Ming Dynasty: At the beginning, the house was ransacked and the ancestral temple was burned down.

Chapter 96 Both the imperial concubine and the uncle fell into the water! The unlucky prince rides on a horse!
  It is the third day of September in the nineteenth year of Wanli.

Qianqing Palace.

"Ah...what?"

At this moment, Wanli Emperor Zhu Yijun frowned. He looked at Luo Sigong in disbelief, and he couldn't believe the news that the other party had just reported to him.

Maybe he thought it was too 'magical', so Zhu Yijun couldn't help but repeat it and asked:

"You said... Shen Shixing met Zhang Chonghui secretly in private? And Shen Shixing actually... believed that Zhang Chonghui... was Zhang Juzheng?"

Luo Sigong lowered his head. He had not seen Long Yan for a long time and was nervous at the moment. Not only was his head lowered, but his body was also a little stiff.

Feeling guilty and anxious, Luo Sigong braced himself and recounted the 'specific' events that happened last night one by one, saying:

"Reporting to your majesty, when Zhang Chonghui climbed over the wall and entered the Shen Mansion last night, the Jin Yiwei immediately discovered it and reported it to me.

The minister wanted to see what Zhang Chonghui's real intention was to secretly find Shen Shixing, so he did not arrest him immediately, but only sent someone to observe secretly outside the study.

I originally thought that Zhang Chonghui was so sneaky because he wanted to discuss the demon book with Shen Shixing in private, but he didn't expect to pry around and found out...

It is actually related to your Majesty’s mausoleum, and Shen Shixing’s tone at that time seemed...as if he really believed that Zhang Chonghui was Zhang Juzheng..."

After Luo Sigong finished reporting, Zhu Yijun fell into a long silence.

Just like that, I don't know how long it took, Luo Sigong was already sweating profusely, and he cursed Zhang Chonghui's eighteenth generation of ancestors several times in his heart, before His Majesty the Emperor was finally willing to speak.

"Apart from talking about these nonsense and the mausoleum, they didn't talk about anything else?" Zhu Yijun asked.

"Your Majesty, no more." Luo Sigong replied quickly.

Zhu Yijun still didn't seem to care much about the 'mausoleum', and he seemed to trust Shen Shixing. Zhang Chonghui and Zhang Juzheng didn't care either, so he asked instead:

"How is the investigation of the demon book going? The Third Law Department seems to be saying that the files you provided are all full of mistakes?"

Although His Majesty the Emperor's tone was very calm, Luo Sigong was still frightened to death by this question. While he was wondering who was 'selling him out', he hurriedly replied:
  "Reporting to Your Majesty, the file provided by Dongchang is indeed not very careful, but it's not that I don't want to be careful, it's just that there are many things..."

At this point, Luo Sigong's mouth seemed to be sewn shut with needle and thread, as if he could not speak, and the panic on his face was so obvious that it almost overflowed!
  "What happened?" Zhu Yijun asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Luo Sigong still didn't answer. Instead, he knelt on the ground with a plop. Then, he began to plead guilty with a look of panic on his face:
  "Your Majesty! I forgive the death penalty! I really don't dare! I can't tell anyone!"

After Luo Sigong said this, he knocked his forehead to the ground and did not dare to get up again!

This exaggerated scene was seen by Zhu Yijun, and an ominous premonition suddenly came to his mind.

Zhu Yijun noticed that something was wrong. If the person in front of him were Zhang Cheng and other people who were serving him closely, he might be angry immediately.

However, the person in front of him at this moment was just Luo Sigong. For such a not particularly 'direct' subordinate, if the emperor Zhu Yijun got angry casually, it would be a 'price drop'.

"Get up and talk. I know it's not easy for you and I won't blame you."

Zhu Yijun said very calmly, as if he was a very kind emperor.

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty is generous and kind! I am ashamed to be a saint!" Luo Sigong stood up uneasily, sighing that His Majesty the Emperor was generous and kind, but at the same time, he seemed to have forgotten one thing.

On weekdays, in addition to being angry at Chen Yin, his most direct subordinate, Luo Sigong was also as "magnanimous" and "generous" as His Majesty the Emperor treated him when facing other subordinates with "faulty" nature. friendly'.

For those who can sit in a certain 'position', this seems to be an unwritten tacit understanding.

Obviously everyone is involved in it, but they seem to be unaware of it.

Since His Majesty the Emperor has said that he will not blame anyone, Luo Sigong can only tell the truth.

"Your Majesty, the reason why I did not hand over the complete dossier to the Three Laws Division is because too many people were involved in this demon book case, especially...

In this demon book case, all the clues on the surface point to Shen Shixing and Zhang Chonghui, but in actual investigation... it seems that they are inseparable from Zheng Guojiu..."

"Uncle Zheng Guo?" Zhu Yijun's uneasiness was confirmed. When he was upset about his inconvenient 'uncle brother', he asked again:

"What exactly happened? Is it because of the publication of "Illustrated Notes on Girlfriends"?"

Zhu Yijun originally thought that something went wrong "again" when Concubine Zheng asked her uncle Zheng Guotai to publish and mix up the "Pictures of Girlfriends".

However, the answer Luo Sigong gave next made Zhu Yijun feel a little creepy!

"Your Majesty, at first I was trying to clear the name of Concubine Zheng and share your worries, so I took the initiative to investigate the matter about "The Illustrations of the Girlfriends". I originally thought it was just a matter... but after further investigation, I Just discovered……"

At this point, Luo Sigong started to speak confusedly and looked nervous, but he still gritted his teeth and continued with a 'helpless' look...

As time passed by, Luo Sigong finished speaking, but Emperor Zhu Yijun was surprised.

"What? Zheng Guojiu secretly stabbed villains, performed tricks, and cursed the eldest son of the emperor??"

Zhu Yijun couldn't believe it. His oily uncle Zheng Guotai actually dared to do such evil things to curse his eldest son Zhu Changluo?
  "Your Majesty, I believe that this matter is most likely caused by someone who wants to deliberately harm Uncle Zheng! And Uncle Zheng probably doesn't know the real truth... right?" After Luo Sigong gave such an ambiguous answer, he added :

"Your Majesty, please rest assured that I have sent people to destroy all the evidence and witnesses that 'slandered' Uncle Zheng Guo. As long as no one deliberately digs up this matter to make an issue, there will be no more turmoil in this matter. "

"Your hands and feet are quite fast!" Zhu Yijun seemed to have something in his words.

Luo Sigong looked as if he didn't hear it, and only replied respectfully: "Your Majesty has made an absurd compliment. I am ashamed that I don't deserve it. I am just doing my duty."

Luo Sigong heard His Majesty the Emperor's dissatisfaction, but he did not dare and could not show it.

After all, everyone knows the status of Concubine Zheng in the heart of Emperor Zhu Yijun. Even if the uncle Zheng Guotai did something stupid like cursing the eldest son of the emperor, the emperor would at most just rebuke the uncle in private.

How could the emperor blame the elder brother of his beloved for the sake of an eldest son whom he disliked?
  Luo Sigong understood this very well, so he would rather show himself to be very 'opportunistic' in front of His Majesty the Emperor, and he would never offend Concubine Zheng because of his temporary 'fairness'!
  After all, offending Concubine Zheng means offending the emperor!
  Facts have proved that this is indeed the case. Although Zhu Yijun does not like Luo Sigong's "opportunism", he is also glad that the other party is an opportunist.

After all, the matter involved his beloved Zheng Mengjing. Even if he was dissatisfied, he could not make a big fuss, so he had to settle the matter hastily.

Just when Zhu Yijun was thinking that this matter should be able to be resolved from Zheng Mengjing, and the matter could be brought back to Shen Shixing and Zhang Chonghui. What happened next was once again beyond his expectation!
  ……

It is the fourth day of September in the nineteenth year of Wanli.

Cining Palace.

At this time, it can be said that the Cining Palace is 'very lively'.

Queen Mother Li, who is already over forty years old, has not called her daughters-in-law together for many years.

This time, Empress Dowager Li not only called for her eldest son Zhu Yijun's queen Wang Xijie, noble concubine Zheng Mengjing, and concubine Wang.

Even the youngest son, King Lu Zhu Yili's first concubine Li, and his second concubine Zhao were called.

Logically speaking, among the five 'daughter-in-laws', the most anxious one should be Concubine Gong Wang, who has always been timid and 'her husband does not love her and her mother-in-law does not love her'.

However, the person who is most panicked at this moment is precisely the most favored concubine Zheng Mengjing.

"Your Majesty, there seem to be more and more memorials to impeach you from the previous dynasty recently. I have been eating and chanting in the harem all day long, but I haven't been able to hear anything clear from my ears."

As soon as Queen Mother Li opened her mouth, she directly pointed at Zheng Mengjing and said coldly:

"I heard that your brother not only sold his official position and occupied fertile land in private, but also collaborated with some charlatans and magicians to curse the eldest son of the emperor!
  Even during this period, the "demon book" case that became famous all over the world was your brother's conspiracy and planning behind the scenes!

Nowadays, these things have been spread throughout the court, and the ministers have come to remonstrate with them because of this matter, asking the emperor to depose you as a noble concubine! What do you have to say about this? "

Being directly criticized by her mother-in-law, the usually arrogant Empress Zheng was terrified at this moment. She hurriedly lifted her clothes and knelt down, lowered herself, and replied humbly but evasively:

"When I return to my mother, it's all my son's fault. It's all my son's fault for failing to admonish his good brother! So much so that he didn't even know he was deceived by a villain!

Mother, please trust me! Please believe in my brother! I dare to guarantee it! It is absolutely impossible for him to have the intention to curse the emperor's heir! It is even more impossible to plan the so-called demon book case! "

Zheng Mengjing explained sincerely, and there were even a few tears with the meaning of 'innocent' falling from the corners of his eyes.

If you see the grievance scene of a beautiful woman shedding tears in the eyes of a man, most of them will feel pity. But at this time, all the people sitting in Cining Palace were women.

It's not that women don't feel sorry for women, it's just that the traces of Zheng Mengjing's "grievance" performance were too obvious. Even a timid and slow person like Concubine Gong and Wang Shi could see the clues, not to mention that she was touching her all the way from the lowest palace maid. Where is Queen Mother Li who is rolling around and fighting?

"Okay, don't cry." Queen Mother Li showed no pity. In her eyes, these methods Zheng Mengjing used were just leftovers from her past. She asked:
  "Are you saying that the ministers of the previous dynasty are all slandering your brother? Or are you saying that your brother's private corruption and bribery, selling his official position for personal benefit, cursing the emperor's heirs, and plotting a demon book are not considered guilty?"

"Queen Mother..." Zheng Mengjing saw that it was useless to pretend to be pitiful, so she knelt down at the feet of Empress Dowager Li without any image, hugged Empress Dowager Li's thigh, and cried loudly and straightforwardly:
  "Mother! My son's brother loves money at most, but he can't do such fatal things as cursing the emperor's heir and plotting demon books. Even if I kill him, I wouldn't dare to do it!"

Zheng Mengjing spoke from her heart this time. She knew very well what kind of virtue her brother Zheng Guotai was.

Her brother-in-law was greedy for money and sex at most, but she couldn't believe that Zheng Guotai could do such fatal and brain-intensive things as cursing the emperor's heir and planning the demon book!
  Zheng Mengjing didn't believe it was Zheng Mengjing's fault. In short, today's ministers in the DPRK and China seemed to have grabbed hold of some pigtails. Not only did they frantically impeach the two brothers and sisters, they even labeled the mastermind behind the 'Demon Book Case'. It was pinned on the two brothers and sisters!
  The key is, it all seems to be justified!

Zheng Mengjing really wanted to die. At the same time, she was also wondering, where did these ministers get the news?
  Didn't the emperor's husband Zhu Yijun already say that the matter of 'cursing the emperor's heir' has come to an end?
  But now why not just turn over the past! They even implicated the two brothers and sisters as the mastermind behind the weird 'Demon Book Case'!
  "Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...Mother, you have to make the decision for me..."

Zheng Mengjing cried so much that it could be said that she had no image. In the past, when she cried in front of Zhu Yijun, it was like pear blossoms and rain.

But now when she was crying in front of her mother-in-law, Queen Mother Li, Zheng Mengjing even cried out snot bubbles. The main thing was 'sincerity'.

Facts have proved that there is some use in being miserable. Queen Mother Li is not a hard-hearted person. After all, Zheng Mengjing has given birth to children for her son. She said helplessly:
  "Get up. All right and wrong will ultimately depend on the emperor's decision. Don't be too arrogant recently. Just stay in Cining Palace, eat fast and chant Buddha's name with me, so as not to go out and provoke unnecessary troubles."

Zheng Mengjing hurriedly thanked her after hearing this. Although she would be forced to live with her mother-in-law, she knew very well that Queen Mother Li's move that seemed to 'imprison' her was actually to protect her.

……

Zheng Mengjing temporarily 'escaped' from the disaster. Immediately afterwards, Queen Mother Li issued an eviction order and sent away the other four daughters-in-law.

These four daughters-in-law were all confused. They didn't quite understand. Could it be that the purpose of Empress Dowager Li calling them to Cining Palace was to let them watch Zheng Mengjing cry?

With doubts, several people left the hall one after another.

At the same time, a group of people were arguing outside the gate of Cining Palace.

"Ahhh!! I don't care, I'm going to ride a big horse!! I'm going to ride a big horse!!"

The six-year-old naughty boy Zhu Changxun was lying on the ground, yelling and splashing.

In addition to the accompanying palace attendants, standing beside him were his eldest sister, Princess Rongchang Zhu Xuanyu, who looked helpless, his eldest brother Zhu Changluo, who was shrinking his neck and looking frightened, and his cousin Zhu Xuan, who kept rolling his eyes. Yao.

His Majesty the Emperor's favorite prince shouted that he wanted to ride a big horse. Logically speaking, the palace people should rush forward one after another and volunteer to "become a cow and a horse".

However, at this moment, everyone's expressions were confused.

It's not that the palace people are unwilling to ride as a horse for His Highness the Third Prince, it's that the aloof Highness the Third Prince specifically named someone to ride for him.

If this person were an ordinary slave, it would be nothing. The key point is that the 'big horse' Zhu Changxun named was his eldest brother: Zhu Changluo, the eldest son of the emperor.

Zhu Changluo is ten years old this year. Ten-year-old children are at the time when their bodies are growing. However, as the eldest son of the emperor, he is not only shorter than children of the same age, but also thin and frivolous. He looks like he can blow if the wind is strong. Pretty average.

It is no exaggeration to say that if the fat brother Zhu Changxun, who is as round as a pig's head, really rides on the thin Zhu Changluo, he may be able to break several of his slender ribs.

"Ahh! I want to ride a big horse! Brother Emperor, just let me ride! You stingy! If you don't let me ride! I will tell my father! I will let him beat you to death!"

Zhu Changxun's behavior got even worse. Not only did he become more and more aggressive, he even moved out the father Zhu Yijun who loved him the most but was also the one Zhu Changluo feared the most.

The moment he heard that Zhu Changxun was going to complain to the emperor's father, Zhu Changluo, who was already shrinking his head, became even more panicked. As an older brother, he actually hurriedly begged his younger brother:

"Don't... Third brother, please don't tell Father... I... I just ride for you..."

"Wait!" Zhu Xuanyao, who was seven years old at the time, interrupted Zhu Changluo who was trying to compromise. She said angrily to Zhu Changluo:

"Brother! He wants to file a complaint! Just let him file a complaint! I don't believe that Uncle Huang will blame you for this!"

(End of this chapter)