Zhang Ruishun's feet were weak, and he had a bad premonition in his heart, but he didn't know how his father was going to deal with this matter.

His eyes were wandering around, and Zhang Ruishun was not sure whether to use the method he had thought of before.

After Qin Mingxuan told him about the accident with the batch of private salt, he entered the palace in the name of visiting Queen Yun, and the mother and son discussed for a long time, thinking of different ways to deal with different results. In the past few days, seeing that my father has not spoken, I thought that the matter had passed, but now when I heard this at first glance, my heart was suspended again.

The ministers and princes looked at each other, secretly reflecting on their various actions during this period of time, among these people, almost none of them were "clean", and they had been in the official position for a long time, and who did not have any money from unknown sources in their hands, just depending on the size of the number. It's just that they are all human spirits, and they know what silver can be eaten, and they must be careful when they eat what silver, and what silver cannot be eaten.

However, the longer they are in the official position, the more greedy they become, and when they get to the back, they will swallow the dates that they can't eat, and in their own words - eat them first and then talk about them, and the ones that come later, think of ways as they go.

Therefore, as soon as the old emperor's words came out, everyone became empty-hearted, and they always felt that the old emperor was talking about them.

There were five people who were escorted up, obviously all of whom had been tortured, and there was no good place on them, so it was better to be dragged up than to be detained.

Xiao Jingxing bowed his hand to the old emperor and said succinctly: "Back to the emperor, these people have confessed, and the seller is His Royal Highness the Prince." ”

"Nonsense!" Before the old emperor asked, Zhang Ruishun opened his mouth, "His Royal Highness doesn't know these people at all, how can he do business?" ”

"Your Highness doesn't even ask them what business they are talking about, why are you in a hurry to deny it?" Xiao Jingxing said mockingly.

Zhang Ruishun straightened his face, "If these people are doing legitimate business, how can they be like this?" His Royal Highness has his own property, but his father knows about it, and then there are those dowry shops brought by Su Liangdi and Aunt Yue. His Royal Highness has never cared about the affairs of the industry, and he knows that he will never have anything to do with these people. ”

"Your Highness, you can't deny us as soon as something happens!" One of them suddenly howled, "We have been dealing with each other for so many years, and you have made a lot of money from us, why should we be burdened with the black pot as soon as something happens." ”

openly confronting the crown prince, the result may not be good, but these people will not be stupid enough to save the prince with their own lives!

Selling illicit salt is a capital crime, biting the prince to death and dragging the prince into the water, maybe the saint will be lenient for the prince's sake.

Although it is an unrealistic idea, this is their only life-saving straw, so even if Zhang Ruishun wants to settle accounts after the autumn, at this time, he must not let go.

"Father Emperor Mingjian, Erchen really doesn't know these people." Zhang Ruishun didn't talk much to these people, and said directly to the old emperor.

Speaking of which, everyone probably knows what's going on.

Private salt, this is the lifeblood of Longdu, it's good to touch anything, don't touch private salt, although it is profitable, it is a matter of carrying your head.

Several princes were overjoyed, this was an opportunity to send to the door.

The old emperor smiled slightly, "Don't worry, prince, I'm not a faint monarch yet, I only listen to one side." ”

"Father is wise." Zhang Ruishun sneered, but his heart became more and more bottomless.

The old emperor glanced at Xiao Jingxi, who understood and kicked the man on the ground, "Say what you said before." ”

The man nodded busily, "Yes, sir." ”

Glancing at Zhang Ruishun, the man said ruthlessly: "Your Majesty, the grass people are just an errand runner, and they have been helping the owner to connect with His Royal Highness's people, His Royal Highness will send a batch of private salt every three months, and the grass people are responsible for taking over, and then through the channels of the east family, send it to various state capitals, this business, the grass people have been doing it for three years." ”

The implication is that Zhang Ruishun has been selling illicit salt for at least three years.

Zhang Ruishun was silent, his father had already said that he would not listen to one-sided words, so he was not in a hurry to defend himself, and when the man finished speaking, he would refute them one by one.

The man paused, as if he was afraid that it would not be weighty enough, and said: "Before, this business was brought forward by Mrs. Qin, but it was stopped for a while, and it was not until a year ago that Mr. Qin restarted it. ”

As soon as everyone heard "Mrs. Qin", they subconsciously thought of Ji's, and as soon as the person said "Qin Gongzi", everyone was even more sure in their hearts, "Qin Gongzi" was naturally Qin Mingxuan. Thinking of the discord between Qin Dongshan and others and Qin Wan, and the fact that Qin Dongshan is Zhang Ruishun's person, everyone basically knows in their hearts that this matter is really inseparable from Zhang Ruishun.

"Why did I stop doing business with you before, but then resumed a year ago?" Xiao Jingxing asked as if unintentionally.

The man thought for a while and said, "Lord Hui, the grass people are all doing things according to the instructions of the owner, what the owner says, what the grass people do, the grass people guess, it should be a problem on His Highness's side." ”

"Why Your Highness?" Xiao Jingxing asked.

The man said: "Because the business of the grass people's owner has been very good, the income of each time is fifty-five cents, not less than a penny of His Highness, and the settlement once every three months is very punctual. ”

That means that Zhang Ruishun is very short of money?

At this time, there was a lack of money, and everyone had a faint guess in their hearts.

Zhang Ruishun did not rush to argue and continued to wait quietly.

The man swallowed his saliva, didn't know whether to continue, and secretly glanced at Xiao Jingxing.

Xiao Jingxing nodded slightly.

The man continued tremblingly: "Added up, His Highness has almost ...... to make private salt It's been seven years. ”

If there is no logic, everyone still understands that it was the Ji family who helped Zhang Ruishun to be the connector, but later, for some reason, the business stopped. Now that it is the critical time to compete for the reserve, Zhang Ruishun needs silver, so this business has started again, but this time the person who joined the joint was replaced by Qin Mingxuan.

"Prince, what do you have to say?" The old emperor asked.

Zhang Ruishun arched his hand towards the old emperor, "Father, the son has a few words to ask this person." ”

After receiving the old emperor's consent, Zhang Ruishun said to the man: "You keep saying that it is His Royal Highness who is doing private salt business with your owner, has His Royal Highness ever shown up?" Has the prince ever said that he is a person from His Royal Highness? ”

Zhang Ruishun was very cautious, the man only said "Qin Gongzi", so he only asked "Qin Gongzi", and did not mention Qin Mingxuan's name.

"This ...... Never. The man shook his head honestly.

"Since His Royal Highness has never shown up, and Gongzi Qin has not said that it is His Highness's person, how can you say that this is His Highness's business?" Zhang Ruishun asked.

The man sweated like rain, and stammered, "Yes, it was inadvertently mentioned by the owner of the grass people." ”

"You can say whatever you want, but without evidence, you are slandering!" Zhang Ruishun is very confident.

"Grass, grass people......" The man was nervous.

This is what he overheard, and when he was holding it like a life-saving straw, just waiting to take it out when he needed to save his life, he didn't think about the so-called evidence at all.

Zhang Ruishun gave up his hand to the old emperor, "Father, Erchen doesn't know this person at all, let alone what kind of private salt business, as for the 'Mrs. Qin' and 'Qin Gongzi' he said, Erchen just wants to say that Erchen has his own industry, and how much income he earns every month can be made public." Over the years, the father's father can find someone to check the expenses in the house every month, if the sons have these extra income every month, then where is the silver? ”

This is also where Zhang Ruishun is confident.

The monthly expenses of the Prince's Mansion, if you have a heart, anyone can calculate it, and he is not afraid of being checked.

"Your Majesty," Xiao Jingxing said to the old emperor, "When the minister wanted these people, he did see Qin Mingxuan, the situation was complicated at that time, Qin Mingxuan escaped, and the minister's people chased all the way back to the capital, and found that Qin Mingxuan arrived at the prince's mansion as soon as possible. ”

The old emperor looked at Zhang Ruishun.

Zhang Ruishun immediately said: "Father, Qin Mingxuan did arrive at the Prince's Mansion, but Erchen didn't know what he was doing outside, he went to the Prince's Mansion to visit Aunt Yue, because Aunt Yue's former Aunt Yue was injured, after he learned about the situation, he came over to see the situation. ”

A far-fetched explanation, but it seems to be in the past.

Zhang Ruishun gritted his teeth and said stubbornly, "If my father has any doubts, my son can confront Qin Mingxuan." ”

"Back to the emperor, Qin Mingxuan is missing." Xiao Jingxing suddenly said.

"Missing? How could such a big living person go missing? The old emperor asked.

Xiao Jingxing looked at Zhang Ruishun as if he was pointed.

Zhang Ruishun was shocked, "Father Emperor Mingjian, after Qin Mingxuan left the Prince's Mansion that day, his sons never saw him again!" ”

This matter can be investigated, so Zhang Ruishun was not panicked at all, he didn't do anything to Qin Mingxuan at all, and he was not so stupid that he put all the suspicions on his head.

"Father, this matter is very important, not only related to the treasury of Longdu, but also related to the innocence of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." It was the Three Princes who spoke.

Among the princes, the three princes belong to the decent kind, not particularly outstanding, nor stupid, without showing ambition to fight, and not easily standing in line.

Zhang Ruishun looked at the third prince with a bit of scrutiny.

The old emperor looked at Xiao Jingxing.

Xiao Jingxing gave his hand, "Back to the emperor, Weichen is already being investigated." ”

The old emperor nodded, "Since this is the case, let's catch people first, as for the crown prince...... For the time being, hand over the affairs in hand to Lao Qi, and before the matter is revealed, the prince will nourish his heart in the prince's mansion. ”

"Yes, Father." Zhang Ruishun didn't have much ups and downs in his heart, this was a situation he had guessed a long time ago, so he could accept it.

As for Xiao Jingxing......

Zhang Ruishun's drooping eyes tightened gloomily.

Xiao Jingxing is not the most important thing, he has to find Qin Mingxuan first.

Regarding Qin Mingxuan's sudden disappearance, Zhang Ruishun only thought that he was afraid of the consequences, but Qin Mingxuan did not bear the consequences, how could he get rid of suspicion?

Or does Qin Mingxuan already have a different heart?