I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 26 Secret Message
Just as Liu Ju expected.

Only two days later, the Chief Justice's troops appeared in Puyang, Dongjun.

Then they launched a thunder-like arrest operation, and all the officials involved in the destruction of dikes and flooding of fields were brought to justice.

The next day, he immediately set out on the journey back to Beijing to report.

It was so swift and decisive that it gave people the feeling that they were trying to steal the honorific label.

As Liu Ju was the crown prince, he was naturally not among those escorted.

Even the Chief Justice Zhao Yu had to politely "invite" him to return to the capital to meet the emperor, and the officials and attendants of the Prince's Palace were also not troubled.

But Ji Ren and Guo Chang did not receive such treatment.

Since these two were arrested by the Supreme Court, they have cut off all contact with the outside world.

It would be extremely difficult for the crown prince Liu Ju to meet them, but fortunately he had made preparations in advance. Now it all depended on how Du Zhou would mediate...

A few more days passed like this.

After returning to Chang'an, the troops were immediately divided into three groups.

One group of people "escorted" Liu Ju back to the Prince's Mansion, one group of people went directly to the Imperial Censorate, and the Chief Censor Zhao Yu led the third group of people to the Weiyang Palace to report.

When they parted, Liu Ju still hadn't seen Ji Ren and Guo Chang.

But he met Du Zhou.

Over the past few days, Du Zhou looked even more depressed than before.

It seems that because of his poor performance this time, he has had a hard time. He must have been questioned and scolded by his superiors and endured tons of mental pressure.

Noticed the gaze cast by Liu Ju.

When their eyes met, Du Zhou didn't say anything, but nodded as if nothing had happened.

Liu Ju also nodded slightly in response.

At this moment he finally felt relieved.

It seems that Du Zhou finally believed in his third way to survive, and Ji Ren and Guo Chang lived in peace along the way.

When I returned to the Prince's Mansion.

The officials, waiters and slaves in the mansion had already made preparations in advance. They all lined up to welcome him with smiles on their faces and served him attentively.

However, Liu Ju could still sense obvious uneasiness and worry from them.

After all, if Liu Ju’s position as crown prince is no longer secure, their good days will be over.

Not only is there no unemployment benefit at this time, but being able to avoid being implicated is already a blessing in disguise.

After he takes a shower and changes his clothes, he feels refreshed.

The Prince's Secretary Ji Ping came forward shyly, showing an ugly smile and said, "Your Highness, did the trip go smoothly?"

Ji Ping is over sixty years old and is the oldest official in the Prince's Palace. He is in charge of the government affairs of the palace, the town, and the bureau on weekdays.

When Liu Ju was still young, he also took on some tutoring responsibilities and was considered half a teacher.

"Mr. Ji, do you really not know about Puyang's situation, or are you asking even though you already know the answer?"

Liu Ju took a sip of hot tea and looked over curiously.

Ji Ping bowed and told the truth:

"Your Highness, please forgive me. I know the truth but I don't dare to believe it. I want to ask but I don't dare to ask directly."

"That's knowing."

Liu Ju nodded, thinking that you were speaking in a riddle, "Do you still want to take the Imperial College entrance exam?" But he continued, "So after this matter was reported back to Chang'an, what was the reaction from my father?"

"I am an old and stupid minister. I don't know what your Highness is asking..."

Ji Ping was stunned for a moment, feeling that the question Liu Ju asked was very problematic.

The emperor was not someone that a prince like him could come into contact with through official means, so even if there was any reaction, how could he possibly know?

Of course he also knew that this was not what Liu Ju was asking.

But this is not important.

The important thing is, what's the hint of expectation in Liu Ju's tone?

After a slight hesitation, Ji Ping immediately continued, "Is it considered appropriate that after His Majesty learned of this, he immediately ordered the court to mobilize all its troops to go to Puyang?"

"What else?" "And... On the second day, many Confucian scholars and officials gathered at the Golden Horse Gate, requesting to see the emperor and plead for the people, but His Majesty did not summon them into the palace."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ju immediately perked up and moved forward:

"Anymore?"

"And...and...oh, that's right!"

Ji Ping thought for a long time, and then he suddenly remembered something, "I heard that a few days ago, His Majesty summoned the great scholar Dong Zhongshu alone, and it seemed that he was debating scriptures."

"Debate...Scripture?"

This news made Liu Ju a little confused.

With such a big thing happening, how big was Liu Che's heart that he still had the mood to debate?

"Exactly."

Ji Ping nodded and said, "As for what the debate was about, it has not been determined yet, but I heard that when Dong Zhongshu came out of the palace, His Majesty rewarded him with 100 gold and 100 pieces of silk, which could not fit in several carriages."

"Moreover, Dong Zhongshu was reappointed by His Majesty and was said to have been appointed as the Minister of Imperial Households."

"This……"

Hearing this, Liu Ju felt even more puzzled.

Not only was Liu Che in the mood to debate, but he actually gave Dong Zhongshu a new official title?

I always feel that this matter is particularly unusual.

As far as he knew, although Dong Zhongshu was a great Confucian scholar of the time, he also served as an important advisor in Emperor Wu of Han's policy of "abolishing all schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone."

But in fact, he was almost never reused by Emperor Liu Che in his life.

At first, he was sent by Emperor Liu Che to serve as prime minister to King Yi of Jiangdu, and later he was sent to serve as prime minister to King Jiaoxi.

During this period, due to the fire in Changling and Gaomiao, he wrote a letter to the emperor to publicize the connection between heaven and man, saying that it was the anger of heaven because of Liu Che's actions, and he was almost beheaded by Liu Che.

after that.

Dong Zhongshu then completely lowered his head and resigned from his post on the grounds of old age and frailty, and never dared to comment on state affairs again.

It was not until his death that he wrote a memorial firmly opposing the state-run salt and iron industry. Then he died of illness at home before Liu Che had a chance to respond.

Back to the present.

Now it should be the stage where Dong Zhongshu is staying at home and behaving himself like a good person after resigning from office.

Liu Che suddenly summoned him to debate scriptures at this time, and reappointed him as an official, and he was no longer the kind of local official who could be ignored...

This incident is very different from the records in history books.

This made Liu Ju wonder whether it was related to what he, the time traveler, had done, such as the destruction of the dikes and the flooding of the fields this time?

But what specific connection could there be?

Liu Ju couldn't think of any clues for a while...

Putting this matter aside for the moment, Liu Ju continued to ask: "Anything else?"

at this time.

"Your Highness, I have something important to report!"

Suddenly, the voice of Guo Zhen, the prince's horseman, came from outside the door.

"come in."

Liu Ju responded.

Guo Zhen then limped in, twisting his hips and presenting a small bamboo tube with both hands:

"Your Highness, a sneaky person just came outside the palace. He left this bamboo tube and ran away without saying anything. The Zhongdun guarding the gate couldn't catch up with him no matter how hard he tried."

Liu Ju took it and looked at it, only to find that one end of the bamboo tube was closed and the other end was sealed with mud.

There were only four words written on the outside of the bamboo tube: "From the Lord of the Palace."

Who is the master of the Prince’s Mansion?

Naturally, it was the Crown Prince Liu Ju.

He just deliberately used the word "Lord of the Mansion" instead of "Crown Prince" to conceal his true identity. Is this a spy game?
(End of this chapter)