When Cao Ge heard this, he seemed to have missed half a beat in his heartbeat, looked at Shi Yushi, and said loudly: "The result is out?" Okay, okay, let's talk to the old man. ”

Seeing this, Shi Yushi's face was difficult, and he kept making his eyes look at Cao Ge.

Cao Ge scolded unhappily: "Master Shi, everything must be said to others!" Cheng Ge Lao and Xu Ge Lao here are not outsiders, you don't have to worry, but it doesn't hurt to say it. ”

Cao Ge Lao said so loudly that Cheng Jiming and Xu Guangqi couldn't pay attention if they didn't want to. The two put down the affairs in their hands and walked over, and Cheng Jiming asked, "Shi Yushi, what is the new development of the case?" ”

Shi Yushi looked at Cao Ge Lao, and then at Xu Guangqi and Cheng Jiming, hesitating, looking embarrassed.

Seeing this, Cheng Jiming and Xu Guangqi said to Xu Guangqi: "Elder Xu Ge, the old man suddenly remembered that there is still an urgent matter to report to the emperor, how about you go with me to see Your Majesty?" ”

Xu Guangqi understood that Cheng Jiming meant to avoid suspicion, so he nodded.

The purpose of Cao Ge's cabinet duty was to see the shocked and desperate expression of this cabinet assistant in front of him, how could he let Cheng Jiming leave so easily, so he called Cheng Jiming and Xu Guangqi, and said: "The two cabinet elders are slow!" ”

glared at Shi Yushi fiercely again, and said in a deep voice: "Shi Fan, Lord Cifu asked about the progress of the case, why didn't you answer?" ”

"Teacher, do you really want to say it?" Shi Yushi asked with a tangled face.

"What's your name?!" Cao Ge Lao said angrily, what is the matter with this student, why don't you understand what you mean.

"Elder Cao Ge, since Master Shi is embarrassed, forget it." Cheng Ji is destined for life.

"No!" Elder Cao Ge shouted. "Shi Fan, say it quickly!"

Shi Yushi looked at Cao Ge Lao helplessly. Chao Chengji and Xu Guangqi arched their hands, and said dejectedly: "Returning to the words of Lord Jifu." The Criminal Department and Dali Temple, Jinyiwei and other adults interrogated the witness Tu Qianqiu in the afternoon, and Tu Qianqiu confessed to accepting 30,000 taels of silver from Yuan Chonghuan! ”

When Cheng Jiming and Xu Guangqi heard this, their faces turned pale for a while. Originally, neither of them believed that Yuan Chonghuan would do anything to bribe, but they didn't expect Tu Qianqiu to admit it.

Old Cao Ge looked at Cheng Jiming playfully, and said with a smile: "In this way, this Yuan Chonghuan really has a heart of disobedience!" He urged Shi Yushi again: "What else?" ”

Cheng Jiming and Xu Guangqi both looked at Cao Ge Lao in surprise, how did Cao Ge Lao know that Shi Yushi had not finished speaking.

"But," Shi Yushi said hesitantly, "that Tu Qianqiu said." Yuan Chonghuan's bribery has another hidden secret. ”

"Oh, tell me, what's the secret?" Cao Ge Lao asked after him, the truth was about to be revealed, and the excitement in Cao Ge Lao's heart made him tremble even in his voice.

Shi Yushi sighed secretly and said in a low voice: "Tu Qianqiu confessed, and Yuan Chonghuan sent the 30,000 taels of silver to Tu Qianqiu. In fact, it was not to bribe Qian Longxi, but to bribe another cabinet minister. ”

"Who is it?" The three elders asked in unison.

Seeing this, Elder Cao Ge smiled at Cheng Jiming and said, "Lord Jifu, what are you nervous about?" ”

Cheng Jiming glared at Cao Ge Lao. Shen Sheng asked Shi Yushi: "Say it quickly, who is it?" ”

Shi Yushi's voice lowered: "It's Cao Ge ......"

Before the words fell, Elder Cao Ge had already laughed loudly. smiled and looked at Cheng Jiming: "Cheng Jiming." Unexpectedly, you also have today? Haha......"

Cheng Jiming and Xu Guangqi both looked at Cao Ge Lao with the eyes of a fool. Shi Yushi looked at his teacher with a sad face.

"Haha...... Belch? Cao Ge smiled halfway. Finally found that something was wrong, recalled Shi Yushi's words, his face quickly turned pale, and he grabbed Shi Yushi: "You, what did you just say?" ”

Shi Yushi said sadly: "Teacher, Tu Qianqiu pointed the blame at you, and the Jinyi Wei Luo Dudu has entered the palace to ask for an order." The teacher should have planned in advance. ”

Cao Ge Lao's face was so pale that he couldn't see a trace of blood, and when he raised his eyes, he saw Cheng Jiming and Xu Guangqi looking at him with strange eyes. I can't help but feel that all my actions today seem extremely funny.

"How so?! No way! I don't believe it!! Old Cao Ge hissed, and then walked out quickly, shouting as he walked, "Where is that damn Tu Qianqiu?" The old man wants to interrogate him personally!! ”

"Teacher......" Shi Yushi shouted.

"Old ...... Cao Ge," Cheng Jiming and Xu Guangqi also shouted from behind.

However, Cao Ge Lao finally failed to get out of the cabinet room, and as soon as he walked to the door, Wang Chengen, the eunuch of the celebrant and the eunuch Bingbi, led two Han generals to stop in front of him.

Wang Chengen looked at Cao Ge Lao and said in a deep voice: "Where is Cao Ge Lao?" His Majesty urgently summoned the Pavilion Elder to interrogate in the Heart Cultivation Palace. ”

Cao Ge's figure flickered, and he muttered, "Your Majesty wants to see me?" Okay, okay, I'll go with my father-in-law. ”

Elder Cao Ge followed Wang Chengen to the Palace of Heart Cultivation. In the cabinet duty room, Cheng Jiming and Xu Guangqi were also uninterested in government affairs, and the two glanced at each other, and they coincidentally left the cabinet duty room and rushed to the Heart Cultivation Palace.

When the two of them arrived at the Heart Cultivation Palace, they saw that many people had gathered in the hall. Emperor Chongzhen, Bingbi eunuch Wang Chengen, Jinyi Wei Du Governor Luo Yangxing, Criminal Department Shangshu Qiao Yunsheng, Dali Siqing and others are impressive.

And Cao Ge Lao was already kneeling in the center of the hall, his face turned red, and he shouted angrily to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, the old minister has been wronged!" The old minister has no dealings with that Yuan Chonghuan! Tu Qianqiu didn't know who instructed him to frame the old minister like this! The old minister is willing to ask His Majesty to be the master of the minister! ”

Emperor Chongzhen frowned and looked at Elder Cao Ge, raised his hand and said, "Elder Cao Ge got up first to speak. The elder of the pavilion is an important minister of the court, and just Tu Qianqiu's words can't explain anything! I believe that Elder Ge is innocent. ”

Cao Ge Lao said with a grateful face: "Your Majesty, the old minister has to meet the master, the old minister is very lucky, and the Ming is very lucky!" ”

At this time, Cheng Jiming and Xu Guangqi had already entered the hall, and the two saluted the emperor.

Chongzhen said: "Cheng Ge Lao and Xu Ge Lao are also here. Now in the case of Yuan Chonghuan's bribery, the witness Tu Qianqiu identified Cao Gelao! Cheng Ge Lao, Xu Ge Lao, according to the two of them, how should this matter be handled? ”

Cheng Kimei is the second assistant of the cabinet. Chongzhen's question, it should be answered by Cheng Ji's order first. So Cheng Jiming glanced at Cao Ge Lao coldly. He arched his hand and said in a deep voice: "Tu Qianqiu accused Cao Ge Lao of taking bribes, and the court must not listen to Tu Qianqiu's words!" The old minister thought. For the sake of prudence, there are only witnesses and no physical evidence, and Tu Qianqiu's identification cannot explain anything. For the sake of Cao Ge's reputation, Chen Ken asked His Majesty to issue a thorough investigation. ”

Although Cheng Jiming is known as a good man in the court, he is not stupid at all, and Cao Ge is an abnormal behavior in the cabinet, especially the sentence "Cheng Jiming, I didn't expect you to have today!" words. Cheng Jiming even noticed that Yuan Chonghuan's case was mostly related to him, but he didn't know what happened in the middle, and it didn't affect him.

However, Cao Ge's words have already alerted Cheng Ji's life, and now that he has such a good opportunity to check Cao Ge Lao, Cheng Ji's life will naturally push the boat down the river.

Emperor Chongzhen listened and asked Xu Ge Lao again.

Xu Guangqi said: "Weichen agrees with the opinion of Lord Cifu. ”

At first glance, Cao Ge Lao saw that the two Ge elders agreed to a thorough investigation. I can't help but feel that something is wrong. Just thinking about it carefully, there was indeed no intersection between himself and Yuan Chonghuan, so he was secretly at ease.

Thinking of this, Elder Cao Ge solemnly kowtowed again. He said loudly: "The old minister is also willing to ask His Majesty to investigate thoroughly!" In his heart, he gritted his teeth with hatred for the person behind him.

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he nodded slowly, and said to Luo Yang, the governor of Jinyi and Weidu: "That's the case." Luo Aiqing took someone to check, don't wronged Cao Ge Lao. He looked at Cao Ge Lao again. Said gently: "As for Elder Cao Ge, before the case is clarified." Cao Ge Lao stayed in the mansion and didn't go out at will. ”

This was supposed to be the intention in the process of investigating the case, and Cao Ge Lao had no opinion.

The news soon spread throughout the city of Beijing.

Wang Qinian was in Guanglu Temple, and after reporting the progress of the matter to Xu Liang, Xu Liang couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, planned for a long time, and tried his best, and the matter finally came to this point. Cao Ge Lao caught fire and finally reaped the consequences.

At night, Xu Liang returned to the Dongjiang Courtyard, gathered Wang Qinian, Huang Daozhou, and Tietou together, and checked it again to ensure that the plan was foolproof.

Xu Liang stared at the iron head and said solemnly: "That witness Tu Qianqiu is going to keep an eye on it." Cao Ge has been in the court for so many years, and today he was caught off guard. However, with his brain, he must soon be able to find out that the problem lies with Tu Qianqiu. ”

Wang Qinian said: "Don't worry, the lord can rest assured, Elder Cao Ge has been ordered by the emperor to stay in Cao's mansion, restricting his freedom. ”

Xu Liang shook his head and said, "Elder Cao Ge wants to investigate something, so he doesn't need to take action himself. Now that the fire has burned to Cao Ge Lao, that Tu Qianqiu is still a hidden danger, and it must be removed as soon as possible. ”

Wang Qinian listened and said worriedly: "Now except for Tu Qianqiu, will the movement be too big?" As soon as the witness identified Cao Gelao, he died unexpectedly, which inevitably aroused suspicion. ”

Xu Liang groaned, but it was the Imperial History of the Imperial Historian Huang Dao Zhou said: "It's okay, if Tu Qianqiu dies, who is sure that it is not Cao Ge who is angry and kills people?" ”

Xu Liang had a plan in his heart, and said to Tietou: "Remove Cao Ge's old success or failure in this move!" Now is not the time for a woman's benevolence, Ah Tie, you personally take someone to make Tu Qianqiu disappear! ”

"Yes!" The iron head responded in a deep voice, and immediately went out to arrange the manpower.

On the outskirts of the capital, Tu Qianqiu, who had just returned home, couldn't take a break, didn't hold the lamp, and went into the house to pack up some gold and silver in the black grass, put on a burden, and prepared to go out.

"Tu Yuanwai is in such a hurry, where are you going to go?" The gate of Tu's house was pushed open, and two torches lit up the courtyard of Tu's house. Shuntian Mansion Cheng Ma Yuan walked into the courtyard of the Tu family with his hand in his hand and looked at Tu Qianqiu coldly. The two accompanying guards hurriedly stepped forward, one left and one right, pressed Tu Qianqiu's shoulders, and two other guards stood guard outside the gate, keeping the wind sentry.

Tu Qianqiu saw that it was Shuntianfu Cheng Ma Yuan, smiled miserably, did not struggle, and said to Ma Fucheng: "Master Ma, the small ones are all according to your instructions......

Ma Fucheng kicked Tu Qianqiu's stomach without warning, causing Tu Qianqiu's whole body to bow into a shrimp shape in pain!

"You fart!" Ma Fucheng viciously lifted Tu Qianqiu's collar and asked: "This official has explained clearly, once the official finds out about you, you will pretend to be tortured and bite the second assistant Cheng Ji's life!" It's good that you dare to frame Cao Ge Lao! ”

"Ahem......" Tu Qianqiu was strangled by Ma Fucheng's collar, his face turned red, and he coughed loudly!

"Say, Who commanded you to do this?" Ma Fucheng asked sharply.

"No, no one instructed me to ......," Tu Qianqiu said.

"Dogs, dare to be hard-mouthed! Call me! Ma Fucheng said angrily. The two guards began to add fists and kicks to Tu Qianqiu, and Tu Qianqiu suddenly screamed again and again.

Ma Fucheng took advantage of the guards' efforts to teach people, and walked around the Tu Mansion, but saw that the entire Tu Mansion was actually empty except for Tu Qianqiu himself, so his face couldn't help but change drastically, and he hurriedly walked back, beckoning to stop the beating of the two guards.

Ma Fucheng angrily mentioned Tu Qianqiu, who had been beaten to the point that his nose was blue and swollen, and his nose was bleeding, and asked hatefully: "The surname is Tu, why is your house empty?" Where are your wives and children hiding? ”

Tu Qianqiu raised his face, wiped his nosebleed, and said miserably to Ma Fucheng: "Ma Fucheng, I only hate me Tu Qianqiu for being blind, in order to covet your little silver, I actually put my wife and children in danger!" You ask me where my family has gone? Hahaha...... I want to know more than you where they got caught! ”

Ma Fucheng listened, somewhat understood, shook Tu Qianqiu's shoulder, and asked sharply, "Tell me quickly, what happened?" ”

Tu Qianqiu said miserably: "I got your 1,000 taels of silver, and I wanted to make a small fortune." Unexpectedly, not two days after you left, a group of masked men rushed into my house, kidnapped my wife and children, and threatened me with my family's lives, asking me to put the blame on Cao Gelao! ”

"Who are those people?" Ma Fucheng's eyes widened and he shouted in shock.

Tu Qianqiu shook his head bitterly, "Those people covered their faces with black scarves, and I don't know who they are." ”

Ma Fucheng looked at Tu Qianqiu stunned for a moment, thought for a while, and suddenly his eyes lit up, grabbed Tu Qianqiu's shoulders with both hands, and said sharply: "Tu Qianqiu, listen!" This official takes you to the Jinyi Wei Yamen, as long as you tell me about being coerced and framed by Cao Ge Lao, this official will not only not investigate you for framing Cao Ge Lao, but also protect you and your family from harm! ”

Tu Qianqiu heard this, but shook his head: "No, then they will kill all my family!" ”

Ma Fucheng shouted angrily: "Idiot! Cao Ge is always a cabinet minister, as long as you help Cao Ge Lao clear his name, with Cao Ge Lao's status in the court, he will definitely protect your family! Then he shouted at the guards and ordered, "Take him, let's go!" ”

Tu Qianqiu listened, hesitated for a while, and felt that it was inappropriate, so he struggled.

Seeing this, Ma Fucheng kicked him twice more, and scolded: "Be honest! Otherwise, if you don't wait for those people to do it, this official will take your life now! ”

Tu Qianqiu cried and screamed with a sad face: "You adults are fighting, why bother to bring us flat-headed people!" ”

"Less nonsense! Come on! Ma Fucheng kicked Tu Qianqiu again and scolded.

At the moment, Tu Qianqiu was escorted by two guards, and Ma Fucheng and the other two guards escorted back and forth, left Tu's house, and walked towards the carriage parked outside.

Suddenly, a mutation protruded.

On the east road of the carriage, more than a dozen black-clothed masked people suddenly appeared in the night, all holding bright and dazzling knives, and in the blink of an eye, more than a dozen black-clothed people rushed up and surrounded Ma Fucheng and the others with the carriage.

Ma Fu Cheng was going to be bad, took out the matching sword in his hand, and shouted inwardly: "This official is Shun Tianfu Cheng, what do you want to do?!" (To be continued.) )