The emperor was furious, and the left temple was throbbing.
The emperor became more and more irritable because of his headache.
The emperor wants to kill people when he is angry.
His eyes swept across everyone's face.
Who do you want to kill?
In other words, who should die?
It seemed that no one present deserved to die. In other words, it wasn't time for these people to die yet.
Then the people who deserve to die must be those heartless people who kidnap and traffic people.
"Golden Guards, Embroidered Uniform Guards, and Minister of the Imperial Household, I demand your full attention in investigating this case. Not a single person can be spared. Even if he is a three-year-old child, no one can be spared. I demand their blood be sacrificed to heaven, earth, and all the people!"
The emperor was full of murderous intent and obviously wanted to kill people.
Everyone was trembling with fear, wondering how many people would die this time.
Can a few hundred heads appease the emperor's anger?
Or does it require thousands of people?
At this moment, Liu Zhao stepped out.
A mere thousand heads are not enough.
He wanted to send more heads to the emperor.
"Grandfather, I have something important to report. It concerns the imperial palace."
The emperor stared at Liu Zhao with bloodshot eyes.
Liu Zhao was not afraid and remained firm in his attitude.
The emperor waved his hand, and the Jinwu Guards and others all left the hall.
Liu Zhao used his ultimate move.
Human trafficking, this is just the beginning!
The real danger is to whitewash the identities of the trafficked people and send them to the palace.
After a day and a night of hard work, Liu Zhao finally found a clue. Lan Xiang hadn't lied; her judgment was correct.
The kidnapping group did secretly send people to the palace.
There are palace maids and eunuchs.
This is not something that has only happened in recent years.
If we trace back to the origin, it can probably be traced back to more than a hundred years ago, when the Great Zhou was founded.
It was a dark time, with kings vying for supremacy and the people living in poverty. It was also a feast for kidnappers.
A large number of people were bought and sold, some were enslaved, some suffered a life worse than death. Among them, there were also some outstanding and intelligent people who were sent to the imperial palace.
How deep was the water in this matter? Was it related to the concubines in the harem? Liu Zhao did not investigate further.
The waters were too deep, and his identity was too sensitive, so even touching the surface was already a source of suspicion. If the investigation continued, the consequences would be unpredictable.
Liu Zhao used his extraordinary willpower and desire to survive to suppress his inner curiosity, and also suppressed King Ning's curiosity.
When he touched the end of the thread, he stopped decisively.
He handed the matter over to the emperor and asked him to decide whether to continue investigating.
When his identity changes in the future and he no longer worries about the unimaginable consequences, perhaps he will restart the investigation into this matter.
First, it is to satisfy my curiosity, and second, it is to give myself an explanation.
The emperor looked at the materials handed over by Liu Zhao, made bold and crazy guesses, and his face turned ashen.
The muscles on the emperor's cheeks twitched one after another, and his head hurt more and more, making him feel like he was dying.
The emperor gritted his teeth, "Is this true?"
"My grandson dares not deceive my grandfather."
Bang!
The emperor slammed his fist on the table.
He turned around suddenly and stared at Chen Dachang.
Chen Dachang's heart trembled. He didn't know the content of the materials Liu Zhao handed over, but he instinctively felt danger.
Without any doubt, Cheng Dachang knelt on the ground.
Because he knelt down, the palace maids and eunuchs serving in the hall also knelt down one after another.
Regardless of whether you are wrong or not, it is definitely right to kneel down and apologize.
The emperor's mind was in turmoil, with all kinds of thoughts flashing through his mind.
The eunuchs cannot be allowed to investigate this matter themselves. What if they collude to deceive others?
This matter can only be investigated by the Jinwu Guards, no, it must be investigated by the Shaofu Household Commander and the Shaofu Prison Commander.
The Shaofu household manager is a member of the royal family and can be trusted.
He was the Junior Minister of the Imperial Household, childhood friend, and study companion, so of course he could be trusted.
The emperor made up his mind.
He suppressed the fear, panic, anger, and murderous intent in his heart and said calmly to Liu Zhao, "I know about this matter. You leave."
Liu Zhao bowed and retreated.
He didn't mention the Li family or Concubine Li De at all.
The clue is right there. Unless the Jinwu Guards and Xiuyi Guards are blind, they will definitely find out the vague connection between the Li family and this group of kidnappers.
Dig deeper and you'll find surprises.
Don't the Jinwu Guards love to handle major cases? As they beheaded the imperial clan and their relatives, the Jinwu Guards howled with excitement.
This time, he personally delivered the heads of the Li family. He didn't believe that the Jinwu Guards would let the Li family go.
…
"Young Master Zhao!"
When Liu Zhao was about to reach the palace gate, someone called him from behind.
He turned around and saw Minister Li walking towards him.
"So it's the Minister. If it's not the Minister, what are your orders?"
Liu Zhao spoke politely, but with a hint of indifference.
Minister Li didn't care.
He asked bluntly, "Your Ning Palace has launched one major case after another to avenge the Li family. So many people have died. Why don't you stop?"
Liu Zhao looked at Minister Li with a half-smile, "Who are you speaking for, Minister Li, standing here?"
Minister Li chuckled softly, "I am not speaking for anyone, I am only seeking justice for those who died unjustly."
"Unjust death?" Liu Zhao sneered. "How many of those who have died were wronged? Even if they were, My Lord Minister shouldn't seek justice from me. You should go to the culprit, the Li family.
If the Li family doesn't commit any crime, I won't be able to open a major case even if I want to. Also, your position is very problematic, my Lord, are you asking me to cover up for the crime?"
Minister Li frowned. "You know perfectly well that I never asked you to cover up a crime. I was simply reminding you that the same matter can be handled in different ways. Different methods lead to different results."
Liu Zhao sneered, "Sorry, I'm sorry, but I'm not on the same page. If you have nothing else to say, my Lord, I'll be leaving."
"Gongzi Zhao, do you really want to offend everyone in the Ning Palace? What good will it do you?"
Liu Zhao turned around and looked at Minister Li. "Your Excellency, what you said is very problematic. How could I not know that all the civil and military officials are on the side of the Li family? When will the Li family be able to dominate the world with one hand?"
Minister Li narrowed his eyes slightly, "You know I'm not talking about the Li family."
Liu Zhao lowered his head and smiled, "If you want to say something, please speak clearly."
Minister Li looked at Liu Zhao deeply and said, "Go back and tell Prince Ning that it's best to stop as soon as possible. Otherwise, you will regret it later."
Liu Zhao smiled jokingly, "Thank you for the reminder, my Lord. I'll take my leave."
Liu Zhao never underestimated his opponents, let alone the words of a powerful figure like Li Shizhong, so he dared not take them lightly.
Minister Li was originally a man of the wise and true Empress Cui.
Queen Ruizhen Cui died, and Crown Prince Renxuan also died, but Minister Li still sat firmly in the position of Minister. He was still a close minister of the emperor and could express his true feelings in front of the emperor.
From this we can see that this guy is very awesome, not just an ordinary awesome, but extremely awesome.
Although his current status is due to the contribution of the wise and true Empress Cui, the most important thing is that he has a solid foundation.
Only a capable person can continue to gain a foothold in the court after the death of his backer.
There are few people in the world who can please the late Empress Cui Ruizhen and the emperor at the same time.
Is this kind of person awesome?
Of course it’s awesome!
Liu Zhao did not dare to be careless. After returning to the palace, he went to see Prince Ning first.
He told Prince Ning exactly what Minister Li had said.
After hearing this, Prince Ning frowned.
Then he sighed, "We've stirred up a hornet's nest this time! Trouble!"
"Father, do you mean the palace?"
"Of course it's the palace. We've exposed the connection between the kidnapper and the palace. I don't know how many people will die this time. My father and I will become the public enemy of the eunuchs in the palace. Do you think it's troublesome?"
Liu Zhao asked a key question, "Which side does Chen Dachang stand on?"
Prince Ning didn't even think about it and said directly: "Chen Dachang's identity is innocent, he is definitely not a kidnapper's man?"
Liu Zhao didn't completely believe it. "Before sending someone to the palace, the kidnapper would whitewash the child's identity and create a clean family background."
Prince Ning tutted, "Do you think just anyone can serve me? I wouldn't let Chen Dachang serve me if I hadn't thoroughly investigated his entire eight generations of ancestors. A kidnapper can fabricate an identity, but he can't fabricate his entire eight generations of ancestors. However, you've reminded me that there are quite a few old men in the palace whose identities are indeed somewhat suspicious now that I think about it."
After saying this, Prince Ning looked at Chang En and asked, "Have you met Fang Shaojian's family?"
Chang En shook his head. "I've never seen him. I heard that Fang Shaojian is an orphan and has no family."
Prince Ning became concerned and asked, "Where's that old man from the Imperial Kitchen? Is there any doubt about his identity?"
Chang En knew the situation in the palace like the back of his hand. "The Chief Minister of Imperial Kitchen is a native of the capital. I heard he has a nephew who will take care of him in his old age and see him to the end of his life."
Prince Ning mentioned a few more names, and Chang En answered them one by one.
Some have problems, some don't.
Prince Ning sighed, stroked his beard, and said, "This is troublesome! If you speculate this way, there are quite a few people in the palace who are related to the kidnapper.
This time we have exposed their true colors. Once they get through this and have recovered, they will take mad revenge on us.
Trouble is here! I accidentally followed in the footsteps of Crown Prince Renxuan and became a thorn in the side of the palace eunuchs."
Prince Ning kept talking about trouble, but he didn't feel any regret at all.
So what if we expose their past?
In this world, there are no eternal friends, only eternal interests.
Now that Prince Ning is unhappy, he has overturned the table and reshuffled the cards. So what?
Do you have the guts to kill him?
He is not Prince Renxuan, who does not fight back when beaten or scolded.
Anyone who dares to do something sneaky to him will be treated a hundred times more vicious than the other person.
This is the attitude.
But be careful where you should be careful.
Prince Ning said, "Starting tomorrow, I will take leave and will not be going to the palace. Boss, you will continue your duties as usual and keep an eye on the goings-on in the palace."
Those bastards might get desperate. When you go out, take a few more people with you.
As for the Li family, they are like grasshoppers after autumn. Compared with the eunuchs in the imperial palace, they are a minor problem. There is no need to waste energy on them.
Prince Ning's approach was prudent and conservative.
Liu Zhao frowned. He felt that it was too cowardly to retreat like this.
"Why not take this opportunity to strike them in the weakest part?"
Prince Ning sneered and pointed at Liu Zhao, "You, you were born in the palace and have never lived in the palace. You still have some assumptions about the situation in the palace. Chang En, tell him what the situation is like in the palace."
Chang En bowed slightly, "My Lord, there are over 9,000 eunuchs in the palace, distributed among the four departments, six bureaus, and 24 yamen, in addition to the Ministry of the Imperial Household, the Imperial Mausoleum, and various imperial estates.
In addition, there were hundreds of people holding official positions, from eunuchs to supervisors, plus four thousand palace maids and hundreds of thousands of maids.
Any seemingly insignificant person here could have a dual identity. They couldn't kill them all. Perhaps they had someone planted in Prince Ning's mansion as well.
Your Majesty, this old servant suggests that we conduct another cleanup and inspection of the servants in the palace."
Prince Ning nodded. "I'll leave this matter to you. Anyone with a problem, no matter how big or small, will be expelled. I absolutely cannot have anyone with two minds around me. Especially those actors, singers, and dancers. Investigate them thoroughly, even their entire ancestral lineage."
The more Prince Ning thought about it, the more frightened he became.
Who organized this group of kidnappers?
The ambition is too big.
What’s even more terrifying is that they are omnipresent and their traces can be found everywhere.
Who is leading this group of people behind the scenes?
How could the Li family, a mere family, command such a vast power? Its tentacles extended to all the powerful families, even to the imperial palace?
The Li family obviously doesn't have this ability.
If we continue to think deeply, over the past 100 years of history of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the succession and removal of the throne, are there also the shadows of this group of people behind it?
Thinking of this, King Ning shuddered all over, with fear in his eyes.
Obviously Liu Zhao thought of this problem earlier than King Ning, so he wanted to hit their weak spot and completely wipe out this group of people.
Interfering with the succession and dethronement of the throne, is this something that an ordinary person would do?
The Li family has connections with kidnappers.
So when Concubine Li De entered the palace, was favored, and gave birth to a little prince, and so many people inside and outside the court were trying to build momentum for the little prince, was this also done at the behest of the person behind the kidnapper?
Could it be that Concubine Li De is their pawn?
Is their purpose to help the little prince ascend to the throne?
Continue to associate.
Crown Prince Renxuan was hated by the Emperor, and no one around him spoke up for him. They used to think it was the result of their own efforts. But could it be that someone behind the scenes was deliberately guiding them to do so?
This trap was deliberately set up just to kill the prince?
Because the prince has a good family background, his mother's family and his wife's family are all large families that have been passed down for hundreds of years.
To be honest, it is more difficult for a kidnapper to influence the inheritance of these big families than to influence the inheritance of the throne.
Why do you say that?
Because big families pay attention to the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children.
The person who inherits the family business must be a legitimate son, with his mother's family being prominent and his wife's family also being prominent.
But it is true that the royal family values legitimate and illegitimate children. It is also true that the royal family is the place in the world that values legitimate and illegitimate children the least.
The inheritance of the throne is fundamentally based on the ability of the people.
This ability is not about ability, but about who can have the last laugh.
It doesn't matter whether he is a legitimate or illegitimate prince, as long as he is a prince.
Even if the prince's mother was of humble origin and was a dancer, as long as he could have the last laugh, he could still become emperor.
But in a big family, it’s just a dream for a dancer’s son to inherit the family business.
It is better to adopt a legitimate child from the clan than to let the dancer's son lead the entire family.
Therefore, although it sounds difficult to influence the succession of the throne, it is actually not as difficult as influencing the succession of a large family.
Prince Ning said in horror, "Since Emperor Taizong, not a single legitimate heir to the throne has ever been born."
Liu Zhao added: "Xianzong's mother was of humble origin."
I come from a humble background; these are just polite words.
In fact, Xianzong's biological mother was originally a prostitute. She was redeemed and moved from one mansion to another. Finally, she came to the side of Gaozong who was still in the palace.
After Emperor Gaozong passed away, Emperor Xianzong succeeded to the throne, and a brothel girl suddenly became the empress dowager.
All the ladies from wealthy families had to pay their respects to the empress dowager who came from a humble background.
I wonder what psychological trauma the wives of wealthy families endured during those years. I wonder how gloomy I felt when I bowed.
Fortunately, Xianzong had no children.
After Xianzong died, he adopted a concubine's son from one of his brothers.
Yes, it is a bastard.
This illegitimate son was Emperor Zhongzong, Liu Zhao’s great-grandfather, Prince Ning’s grandfather, and the emperor’s biological father.
The emperor is also not born of a legitimate wife.
He overthrew the prince of noble birth, overthrew all his brothers, and climbed to the throne by stepping on mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
However, it is still a bit legendary that the emperor could ascend the throne.
The emperor's birthplace was not high, his mother was just a minor concubine in the harem, and she died a few years after giving birth to him.
The emperor has no maternal family, or his maternal family is too weak and can be completely ignored.
A prince without a maternal family, without any advantages, fought his way out of a bloody battle and ascended the throne to become emperor, which is beyond legend.
Looking back at the years before the emperor ascended the throne, there were several situations where he was sure to die, but he managed to avoid them all. How amazing!
Liu Zhao asked, "Father, could it be that Grandfather knew about the existence of this group of people in the palace?"
Could the emperor's ascension to the throne be the result of the planning of the people behind the kidnapper?
Prince Ning's face turned pale. He didn't dare to think too much about it, but he couldn't help thinking too much about it.
"Could it be that those people want to create a new emperor?"
In the eyes of that group of people, the little prince born to Concubine Li De was the best heir to the throne.
As for the deceased Crown Prince Renxuan, he was born into a noble family, and both his mother's family and his wife's family were wealthy. He did not need the help of a group of shady villains.
Therefore, Prince Renxuan must die.
Was Crown Prince Renxuan forced to death by the emperor?
Or was he forced to death by the big boss behind the kidnappers?
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－－
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