……

"Did you find any clues there? Let's take it into detail! ”

Zhao Junchen slowly reported: "Your Majesty, the minister didn't find any clues, but I just felt that during the trial of the 'Southern Tour Preparation Fraud Case', the dynamics of the East Factory were too strange. ”

"Oh? What's so strange? ”

Emperor Deqing groaned, but did not express his position, but just signaled Zhao Junchen to continue.

Zhao Junchen was not in a hurry, but continued to report: "Your Majesty, you also know that although the trial of the 'Southern Tour Preparation Fraud Case' is mainly based on His Royal Highness the Prince, His Royal Highness the Prince's relevant experience is insufficient, so most of the specific matters are still entrusted to the three divisions of the yamen and the factory guards, this matter itself is normal, and there is nothing strange about the three divisions of the yamen, but only the east factory is too active and too active during the trial. ”

"Keep talking!" Emperor Deqing raised his eyebrows.

Zhao Junchen nodded and said: "Your Majesty, as far as the minister knows, during the period when Dongchang assisted the prince in handling the case, he was simply afraid that the world would not be chaotic, and the local officials along the way, as long as there was a slight suspicion, regardless of whether there was conclusive evidence of guilt, they would be arrested and strictly questioned by Dongchang, so under the torture of Dongchang, the arrested local officials were naturally told by Dongchang to say whatever they wanted, this time His Royal Highness the Prince arrested a total of more than 70 local officials, and many local officials and squires were imprisoned pending trial, It can be said that it is widely implicated, but in Yichen's opinion, I am afraid that many of them have been beaten by Dongchang...... In other words, if it weren't for Dongchang adding fuel to the fire, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would never have arrested so many people, and this matter would never have made such a big fuss! And why did the East Factory do this? It's really worth digging into! ”

In fact, the Dongchang Yamen Association was so active and active during the trial of the case. It's just that some time ago, Zhao Junchen's West Factory repeatedly stole the limelight, so Emperor Deqing thought that the East Factory was incompetent and reprimanded him! Therefore, Dongchang plans to take the opportunity of assisting Prince Zhu and Yu to try and handle the "Southern Tour Preparation Fraud Case". He proved his ability to Emperor Deqing again, and competed with Xichang for merit and favor, so he naturally went a lot too far when handling the case.

Emperor Deqing can naturally guess this, but when there is another explanation for this situation, and Emperor Deqing has always been suspicious, he will inevitably think more.

So, Emperor Deqing nodded and said, "You have a point. Keep talking! ”

On the other side, seeing that Emperor Deqing's attention had finally shifted from himself to Dongchang, Zhao Junchen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but his expression remained unchanged, and he just continued: "In addition, there is a suspicious place in Dongchang!" Your Majesty you also know that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will report the progress to His Majesty every few days during his departure from Beijing to try the case, and in those excerpts. The total number of officials involved in the case mentioned is only twenty or thirty, how can the number of people suddenly increase to nearly 100 after the prince returns to Beijing? If you had known that the prince would have tried so many officials, your majesty would have been sageful. I'm afraid it would have been stopped a long time ago, so how could it cause such a big trouble today? ”

With Zhao Junchen's hint, Emperor Deqing's expression became more solemn and gloomy. And asked, "You mean...... Dongchang is doing something in secret? ”

Zhao Junchen nodded and said, "According to the news that the minister knows, because of the matter of your Majesty's southern tour. There is not much time left for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to handle the case, so His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will go to every place after he arrives. Only some key officials involved in the case will be arrested, and after the facts of the case are clarified, they will rush to the next place, and as for the other officials involved in the case, they will be handed over to Dongchang to be responsible...... Therefore, among the reports issued to you by His Royal Highness the Prince, there are only twenty or thirty officials involved in the case, but after the prince returns to Beijing, the number of officials involved in the case has increased several times, which is probably because Dongchang rushed to submit their trial results to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince before His Royal Highness returned to Beijing...... It's just such a coincidence......"

After a pause, Zhao Junchen added: "Moreover, as Your Majesty said before, although His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is upright, he also knows how to measure himself on weekdays, but he acted so recklessly this morning, I am afraid that it is also because he saw the list of criminals and the evidence provided by Dongchang, there are so many crimes, so he was dizzy for a while." ”

"Dongchang ......" Emperor Deqing's face was gloomy like water, and he said slowly: "What the prince has done, if it is really them who are secretly fueling the trouble...... What is their purpose? Do they dare to betray me? ”

Regarding the reason why Dongchang did this, Zhao Junchen had naturally already thought about it.

So, after Zhao Junchen sighed lightly, he explained to Emperor Deqing: "Your Majesty, you also know the prince's temperament, he has read all the history books, and only thinks that there are eunuchs in all dynasties, even in this dynasty, there are Liu Jin, Wei Zhongxian, Wang Zhi, Wang Zhen and the like, so he has always disliked the eunuchs in the palace. How can he support His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? Maybe...... They did this in order to shake the position of His Royal Highness the Prince, and they didn't want His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to ascend the throne! ”

"Humph!"

As Zhao Junchen's words fell, Emperor Deqing snorted coldly, Zhao Junchen secretly raised his eyes, but saw that Emperor Deqing's eyes flickered at this time, obviously thinking about something, and a blank piece of paper on the imperial case was now crumpled by Emperor Deqing!

Seeing Emperor Deqing like this, Zhao Junchen knew that he was completely free from suspicion in Emperor Deqing's heart.

After all, no matter how great Zhao Junchen's authority is, it is impossible to interfere with Dongchang's decision-making, and what Dongchang did during the trial of the case is really suspicious after Zhao Junchen's addition and deliberate distortion!

On the other side, after Emperor Deqing was silent for a long time, he finally spoke slowly: "These things you talked to me in the imperial study today, don't let others know, I have my own arrangements in the future." ”

Seeing Emperor Deqing's gloomy expression, Zhao Junchen knew that Emperor Deqing had already made up his mind, and Dongchang was about to be unlucky, and a purge and rectification was inevitable!

And this is also one of Zhao Junchen's purposes!

The focus of Zhao Junchen's next plan is to infiltrate the army! But if the East Factory is still operating as usual, with its pervasive penetration, Zhao Junchen's plan to infiltrate the army is very likely to be discovered! At that time, it will naturally be a big trouble.

But as Emperor Deqing began to doubt Dongchang's loyalty, after a rectification and purge, Dongchang would not only be chaotic for a while, but also greatly reduced in strength in the future, so that Zhao Junchen's plan to infiltrate the army could also reduce many risks!

At the same time, in the next period of time, because of the weakening of the East Factory, Emperor Deqing will also rely more on Zhao Junchen's West Factory!

In addition, Zhao Junchen took the opportunity to clear Emperor Deqing's suspicions about himself, which is killing three birds with one stone!

However, Zhao Junchen did not show any smugness, but was as respectful and humble as ever, because Zhao Junchen understood that the more this time, the more he had to stay calm, otherwise he would only fall short!

Therefore, Zhao Junchen just said: "The minister understands, please rest assured, the matter in the imperial study today, the minister will never mention it to anyone." ”

Emperor Deqing nodded, and after pondering for a while, he suddenly changed his words and asked, "Let's not talk about this matter for the time being, what do you think about the trouble that the crown prince caused in the court this morning?" If I support the prince next, it will inevitably lead to chaos, and if I reject the prince's impeachment, it will inevitably hit the prince's prestige, but it will make me in a dilemma. ”

Zhao Junchen was slightly stunned, he didn't expect Emperor Deqing to really ask him for advice.

I don't know if this is another temptation by Emperor Deqing, so Zhao Junchen was quite cautious, and after pondering for a while, he finally replied: "Your Majesty, now that the palace test has ended, the southern tour you have been preparing for half a year is about to begin, if it causes chaos in the court at this time, I am afraid that this southern tour will be delayed!" ”

Emperor Deqing's face sank, and he said, "You mean to let me reject the impeachment of the crown prince?" But in this way, won't the prestige of the crown prince as a prince be damaged? If his prestige is damaged, how can he convince the hundred officials in the future? ”

That being said, the tone was not firm, after all, Emperor Deqing had been looking forward to the next southern tour for a long time.

Zhao Junchen smiled slightly, and reminded Emperor Deqing: "Your Majesty, you are in good health now, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has succeeded to the throne very early, even if his prestige is damaged for a while, as long as Your Majesty is still there, you will not worry about making up for these prestige!" What's more, Your Majesty, you can also put the responsibility for His Royal Highness the Prince's reckless actions this time to Dongchang in one go, and let Dongchang take responsibility, which can also reduce the prestige loss of His Royal Highness the Prince! ”

Hearing Zhao Junchen's construction, Emperor Deqing's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but nod!

Anyway, I have already made up my mind to rectify the East Factory, in this case, it is also a good choice to let the East Factory take responsibility for the prince Zhu Heyu!

……

Before, the big trouble caused by the crown prince Zhu and Yu was all because Zhao Junchen was secretly fueling the trouble, because Zhao Junchen wanted to bring down the prince.

Now, Emperor Deqing doesn't want the prestige of the crown prince Zhu Heyu to be damaged too much, and Zhao Junchen is also doing his best to come up with ideas and find ways, this is to gain the trust of Emperor Deqing!

Because, Zhao Junchen knew that Emperor Deqing didn't want to give up Zhu Heyu now, so Zhao Junchen couldn't bring down Zhu Heyu in one go, so he could only use the method of breaking the embankment in the anthill to wear down Emperor Deqing's patience and confidence in Zhu Heyu little by little! Even if you can't succeed at the first time, you can't endure it for a long time!

After the events of the court this morning, coupled with the fact that the crown prince Zhu Heyu had already done the preparations for the southern tour, Emperor Deqing may have doubts about Zhu Heyu's ability.

This kind of suspicion, like a seed, has been planted in the depths of Emperor Deqing's heart, and as long as there are water and soil nutrients, it will inevitably grow into a towering tree!

And these "water and soil nutrients", Zhao Junchen has already prepared!

……

PS: Well, the second update.

…… (To be continued......)