The news of the sudden accident in the Qingwang Mansion caused an uproar in the court.

The reason, of course, is that I don't believe it.

Princess Qing's illness is known to some people, and there is a medical case from the Tai Hospital, so it is not necessary to say that she is sick and died.

But, King Qing was martyred and followed the princess?

Are you kidding? Historically, only after the death of the husband, the wife committed suicide and followed the underground, who has ever heard of a husband martyrdom for his wife!

What's more, no matter how bad King Qing is, he is also the prince of Southern Qi! Heaven is noble! Will he be short of women?

The civil and military of the Manchu Dynasty were indignant, and shouted in unison to find out the truth, so as not to make the soul of His Royal Highness King Qing under Jiuquan.

"Check!" The emperor's face was gloomy, and he was obviously extremely sad and indignant: "This matter must be investigated!" I, the royal sons and daughters of Nanqi, how could I die so unexplained! ”

The eunuch who had already returned from King Qing's Mansion hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, the imperial doctor has already experienced, Princess Qing died of a vicious disease, and she was unrecognizable when she died, and there is no difference between it and the case of the two imperial doctors, Wang and Ge; His Royal Highness King Qing was covered in black green, and he was indeed poisoned and died. The imperial physician said that His Royal Highness has been a doctor for a long time, and there are many precious medicinal materials hidden in the house, if he is already alive, it is indeed possible to ......"

Before he finished speaking, the emperor interrupted sharply: "My son, how can he be so useless, for a woman, he has to die or live!" ”

The eunuch didn't dare to argue, and he said yes again and again.

Someone else followed up and analyzed: "The slaves of King Qing's Mansion escaped overnight, and this matter also doesn't make sense!" Even if His Royal Highness King Qing dies, there are still two little princes and a little lord in the mansion, and the wealth of the heavenly family will not be reduced by half, what are they running? ”

The escape of the slaves is indeed a big doubt, and it is also the best breakthrough.

The emperor ordered in a deep voice: "Order the Jingzhao Yamen and the Soldiers and Horses Division to search and arrest the whole city, and be sure to arrest the fugitive slaves from the Qingwang Mansion and interrogate them strictly!" ”

The subordinates received the order awe-inspiringly, the atmosphere in the hall was solemn, and everyone had a sense of crisis that the mountain rain was coming.

The emperor was silent for a long time, and then asked, "What do the children say?" ”

The eunuch hurriedly said: "The three little masters all said that they went to bed early at night, and they didn't know what was going on, and they woke up in the middle of the night to find that the minions were gone. The little princess went to Princess Qing's courtyard alone to find someone, and then he knew that the princess and His Royal Highness had been unfortunate......"

As for the details of how "unfortunate", the two imperial doctors have already said it just now. But no one expected that all the slaves in the palace would escape within an hour or two.

The eunuch added: "Neither the county lord nor the little prince has noticed anything abnormal, and the Jinwuwei soldiers have also repeatedly checked, and there is no sign of fighting in the mansion, except for a tea cup held in the hand of His Royal Highness, there are no traces of poisoning anywhere else. ”

The emperor patted the dragon case anxiously and said angrily: "I don't want to hear this! If you can't find it, keep checking it! ”

The eunuchs and ministers did not dare to say yes again and again, and the atmosphere in the hall became more and more dull.

The emperor suddenly looked at Ye Han again: "In your opinion, who is most likely responsible for the matter of Qingwangfu?" ”

Ye Han bowed and was expressionless: "Father forgives sins." When Erchen first returned to Beijing, he didn't know if his eldest brother Su Ri had a dislike for others, so he couldn't guess it. ”

"You!" The emperor was very angry by this answer, "It's really cold-hearted and cold-hearted, and there is no thought of filial piety!" ”

Ye Han bowed down and pleaded guilty, and did not defend himself.

The emperor looked at him and became even more angry: "If you don't understand, just tell me what you think!" Your eldest brother is gone, are you so casual! ”

Ye Han bowed his head again and said calmly: "Brother Su Wen has no quarrel with the world, and there must be no enemies in the palace and the court, so Erchen thinks that this disaster is most likely caused by Xiao Wall." ”

There is not only one explanation for "woe to the wall". Is it fratricidal or evil servants bullying their masters?

The emperor looked at him with a gloomy face: "You have been back to Beijing for many days, have you ever caught up with your eldest brother?" ”

Ye Han replied: "The nine of my brothers have gathered a few days ago, and they have not met in private other than that. The eldest brother never likes to interact with people, and the sons dare not take the liberty of disturbing. ”

"Where were you at the time of the incident?" The emperor suddenly asked in a cold voice.

The ministers looked at each other in amazement.

The previous inquiry could be barely interpreted as wanting to hear King Li's opinion, but there was no second explanation for the last question: it was clearly doubting him.

Ye Han was not shocked or angry, and his expression was still indifferent: "In the evening, the second brother came to visit with wine and food, and he had a good conversation with his sons; After that, the second brother said goodbye and left, and the son sent the county lord of Qingyang back to the Prime Minister's Mansion, and returned to the Golden Chestnut Garden after the third watch. ”

The Emperor looked up at the second prince. The latter stood up, his face tightened, and his voice was cold and hard: "What the third brother said is true. Moreover, the wine brought by Erchen's visit to the third brother was still a plum brew given by the eldest brother not long ago. When I first heard that there was an accident in the Qingwang Mansion this morning, my sons and third brothers were all sad. ”

The second prince is known for his upright temperament, and of course no one does not believe what he says.

The emperor's face sank, and he looked at Ruan Wenzhong again: "What King Li said is true?" ”

Ruan Wenzhong was forced to stand up, glared at Ye Han with an unkind face, and then lowered his head and said "yes".

"Really?" The Emperor frowned.

Ruan Wenzhong lowered his head and sighed, "The family is unfortunate", gritted his teeth and said: "This is also a grievance against His Royal Highness the King, it is all that evil obstacle is not angry!" Wechen is really ...... Alas, shameless! ”

Ye Han glanced back at him and said coldly: "That's really a coincidence!" The reason why the county lord of Qingyang didn't dare to go home was because he felt that with a father like you, she was very shameless! Yesterday, when the king sent her back to the house, it was only evening, but Ruan Xiang himself shouted that the whole world knew that the county lord would go home in the middle of the night after the third watch, and he didn't know whose family was unlucky! ”

Ruan Wenzhong was so angry that he blew his beard and glared: "What is only evening?" Obviously, I came back when I was holding the lamp! Not to mention that he didn't return all night the night before yesterday......"

"Humph!" The Emperor coughed heavily.

One is the prince and the other is the prime minister, and there is no shame in arguing such a childish fight above the court! Is this for fear that people will not know that their son-in-law is not compatible?

The emperor complained in his heart for a while, and then frowned and looked at the two of them: Just now, was it really just a simple quarrel?

You quarreled a few words back and forth, first clarifying the time when King Li went to the Prime Minister's Mansion, clearing his suspicion in the case of King Qing's Mansion, and then pointing out the ambiguity between King Li and the county lord of Qingyang, almost cutting off the possibility of the county lord of Qingyang to withdraw from marriage and not marry.

If you think about it, there is not a single sentence that is superfluous. These two people, shouldn't they be singing double reeds?

Look at the face, but it doesn't look like it. quarreled like this in front of the Manchu civil and military forces, and it seems that he didn't plan to get along well as relatives.

The emperor was a little relieved, and angrily scolded Ye Han to "retreat", and the topic was temporarily revealed. The palace continued to discuss the affairs of the Qingwang Mansion, and the order and atmosphere returned to normal.

Unexpectedly, it didn't take long for a team of Jin Wuwei to report that they had caught a maid in the ditch near King Qing's Mansion and dragged her up.

Ye Han's face changed slightly.

After the matter was resolved, all the guards and servants of the Qingwang Mansion were cleaned up, and it stands to reason that there should be no fish that slipped through the net.

But there are exceptions.

For example, this one actually fell into the canal when he fled, escaped the search of the soldiers under the thin ice, and then crawled more than a dozen feet through the drainage ditch in the vegetable garden to escape from the house.

It's tenacious, and good luck.

At this moment, this tenacious and fortunate girl knelt in the hall and cried: "The princess is not dead! How could the princess die? The county lord of Qingyang has already opened a prescription, saying that my princess is not sick but poisoned, and she can be saved! ”

"Qingyang County Lord?" The emperor looked up at Ye Han, "When has the county lord of Qingyang been to the Qingwang Mansion?" ”

Ye Han's expression was blank, and he said calmly: "There is no such possibility." ”

The maid was probably frightened, and she couldn't tell half a lie, so she just kowtowed and cried: "The county lord of Qingyang came to the palace yesterday evening!" His Royal Highness also placed her in the warm pavilion and asked the slaves and maidservants to bring her food...... Later, the county lord was clamoring to leave, and he fought with the guards outside, and then His Royal Highness came down and went back to the warm pavilion together, and then it seemed that there was a fight again, and then His Royal Highness King Li broke into the door and window with his subordinates......"

"King Li?" The emperor looked at Ye Han with an angry face.

The second prince frowned, and shouted to the servant, "Don't talk about it!" You are a maidservant girl in the inner house, how do you know King Li? ”

The maid cried: "The slave and maid don't recognize it, but the slave and maid heard His Highness shouting 'Third Brother'!" ”

She raised her head and looked around, pointing accurately at Ye Han: "It's him!" Last night, he brought a lot of people, saying that he wanted to avenge the county lord of Qingyang or something, and arrested all the people in the palace! The slave escaped by hiding in the ditch! ”

The officials of the palace were shocked, and the emperor stood up even more angrily: "Son! You kneel down for me! ”

Ye Han knelt down according to his words, but his back was straight: "Father, only one of the sons and daughters in the hall has not worn court clothes, and among the brothers, only one of the sons and daughters has not been to the Qingwang Mansion for many years, it is not unusual for this servant to recognize the identity of the son!" As for her claim that Erchen went to Qingwangfu to kidnap the eldest brother and the servants of the palace - Erchen has never done it, so he can't admit his guilt! ”

"Yes, Your Majesty," an official in the palace immediately echoed, "There are always more than 100 servants and guards in King Qing's Mansion, how can His Royal Highness King Li capture them all silently?" After being captured, it is not small to close or kill, and it is impossible for the nearby people to be unaware! ”

As soon as this remark came out, it immediately caused a chorus of echoes.

Yes, more than 100 people were captured silently, and even valuable property in the house was looted, it was no longer a robbery, but a big battle!

Battle?!

Soon there was another clamor in the hall.

The officials have their own opinions, which can be roughly divided into two factions: one group believes that no one can do such a thing, and it can only be that the slaves of the Qingwang Mansion have escaped by themselves; The other insisted that the escape of the slaves could not have been so quick and complete, and that they must have been taken captive, and that only the Northwest Army could do this.

Both sides are speculations without evidence, and they are actually arguing fiercely. The more the emperor listened, the more angry he became, and he shouted: "Ling Han! You say you haven't done it, why did this handmaid testify against you alone? Why doesn't she climb and bite others?! ”

"Erchen also wants to ask," Ye Han looked at the servant, "This king and Qing Wangfu have no grievances, who instructed you to bite this king?" ”

Someone in the corner said with pity: "His Royal Highness King Li, you came back from the northwest this time, and you brought a lot of masters with you, right?" The phrase 'the officers and men of the Northwest Army can be one for a hundred' is what you said personally, and there are also your people in the Jin Wuwei......"

Ye Han turned his head and fixed his gaze on the person who spoke.

The man took a hard breath of cold air, and somehow swallowed the second half of the sentence.

Ye Han glanced at him mockingly, retracted his gaze, and sneered: "Bite without evidence, that's what only the market can do." ”

The pillars of the kingdom did not want to put themselves on a par with the market, so the hall finally quieted down a little.

At this moment, the servant girl who was prostrate on the ground suddenly got up again and cried loudly: "I have the credentials! When you led someone to break into the warm pavilion, I saw from the window that the county lord of Qingyang was slashed with a knife, and there was a lot of blood on his shoulders, chest, and waist! I beg Your Majesty to be the master of the Qingwang Mansion, and the injuries on the body of the Qingyang County Lord are evidence! ”

The emperor stood up: "Is this true?!" ”

Ye Han's face was gloomy and he didn't answer, his fists clenched, and he was secretly worried.

The maidservant prostrated again and again, and cried loudly: "The slave and maid dare not lie!" His Royal Highness King Li, it is indeed wrong for my Royal Highness and the princess to hurt the county lord of Qingyang, but you can't be so ruthless to kill them all......"

The exclamations of the ministers in the hall have already resounded. Ye Han just clenched his fists, and his heart gradually sank.

Blame him, careless.

As long as Ruan Qingzhi is brought to the palace, his lies will be ruthlessly exposed, and when the time comes, he will be punished for several crimes, and it will be troublesome!

Why don't you do it the other way around?

This thought flashed through his mind, and the night cold suppressed it deadly, keeping his back straight and refusing to speak.

The emperor stared at him twice, and suddenly sneered: "Xiao Chengzi! Take someone to the Prime Minister's Mansion and declare the county lord of Qingyang into the palace! ”

"Father, the emperor can't!" Ye Han blurted out.

Whispers in the hall began again. The emperor left the dragon case and walked out: "Oh, why not? ”

Ye Han couldn't answer, and cold sweat gradually oozed from his forehead.

The emperor looked at Ruan Wenzhong again: "Ruan Xiang, did King Li really send the county lord of Qingyang back to his house last night when he was in charge of the lamp?" ”

Ruan Wenzhong was already so frightened that his legs were weak and collapsed to the ground, and he stammered: "It's, it's actually ......."

The emperor waited for a long time and didn't see him finish the rest of the sentence, so he asked another question: "Can't answer?" Then I ask you again, when the county lord of Qingyang returned home, was he injured? ”

Ruan Wenzhong snorted for a long time, and said in a dumb voice: "The minister, the minister doesn't know, she ...... She was wrapped tightly, and King Li hugged the ...... who entered the door."

"What about time?" The Emperor asked again.

Ruan Wenzhong was so frightened that he cried: "One more! It's a watch time to come back! ”

The Emperor let out a sneer and asked sharply, "Why did you lie before?!" ”

Ruan Wenzhong was speechless, so he had to reluctantly raise his head and look at Ye Han.

At this time, the ministers were already frightened, and his action was naturally understood as an allusion to "being coerced by the powerful king".

In this way, the matter of King Qing's Mansion was really done by King Li!

Destroy a royal mansion overnight, quietly, and almost stay out of the matter!

It's just horrible. The ministers forgot their accusations for a while, and they all retreated around, looking at the night cold like a flood of beasts.

The emperor noticed everyone's movements, and his heart came to his senses, and he couldn't help but be angry: "Son, do you still want to be murderous? Why don't you take the opportunity to reverse now, how about I give you this position?! ”

Ye Han was originally thinking about this issue, but he was broken in front of him, and he had nothing to say for a while.

Forcing the palace to usurp the throne is not so easy.

It's still a trivial matter to bear the infamy of the ages, and the fear is that you are not well prepared, and you have to pay several times the price and sacrifice some people who don't have to be sacrificed.

Ye Han stubbornly refused to speak, quickly estimating the pros and cons of confessing his guilt or rebellion, and he couldn't make up his mind for a long time.

The emperor looked away and looked at one of the commanders of Jin Wuwei: "Go, go to the Prime Minister's Mansion!" 'Please' Lord Qingyang come! I don't believe I can't pry open a mouth! ”

The meaning of sending eunuchs to invite and sending military generals to "invite" is completely different. This is to treat Ruan Thanh Chi as a fellow party.

The commander who was named received the order with a loud voice with the excitement of being about to make a meritorious service.

Ye Han suddenly raised his head and said hurriedly: "No! Don't go! ”

No one paid any attention to him at this time. The general of Jin Wuwei didn't look at him, and rushed out of the hall with a few cronies to order troops.

Soon more soldiers came in to fill the vacancy. The emperor waved his hand fiercely and shouted: "Take down this son of a wive!" ”

The left and right Jin Wuwei rushed up. Ye Han instinctively jumped up, and was about to face a fierce battle, but heard a crisp shout from outside the main hall: "Wait a minute! ”

Everyone turned around in amazement, and saw Ruan Qingzhi, the county lord of Qingyang, appearing at the door wearing a big red cloak. The general Jin Wuwei who had just gone out stood next to her with an embarrassed face, in a dilemma.

"I heard that His Majesty is summoning me, so may I come in?" Ruan Qingzhi asked tentatively.

The emperor came back to his senses and shouted in a deep voice: "Come in!" ”

Ruan Qingzhi stomped his foot and walked in the door, looked at Ye Han and said, "I'm not here to make trouble for you, but it's snowing today!" You promised to accompany me to enjoy the snow, so I came here early to wait for you! ”

Ye Han waited for her to come closer, lowered his voice and scolded, "You shouldn't come!" If there is a change for a while, you can escape by your own thoughts, and leave me alone! ”

Ruan Qingzhi shook his head at him and said "rest assured" before he stepped forward and saluted the emperor in a dignified manner.

The emperor did not answer for a long time, just stared at her.

He was wearing a bright red cloak, which made his face slightly red. Walking steadily, thin arms and legs are like a red plum in the wind.

I really can't see any injuries.

Then you can only ask.

The emperor slowly paced back to the back of the dragon case and sat down, and asked in a deep voice, "Lord Qingyang, when did you return to the Prime Minister's Mansion last night?" ”

Ruan Qingzhi seemed to be asked inexplicably, looked back at Ruan Wenzhong and complained, "Dad, are you too much?" I'm just going back a little late, and you're just blocking me from entering the door, so why are you still making trouble in the court? How busy is the emperor, you let the emperor discipline your daughter for you? Why are you so big-faced? ”

Ruan Wenzhong lowered his head and refused to answer her words, and the officials next to him shouted in a deep voice: "Hugh is talking nonsense above the court!" If Your Majesty asks you, just answer truthfully! ”

Ruan Qingzhi glanced back at the man, frowned, and said aggrievedly: "Okay! I went back in the evening, and my father closed the door and didn't let me in...... Maybe it's the second watch! I was so sleepy that I couldn't help it, so I asked His Highness to tear down the gate! Dad, you think I've embarrassed you in front of the neighborhood, shouldn't you first ask yourself if it's a shame to stop your daughter out of the door? ”

There should be a lot of people nearby who heard about the "demolition" of the gate, and this can't lie.

The emperor analyzed Ruan Qingzhi's words in his heart, and felt that her performance was too natural, if she was not really ignorant, then she must have come prepared.

You can go around the bend with this kind of little girl for a day. The emperor thought about it and decided to ask directly: "Someone pointed out that you went to the Qingwang Mansion last night and were injured. What do you have to say? ”

"Huh?!" Ruan Qingzhi was shocked, "Why should I go to Qingwangfu?" And why did it hurt? Also, Who is King Qing? Your Majesty, you have given birth to so many sons, I can't remember which one is which! ”

The maid next to her cried and pounced: "It's you, it's you!" You've got injuries in both arms, your right leg, and your waist! Don't you admit it, do you dare to take off your clothes and be verified by the temple? ”

Ruan Qingzhi suddenly saw a watery and dirty figure rushing over, his face turned white with fright, and he staggered to the side to dodge: "Oh my God, what is this...... Hey, are you frozen? On such a cold day, if you don't change your dry clothes, you'll die! Xiao Chengzi—"

Before she could finish her words, the maidservant had already pounced on her and grabbed her cloak: "I'm afraid that I will die of cold, take off your clothes to me!" ”

Ruan Qingzhi really took off the cloak and threw it to her, jumped to the side neatly, hugged his shoulders and said, "At most, the cloak will be given to you, and you can't take off your clothes!" ”

Everyone looked at her slender figure, and she didn't look like she was wrapped in wounds, and they couldn't help but look at each other in amazement.

The maid was still staring at Ruan Qingzhi, her eyes shining coldly, and she was obviously going to pounce at any time.

Ruan Qingzhi retreated again and again, so frightened that she was about to cry: "What is this? Can a madman be connived at in the court? Your Majesty! Help me! ”

It wasn't until she hid behind Ye Han that the emperor shouted coldly: "Stop that minion!" ”

Jin Wuwei stepped forward and grabbed the maidservant and dragged her aside. Ruan Qingzhi patted his chest, knelt down and leaned on Ye Han's shoulder, aggrieved.

Ye Han clenched her hand, and waited to ask in a hurry, but she couldn't speak.

The emperor looked at the two of them and frowned: "Lord Qingyang, someone has pointed out that you are related to the murder of King Qingfu, and the injuries on your body are proof of this!" To ensure justice in this case, you will need to strip off your clothes for an examination. ”

Ruan Qingzhi immediately jumped up angrily: "Someone else framed me for going to King Qing's Mansion, do I have to test my injuries to prove my innocence?" If they frame me for rebellion, will I be killed on the pillar to prove my innocence...... No, I should have been killed right now! Strip and inspect my wounds in public, do I still want my face? Father! His Royal Highness! You will save me, they will come and rip my clothes, and you will lose your face......"

"That's it!" The emperor was so annoyed by her that he had to slap the table and interrupt her: "You promise to examine the injury!" Xiao Chengzi, take her to the side hall and give it to the grandmothers for a good inspection! ”

Ruan Qingzhi stopped stupidly, standing in place with an aggrieved face and refusing to leave.

Xiao Chengzi walked over and made a gesture of please, which was meaningful: "Lord Qingyang, is there something wrong?" ”

"Yes." Ruan Qingzhi gritted his teeth, "Although I don't understand what happened, I can't suffer this grievance in vain!" Your Majesty, if I do have injuries on my body, then of course I have nothing to say if I admit to killing and killing; But what if I am wronged? Someone has framed me and caused me to suffer such a great shame, how can this account be calculated? ”

The emperor looked at her with a heavy face: "What do you want to calculate?" ”

"The first is, of course, a thorough investigation," Ruan Qingzhi said as she looked at the servant, "I want to know who instructed this servant and why he framed me—or rather, why he framed His Royal Highness King Li." ”

The emperor breathed a sigh of relief and immediately said, "This is up to you." If it is falsely accused, I will naturally not indulge it. Is there still a 'second'? ”

Ruan Qingzhi raised his head and smiled: "Second, I want to talk about it later, please ask Your Majesty for permission!" ”