The cold wind blew into the Xiyuan Palace along the gap in the window, making the flame of the giant candle swaying, making Emperor Jianping, who had been silent and expressionless after seeing the important ministers, even more gloomy. "Ahem, cough, ahem......" The sound of violent coughing echoed back and forth in the empty palace.

Ma Desheng, who was on duty next to him, walked quickly to the window and was waved back by Emperor Jianping. Ma Desheng bowed down and persuaded slightly: "Long live Lord, it's late at night, it's time to go to bed." ”

"Alright, I know. You and those people are a little farther away, and I want to be quiet for a while. Emperor Jianping's palm showed green tendons, as if he was trying to suppress his cough.

When Ma Desheng and the waiting eunuch and palace maid retreated, he wiped the corners of his mouth with a yellow silk handkerchief, and asked a little coldly: "Who is Liang Wendao?" Who is his teacher? ”

A black shadow knelt beside the pillar three zhang away and said in a hoarse voice: "Back to the master, Liang Wendao is arrogant and arrogant, and has a rough temper, and he is not on good terms with other subordinate officials of the East Palace on weekdays, but he has a close relationship with Xia Guoyuan. His seat teacher was the late Ōrū Lu Nai of the Ministry of Rites. Because Liang Wendao rarely makes friends with people, the slave has not yet found out who Liang Wendao is. ”

"Huh? It seems that I have been a little more lenient with you. ”

"Damn it! Damn the minions! Please punish the master. The man in black slammed his head on the ground.

"Alright, what do I want your dog life for, I want results. Hurry up and check it out for me! I don't believe that a prince can wash a horse and toss such a big storm, and there was no wind before. Whoever you find must report it truthfully. I want to see who ate the bear's heart and leopard gall and actually hit the prince with the idea! cough cough ......" With a loud scolding, Emperor Jianping coughed violently again. He covered his mouth and nose with silk for a long time before putting it down.

"Please take care of the dragon's body, and the slave will go to check." The man in black kowtowed a few more times, then stepped back. The palace was silent and deserted again.

Emperor Jianping seemed to have been drained of all his energy at once, leaning back on the rosewood wide-backed chair, looking at the empty palace with blank eyes, exuding a strong sense of loneliness. He thought of the queen who was very affectionate to him but died early, remembered his father who held his hand and kept telling him before he died, remembered the prosperity of the country through all these years of hard work, and remembered the prince who was still young and ignorant...... He closed his eyes, and his body, which had been trying to straighten up, also fell down, as if he had aged more than ten years in an instant, like an old man in the twilight. The golden silk handkerchief that slipped from his hand spread on the ground, and there was a blood stain on the handkerchief, which was dazzling.

After a long time, Emperor Jianping opened his eyes and regained his clarity, no longer the weakness he had just now. He shook his hands, which were already a little wrinkled, as if he was grasping the supreme power, his face instantly became resolute, and his eyes were full of fierceness. "I will ...... you before I go Ho ho ho ......" voice was cold and sharp, like a night owl in a cold wind.

On the second day, Emperor Jianping got up early, and the whites of his eyes were a little yellow. After breakfast, he instructed Ma Desheng: "You go and tell the three of them about Shangshu Kang Jiuquan of the Criminal Department, let them speed up the progress of the inquiry, and don't let the other party have the slightest luck." ”

"Yes, the slave will inform Master Kang of the words of the Long Live Lord." Ma Desheng left in a hurry after hearing this.

Kang Jiuquan knew that his identity was not as valuable as Xia Guoyuan, and he couldn't move the other party at all, so he didn't put the place of inquiry in the lobby of the Criminal Department, but decided to go directly to the Xia Mansion after discussing with Yan Wenzheng, the secretary of Dali Temple, and Ling Qingqiu, the imperial historian of Zuodu. Since this is the case, the three of them also decided to put the place where the prince washed the horse and Liang Wendao on the other party's house.

The three of them led their respective subordinate officials to the gate of the Liang Mansion, and before they could enter the door, Ma Desheng was trotted over by Xiao Huangmen, and hurriedly shouted: "The three adults stay and the emperor has an edict." ”

The three of them bowed as a sign of respect.

Ma Desheng walked over, took a few deep breaths, and after calming down his chaotic breath, he spoke: "Kang Jiuquan, the Shangshu of the Criminal Department, Ling Qingqiu, the Imperial Shi of Zuodu, and Yan Wenzheng, the Qing of Dali Temple, are fully responsible for the inquiry, with Kang Qing as the main body, and Ling Qing and Yan Qing as auxiliaries. It is advisable to speed up the progress of the inquiry, do not indulge in vain, do not kiss and do not forgive. Chin this! ”

"Your Ministers obey!" Kang Jiuquan's face was still calm, and the other two looked at each other, feeling that this matter had become more complicated, at least much more complicated than expected.

The three of them entered the Liang Mansion headed by Kang Jiuquan, the Shangshu of the Criminal Department, and Cao Wenbing, the commander of the Spy Intelligence Department, did not dare to hold it up, and was already waiting in the mansion.

Cao Wenbing said a little tiredly: "Lord Kang, Lord Ling, Lord Yan, I have been waiting for you for a long time. The crown prince Xima Liang Wendao was safe and sound, and he did not have any contact with anyone. If there is something that you need to cooperate with, please feel free to ask. ”

The three of them are all civilian officials, and although there are many contradictions in private, their attitude towards the command of this spy department is quite consistent. Everyone snorted with their nostrils facing to the sky, looking like they would rather die of old age than get along with each other. After a while, Kang Jiuquan looked ahead and said, "Commander Cao, you all retreat farther." The official and the two adults are about to start questioning. ”

Cao Wenbing has long been trained to the realm of spitting and doing himself. If he cared about other people's scolding, he would have been angry to death ten times or eight times. He didn't bother to take into account the other party's feelings, and said directly: "Lord Kang, under the orders of the emperor, you must listen to the questions of the adults. Thank you for your understanding! ”

When the three of them heard this, their faces suddenly became very ugly. Ling Qingqiu, who had the hottest temper, looked at him angrily and shouted, "What! Even the emperor doesn't believe in this official? It doesn't matter if the official doesn't get involved in this matter. The official went into the palace and asked the emperor why he sent someone to spy on us. ”

Cao Wenbing said in a leisurely tone: "Don't do bad things, don't be afraid of ghosts knocking on the door." Alas, I don't know what Lord Ling is afraid of. If there is nothing to do, why not let me listen to it? Unless...... Some private ...... Hey, hey, hey......"

"Bastard! The old man is sitting up straight, how can he tolerate such a petty slander like you! The sage has a cloud ......" Ling Qingqiu habitually wanted to refute Cao Wenbing with the words of the sage, but was interrupted before he could speak.

"Since Lord Ling is upright and fair, he is allowed to listen to it." Cao Wenbing watched Ling Qingqiu's face turn from red to blue, and then from blue to purple, and his heart was a lot happier. How could he ever like these sour Confucian rotpers who only talk about it?

"Okay, okay, let's go in, if you delay any longer, you won't be able to ask." Kang Jiuquan saw that Yan Wenzheng, the secretary of Dali Temple, still wanted to refute, so he preemptively said. He just wanted to get things clear quickly, but he didn't want to tear his face with the people of the spy department now.

Ling Qingqiu and Yan Wenzheng flicked their sleeves fiercely and followed Kang Jiuquan into the room, while Cao Wenbing walked slowly behind. He squinted at a man who was poking his head in a distant corner, and bowed his mouth over there, motioning for his men to go down and check on the situation.