In the rich and magnificent Fengqi Palace, even though the sun is shining outside during the day, the night pearls inlaid on the walls and ceilings of the hall inside are still glowing with a soft luster. The fusion of splendor and softness makes this palace with golden walls appear to be brilliant.

However, the atmosphere in the hall was obviously not so harmonious and pleasant at the moment.

In particular, the queen's already cold and unapproachable face will be even more cold as frost; And the delicately painted eyebrows are also a little more aggressive because of the sharp and mocking annoyance.

Her eyebrows were contemplative, and she was sitting in the phoenix seat at this moment, her eyes were lowered and her lips were pursed and she was silent.

Not far from the left hand side is the elevated three-legged peacock silk copper tripod, wisps of fragrance are wafting out from the gilded incense burner inside, silently and invisibly drifting to every corner of the hall.

Smelling this aroma can make people feel calm.

But under her, it was Li Huaitian, the general of the dynasty, who was sitting on pins and needles.

"Please also show the mother."

After not hearing a response for a long time, Li Huaitian couldn't help but look at the graceful and luxurious and cold woman above, and repeated it again.

For this sister, Li Huaitian is really more in awe than close in his heart.

Not because of the difference in the status of the monarch and the minister, but because of this sister, who is the same mother as him, is far from being able to guess the unpredictable scheming.

For example, at this moment, the queen seems to be casually lowering her eyes and holding tea, but who can think through what this woman with the most noble status in Nanchu is thinking.

After a long time, the queen gently put the delicate porcelain cup on the small red sandalwood case in her right hand.

Half raised his phoenix eyes, glanced at him with a smile, and took in his anxious appearance, and became more and more disdainful in his heart.

"The good son taught by my brother, everything has already been known to everyone, and now that I have only come to this palace, what good ideas can this palace give my brother?"

There was no anger, no sarcasm, even the eyes were cold and peaceful.

But it was precisely because her reaction was so flat that Li Huaitian became more and more uneasy in his heart.

Lowered his head, endured patiently, and said again very respectfully, "It's the minister's teaching, and I ask the mother to show me." ”

The queen faintly swept his square face, "Even if my brother wants to let Bengong come up with an idea, let's let Bengong understand what the handle is in the right minister's hand now, right?" ”

Li Huaitian raised his eyebrows in astonishment, and unexpectedly met the queen's implicit mocking gaze, and was stunned in his heart, and immediately lowered his head, and said with a red face, "That's an account book and a stack of salt quotations that record secret accounts." ”

The queen turned her phoenix eyes and listened quietly, except for glancing at him lukewarmly, she did not interject.

Li Huaitian's head hung a little lower, but even so, he didn't hide the shame on his face, "The accounts of the account books...... There are several records of the sale of salt, which are in fact ...... Yes, it is related to military salaries. ”

The queen's brows furrowed, and her eyes were as cold as lightning for a moment, "What about the salt?" ”

In fact, she asked this sentence the same whether she asked it or not, looking at Li Huaitian's expression, she knew what the problem was with those salt leads.

Not only did she know that there was a problem with those salt leads, but after yesterday's two "lively" interceptions and night attacks, I am afraid that everyone is tired of it.

Is this the reason why Xia Xingshen holds the evidence in his hand but is not in a hurry to present it to Emperor Chu?

Deliberately using these things as a bait to lure them forward and send them a handle?

Thinking of this, the queen's brows tightened even tighter, and her gaze crossed Li Huaitian lightly, and her eyes were really hard to hide her disdain.

As a descendant of the Li family and the current head of the Li family, Li Huaitian is limited by nature and is not good at strategy. But what about the next generation he trained? Isn't Li Nansheng, who abandoned literature and martial arts to engage in business, say that he is a think tank of the younger generation?

Now this foolish behavior is the style of a think tank?

Li Huaitian opened his mouth, looked at the queen's cold and unconcealed disappointed eyes, and for a long time, he blushed before he said, "Those salt citations are not the real salt citations issued by the government." ”

That is, the fake salt made by the Li family themselves in secret.

"Fake accounts, fake salt? Is there also a huge amount of military pay involved? The queen sneered, and her cold face could no longer hide her anger, "Good brother of this palace, please tell me, what do you want so much silver for?" ”

Rebellion?

Her son sits firmly in the position of the prince of Southern Chu, and she can use them to rebel?

Li Huaitian raised the corner of his eye to glance at her, and after a while, he said, "The matter has come to this point, please show the mother." "Reprimand or something, you can talk about it later.

Now, how to get the Li family out of this trouble is the top priority.

The queen glanced at him expressionlessly, and said coldly, "Brother, you will say it yourself, the matter has come to this, what else can this palace do?" ”

The handle of evidence, human and material evidence has been sent enough, if the emperor does not seize the opportunity to deal with them, even she will not be able to see herself.

Li Huaitian was stunned, blushing and silent for a long time, "But Niangniang, this matter ...... There's really no room to go around in circles? ”

The queen glanced at him, "This palace and ask you, in addition to the account books and salt quotations, has Li Nansheng done any other daring things?" ”

Li Huaitian was at a loss for a moment, frowned and tried to think about it for a while, before he said, "There shouldn't be." ”

The queen couldn't help but sneer coldly, couldn't she, the elder brother, have something else in his mind besides leading the troops to fight!

Should there be?

"Well, you go back first, and let people check what is going on with the people who suddenly went to the salt shop to make trouble." The queen lowered her eyes and waved her hand at Li Huaitian with some interest.

Li Huaitian stood up respectfully, and before withdrawing, he couldn't help but ask again, "Niangniang, what about the right minister...... What to do? "Is it up to you to deal with it?

The queen raised her eyes, and her gaze swept away coldly and sharply, "This matter has become a big problem, even if this palace has three heads and six arms, it will not be able to maneuver again." ”

What should be known and what should not be known, now that the emperor has long been clear, she also forcibly intervened, except for adding more handles, she can't see any use.

It's better to find a different way and see if we can find a breakthrough from somewhere else.

Li Huaitian was shocked by her cold and sharp gaze, stiffened his waist, and had to bow down and salute, "Niangniang has taught me a lesson, and the minister will retire first." ”

Out of the palace, Li Huaitian was still at a loss in his heart, he didn't understand what was the use of checking the people who went to the salt shop to make trouble now.

But after thinking about it, he still ordered someone to track it down.

"Since Niangniang asked people to check, she won't be untargeted."

When Li Huaitian returned to the General's Mansion and wanted to summon Li Nansheng to inquire about one or two, he found that this son was difficult to find, so he had to suppress the hidden worries in his heart for the time being.

The next morning, Xia Xingshen, who had been recuperating for a day due to his injury, appeared on the Jinluan Palace.

Li Huaitian is naturally also among the courtiers, not because he likes to stand here, but because he ...... Xia Xingshen went to court today, and he had to pay attention.

The ministers stood neatly and solemnly in the main hall with bated breath, and heard the singing of the inner attendant Jiansha from outside the hall: "Your Majesty has arrived." ”

The courtiers immediately bowed their heads respectfully, and shouted in unison, "Long live my emperor, long live, long live." ”

After a while, a bright yellow dragon robe floated from the corner of his eyes, and Emperor Chu sat down on the golden dragon throne, and glanced at the ministers coldly, "The Qing family is flat." ”

After another round of regular etiquette, Emperor Chu glanced at Xia Xingshen, who was standing in front of the palace, and said lightly, "I heard that the right prime minister was assassinated in front of the palace gate recently, and the right prime minister's mansion was attacked at night, but is there such a thing?" ”

Xia Xingshen took a step forward and arched his hand, "Your Majesty, this is indeed the case." ”

"It is reported that the right minister was injured as a result?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty cares." Xia Xingshen arched his hand, his demeanor changed from his usual lazy and casual, his eyebrows were slightly heavy, and he said, "The minister has something to do." ”

Emperor Chu quietly glanced at the ministers, raised his eyebrows and said, "Submit it." ”

The chamberlain then presented Xia Xingshen's recital to Emperor Chu, of course, in addition to the recital, there was also an account book and a stack of salt citations.

Li Huaitian had not looked good since he heard that Emperor Chu personally inquired about Xia Xingshen's first sentence.

This will see Xia Xingshen directly play and present the evidence together, and his face will change even more in turn.

Emperor Chu's calm face didn't show any emotional changes, although he already knew the ins and outs of this account book and the salt introduction, he still pretended to know nothing at the moment, and looked at Xia Xingshen's folds on the spot. After that, he put down the fold, and continued to look through the account books and salt quotations without making a sound.

But in this process, the atmosphere in the hall was unprecedentedly tense, and all the ministers bowed their heads and were silent.

"Has what the right minister played has been verified to be true?"

Emperor Chu's voice was deep and cold, and he couldn't see half of his joy and anger on his face, but as an emperor, he naturally exuded a momentum that was not angry but mighty, but between raising his eyebrows and raising his hand, the ministers didn't even dare to exhale.

Xia Xingshen arched his hand, and a deep voice slowly sounded in the empty hall, "The minister has verified that the account books and salt quotations are fakes. ”

Emperor Chu raised his eyebrows, slanted his eyes and swept over coldly.

"The minister himself took the salt and led it to the household department to make inquiries, and confirmed that these things were counterfeit in front of His Majesty; And what is the problem with the discrepancies in the large accounts recorded in the account books," Xia Xingshen paused, and glanced at Li Huaitian out of the corner of his eye, "The minister implores His Majesty to let General Li explain in person." ”

Emperor Chu coldly glanced at Li Huaitian, who was sweating with his head down, and suddenly changed the topic and said, "I heard that the two groups of assassins who attacked the right prime minister before and after were all led by the account book and salt in front of me?" ”

If there is no real problem, why be so desperate to reclaim these things.

When Li Huaitian heard Emperor Chu's fluttering words, he felt a chill all over his body.

Xia Xing pondered for a moment before replying, "The account books and salt quotations presented by the minister were all taken from the salt shop on Ronghua Street the day before yesterday, and at that time, Lord Yao Jiqing, the commander of the Nine Gates, was also present. ”

There is no doubt that there is any doubt about this, there must be a problem with the books of accounts and the introduction of salt.

And the problem involved in this is just – it's not simple.

Emperor Chu was not in a hurry to draw conclusions, and when he heard this, he was only silent for a while, and then said, "Which other Aiqing has a book to play?" ”

The courtiers of the main hall were silent.

Emperor Chu's cold eyes swept over the heads of the courtiers, his eyelids were closed, and he took a sip of the tea handed by the waiter.

The chamberlain then sang loudly, "Retreat." ”

retreated like this, but Li Huaitian was panicked in his heart.

What does Emperor Chu's attitude of not being salty and indifferent?

Do you believe that Xia Xingshen played? Or is it skeptical? And how are you going to deal with this problem?

With a heart full of worries, Li Huaitian returned to the General's Mansion with a frown.

"Father, what does Your Majesty plan to do with the account books?" As soon as Li Huaitian entered the conference hall, Li Donghai couldn't help but ask first.

Such a large amount of silver in and out of the country, it can't stand up to the inspection at all, as long as you check it, you can immediately find out their greed for the ...... of the army's salary.

If this matter is seriously investigated, it can definitely be big or small; In addition, the introduction of private salt has caused ...... damage to the tax revenue of the national treasury.

Thinking of these problems, which are more serious than the other, Li Donghai's brows have not been stretched since they were twisted.

Li Huaitian sat down on the top with a heavy heart, swept his eyes down, and said, "At present, my father can't guess His Majesty's thoughts. “

"By the way, is there any news about what I asked you to investigate?"

Li Huaitian was distraught, thinking of the matter that the queen told him to investigate, although he couldn't figure it out, he didn't dare to take it lightly.

Li Donghai's face changed, "Father, those troublemakers were really secretly instigated, and two of the people who carried the stretcher to the salt shop that day were beggars pretending to beggars. ”

Li Huaitian raised his eyebrows, his eyes were cold and angry, "Can you find out who is behind it?" ”

Li Donghai shook his head, not quite sure, "There seems to be traces of the Zhang family, and there seems to be the handiwork of the Mu family." ”

Li Huaitian was obviously stunned, "Didn't you tell you not to provoke them easily?" ”

If you don't provoke it, how can you attract the revenge of these two families!

Obviously, no matter whether Li Donghai can be sure or not, Li Huaitian has directly counted this matter on the heads of those two families.

He still remembered that the queen had sternly admonished him at the beginning, asking him to restrain these juniors not to act rashly.

Li Donghai glanced at him, faced his angry eyes, and lowered his head with some shame.

Many things may not have been his idea, but he also acquiesced to Li Nansheng's ...... doing so without Li Huaitian.

Seeing this, Li Huaitian still didn't understand something.

But everything has already happened, and no matter how much you blame and scold now, you can't turn things back.

With a long sigh, Li Huaitian glared at him, with a tone of hatred that iron is not steel, and said hatefully, "Mufu has its own mother to deal with, why don't you listen!" ”

I think that at the beginning, just one Zhang Guang almost made the Zhang Mu family completely turn against each other!

In the Mufu Fenglin Curie, there are also many people who can't guess Emperor Chu's intentions.

"Miss, the right minister has presented all the evidence to the emperor this morning, but His Majesty seems to be ...... There is no intention to punish the Li family? ”

didn't even lift it high and gently put down the punishment of making a show, Leng Yue really couldn't figure out what this emperor had in his head.

Mu Xiaofeng looked up at the branches sticking out of the pavilion, and said lightly, "Look at these maple leaves, they still look vibrant and green now, but one day they will turn yellow and fall to the ground, what are you anxious about." ”

Leng Yue was stunned for a moment, and then her eyes lit up, "What does Miss mean, that one will punish the Li family sooner or later?" ”