Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 267: The King Riding a Tiger
In the Prince Pu'an's mansion, Zhao Yuan's face was as gloomy as water, staring coldly at the eunuch Zhang Quwei:
"The Queen Mother is kind-hearted, so she will be persuaded by your sweet words. The Emperor is very filial, so with the Queen Mother's intercession, she will allow you to go to Shanyin to purchase building materials in the name of royal procurement."

Zhao Yuan pointed at a confession in front of him and said, "Although after Mu Si and his group were caught red-handed, you argued that you noticed Mu Si's improper behavior, so you took advantage of the situation and sent him to Shanyin to buy. In fact, you wanted to catch him red-handed, but..."

Zhao Yuan showed a hint of sarcasm on his lips and asked slowly, "Where are the people you arranged? Can you catch Mu Si red-handed just relying on Yu Jiguang and Chen Lixing?"

Zhang Quwei's face looked very ugly.

He also knew that the claim that he was sent to Shanyin to purchase goods in order to investigate for evidence of Mu Si's illegal activities was full of loopholes, but at least he could give himself a decent look by saying so, as long as no one pursued the matter.

It was the government that entrusted him with the purchasing power, so who would make him uncomfortable?
As a result, this young prince obviously does not tolerate any injustice.

Zhao Yuan said, "If the Imperial City Division had not mobilized local soldiers to arrest Mu Si, when would you have planned to catch him red-handed?"

Zhang Quwei's eyes flickered, and he said, "I had planned to arrest him when Mu Si returned to Beijing with the ship. Yu Jiguang and Chen Lixing were watching him on the way, so I don't think he would be able to escape."

Zhao Yuan nodded, and said with a half-smile: "I guessed you would say that. I have already asked Yu and Chen. Now I want to ask you again, when did you summon them and decide on this plan?"

Zhang Quwei choked suddenly and his face turned blue.

Although Zhao Yuan is the emperor's adopted son and may become the crown prince of the Song Dynasty in the future, he is also the most trusted person around the current emperor.

The Queen Mother and the Empress both favored him, but this prince didn't give him any face at all. As the saying goes, you have to look at the owner before beating the dog. You haven't even become the crown prince yet, yet you are so arrogant!

Zhang Quwei gritted his teeth, raised his head and said, "I am an official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and also a servant in the inner court serving the emperor, the empress dowager, and the queen.

Today, I will not hide it from the king. That's right! I went to Shanyin to purchase materials for rebuilding the "Zhiweitang" under the name of royal procurement. It was indeed because I wanted to make some money and save some expenses!

This is also because the Empress Dowager feels pity for my "Zhiweitang" which has suffered an unexpected disaster, and the Emperor understands my difficulties and has shown mercy and granted me this convenience.

Actually, it wouldn't be a big deal if I admitted it straight away.

But the Emperor and the Queen Mother have clearly shown me favors. How can I bear to see my master's reputation damaged?
The excuse of investigating Musi is just to preserve the dignity of the royal family."

Zhao Yuan was furious and slammed the table, saying, "Zhang Quwei, I am investigating a case under the order of the king. You answered one question at one time and two questions at two times. Why are you randomly bringing up the emperor and the queen mother?
Do you want to use the emperor and the queen mother to suppress me? You eunuch are so arrogant, do you want to be the second Tong Guan?"

Zhang Quwei stood up, raised his neck and said in a sharp voice: "I dare not, if the king asks, if I cover up, you will be unhappy.

I have told you the truth now, but you are still unhappy. I don't know what you want me to do to please you. Why don't you just ask the king to speak for me and I will sign and seal it."

Although Zhao Yuan was good at cultivating his Qi, he was also angered by Zhang Quwei's rogue behavior, and the veins on his forehead were tense.

Zhao Yuan said sternly, "Zhang Quwei, do you think I dare not punish you? Why are there still Qin Hui's property on your boat?"

Zhang Quwei said proudly: "I don't know that the procurement was all handled by Mu Si. How did the Qin family's ships get mixed in the fleet? Your Majesty, you should ask Prime Minister Qin or Mu Si."

Zhao Yuan said, "Okay! Mu Si was shot dead just after arriving in Lin'an. Does it have anything to do with you?"

Zhang Quwei said in a sharp voice: "Zhang Quwei is just an old dog wagging its tail in front of the government, how can he have the ability to hire someone to kill someone?
If your Majesty has evidence, just bring it to me, and I will testify to your presence!"

At this time, Chu Nianqiu, the military secretary of the palace, came in to report: "Your Majesty, Yang Yuan from the Mechanical Speed ​​Office has important matters to report."

Zhao Yuan steadied his breathing and ordered, "Take him to Jiayou Hall."

Afterwards, Zhao Yuan said to Zhang Quwei coldly, "You can go back now. I have been ordered to investigate a case. When I need you to come to my palace for questioning, remember to come as soon as you are summoned. Don't delay."

Zhang Quwei bowed and said, "I'll take my leave!"

He stared at Zhao Yuan, took a few steps back, waved his sleeves, turned around, and walked away.

Zhao Yuan's eyes showed a murderous look, and he said hatefully: "Eunuch! You'd better not fall into my hands, otherwise..."

Zhao Yuan flicked his sleeves and left the hall.

In Jiayou Hall, Yang Yuan had only sat for a short while when Prince Pu'an Zhao Yuan came walking quickly towards him. Yang Yuan immediately stood up and bowed.

Zhao Yuan had regained her graceful appearance, and helped him up with a smile, saying, "No need to be polite, Yang Chengzhi, please sit down."

After Zhao Yuan sat down at the top, Yang Yuan told Zhao Yuan what he found when he examined Mu Yaban's body.

Yang Yuan had no way of using Emmanuelle Belle's words as key evidence to get the court to initiate an investigation into important government offices such as the Imperial City Administration.

However, the loophole on the wound caused by Mu Si's arrow can be filled.

When Zhao Yuan heard his purpose, his expression became serious.

He put his hands behind his back, paced slowly in the hall, and said solemnly: "Yang Chengzhi, are you sure?"

Yang Yuan said in a deep voice: "I can confirm it!"

Yang Yuan took out an official letter from his bosom, presented it to Zhao Yuan with both hands, and said, "I am afraid that someone may damage the body or cause other accidents. After the investigation is confirmed, I asked two old coroners from Lin'an Prefecture to jointly write this 'love letter'."

"Yuanshu" means judicial document.

The records of accusation, interrogation, on-site investigation, property seizure reports, criminal pursuit reports, etc. are all called "Yuanshu".

This "love letter" jointly signed by Yang Yuan and two coroners from Lin'an Prefecture is equivalent to an autopsy report.

Not only does it have the signatures and seals of three people, but also the seal of Lin'an Prefecture, so it is legally binding.

Zhao Yuan took the "Love Letter" and carefully read the description of the arrow wound and the reasonable inferences that the two coroners also agreed with. He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "Nian Qiu, send someone to the Imperial City Department to ask Mu En to come here to see me!"

Chu Nianqiu, the military secretary who had been standing in the hall, bowed and left. Zhao Yuan said to Yang Yuan, "You should go back to the Privy Council first and be careful."

Yang Yuan said goodbye and left, and Zhao Yuan raised his forehead tiredly.

The official family has two adopted sons, and the fact that they handed this case over to him to lead shows that they recognize him more, which is a happy thing.

But now he feels a little regretful.

Musi, the person involved in the smuggling fleet, is dead. If we want to investigate the case further, it will inevitably involve the two cargo owners.

One is Qin Hui and the other is Zhang Quwei.

Qin Hui was the prime minister of the time, and this time he purchased the marriage gift under the name of marrying the queen's brother.

Whether it was the fact that Qin Hui had been building a big and deep-rooted business for many years and had the support of the Jin Kingdom, or the fact that he was involved with the current queen's family, it was daunting.

This time, the emperor wanted to take advantage of the situation to clip Qin Hui's wings and weaken Qin Hui's power, rather than launching a life-and-death game between the emperor and the prime minister.

Zhang went to be the old dog, with the Empress Dowager and the Emperor standing behind him.

If this old dog runs to the Queen Mother and cries and begs her, and makes her soften her heart, it will be very troublesome.

The Queen Mother was captured and taken to the northern country in her early years and suffered a lot. As a son, the Emperor has always felt guilty about this.

Now that the Empress Dowager has been brought back, the Emperor is extremely filial and respectful. Once the Empress Dowager speaks for Zhang Quwei, I am afraid that the Emperor will back down.

Now, the Imperial City Division...

Zhang Quwei, the chief eunuch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, was investigated by him. If the Imperial City Department was listed as a suspect again...

What does Prince Pu'an want to do? Does he want to take the opportunity to chop off the emperor's left and right arms?

The Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Inner Court and the Imperial City Administration in the Outer Court are two government offices directly under the emperor and the most trusted and respected by him.

Ruo Mu En also developed a grudge against me because of this...

Zhao Yuan suddenly felt that he was in a difficult situation.

……

Lu Xi carried the fish soup into the private room of Enping County Prince Zhao Yu and said, "Your Majesty, the emperor praised this soup. I made it myself. Your Majesty, please try it."

When Zhao Qiu arrived at the "Song Family Flavor Building", he called a private room, ordered some wine and food, and started drinking by himself.

If it weren't for Zhao Yu's strong recommendation, Lu Xi would not have had the opportunity to go to the palace to cook for the emperor and empress, teach the imperial chef new dishes, and maintain his reputation as the "Little God of Food."

Now that King Enping has arrived, Lu Xi naturally did his best to entertain him personally.

"Okay, okay, put it here. Thank you for your hard work, Miss Luxi."

Zhao Yu ate a few mouthfuls of fish soup and asked with a smile, "When are you and Erlang going to get married?"

Luxi was slightly shy and replied, "Next autumn."

Zhao Qu joked: "Great, great, the autumn weather is nice and refreshing, just right..."

Suddenly he remembered that the beautiful girl in front of him was his brother's wife, and it was unusual for an uncle to speak dirty words to his brother's wife, so Zhao Qu swallowed back the dirty words that were on the tip of his tongue.

At this time, Zhao Yu's long-servant came in hurriedly, handed a piece of paper to Zhao Yu, and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I have already done it for Yang Yuan."

"Oh?"

Zhao Yu took the note, looked at it, and then handed it to Lu Xi with a smile: "Here, give it to your man later. If he has any questions, ask him to see me."

After saying that, Zhao Yu waved his folding fan, walked away with the long hair casually, and said casually: "No need to see me off."

Money? He won't pay. It's so strange to pay for a meal at his brother's wife's house. His Highness the Goose King will try to get closer to her.

Lu Xi took the note blankly, unfolded it and took a look. He saw a rectangular piece of mulberry paper with two big characters "Floating Ticket" written horizontally on it.

On the right side of the sticker, there is a line of small characters: "Twenty-three years old, tall, no beard.

In the middle vertically there are two large characters "Yang Yuan".

Then on the left side there is another line of small characters: "Yin Xi No. 36."

The receipt also has the official seal of Lin'an County on it.

Lu Xi didn't understand, so he wanted to ask his father. When he arrived at his father's room, Mr. Qu Da was also in the room.

Lu Xi said happily: "Uncle Qu is here, that's great, here is a bill, and your niece doesn't know what to do with it, Uncle Qu, help me take a look."

Lu Xi handed the "floating ticket" to Qu Jianlei and said, "Second brother's name is on it."

Qu Jianlei took it and looked at it, with a strange look on his face: "This is the certificate of admission. Could it be that Erlang wants to take the exam for the top scholar?"

(End of this chapter)