia Jingyun said that it's difficult for the students, and that such inns close to the Gongyuan are very scarce, so try not to take up too many resources.

At the same time, the Hou Mansion was also asked to subsidize the owner of the inn and let him list at a fair price. This move, after the innkeeper's explanation, quickly helped Xia Jingyun accumulate a good reputation.

After Bai Yunbian found out about this, he looked at the banknote he was carrying, feeling melancholy, and learned another trick.

More than two hours later, when Xia Jingyun rubbed his eyes, yawned, and woke up from complete exhaustion, the sky outside was already completely dark.

A quarter of an hour later, Xia Jingyun was sitting naked in the bathtub that had been prepared earlier, and Feng Xiuyun silently rubbed his back and washed his hair.

"Have we all gotten this far yet? Is there another step we've forgotten?"

Xia Jingyun showed doubts solemnly, and flirted with the people behind him.

Thinking that Chen Fugui was still guarding the door for safety and secrecy, Feng Xiuyun's face flushed immediately, she increased the weight in her hands, and pinched silently.

"Oh, you are going to murder your husband!"

"Don't make trouble, let me tell you something serious."

After speaking, Feng Xiuyun told the latest progress of Qin Yuwen's assassination case.

"Prince?"

Xia Jingyun also put away his playful expression, and rubbed his fingers to think.

"This incident suddenly caused a storm in the city. It is obvious that someone is fueling the flames. Among the many forces in Zhongjing City, the one who does not want the crown prince to continue to reign is the Duke of England and us. Since we have not acted, the biggest suspect It's the Duke of England."

"The prime minister's civil servant faction is also possible, but they themselves are sitting on the mountain and watching the tiger's fight. Their motivation for taking action is not strong, and they may just sit on the sidelines."

"Your Majesty asked the prince to preside over the trial, and the trial was open. This is obviously murder. It not only presented the prince with an unavoidable dilemma, but also expressed his dissatisfaction with the prince to everyone."

"It's ridiculous that with so many parties and so many people, maybe no one cares whether the prince is the real murderer, but just like me back then, they hoped that I was and needed me to be."

Xia Jingyun analyzed a few words to himself in a very soft voice, then packed up, dried his body, put on his clothes, and hid the big pendulum.

The so-called gentleman hides things in his body and waits for the time to move.

It's not the right time to use it.

He turned his head to look at Feng Xiuyun, "Help me invite Mr. Su here. Then it's so late, you guys go back and rest first."

Feng Xiuyun hummed, but she didn't force it, not to mention that the sword has not been sheathed yet, and the villain has not been subdued, it is assumed that the two have merged into one. At such a critical time, she can't do anything to sleep with her to consume her energy things.

So she just said, "Don't make it too late, I will go to the Gongyuan again tomorrow after resting tonight."

That tone was like that of a senior woman who knew how to advance and retreat, and respectfully sent the husband to the concubine's room.

A while later, Xia Jingyun saw Su Yuanshang in the room.

Su Yuanshang took out a few pieces of paper and said, "Ms. Feng should have told you about the matter. Although the most important test has been finished, your rest time is still very precious. Let's make a long story short. Three days, do you have any ideas?"

Xia Jingyun took it and scanned it, all of which were relatively detailed information from all parties in the past three days.

While watching carefully, he said: "Choose two clues about the prince that we have in our hands, which are relatively hidden, but have not been known by Heibingtai, and reveal them to Heibingtai, so as to add another boost to the situation. fire."

"Then, pay attention to the people in the prince's line. If there are those who want to leave, we don't want to fight, but we need to grasp their list and movements. These fools can be used by us at critical moments in the future."

"Also, if there is no major change in the direction of the wind in the next three days, we can use the grounds that the situation has changed greatly and the prince is about to fall as an excuse to find those people we have been looking for, and then act with emotion and reason. I hope we can bring them under our command. Let Mr. Gongsun handle this matter, and Mr. Su can accompany you if it is convenient for you."

"Oh, the last one, ask Lu Yi to help find a wandering Taoist, don't care about the origin, as long as it can be used, is obedient, and looks like a fairy who can bluff people."

Su Yuanshang heard that the front was normal, but he couldn't help but widen his eyes when he heard the last one, but he didn't say much, and nodded in response.

Then the two deduced some other things, and finally when the night was too dark, they said goodbye and left.

In the afternoon of the next day, Xia Jingyun carried a big suitcase, went through multiple inspections, and was locked in the numbered room.

But the outside world is still surging.

The prince, who was forced out of the East Palace by an edict of Emperor Chongning, came to the Yamen of the Ministry of Punishment and summoned the leaders of the three parties to gather together.

Except for Xuanhu, the head of the Black Bingtai with a calm face, the other ministers of the Ministry of punishment and Jing Zhaoyin were secretly crying.

You said this, if His Highness asked later, how did you check recently, and did you gain any results, how should they answer!
Said, Your Highness, thanks to your blessings, we have made great progress, and we are about to confirm that the real culprit is you?
Or, Your Highness, don't worry, we will work hard to investigate and try to find evidence that the real culprit is not you as soon as possible?
But fortunately, maybe the crown prince also knew his current situation, so he didn't even ask him. He just sat on the stage and said: "The descendants of the Qin family are also royal relatives. The eldest son of the Qin family was killed. The emperor was furious, and ordered him to personally supervise the investigation, the three of them must seriously handle the case, find out the truth, live up to the expectations of the emperor, return justice to the Qin family, and give everyone in the world a bright future, understand?"

The three had no choice but to nod in unison.

"Okay, I don't have much to say anymore, let's go to each other, I will wait for your news!"

After the three of them retired, the prince sat alone in the hall, the spring sunlight slanted into the door from under the eaves, and fell on the open space in front of him, making his eyes more and more dim.

And these three people really didn't "live up" to the prince's order. After they went down, they followed the clues they opened earlier, searched vigorously, and dug up a lot of evidence that the prince planned to deal with the Qin family.

Seeing that the case was basically clear, people's hearts began to be driven by interests.

Many people who originally wanted to plan for a longer-term future and took refuge under the prince's wing, some of them began to voluntarily leave the prince's party.

At this time, Gongsun Jing also went to find Guang Luqing in the middle of the court according to Xia Jingyun's request, hoping to win this promising person in Gongsun Jing's eyes to his command.

When he came to the door and stated his interests, the other party pondered for a moment and seemed to agree.

"Indeed, if there is no owner in the Eastern Palace, the imperial concubine, Concubine De, and Prime Minister Qin will be fighting each other. The current strength of Concubine De is indeed extraordinary. The backing is not necessarily so easy to defeat."

Gongsun Jing was overjoyed, and nodded quickly, "Yes, if we can get Mr. Jiang to join us again, we will be even more powerful, and the chances of winning will be even greater! Before the future was uncertain, we couldn't force it, but now the future is bright , it’s very safe, Mr. Jiang doesn’t have to hesitate any longer!”

"But." Guang Luqing looked at Gongsun Jing, "If I have to choose a safe path, why don't I go and seek refuge with Prime Minister Qin?"

"Ah?" Gongsun Jing was taken aback.

"Look, once the crown prince falls, there will be three pillars in the court. Concubine Shu and Concubine De will fight for the throne, and King Linjiang and King Jiaodong will fight for the throne. However, it is impossible for Prime Minister Qin to sit on the throne. He just brought the civil servants with him. He has formed his own faction, he just waits and sees in this court situation, his way out in the future must be when the two sides are fighting to the death, he will end at the critical moment, and if he helps Concubine Shu, Concubine Shu will win, and Concubine De will win if he helps Concubine De. Then As long as I rely on Prime Minister Qin, not to mention being rich and powerful in the future, at least I can be safe, and I can even share some benefits."

Gongsun Jing was dumbfounded, he didn't expect to have such an idea.

He stammered a few times, and finally said: "But if you do that, what good will it do? The so-called wealth and wealth are in danger. If you become the king of Jiaodong County in the future, do you need to talk about Mr. Jiang's wealth and glory?"

Guang Luqing smiled, "The officialdom is dangerous, since there is a way not to take risks, why should I seek wealth in danger? Thanks to Mr. Gongsun, I am ashamed."

Speaking of picking up the teacup, Gongsun Jing had no choice but to leave.

Just when Gongsun Jing left Guangluqing's residence, the Qin family, which was the center of the matter but was suddenly ignored by everyone, welcomed another guest.

Looking at Qin Sichao standing in the hall in a gentle and elegant manner, the Patriarch of the Qin family felt a little helpless, and forced a smile: "My nephew is here, what advice do you have?"

Qin Sichao said seriously: "As a minister, solve problems for the king, as a son, share the worries of the father. Although I don't think there is any problem with my father's background, I might not be able to open a separate one in the future, but since my father has this long-cherished wish, my nephew I have to have the audacity to ask again, how is the discussion between Uncle Shi and the old Qin family going?"

The Patriarch of the Qin family is not a particularly capable person, so he had no choice but to say with a guilty expression: "I haven't agreed on a result yet!"

Qin Sichao shook his head lightly, "It's been more than ten days, and Uncle Shi's words can't coax me into treating me like a three-year-old child?"

Just when the Patriarch of the Qin Family showed embarrassment, Qin Sichao said again: "The actions of His Royal Highness have gradually surfaced. First of all, whether the Qin Family can withstand the counterattack of the entire faction in the Eastern Palace is something that Uncle Shi needs to consider. Yes. Secondly, there will be a big change in the court situation. How will the Qin family deal with it? My nephew’s proposal is a matter of mutual benefit, and I am even willing to visit the door several times for this, begging in a low voice. I hope Uncle Shi can give me a clear answer , how the Xiangfu will act in the future must be prepared."

The Patriarch of the Qin family secretly said, you are making things difficult for me!
While hesitating, an old but steady voice sounded from outside the door, "This answer, I will give you."

The old Patriarch of the Qin family walked in and looked at Qin Sichao, "Differences in ways are not conspiring with each other, it is not a good thing to forcibly twist them together. The old man sincerely wishes your father to open a separate branch for the surname Qin, and also thinks that he will be able to make a branch for the surname Qin." host."

Qin Sichao looked at his firm eyes, stood up, saluted seriously, turned and left.

Watching Qin Sichao leave, the Patriarch of the Qin family walked up to the old father, and said worriedly: "Father, even if you refuse, don't say such harsh words, if this offends people"

The old Patriarch turned his head and glared at him, "Do you think you won't be offended if you refuse?"

He leaned on his crutches and looked out the door, "When the situation is changing, if you choose one side, you must hold on firmly and don't let go. Don't think that you can ride a wall and have both sides, otherwise the final result will be to fall down and die. , no one will help!"
-
February 24, afternoon.

After another three days of exams, Xia Jingyun and Bai Yunbian walked out of the Gongyuan again.

This time, the two of them were much more relaxed than before, because the main test in this time was all kinds of standard official documents, and they were both familiar with it.

Although Xia Jingyun didn't have much contact with him before, but with Su Yuanshang, a big boss who is proficient in this field, and so many officials by his side, he has long been familiar with him.

The process was almost the same as last time, Xia Jingyun freshened up, and then met Su Yuanshang in the room, this time Gongsun Jing was also there.

After listening to the latest situation they told, Xia Jingyun pondered for a moment, looked at the summary of the latest news from Lu Yi in his hand, and said: "Mr. Gongsun, tomorrow, you find a suitable person, not an important minister in the court, but Those who are qualified to write a letter, let him write a letter to His Majesty, saying that the case has been investigated for a long time, and requesting that the case be heard publicly as soon as possible."

Gongsun Jing asked in surprise, "Is this useful?"

Xia Jingyun nodded and said: "I want to see His Majesty's true attitude. If His Majesty really thinks as everyone guesses, then he will definitely agree. Originally, his will included the item of public trial."

Gongsun Jing continued to be puzzled: "Then what if the center discounted the memorial and didn't bring it up?"

Xia Jingyun and Su Yuanshang looked at each other tacitly, and smiled slightly, "Then we have also explored the rest."

"Okay, I'm going to take the last test tomorrow. If everything goes well, the public trial will start on the 28th, and I can just catch up."

Su Yuanshang said with a smile: "I will definitely not let you catch up, don't forget, you were the number one suspect in the past!"

Xia Jingyun chuckled, "Then let's make our preparations more detailed."

Everything really went as Xia Jingyun had expected, Gongsun Jing found a suitable junior official to submit the memorial, and the memorial was delivered to Emperor Chongning's desk without hindrance.

Emperor Chongning ordered that on February 28, the crown prince preside over the case, and the case would be heard in the Ministry of Criminal Justice.

Shocking thunder rose from the ground, shaking the elite circles at the top of Zhongjing.

　Four thousand words is considered as the minimum update amount for today.

　　Think about it for a while, and try to add another chapter.

　　The long foreshadowing is finally coming to an end, and all kinds of thread ends are not so easy to collect, so try to complete it as much as possible.

　　or2
　　
　
(End of this chapter)