Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Helping to kill or to detoxify? ...
"Your Majesty has entrusted me with the responsibility of approving documents. I fear that my ignorance will bring ruin to the nation. If my approval is in error, I, as an old soldier, will bear the blame on my son's behalf..."
Ning Wujie paused, gritted his teeth, and continued, "Considering his youth, I humbly beg Your Majesty to allow him to serve on the frontier while serving his sentence. Even if the entire Ning family were to die a thousand times, it would be impossible to repay your grace..."
Having read this, he put the memorial down and stared straight at the tyrant.
But beneath the half-lidded eyelids of the tyrant emperor, his icy eyes turned and looked over. He said coldly, "No one in the whole court can persuade me. Why do you think your father's memorial will be of any use?"
Ning Wujie lowered his eyes. The slight admiration that had just risen in his heart was extinguished by the foolish monarch's words. He put the memorial aside without any surprise and said, "You'll know after you try it."
This time, in addition to submitting a memorial asking him to return to the northwest, his father also mentioned the current war situation.
The Shuofeng army's vanguard was pinned down by the Ningyuan army's ambush, preventing them from launching an effective general offensive. This was good news. However, the military supplies had only just begun their journey, and it would take more than a month for them to arrive. Although his father's letter didn't urge him, he knew the border must be stretched to its limits by now.
He was extremely anxious, but was constrained by this tyrant and had no way out.
Wen Xing withdrew his gaze.
I mocked in my heart that this stubborn guy was really persistent and hadn't given up on the idea of returning to the Northwest.
If he was not a tyrant who was "lazy and incompetent" and "dissolute", this memorial would be quite touching.
One can imagine how worried Ningyuan Hou was about his youngest son while he was far away at the border.
However, in history, Ning Wujie was ambushed when he returned to the northwest to provide assistance.
Although he didn't die, Wen Xing felt that there was no need to let this guy take risks.
And after letting the tiger go back to the mountains, what if Ning Wujie had already gathered a rebel army and caught him off guard?
After all, someone now "hates" him the most.
After much thought, Wen Xing felt that it would be safest to keep the person by his side.
Whether you are happy or not.
Wen Xingxiang.
However, perhaps because of a rare moment of conscience, he suddenly wanted to show some concern for the victim who was "forced" to be tied to him, and asked, "How's your case going?"
Ning Wujie looked at the tyrant king on the couch with some surprise.
Since when did this tyrant start asking about serious matters?
He pondered for a moment, figuring the emperor would surely refuse to listen, so he began to tell a story: "Every day at three o'clock in the morning, the Imperial Horse Administration's water-sucking cart would leave the palace gates and travel non-stop all the way to the Tan River in the suburbs. The eunuchs would remove the treasures from the inner treasury hidden in the interlayer of the bucket and hide them in the hollow of an old willow tree by the river."
"After the eunuchs leave, the 'bone burials' of Huanhai Tower will retrieve these priceless treasures and escort them all the way to the auction house below Huanhai Tower. Huanhai Tower will take a 50% cut of the profits from every item sold that day."
Wen Xing: "I thought the case of the theft from the inner treasury was closed."
Ning Wujie glanced at the emperor and said quietly, "Of that 50% profit, 30% went around in circles and ended up in the mansion of some wealthy family."
Wen Xing was curious: "Who?"
At the crucial point, Ning Wujie kept the secret mysterious and said, "Your Majesty will know soon. Moreover, I suspect that the nobleman is unwilling to sit and wait for death and wants to take the initiative."
Wen Xing: ...
Keep him in suspense again.
Last time, this guy made up a story like this to trick him into attending court. Could he be doing it again this time...
Wen Xing was thinking about what requests he should make if this kid used the same trick again.
Thinking of the tear that fell when she kissed him last time.
He didn't see it clearly at the time, and didn't know whether he was really crying or it was just an illusion. In any case, he really wanted to see it again.
He was like a fisherman sitting on a rock, waiting for the fish to bite.
However, after a moment, Ning Wujie calmly opened another memorial: "Zhang Yu, the provincial governor of northern Anhui, turned the case upside down, accepted bribes to release seven death row prisoners, and the innocent people gathered in front of the government office to sue..."
Wen Xing: ...
He stared at Ning Wujie with a dark gaze, as if he wanted to see through him, but the man he was staring at did not react at all and continued to read the memorial calmly.
"Ning Wu Jie."
Ning Wujie raised his eyes to look at him, "What is the matter, Your Majesty?"
Wen Xing gritted his teeth and asked with his eyes: Don’t you have anything else to say?
Ning Wujie lowered his eyes and said, "If Your Majesty does not need me to read the memorial, then I will go first..." As he said this, he was about to stand up.
Wen Xing suppressed his temper and said, "Sit down."
Ning Wujie paused, then sat back down obediently, which was unusual for him.
"Read it." Wen Xing said angrily, "Don't stop until I fall asleep."
"As you wish."
No emotion could be seen in Ning Wujie's drooping eyes, but Wen Xing swore that this guy must be very proud at this moment.
He dug a hole and didn't even give me a chance to fill it up. Now I've learned to tease him, right?
Wait, he will come back with revenge.
*
Three days later. Early morning.
The rumbling sound of the Dengwen drum passed through the magnificent red walls of the deep palace and echoed throughout the Funing Palace.
Wen Xing was still asleep when he was woken up by the sound of drums. He couldn't help but frown.
"......Li Dequan!" His voice was lazy and hoarse, with strong dissatisfaction.
The old eunuch came over upon hearing the voice, "Your Majesty."
“Who’s playing the drums?”
Li Dequan heard a report from the attendant who had rushed over, and then bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, it was the Prince of Pingyang who said he wanted to seek justice for his grandson."
Wen Xing:?
He doesn't recognize any of them.
Seeing Xing's inexplicable expression, Li Dequan felt a little helpless. Their emperor had become very forgetful since his serious illness, so he reminded him, "He is the grandfather of Wang Yian, the one who killed the king last time."
There were many members of the Luohe Wang family who were made marquises and appointed as prime ministers. This person was able to be made a prince, which was the highest honor that a king of the opposite sex could receive in this dynasty.
Wen Xing was stunned.
Dare to seek justice for the murder of the king? The wicked will file a complaint first.
"So noisy, drive me away."
The old eunuch was a little embarrassed. "Your Majesty, according to the rules passed down by our ancestors, anyone who beats the drum for reporting must report it to the emperor and he cannot be stopped."
Wen Xing opened his eyes.
There is such a broken rule?
In other words, even if he refuses to work, as long as there is someone who is ignorant enough to report it, he can be given more work, and he has to accept it?
Wen Xing disliked the profession of emperor for the umpteenth time in his heart.
Almost everyone is his boss!
He turned over, tucked his head into the quilt, and wrapped himself completely like a cocoon.
He covered his ears, unable to hear...
"Dong-dong-dong-dong"
The drumbeats seemed rhythmic and penetrating. Every time they beat, Wen Xing's heart seemed to be shaken, making him feel upset.
It was too early and too cold, and there was absolutely no way the tyrant could get up.
Wen Xing used the ultimate method of playing badly——
Meditate, meditate, meditate.
Use the drums as background music.
The drums for the emperor to report to the emperor were beating non-stop, but Li Dequan was in a dilemma as his own emperor remained motionless in bed.
If they continue to knock like this, the whole capital will say the next day that their emperor has turned a blind eye to injustice.
But Li Dequan didn't dare to urge her. After thinking about it, he decided to ask the little beauty for help.
So he turned and hurried to the side hall.
Ning Wujie seemed to have gotten up early, was dressed neatly, and was washing his hands in front of the washbasin.
Li Dequan looked up and saw Ning Wujie wearing the crimson-purple court robes of a third-rank military general. The official robe was wrapped around his well-proportioned and graceful body. The material was ironed meticulously without even a wrinkle.
The patterns of Suanni are coiled on both shoulders, and a black leather jade belt is tied around the waist, exuding the majesty of deep and majestic mountains.
Li Dequan was puzzled. This purple robe looked so loose on those old men, like rotten cotton hanging from a branch. But why did it look so official and solemn on Ning Wujie?
"Master Ning, are you going to court?"
Ning Wujie hung the used handkerchief neatly back on the rack and turned to look at him, "Your Majesty, is he still awake?"
Seeing the eunuch nod, he held up his official hat with both hands and placed it in his arms, then walked out and said, "Let's go."
Li Dequan followed Ning Wujie, full of confusion. It seemed like the drum had just started beating not long ago. How come the little beauty was already wearing court clothes?
Wen Xing stayed in bed and gradually began to adapt to the rhythmic drumbeats.
The drummer is quite perseverant.
But it doesn't matter. He has mastered the art of playing badly to perfection and can now ignore the drum sound as background music.
However, a cold male voice came from behind, "Your Majesty, it's time to go to court."
Wen Xing: Who wants to go to court?
He turned his head and saw Ning Wujie in court robes, and his eyes twitched involuntarily.
"Go away." He said coldly.
"According to the rules established during the reign of Emperor Taizu, any case of injustice that was reported by beating the drum for reporting would be personally heard by the emperor in the inner court, with the three judicial officials presiding over the trial."
Wen Xing frowned, "That's ridiculous. Can anyone who beats the drum summon the Emperor and the Three Judges to do the work?"
Is this broken hammer too powerful?
Ning Wujie said calmly, "If it is proven that there is no injustice, the person who beat the drum will be caned thirty times in court."
Wen Xing suddenly realized.
Thirty strokes of the cane are enough to kill someone.
No wonder, this was the first time he heard the drum after traveling here for so long.
But he still huddled in his bed and said, "No."
Ning Wujie narrowed his eyes slightly, "If Your Majesty doesn't go, then Wang Yian, who poisoned you, will truly be wrongly killed. From now on, the whole world will cry out for his injustice and accuse you of killing innocent people."
"Can you bear this?"
Wen Xing: ...
After weighing it in two seconds in the warm bed.
"I can swallow it."
Ning Wujie's eyebrows twitched.
"If you don't handle this properly, everyone in the court will know that Your Majesty is weak and can be bullied. Anyone can challenge your authority and cause you endless trouble."
Wen Xing: ...
Seeing that the emperor had fallen silent, Ning Wujie realized what was going on.
This tyrant is not afraid of ruining his reputation, and he doesn't even care if the bad guys file a complaint first.
Just hate trouble.
A smile flashed across Ning Wujie's drooping eyelashes, a smile that he himself was not aware of.
He struck while the iron was hot: "This trouble today can prevent future troubles. Your Majesty, will you really not consider it?"
The tyrant on the bed moved.
After a few moments of silence, the silkworm pupa rolled over to the edge of the bed.
The quilt slipped off, revealing a person wearing jade-white pajamas.
Wen Xing's hair was messily stuck to her fair skin, her collarbone was loose, and her black hair was wrapped around her slender white neck.
The gem-like eyes were filled with a layer of hazy moisture because of waking up in the morning, and the corners of the eyes were red due to lack of sleep, and even the gaze could not focus.
That dazed expression... looks like some unknown dream.
Ning Wujie's Adam's apple rolled and he cursed himself inwardly as a beast.
He turned his face away and said to the old eunuch, "Your Majesty has risen. Please help him change his clothes." Then he was about to leave.
"etc."
Wen Xing propped up one hand to support the side of his face, and with the other hand hooked his finger at Ning Wujie, "I don't want to move."
Ning Wujie suppressed the raging fire in his heart that was about to spread like wildfire, looked at the other party coldly, and once again had a premonition that this incompetent monarch was up to no good.
Sure enough, the tyrant emperor lazily said, "Carry me over to change clothes."
Ning Wujie: ...
"Your Majesty has hands and feet."
Wen Xing said confidently: "I didn't get enough sleep, so I don't have the energy."
"Your Majesty has attendants."
Li Dequan immediately pulled the young eunuch beside him and bowed and retreated, with a flattering smile on his face, "We, the rootless ones, can't hold His Majesty."
Wen Xing gave the old eunuch an admiring look.
Ning Wujie: ...
He watched as Wen Xing stretched out her arms towards him, as if to embrace him. The loose sleeves of her nightgown slipped down, revealing her fair wrists and gracefully shaped forearms.
Ning Wujie closed his eyes and forced himself to separate the person in his dream from the image of the tyrant in front of him.
Then he heard the tyrant emperor say: "You don't want to? Then I won't go. Anyway, if anyone causes trouble for me again in the future, I will push you out..."
Ning Wujie handed the official hat to the attendant.
Ning Wujie picked up the tyrant king by the waist.
Wen Xing got to see Ning Wujie's crimson ears as he wished.
The tip of the ear was so close that it seemed slightly transparent against the morning light, as clear as beautiful hibiscus jade.
It's really fun.
He thought about it and curiously stretched out his fingers to pinch the tip of the ear.
The person holding him suddenly stopped.
He felt the muscles in Ning Wujie's arms tighten as he held him, hard as stone. His grip on him suddenly intensified, squeezing him so hard it actually hurt.
Wen Xing frowned: "You hurt me."
Ning Wujie's whole body froze as he tried to suppress the fire in his lower abdomen.
He didn't even dare to think about what the consequences would be if he wasn't wearing the loose court robes today.
The thought of being in public...
His whole ear suddenly started burning.
Wen Xing looked at the man's ears, which were almost red, and said in his heart: Huh?!
Is the effect so good when you start using it?
He was about to try again, but saw Ning Wujie quickly walk to the dressing mirror and put him down, as if he had dropped a hot potato.
Without waiting for him to say anything, Ning Wujie turned and rushed out, leaving only a sentence: "Your Highness will go ahead."
The person has been blown away like a gust of wind, leaving Wen Xing disheveled in the wind:?
He gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I'm getting braver."
*
Xuanzheng Hall.
This was the place where the emperor discussed matters with his court officials or held inner court. It was not as grand as the Huangji Hall, but it was also solemn enough.
When Wen Xing arrived, Ning Wujie and the three chief judicial officials were already there. Also standing at the bottom of the stairs was a prince dressed in a green python robe.
There were also many relatives and nobles who were present at the scene.
When they saw the emperor appear, everyone saluted and shouted "Long live the emperor!"
On the high steps, Queen Mother Wang Fuwei sat upright beside the dragon throne.
Wen Xing sat down and asked, "Why are there so many people here?"
Wang Fuwei said kindly, "This happened in my palace, so I and the other nobles must naturally come forward to testify."
Wen Xing looked at the officials inquiringly.
The Dali Temple Minister immediately replied, "That's exactly what it should be."
"All relevant persons should be present at the scene on the day of the incident."
Wen Xing glanced at the prince below the steps and said with disdain, "You are the one beating the drum to report?"
The fact that he was pulled out of bed so early in the morning was enough for him to torture the old man with his eyes.
Wang Xuanxuan burst into tears and knelt down on the steps, saying in pain, "Your Majesty! Today I am here to appeal for justice for my grandson! Yi'an only came to the palace to attend the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, so how could he have lost his life? Your Majesty, please give me justice!"
Wen Xing frowned, "What nonsense are you talking about? Wang Yian poisoned and murdered the king. He deserves death by a thousand cuts."
Wang Xuanxuan's eyes widened in anger, and he said in shock, "This is impossible! Yi'an is so in love with His Majesty, how could she poison His Majesty? Your Majesty, do you have any evidence to support your claim?"
Hearing this, Wang Fuwei suddenly covered her mouth and cried out: "Oh!"
Her eyes darted, and she suddenly leaned close to Wen Xing's ear, lowering her voice and speaking urgently, "Huaiyu, when Queen Mother inspected the scene, she did find the incense burner. She learned that it contained something unclean, and fearing it would damage the emperor's reputation, she destroyed it. What should we do?"
Wang Fuwei looked apprehensive. "Did I destroy the evidence? I hope I won't cause you any trouble."
Wen Xing narrowed his eyelids slightly and glanced at Wang Fuwei's face.
He didn't know if it was because the Queen Mother's acting was too good, but for a moment he couldn't tell whether this woman was doing it for his reputation or deliberately destroying evidence.
Ning Wujie fixed his sharp gaze on the Queen Mother, with a cold look in his eyes.
Wang Fuwei thought about it for a moment, then calmed down and said righteously, "But Huaiyu, as an emperor, if people knew that you were poisoned by something like that, it would be too embarrassing and would damage the reputation of the royal family."
"According to my wishes, even if it means destroying evidence, it must be done for the sake of our royal family's reputation."
"You are the most sensible person. I think you will understand the Queen Mother's painstaking efforts, right?"
Wen Xing raised his lips slightly and said perfunctorily, "Of course."
A smile appeared on Wang Fuwei's lips.
Ning Wujie was not unaware of what the Queen Mother had done. Although her purpose might be different, he had originally wanted to do the same.
At that time, he was in the Empress Dowager's Yongshou Palace, and it was inconvenient for him to move around. It was convenient for him to ask the Empress Dowager to destroy the incense burner.
The emperor in the folk stories has now become a shameless tyrant who is addicted to homosexuality. If people knew that he was poisoned by love, I wonder how the stories would be even more outrageous.
If this were to get out, how would the people of the world view the emperor on his throne? And how would they view imperial power?
Just thinking about this made Ning Wujie extremely irritated.
Seeing that the emperor didn't answer, Wang Xuanxuan fanned the flames, saying, "Even if it's Your Majesty, if you want to sentence someone to death, you need evidence, right?"
As he spoke, he addressed the chief officials of the Three Judicial Departments, "My Lords, since the founding of our dynasty, we have governed the world with virtue. Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. Does that mean you can arbitrarily decide the life and death of others?"
Upon hearing this, the three chief judicial officials looked at each other, then glanced at the stern-faced emperor sitting on the high throne. After a long pause, the Supreme Court Justice finally summoned up the courage to ask tentatively, "Your Majesty, may I ask what kind of poison was used? Do you have any evidence?"
Wen Xing was about to speak when Ning Wujie said, "Your Majesty fainted from a heart attack. Wang Yian pulled out his hairpin and attempted to assassinate Your Majesty, but I executed him on the spot."
Ning Wujie finished speaking, seemingly anticipating Wang Xuanxuan's rebuttal, and stepped forward, saying, "I am the only witness present in this matter; there is no one else."
Wang Xuanxuan's eyes glared, and he snorted coldly, "How can a murderer serve as a witness?!"
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! So, there is no physical evidence, no witnesses, and from beginning to end, there is only Ning Wujie's one-sided statement. I reasonably suspect that he is abusing his power, and even..."
As he spoke, he glanced at the emperor on the high throne and sneered, "It's an excuse to eliminate your competitors and monopolize your heart!"
Ning Wujie's forehead twitched.
He had not expected this angle of attack.
The tall emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, and his gaze passed over the jade steps and fell on the purple-robed figure kneeling below.
Is this stubborn guy actually protecting his reputation?
Even if he would be charged with the crime of killing royal relatives?
The situation was at a stalemate for a while, and the chief officials of the three judicial departments were in a dilemma.
The Wang family of Luohe is very powerful, and they will never admit defeat easily if someone in the family dies. But Ning Wujie is the apple of His Majesty's eye, and they are doing it in the name of protecting the emperor. Do they really want to capture him?
What should I do?
Ning Wujie was ready to confess his guilt, but he heard the emperor on the high throne say quietly, "Ning Qing, you've been so considerate of me. You've worked so hard."
As he spoke, he looked at the young man on the steps below who was looking up at him with a half-smile, and said word by word, "I am very touched."
Looking at Wen Xing's playful expression, Ning Wujie felt a bad premonition in his heart.
Sure enough, the tyrant emperor changed the subject and said in front of everyone, "Wang Yian poisoned me with love at that time."
Ning Wujie:!
Wang Fuwei's eyes widened, and he looked at Wen Xing in disbelief: "Huaiyu! You..."
The officials and royal relatives were stunned and in an uproar.
Love...love poison?
Could it be that His Majesty is with that Wang Yian...
Hiss...is it so exciting? !
No wonder they couldn't produce any evidence. If word got out that the king of a country had been drugged, it would be incredibly disgraceful. The common people didn't know what to make of the royal family!
Wang Xuanxuan seemed to be completely unprepared for Wen Xing to publicly admit such a shameful act for the royal family, and he stood there in a daze for a moment.
After a while, he finally remembered to throw dirty water on Wen Xing: "Then your majesty is with the grandson of this old minister..."
But Xing interrupted, "As soon as I realized he was poisoned, I ordered Ning Qing to kill Wang Yian on the spot."
"Later, it was naturally Ning Qing who helped me."
Ning Wujie: ...
The word "help" is very subtle.
What did he help with? Was he helping to kill people or detoxify them?
The tyrant emperor deliberately made his words ambiguous in order to drag him into the water. Ning Wujie was filled with hatred.
But this kind of thing cannot be explained, and it will only make things worse.
Ning Wujie closed his eyes deeply. How could he forget that this was a tyrant who didn't care about his reputation at all!
All the ministers lowered their heads, their minds racing.
This...this...this...right after killing someone...
Your Majesty is having a lot of fun!
Ning Wujie was just getting angry, but then he heard the emperor on the high throne ask in a brisk tone, "Are you right, Ning Qing?"
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Author's words: How did you help? It's so hard to guess~
5j:......
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