At dawn the next day, more than 20 cavalry escorted a prisoner car appeared in front of the gate of Jinyang Palace, at this time it was the peak period of the last dynasty, more than 200 ministers were preparing to enter Jinyang Palace, I don't know who shouted, "There is a prisoner car behind!" ”

The ministers turned around one after another, only to see more than 20 cavalrymen with halberds escorting a prisoner cart towards the gate, on which a man in his forties was dressed in white, with shackles on his hands, his head exposed outside the prisoner cart, his hair was scattered, and his expression was sluggish.

Everyone immediately dodged a way, silently watching the prisoner car pass by, and someone shouted, "Isn't this Zhaojun Zhang Taishou?" ”

A whisper suddenly sounded in the crowd, Zhao County Taishou Zhang Jibei is the brother-in-law of Xiangguo Cui Hongyuan, two days ago the King of Chu made a decree, Zhang Jibei is suspected of bribery and dereliction of duty, and has a close relationship with the corruption of the Yicang Granary in House County, and ordered the third division to be tried, but I didn't expect Zhang Jibei to be escorted into Beijing at this time.

Many of the officials outside the gate were from the Hebei department, and many of them had a good relationship with Zhang Jibei.

At this time, a soldier ran down from Jinyang Palace, and a captain on duty asked in a loud voice, "Where is the prisoner cart going?" ”

The escort said coldly: "I was ordered to escort the Yushitai!" ”

A soldier rushed into the palace to report to the Imperial History Terrace, and after a while, Han Shouzhong hurriedly came out with several Imperial Historians and more than a dozen guards, he arched his hand and handed over his fish card, "I am Han Shouzhong in the Imperial History, and I am ordered to preside over the case of Zhang Jibei, you give him to me!" ”

The escort officer verified Han Shouzhong's fish card, returned the fish card to him, and waved his hand, "Give them the prisoner car!" ”

More than a dozen guards stepped forward to take over the prisoner's cart, and another imperial priest stepped forward to take over the paperwork. The prisoner car was taken into Jinyang Palace by the guards, and at this moment, Zhang Jibei in the prisoner car suddenly struggled, and he struggled to shout to the officials: "Yang Yuanqing unloads the mill and kills the donkey, and wants to clean the Hebei officialdom......"

Before he could finish speaking, a soldier slammed a spear into his face, screaming and spurting out a nosebleed. Zhang Jibei was smashed and fainted, the officials shouted in a low voice, and they took a step back, Han Shouzhong shouted with a gloomy face: "Take him into the Yushitai dungeon!" ”

The prisoner cart was pushed into the palace. The officials discussed for a moment in front of the gate, and then the bell in the Jinyang Palace rang, which was the first of the three bells in the court, and the officials entered the palace one after another. The gate of Jinyang Palace was quiet again.

Only half an hour later, the scene that happened in front of Jinyang Palace spread all over the court and beyond. It has become a topic of discussion among almost all officials in the imperial court, although Zhang Jibei's case is just a simple case of bribery and dereliction of duty, but the officials think about it is not simple, Zhang Jibei has the backstage of Boling Cui, and the identity of Cui Hongyuan's brother-in-law. Complicating this seemingly simple case.

When Yang Yuanqing came to Jinyang Palace, the scene that happened in front of the gate had already passed. He entered his official room as usual, and as soon as he sat down, Pei Qingsong reported outside the door, "Your Highness, Cui Xiang and Yang Xiang ask to meet." ”

At this time, most of the dissatisfaction in Yang Yuanqing's heart had disappeared, and the two came to apologize to him last night. Today's timely appearance shows that the attitude is still relatively sincere. For the sake of their sincerity, I don't care about them.

"Let them in!"

Soon, Yang Shidao and Cui Junsu walked in quickly, both of them had an unconcealed embarrassment on their faces, after all, when they came to admit their mistakes and apologize, ordinary people couldn't hold their faces, and the two bowed down together, "Wechen specially asks His Highness for guilt!" ”

Yang Yuanqing waved his hand, "Please take a seat!" ”

The two sat down, and although the atmosphere was a little awkward, there were some things that had to be explained.

"One of you has followed me for many years, and the other is my old friend, so I'll just say it."

Yang Yuanqing glanced at the two of them, and both of them smiled bitterly and bowed: "Your Highness, please speak up!" ”

"I can understand your feelings, and I appreciate the practice of adhering to the principles of the system, and I first position you as the ministers of the Great Sui."

The two of them were overjoyed and saluted together, "Thank you, Your Highness!" ”

Yang Yuanqing waved his hand and interrupted them, "Even though this is the case, what you do makes me extremely dissatisfied!" ”

Yang Yuanqing paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, and his tone was very stern, "Although I violated the system and killed the county order without being convicted by the Criminal Department, this is not right, but have you persuaded me?" Or if I don't listen to the advice, then it is indeed reasonable that you are forced to resign in desperation, and I have nothing to say, but you did not do so, I am still on the way, and you are clamoring to resign, as a dignified minister, did you make such a rash decision? Don't you think it's a bit too much to force me to resign without even the slightest advice? ”

Cui Junsu and Yang Shidao both showed shame on their faces, Yang Shidao was a little embarrassed, stood up and saluted deeply, "This is all the rashness of Weichen, the problem is not considered well, Cui Xiangguo's resignation is also Weichen came to persuade him, Weichen bears the main responsibility, and is willing to accept the punishment of His Royal Highness." ”

Cui Junsu also got up to apologize, "This has nothing to do with Yang Xiangguo's persuasion of me, it's because Wechen is not cautious enough in his words and deeds, and Wechen is willing to accept the guilt!" ”

Yang Yuanqing sat down again, the sincere admission of the two finally made his dissatisfaction completely disappear, he nodded, "It was originally to punish you, but I was afraid that the courtiers would think that I Yang Yuanqing would not accept the advice, so the punishment was waived, I just want you to remember one thing, I am wrong, although you come to advise, if I resolutely do not change, then you will resign, I have nothing to say, no matter what, you must give me a chance to admonish." ”

The hearts of the two of them were relieved, and this matter finally passed, and they bowed deeply together, "Thank you for your teachings, Weichen remember!" ”

"Alright! There is no need to mention this matter, please discuss with the two of you Xiangguo and Du Xiangguo if you manage Yicang well, brainstorm and come up with the best plan. ”

"Yes!"

The two saluted again and retreated together.

Yang Yuanqing also breathed a long sigh of relief, this matter finally passed, at this time, he saw Pei Qingsong probing his brain at the door, so he asked, "Is there something wrong?" ”

"Your Highness, there is one thing to repay for your humble position."

"What's the matter?"

"This morning, the entire court officials are talking about something, and it has been rumored."

A sentence reminded Yang Yuanqing that when he came to Jinyang Palace this morning, he saw that the officials were talking about something in groups along the way, and when he saw him coming, he immediately stopped talking, which made him a little strange, and he wanted to ask Pei Qingsong, but was interrupted by Yang Shidao and Cui Junsu.

"You reminded me, I saw a lot of people talking about something today, what happened?"

"Back to His Royal Highness, it was Zhang Jibei who was escorted by the prisoner car this morning, and he happened to be present at that time......

Pei Qingsong told the story of what happened at the gate of Jinyang Palace in the morning, Yang Yuanqing had a gloomy face, listened without saying a word, and after listening, he asked coldly: "Is he really calling me Yang Yuanqing to unload the mill and kill the donkey?" ”

"He shouted like this, calling His Highness by name, which was very rude, and said that His Highness would clean Hebei officialdom."

"Humph!" Yang Yuanqing snorted heavily, "I think he is impatient, and at this time, he dares to threaten me." ”

After a pause, Yang Yuanqing asked again: "Did Cui Hongyuan go to court today?" ”

"Back to His Royal Highness, he still said he was sick, he didn't go to court, but Lu Xiangguo went to court, and I saw him just now."

Yang Yuanqing took two steps with his hands in his hand, and immediately said: "Prepare the carriage, I will go to Cuifu to visit the patient!" ”……

Cui Hongyuan's mansion in Taiyuan is not big, just a middle house covering an area of six acres, but the location is very good, it is close to the north gate, not far from Taiyuan North City, it is very close to the court every day, and it is a prosperous place, but his house is in a quiet corner.

At present, there are only Cui Hongyuan and his wife living in Cui's mansion, as well as more than a dozen domestic servants, and the rest of the children of the Boling Cui family do not live in this mansion.

Choi Hong-won was in his sixties, and he was the elder brother of Cho Hong-seung, the former governor of Zhuo County, who died of an epidemic during the First Goryeo War.

Since Cui Hongyuan is already old, he is only a name for himself as the head of the Boling Cui family, and in fact, the family affairs are all managed by his nephew Cui Zhong.

And among the seven phases of Ziwei Pavilion, he is the only one who has no real power, and he is the official prince Zhan Shi, the head of the hundred officials in the East Palace, but the Great Sui does not have the East Palace, let alone the prince, and he is an idle position.

Not only that, but due to his old age, the Ziwei Pavilion political affairs pen was only symbolically given to him and Su Wei, and the real power was in the hands of the other five phases in turn.

Cui Hongyuan has been sick for three days, and Lu Yu has been sick for two days, and the illness of both of them is a strategy, using the method of procrastination to force Yang Yuanqing to give up the purge of Hebei officialdom.

As for resignation, the two of them are different from Yang Shidao's real resignation, they only verbally clamored for their resignation, but the written resignation was not handed over to Yang Yuanqing at all.

Today, Cui Hongyuan is really a little sick, he is worried about becoming ill, and he got the news early in the morning that his brother-in-law Zhang Jibei was escorted into Beijing by a prisoner car, which made him even more worried.

In the room, a maid was carefully feeding Cui Hongyuan to drink medicine and drinking medicine in her mouth, but her hand reached into the maid's collar and wantonly played with the maid's plump breasts, the maid's face was flushed, but her body did not dare to move.

Most of the old men are more lustful, although they have no ability, but their lustful hearts are old and prosperous, and Cui Hongyuan is no exception, he can only move his hands, his eyes are narrowed into a slit, flashing with excitement, and he stares closely at the maid's face that is red because of shyness.

Just as his hand was about to touch under the maid's skirt, there was a rush of running sound outside the door, only to hear the old butler anxiously report outside the door: "Master, there is something urgent!" ”

"What's the urgency?" Cui Hongyuan's tone was extremely displeased, and the short-eyed housekeeper dared to interrupt his interest.

"Master, His Royal Highness the King of Chu has come down."

"Ahh With a bang, Cui Hongyuan sat up and urged the maid repeatedly: "Help me up and change my clothes for me!" ”