At this time, Sun Ge Lao walked out of the emperor with a lonely face. He rushed back to Beijing all the way to Beijing, not for anything else, but because he heard about Yuan Chonghuan's bribery of Cao Gelao, he rushed back on purpose.

Yuan Chonghuan is a student of Sun Chengwei, although the two do not have the name of master and apprentice, but they have the reality of master and apprentice. Although when the Jin soldiers attacked the Beijing division two years later, Yuan Chonghuan did not listen to Sun Ge Lao's advice, and finally let the Hou Jin soldiers attack under the walls of Beijing, and finally framed Yuan Chonghuan himself in prison.

Despite this, Elder Sun Ge has always valued this student. Since Yuan Chonghuan was arrested, Sun Ge Lao pleaded in front of Emperor Chongzhen more than once, hoping that Emperor Chongzhen would open up and pardon Yuan Chonghuan.

Standing outside the noon gate, looking up at the scorching sun, thinking about the door of the Heart Nourishing Palace, the eunuch Wang Chengen said in an apologetic tone: "Your Majesty is not feeling well, the imperial doctor said that you should recuperate, it is not suitable to work, please go back." ”

It's true that Emperor Chongzhen is hardworking, and it's true that he doesn't want to see himself. Sun Ge was such a smart person, and he quickly understood what the prince was trying to express.

Your Majesty understands why he entered the capital, and deliberately avoids seeing himself.

Elder Sun Ge stood outside the noon gate for a long time, sighed, and said to his guards: "Go to Jinyiwei." ”

In the Jinyi Guard's prison, the Tianzi cell.

The old man Cao Ge sat at the head of the simple bed, and beside him was the eldest son of the Cao family with his head bowed and an angry face.

"Father, I've checked it out," Cao Dagongzi clenched his fists, holding back his anger in his heart: "The cellar in the back kitchen was still stored half a month ago, but a few days ago, the second brother sent back a few carts of cabbage and radish. It was said that it was for the old lady to make kimchi. Due to the large number, it cannot be processed for a while. It was temporarily stored in the cellar. ”

Cao Ge's old eyebrows trembled, and he scolded angrily: "Are all the housekeepers in the back kitchen blind? Cabbage. The wooden box can't be distinguished! ”

Grand Master Cao said: "This is the fault of the matter. The steward of the back kitchen was just mentioned a year ago, originally a knife master in the back kitchen, because of his diligence and honesty, it happened that the previous steward was seriously ill and died, so I appointed him as the steward. Saying that, Cao Dagongzi looked annoyed and remorseful, and said with tears: "In the past year, the steward has also done his duty. Who would have thought that he would frame his father! ”

When Elder Cao Ge heard this, he glared at him and asked, "How long has the steward been in the mansion?" ”

Grand Prince Cao thought for a while and said, "The child remembers that he entered the mansion two years ago. ”

When Cao Ge heard this, his heart kept sinking, and he muttered, "Two years ago? Two years ago! They are so calculating!! ”

Cao Ge Lao has been imprisoned in this edict for three days, and in the past three days, he has been thinking about what went wrong and who is secretly framing him. Originally, Cao Ge was always suspicious of Xu Liang of Guanglu Temple. The cart of cabbage was given by Cao Ergongzi, and Cao Ergongzi has been following the Yan shopkeeper who travels all over the world recently. And the shopkeeper Yan is Xu Liang's person! All this inevitably made Cao Ge Lao suspect that Xu Liang was secretly calculating himself.

Although Xu Liang has been angrily easing the relationship with Cao Ge Lao himself recently, the hatred between Cao Ge Lao and Xu Liang is not something that can be forgotten.

However, Cao Dagongzi said. The person who helped get the seven big boxes into Cao's Mansion was actually the kitchen manager who had entered Cao's Mansion two years ago! Xu Liang's suspicion has been cleared up a lot! Two years ago, Xu Liang was still struggling in the Great Northwest, and it seemed that he didn't have the ability to bury an inside line in the palace of a dignified cabinet minister!

Cao Ge Lao Xiao Suo sighed: "The old man was framed!" ”

Grand Prince Cao kept wiping his tears. Hearing this, he comforted Elder Cao Ge and said: "Father doesn't have to be sad, the child has already paid a special visit to Elder Zhou Ge and Elder Wen Ge, the first assistants of the cabinet. Both adults responded that they were going back to help their father clear their name. ”

When Cao Ge heard this, his tone was very desolate. looked at Cao Dagongzi and said: "Now all the evidence points to the father, if you want to clear the charge, the kitchen steward is the key, after you go back, you must find out this person!" ”

"Yes, the boy understands!" Grand Prince Cao responded.

Elder Cao Ge sighed: "Now that I think about it, the person who wants to frame the old man should have started to arrange it a few months ago!" A few months ago, the officials were assessed, and several of the old man's henchmen in the Metropolitan Procuratorate were successively sent to local posts, but the hated old man didn't notice it at that time. Now that the old man is in trouble, there is no one around him who can be trusted! ”

Grand Prince Cao thought for a while and hesitated: "Father, Master Cheng Ma Yuan of Shuntian Mansion has been locked up by the Criminal Department on suspicion of killing the witness Tu Qianqiu. Now it seems that the only person who can believe it is Lord Yushi Shi Fan! ”

When Cao Ge heard this, he scolded angrily: "Stupid! The old man originally wanted to design and frame the foundation, why did the witness Tu Qianqiu temporarily change his words and bite back on his father, as well as the box in the cellar! You still don't understand? Most of the things are bad if they are twisted in history! That old man Shi Fan has been cultivating for many years, and he didn't expect that he would have already taken refuge in others! ”

"Haha! It's hateful that the old man mistakenly believes in people! Old Cao Ge looked up to the sky and sighed.

The sorrow on the face of the eldest prince Cao was even worse, and when he saw this, he said in a panic: "Father, what should I do?" ”

Cao Ge Lao suddenly drew Cao Dagongzi closer, and said fiercely in his ear: "You go to Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren again, you tell them that the old man has worked with the two of them for many years, and there are many things that the old man still remembers clearly, as long as they help the old man get through this difficulty, the old man will forget those things completely!" Otherwise, it is difficult to say whether the old man will talk too much and say something else during the interrogation. ”

Grand Prince Cao looked at it in shock, and said uneasily: "Father, in this way, wouldn't you offend Lord Shoufu miserably?" ”

Cao Ge shouted hatefully: "The old man is about to die, what do you care!" ”

……

When the eldest prince Cao walked out of the edict prison with a heavy heart, he happened to see Sun Chengzong, a scholar of Wuyingdian University, entering, and at the gate of the imperial prison, the eldest prince of Cao avoided the side and arched his hand: "I have seen Sun Ge Lao." ”

Elder Sun Ge snorted softly in surprise, and when the eldest prince Cao was far away, he asked the Jinyi guard who led the way: "Why did the boss of the Cao family appear here?" ”

When Jin Yiwei heard this, his tone was a little gloating: "Elder Ge still doesn't know? Now Cao Ge Lao has also been imprisoned in the edict! ”

When Elder Sun Ge heard this, he snorted lightly: "Self-inflicted!" ”

Emperor Chongzhen originally wanted to find several cabinet ministers to discuss Cao Ge Lao's crime. As a result, another five days passed, and there was no movement.

Xu Liang watched coldly for several days. Surprised, I sent someone to investigate, only to find out that things were getting more and more complicated. Emperor Chongzhen there. First of all, Sun Chengzong, a scholar of Wuyingdian University, begged for two days in a row to save Yuan Chonghuan's life. Then the first assistant of the cabinet, Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren, the two elders, went to see Emperor Chongzhen together.

In the court, three more people gave the matter a fold, accusing Cao Ge Lao of being suspicious, and he was willing to ask His Majesty to order a retrial.

Then, a rumor began to spread in the capital: how could Cao Gelao, who had always been incorruptible, accept a bribe from Yuan Chonghuan? This case must be aimed at Cao Gelao. There are even rumors that the witness Tu Qianqiu was originally going to testify that day was the second assistant of the cabinet......

It was just then that news came out from the Jinyi Guard's edict that Cao Ge had been imprisoned for several days, and he was mentally shocked and began to talk crazy. said that there were important ministers in the court who wanted to frame him!

In the Dongjiang Courtyard, in Xu Liang's study, Huang Daozhou and Wang Qinian were standing in front of Xu Liang with solemn faces.

"My lord, the news from the little Duzi father-in-law in the palace says that the emperor's determination to deal with Cao Ge Lao is not as firm as a few days ago." Wang Qinian said worriedly, "There are different opinions in the court about Cao Ge Lao's case, plus the intercession of Zhou Ge Lao and Wen Ge Lao, the first assistant of the inner Dao. Xia Guan is worried that if this matter continues to drag on like this, Elder Cao Ge will escape this catastrophe! ”

Xu Liang sighed: "Cutting the grass does not remove the roots, the spring breeze blows and grows!" Once the old puppet Cao is brought back to life. After he comes out, he will definitely come back to his senses and carefully investigate the ins and outs of the whole case! When the time comes, we will be in danger! ”

Huang Daozhou said: "My lord, this kind of thing must not be allowed to happen. He paced around the room. He frowned, thinking bitterly.

Xu Liang and Wang Qinian both looked at Huang Daozhou. Waiting for this imperial history to come up with some good ideas.

In the middle of the night, the zodiac circumference slowly. He said in a solemn tone: "Cao Ge Lao's charge of accepting bribes, the human evidence is dead, and the physical evidence is only those seven boxes. It's just that there are only a few hundred taels of silver in the box, if Cao Ge Lao gives up his cheeks and desperately denies it, plus the first assistant Zhou Yanru, Wen Tiren and others to protect it, His Majesty is very likely to be lightly distributed! If you want to kill Cao Ge with one move, you have to kill him. ”

Wang Qinian's eyebrows moved when he heard this, and he suddenly said: "Lord, Lord Huang, the lower officials have thought of a plan." ”

Xu Liang and Huang Daozhou urged in surprise: "What? Let's hear about it. ”

So, Wang Qinian whispered his thoughts.

When Huang Daozhou heard this, he immediately stroked his hand and praised: "Lord Wang's plan is very good!" If he acts according to the plan, Elder Cao Ge will definitely die. ”

Xu Liang listened, but was silent for a long time.

Huang Daozhou and Wang Qinian looked at Xu Liang in surprise, and Wang Qinian hesitated and asked, "Does the lord think there is something wrong with this plan?" ”

Xu Liang shook his head and said, "From the perspective of strategy alone, the method that Qi Nian thought of can be described as adding fuel to the fire and seamless. It's just that I see that in the past few days, Sun Ge Lao has been contacting the courtiers for Yuan Chonghuan's affairs, and he has been appealing, and Sun Ge Lao is sincere and deep in his friendship with Yuan Chonghuan's master and apprentice, which is emotional! Do you know that if you act according to Qi Nian's plan, then Cao Ge will die of old age, but Yuan Chonghuan is afraid that he will not live long. ”

Huang Daozhou and Wang Qinian listened, and when they thought of the stakes, they were speechless.

Huang Daozhou originally admired Yuan Chonghuan very much, but now in order to protect Xu Liang's family, he wanted to push Yuan Chonghuan to a dead end, he couldn't help but be very embarrassed, his face was entangled, and he asked Wang Qinian: "Brother Qinian, is there any way to ......?"

Wang Qinian naturally understood Huang Daozhou's thoughts, but when he heard this, he waved his hand to interrupt Huang Daozhou's words, and said with a wry smile: "Brother Daozhou, you can't have both fish and bear's paws!" If you want to never suffer from future troubles, you have to make sacrifices. This matter started with Yuan Chonghuan and ended with Yuan Chonghuan, which can be regarded as a happy ending. ”

When Huang Daozhou heard this, his expression was gloomy, and he sighed: "It's a pity that Inspector Yuan ......"

In the early days of this day, Emperor Chongzhen still did not mention the matter of arguing with Cao Ge Lao, and several cabinet ministers also seemed to have forgotten that Cao Ge Lao was still locked up in the edict of Jinyiwei, and in the imminent giving of things, the imperial historians and officials also seemed to be collectively dumbfounded, and in addition to discussing some wars in the northwest, all the ministers chose to avoid Cao Ge Lao's case.

After the court meeting dispersed, Xu Liang saw several cabinet ministers chasing the back of Emperor Chongzhen and going to the Yangxin Palace.

Xu Liang narrowed his eyes and watched several purple-robed high-ranking officials turn around the corners of the palace and disappear. Then Shi Shi walked out, and at the gate of a palace, Du Gonggong, the little eunuch of the celebrant supervisor, was there early, approached Xu Liang, and handed a cloth bag to Xu Liang without a trace.

Xu Liang took it, stuffed it into the long-sleeved cage casually, and arched his hand: "Duke Du bothered." As he spoke, a few silver tickets were stuffed into Xiao Duzi's hands.

Xiao Duzi smiled respectfully, and arched his hand towards Xu Liang: "Master Xu, go slowly." ”

Xu Liang Shi Shi ran out of the palace gate, out of the noon gate, Shi Shiran boarded the carriage of Xu Fu waiting outside the noon gate. After the curtain of the carriage was lowered, he couldn't wait to take out the cloth bag, open it, take out the stack of discarded folds, quickly look through a few letters, then close them together, wrap them in a cloth bag, and say to the guard in front of the carriage: "Go back to the Dongjiang Courtyard, quickly!" ”

In the evening of the same day, Shi Fan, the imperial historian of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, took several arresters seconded from the Criminal Department and Shuntian Mansion, and brought the local security chief, and a group of people came to the outskirts of the capital again, the scene where Tu Qianqiu was killed.

The chief of security did not understand the fact that the official of the Metropolitan Procuratorate had to go to the scene of the crime to check. Now that half a month has passed since the murder of the witness Tu Qianqiu, even if there are any clues left at the scene, they have already been destroyed.

However, this Imperial History Lord was very careful, pulled the chief of security, and asked the situation at the scene one by one, where Tu Qianqiu died, where the four guards died, and where the Shuntianfu Cheng Ma Yuan fell, everything was asked in detail.

The chief had no choice but to explain again and again.

In the end, Lord Yushi asked nothing to ask, raised his eyes and looked at Tu Qianqiu's house not far away, because Tu Qianqiu was killed, Tu's house was vacant, and the entire Tu house seemed unusually quiet.

"That's Tu Yuan's house, right?" Shi Yushi asked.

"Back to my lord, it was the house outside Tu Yuan. Because Tu Yuanwai was killed, Tu Yuanwai's family did not know his whereabouts, and the house was left vacant. The chief replied cautiously.

Shi Yushi nodded and said, "Go in and have a look." ”

The chief was stunned for a moment, and said in embarrassment: "Lord Yushi, the adults of this house have searched several times, and it is dirty and messy, so you don't have to look at it." ”

Shi Yushi listened, looked at the house, his expression became very complicated, after a while, Shi Yushi sighed lightly, and said: "This official is here to find out the facts of the case, how can Tu Zhai not look at it?" (To be continued.) )