Li Yuanzhao had experience as the Crown Prince Regent.
The last time I served as regent was the time before.
However, his experience was obviously not that sufficient. When Emperor Jing was away, he was either sick or had to play by himself.
He doesn't care at all about how people curse or advise him!
But this time it was different. Li Yuanzhao had gotten rid of vulgar interests and started focusing on serious matters.
And Emperor Jing was watching him closely...
Since the matter concerned Fang Zhengyi, Li Yuanzhao couldn't help but take it seriously.
In the main hall, Li Yuanzhao sat at the lower left of the dragon throne with an upright posture and a solemn expression, looking unusually serious.
In a hidden corner on the left, Emperor Jing was listening calmly with his eyes closed.
After two injections of penicillin, his illness had long since been cured, and after a few days of rest, his mental state had returned to its best.
This was the first court session after Emperor Jingdi stopped attending court for several days, and the crown prince was in charge, so it was naturally of great significance.
Someone had been arranged to notify in advance, and the ministers exchanged greetings as usual and entered the hall to pay their respects.
It's just that there is a hint of unclear meaning between the words.
At first, all the ministers came to the emperor and reported on national affairs as usual.
Li Yuanzhao just responded according to the script, and the atmosphere was relatively harmonious.
It was not until halfway through the process that a discordant voice began to emerge: "I, the Minister of Personnel, have a memorial."
"Yes."
"I impeach Fang Zhengyi of the Zhanshi Mansion for colluding with the Northern Rong and accepting 60,000 taels of silver from their imperial teacher. I submitted the memorial to the palace yesterday. I wonder if Your Highness has read it?"
As soon as the topic was raised, many of the ministers immediately changed their expressions.
Coming?
Li Yuanzhao pulled himself together, calmed down, and said calmly, "I haven't seen it. Tell me in detail."
"Yes, Your Highness." Faner said slowly, "Bei Rong's envoy to Da Jing left a cart of goods in the Honglu Temple before he left. It contained all the records of Pa Ba's mission to our country, including the notes of Yu Fangzhengyi's secret talks."
Li Yuanzhao frowned and asked, "Where are the notes?"
"The Beirong people have discovered the missing goods and took them away after returning. However, Lord Chen Hong, the Minister of the Honglu Temple, can be a witness. He saw the notes with his own eyes."
Chen Hong, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, stood up tremblingly, somewhat at a loss.
I couldn't help cursing in my heart! Damn it, why are these people going crazy today? Fang Zhengyi is outside investigating a case for His Majesty and his whereabouts are unknown. Why are you picking this time to add insult to injury? Are you sick?
However, Zhang Shi’s eyes were always on him. Since he had received 100,000 taels from the Honglu Temple, he had no choice but to go ahead with it!
Anyway, I'm telling the truth! It has nothing to do with me!
"Your Highness, this is true. I have personally seen the notes left by Paba, which record that Fang Zhengyi had privately contacted him and promised to help him buy ironware."
Li Yuanzhao slammed his armrest and shouted, "What a joke! Can the notes left by the Northern Rong people be used as evidence? How come you don't know that it was the Northern Rong who were trying to sow discord?"
"This..." Chen Hong hesitated for a moment and continued, "Your Highness does have a point, but the location where the goods were left behind was indeed a bit remote, and the imperial edict left by the Northern Rong Khan was also among them. I don't think... Master Paba would deliberately commit such a crime of disrespect."
"Is there any need to talk about morality between the two countries? In my opinion, this matter is simply fabricated out of thin air!" Li Yuanzhao couldn't help but get a little excited. Damn, the Fang family is fighting hard outside, and you scumbags are making trouble behind the scenes!
"You are just reporting rumors! There is no evidence! Don't mention this matter again. When Lao Fang returns to the capital, I will ask him in person!"
Emperor Jing closed his eyes, his expression was calm, but a vein appeared on his forehead...
"Your Highness, be careful with your words! Your Highness is the Crown Prince, how can you call your subject... Lao... Fang!"
Li Yuanzhao looked intently and saw that the person who came out was Wei Ming, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Rites. He could not help but sneer, "Haha, I just like to call him that, so what? No one in the Ministry of Rites has taught Lao Fang since he entered the palace. You are dereliction of duty! Now you are teaching me a lesson?"
"Ah...this?" Wei Ming was dumbfounded.
Is there such a thing? I don't know! No wonder Fang Zhengyi is like that, like a gangster running out of the village, not a decent person.
Thinking of this, they couldn't help but look at their superiors. All the people in the Ministry of Rites closed their eyes and shook their heads.
"Ahem... Your Highness, these are two different things. This one is certainly the negligence of the Ministry of Rites, but..."
Before he could finish, Fan Er said in a stern voice: "Your Highness! There is already irrefutable evidence that Fang Zhengyi colluded with foreign enemies. How can you call it a report based on hearsay? Even if it is a report based on hearsay, it is fine!"
"We, the censors, are supposed to report on things we hear and are in charge of investigating them! The discipline of the court depends on us! The duty of the censors is to be fair and honest! Fang Zhengyi's actions are against the law of the country. I hope Your Highness will take a closer look!"
Li Yuanzhao stared at him, feeling a little angry: "Then how do you want me to know clearly?"
"Search Fang Zheng's house!"
"How dare you!" Li Yuanzhao was furious. "Only based on hearsay and a trumped-up evidence, are you going to investigate and confiscate important officials in the court?"
Someone immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, Fang Zhengyi has more than just this one piece of evidence. The Ministry of Revenue searched the Prince of Wu's mansion and found dozens of account books, which showed that the Prince of Wu had made transactions with Fang Zhengyi in silver and money. The amount was shocking!"
"What do you mean? Are you thinking that Lao Fang has also joined the rebellion?" Li Yuanzhao shifted his ferocious gaze.
"Your Highness, please calm down. This is not my intention, but Fang Zhengyi's actions have undoubtedly made him an accomplice to the traitors. I hope Your Highness will order someone to search his house."
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com