The day Song Nan arrived in the capital coincided with the end of the trial of Zhu Ningyan by the Three Law Divisions under the leadership of the cabinet. No matter how much Zhu Ningxiao justified his actions, his actions had already determined his fate, and there was no suspense about Zhu Ningyao's life and death.

It's just that there are some discrepancies in the fate of the other people in King Qing's lineage, and their sentencing is also a decision made by the cabinet after figuring out Zhengde's thoughts; They unanimously beheaded the men in King Qing's lineage, because they were guilty of complicity because they knew about it in the palace, and the rest of the children, women, and children were reduced to concubines and served hard labor, and could not be released for life.

For this result, Zhengde is satisfied, it is not enough to just execute Zhu Ningjiao and the generals who coerce him, so that the vassal kings of the world will not dare to have different intentions from now on, not only to cut off the first evil, but also to make the family members around the vassal king feel afraid, and the supervision of relatives is often more effective than the supervision of the imperial court.

When Song Nan rushed to the palace to see the driver, Zhengde's desk was holding this cabinet ticket to fold, the eunuch informed Song Nan to return to Beijing to see the driver, Zhengde greeted the door of the imperial study with a smile, and without waiting for Song Nan to salute, he stepped forward to hold Song Nan's arm, and said with a smile: "You are back, I am in a hurry to wait for you." ”

Song Nan said: "The minister was delayed in Ningxia Town for a few days, mainly because he was worried about the defense of Ningxia Town, and he was afraid that the Tartars would take the opportunity to take action, so he was a few days late." ”

Zhengde said: "I know, Zhang Yong has already told me, but you won't come, some things can't be carried out, you see, the verdict on Zhu Ningxiao and his comrades has come out, I decided to set up a wooden platform at the entrance of the vegetable market tomorrow, so that the people of the capital can come together to see the fate of the rebels, you are the governor of the counterinsurgency, and you are the only one who beheads the officials." ”

Song Nan smiled and said: "The ministers obey the order, but I don't know what the emperor will do with the family members of King Qing's lineage?" ”

Zhengde said: "The cabinet means that this time you can't be soft, and you want the people of the world to know that the end of the rebellion is very strict, so they built a group of people to kill, I think that women and children can avoid death, and decided to be imprisoned for life." What do you think? ”

Song Nan said: "Zhu Ningxiao and others rebelled, the crime is unforgivable, and it is especially appropriate to punish them with capital punishment as an example, but most people in King Qing's lineage are unaware, especially women, children and children are even more innocent, according to the cabinet's construction, it seems to be a little too harsh." ”

Zhengde shook his head and said: "You don't understand, if you don't be strict, some people will always be ready to move and watch my country." You don't have to worry about it, I've already decided. ”

Song Nan knew that he couldn't say anything, and the lives of other people in King Qing's mansion had nothing to do with him, but the Lord of Ping'an County must be saved, and King Qingding must also be saved, and he must not watch them being imprisoned as slaves.

"Since the emperor has made a decision, it is inconvenient for the ministers to say more."

Zhengde smiled: "Don't talk about this, this time you removed a cancer for me, I am thinking about how to reward you, but you have too much credit, I don't know how to reward you for a while, you say, how do you want me to reward you this time?" ”

Song Nan thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty, this time the minister will not receive the reward, and the minister has only one request." ”

Zhengde said: "Oh? With such a great merit, is it just a request for another request? This request must be difficult to handle. ”

Song Nan said: "It's just a word from the emperor." The reason why he was able to get lucky enough to learn about Zhu Ningyao's rebellion and capture this thief for the emperor was because there were people in the Qingwang Mansion to help the minister, so the minister wanted to ask the emperor to ......"

Zhengde planned Song Nan's words and asked, "Do you want to spare them?" ”

Song Nan said: "Yes." ”

Zhengde frowned and said, "You exchanged this for a big merit?" You're not kidding. ”

Song Nan said: "The county lord of Ping'an in Qingwangfu risked his life to save the minister's life, otherwise the minister would not be able to come back." ”

Zhengde smiled and said: "Song Nan, I really can't see through you, if you want me to pardon the county lord of Ping'an, it's just a matter of one sentence, why bother to prevaricate with reasons and take credit in exchange?" Haven't I given this little face? ”

Song Nan hurriedly said: "The minister is grateful to the emperor for his care, but the law is not merciful, ordinary civilians should be exterminated according to the law, Zhu Ningjiao rebelled, the emperor did not kill the women and children It is already a grace, and the minister doesn't want the emperor to tell the truth." This Ping'an county lord not only saved the minister's life, but his behavior was also a meritorious act, so he dared to ask. ”

Zhengde laughed and said: "I am right, you don't have to explain much, although I don't understand how a county lord can save you under the nose of the rebel king, but I don't want to ask more, it's just a trivial matter." ”

Song Nan thanked him and said, "Can King Qingding be pardoned together?" The prince of Qingding had also met a few times, but he was just a child, and it was impossible for him to participate in the rebellion. ”

Zhengde glared at Song Nan and said, "Do you plead for these people the first thing you do when you return to Beijing?" Don't you understand that these people are not punished for their crimes, but that I have to do this, and you don't want to make it difficult for me. ”

Song Nan said quietly: "That's why the minister begged the emperor to be kind, that King Qingding is actually a mentally handicapped child, and there will be no future trouble if he is spared, but the emperor is benevolent and open-minded; Moreover, the lord of Ping'an and the king of Qingding have a deep relationship, and if he pardoned her and imprisoned the king of Qingding, it would be better not to forgive her, and the minister would be tantamount to failing to repay her for saving her life. ”

Zhengde sighed and said: "I know that you are a person who knows kindness and righteousness, but King Qingding is a direct line of King Qing, and if you pardon him alone, you will definitely summon your ministers to oppose it." However, I'm okay for you. But I want to make it clear, even if they are pardoned, they will be free from captivity, they will be demoted to concubines, and they will no longer enjoy the glory of the royal family, you need to understand this. ”

Song Nan said repeatedly: "That's as it should be, as long as their sisters and brothers are not imprisoned as slaves, I will repay their kindness, thank you for the emperor's permission." ”

Zhengde sighed and said: "I don't really want to do this, but who called me the emperor, since I ascended the throne, there have been frequent accidents in the world, and I am also very annoyed." If I don't show strong tactics again, I'm afraid that many people will have the audacity to follow suit, so I have to take these people under the knife. ”

"The minister understands, the minister will do his best to assist the emperor and solve problems for the emperor."

Zhengde smiled with relief: "Fortunately, I am not alone. ”

Zhengde left Song Nan to eat in the palace, Song Nan knew that Zhengde had something to discuss with him in private, on the way to Beijing, Zhang Yong sent someone to send a letter to Song Nan, Song Nan also knew about Zhang Yong's conversation with Zhengde, and knew that Zhengde would let him check whether there was any collusion between Liu Jin and Zhu Ningyao.

Sure enough, during the banquet, Zhengde withdrew all the eunuchs and palace maids, took out the stack of allegiance books and account books from his sleeves under the candlelight, and handed them over with great importance.

Song Nan was funny in his heart, but when he read it, he pretended to be extremely surprised, and even the dishes and chopsticks fell to the ground, and his acting skills were extremely realistic.

"This ...... Where do these things come from? Song Nan asked in surprise.

"Zhang Yong found it from the secret room in Zhu Ningqing's palace, you don't blame Zhang Yong for not telling you about it, Zhang Yong is also for your own good, I am afraid that you will order someone to investigate and startle the snake, Zhang Yong thinks it is better to let me see it first, I also think so."

Song Nan shook his head and said: "The minister is not to blame Zhang Yong for not showing this thing to the minister, but to be surprised that Zhu Ning's root beard actually stretched out into the court; Yes, there are mountains of military supplies in the palace, and there are hundreds of thousands of stones of grain and grass, and the minister still wonders why he can hoard so many forbidden things, but now he understands that the expenditure of tens of thousands of taels of silver in this pen and book is to buy these things; And the people who gave him convenience were the head of the Armament Department of the Ministry of War, the treasurer of the Governor's Office of the Five Armies. They must have taken advantage of their position to purchase this item and then smuggled it to Ningxia Town to help the thieves. It's horrible to think about. ”

Zhengde nodded and said, "I am also sweating after being shocked, what do you think about this matter?" ”

Song Nan thought for a while and said: "Although these people hold real power, they don't have a big official position, I'm afraid they don't have such courage, I'm afraid that in addition to Zhang Cai, there are other powerful people in the court who collude with Zhu Ningyao." Your Majesty, this matter is extremely serious, and the minister doesn't know how to say it. ”

Zhengde sighed: "You also said so, Zhang Yong also said that he suspected that there was someone else behind the scenes, it seems that I have to believe it." ”

Song Nan asked tentatively, "Can Gonggong Zhang guess who is behind the scenes?" ”

Zhengde shook his head slowly and said: "The speculation is not credible, I need evidence, this matter is currently only known to you and Zhang Yong, and I have not revealed a word, I hope you can find out this matter for me and give me a clear answer." ”

Song Nan got up and bowed down and said, "The emperor can rest assured, this matter will be investigated to the end." ”

Zhengde looked at Song Nan and said: "Song Nan, there are not many people I can trust now, you are the person I trust the most, I hope you must be cautious when investigating this matter, you must have tangible evidence, you can't judge with selfishness, let alone frame others without evidence, do you understand what I mean?" ”

"The emperor can rest assured, the ministers remember the emperor's words, they will never wronged a good person, nor will they let go of a bad person, every day the ministers come into the palace to report the progress, and the next action will be carried out after the emperor's approval, what do you think, the emperor?"

Zhengde smiled and said, "Okay, let me also follow the decision of the case, thinking about it, this matter is quite interesting." ”