Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

"Does King Xing also have to be locked up here?"

It was at this moment that a discordant voice suddenly sounded.

Although this is a question, the tone is full of doubt and also reveals an absolute negative attitude.

Many nobles came this time. Although the British Duke Zhang Mao did not come, he sent representatives to attend the birthday banquet. Naturally, the Marquis himself was also present.

It's just that marriages between nobles in the capital are very common. They are related to Uncle Jingyuan's mansion, and they may not even be able to escape the execution of the Nine Clans.

Looking at all the dignitaries in the room, only Xingwang Zhu Youqi looked like a Tianshan snow lotus.

Not only was his identity and status extremely noble, but he also had no blood relationship with Uncle Jingyuan's Mansion. Song Cheng naturally had no reason to prevent Prince Xing from leaving.

"Master Song, we can stay, King Xing will let you go immediately!"

"This is really nonsense. How can His Highness Prince Xing be trapped here?"

"How noble King Xing is, I will personally escort His Highness back to the palace!"

…

The scene that had just been controlled by Song Cheng suddenly became riotous again as they played the King Xing card because King Xing was here.

Although Wang Zeng's plan to assassinate the emperor failed, the main purpose of many officials and nobles attending the banquet was political speculation, and they also wanted to hug Zhu Youqi before he became successful.

Whether it was to please Xing Wang Zhu Youqi this time, or to take the opportunity to create chaos and escape, now they all had enough reasons to put pressure on Song Cheng.

Although Prince Xing Zhu Youqi was only fifteen years old and accidentally wet his pants, he was still a high-ranking prince. He quickly realized that no one dared to stop him, and he did not need to be afraid of a little Shuntian governor.

"Quiet!"

Facing the people who were using King Xing to put pressure on him, Song Cheng said loudly with no expression on his dark face.

In fact, this matter does not involve King Xing, but once King Xing leaves now, a hole will be opened in the house arrest here. What's more, King Xing can't go back alone. Now Wang Jia's entourage also has to accompany him, but there is no guarantee that someone will take the opportunity to escape.

The most important thing is that the nine clans that are searching for Wang Zeng are about to come, and it is not appropriate to let the news spread now. This will make it more difficult for the court to kill Wang Zeng.

That's why the best plan is to prevent King Xing from leaving and put all these people under house arrest here, waiting for the emperor's next move or to directly confiscate their homes and exterminate their clans.

A person's name, the shadow of a tree.

Although Song Cheng's official position is indeed not high, everyone knows that Song Cheng is a selfless and honest official. Officials and nobles such as Guanglu Temple Qing Zhangge chose to stay quiet.

"His Royal Highness King Xing!"

Zhu Youqi was a little nervous at first, but when he thought of his identity, he responded proudly: "Yin of the Song Dynasty, please tell me!"

"Your Majesty wants you to fulfill your filial piety, and that's why you are allowed to stay in the capital for a long time! If you still don't know how to be grateful and considerate of His Majesty, and even bring crisis to His Majesty, then I have no choice but to ask for an order to be punished immediately. Become a vassal!" Song Cheng turned to look at Zhu Youjie and threatened in a serious manner.

"Song Prefecture Yin really has such a strong tone. King Xing's issue with the vassalage is such a big matter that it is not your turn as a small Shuntian Prefecture Yin to decide!" Zhang Qian, the minister of Taipu Temple, made up his mind and hugged Prince Xing's thigh. , stood up to defend King Xing and said: "King Xing, there may be danger here, please take the king's car back to the palace immediately, and I will clear the way for you!"

Faced with Song Cheng's threat, Zhu Youji felt a surge of unknown anger in his heart.

Once he leaves the capital at this time, he will become a feudal lord, not to mention that he will immediately be far away from his mother, concubine, and two younger brothers, and will probably lose the throne as a result.

Although Song Cheng has always been known as Song Qingtian, a Song Qingtian who is rarely seen in a hundred years among the people, he already hates Song Cheng in his heart and will definitely get rid of this person when he inherits the throne.

Zhu Youqi didn't know how to deal with Song Cheng's threat at first, but when he saw the dignified third-rank Taipusi Qing defending himself like this, he felt confident and said: "Very good!"

Prince Consort Wang Zeng and Prince Jingyuan Wang Xian had been escorted outside by Zhao Dayan, while Princess Jiashan who stayed here watched all this silently.

The development of the situation has exceeded her expectations. Although the entire Jingyuan Jingbo Mansion can be raided based on mere speculation, the emperor and the black-faced young man in front of him seem to have obtained substantial evidence of guilt.

As for King Xing's forced departure, she naturally had no reason to interfere. Instead, she watched with interest whether the black-faced young man would be released or insisted on being detained.

After receiving the statement from Prince Xing Zhu Youqian, Zhang Qian looked at Song Cheng standing in the middle of the avenue fiercely and said: "Song Cheng, why don't you quickly make way for His Highness Prince Xing?"

“Good dogs don’t deserve justice!”

"Prince Xing didn't even let him leave. Is that the opposite?"

"What are you doing here, do you really dare not to give way?"

…

Guanglu Temple Qing Zhangge and other officials and nobles did not have a good impression of Song Cheng in the first place. Now that they saw the conflict between Song Cheng and King Xing, they also wanted to make trouble for Song Cheng.

"Zhang Siqing, my lords, may I ask whether you are the emperor's ministers or the ministers of King Xing?" Song Cheng asked seriously in front of the officials and nobles.

Perhaps because of their different stances, it seems to be a matter of course to these people, but in their own hearts it is completely different, so they have no intention of backing down.

Taichang Shaoqing Zhai Ying was slightly stunned at first, and then said confidently: "What do you mean by this? I am naturally a minister of the emperor, but Prince Xing is the prince of the Ming Dynasty, the oldest brother of the current emperor!"

"My Yin is here today to carry out imperial errands according to the emperor's order. You actually obeyed King Xing's order and asked my Yin to make way. Do you still have the emperor in your eyes?" Song Cheng's face straightened and he asked very seriously.

Faced with this sudden counterattack, Guanglu Temple Qing Zhangge and other officials and nobles suddenly panicked and said: "I...we don't mean this!"

"In the case of Chen Ji, your Kedao Yanguo has the duty to monitor the misconduct of all officials. How are you going to handle this matter?" Song Cheng did not intend to give up, but looked at the middle-aged official who had been silent and asked.

Chen Jishi came to attend this birthday party for political speculation. Now that he knew that he would be eliminated if he didn't show a good performance, he re-established his stance and said: "I will keep today's events as they are." I will report to Your Majesty, and I will also impeach those who ignore the emperor's orders!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone present was immediately shocked, but they realized that they had once again set themselves on fire this time.

"Prince Xing, what about you?" Song Cheng didn't seem to be planning to stop there, but turned to look at Zhu Youqi who was being defended by everyone.

Zhu Youqian was hating these wallflowers. He looked at Song Cheng and said solemnly: "What is my fault?"

"Although you are a prince, you are also a subject of the emperor, but you dare to encourage these people to cause trouble and disobey the emperor's orders. This is not what a subject did! Since you don't want to stay here, then don't stay here anymore. Please move to the prison of Shuntian Mansion!" Song Cheng's eyes did not look at King Xing from the beginning to the end, and he immediately made a decision.

ah?

Guanglu Temple Qing Zhangge and other officials and nobles were completely stunned, and even suspected that their ears had heard wrongly.

This little Shuntian Prefecture Yin not only ignored the dignified King Xing, now the first heir of the Ming Dynasty, but also wanted to detain Prince Xing back to the Shuntian Prefecture.

I have seen bold and arrogant people, but I have never seen such a arrogant person. I am afraid that this is the first Shuntian governor to imprison a prince in history.

Zhu Youqian had actually begun to imagine that he was the emperor. Now that he heard that Song Cheng was going to throw him into the Shuntian Mansion Prison, he pointed at his nose in disbelief: "You want to imprison me?"

"Come here, take Prince Xing away! Anyone who dares to stop my Yin from carrying out the emperor's mission is going against the imperial court. Anyone who dares to resist with force will be killed!" Song Cheng was unwilling to talk nonsense to this group of people anymore, and appeared to be tough and big-handed. One wave.

Guanglu Temple Qing Zhangge and other officials and nobles looked at each other and finally realized that the current emperor was Hongzhi, and Song Cheng was an out-and-out imperialist.

Even though King Xing was the one closest to the throne, he was not the emperor after all.

In the face of the supreme imperial power, not to mention the non-important ministers such as Guanglu Temple Qing Zhangge, even the aloof King Xing is actually not worth mentioning.

"Let's go!" Detective Zhao Dayan stepped forward and urged Zhu Youqiao coldly.

Zhu Youqi looked at the others for help, but no one dared to stand up and defend himself.

At this moment, he missed his mother and concubine in the palace very much, and had an urge to cry. He was also slowly giving up the crazy idea of ​​becoming an emperor.

The front and back doors of the Prince Consort's Mansion were already heavily guarded, and Prince Consort Wang Zeng, Jingyuan Bo Wang Xian and Xing Wang Zhu Youqi were taken to the Shuntian Mansion Prison.

Xiyuan, west bank of Taiye Lake.

The entrance of the tunnel has been exposed to the sun, and the dark hole is just on the edge of the racecourse. It is just a hole that allows one person to enter.

Now Jinwu Guards are guarding the entrances at both ends of the tunnel. The interior of the tunnel has been explored, and several craftsmen who were originally hiding inside were arrested by people from the East Factory.

"Your Majesty, I have already investigated clearly. This tunnel is quite large and very spacious inside. It seems that Wang Zeng's ambition is not small!" Tan Conggui reported respectfully.

Seeing the increasingly mature and steady Qin Conggui, Zhu Youtang asked calmly: "How safe is this tunnel?"

"If it is reinforced, it will be foolproof!" Tan Conggui felt a slight movement in his heart and said with absolute certainty.

Qin Conggui went to Nanjing a few years ago to take over the position of Nanjing garrison eunuch left by Wang Zhi, but he has performed well recently and reported everything to the emperor in every detail like Wang Zhi.

Just at the beginning of this year, he was appointed by Zhu Youtang as the new factory supervisor of the East Factory. He became one of the power supervisors of the dynasty and will also be one of the emperor's most important minions.

After these years of ups and downs, he understood what role he should play, and he was grateful for Zhu Youtang's cultivation and new trust.

Although the emperor did not make any clear statement, facing this ready-made tunnel, he vaguely had a brand new plan in his mind.

"Your Majesty, I believe that this tunnel should be filled immediately!" Liu Xuan, Minister of the Ministry of War, had just been summoned here, but he expressed his opinion.

Zhu Youtang was noncommittal, turned to look at Liu Xuandan and said, "But there is another change in Beiyuan?"

"Beiyuan conducted a large-scale raid on our night department, and yesterday they took away one of our branches!" Liu Xuan reported bitterly when he heard that it was the business he was responsible for.

Ever since Dayan Khan went back on his word and broke with Ming Dynasty, the relationship between the two parties has dropped to a freezing point. As another plan of the Ming Dynasty was launched, the relationship between the two sides became incompatible. The first one to bear the brunt was the Night Department established by the Ministry of War.

Under Manduhai's iron fist, Yebu's outpost in Beiyuan faced the biggest disaster since its establishment, and the number of manpower lost had reached three digits.

You must know that the manpower of the Yebu comes from Ye Bushou in the north. Each of them is the best intelligence officer. The loss of one of them will make Liu Xuan feel distressed.

Zhu Youtang sighed secretly when he heard this loss. Since he had personally checked the situation at the tunnel entrance, he took the dragon chariot back to Yangxin Hall.

In fact, almost all of his activities were on the east coast. If he didn't occasionally want to ride a horse and shoot arrows, it would be absolutely impossible for him to go to the west coast area. If it is night, return to the Forbidden City to live.

Not to mention that the assassination planned by Wang Zeng had already been seen by him, even if he really didn't know it at all, it was not easy to assassinate the emperor, and the success rate was even very low.

"I have come to deliver my order!" Song Cheng, who was wearing a third-grade official uniform, had been waiting here for a long time and looked respectful.

After uncovering the mastermind Wang Zeng, his mission has actually been completed. If the emperor wanted to punish Wang Zeng and the nine clans, then one yamen of Shuntian Prefecture could no longer be responsible, but all yamen would have to cooperate.

In particular, Wang Zeng was not a descendant of a poor family. His ancestors had served as officials in the Yuan Dynasty, and when Wang Ji became a member of the family, they spread their branches and branches. The number of his clan members in Shulu County ranges from a few hundred to several hundred.

Zhu Youtang looked at the capable general in front of him. The particularly authentic thing was that Song Cheng was the first to discover it: "Song Qing, thank you for your hard work this time! Fortunately, you discovered the authentic thing this time. I am very happy. I don't know what reward you want." ?”

"This is my duty, I don't want any reward!" Song Cheng's eyes were very calm, but he refused directly.

Zhu Youtang actually wanted to promote Song Cheng, but the current Shuntian government office had to be helmed by someone like Song Cheng: "Reward for merit! Tell me what you want, or what you want me to do. , you can mention it!”

"I'm afraid of offending Long Yan!" Song Cheng did have a small wish, he hesitated for a moment before expressing his stance.

Zhu Youtang knew that Song Cheng was a rare direct minister, so he seemed very generous and said: "I forgive your innocence!"

"The fact that your majesty has no heirs has caused a storm in the city. Some courtiers have already found another way out and are heading to Prince Xing's Mansion! I think that your majesty can choose a vassal prince to succeed you. On the one hand, it can ensure that Taizong's heirs will continue, and on the other hand, it can establish the foundation of the country. To prevent unrest, this is what I want!" Song Cheng knew that he had violated a taboo, but he still said it bravely.

Liu Jin's expression changed, and he pretended to be reprimanding him: "How impudent! Your Majesty is now in the prime of life, how can he have no heirs, and why should he find a stepson?"

Zhu Youtang's good mood just now disappeared, and he looked at Song Cheng angrily. If he hadn't opened his mouth just now, he really wanted to have Song Cheng dragged out and beheaded.

call out!

At this moment, an arrow flew straight towards this side.

"assassin!"

Song Cheng originally wanted to observe the emperor's reaction, but when he raised his eyelids, he saw an arrow shooting towards the emperor, and his heart immediately rose to his throat.

At this moment, the entire team panicked, but it was obviously too late.

puff!

The silver arrow hit the unsuspecting Zhu Youtang. He covered his wound in pain and fell on the dragon chariot.

How can it be?

Song Cheng looked in the direction where the silver arrow was shot, and found that the person above was actually the Northern Concubine Yi Kexi, but he couldn't help being completely dumbfounded. (End of chapter)