I embezzled 100,000 taels at the beginning, and the empress begged me to be more greedy

In the hall, there was complete silence.

Jiang Zuo's face was calm. He turned his head and scanned the expressions of his ministers.

Most of these officials had blank expressions on their faces and lowered their heads, each with their own thoughts.

After a while, Jiang Zuo said, "Your Majesty, this matter is quite strange. Let's wait for Shen Ye to return to the capital and let him explain it clearly."

Jiang Zuo's words made Chen Qingyun confused. Didn't Jiang Zuo want to summon all the ministers just now? Why did he say now that he wanted to wait for Shen Ye's explanation...

At this time, the Minister of Personnel Xu Renyou stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, according to my investigation, Shen Ye does not seem to have left the capital. Why not let him come to the palace to explain in person?"

Hearing this, Chen Qingyun couldn't help but frowned.

The news of Shen Ye leaving the capital was also a delaying tactic thought up by Jiang Zuo. Now that Xu Renyou said this in front of the emperor, it was clearly an attempt to make a big deal out of it in public.

At this time, Jiang Zuo stood up and asked, "Minister Xu said that Shen Ye did not leave the capital?"

Xu Renyou turned his head, glanced at Jiang Zuo, and said, "That's right, Shen Ye didn't go outside the Great Wall at all."

Jiang Zuo smiled faintly and said, "Could it be that Minister Xu has been sending people to monitor Shen Ye? What is your purpose in doing this? Are you trying to form a clique and engage in intrigue?"

This big hat was put directly on Xu Renyou's head.

Xu Renyou, who had been calm at first, could not help but feel a little more uneasy, and hurriedly explained: "No, Prime Minister Jiang is not right. I am just very concerned about this matter, so I investigated it. How can there be any intrigue?"

Jiang Zuo said calmly, "Since you said you investigated, why didn't you find out the truth? You need Shen Ye to come out and explain in person. Your Majesty has been very tired from handling government affairs recently. Many officials want to impeach Shen Ye. It is obvious that they want to put pressure on Your Majesty. And you, Minister Xu, want to make a big deal about this. What is your intention?"

This sentence immediately left Xu Renyou speechless.

Chen Qingyun looked at Jiang Zuo and couldn't help but think: "How could Jiang Zuo say what I said?"

After a while, Xu Renyou knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I don't mean to put pressure on you, but I can't bear to stand by and watch others discredit the court."

Hearing this, Chen Qingyun couldn't help but sneer in his heart: "The people who want to discredit the court are probably these old foxes."

The government still holds a tolerant attitude towards those in the capital who slander and insult the court.

Because Jiang Zuo knew that if he suppressed the matter by force and did not allow the people to discuss it, wouldn't it be a bit like trying to cover up one's own fault?

The best way now is not to shut up the people, but to present a convincing truth.

As for what the truth is, only the parties involved know.

At this time, Jiang Zuo said again: "As the emperor said, this matter is a little too strange. Without the testimony of the parties involved, we cannot make a conclusion without authorization."

Xu Renyou said: "Since Shen Ye cannot return to the capital now, why not summon Zhang Yuanwai to the palace and let him tell the truth in front of the emperor. If this matter is false, please be sure to punish all those who spread rumors and cause trouble. If what Shen Ye said is true, please also ask the emperor to deal with it seriously."

Now the key point of this matter lies with Zhang Yonghong.

If Zhang Yonghong complained to the emperor and was determined to get rid of Shen Ye, then no matter how Shen Ye explained, it would be redundant.

Everyone looked towards the empress, waiting for her instructions, but they all felt that the empress just wanted to deal with the matter vaguely and coldly.

"Your Majesty, I also think that it would be better to summon Zhang Yonghong to the palace and explain things to him face to face."

At this time, Jiang Zuo nodded.

Seeing that Jiang Zuo actually agreed, Chen Qingyun couldn't help but frowned. Everyone knew that Zhang Yuanwai was on the opposite side of Shen Ye. Wouldn't it aggravate Shen Ye's crime if he let him enter the palace?

Chen Qingyun really couldn't figure out Jiang Zuo's purpose, but when she looked at Jiang Zuo, she saw a hint of affirmation in the latter's eyes.

Seeing that Prime Minister Jiang had already agreed, some ministers couldn't help but smile.

"Pass it on to Zhang Yonghong."

Chen Qingyun ordered.

The solution to break the impasse now may lie in Zhang Yonghong.

After a while, Zhang Yonghong came to the main hall to meet the emperor. He came so quickly that it seemed he was well prepared.

"I, the humble servant Zhang Yonghong, pay my respects to His Majesty."

Zhang Yonghong knelt down and said.

"Stand up." Chen Qingyun said calmly.

At this time, Jiang Zuo said to Zhang Yonghong: "Zhang Yonghong, you are also involved in the matter of Shen Ye. Now explain the whole story to the emperor and tell everyone the truth."

Zhang Yonghong slowly stood up, looking a little uneasy in front of the empress and the officials in the court, and said, "My lord, are you talking about the incident between Shen Ye and Xiao Shuang?"

Jiang Zuo nodded: "That's right."

"Zhang Yonghong, just tell me the truth bravely. His Majesty will definitely make the decision for you." Xu Renyou said, and it was difficult to hide the smile on his face.

As long as Zhang Yonghong stated Shen Ye's crimes in front of all the ministers, even if the empress wanted to favor Shen Ye, she would have to convict him.

Before this, Xu Renyou had already discussed with Zhang Yonghong that this time, Shen Ye must be brought to ruin.

Thinking of this, Xu Renyou couldn't help feeling a little more proud.

Zhang Yonghong put away the uneasiness on his face and said, "Your Majesty, it is difficult for me to comment on this matter. After all, Xiao Shuang has not joined the Zhang family and cannot be considered my concubine."

After these words were spoken, officials headed by Xu Renyou couldn't help but frown.

This sentence sounds like something is wrong.

Jiang Zuo said: "People outside say that it was you, Mr. Zhang, who caught the adultery on the spot. Is that true?"

Zhang Yonghong added: "Those people outside say that the two of them are having an affair, which is totally untrue."

Hearing this, Xu Renyou was stunned.

He had clearly agreed with Zhang Yonghong to report Shen Ye in front of the emperor, so why did he turn against them today?

Chen Qingyun raised her red lips and said, "What do you mean?"

Zhang Yonghong added: "Since Xiaoshuang is not a member of the Zhang family yet, if she and Shen Ye are truly in love, I can also help them get together."

After hearing what Zhang Yonghong said, Xu Renyou wanted to curse on the spot.

Do you think you are a matchmaker? ! Are you still setting others up?

Others simply couldn't understand why Zhang Yonghong, who was clearly hostile to Shen Ye before, suddenly said such strange words.

Chen Qingyun's tense face finally showed some relief, and he said, "You want to give Xiaoshuang to Shen Ye now?"

Zhang Yonghong said: "It's not about giving it to Shen Ye, because Xiao Shuang is not from the Zhang family. If they are interested in each other, I can be Xiao Shuang's adoptive father and witness this marriage."

"Very good, I feel relieved after hearing your clear explanation." Chen Qingyun's brows relaxed, and he looked at Jiang Zuo with a faint smile.

At this moment, Jiang Zuo also had a smug smile on his face.

Chen Qingyun didn't know what method Jiang Zuo used to make Zhang Yonghong change his words and say such things.