Phoenix that can't smile

Chapter 558 Falling Flowers and Flowing Water, Spring Gone (2)
"Empress, Concubine Jiang has stumbled a few times in front of the king, and she is still scheming and scheming. These days, not only has she not restrained herself, she has continued to spread rumors that are not good for the court, taking the opportunity to provoke right and wrong. The empress must not soften her heart. We must strike back at Concubine Jiang severely!" Concubine Ge was filled with righteous indignation and urged Bao Si to get up.

"Okay, many unrighteous deeds will result in your own death. Don't panic. I have a plan in my heart. If Concubine Jiang continues to do evil, she will naturally suffer her own end." With a wink, he said calmly.

Facing Ming Gong, who was furious and angry, Cheng Rong, who came to kowtow, raised doubts about the case of Zhou Tong, the father of Mei Guiren, to Ming Gong: "My lord, after many inquiries, although I found that Lord Zhou Tong was in It is true that the border crossing permits the people to trade with Xirong, but this is definitely not smuggling and betraying the country. The fact is that it is an expedient measure to make up for the losses of the people at the border and to provide disaster relief. Since then, the number of hungry people at the border has decreased, and the income of the border has also exceeded the sum of the past.”

"Needless to say, Cheng Rong, I understand that Zhou Tong's method is not without benefits, but he relies on the emperor's relatives, behind my back, and secretly changed the border laws and regulations. Shaking his head, he retorted stubbornly.

"But my lord, I suspect that someone deliberately framed the mother and daughter of Lord Zhou Tong." Cheng Rong said bluntly.

"Intentionally framed? Why, you also heard about the incident in the harem?" Ming Gong frowned in surprise and asked.

"Your Majesty, I didn't dare to inquire about matters in the harem, but some matters related to the government affairs of the court, so I had to be careful. Think about it, in the harem, Mei Gui has a pure nature and is always afraid of causing trouble. How could you have the courage to admit that you poisoned the queen this time, wouldn't it be against the common sense?" Cheng Rong said.

"Huh? Cheng Rong, you mean that Mei Gui was secretly blackmailed, and in order to protect her father, she pleaded guilty on purpose?" Ming Gong asked with a stroke of his beard.

"Your Majesty, I checked Mei Guiren's statement, and she gave extremely contradictory accounts of the crime. How could it be that a suspect can't even explain how she poisoned the Queen?" Cheng Rong further questioned.

"That's right, Cheng Rong. Listening to what you said made me suddenly enlightened. Tell me quickly, is the case in the harem necessarily related to Zhou Tong's matter?" Ming Gong's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked Cheng Rong.

Cheng Rong cupped his hands and said, "I suspect that Master Zhou Tong allowed the people to trade with each other at the border. There was a playbook reported to the court, but someone with ulterior motives withheld Master Zhou's playbook and refused to publish it, and then framed Lord Zhou for a capital crime. Threatening Mr. Mei Gui again, if he refuses to admit the trumped-up crime, Master Zhou will be put to death!"

"It sounds like your words are reasonable. I want to come. More than half of the memorials from various places are submitted by the cabinet ministers. Cheng Rong, you go to the cabinet to see who is secretly stumbling and concealing Zhou Tong's suggestion. Ming Gong nodded, and immediately ordered Cheng Rong.

"My lord, His Royal Highness King Lu came from the fief to pay his respects to his majesty, saying that he has something important to see." At this moment, Xiao Ruzi, a former imperial eunuch outside the palace, suddenly came in and knelt down to report to Ming Gong.

"Prince Lu? Xiu'er? Oh, I almost forgot. It will be the New Year's Eve in a few days. According to the usual practice, the prince should go to Beijing to pay his respects to the widow. Xiao Ruzi, please send a message that King Lu is coming in. It's very cold outside. Minggong thought about it carefully, and suddenly smiled.

In a moment, the majestic and heroic Lu Wang Chuxiu, wearing the prince's costume, entered the room with vigorous steps, knelt down and kowtowed, and saluted Ming Gong.

(End of this chapter)