Lei Yue Longmen

Chapter 144

In the court hall, things really happened as Gu Mian said. A dozen censors from the Metropolitan Procuratorate, headed by Song Yushi, strongly advised Emperor Li Pinghong on how the construction of Fushou Garden was a waste of money and people, and how to put the cart before the horse.

The emperor seemed to have been prepared for a long time, and asked the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Rites to discuss how the Fushou Garden would not damage the national treasury and how to promote filial piety.And on the spot, the government and business donation details, as well as the Fushouyuan budget table, were sent to all the ministers.The various expenses for repairing the garden are recorded in detail above.After careful calculation by Cen Zhu, these expenses have been reduced to the minimum, and there is no waste of people's resources.On the contrary, after repairing the garden, more than 80 taels of silver can be saved, all of which will fill the treasury. Why not? Why not?

"There are more than 600 million taels of silver, and there are only more than 80 taels left. What kind of savings is this?"

Song Yushi asked the official of the household department who said "saving", "If the money is used to build the embankment, how long will the embankment be built? Have you calculated it? This is 500 million taels of silver, and the treasury has a balance last year. ? It’s only 600 million taels. Don’t you feel sorry for such a large sum of money being spent like running water?”

Someone from the Ministry of Rites stood up, "Song Yushi's words are wrong. This money is not the balance of the treasury, but the filial piety offered by the subjects to the Queen Mother. But now you want? The emperor used the filial piety given to the Queen Mother for other purposes. Isn't it a trap?" The emperor is not filial or trustworthy?"

Li Pinghong frowned.

Another member of the censor stepped forward, "Lord Xiang's words are even more absurd! The emperor's filial piety to the empress dowager can be learned from the world, so why bother to repair the garden now and waste money and money? I? Yurui is spending 500 million taels of silver Not only can we build river embankments, but we can also repair the border gates, provide relief to victims of disasters, open family colleges, and cultivate talents for Yurui. This is the real way to accumulate merit and show filial piety for the Empress Dowager!"

These words are like scolding the emperor around the corner. The emperor repaired the garden to restore his reputation of unfilial piety.Fortunately, he didn't need to repair the garden, because his filial piety was already "a lesson from heaven and earth", as if scolding him no matter how much he repaired, he would not be able to repair his reputation.It's not to blame Li Pinghong for thinking crookedly and becoming angry from embarrassment.See who is under the rank?It turned out to be the other head of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Shen Xi, the censor alongside Zhao Chen.

Shen Xi also reported to Li Pinghong: "Your Majesty, besides Jiuhua Palace, there are two large palaces in Kyoto, Ruihua Palace and Fengwu Palace. In addition, there are Jingyuan, Ningyuan, Taiciyuan, Guiyuan, Muyuan and other royal gardens, there is Zhenxia Palace on Qixia Mountain outside the city, and Nian Palace and Frost Garden on Shuangshan Mountain. There are more than a dozen palaces and gardens in total, and most of them are vacant. Why not choose one of them and renovate it Do you want to build a palace for longevity and longevity for the empress dowager? In this way, you only need to renovate the silver taels, which will greatly save the cost of silver. Maybe you don’t need to build a blessing and longevity garden, I hope the emperor thinks twice!"

The rest of the censors also agreed.Doesn't Li Pinghong know the reason why the new gardens waste the treasury?It's just that he killed King Xiao, broke up with Yan's mother and son, and left his biological mother in anger. The ruling and opposition parties have been talking about it.Finally, there is an opportunity to mend the relationship between mother and child. Of course, we must seize the opportunity and make good use of it.The renovation is just a new pot to scald the old wine, which does not achieve the expected publicity effect.Although building a new garden consumes manpower and financial resources, it is the only way he can think of to quickly and permanently restore his reputation.Even if he doesn't like his biological mother, he can't let the current subjects and the descendants of future generations poke his spine and call him unfilial.Therefore, it is imperative to build a garden.

Li Jingbai actually understood Li Pinghong very well. As an emperor, he had to set an example for the world. The word "filial piety" has always been used by the royal family as an important slogan to promote the transformation of the people.If the emperor does not practice it himself, the common people will follow suit, and everyone will not support their parents, which will eventually lead to the disintegration of the clan, the collapse of imperial power, and maybe even chaos in the world.Therefore, "filial piety" is not only a good name that the emperors of all dynasties tried their best to pursue, but also a monarchy responsibility that they must fulfill.

Afterwards, officials from the Ministry of Rites came out to refute the censor, saying: "This money was originally intended to repair the garden. If there is no such thing as garden repair, there will be no? The extra 600 million taels of donated silver, let alone the censors Discuss where the money should be used in the court! If the court called on officials and merchants to donate money in the name of repairing the garden for the Queen Mother, but later diverted the money to build river embankments. Donors will feel cheated , where will the trust of the imperial court be placed? How will the imperial court win the trust of the people in the future? I really think that the emperor will not take it!"

This person is actually repeating the point of view of the first Lord Xiang, but with a different rhetoric.The purpose is to try to prove that this money is extra, even if the king spends it all, it is only right!

"You are wrong!" Shen Xi said righteously, saliva almost flying to the face of the opposite person, "The government and the people donated silver out of sincerity. As for how much to donate, there was no fixed number before. Now I have donated 600 million taels of silver , Do you have to spend more than 500 million taels? If you donate 1000 million taels of silver, will you have to spend 900 million taels?! The ministers and others suggested that the emperor renovate an old palace, and only need to spend one or two million taels! The remaining four or five million taels are used to fill the national treasury? Why not? The court has? Is this money abused? Isn’t it taken from the people and used by the people?

The censors of the Metropolitan Procuratorate are all eloquent masters? It is easy for other officials to face them, and it is easy to suffer!Even Li Pinghong couldn't just sweep them out of the court, after all, there were too many people participating this time.Zhao Chen, the head of the stick, hasn't stepped out yet!

Li Pinghong waved his hand, "Okay, okay, you two don't fight for now! Listen to what the other Qing family have to say?!"

"Emperor Dowager, what do you think about this matter?"

Li Pinghong first set his sights on the empress dowager, the head of the ministers.

Li Jingchen came out holding the jade pendant in his hand, and said calmly: "Returning to the emperor, I think that the two sides have their own reasons. Building a garden is a big event, and 500 million taels of silver is not a small amount. It should be carefully considered. However, the emperor Since I have promised to build a garden for the Queen Mother in front of all civil and military officials, you have no jokes and cannot be changed. Therefore, my son thinks that the order should be carried out."

All the censors dared not speak out.Because when the crown prince was established, the Metropolitan Procuratorate had united with several elders to oppose the East Palace, which offended the empress dowager, and was always disliked.It is conceivable that she will not give them good fruit this time.Knowing this, Li Pinghong threw the right to choose to Donggong, making it clear that it was intentional.

Li Jingzhu took the lead, and the officials of the Eastern Palace also responded one after another.Dun Wang had already been commended by Li Pinghong for donating silver, and he was not far behind at this time, and stood firmly on Li Pinghong's side.Li Pinghong was very satisfied with the performance of the two of them, but seeing that King Cheng was indifferent, he couldn't help being secretly angry.

"Since most of the ministers and workers agree to build the garden, this matter is settled. I built the garden for the Empress Dowager not out of self-interest, but to promote filial piety. I have made up my mind, and I must not lose faith in the Empress Dowager and the people. This matter is over. Carry out according to the decree, there is no need to discuss it again."

Seeing that the overall situation has been settled, Song Yushi and his party felt uncomfortable, so it was inconvenient to say more.

After that, Zhao Chen, who had been rarely silent all this time, suddenly stepped out from the camp!With a firm demeanor, he kowtowed to Li Pinghong, "Your Majesty, I want to impeach someone!"

"Impeach whom?"

"Your minister impeached Cen Zhu, the right servant of the household department! Not reporting what you know, harboring treason. Collaborating with the thief leader, with ulterior motives! There are countless serious crimes!"

As soon as these words came out, the whole hall was in an uproar.Cen Zhu looked back at him in astonishment.

Zhao Chen continued: "During the encirclement and suppression of the Langshan rebellion, Cen Zhu wasted his military plans and tied himself up the mountain, almost ruining the imperial court's plan to put down the rebellion. From very close, the leader of the thief died the next day. There were many doubts, and she could not escape the suspicion. This was the second crime? Third, Cen Shilang was the only one who survived the capture of Langshan! Even Tu Consort was brutally murdered by the thief. What is the reason why Cen Shilang, as the third-rank official of the imperial court, was able to escape completely?

He cast his eyes on Cen Zhu in the team, and read a trace of panic and hesitation in her eyes.Determined to win, he turned his head and faced the king,

"I checked Gu Rentu's details and learned that he was originally from Qingshan County. Because of the murder case, he had to go to Fengyin County to become a bandit! He became a heterosexual brother with six other people and was called Fengyin Seven Heroes. Among the seven heroes Only the second child, Gu Rentu, is cruel and bloodthirsty, and his methods are vicious, and he is also known as 'Rentu'."

These are all clichés, and everyone knows it already.I don't understand what kind of medicine he sells in his gourd!

"The minister also found out that 15 years ago, Gu Rentu had migrated to the south of the Yangtze River with the refugees. Coincidentally, two years later, there was a big family extermination case in Kangyang, which has not been solved yet. The suspect in the big case is named Gu Shan , is also from Qingshan County. Gu Shan and Gu Rentu are very likely to be the same person. The reason why Gu Shan killed people to silence him was revenge for private reasons. Because he had a younger sister who was poisoned by a doctor in Kangyang It is said that Mrs. Cen's wife is also surnamed Gu, and she was a dumb girl since she was a child? Is that true or not?"

Everyone looked sideways, and Cen Zhu hurriedly stepped out, knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, my wife's surname is indeed Gu! But she is definitely not Gu Rentu's sister! My wife has been lonely since she was a child, and her conduct is pure. She doesn't even dare to kill ants. Has something to do with the murderous maniac! I hope the emperor will learn from you!"

"Your Majesty!" Zhao Chen pressed on step by step, "Master Pu, the servant of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, interrogated the chief of Langshan? He committed Wang Shiba, and when he learned that Cen Zhu went up the mountain, Gu Rentu's subordinates treated him obviously differently, and even called him 'brother-in-law'." Isn't this obvious enough? Mrs. Cen is Gu Rentu's sister, and because of this relationship, Mrs. Cen was able to save her life. I went to Baoshan County to investigate Mrs. Cen's life, and learned that Mrs. Cen and Gu's family were indeed not Mrs. Gu and his wife Biologically, she is the foster daughter who was adopted at the age of ten!

His second elder didn't know about Gu's origin, but was entrusted by an eminent monk to raise the dumb girl Gu and taught her medical skills.The evidence has been included in Weichen's memorial, which was personally stated by Gu Yuanwai and his wife.Please look at the emperor! "

"Bring it up!"

"Yes!"

Li Pinghong took the memorial and checked it.

"Tuogu's eminent monk is a monk from the Yangjiao Temple in Yangjiao Mountain, Kangyang County. Master Xianyun and his young disciple disappeared. The minister thought that the eminent monk must have heard the news and was afraid that the matter would be revealed, so he ran away.

According to Mr. Qin, the censor who investigated the case, when officers and soldiers searched for Gu Shan brothers and sisters, the two did disappear near Yangjiao Mountain.From this we can see that the brothers and sisters of the Gu family were probably rescued by the monk Xianyun of the Yangjiao Temple.There are indications that this matter is not a coincidence, and there must be something tricky about it.Please learn from the emperor! "

Cen Zhu secretly admired this person's associative ability, he was able to connect two things that couldn't be connected together, and draw a correct conclusion.What should I do now?If Gu Qing's identity is leaked, is it secondary to getting himself involved? With the various crimes committed by Gu Rentu, gathering people to rebel, murdering and extorting goods, it is enough to punish the nine clans.Even if Gu Qing was saved from death, he might end up as a slave.

Pu Xingmi, the left servant of the Ministry of Punishments, has always had a festive relationship with Cen Zhuo, and now he stepped forward and said: "I interrogated Wang Shiba, a repeat offender in Langshan, and Gu Rentu called Master Cen a 'brother-in-law'. This is Wang Shiba's confession. , Your Majesty, please take a look!"

Li Pinghong asked someone to present the evidence, and glanced at Cen Zhu with an indescribable anger in his eyes.

Cen Zhu knelt stiffly in the hall, quickly thinking about countermeasures in his mind.At this time, Cui Moxian came out and said: "Your Majesty, in order to reduce the sentence and protect themselves, there are also cases where criminals snap up and bite people indiscriminately. You can't convict an important official of the court just because of a traitor's confession. And Gu Shan and Gu Ren Whether Tu is the same person is still hard to say, and Mrs. Cen is Gu Shan’s sister. I have not verified it. If only because Mrs. Cen’s surname is Gu and she was a dumb girl since she was a child, it is judged that she is Gu Shan’s sister, and then it is inferred that she is Gu Shan’s sister. Gu Rentu's sister, isn't it far-fetched? According to this theory, all the dumb girls surnamed Gu are Gu Rentu's sister?! Please enlighten the emperor!"

Cen Zhu gave Cui Moxian a grateful look. This person is indeed very interesting. It takes "a lot of courage" to stand up and speak for her at this moment when everyone avoids it.This friend was not in vain.

Song Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate said again: "Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. Is Mr. Cen there? Did he harbor any suspects, colluded with the treason? Wait for verification. Please ask the emperor to decree that the three divisions will hold a joint trial to hear the case. At that time, right and wrong It will come to light!"

Zhao Chen, Shen Xi and other censors all agreed.The joint trial of the three divisions refers to the joint trial of the three divisions of Dali Temple, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Ministry of Punishment.Once there is a joint trial, the sentencing will not be light, and the procedures are complicated, which can drag a normal person to death.These censors obviously came prepared. Seeing that they failed to persuade Li Pinghong, they all pointed their finger at Cen Zhu, the host of Fushou Garden.

"Report to the emperor!" At this time, a person stood up behind Pu Xingmi, short in stature, but with a large lung capacity. His voice was full of breath, not only suppressing the arrogance of the imperial censor, but even Li Pinghong was startled.It was Fu Minzheng, a good friend of Cen Zhu's same subject.He is also an official of the Ministry of Punishment, his official position is lower than Pu Xingmi, but he also wears a red robe and ranks fourth.

But I heard him holding an ivory wat in his hand and said loudly: "The joint trial of the three divisions is aimed at adjudicating major and difficult cases. The context of this matter is clear. The key is whether Mrs. Cen is Gu Rentu's sister, as long as it is found out, there is no need for a joint hearing between the three divisions. Moreover, even if Mrs. Cen is Gu Rentu's sister, she already belongs to the Cen family according to the theory of marriage and obedience to her husband. His life experience is vague and unclear. Mr. Cen was originally an outsider, so it is reasonable to be ignorant! The so-called innocent people are not guilty, maybe Mr. Cen is also a victim and has been deceived until now! In summary, I think this case is enough If you don’t go to the joint trial of the three divisions, you can submit it to the Ministry of Punishment or the Metropolitan Procuratorate for investigation. Please learn from the emperor!"

Cen Zhu is very grateful to this dear friend who helped him speak at the critical moment, but there is no need to add the next few sentences!The Ministry of Criminal Justice or the Metropolitan Procuratorate will investigate again. What if something is found out?He muttered to himself, he really was the man in the iron mask, and if he was expected to help, he had to pay for himself.

But there's more? More ruthless.

After Jiang Yiting listened for a while, he finally figured out the general situation.He also came out and said: "Think twice, Your Majesty, Cen Zhu and the minister are from the same family, and the minister can guarantee that she is definitely not the person who dares to harbor suspects and deceive the emperor. What Master Fu said just now is very true, as long as this matter is investigated It’s fine. Find out the truth first, and then it’s not too late to judge the crime. As long as the Ministry of Criminal Justice or the Metropolitan Procuratorate presents definite evidence to prove that Mrs. Cen is Gu Rentu’s sister, I will be the first to support the joint trial of the three divisions and arrest Cen Zhuo and put him in prison. Please, Your Majesty Mingjian!"

Cen Zhu vomited blood in his heart, and thought to himself, absolutely must not let Jiang Yiting know the truth, otherwise he will kill me alive?

"Jiang Qing and Fu Qing are right? I also believe in Cen Zhu's character! I will never do such a conspiracy. There is no need for a joint trial between the three divisions!" Li Pinghong threw the memorial to Cai Ya , expressed his opinion.

Cen Zhu, His Majesty, finally breathed a sigh of relief.As long as the emperor speaks, the matter will probably pass.

Who knows, Zhao Chen refused to accept it and said: "Your Majesty, isn't Wang Shiba's confession not enough evidence?"

Li Pinghong said: "How can the traitor's one-sided remarks be used as an example?"

"The emperor is so partial to Cen Zhuo, turning a blind eye to such important evidence? If he doesn't see it, how can he convince all the officials?!"

"Zhao Chen, is this the tone you should speak to me?"

Zhao Chen: "Your Majesty, Wang Shiba was interrogated by Mr. Pu himself, and his confession was also recorded by the Secretary himself, and there is absolutely no falsehood. If the Emperor suspects that there is something wrong with this matter, he should pass it on to the court himself, and ask the truth. .How can I ignore it?"

Qing Yue Haiyu of Dali Temple, Song Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and others also stood up, "I support Chuan Wang Shiba Shangdian, and confront Lord Cen in court."