"That group of criminals is really abominable. What does the big case of 20 years have to do with our master?" Pang Yi was immediately furious. He slammed the table and glared, "Back then, I was just following the will of the emperor. I dealt with those 38 ministers. This was all the will of the emperor. What can I do? It is said that every wrong has its perpetrator. If they want to avenge their father and brother, they should have rushed into the capital! How can they blame me? It is really abominable!"
The 20-year case was a major case that occurred on New Year's Eve of the 20th year of Jiasheng. That year, Zhao Changrong, then Minister of Personnel, revealed in court that ten senior officials in the court were conspiring to welcome the King of Pingxi to Beijing to force the emperor to revolt. His Majesty was furious. He sent Zhao Changrong to investigate the case. Within ten days, 38 officials of all ranks were involved. His Majesty was so angry that he fell ill. At this time, the crown prince Zhong Mingwei, who had just entered the East Palace, naturally had to take charge of the court on behalf of His Majesty, and naturally the case fell on Zhong Mingwei's head. Three months later, 18 officials involved in the case were executed. Another 20 officials were demoted to pariahs, and their families were exiled to Ningguta to serve hard labor. Because it happened at the beginning of the 20th year of Jiasheng, it was called the 20-year case in history.
"Pang Yi," Zhong Mingwei frowned and looked at Pang Yi, signaling him not to continue. Zhong Mingwei took a sip of tea, paused, and then said in a deep voice, "Although it was my father's intention, it was my personal order after all. I knew that the 38 officials were wronged, but in order to protect my position as the crown prince, I did not dare to go against my father's will. In the end, I personally ordered their punishment. Now they want to seek revenge on me, which is reasonable."
Pang Yi immediately became anxious: "Your Highness, how can you be blamed for this? Back then, you were the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, both a prince and a minister, and a model of loyalty and filial piety for all the people. You naturally could not disobey His Majesty. In the final analysis, this was all His Majesty's doing..."
"Pang Yi!" Zhong Mingwei frowned even more. He threw the tea bowl on the table and said coldly, "I thought you had been through life and death in Southern Xinjiang for more than ten years and had seen many things. You should hate those people who are making sophistry the most."
"Yes, I know I was wrong." Pang Yi stood up and bowed deeply to Zhong Mingwei. He felt guilty, but he felt sorry for Zhong Mingwei. How could he be considered as making excuses? How could he be considered as sophistry? Every word he said was true, but he didn't dare to say anything more. The major case of 20 years had always been a hurdle in Zhong Mingwei's heart. Zhong Mingwei had never mentioned it for so many years. He thought that Zhong Mingwei had let it go, but he didn't expect that the major case was still on Zhong Mingwei's mind.
Kong Wenmin was also very surprised. Although he had guessed the ins and outs of the major case of 20 years ago, he was still a little shocked when he saw Zhong Mingwei's reaction at this time. He never knew Zhong Mingwei very well. No matter whether he was the prince who was respected and honored in the past, or the commoner who had difficulty walking now, he really didn't understand him, and he was too lazy to understand. What did the life or death, honor or disgrace of this descendant of a phoenix and a dragon have to do with him?
But at this moment, he suddenly felt ashamed of his past self. Although he couldn't explain the reason for the shame, he was just very ashamed.
"Guard Kong, how are you and Lord Fang going to deal with those criminals who hid weapons?" Zhong Mingwei looked at Kong Wenmin.
"Lord Fang has ordered the twelve prisoners to be taken to the prison. He was going to report this to the emperor, but this morning, a secret letter came from the capital," Kong Wenmin said as he took out the secret letter from his bosom and handed it to Zhong Mingwei. "Sir, please take a look."
Zhong Mingwei looked at Kong Wenmin, then took the letter from him, opened it, and immediately frowned: "The King of Pingxi is going back to Beijing?"
"That's right. Seeing that the Queen Mother's 70th birthday is approaching, the Prince of Pingxi suddenly wants to return to Beijing to celebrate the Queen Mother's birthday this year," Kong Wenmin said, frowning, "But the Prince of Pingxi is about to return to Beijing. If we bring up the major case of 20 years ago at this time, it would be inappropriate. Therefore, Lord Fang intends to suppress this matter, so he asked his subordinates to come and tell me that Lord Fang and the Imperial Guards did not intend to shield the criminals, but it is inconvenient to deal with it at the moment. I hope you will forgive me."
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