Chapter 256 The Empress grants amnesty and the Princess enters the capital
"This..." Deputy General Ma hesitated and explained:
"The young master called them over tonight and interrogated them..."
Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows and understood what happened after a moment.
It was during the day, after the firearms drill, the shocked young master returned to the city. After much thought, he invited the group of expelled young military officers to come in the evening.
In name it was a small gathering, but in reality it was a way to share what we had seen and heard during the day.
And get to the bottom of it, interrogate these people and find out why they have such great malice towards Zhao Duan.
Where do the rumors I heard come from?
As a result, as soon as some clues were revealed during the interrogation, the imperial guards arrived.
"Da da da."
At this time, because the team stopped, a horse following behind went around the team, and its hooves stepped on the blue bricks, making a crisp sound.
Tang Ping, the son of the Duke of Zhenguo, sat on his horse, holding the reins. He came closer and looked at Zhao Duan with a complicated expression:
"Zhao Chenshi."
This time, the sound lacked the pride and anger of the day, but was filled with regret and frustration.
The "young master" who was so heroic in the past now looked like a lost defeated dog while riding on his horse.
Zhao Duan teased:
"Why did the young master come along too?"
He turned to Deputy General Ma and frowned:
"You can just arrest the suspect, why invite all the young masters from the Zhenguo Mansion?"
The deputy general was about to explain but was interrupted by Tang Ping.
He suddenly dismounted, shook his head and said,
"It has nothing to do with him. I just insisted on following along. I have to see the outcome before I'm satisfied."
After a brief pause, Tang Ping, who was dejectedly leading the horse, said in a dull voice, like a defeated dog, self-deprecatingly:
"I have interrogated them clearly. Many of the rumors they told me about Zhao Chenshi were completely groundless and exaggerated. As a military officer in the camp, I did not know how to judge people, so I deserve to be punished.
I, Tang Ping, am not above playing tricks. You stripped me of my official robe before, and I felt dissatisfied. But today, I see that the punishment is not unreasonable. According to the military regulations of the camp, you should be punished for spreading misleading rumors, shaking the soldiers' morale, and depriving them of their honors.
Since we happened to meet tonight, I'll publicly apologize. From today on, I won't bother you again about this matter."
He said this in one breath, with a straight face.
Tang Ping led his horse and turned around to return to the team.
Obviously, this incident taught the young master, who had been doing well for more than 20 years, a profound lesson.
However, the pride of being the son of a duke still made him hesitate to even apologize.
If it falls to the ground, it will break into eight pieces.
"Wait a minute!"
Zhao Duan, who was on his horse, suddenly spoke.
Tang Ping, who had lost his original high spirits, paused, frowned and turned his head:
"Is there anything else Zhao Chenshi wants to do?"
Zhao Duan asked curiously:
"I would like to ask, what are the plans for the future, young master?"
Tang Ping was stunned for a moment, shook his head and said:
"I have no plans for now. At worst, I can leave Beijing and join the border troops in a few days."
Zhao Duan said:
"The Shenji Camp is currently upgrading its firearms and is in need of personnel. I am short on personnel. If you are still willing to serve the country, please report to the camp tomorrow."
He glanced at the military officers guarding the Imperial Guards and said calmly:
"After the investigation here, if there are any suspects who are cleared of suspicion and you think they are still useful, please report them to Shi Meng and have them reinstated."
Tang Ping stood there in a daze.
However, Zhao Duan had already spurred his horse, riding away and disappearing into the dark night of the capital.
…
…
Imperial Palace, Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"Your Majesty, you are back."
Mo Chou, who was waiting outside the palace, said respectfully:
"Envoy Xue has sent someone to deliver the news..."
"Let's talk in the study." Xu Zhenguan said lightly after returning to the bedroom.
From the moment she stepped into the palace, the emotions she had felt in Jizhao Temple were soothed.
In the imperial study.
Mo Chou reported in turn the subsequent series of disposal orders following Wang Heng's downfall, as well as the news submitted by Xue Shence that all the relevant traitors had been arrested.
He added:
"The Heavenly Master's Palace priests have left some prisoners alive and have been transferred to the Divine Machine Camp. They have now been transferred to the Imperial Prison. Your Majesty, please decide how to deal with them."
Xu Zhenguan sat back on the dragon chair, gazing at the lampshade on the table covered with bright yellow satin, lost in thought, and said casually:
"Proceed with the interrogation as usual."
"Yes." Mo Chou responded, and then said cautiously:
"Your Majesty, how will the follow-up of this matter be announced to the court officials? Should we hold court tomorrow morning..."
"Just put the blame on the Kuangfu Society," Xu Zhenguan said with a slightly tired look. Then, as if she had made a decision, she said:
"At the same time, draft an official document and distribute it to all government offices. It should say..."
She paused and said softly:
"Just say that I know there are people in the court who are secretly communicating with the rebels, and they have not yet been eliminated. Tomorrow is the deadline.
Before tomorrow, I will not pursue any of the past matters, whether you had secret dealings with the rebels or defected to others.
After tomorrow, anyone who has an affair with me again will be an enemy of mine, and his crime is unforgivable."
"Inform the Privy Council that there is no need to implicate anyone other than the corrupt officials exposed today."
"Order the imperial court to burn all the information previously collected on the officials who secretly colluded with the rebels."
Mo Zhaorong was stunned, as if he hadn't heard clearly, and said in disbelief:
"Your Majesty, are you seeking amnesty?"
She immediately thought of what Wang Heng said at the banquet.
It is speculated that His Majesty was moved and granted amnesty to the court officials.
She was shocked by this great spirit and couldn't help but say:
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid many people won't appreciate or believe what you're doing."
Xu Zhenguan smiled and shook his head, saying:
"Whether they believe it or not, I only seek peace of mind. If I can convince the next Wang Heng to return to the right path and let some people go, what's the difficulty?"
When water is too clear, there are no fish; when a person is too strict, there are no followers...
She recalled Zhao Duan's words in her heart, and all the frustration in her chest disappeared.
Indistinctly, it seemed as if my mind had become clearer.
Mo Chou raised her head, looking at the Empress with longing and admiration, her mind wavering as she whispered:
"Your Majesty has such courage and spirit, which is a blessing for all the people."
Xu Zhenguan cursed and laughed, waving his hands: "Go and get busy, I'm tired too."
Mo Chou hummed, then suddenly remembered something and said:
"Your Majesty, there is one more thing I want to tell you."
"oh?"
"A memorial has been sent in, saying that Princess Xu Junling, the daughter of Prince Huai'an, is about to enter the capital.
They say they came for the once-in-a-century 'Buddhist-Taoist Battle,' and considering the time it took to get here, it must not be long before they arrive in Beijing."
Xu Zhenguan was slightly surprised: "Is Jun Ling coming..."
Mo Chou worriedly said:
"Your Majesty, although every Buddhist-Taoist duel always attracts many people to the capital to watch, but at this time when the new policy is issued and the court is beginning to stabilize, the Prince of Huai'an sent this princess with far-reaching talent and reputation to come, I am afraid that it may not be just for fun."
King of Huai'an, Xu An.
He was one of the "Eight Kings" as they were called in the streets. His palace was located on the Huai River, right in the prosperous Jiangnan area.
Although his strength is far inferior to that of "Prince Jing", the leader of the Eight Princes, he is not a simple character either.
The Prince of Huai'an had one son and one daughter who were the most famous, namely the eldest son Xu Qian and the daughter Xu Junling.
Of the two, this princess is the most famous.
The Huai River is a prosperous area with a strong culture of reading. The Princess Huai'an is very talented and proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and is quite favored by the prince.
Although she is a woman, she is secretly the right-hand man that King Huai'an relies on.
To a certain extent, it can even represent his father.
This shows his noble status.
"It's okay," Xu Zhenguan thought for a moment, smiled, and said softly:
"As the capital of Great Yu, are you still afraid of being looked down upon? Jun Ling last visited the capital several years ago. Things have changed a lot now, and I wonder how she has fared."
After a pause, she looked out the window and said with some regret:
"Unfortunately, my uncle was only willing to send a princess and refused to allow his eldest son to come to the capital."
Mo Chou also looked out the window and thought:
Not only the Prince of Huai'an, but also the other princes, how could they dare to send their heirs close to the capital so easily?
However... the battle between Buddhism and Taoism is approaching, and I am afraid that there will be more than just the princess coming to the capital to watch this grand event.
Rustle...
The autumn wind rises and falls, sweeping away the night.
…
Far outside the capital, on an official road.
Two carriages rode through the autumn wind.
The wheel hub rolled up two yellow autumn leaves covered in mud in the dirt rut, and the crisp sound of the bells revealed a hint of desolation.
The shaking curtains were lowered.
Xu Junling withdrew his gaze from the forest in the distance beside the road where fallen leaves were like rain.
She felt the cold wind, which was slightly rougher than the wind from the Huai River, blowing across her sweet, delicate and fragile face.
The little hand tightened the luxurious fabric on the collar and whispered:
"Under the endless autumn trees, the wind rustles... This northerly wind is truly different from the south."
The maid Lu Shui in the car smiled and said:
"The princess has written another poem, but unfortunately only fragments remain."
"Poetry is a natural gift, and it is achieved by a skilled hand. If it is a vulgar and inferior poem, it can be written casually, but it is not easy to come up with a good poem occasionally." Xu Junling sighed:
"It may take a lifetime to complete this one sentence."
Lu Shui said with a smile:
"The princess is giving me lessons again, just like a teacher at home."
The princess, wrapped in a gorgeous knitted dress, did not look like the Prince of Huai'an, but was seven points similar to the Princess of Huai'an when she was young.
She has a sweet appearance, especially her face which is like a peeled egg, moist and smooth.
The skin is nurtured by the climate of the Huai River and it seems as if water can be squeezed out of it.
Her temperament is dignified and elegant, and her manners are generous.
When chatting and laughing with the maid, he just smiled without showing his teeth.
He pretended to be angry and picked up the rolled-up book in his hand, ready to hit him.
Then I heard the old man in plain robes driving the car outside laugh:
"Miss, you came to Beijing several years ago during the spring season and returned in the summer. Naturally, you don't recognize this autumn wind. However, the capital is not so bad. If you go further north, it will be a stark contrast to the south."
Xu Junling did not dare to neglect the old man surnamed Lu who was invited by her father to protect her, and said seriously:
"I grew up by the Huai River and rarely traveled far. I'm not as knowledgeable as Master Lu. If I could travel all over the country, my life would be worthwhile."
The old man driving the car said with a smile:
"Your noble body should be nurtured by the lake. If you go to a cold and bitter place, I'm afraid it will be destroyed. A martial artist like me needs the tempering of heaven and earth."
Xu Junling asked curiously:
"I've seen records in books that Emperor Taizu traveled extensively to hone his martial arts skills, setting a precedent for future generations. In the past, Buddhism and Taoism competed, but were eclipsed by my Xu royal family."
Thanks to 2024...1762 for 500 coins and 2020...3214 for 200 coins~
(End of this chapter)
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