The Huaxian tragedy seems to be breezy, but it is actually turbulent.

Because this case is not only related to the prince, but also to the prince's mother, Empress Wu. Therefore, Zhang Deyu, who is the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, will compromise with Li Hong in the East Palace, and will not make any progress when he goes to Huaxian County to investigate the case, he does not want to investigate, but he does not dare to investigate, because the investigation is still only suspicious, if it drags on for a long time, it is fine, but if you really want to find out something, the first person to suffer must be himself. That's why Zhang Deyu wanted to assure Li Hong that he was ready to drag on like this.

However, since Gao Zong sent Di Renjie and officials from the Imperial History Observatory and the Criminal Department to Huaxian County to supervise the investigation, Zhang Deyu's delaying policy did not work. The officials of the Criminal Department have no position, but the people of Yushitai are on the side of Wang Da and Zheng Hong, and they desperately hope that the Huaxian tragedy can find out the evidence of ignoring the prince, and Di Renjie is a person on the prince's side, so he is naturally eager to close the case as soon as possible and return the prince's innocence.

In this way, Zhang Deyu was under a lot of pressure, and after hesitating for a long time, he made a note to the imperial court.

At the same time, the officials of the Criminal Department, the Imperial History of Yushitai and Di Renjie's recitals also arrived in Menxia Province, and Dou Dexuan, the servant of Menxia Province, finished reading the content of the recitals, and he felt that the contents of these four cantals were not something he could review, so he immediately invited Xu Jingzong to Menxia Province, Xu Jingzong went to Menxia Province to read the four cantatas, and after a moment of silence, he said to Dou Dexuan, "It seems that it is necessary to convene everyone to discuss." ”

Seeing that Xu Jingzong didn't have any good suggestions, Dou Dexuan could only nod slightly, "That's the only way." ”

"You immediately send someone to inform a few other people, so that they can go to Zichen Hall immediately, and I will go back to Yu Niangniang now." Xu Jingzong said. Whenever there is a major event, the province will convene the prime ministers to discuss before they will review the chapter. It's just that this matter is more special, and when it comes to the crown prince, they don't dare to discuss it alone, so they can only return this matter to Gaozong and Empress Wu.

After the two discussed, Xu Jingzong hurriedly came to the Zichen Palace, and saw that only Empress Wu was handling government affairs, and there was no shadow of Gaozong, he knew that Gaozong must be unwell and had returned to Linde to rest, so he reported the matter to Empress Wu.

Empress Wu listened carefully to Xu Jingzong's reply and was very satisfied with his arrangement. This is also the reason why Empress Wu favored Xu Jingzong, no matter whether Xu Jingzong talked about money or had poor character, he was an expert in handling government affairs, with high efficiency and good sense of proportion.

At this moment, Empress Wu's confidant Zhang Ying hurriedly walked into the Zichen Hall and reported to her that several Dou Dexuan, Li Ji and others were asking to see her outside the hall. Empress Wu ordered them to come in and talk, and Zhang Ying bowed down and took the order to leave the Zichen Palace.

In a moment, Li Ji, Dou Dexuan, Dai Zhide, Jiang Ke, Sun Chuyue and Le Yanwei hurriedly walked into the Zichen Palace. They saluted the Empress Wu, and after the Empress Wu sat them down, Dou Dexuan presented the four pieces to the Empress Wu.

Empress Wu had already learned the contents of the four pieces of music from Xu Jingzong's mouth, and for the four pieces of music in front of her, she just took out a copy of Di Renjie placed at the bottom, read it carefully again, and then asked everyone, "Have you read all the contents of these four pieces?" ”

"Hui Niangniang, we've already seen it." Dou Dexuan got up and replied.

"Now that you've seen it, tell us what you think!" Empress Wu asked everyone.

Zhang Deyu said in the recital that because the case is too confusing, he still needs time to investigate. The old minister thought that he was suspected of dereliction of duty. Dou Dexuan was the first to speak, "As for the Yushitai dialect, Zhang Deyu is deliberately delaying time, trying to destroy evidence, and wanting the imperial court to remove Zhang Deyu from his post and send someone else." The old minister thought this was a bit exaggerated. ”

When Dou Dexuan said this, he glanced at Empress Wu, and saw that Empress Wu's expression had not changed, so he continued, "It was Di Renjie who said in the chapter that this case was not committed by the prince's personal guards, but that someone was deliberately planning to blame the prince's personal guards with a knife and murder weapon. Lao Chen thinks it is worth paying attention to. ”

"The minister also agreed with Dou Shizhong's statement and suggested that Di Renjie should assist Zhang Deyu in investigating the case." Le Yanwei got up and said.

Since Le Yanwei was promoted to the position of prime minister, he has always taken a clear position to support the crown prince Li Hong. Now Di Renjie has written a book, saying that someone in this case wants to blame the prince, and he can find out the real culprit behind the scenes. How could Le Yanwei let go of such an opportunity, naturally he supported Di Renjie.

"The minister also agreed with Dou Shizhong's statement and suggested that Di Renjie should be asked to assist Zhang Deyu in investigating the case." Sun Chuyue also got up and said, "However, it has been almost a month since the tragedy in Huaxian, and Zhang Deyu has been going to Huaxian for more than 20 days, but there has been no progress so far, so I can't help but reprimand him." ”

"The old minister agrees with Sun Shilang's opinion." Dai Zhide got up and said.

Gaozong was not in the Zichen Hall today, and he was not surprised at all. Because there are so many times that important matters are discussed like today, Gaozong was not present half the time before. Otherwise, how could Empress Wu have another chance to overthrow Gaozong?

"Niangniang, the old minister thinks that what the imperial history dialect said is not unreasonable. It has been almost a month since the tragedy in Huaxian County, and Zhang Deyu, as the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, is in charge of the affairs of Xingjiao in the world, and he has not made any progress in investigating the case in Huaxian County for more than 20 days. Li Ji suddenly got up and said.

No matter what everyone said before, Empress Wu's expression was very calm and calm, because this was what she had expected a long time ago. Now that Li Ji suddenly said this, she was a little surprised, and she didn't want to listen to the advice of the rest of the people anymore, but moved her gaze to Li Ji and asked, "What does Li Aiqing mean?" ”

As the first person in the military, Li Ji was also an old minister who had been relied on during the Taizong period, and his suggestion did not dare to be considered carefully.

"It's time for the imperial court to send someone to replace Zhang Deyu." Li Ji said in a calm tone.

"What about Zhang Deyu?" Jiang Ke couldn't help but ask.

Li Ji said lightly, "You can let Zhang Deyu make meritorious service and assist the people sent by the imperial court to investigate the case." ”

Everyone in the Zichen Hall suddenly heard Li Ji say this, and everyone turned their eyes to Empress Wu, wanting to see how Empress Wu would answer. Because the people who can stand here are all talented and amazing, how can they not see that Fang Yan is the same as Wang Da and Zheng Hong, who are instructed to be unfavorable to the prince?

But now, the British prince in front of him, who had nothing to do with himself in the past and couldn't say a word, would have such a resolute attitude towards the Huaxian tragedy, and it was also to support the dialect of the imperial history, which made them puzzled.

Because at this time, Li Ji openly stood up in support of the dialect, what is the situation? Isn't he a confidant of the mother? How can you not get along with your mother?

The expression on Empress Wu's face did not change much, and she did not make a statement on Li Ji's admonition, but moved her gaze to Xu Jingzong and asked, "Xu Aiqing, what do you mean?" ”

Xu Jingzong did not answer Empress Wu's words, but said in a deep voice, "Niangniang, the old minister thinks that it seems a bit inappropriate to replace Zhang Deyu rashly, it is better to reprimand him first, and then give him ten days, if he can solve the case as scheduled, it will be a meritorious service, and he will not be investigated for dereliction of duty, if he can't solve the case as scheduled, it will not be too late to replace him at that time." ”

Xu Jingzong's suggestion is relatively old-fashioned, and his suggestion not only did not make Dou Dexuan, Le Yanwei and others lose face, but also took into account Li Ji's advice, so that Empress Wu would not fall into the embarrassment of Li Ji and Dou Dexuan, Jiang Ke and others. Therefore, as soon as his words fell, Empress Wu no longer consulted everyone's meaning, but immediately said, "Xu Aiqing's words are old-fashioned, so let's do it!" ”

Empress Wu praised Xu Jingzong's old words, and the subtext was that he was dissatisfied with Li Ji's advice.

When everyone heard Niangniang say this, they no longer had any opinions, and Li Ji saw that Empress Wu had already spoken, so he was unwilling and had no way to refute it, so he could only remain silent.

After this matter was resolved, Empress Wu's eyes moved to Xu Jingzong and Li Ji, seeing that Xu Jingzong's expression was still the same, his expression was indifferent, and even though Li Ji tried his best to hide his dissatisfaction, there was still displeasure in his eyes, so she asked the two, "Xu Aiqing, Li Aiqing, the assassination of the prince, how did you investigate?" ”

Xu Jingzong replied, "Since the last assassination, the assassin has disappeared, and the old minister is working with the British public to investigate, but it will take some time. ”

"Hmph-" Empress Wu snorted coldly and said, "The assassination of the prince is a matter of great importance, it is related to the Jiangshan Sheji of the Tang Dynasty, since the two of you have been ordered to investigate this case, you must not be a child's play." Moreover, Your Majesty is very dissatisfied with the progress of your recent investigation, and this palace hopes that you can do your best, and this matter cannot be delayed any longer. ”

"Command!" Xu Jingzong and Li Ji hurriedly got up and said.

"Also, this palace will give you another ten days, and if you can't find out the real culprit within ten days, you will wait to be punished!" Empress Wu coldly threw down this sentence, shook her sleeves, and left angrily.

Everyone bowed their heads and didn't dare to talk, and only after the martial arts left did they get up and leave the Zichen Hall slowly. Because everyone knows in their hearts that the reason why Niangniang is so angry is not because Xu Jingzong and Li Ji are not good at investigating the case, but because of the dissatisfaction expressed by Li Ji for speaking for the dialect just now.

Xu Jingzong and Li Ji were the last to leave the Zichen Palace, and when the two of them left the Zichen Palace, Xu Jingzong suddenly stopped his steps and turned to Li Ji and asked, "British Duke, when I heard that the prince was assassinated, Chen Gong, the general of the East Palace's personal guard, was very heartfelt and killed a lot of ordinary people, and one of them was your daughter, is there such a thing?" ”

Li Ji snorted coldly and said, "Xu Xiang's news is very well-informed!" ”

"If the news is really so well-informed, how can the old man have only heard about it in the past two days?" Xu Jingzong smiled casually, "However, the old man has a message that he wants to tell the British Duke, that is, His Majesty is going to transfer a few veterans who lead the war to enrich the guards of the East Palace, but His Royal Highness refused. ”

Speaking of this, Xu Jingzong stopped talking, staring at Li Ji tightly, he saw Li Ji's expression moving slightly, and then said with a smile, "British duke, it's still important to investigate the case!" ”

After saying that, he left tremblingly!

When Xu Jingzong's figure disappeared into the square outside the Zichen Palace, Li Ji retracted his gaze, heard him snort coldly, and glanced in the direction of the east again, and then strode away with a gloomy face!