Shi Heng pretended to be sincerely frightened, and knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, the minister definitely didn't mean this, the minister just said the bad things Xu Youzhen did."

Cao Jixiang was also on the side, and before he could speak, he burst into tears.

"Your Majesty, the old minister is loyal to the emperor, but Xu Youzhen Lord Xu can find many people to fight the old minister for his own selfishness, and the old minister is really cold!"

When Zhu Qizhen heard the two of them say this, he suddenly became a little upset, he thought about what Xu Youzhen had done, it was indeed a crime that could not be punished.

Thinking of this, Zhu Qizhen frowned, shook his hand at Cao Jixiang and Shi Heng, and said, "You two go down first, I have my own measure in this matter." ”

Cao Jixiang and Shi Heng glanced at each other, and saw that Zhu Qizhen seemed to be unmoved by what they said, so they wanted to continue to speak. Sun Xiangyong, who was next to him, glanced at the two of them, and the two of them stood up and said goodbye to Zhu Qizhen.

After the two walked out of the Qianqing Palace, Sun Xiangyong followed out.

Shi Heng asked Sun Xiangyong with some strange questions: "Father-in-law Sun, just now the two of us want to continue to persuade the emperor to deal with Xu Youzhen, why did you stop us from talking?" ”

Sun Xiangyong pointed to the inner hall of the Qianqing Palace, and said to Shi Heng and Cao Jixiang: "The so-called observation of words and colors, observation of colors and words, haven't you just seen that the emperor is already dissatisfied in his heart?" Now that Xu Youzhen is already a water dog, if you suppress him again, the emperor will think that you are courtiers who are dumping each other, so you should stop talking to the main point. ”

Cao Jixiang hurriedly said: "What the second brother said is reasonable, but now we can't uproot Xu Youzhen's forces, and we can't rest assured." ”

Seeing this, Sun Xiangyong laughed, and he said, "Big brother, you don't have to worry, have you forgotten that the emperor still has me by his side?" Don't worry, as long as I am by the emperor's side on weekdays, I will definitely pay attention to this matter. ”

When the two heard Sun Xiangyong say this, their hearts suddenly put down, and they said goodbye to Sun Xiangyong.

Sun Xiangyong waited for the two to leave, and then returned to the Qianqing Palace. As soon as he returned, he heard a eunuch outside, saying, "The eldest princess has arrived." ”

Zhu Qizhen was upset about Shi Heng and Cao Jixiang's participation in Xu Youzhen, and suddenly heard that Jian Huaizhen was coming, but he was taken aback. Because Jian Huaizhen rarely set foot in Qianqing Palace and other places on weekdays, he said to Sun Xiangyong: "Quickly invite the eldest princess in, I can't express my worries when I have something." ”

"Yes." Sun Xiang walked out in a hurry and invited Jian Huaizhen in.

Jian Huaizhen walked into the Qianqing Palace, saw Zhu Qizhen, and sat down.

"Imperial Princess, you are really timely rain, I was about to discuss something with you, but you came."

Jian Huaizhen's smile was unfathomable, her expression was calm, and she asked slowly: "Your Majesty, are you looking for me to discuss Xu Youzhen's matter?" ”

Zhu Qizhen was a little surprised, and asked, "The eldest princess has already heard about this matter, and is she also paying attention to this matter?" ”

Jian Huaizhen smiled indifferently.

"Now no one in the court knows about Xu Youzhen, and who doesn't pay attention to it. Although the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics, the main palace is also very curious. The emperor said that there are some things that he asks rhetorically, but is it because of this? ”

Zhu Qizhen saw that Jian Huaizhen went straight to the point, and he didn't embellish it, so he sighed and said to Jian Huaizhen: "What the eldest princess said is true, I am just upset about this matter, what does the eldest princess think about the verdict that I demoted Xu Youzhen to participate in politics in Guangdong?" ”

"Too light."

The words "too light" came out of Jian Huaizhen's mouth very quickly, and it can be seen that Jian Huaizhen said it without thinking about it.

"Oh?" Zhu Qizhen never thought that Jian Huaizhen would say this, and there was a suspicious look in his eyes, as if he was thinking about whether there was any resentment between Jian Huaizhen and Xu Youzhen.

Jian Huaizhen is so smart, she glanced at Zhu Qizhen and understood his thoughts.

Jian Huaizhen laughed "hehe", and there was a lot of ridicule in his smile.

"Your Majesty, you don't think there is any enmity between this palace and Xu Youzhen, right?"

Zhu Qizhen was a little embarrassed, he laughed and snorted, and said, "The eldest princess is too worried, how can I think about the eldest princess so much." The eldest princess has always had clear grievances and grievances, and she is the most fair. When I was a child, my father praised the eldest princess for her wisdom and martial arts many times, and I still remember it clearly. ”

Jian Huaizhen smiled and said nothing.

Zhu Qizhen pondered for a moment, then raised his head and asked, "Princess, why do you say that Xu Youzhen was demoted to Guangdong and the verdict was light?" ”

Jian Huaizhen spoke earnestly and said earnestly: "Your Majesty, why are you so fortunate to Xu Youzhen?" ”

Zhu Qizhen saw Jian Huaizhen knowingly asking, his face changed color for a while, and the "change of seizing the door" was the most disgraceful thing he had done in his life. Whenever others mentioned it, he would feel very uncomfortable, if it weren't for this, he wouldn't have dreamed of Emperor Jing's ghost for four months.

Jian Huaizhen saw that Zhu Qizhen changed color and didn't answer, so he said for him: "Your Majesty, the reason why you value Xu Youzhen is nothing more than that Xu Youzhen, Cao Jixiang and Shi Heng helped the emperor to instigate the 'change of seizing the door' and let the emperor ascend to the throne." Is what Hongu says true? ”

Zhu Qizhen's expression was quite gloomy, and he replied a little angrily: "What the eldest princess said is very true. ”

Jian Huaizhen continued to say slowly: "But have you ever thought about a question, at that time, King Jing Zhu Qiyu was already terminally ill, if there was no 'change to seize the door', who could this throne fall into?" ”

"The eldest princess means ——?"

Jian Huaizhen smiled calmly, she said word by word, every word was like a pearl.

"Your Majesty, haven't you thought about it? If there is no 'change of seizing the door', you are still the emperor of this Ming Dynasty, and you don't need to attach the notoriety of 'seizing the door and restoring it'. ”

Jian Huaizhen's words exploded like a thunderbolt on Zhu Qizhen's heart, and he had a feeling of being fooled, and suddenly sprinted his heart.

"Seizing the door and restoration" is an evil act, killing his brother is disloyal, unfilial piety and unrighteousness, and his life of wisdom and martial arts is because of the "seizure of the door and restoration", he was charged with "disloyalty, filial piety, unkindness and injustice".

He asked himself in his heart.

Jian Huaizhen continued: "If there was no 'seizure of the door and restoration', King Jing was seriously ill at that time, and after he died, there was no child under his knees, only Zhu Jianchen, but I don't know if it is the royal flesh and blood. What's more, Jianchen is young, if it wasn't the emperor in the world at that time, who would it be? Why fight, why take it? made the brothers turn against each other and was laughed at by the world. ”

Jian Huaizhen's words made Zhu Qizhen feel chest tightness and shortness of breath for a while, and he couldn't come back to his senses for a long time. Jian Huaizhen spoke every word, and every sentence was insightful.

He had never thought of it before, he just thought that Xu Youzhen, Cao Jixiang, Shi Heng and others helped him ascend to the throne through "seizing the door and restoring", but he didn't mean it at all. If there had not been this "seizure of the door and restoration", the throne would have been his own. And I don't have to bear the notoriety of disloyalty, filial piety, and unkindness, isn't it killing two birds with one stone. It turned out that the "seizure of the door and restoration" did not help himself, but harmed himself, and let himself leave a vicious mark in the history books of later generations.

Thinking of this, he suddenly felt panicked in his heart, and he solemnly said to Jian Huaizhen: "The eldest princess, you are still a bystander, and you can see it thoroughly. I was blinded by them, and I never thought of this. ”

Jian Huaizhen smiled and said nothing, looking at Zhu Qizhen, and after a long time, she said slowly: "Your Majesty, you don't have to worry too much. Now that I've figured it out, it's good to figure it out. ”

She comforted Zhu Qizhen again and said: "That's why I said that the emperor, you sentenced Xu Youzhen too lightly, Xu Youzhen has done a lot of evil things in the four months since the emperor ascended the throne. But what is his real credit? The real credit is to let the emperor bear a bad name. If such a person doesn't punish him heavily, how can he be worthy of the emperor? How can you be worthy of a full house of civil and military courtiers? How can you be worthy of the people of the world? How can he be worthy of the dead Emperor Jing? ”

Jian Huaizhen's words were like sharp blades, stabbing heavily into Zhu Qizhen's heart.

He slapped the case and said angrily: "The eldest princess, you are right, if you don't punish this Xu Youzhen heavily, I can't forgive myself." I will send someone to kill this Xu Youzhen now. ”

Jian Huaizhen stepped forward and helped Zhu Qizhen sit down on the dragon chair, her tone was slow, her tone carried the power of comfort, and she said softly: "Your Majesty, that's not necessary." Although Xu Youzhen did a lot of evil and affected the emperor, the emperor didn't have to kill him. Always in the eyes of outsiders, Xu Youzhen is a courtier who has helped the emperor, if the emperor kills him like this, wouldn't others misunderstand the emperor. ”

Zhu Qizhen looked at Jian Huaizhen with great admiration, and felt that Jian Huaizhen was still thoughtful, so he asked, "In your opinion, what should I do with this Xu Youzhen?" If you can't kill or let go, is there nothing you can do against him? ”

Jian Huaizhen smiled and said softly: "That's not it, Xu Youzhen has been obsessed with fame and fortune all his life, if the emperor confiscates him in the south and sends him to the land of the border fortress, let him carry a spear to fight in the border fortress, the punishment for him is greater than killing him." ”

When Zhu Qizhen heard Jian Huaizhen say this, he suddenly became refreshed, and said in a loud voice: "The eldest princess's plan is good, if Xu Youzhen is sent to Yunnan, it can not only give an explanation to the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty, but also play a deterrent effect on the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty. I can also give an explanation to the people of the world, I am not a person who does not repay my kindness, and I can be magnanimous to the courtiers who have made mistakes. ”

"What the emperor said is reasonable."

"Then I'm going to do it now."

Jian Huaizhen said slowly: "That's not in a hurry, the emperor can hand over this matter to Lord Shi Hengshi to do." ”

"Why do you want to leave it to Shi Heng?" Zhu Qizhen asked a little dazedly.

Jian Huaizhen's expression was clear, and he said slowly: "The emperor also knows that Shi Heng, Cao Jixiang and Xu Youzhen have a grudge, so he asked Shi Heng to handle this matter." The palace believes that Shi Heng will definitely punish Xu Youzhen first, so as to help the emperor breathe a bad breath. The wicked don't have to be done by the emperor, isn't it killing two birds with one stone. ”

When Zhu Qizhen heard Jian Huaizhen say this, his heart suddenly became clear, he felt that Jian Huaizhen was so smart that he could even think of such a strategy, it was really ginger or old spicy!

Thinking of this, he immediately ordered Sun Xiang to go to Shi Heng's Mansion to deliver a decree and order Shi Heng to handle this matter with full authority.

Xu Youzhen was about to go to Guangdong to participate in politics, but before he set off, he heard his family hurriedly running and saying, "My lord, my lord, it's not good, General Shi came with a team of people to arrest you." ”

"Oh?" Xu Youzhen was not very afraid, he thought to himself: Why did Shi Heng suddenly come with a team of men to arrest me, did he want to declare a personal vendetta? "Humph!" The emperor has demoted me to participate in politics in Guangdong, this is the emperor's will, no matter how great Shi Heng is, he doesn't dare to touch me at all.

Thinking of this, he said calmly, "Let them come." With that, he sat down in the center of the main hall.

After a while, Shi Heng walked in with his men.

Seeing Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen glanced at him coldly and did not speak.

Shi Heng said angrily: "Xu Youzhen, do you think you are still Xu Youzhen in the cabinet that day?" Don't kneel down when you see the official? ”

Xu Youzhen had no choice but to kneel down with the shame in her heart and salute Shi Heng, and Shi Heng smiled with satisfaction.

Xu Youzhen was furious by his anger and said, "General Shi, why did you come here today?" Isn't it to see the old man's joke? Although the emperor demoted me to Guangdong to participate in politics, it always showed that the emperor still had me in his heart, and did not punish the old man more severely. Maybe one day, the old man can make a comeback, and then he will definitely come to Lord Shi to compete again. ”

Shi Heng looked up to the sky and laughed, his expression was very rampant, and he said, "You are thinking too much, Lord Xu. Do you think you can go to Guangdong to participate in politics in peace? I advise you not to daydream anymore. ”

"What do you mean? It was the emperor's will that demoted me to Guangdong to participate in politics, do you dare to be unfavorable to me, if you are unfavorable to me, you are disobeying the holy decree. Xu Youzhen looked at Shi Heng indignantly, he really had to bow his head under the low eaves.

Shi Heng was very proud, and he said: "Of course I don't dare to disobey the will of the saint, but don't you know that the emperor has made a new will?" ”

"Huh?" Xu Youzhen took three steps back in a row, and the expression on her face was painful.

"What do you say? What will the emperor give? Does the emperor want to be executed? ”

Shi Heng looked at the frightened Xu Youzhen, and felt even happier in his heart, he laughed and said, "I don't know if the emperor wants to execute you, I only know that the emperor ordered me to arrest you and take you back to the edict prison immediately." As for what the emperor will do with you at that time, everything will wait for the emperor's will. ”

After speaking, he said to his subordinates: "Come on, arrest Lord Xu and bring him back to the Imperial Prison." ”

His men swarmed forward and arrested Xu Youzhen.

So, Xu Youzhen returned to the place he was familiar with, "Jinyi Wei Imperial Prison". Xu Youzhen, who was arrested and imprisoned for the second time, was miserable, this was the edict prison where Yu Qian had stayed, but he didn't expect that four months later, he would come here twice.

The brocade guard guarding Xu Youzhen brought the moldy food to Xu Youzhen and viciously threatened him.

Xu Youzhen looked at the yellow and white moldy food, and felt very uncomfortable.

He was imprisoned for the second time, in the most damp and gloomy cell, surrounded by snakes, insects, rats and ants, which he had never suffered in his life.

Xu Youzhen was just about to pick up the food and put it in his mouth, when a Jinyi guard stepped forward and kicked him, and the food in his hand was spilled on the ground, which was the umpteenth time that Jinyiwei had whipped him.

Xu Youzhen often starved at every turn, he glanced at the Jinyi guards in front of him helplessly, and said to them, "Why are you doing this? Don't you know that the emperor himself locked me up here? If I make any mistakes, the emperor will definitely not let you go. ”

"Your Majesty? Hahaha. The brocade guards laughed, and he asked rhetorically, "Do you know who we are?" ”

Of course, Xu Youzhen knew that the guards of the edict were Shi Heng's people.

"Do you know what you're doing wrong?" One of the brocade guards looked at Xu Youzhen triumphantly and asked.

Xu Youzhen couldn't say a word, what else could he say at this moment, who let him offend Cao Jixiang and Shi Heng, the two treacherous villains, and ended up like this.

The brocade guard saw that Xu Youzhen didn't speak, and instead of being angry, he laughed with a hint of provocation in his laughter.

"Do you think you're just offending our Lord Shi and Gonggong Cao? Then you are wrong, don't think that the emperor will help you, you have offended the emperor's aunt and grandmother, the eldest princess. Is the emperor closer to the eldest princess, or closer to you? Do you think the emperor will help the eldest princess, or will he help you? ”

Xu Youzhen couldn't help but feel stunned when he heard Jinyiwei say this, he had never offended the eldest princess Jian Huaizhen, why would this Jinyiwei say this. Could it be that he was imprisoned for the second time and has something to do with Jian Huaizhen?

Thinking of this, he looked at the brocade guard pitifully and asked, "You said that I offended the eldest princess, where did I offend the eldest princess?" ”

The brocade guard said triumphantly: "Okay, you're going to die anyway, so let you be a ghost." How did Lord Yu Qian die? ”

Xu Youzhen heard Jinyiwei ask, and he was silent.

Jin Yiwei continued: "Don't you know the relationship between the eldest princess and Yu Qian? They were old friends, and the sworn sisters of the eldest princess were in love with Yu Qian, you didn't even find out about this matter, but you dared to kill Yu Qian, you are not small. ”

Xu Youzhen heard Jinyiwei say this, and sat down on the ground dejectedly. Only now did he know that there was such a mystery in it.

Despite this, he still refused to admit defeat, he looked at the brocade guard and smiled: "You said that I once offended the eldest princess, so I offended today's punishment." How come you Lord Shi didn't participate in the murder of Yu Qian, do you think that if the eldest princess can pursue me, you won't pursue Lord Shi and Gonggong Cao? ”

The brocade guard showed an unstoppable smile, and he said to Xu Youzhen in a loud voice: "The eldest princess just wants to pursue us, can you pursue it?" First, our adults have not made mistakes, and secondly, now that Warat and Daming are at war, the emperor still has to rely on our General Shi. ”