After nightfall, Zhang Fu hurried into the palace to meet the Empress Dowager Zhang, accompanied by the emaciated military attache from the Gyeonggi Governor's Mansion who was in charge of interrogating Fang Liang, as well as the officials of the Criminal Department and Jinyi Guard.

Empress Dowager Zhang was having dinner, and when she learned that Zhang Fu and his party urgently asked to see her, she immediately withdrew the palace maids and chamberlains of Cining Palace, and it was obvious that they had obtained important information from Fang Liang.

"Empress Dowager, Fang Liang has already recruited." After kneeling down to the Empress Dowager Zhang, Zhang Fu stood up and said with a stern expression, "According to his explanation, there are three people behind the scenes who instructed him to do this, one is Wang Hui, the left attendant of the Ministry of Industry, one is Yang Pu, a cabinet member, and the other is Chen Tianlei, the deputy governor of the pro-military capital. ”

"What?" Although Empress Dowager Zhang had already prepared in her heart, knowing that the person who secretly instructed Fang Liang was a powerful person in the court, she was still taken aback when she learned the names of these three people, especially Chen Tianlei, the deputy governor of the pro-army capital, who had nearly half of the pro-army in the imperial city in his hands.

"Queen Mother, according to Fang Liang, it is usually Lord Yang who gives him instructions in the Wenyuan Pavilion, including framing the Duke of Zhenguo." Zhang Fu saw that Empress Dowager Zhang was stunned, so he opened his mouth to explain.

To be honest, Zhang Fu was also very surprised, he never expected that this case would involve Yang Pu, Wang Hui and Chen Tianlei, you must know that Yang Pu and the three of them usually act very low-key in the imperial court, and they do not attract attention at all.

But then again, if Yang Pu, Wang Hui and Chen Tianlei really colluded, then the three's low-key behavior can be interpreted as a cover for their sinister intentions.

After all, Zhang Fu has seen too many examples of this kind of traitorous minister, so the only thing he can do is to tell the Empress Dowager Zhang that the three of Yangpu are important ministers at the level of the six ministers, and they can only investigate them thoroughly if they get the edict of the Empress Dowager Zhang.

"This matter is a matter of importance, and it cannot be based on Fang Liang's words alone." Although she was shocked in her heart, Empress Dowager Zhang had experienced too many storms after all, so she kept a clear head, and said to Zhang Fu after a deep groan.

"Empress Dowager, Fang Liang said that Lord Yang, Lord Wang, and Chen Dudu acted cautiously and did not leave any evidence, but he once inadvertently picked up a ticket for Li Ji Gold Shop during a meeting with the three adults, and the ticket was a customized golden jade Guanyin statue, which was suspected to be left by one of the three adults, so the minister had already sent someone to Li Ji Gold Shop to inquire about the owner of the ticket."

Zhang Fu bowed down when he heard this, and told the Empress Dowager Zhang something, he naturally knew that he could not think that the three Yangpu were guilty based on Fang Liang's testimony alone, after all, this was an extraordinary time, and any radical move would provoke a violent reaction from the courtiers.

If Emperor Xuande is still under construction, the three of Yangpu can be handed over to the Fusi of Jinyi Weibei Town for thorough investigation, anyway, the Fusi of Jinyi Weibei Town can be arrested and interrogated without evidence.

But now that Emperor Xuande has died and the new emperor has not yet ascended the throne, at this time, if Zhang Fu forcibly interrogates the three Yangpu people, or hands them over to the Fusi of Jinyi Weibei Town, then the officials in the court will definitely think that this is fighting against dissent in the party, and take the opportunity to dump dissidents, and there will be some chaos at that time.

Therefore, Zhang Fu was extremely cautious about Fang Liang's confession, and he would not move the three of Yangpu lightly until there was no evidence, so as not to intensify the already tense situation in the capital, otherwise it would lead to a big scuffle between the forces of all parties in the court.

"As soon as there is news about the ticket, I will immediately report it to the mourning family." When Empress Dowager Zhang heard that Fang Liang had such a ticket in her hand, her brows immediately frowned, she had a bad feeling that that ticket would definitely make Fang Liang's case complicated.

Sure enough, as expected by the Empress Dowager Zhang, an hour later, Zhang Fu came to tell again, and the shopkeeper of Li Ji Jinpu immediately recognized that it was ordered by Chen Tianlei, the deputy governor of the pro-military capital protection office last year, from the gold shop to celebrate his mother's 70th birthday.

Because the golden jade Guanyin was specially customized by Chen Tianlei, the materials were of high quality, the workmanship was fine, and the price was expensive, so the shopkeeper of Li Ji Gold Shop was particularly impressed.

According to the memories of the shopkeeper of Li Ji Gold Shop, the people of the Chen Mansion later lost the ticket for picking up the goods, and when he picked up the goods, he asked the people of the Chen Mansion to write a document to pick up the goods, and the people of the Chen Mansion took away the statue of Guanyin.

In order to prove that what he said was true, the shopkeeper of Li Ji Jinpu asked the man to bring the account book and the documents written by the Chen family, which showed that the golden jade Guanyin statue was indeed taken away by the people of the Chen Mansion.

"Master, what do you think of this?" Empress Dowager Zhang glanced at the account books of Li Ji Jinpu brought by Zhang Fu and the documents written by the people of the Chen Mansion, and asked expressionlessly, this scene in front of her undoubtedly confirmed that Fang Liang had met Chen Tianlei.

"Search Chen's Mansion and find the statue of Guanyin." Zhang Fu pondered for a moment, and the monk replied sternly, the golden jade Guanyin statue has now become an important physical evidence, so it must be found first no matter what.

"Go ahead, make sure to find out about it." Empress Dowager Zhang nodded and agreed with Zhang Fu's suggestion.

"The minister will obey the decree." Zhang Fu immediately bowed down and left Cining Palace quickly.

"It's so unsettling!" After Zhang Fu left, Empress Dowager Zhang sighed helplessly, before Emperor Xuande died, she never imagined that she would face such a chaotic situation.

"Queen Mother, if Chen Dudu has a bad heart, then the shape of the imperial city will be worrying." Seeing this, Chief Manager Wu, who was standing on the side, hurriedly stepped forward and skillfully massaged the shoulders of the Empress Dowager Zhang, as the chief eunuch of Cining Palace, Chief Manager Wu was undoubtedly the confidant of the Empress Dowager Zhang.

Manager Wu's worries are not unreasonable, Chen Tianlei is in charge of the north gate and west gate of the imperial city, and there are about 40,000 pro-troops in his hands, in case something happens to these pro-troops because of Chen Tianlei's imprisonment, the consequences will be unimaginable.

"This is also where the mourning family is worried, the pro-army is responsible for the defense of the imperial city, and the consequences are unpredictable once there is a change." Empress Dowager Zhang's face showed a worried look, and then she closed her eyes and took a nap, she didn't have a day of worry these days, and she always had some troubles from time to time.

"Queen Mother, now that the first seven days of Emperor Daxing have passed, the country cannot be without a king for a day, can the prince be allowed to ascend the throne first to calm the world." Manager Wu knew that Empress Dowager Zhang had been very tired recently, so he asked softly while massaging.

Empress Dowager Zhang heard that she was speechless, frowned slightly and fell into contemplation, when the prince was in the heyday, the prince did not ascend the throne after the funeral of Emperor Daxing, and only the prince succeeded to the throne early in troubled times, if she let the prince ascend the throne in advance, wouldn't it mean that the Ming Dynasty was in troubled times, at least it was also unstable.

According to historical records, the orthodox emperor ascended the throne shortly after the death of Emperor Xuande, and did not wait for Emperor Xuande to come out of the funeral, and then based on the fact that King Yue, who was in the prime of life, suddenly died of illness two or three years later, which shows that the court situation at that time must not be calm.

What is particularly important is that Empress Dowager Zhang is worried that once the crown prince ascends the throne, then the power of the imperial court will fall into the hands of the auxiliary ministers appointed by Emperor Xuande, if they are loyal to the Ming Dynasty, there is naturally no problem, but if they have a second heart, it will be difficult to control, don't forget that Yang Pu, one of the auxiliary ministers, is one of the masterminds who was confessed by Fang Liang, and God knows if there are other auxiliary ministers involved.

Empress Dowager Zhang was very surprised that Yangpu was confessed by Fang Liang, Yangpu was an old minister of the East Palace when Emperor Hongxi was the crown prince, and he was imprisoned for ten years, plus Emperor Hongxi and Emperor Xuande were not kind to him, so it stands to reason that he should not do this.

But then again, people's hearts are separated from their stomachs, and it is difficult to guarantee that Yangpu will not change under the temptation of power, just like who would have thought that Fang Liang, a little Shujishi, would murder Li Yuntian and Zhang Hao.

Therefore, what is now in front of Empress Dowager Zhang is not the question of when the crown prince will ascend the throne, but the case of Fang Liang must be investigated first, otherwise once the crown prince ascends the throne, the power of the court will fall into the hands of those auxiliary ministers, and the development of the case will not be controlled by her.

Moreover, now that no one in the capital can pose a threat to the status of the crown prince, there is no need for the prince to ascend the throne in advance, but should first fulfill his filial piety to Emperor Xuande.

"Pass on the Imperial Horse Supervisor Yang Qing!" After a long time, Empress Dowager Zhang slowly opened her eyes and commanded in a deep voice.

The Imperial Horse Supervisor controls the Dragon Guards and the Tiger Guards in the pro-army, and they are the two strongest troops in the pro-army, and the Empress Dowager Zhang must take precautions in advance to ensure the safety of the palace.

"Yang Pu, a cabinet member, Wang Hui, the left waiter of the Ministry of Industry, and Chen Tianlei, the deputy governor of the pro-army capital protection office, were arrested by Jinyiwei last night and imprisoned in the edict of the Fusi of Beizhen."

The next morning, when Li Yuntian was feeding the horses in the stable, Hu Yitu came to tell him the news, which had shaken the entire officialdom in the capital, because Yang Pu, Wang Hui and Chen Tianlei represented the three major forces in the imperial court.

"It seems that the other party is really ruthless, and he actually used Fang Liang to wipe out all the forces in the DPRK and China." Li Yuntian couldn't help but smile when he heard this, the so-called authorities were obsessed with bystanders, he didn't think that the three of Yangpu would be the instigators behind Fang Liang, it was obvious that the people hiding behind Fang Liang's scenes were deliberately trying to disrupt the situation.

"The Queen Mother will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly, and King Yue will definitely take the opportunity to woo the courtiers and install his own forces." Hu Yitu stretched out his hand and touched the mane of a horse, frowned and said, since he already knew that King Yue had a bad intention to return to Beijing this time, he would definitely take advantage of the chaos of the court situation to make waves.

"Uncle Hu, there is a chance that the Queen Mother will let King Yue investigate Fang Liang's case, and then King Yue will be able to do whatever he wants in the capital." Li Yuntian also realized this, and said to Hu Yitu after putting down the hay basket in his hand.

Empress Dowager Zhang has recently encountered a series of incidents related to the court's martial arts, and it is likely that she will lose trust in the courtiers and believe in King Yue, I am afraid that this is exactly what the person hiding behind the curtain wants to see.

"That's just right, and then we can catch them all." A smile appeared at the corner of Hu Yitu's mouth, "The praying mantis catches the cicada and the yellow finch is behind, and when their tricks are revealed, you can turn the tide and thwart their plot." ”

"I hope there won't be a bloody storm in the capital before this." Li Yuntian smiled a little helplessly when he heard this, so when the other party thought that he controlled the overall situation of the capital, it was also the time when the other party went to perdition.

"By the way, there is one thing that is quite interesting, the people from the Gyeonggi Governor's Mansion sent Fang Liang's family to your mansion." Hu Yitu was about to go to the forage to feed the horses, and after walking a few steps, he suddenly remembered something, and said to Li Yuntian with a smile, "It seems that you have a good reputation." ”

Li Yuntian was slightly stunned when he heard this, and then smiled helplessly, he knew that Fang Liang was threatened by the manipulators behind the scenes, otherwise he would not have thought of sending his family to the Zhenguo Mansion, this may be good news, which can be used to break through Fang Liang's psychological defense, and then get more hidden secrets.