On May 3 of the first year of Tiaolu, after the retreat of Ming Chongyan, the chief doctor of Zhengzhi, took a carriage to Pishan, harvested a few bags of wormwood, and then went to the paddy field to harvest a bag of stone calamus, and then returned to the city.

When I came to Luoyang North City, I met my good friend Cui Mi in the imperial history, and Ming Chongyan greeted him warmly, and we went to the North City Wine Shop to have dinner and taste Grandma sake.

After being full of wine and food, Ming Chongyan returned to the mansion, took out a handful of calamus leaves and a handful of wormwood, tied them together and inserted them under the eaves, and used them to drive away evil spirits and prevent epidemics. And he took out the other wormwoods and dried them.

After dusk, Mrs. Dong Xiaoqian went to the neighbor's house to chat, and her son Mingqi studied hard in the study. Ming Chongyan sat alone in the hall to rest, thinking of a new way to drive the Cool Spirit Ghost to treat incurable diseases.

The moonlight shines into the courtyard, and the fragrance of lotus flowers in the pond wafts into the house from time to time, which is very pleasant. Ming Chongyan slumped on the newly made bamboo rocking chair, closed his eyes and recuperated, completely oblivious to the movement around him.

A dark shadow climbed over the courtyard wall and jumped down gently, without alarming others. He crept into the hall and hid behind the screen, waiting for his moment.

In the dead of night, with no one around, the black shadow took out a common polished short knife from his arms and quietly walked behind Ming Chongyan.

Ming Chongyan felt the wind behind him, got up from the bamboo rocking chair and turned around, the black shadow grabbed his red robe with one hand, and held the short knife with the other hand and plunged it into his heart.

Ming Chongyan couldn't react, and fell to the ground with a scream. The quiet night sky was pierced by screams, and the dark shadow seemed taken aback, turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Ming Jue and the housekeeper held shovels in their hands and led their servants to surround them, and the neighbors rushed to inspect them, and found that Ming Chongyan was dead, and the knife was still stuck in his heart. Dong Xiaoqian lay on her husband and cried.

The neighbors talked a lot and sighed. Mingqi and the housekeeper reported the case to the governor of Luozhou, Shi Li Zhongxuan, overnight, and Li Zhongxuan reported it to the imperial court, and the murder case soon spread throughout Luoyang.

When the Emperor and the Queen of Heaven heard this, they were shocked, and the Emperor said in confusion: "Ming Chongyan has profound Taoist skills and psychic powers, how can he be killed by ordinary people?" ”

The queen of heaven said: "The concubine can't understand Ming Chongyan's spells, and she can't understand the cause of his death!" ”

In the court, the ministers also had a lot of discussions, and most of the courtiers' opinion was that Ming Chongyan was accidentally killed by the robbers who were wandering, and the pursuit of the murderer should start by checking the thieves in Luoyang in the past.

The crown prince Dianshan Cheng Gaozheng expressed a different opinion, he said: "Ming Chongyan can communicate with ghosts, and every time he does it, he has to drive ghosts to work too hard, so that ghosts work too much, and do not pay overtime wages, and the wages of the ghosts have been in arrears for too long, and the ghosts are in a hurry, so they are killed by the ghosts!" ”

The ministers laughed and said, "The view of the foot is very novel, so that there is no need to go to the yang world to investigate people and chase thieves, and no one can see the ghosts!" Ha ha. ”

The queen of heaven sneered behind the curtain, and with a woman's intuition, she felt that the murder was done by the crown prince Li Xian. But she didn't dare to tell the emperor, so she had to remain silent and see what the emperor would do.

The supervisor in the palace patted the startled wood, and the palace attendants shouted silence, and the court gradually quieted down.

The emperor said: "Ming Chongyan has a special ability, and it is true that he can drive ghosts to do things, but everyone has seen this murder case, and the short knife is inserted in the heart, which is obviously done by ordinary people, will ghosts borrow daggers to kill people?" Ghosts kill people, one is to use time, and the other is to use disease! ”

The courtiers shouted: "Your Majesty the Emperor! The Emperor also said, "I am not in harmony and cannot think and work for a long time, so the crown prince will be in charge of the country from tomorrow, and I ask you to sincerely assist the crown prince." ”

At this time, the emperor put the crown prince Li Xian in charge of the country, obviously to test whether he would enforce the law impartially and track down the murderer. How could Li Xian not know? So he immediately sent out a patrol and searched everywhere, but to no avail.

After many days, the emperor ordered the Imperial Historical Observatory, the Criminal Department and the Dali Temple to send masters to go out to track down the murderers, and the masters arrested many suspects, but still could not find the real murderer.

The emperor was also anxious and ordered all the suspects to be beheaded. Zheng Rengong of the Criminal Department said: "The minister asks the emperor for a period of grace and waits for the Criminal Department to clarify right and wrong and find out the truth before carrying out the execution." The emperor agreed.

After Ming Chongyan was assassinated, the Queen of Heaven became vigilant and wanted to strengthen the palace guards, so she sent Zong Zhengqing Wu Chengsi to Longzhou to summon Wu Sansi, the son of Wu Yuanqing, to Luoyang.

Wu Chengsi has been serving by the side of the Queen of Heaven for six years this year, and he began to serve the emperor from the Wupin Shangran, in charge of the emperor's public opinion, and there are a total of 90 people under him, such as Shulingshi, Zhangfan, Zhanghan, Zhuyuan, and Fengyu.

After a few months of probation, Wu Chengsi was very competent, and Empress Wu made him the heir of Wu Shi Yu, taking the title of Duke of Zhou, replacing the position of his late nephew He Lan Minzhi.

A year later, he was promoted to Zhengqing from Sanpin Zong, which can be described as a rocket-like rise. Zong Zhengqing is in charge of the family registration of the Son of Heaven, focusing on caring for those relatives who need to wear linen and filial piety to mourn, and managing the Mausoleum Department and the Zong Xuan Administration.

The queen of heaven learned about the situation of Li Tang's clan in detail through Wu Chenghe, and was deeply disgusted by their rich life of stretching out their hands for clothes, opening their mouths for food, and calling slaves and maids.

Wu Chenghe's ability to gain a firm foothold in the talent-rich imperial court is inseparable from his own merits.

Wu Chengsi's appearance resembles a Qiongyan pearl tree, and he is also a talent. He has the virtues of elegance and neutrality, and he does not want to stop when he speaks, and he does not want to stop when he speaks, and he cannot be disturbed by lightning and thunder outside when he thinks.

When I came to Longzhou, the brothers met each other and were very affectionate. Wu Sansi is thirty years old, slender and strong, burly and handsome, smart and studious, and good at flattery, and he asks his cousin Wu Chengsi of the same age for career experience.

Wu Chengsi said: "All the words spoken by the queen of heaven must be regarded as the Bible, and everything that the queen of heaven opposes must be discarded!" Everything is done according to the opinions of the queen of heaven, and it will naturally soar without worrying about the decline of the family! ”

Wu Sansi arched his hand and said: "Brother's words, foolish brother keep it in mind!" ”

Came to Luoyang Shangyang Palace, the queen of heaven met with Wu Sansi, saw that he looked mighty, and practiced martial arts, very happy, directly appointed Wu Sansi as the general of the right guard from the three products, in charge of the palace guards, team battles and Zhu Cao affairs.

Wu Chengsi congratulated: "Congratulations to the virtuous brother, as soon as he took office, he was a third-grade official!" Much stronger than the foolish brother! Wu Sansi bowed and said: "Thank you Brother for your introduction, today's wealth is due to Brother A, and the foolish brother is grateful!" ”

Wu Chengsi said with a smile: "Brothers are of the same heart, and their benefits are gold!" With one heart, it stinks like an orchid! In the future, our brothers will be in the same boat, share blessings and difficulties! ”

A few months later, Zheng Rengong reported to the emperor: "The Criminal Department has sorted out right and wrong, and none of the suspects in custody are the real murderers of Ming Chongyan!" ”

The emperor scolded: "Rice buckets, they are all rice buckets!" For so many days, so many people, can't find a real culprit? The queen of heaven persuaded: "Everyone is angry, don't be angry with the dragon body!" ”

The emperor said: "The crown prince has done nothing, and the officials of the criminal department can't find out any names, so I can only ask the lady!" When the lady goes out, she must be different! Hehe. ”

The queen of heaven said: "The concubine thinks that there is no need to fight to chase the murderer first, and now it is the first priority to hold a grand funeral for Ming Chongyan and appease the Ming family!" The emperor said, "Everything is entrusted to the lady!" ”

The queen of heaven sent Honglu Shaoqing to supervise the funeral, held a grand funeral for Ming Chongyan, and gave Ming Chongyan as a servant, nicknamed Zhuang, and worshiped the fifteen-year-old Ming Jue as the secretary.

After this was done, the Queen of Heaven convened a meeting of the officials of the Imperial Historical Observatory to discuss the issue of pursuing the real culprit.

The queen of heaven said: "It is rumored that Ming Chongyan drove the ghosts to work too hard and was killed by the ghosts!" This kind of nonsense can only be believed by people whose heads have been caught in the door frame! Hongu believes that everyone here is a person who understands. ”

In the imperial history, Cheng Cui Mi spoke: "What the Queen of Heaven said is extremely true, the minister thinks that Doctor Ming died of the deliberate murder of the enemy, as long as you find out the enemy of Doctor Ming, you will find a breakthrough!" ”

The queen nodded in approval. The servant Shi Wei Siwen asked: "Does Cui Zhongcheng know who Doctor Ming's enemy is?" ”

Cui Mi replied: "I don't know yet. Dr. Ming has always been helpful, doing the way to save people, and driving ghosts to do good deeds, and I have never heard of him having a grudge against anyone! ”

Wei Siwen asked again: "Then how did Cui Zhongcheng conclude that Dr. Ming died of the enemy's deliberate murder?" ”

Cui Mi replied: "Because apart from this, Cui can't find any other reasonable explanation!" If he was killed by the thieves in Luoyang in the past, why did the thieves only kill him and not loot his family's property? ”

Yu Shi Daqian said: "Cui Zhongcheng is very reasonable, it seems that the key to breaking through this case is to investigate Dr. Ming's enemies. Shiyu Chengye said: "You can retrieve the archives of Dr. Ming for investigation." ”

The queen of heaven said: "Cui Zhongcheng grasped the main point of the problem. As for accessing archival materials and the like, there is no need to do it. The stakes in this case are very important, the time is tight, and the task is heavy, so the palace will not beat around the bush here, and tell you bluntly that as long as you keep an eye on the people entering and exiting the East Palace, you can find a breakthrough! ”

The ministers let out an exclamation, and the superintendent of the imperial history Ren Xuanzhu came out and asked: "Dare to ask the enemy of Doctor Ming is hiding in the East Palace?" ”

The queen of heaven said: "Today, this palace wants to tell you a secret! "Supervising the Imperial History, Xue Zhongzhang, Cui Jing and others all listened attentively.

The queen of heaven continued: "Doctor Ming once looked at the sons of the palace and said something unfavorable to the prince. You are all understanding people, I hope you will play the role of embroidered clothes and lock the people in and out of the East Palace! ”

After this meeting, the Queen of Heaven ordered Cui Mi to be responsible for investigating and trying the murder case of Dr. Ming. Cui Mi arranged for his eyes and ears to keep an eye on the people entering and leaving the East Palace, and also sent undercover agents to reconnoiter inside the East Palace.

In February of the second year of Tiaolu, the emperor and the queen of heaven took the crown prince Li Xian to Songshan to visit the immortals.

The emperor's intention was to find a hermit like Shangshan Sihao to assist the crown prince, so as not to have another scene of the crown prince being deposed.

First go to Shaomu Mountain to pay homage to the young aunt's temple, give the late Maoshan Taoist priest Wang Yuanzhi's nickname as Mr. Shengzhen, give it to Dr. Taizhong, and then go to the Xu You Temple in Jishan to visit Xu Youyan, the east neighbor of Tian Youyan.

Tian Youyan wore a field suit and went out to meet him, his appearance was cautious and simple, and the emperor ordered the left and right guards to support him and asked, "Is Mr. in good health lately?" ”

Tian Youyan replied: "The minister is the one who uses the spring stone as a plaster and uses the smoke to cure diseases!" The emperor smiled and said, "What is the difference between Zhen Dejun and Han Gaozu getting Shangshan Sihao?" ”

Xue Yuanchao, the waiter of the Chinese book, praised: "Han Gaozu wants to abolish the throne, so Shangshan Sihao went out of the mountain to admonish him, where can it be compared to His Majesty's personal descent into the cave?" ”

The emperor was overjoyed, and he took his mother and wife to the eastern capital in a carriage to worship the scholar of Chongbunkan and the assistant prince Li Xian.

The next day, the emperor and his entourage visited the Songyang Temple and the Qimu Temple on Taimuro Mountain, and ordered the erection of a monument. Then go to Xiaoyao Valley to visit the 96-year-old Maoshan Taoist priest Pan Shizheng.

Pan Shizheng greeted the Longtang Temple, and the emperor and the queen of heaven saw him with a childish face, called him a living immortal, bowed on the spot, and ordered the crown prince Li Xian to worship him. Then go to Jingsi Temple to rest, drink tea, and talk about the Tao.

Bachelor Li Sizhen is familiar with music and rhythm, and also traveled with the car, and when listening to music performances in Songshan Taiqingguan, he said: "The palace does not call businessmen, which means that the monarch and the minister are not in harmony, and the horn is also conscripted, indicating that the father and son are suspicious of each other!" Who wrote this song? Why so much grief? ”

Taoist priest Liu Yi and Fu Yan replied: "This is the "Bao Qingle" composed by the prince! Of course, such a complaint is uncomfortable. Li Sizhen was taken aback, and had a premonition that the future of the crown prince Li Xian was not good.

Cui Mi's ears and eyes and undercover agents came back and reported: "The prince is obsessed with lust, and he is nicknamed with the male pet Zhao Daosheng!" The prince washes the horse and Liu Neyan loves to tell haiku stories and make Li Xian happy. Gao Zheng often went to Mafang quietly. ”

Cui Mi reported to the queen of heaven again, saying: "Although the real culprit has not been found, it is found that the prince has a serious life style problem!" All kinds of secrets in the East Palace gradually surfaced. ”

The queen of heaven said: "Very well done, continue to collect human evidence, physical evidence and all kinds of evidence, and be sure to make the evidence conclusive, so that the opponent is undeniable!" ”

In late April, the emperor and the queen of heaven go to the Zigui Palace in Michi County to escape the heat, where there are large osmanthus trees, the scenery is beautiful, and the summer is cooler than the Hebi Palace.

During this period, Cui Mi's evidence collection work progressed in an orderly manner and was very smooth.

On August 5, the emperor returned to the Eastern Capital from the Zigui Palace. Cui Mi played and exposed the prince's life style problems.

The queen of heaven said: "In the past, Li Chengqian pampered the Taichang Temple Le Tong Chengxin and Taoist Wei Lingfu and Qin Ying. Taizong personally entered the East Palace to search, arrested Chengxin and others, and took them out of the palace and killed them. How similar things are today! ”

The emperor said, "I'm so dizzy that I can't go into battle to kill, so ask my lady to do it for me!" ”

The Empress of Heaven ordered Xue Yuanchao, the waiter of the Yellow Gate, Pei Yan, the imperial historian, and the judge to form a special team of the East Palace to investigate the prince's life style case in detail.

With the support of the Queen of Heaven, Cui Mi entered the East Palace and arrested the household slave Zhao Daosheng, and returned to the prison for strict interrogation. Zhao Daosheng was very stubborn at first and endured the flogging, but then the jailer nailed his fingers with a bamboo stick, and after nailing one, he screamed in pain and shouted that he couldn't stand it!

So, Zhao Daosheng poured beans into the bamboo tube - not a single grain was left, and he confessed everything. Zhao Daosheng confessed and said: "The prince treats me like a mountain, and I want to repay him, so I killed Ming Chongyan." ”

Gao Zhizhou asked, "How did you know that Ming Chongyan was the prince's enemy?" Zhao Daosheng replied: "I went to the palace to find it myself!" ”

The jailer said beside him: "Confess honestly, confess leniently, resist strictly, there are nine bamboo sticks here, don't waste it!" Hum. Zhao Daosheng looked at the sharp and hard bamboo sticks, and trembled with fright.

Gao Zhizhou brought him a bowl of warm water to drink, and Zhao Daosheng confessed: "The prince instructed me to go to the palace to investigate, and Cui Liping, the attendant of Kongnei, told me!" ”

Cui Mi sent someone to arrest Cui Liping and confronted Zhao Daosheng face to face, which really coincided, so he drew a seal and stamped his handprint, escalating the prince's life style case to the prince's murder of the minister.

The Donggong task force made persistent efforts and sent people to search the Donggong Mafang where Gao Zheng quietly went, and found hundreds of shiny armor, and none of the soldiers fighting in front had such good armor.

Xue Yuanchao praised his subordinates and said: "Zhu Gong did a good job, Zhu Gong worked hard!" According to the available evidence, the case of the prince's murder of the minister can be upgraded to the prince's rebellion! ”

The queen of heaven was overjoyed and gave the East Palace task force a rich reward.

The East Palace Task Force presented the investigation file to the Emperor for review, and the Emperor hesitated and wanted to forgive Li Xian, but the Queen of Heaven said: "For the Son of Man, with a conspiracy, Heaven and Earth will not tolerate it, and the righteous destruction of relatives, how can it be pardoned?" ”

The emperor continued to intercede and said: "When Taizong disposed of Li Chengqian, he came to Ji Jinyan to say that His Majesty is a loving father, and the crown prince will be good if he has lived his life!" It is advisable to deal with today's affairs as before! ”

After the discussion of the monarch and the ministers, on August 22, the edict deposed the crown prince Li Xian as a concubine, and sent the right prison gate Zhonglang to escort Hu Zhitong to Li Xian's family to Chang'an and confined them in another place.

Hundreds of armors were sent to Qiaonan, Tianjin, to be burned in public, so that the people could understand the reason why the prince was deposed.

On the 23rd, King Li Zhe was appointed crown prince. Change the yuan to Yonglong, amnesty the world, three days of drunkenness. So far, the emperor has made a total of four princes: Li Zhong, Li Hong, Li Xian, and Li Zhe.

The emperor said angrily: "Teaching people with the Six Classics of Confucianism, and worrying that he could not be educated, he actually entered Hai Harmonic and said, is this the duty of tutoring?" "Exiled Liu Neyan to distant Zhenzhou.

The crown prince Norizen Takamasa was the son of the emperor's confidant Zuowei general Gao Zhenyuki, and the emperor asked Gao Zhenxing to reprimand Gao Masayi himself to see if the cronies were properly handled.

When Gao Zheng stepped into the house, Gao Zhenxing, who was guarding the door, stabbed him in the throat with a sword, and Gao Zhenxing, the head of the household, also stabbed him in the abdomen with a dagger, and Gao Xuan cut off his head with a horizontal knife, and then abandoned the corpse.

Gao Zhenxing used this cruel way to show loyalty to his master. When the emperor heard this, he was very sad and belittled the history of the Muzhou assassination of the Zhenxing act, and the history of the Yuzhou assassination of the Gaoju act.

The prince's left concubine, Zhang Da'an, the third rank of the Tongzhongshu sect, was demoted to the Puzhou Assassin for the crime of attaching the prince, and the rest of the Donggong palace officials were not to blame in the past.

Suzhou Assassin History, Cao Wang Li Ming and Yizhou Assassin History, Jiang Wang Li Yun were all offended because they were Li Xian's friends, Li Ming was demoted to the king of Lingling County, and was placed in Qianzhou, Li Yun was removed from the list and placed in Daozhou.