"Humph! This king wants Daoyan, Daoyan who is unscathed! Zhu Di's face was pale, he was shaved off, and his old face was dark and beardless at the moment, like a chimpanzee who had been plucked out.

Cao Yi sat in the front hall of Yanwang's courtyard, looking at Zhu Di's new image, holding back a smile, his face flushed and distorted very much.

"No problem, Monk Daoyan will hand it over to you, Jinyiwei will withdraw his cavalry and no longer pursue Monk Daoyan." Cao Yi said happily.

"This king is about to return to Beiping, is it safe all the way?" Zhu Di stared at Cao Yi sharply and asked gloomily.

Cao Yi asked rhetorically: "When will His Royal Highness enter the palace to see the Son of Heaven and restore the title of Lord of Changning?" ”

"Right now!" Zhu Di gritted his teeth and burst out of his teeth.

Cao Yi smiled with relief: "That is the case, His Highness will return to Beiping, and the journey will be safe and sound, and the lower officials can guarantee His Highness." ”

Zhu Di said gloomily: "This king hopes that you will be the talker!" ”

"The lower officials must be the ones who say it."

Cao Yi laughed, glanced at Zhu Di, and found that there was a meaningful light in each other's eyes.

A political deal was made without a trace.

Zhu Di secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and wanted to brush his beard when he was used to his surname, but his tentacles were smooth at his chin, Zhu Di's expression immediately became gloomy again, but there was a trace of fear in his eyes inadvertently.

In the afternoon, the yamen of the Criminal Department was opened, and Yang Jing, the secretary of the Criminal Department, personally sat in the hall to interrogate the former Jinyi Wei Tongzhi and Xiao Fan, who was also the attendant of the East Palace.

Above the public court, majestic and solemn, the soap squad of the two classes of the criminal department stood left and right, wearing a single feather square hat, holding a red and black water and fire stick, and the criminal master sat on the left side, recording and questioning. Yang Jing sat in the first seat of the public hall, with a large plaque of "Mirror High Hanging" hanging above his head, and a huge red sea chart behind him, the schedule was set and ready, and the public hall was suddenly filled with a solemn and majestic atmosphere, which made people tremble and chill.

Xiao Fan was taken from the edict to the court of the Criminal Department by the officials of the Criminal Department, he was wearing a long robe, and he did not look so embarrassed and haggard after being detained for many days, but his face was full of red light, and there was a faint sense of high spirits.

Yang Jing, the secretary of the criminal department, is only thirty-eight years old this year, is a rare young minister in the court, and he is the most upright, Hongwu nineteen years to Shu Jishi as the household servant, and then Hongwu twenty-two years to promote the household secretary, Hongwu twenty-three years, and the original criminal department of the book Zhao Mian changed officials, transferred to the criminal department of the book, and the prince's guest, in charge of the prince's praise of etiquette, discipline mistakes. Yang Jing is an upright official, known as a virtuous person in the court, and he is upright and selfless, and he is selfless in power, which is quite appreciated by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Today, it is said that Xiao Fan is interrogated by the edict, and Yang Jing has already prepared a draft in his heart.

There were eunuchs in the palace who conveyed Zhu Yuanzhang's edict, Xiao Fan was guilty of three crimes, one was to deceive the king, the emperor lied that his wife was the lord of Changning, the second was to commit a crime in front of the emperor, and was extremely rude to the Son of Heaven, and the third was to tarnish the reputation of the royal family, confer the title of the county lord of Jiangdu, and obstruct the name of the county lord.

The three crimes shall be punished concurrently, and they shall be punished as usual.

Yang Jing silently recited a few words in his heart, and then his expression became fierce and solemn, seeing Xiao Fan standing with his hands in his hands above the court, with a dashing demeanor, Yang Jing couldn't help but feel angry in his heart, slapped the shocked wood hard, and shouted: "Bold Xiao Fan!" I saw the official in the court, why didn't I kneel? ”

Xiao Fan smiled slightly, and said: "Lord Yang, you are the secretary of the Criminal Department, and it is said that you should know the most about the criminal laws of the Ming Dynasty, have you forgotten that people with meritorious names do not have to kneel in the court......

Yang Jing's eyelids jumped, and then he was annoyed.

When Xiao Fan was imprisoned, Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry that he was dizzy because of the dragon underwear, and only ordered Xiao Fan's official position to be removed and the black gauze hat removed, but he forgot to remove Xiao Fan's reputation.

Xiao Fan was born in Xiucai, and he was a fellow jinshi given by the emperor, according to the law of the Ming Dynasty, he really didn't have to kneel to Yang Jing.

Yang Jing gritted his teeth, slapped the shocked wood with some annoyance, and said angrily: "Xiao Fan, this official is arraigning you today, it is on the order of the Son of Heaven to punish you for the Ming Dynasty, and to correct the world, the Son of Heaven ordered the official to try first, and then sentence." Xiao Fan, do you know that you have committed three major crimes? ”

Xiao Fan raised his hand and said with a smile: "Lord Yang, don't say it, I know what you have to say, let's save each other's time, I don't admit any of these three crimes!" I'm innocent! ”

Yang Jing said angrily: "If you have a hard mouth, this official will send someone into the palace to ask for a decree, ask the Son of Heaven to remove your fame, and then torture you, see if you recruit or not!" ”

Xiao Fan flicked his sleeves and said lightly: "How to try the case is your business, if you want me to admit my guilt, I can't do it!" ”

Yang Jing sneered a few times: "Okay, Xiao Fan, all the ministers in the court say that you are a disaster for the country and chaos, no matter whether you are a loyal minister or a minister, at least this official respects you as a man, and this official has the emperor's order, and he will be offended today!" ”

After that, Yang Jing shouted: "Someone! Quickly enter the palace and ask Tianzi Ge to go to Xiao Fan's fame! ”

A servant quickly ran out of the side, clenched his fists and hurried out of the court.

Xiao Fan's lips trembled, his heart became heavier and heavier, if he wanted to be a well-known man, it seemed that he had to pay a great price...... At that time, if Yang Jing used torture to extract a confession from himself, I really don't know if he can stand it, in case he is tortured but admits his guilt, and now this unyielding performance of preferring to die has become a big joke...... Just as I was nervous, an accident happened.

The official who entered the palace to ask for an order was stopped before he left the yamen of the Ministry of Punishment, and a shrill voice shouted: "His Royal Highness the Emperor Sun is here in person, and the ministers and officials are sent to greet him——"

Yang Jing trembled, hurriedly straightened his official hat, quickly walked off the public case, and knelt outside the public hall to greet Taisun Luan.

The officials in the public hall also knelt down one after another, and the solemn public hall was suddenly silent inside and outside.

Not long after, Zhu Yunwen was dressed in a four-clawed yellow dragon robe, and under the leadership of several eunuchs, he walked into the public hall with a calm and handsome face, and when he passed by Xiao Fan's side, Zhu Yunwen's gloomy face changed, and he blinked at Xiao Fan quickly while people were not paying attention, and his naughty demeanor flashed away.

Xiao Fan suddenly couldn't cry or laugh, raised his eyes and swept it, but saw that Zhu Yunwen was followed by Xiao Thrush, who had not been seen for many years, the thrush's face had decreased a lot, and his thin little face was covered with tears, and he was looking at him with distressed infatuation.

Xiao Fan was shocked, why did Zhu Yunwen bring the thrush to the court?

Without thinking much about it, Xiao Fan smiled at the thrush, his smile full of comfort.

Yang Jing stood up after greeting him, bowed down and said: "Your Royal Highness, the minister is trying the case, I don't know what happened when His Royal Highness Taisun is coming?" ”

Zhu Yunwen casually played with a delicate jade pendant in his hand, and said lightly: "It's nothing, the emperor's grandfather once ordered the lonely person to take care of the national prison, this, Yang Shangshu remembers, right?" ”

Yang Jing's eyebrows jumped, and his heart sank. At the beginning of the twenty-ninth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang made an edict in front of the Manchu Dynasty civil and military, and the grandson could consult and judge the national prison affairs, and the intention of this decree was equivalent to letting Zhu Yunwen go to a certain unit for an internship before becoming the emperor, first understand the operation of the grassroots level, and lay a practical foundation for becoming the emperor in the future.

Yang Jing never expected that Zhu Yunwen would take advantage of this loophole and swagger into the court of the Criminal Department.

"Of course the minister remembers, I don't know what His Royal Highness Taisun means......"

Zhu Yunwen was still playing with the jade pendant, and said lightly: "It's not interesting to be alone, Lord Yang is a scholar, I haven't seen you try the case in person for a long time, and now I want to come to see Yang Shangshu's iron-faced selfless courage, maybe it will benefit Gu a lot......"

The corners of Yang Jing's mouth twitched fiercely.

This excuse is too fake, what is there to see about the trial? If you were here, how could I dare to torture Xiao Fan? You are clearly here to protect Xiao Fan!

Zhu Yunwen raised his eyes and looked at Yang Jing, waved his hand fakely, and said with a smile: "Yang Shangshu doesn't need to pay attention to me, you try your case, just sit next to you and listen, don't bother, you don't have to show mercy to the criminal because of me, when you should be selfless, you must be selfless, Wang Fa is as big as the sky!" ”

Xiao Fan smiled knowingly, stood far away in the hall and echoed: "Yes, His Royal Highness Taisun said that it is too reasonable, the royal law is as big as the sky, Lord Shangshu should not be favoritist to me......"

"You...... You ......" Yang Jing was so angry that his chest was churning, and when he looked at it, he suddenly saw the thrush, Yang Jing couldn't help frowning and said: "This official is trying the case, and there is no room for irrelevant people in the court, who is this girl?" How could it be here? ”

The thrush wiped the tears on her face indiscriminately, and then Ying Ying knelt down and said in a calm tone: "I am the wife of my father-in-law, and I am going to accompany my father-in-law to trial today, how can I be an unrelated person?" ”

Yang Jing said in a deep voice: "Xiao Fan's three major crimes, could it be that you also participated?" ”

The thrush smiled sneeringly: "If you admit your guilt, I will admit your guilt, and if you kill your head, I will kill your head, and if you admit it or not, is it so serious?" Whether it is bullying the king or rebelling, I will recognize whatever is recognized. ”

"What the hell are you doing in the Criminal Department?" Yang Jing was a little angry.

"I'm here to die with my father-in-law!"

The sky was overcast, and the palace was also covered with a gray color.

In the Wuying Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang coughed and got up from the dragon couch, and his old body looked extremely rickety.

Attendant Nie hurriedly stretched out his hand to help him sit up.

Zhu Yuanzhang closed his eyes, hissed phlegm in his throat, and gasped for a few moments before slowly regaining his composure.

"Punishment ...... ...... in the lobby of the Criminal Department, Zhu Yuanzhang coughed again after saying a few words.

And Nie is a sharp-eyed person, and he understood what Zhu Yuanzhang meant in just a few words, and immediately said: "Your Majesty, Xiao Fan has been tried by the Criminal Department in vain, and he has withdrawn from the court, and Xiao Fan continues to be escorted back to the Imperial Prison for trial......"

Zhu Yuanzhang coughed, his eyes flashed, and he said roughly: "For...... How so? ”

And Nie hesitated for a moment, and said: "At the beginning of the trial, His Royal Highness the Imperial Prince came to the court of the Criminal Department and said that he wanted to observe, and Yang Shangshu was quite emotional about the trial...... Bondage. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes became more and more stern, and he said in a deep voice: "The prince of a country, how can he be so soft-hearted? Can't you tell the difference between public and private? No matter how deep his friendship with Xiao Fan is, it is only a personal relationship, and this vertical man actually uses the respect of the grandson to coerce the minister to try the case, this move is confused! Stupidity! ”

After speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry that his old face turned red, and he began to cough violently again.

And Nie said in a panic: "Your Majesty is angry, take care of the dragon body." ”

Zhu Yuanzhang gasped for a while, and suddenly his eyes showed a fierce light, and he said gloomily: "Spread my will, Xiao Fan doesn't have to be tried again, tomorrow at noon, the vegetable market will be beheaded!" ”

"Yes."

And when Nie hurriedly prepared to leave the palace to deliver the decree, he heard the eunuch outside the palace say: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince, King Yan, asks to see him." ”

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said, "Xuanjin." ”

As soon as Zhu Di entered the door, Zhu Yuanzhang was startled: "Di'er, what's wrong with you?" What about beards? ”

Zhu Di's face twitched a few times, and he bowed to the ground and said: "Erchen is not filial, last night Erchen was reading with candles in the study, sleepiness swelled up, he was not careful, he was burned by candles and his beard, and Erchen died!" ”

Zhu Yuanzhang touched his beard and groaned: "Burned so clean and thorough? ”

“…… Be. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him and said lightly: "Why did you enter the palace?" ”

Zhu Di's tone suddenly changed, and he became very happy, and said, "Congratulations to my father!" Father, your own granddaughter, the youngest daughter of the son, the county lord of Changning, didn't die, she ...... is still alive, and her sons have already recognized her. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes widened and he said in surprise: "What? ”

Recalling that Xiao Fan had said in Wuying Hall when he was imprisoned that the county lord of Changning was his wife, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression suddenly became strange.

"Where are the Changning people?" Zhu Yuanzhang said in a gloomy tone.

"She's a ...... now Jin Yiwei knows Xiao Fan's wife. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang closed his eyes, and a wry smile appeared on his old face.

And so it was! Zhu Yuanzhang did not doubt Zhu Di's words, no matter what the purpose, Zhu Di could not pretend to be his daughter for no reason, the bloodline of the royal family has always been a matter of heaven, Zhu Di would never dare to risk the disapproval of the world, and Zhu Di and Xiao Fan have a deep grudge, and he has no reason to pretend to recognize Xiao Fan's wife as a daughter.

Now what?

Forcing Xiao Fan to divorce his wife? Xiao Fan's wife is the county lord and my granddaughter, and he is not innocent with another county lord, do I want to marry the two county lords to him? How noble is the identity of the county lord, just a brocade guard knows the same, and marries two county lords of the heavenly family at the same time, is this a story for the ages, or a laughing stock for eternity? Where is the royal majesty?

Zhu Yuanzhang's face kept twitching, and the fierce light in his eyes became more and more intense.

"Those Qingliu ministers didn't move?" Xiao Fan sat on the Taishi chair in the prison cell, his expression was rarely solemn.

Cao Yi picked up the wine jar and poured it hard, wiped his big hairy mouth indiscriminately, and said: "I didn't make any moves, it seemed that they all became dumb, and they all wilted like a plague chicken." ”

Xiao Fan frowned and said, "Why didn't they make any moves?" It shouldn't be......"

Cao Yi smiled nonchalantly: "Wouldn't it be better if there is no action?" You're burning your eyebrows, and if those sour ministers come in and mix it up again, you'll be in even more trouble......"

Xiao Fan's eyebrows jumped, he was locked in the cell and thought quietly for a long time, and finally found that if he wanted to save his surname, it was not enough to rely on the thrush to recognize his relatives and restore the title of county lord.

He found that he was a little negligent, he regarded Zhu Yuanzhang as an old man who was about to die, this old man defended the descendants of the Zhu family, and did everything he did in his life to leave an iron-clad country for future generations, and this old man's love for his children and grandchildren can be seen.

But Xiao Fan suddenly found that he had overlooked a point.

Zhu Yuanzhang is not only an old man who protects his children and grandchildren, but also a decisive and ruthless founding emperor!

The two county lords have a relationship with Xiao Fan, in the eyes of others, perhaps the compromise of the Son of Heaven is an inevitable result, Xiao Fan can finally hold the two beauties, but ...... Can things really go this way?

What would Zhu Yuanzhang think in his heart? This old man has a strong temper and has never compromised with anyone in his life, although the two county lords insisted on marrying Xiao Fan, not Xiao Fan's instigation, but Zhu Yuanzhang, a particularly suspicious emperor, would so easily agree to spare Xiao Fan's surname and promise his marriage with the two county lords?

Thinking left and right, Xiao Fan felt more and more that it was not so simple, he saw Zhu Yuanzhang as too simple.

Which emperor can tolerate the courtiers who take advantage of the situation to force the king?

Xiao Fan's eyelids jumped, he had an ominous premonition, Zhu Yuanzhang would not compromise on this, on the one hand, he loved his granddaughter, but on the other hand, he had worked hard for his whole life surnamed Zhu, which is more important, does this need to be asked?

Unconsciously raised his hand to wipe his forehead, Xiao Fan found that he was already in a cold sweat.

originally thought that Thrush would be able to escape the catastrophe by restoring the title of county lord, so now that he was arraigned by the Criminal Department, he has always behaved calmly. But now he realized that his surname was still in danger.

"Brother Xiao, what's wrong with you? Why is your face so pale? Cao Yi put down the wine jar and asked curiously.

Xiao Fan grabbed Cao Yi's sleeve violently, and said in a trembling voice: "Brother Cao, there is a matter of urgency, you must help me with this......"

Cao Yi was taken aback by Xiao Fan's appearance, and he also became nervous: "Brother Xiao, if you have anything to say, Cao will never refuse." ”

Xiao Fan paused and said, "...... You help me find a way to let those Qingliu ministers in the court impeach me in the Golden Palace, and it is best to make them angry and angry, and let them join the impeachment of the Son of Heaven in unison, and ask the Son of Heaven to behead me......"

"You're crazy!" Cao Yi shouted in surprise.

"Brother Cao, don't worry about it, do what I say, the sooner the better......"

Cao Yi's eyes widened, and he said, "You...... Have you been in jail for too long and haven't been in the sun for a long time, so ...... Uh, you're dizzy? Do you know what you just said? ”

Xiao Fan nodded: "Of course I know, don't ask so much, you must force those Qingliu ministers to impeach me with one voice to His Majesty, the louder their voices are, the better, and the more explosive their tempers, the better...... By the way, you can find Huang Zicheng to start, that old man is the chief figure of the Qingliu minister, it is best to provoke him to jump off the wall, you can tell him clearly that I provoked him, and force him to join me ......in the Golden Palace."

"You...... Why are you doing this? Cao Yi was so anxious that he stomped his feet.

Xiao Fan lowered his eyelids, let out a long sigh, and said with a gloomy expression: "You just treat me as a birthday boy eating arsenic, live impatiently, what is the joy of life, what is the fear of death, a hundred years of life have passed in a hurry, even if it is famous in history, it is just a piece of the past......"

"Crazy...... Are you really crazy......" Cao Yi looked at Xiao Fan in surprise, then slowly took a few steps back, turned around and walked out of the prison door, muttering to himself: "I have to report to His Royal Highness the Grand Sun...... So, it's too long to be in jail......"

(To be continued)