In just one hour, the news of the death of dozens of prisoners in the prison of the Criminal Department had already reached the palace and was reported to Zhang Juzheng, who was handling government affairs. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

Even if a character like Zhang Juzheng, who can still keep his face unchanged before the collapse of Mount Tai, when he heard the news, his hand couldn't help but shake, and he almost let the brush in his hand fall on the music in front of him. Fortunately, his reaction was really fast, and he regained his composure in a blink of an eye, so nothing went wrong, but his expression had become heavy.

"Is this the thing? Stand down. Zhang Juzheng waved his hand at the cronies who came to report and said. When the man withdrew, he fell into deep thought.

If it was just ordinary, dozens of people suddenly died in the prison, although Zhang Juzheng would be surprised or even angry, but he would only strictly order the criminal department and other yamen to quickly find out the truth of the matter and report it to him, but it would not give him much touch. After all, he is a person who has experienced too many things, and the death of dozens of people is really nothing to him.

But now the dead person has a close connection with the Xu family's case, so he has to think carefully - is everything an accident, or is someone deliberate?

Although he didn't have any evidence in his hand, let alone went to the scene to see it, he only listened to the report of his cronies, saying that after the incident, Jin Yiwei Zhen rushed to the criminal department as soon as possible, and quickly took over the case, so he was sure that this matter must have nothing to do with Jin Yiwei.

It seems that this Yang Zhen is bolder and more ruthless than he thought. When he found out that the Criminal Department intended to exonerate the Xu family and wanted to draw the fire to himself, he came to strike first and killed all these witnesses at the bottom of the kettle. In this way, even if the criminal department plays more tricks, it is useless, but it has to bear great responsibility.

What's even more terrifying is that now he has taken the opportunity to quickly take over control of the case, which leads to the outcome that he hopes to have.

"No, I must not let him act so unscrupulously, otherwise not only the Xu family, but also Wu Baipeng and others will suffer!" Zhang Juzheng quickly made up his mind. But then, another problem was in front of him, how should he intervene in this matter?

Although with Zhang Juzheng's status, he can take the leading power from Jinyiwei with just one sentence, but then, the subjects of the world will think that everything has something to do with him Zhang Ge boss, so that people will have a lot of conspiracy theories, and then there will naturally be a lot of trouble.

This is not because Zhang Juzheng is unfounded, he knows very well that his high-ranking and powerful self is the target of Manchu officials. If you don't show your flaws, once something happens, even if it's just a small flaw, you will be used to make a big fuss and become a breakthrough point for arching yourself from this position.

It is precisely because he understands this that Zhang Juzheng has always pretended to be a sideline on the matter of the Xu family, even if he wants to help the Xu family, he can only use cryptic words and secret power to do it, and he is more just lending his own power.

But now, after Yang Zhen made such a ruthless move, all his previous arrangements have been broken, and the only way is to come forward in person. But in this case, there will inevitably be corresponding troubles. For a while, Zhang Juzheng was in a dilemma, not knowing what trade-off he should make.

At this moment, a soft voice came from outside the hidden door: "Elder Zhang Ge, the slave maid is ordered by His Majesty to ask you to come over to discuss the matter." ”

"Huh?" Zhang Juzheng, who was interrupted by this voice, came to his senses, quickly stood up, opened the door and walked out, and saw Sun Hai, the trusted servant in front of Wanli, standing there respectfully.

"It turned out to be Grandpa Sun, and he had to work." Zhang Juzheng hurriedly showed a gentle smile and said, "But I don't know what Your Majesty is looking for?" ”

"This slave doesn't dare to ask. However, just now, someone came to report to His Majesty, saying that something serious happened in the Criminal Department, and His Majesty was displeased, so he ordered the slave maid to invite Zhang Ge Lao. Sun Hai replied in a low voice. Although these palace servants have a lot of status, they are honest in front of Zhang Juzheng.

When Zhang Juzheng heard this, his heart sank even more, it seems that the emperor is also interested in this matter, and he is afraid that it will be more difficult for him to deal with it.

Sure enough, after seeing Wanli, he heard the little emperor say in a somewhat angry voice: "How can this really be true, what are the people in the criminal department doing to eat, and they actually let such an important person die in prison?" It's really a big joke in the world, I'm afraid that there has never been such a thing that has made the court lose face in the past! ”

"Your Majesty is angry, since this incident has happened, it's useless to be angry with him, but don't be angry with the dragon body." Zhang Juzheng hurriedly persuaded him.

When Wanli heard him say this, he restrained his anger a little: "Master Zhang, what you said is that I can't be angry with myself because of their incompetence. I guess you know that, right? After receiving an affirmative answer, he asked, "Then according to Master Zhang, what is going on with this matter, and how should it be handled?" ”

"This ...... The minister had just learned the news, and he didn't have a proper way for a while. Zhang Juzheng hadn't made up his mind at the moment, so he said a little vaguely.

As soon as Wanli heard his answer, he immediately said: "Since this is the case, just let Jinyiwei investigate." Anyway, it is impossible for me to trust the people of the Criminal Department anymore, and as for the Metropolitan Procuratorate and Dali Temple, although they will try the case, they are still a little insufficient in judging the case. However, Yang Qing of Jinyiwei was known for being good at solving cases before, and he had also cracked many big cases, and now that he had rushed to the prison as soon as possible, it should be most appropriate for him to handle this matter. Master Zhang, what do you think? ”

Unexpectedly, Wanli's reaction was so fast, Zhang Juzheng was obviously stunned for a moment, and subconsciously wanted to veto: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that this matter is not ......" But halfway through the words, he suddenly stopped. He knew very well that once he denied the emperor's meaning, that is, he pushed himself in front of everyone, and it was very clear what would happen next.

"Huh? Master Zhang felt that this matter should not be handed over to Yang Qing to do? The Emperor didn't feel a little nervous. If the matter is in Yang Zhen's hands, it will be more in line with his interests, but as long as Zhang Juzheng is against it, Wanli will be difficult to resist.

At this time, Zhang Juzheng had already made a quick decision: "That's not what the minister meant. I just want to remind Your Majesty that this matter has a great impact and is extremely bad after all, and we must be cautious and not take it lightly. Can Yang Zhen and Jinyiwei really take on such a heavy responsibility? ”

"I still have faith in them. What's more, now I can only believe in them, and everyone else will inevitably have something to do with the Criminal Department. ”

"However, Yang Zhen was also one of the witnesses in the Xu family's case before, and if he is investigating this case at this moment, will it cause criticism from others?" Zhang Juzheng continued to use excuses.

"I can trust Yang Qing, he will definitely not pretend to be a public servant. What's more, the Xu family's case was originally conclusive, but some variables suddenly appeared, and it was just a trivial matter. Wanli's answer was very simple.

"Since Your Majesty has made up your mind, the minister will naturally not object." Looking at this little emperor who was becoming more mature and had a lot of scheming, Zhang Juzheng gave in after hesitating. In the face of the safety of the Xu family and his own family, Zhang Juzheng chose the latter after all!

Unlike Zhang Juzheng and Wanli's surprise and anger after learning the news, the three Xu brothers were left with panic after knowing that those who could have helped their family get rid of their crimes had all died in prison.

"How so? The prison of the Criminal Department is tightly guarded, how can so many people die inside? Who did it, and why? Xu Fan and Xu Kun's faces were like ashes, and they could only vent their panic and accusations with constant questions.

It's Xu Ying, but he looks much calmer at the moment. Originally, there was no such thing, and he would not end well when he was thrown out by the family as a scapegoat, so he was not much stimulated by such a sudden change, anyway, he was guilty.

Looking at the two brothers looking like they were mourning, Xu Ying sneered: "Big brother and second brother, this matter is actually very simple, you don't have to think about it at all, it must have been done by the people of the brocade guard." In Huating before, they used these conspiracy tricks to deal with our Xu family, but now when they arrived in the capital, they found that we had a way to deal with it, so they used such indiscriminate means again. ”

When Xu Fan and the others heard it, they felt that what he said was very reasonable, and immediately said angrily: "This brocade guard is really too deceitful, is it really so easy for our Xu family to handle?" We must not be calculated by them like this, let's go, we will go to shout grievances, even if we go to beat the drum, we have to explain the matter. With that, the two got up and wanted to go out.

But at this time, Xu Ying spoke again: "Two brothers, you can save it, by this time, it is impossible for us to turn over again." Now that even the witnesses who can exonerate our Xu family are dead, and the criminal department is still involved, do you think there will be anyone in the court who is willing to speak for us again? Even those officials who have received the favor of their fathers will only avoid us at this time. ”

His words, like a basin of cold water on his head, poured the hearts of the two brothers, making the movements of the two of them slow down violently. And his words are not finished: "And with Yang Zhen's careful and vicious actions, he will definitely not let us have another incident, I am afraid that at this time, the people of Jinyi Wei should have come to our door." ”

Almost at the same time as he finished saying this, a house slave had already pushed open the door in a panic: "The third master has a big accident, and there are suddenly a lot of brocade guards outside the door......"