On the morning of November 16, the soldiers guarding the imperial city got up early and began to sweep the snow.
Of course.
They were only responsible for sweeping the snow inside the imperial city, while the snow outside the imperial city was swept by the common people.
This is a kind of corvee labor.
As soon as the soldiers picked up their brooms, they heard the sound of people talking outside the city gate.
"Brothers, you came early enough!"
"It won't work if you're late. If you're late, you'll be fined."
"In that case, let's get to work!"
“Work!”
As they talked, the people began to sweep the snow.
While sweeping, a citizen suddenly stopped and shouted, "There is something here."
"What?"
“It looks like a box.”
"Don't move. Maybe it fell from the carriage that goes in and out of the imperial city. Quickly notify the military commanders in the city and let them see what's inside."
The actions of the people outside the city soon alarmed the defenders inside the city.
A lieutenant general on duty opened the city gate with his men and walked out.
The people automatically made way and stood by to watch.
The general wanted to take the box inside, but there were too many people watching.
In order to prove his innocence, the general said: "My fellow countrymen, I don't know what's inside the box. Let's open it now. No matter what's inside, you can all testify, so that you won't be accused of taking all the things inside for yourself."
"good!"
"Don't worry, sir. We will testify."
Under the gaze of everyone, the box was opened.
"Is this the Crown Prince's clothes? What are all those fancy things on it?"
"It seems to be the Twelve Chapter Pattern."
"What are the twelve chapter patterns?"
"Our dynasty stipulates that the emperor's dragon robe has twelve chapters, and the crown prince, prince, and heir apparent all have nine chapters."
......
Inside the Chunhe Hall.
The Ming Crown Prince Zhu Cilang got up, washed, and prepared to eat as usual.
Just as I took a bite of the bun, a little eunuch came crawling in from outside.
He was in such a hurry to enter the door that he tripped over the threshold.
Zhu Cilang frowned, feeling very unhappy.
He was already annoyed enough, but he didn't expect the eunuchs in the palace to cause more trouble.
Zhu Cilang held half a bun in his left hand and asked, "What's the matter? How can you be so impatient?"
"Reply...Reply to His Royal Highness, a box was found outside the Xi'an Gate."
"Box?" Zhu Cilang snorted coldly: "Is there a treasure in the box?"
The young eunuch swallowed hard, not daring to answer directly, and could only suggest: "Your Highness, you should go and see it yourself."
Zhu Cilang slammed his right hand on the table, "What's in the box?"
The eunuch knelt on the ground and kowtowed in fear: "Your Highness, please forgive me. I can't say for sure what's inside, but some people say it's a... dragon robe!"
"Dragon...robes?" Half of the bun in Zhu Cilang's left hand fell onto the table.
"Impossible," Zhu Cilang's first reaction was disbelief.
He quickly stood up, asked the eunuch to lead the way, and planned to go and see it himself.
At this time, a large number of people had gathered outside Xi'an Gate.
Except for a small number of ordinary people, the rest are powerful people in Nanjing City.
They rushed over as soon as they got the news.
The defenders of the imperial city did not dare to expel them directly, and could only form a human wall to isolate them from a distance.
The box was still in its original place and no one dared to move it.
Zhu Cilang walked to the box, opened the lid and looked closely.
As a prince, he immediately recognized that it was a dragon robe.
Seeing this, Zhu Cilang completely gave up.
At this moment he had only one thought: It's over, completely over!
That's not a dragon robe, that's a knife that's going to take your life!
Whoever is framing him is done for.
Not only will he lose his position as crown prince, but he will also lose his life.
But driven by the desire to survive, Zhu Cilang shouted, "Someone is deliberately framing me. Investigate immediately!"
But how to check it became a problem.
The dragon robe and the box are physical evidence, and it would not be possible to leave them where they are.
It is not appropriate to carry it into the imperial city.
Just when Zhu Cilang had no idea what to do, Ni Yuanlu, who was not far from the imperial city, rushed over.
Zhu Cilang's eyes lit up: "Sir, you are finally here."
"Don't panic, Your Highness," Ni Yuanlu nodded and said, "Please order someone to carry the box to the city gate first, and let the guards disperse the crowd and return to the city."
"Okay." Zhu Cilang immediately gave the order.
The two returned to Chunhe Hall without saying a word.
As soon as he entered the palace, Zhu Cilang couldn't wait to ask: "Sir, I have never prepared a dragon robe, nor have I ever thought of rebelling. Someone is deliberately framing me."
"I understand."
"Should I write down the situation and inform Father?"
"Tell your Majesty what?" Ni Yuanlu said with a cold face, "Tell your Majesty that a dragon robe was found at the gate of the Nanjing Imperial City?"
"Is it not possible? The origin of this dragon robe is unknown. If my father knew about it, he would definitely misunderstand. Why can't I write a letter in advance to explain the situation?"
"Ah!" Ni Yuanlu sighed, "Your Highness can't explain it clearly."
"Why can't you explain it clearly?"
"There is no reason, it's just human nature!"
Zhu Cilang was silent.
He is also a human being and knows the horror of human nature.
If explanations were useful, there wouldn't have been so many cases of conflicts between fathers and sons throughout the dynasties.
Ni Yuanlu was also silent.
Although he had already guessed Chongzhen's purpose.
But when it really happened, he was still shocked beyond words.
Chongzhen was too cruel.
In order to start a war, he even forced his own son to rebel.
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