Chapter 226 Denial
To be on the safe side, Di Renjie also sent people to the Eastern Palace to ask for support from the Crown Prince Li Chengqian.
After receiving Di Renjie's letter for help, Li Chengqian immediately ordered Cheng Wuting to lead the Eastern Palace guards, as well as the troops of the Eastern Palace's Xunwei and Yiwei to provide support.
With the support of the Eastern Palace, Di Renjie quickly captured all of Zhang Liang's more than 200 fake sons hiding in Anyifang.
After a rigorous interrogation, apart from these people, nothing else could be found out.
On the other hand, Ma Zhou and his men hurried to the prison to interrogate Zhang Liang.
"Zhang Liang, your fake son Gongsun Chang and the sorcerer Cheng Gongying have confessed everything. They have accused you of treason." When Ma Zhou saw Zhang Liang, he didn't bother to be polite with him and went straight to the point.
Zhang Liang was shocked! At the same time, he greeted all the female ancestors of Cheng Gongying and the other two in his heart.
On the surface, he looked heartbroken. Zhang Liang sighed. Just when the two thought that Zhang Liang was going to confess and be lenient.
Zhang Liang said, "I treated them as my relatives and never treated them badly. I didn't expect them to frame me. I am really wronged!"
Ma Zhou looked ugly. Things had come to this point, and Zhang Liang was still quibbling. If he hadn't treasoned, Cheng Gongying and the other two could have testified against him.
Frame you, Cheng Gongying and the other two have to go to great lengths to frame you, is that necessary?
"Why did they frame you? If you hadn't told them, how could they say that you wanted to rebel?" Ma Zhou said.
"Minister Ma, you don't know, they have always been greedy and afraid of death, forgetting righteousness when they see profit, and don't know what loyalty and filial piety are."
"They are afraid, so they framed me for treason. Minister Ma, don't listen to them and die unjustly." Zhang Liang argued cunningly.
Then Zhang Liang told Ma Zhou that he was an old minister who assisted him, and said a lot of words, all of which were about how loyal he was to the Tang Dynasty, how loyal he was to Emperor Li II, and how he had no second thoughts.
No matter how Ma Zhou inquired, Zhang Liang denied it flatly, and even argued that he had absolutely no intention of being disloyal, and that it was the treacherous villains who framed him.
Seeing that they could not get anything out of him, Ma Zhou and Sun Fuga gave up and went back to wait for news from Di Renjie.
They hoped that Di Renjie would have some new gains.
Ma Zhou waited for a long time in the Dali Temple, and Di Renjie came back with his men, escorting the two hundred people they found in Anyifang.
"Shaoqing Di! Minister Ma and Minister Sun are waiting for you, and they asked you to go see them immediately after you come back." A yamen runner stepped forward and said to Di Renjie.
"I understand. I'll go now!" Di Renjie nodded and turned around and said, "Keep these people under guard first. The others may run away!"
"Don't worry, Shaoqing! With the brothers here, we will never let them run away!" The yamen runner assured Di Renjie.
Di Renjie turned around and went inside to meet Ma Zhou and Sun Fujia. The three of them greeted each other and finished their greetings.
Ma Zhou asked, "Shaoqing Di, how is the situation over there? Have you found anything new?"
"Except for the more than 200 people captured in Anyifang, there are no other discoveries. I have also asked these people, but no one knows about Zhang Liang, and no one knows whether Zhang Liang has other fake sons." Di Renjie said, and asked another question before he finished.
"Minister Ma, what's the situation here? Zhang Liang has already confessed his treason."
"Zhang Liang refuses to admit his treason and has been talking nonsense to us, but nothing is useful." Ma Zhou said with a wry smile.
"Yes! What should we do now? Your Majesty has given me a short time to solve the case. What should we do if Zhang Liang refuses to admit it?"
"Secretary Di, do you have any way to make Zhang Liang speak?" Sun Fujia said. He hoped that Di Renjie could help him solve this matter.
Although Sun Fujia was the Minister of the Dali Temple, he was different from the two people in front of him. Di Renjie was the prince's man. If Zhang Liang's case was not handled well, Di Renjie had the support of the prince and he was so young.
If the emperor really wanted to blame him, he would not let him take the blame. At most, he would just give him a few mild reprimands.
Ma Zhou was the chief historian of the Prince of Jin's palace. Who was the Prince of Jin? He was the emperor's most beloved son. With the Prince of Jin whispering in the emperor's ear, there wouldn't be any big problems.
Sun Fujia would be in trouble. If Zhang Liang's case was not handled well, he would not be able to escape. If the emperor was furious, losing Wusha would be a small matter, but losing his life would be a big matter.
Ma Zhou's eyes were also focused on Di Renjie, hoping that this young Shaoqing could bring him unexpected gains again.
"Even with the confessions of Cheng Gongying and others, Zhang Liang can deny it flatly. It will be difficult to get any answer from him."
"What's more, time is running out. His Majesty and His Highness are still waiting. Even if we want to find a way, we can't do it in a short time." Di Renjie said.
Time is running out. It is definitely too late to think of his method. Even if he, Di Renjie, can wait, the emperor may not be willing to wait.
"Then what should we do now?" Sun Fujia said anxiously. Now he is really at a loss.
But it is not a good idea to be so anxious.
Ma Zhou sighed helplessly. After all, Di Renjie is too young and his experience is not rich enough. Even if he is smart, he can't turn the tide.
"Just report the results of the interrogation of Cheng Gongying and Cheng Gongying to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!" Di Renjie said.
Sun Fujia opened his mouth, wanting to say something but stopping.
"It is definitely too late to find a way to get Zhang Liang to speak now. Take the confessions of Cheng Gongying and Cheng Gongying and report to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Maybe His Royal Highness can ask His Majesty to extend the time." Di Renjie said.
Di Renjie could see Sun Fujia's worries! This old man usually took care of him, and he was returning the favor.
Sun Fujia thought about it and felt that what Di Renjie said made sense. Instead of making random guesses here, it would be better to ask the Crown Prince to say a few good words.
"Mr. Di's words make sense. What do you think, Minister Ma?" Sun Fuga asked Ma Zhou for his opinion while talking to Di Renjie. Sun Fuga
was really worried that Ma Zhou would refuse outright and then start to lecture him, so he looked at Ma Zhou eagerly.
But in his heart, he prayed that Ma Zhou would not refuse.
Perhaps Sun Fuga's prayers were sincere enough, Ma Zhou did not interfere.
"I have the same idea. There is no time to waste. Let's go to the East Palace to pay a visit to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! Tell His Royal Highness about this matter and he will decide." Ma Zhou said.
Sun Fujia was overjoyed and quickly asked someone to pack up all the confessions and files related to Zhang Liang's treason case.
Sun Fujia and the other two took these items and went to the East Palace to meet the Crown Prince!