Chapter 5 Mistaken Discovery of Secret Gems

Steward Cao was ordered to hurry back to Shifu, entered the courtyard, and saw that Mama Buckwheat was talking to Shi Nan under the banana tree, and hurriedly asked her to take a few pieces of Shi Zheng's clothes, saying that there was an emergency.

"What's the urgency?"

"Don't ask, Lord Shi is going to go out of the city on an errand."

After hearing this, Mama didn't ask any more questions, and turned around and went back to the house. After a while, she packed her clothes and walked out with a big bag.

After Steward Cao took it, he left, but after walking a few steps, he met Li Yunhan head-on.

Li Yunhan saw that he was in a hurry and asked where he was going?

"Accompany Lord Shi to Nine Lotus Peak."

"Nine Lotus Peak," Li Yunhan frowned and thought for a moment, "Lord Shi has just returned to Beijing, what are you going to do there?" ”

Steward Cao was quite impatient when he heard this, and said that he was ordered by Lin Fu to go into the mountains to dig up the treasure.

"What treasure?"

"I don't know." Steward Cao shook his head and hurriedly walked away.

Li Yunhan returned to the bedroom with a heavy heart, and briefly told Shaoling what Steward Cao had said. Shaoling was worried when he heard this, thinking that something was wrong; Saying that Lynver is insidious and cunning, I'm afraid he doesn't have any good intentions.

Li Yunhan nodded slightly when he heard this.

That night, Shi Zheng rushed to the foot of Jiulian Peak with hundreds of people, and immediately ordered the mountain to be blown up. With a few loud rumbling sounds, the silent night sky and mountains and forests were shaken.

The sound alarmed Zixu Zhenren on the mountain, and he took his beloved disciple Princess Pingyu out of Yuhua Temple and went down to a high slope to inspect.

Zixu Zhenren is eight feet tall, he has a childish face and a majestic bearing, and he looked coldly at the lantern torches in the distance, and said after a long time: "Alas, I didn't expect the government to really do it; Why is it always difficult to calm down in this pure land! ”

Although Ping Yu is nearly forty years old, because of his ordinary practice of martial arts and careful maintenance, his body is well-proportioned, his skin is smooth and delicate, and he looks like he has a unique charm. She "snorted" and said, "This group of people has really eaten the gall of a leopard, and they dare to break ground here!" ”

She turned around and asked Ning Xin, the maid who had just arrived, if she had found out?

"Back to Xiangu, it is said that the team led by Shi Zheng, the left minister of the dynasty, came here to search for treasures." Ning Xin replied.

"Money fans steal, they must be tired of living!" Ping Yu said angrily.

"Are they here by order to mobilize the people so much?" Zixu asked apprehensively.

Ping Yu didn't panic when he heard this, and said, "Master, don't worry, wait until the disciple goes down the mountain tomorrow to meet the imperial brother and find out about it." ”

After being silent for a while, Ping Yu suddenly remembered something and said, "Back to Master, it is reported that Li Yunhan has entered Beijing. ”

"He's coming......" Zixu's voice was a little eager.

"Hmm; He didn't see me after he entered Beijing, and left Jingyunguan in a fit of anger, not knowing where to go. ”

"This," Zixu was a little disappointed when he heard this, and said abruptly into the night sky, "this time Poor Dao will see him no matter what." ”

"Master rest assured, this matter is left to the disciple." After speaking, Ping Yu was still deeply confused, saying that it had been more than ten years since Qingcheng Mountain had been separated, and asked Zixu why he was still thinking about him?

"What's the ...... of the dust," Zixu stared at Ping Yu and said slowly, "You don't have to look for him." This man is gifted and very perceptive, and since he has entered Beijing, he will come to see me when the time comes. ”

After that, Zixu looked at the lights under the mountain from afar, and was silent for a long time.

Ping Yu stood silently with him for a while, and couldn't help but recall the scene when she and Li Yunhan first met in Qingcheng Mountain ten years ago.

"Ying'er, it's time to look back." Zixu turned around.

Ping Yu came back to his senses, "um", and said: "The seventh day of the first month of this month is the 40th anniversary of the death of the Queen Mother, and the Ministry of Rites will hold a worship ceremony in Taiqing Temple, and also invite the master to go down the mountain to do a dojo. ”

"Okay." Zixu smiled indifferently, "It's been ten years in a flash, if you hadn't come to invite, Poor Dao would have really forgotten about it." ”

Hot Spring Palace, located at the foot of Lishan Mountain, more than 60 miles east of Chang'an City, is named after its hot springs, and is the palace of the emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

On the morning of this day, Emperor Xuan saw that the spring was bright and sunny outside, and he was full of interest, and took Concubine Yi, eunuch Gao Jun and others to walk and play along the stream.

Concubine Yi's real name is Yang, in her early thirties, her skin is like coagulated fat, and her appearance is as beautiful as a fairy. She was originally a princess and concubine, but after the collapse of Concubine Shen Li four years ago, she was fortunately favored by Emperor Xuan, and snatched her up and included her in the harem, and was named Concubine Yi, which is a kind of favor. Concubine Yi's parents died early when she was a child, and she was helped by her cousin Yang Silang to come all the way. For this reason, she thanked her brother for his kindness, and often spoke well for him in front of Emperor Xuan.

Concubine Yi twisted her waist lightly and walked to a weeping willow, folded a willow full of buds, sighed lightly, and said: "The years are like water, and before you know it, it is another year of spring grass green." ”

Emperor Xuan was nearly seventy years old, and was hit hard by the infighting in the palace when he was young, but he was brave and decisive by nature, and launched two palace changes in succession after becoming an adult, and won the throne. At the beginning of his reign, he was enterprising, politically and harmonious; Externally, it expanded its territory and conquered everywhere. After achieving success, they became arrogant and lascivious, favored and used traitors, and the government became increasingly corrupt because of this.

Now his temples are dyed with silver threads, but he still has a sharp eye, vigorous skills, and a bit of the heroic spirit of his early years. He seemed to understand what Concubine Yi said, and said with a smile: "Yes, there is no trace of time, and it makes people add silver hair in vain; But with my concubine by my side, I feel that I am getting younger and younger. ”

Concubine Yi shook the wicker, and said with a melancholy look in her eyes: "Being able to stay with Your Majesty for a long time in this life is of course a blessing for the concubine; It's just that since His Majesty arrived at the Hot Spring Palace, he hasn't been to the court for many days, and I don't know what complaints those ministers will have behind their backs. ”

"Who dares! Since I ascended the throne, I have worked hard for decades to have the prosperity of today's Tang Dynasty, shouldn't I enjoy a few days of happiness in the world? Besides, there are Lin Fu and other old ministers in the court, so why worry about everything! ”

"Your Majesty, the concubine is too talkative. The government and politics are complicated, Lin Fu is dying, and he is afraid that he will not be able to support the overall situation alone. ”

"Oh?"

"Your Majesty, the brother of the concubine is dedicated and responsible, and loyal, there are some things, you might as well let him participate more, so as to share your Majesty's worries."

"Well, of course I understand," Emperor Xuan smiled, "Lin Fu is old, but he has to have a suitable opportunity to get him down." ”

Before the words fell, a small yellow door hurriedly came to report, saying that Lin Fu and Yang Silang had come to meet him.

Emperor Xuan was very displeased when he heard this, and complained: "Really, I can't have a moment of peace when I go to the Hot Spring Palace to recuperate. ”

Concubine Yi heard that Yang Silang had arrived, and hurriedly reminded her: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid that my brother is here for something important." ”

Emperor Xuan nodded, and immediately announced that the two would meet him.

After a while, the little eunuch led Lin and Yang to Emperor Xuan. Lin Fu saluted, and said hurriedly without waiting for Emperor Xuan to ask: "Your Majesty, something is wrong." ”

"What's the big deal?"

"Back to Your Majesty, Zuo Xiang Shi Zheng privately excavated the royal forbidden land-Nine Lotus Peak, saying that he wanted to dig up some secret treasure of martial virtue." Lynver replied.

Emperor Xuan was shocked when he heard this: "Is this serious? ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, he has already started to blow up the mountain." Yang Silang stepped forward and said.

Lin Fu sighed lightly and said, "Your Majesty, Shi Zheng didn't listen to the old minister's hard advice, and insisted on going to dig up the treasure, so the minister had to come to tell him. ”

Seeing that Emperor Xuan was silent, Yang Silang said solemnly: "Your Majesty, last time he interceded for the rebel minister Wei Zhi, this time he took advantage of His Majesty's absence to dig up treasures and destroy dragon vein feng shui, but it is really lawless!" ”

Emperor Xuan's face changed when he heard this, and he said hatefully: "Okay, you Shi Zheng, the older you get, the more confused you become!" After that, he no longer had the heart to play, and ordered to drive back to Beijing.

At this time, under the Nine Lotus Peak, Shi Zheng looked tired at the construction site, while directing soldiers and migrant workers to excavate.

He felt so tired that he sat down on the stone to rest. A centurion ran over with a sweaty head and panting, and arched his hand to him: "Lord Shi, in this radius of dozens of miles, hundreds of people and horses are scattered in the river valley digging around, and I don't know when it will be a head?" ”

"Be bold, you will be discouraged if you do it!"

"I don't dare," said the centurion, wiping the dust from his face, timidly, "after digging for so long, there are only some gravel and clods, and not even a single copper coin is seen; Also, I heard from the local mountain people just now that this is close to the royal forbidden land, and if someone accidentally digs up the boundary, it will be difficult to tell......"

"What, royal fiefdom?" Shi Zheng's heart was shocked, he eased his nerves, and hurriedly ordered his subordinates to bring a map.

After carefully inspecting the map, I felt that something was not quite right, and I couldn't help but get nervous in my heart.

He was thinking about it hard, only to see a horse flying, but it was Li Yunhan, asking him why he was here?

Li Yunhan dismounted and said, "I heard that the adults came here to dig for treasures, and I was puzzled at the next moment, so I came to find out." ”

"Shi was ordered by Lin Xiang to come here to find the secret treasure of martial virtue; But after digging all night, I found nothing. ”

Li Yunhan took a cool breath when he heard this, thought about it and asked him, does the Holy Lord know about this?

"Lin Xiang said that he had already played it."

Li Yunhan shook his head after hearing this, saying that what Lin Fu said was never credible!

"Why?"

"My lord has just returned to Beijing from afar, and he has taken on such an errand; With Lin Fuzhi as a person, he is insidious and cunning, and he thinks that there must be something strange in this. ”

Shi Zheng thought about it and seemed to realize: "Yes, I have always had a dislike for him, how could he trust me so unusually?" Also, I have just seen the map, this place is close to the royal fiefdom - Nine Lotus Peak, in case someone excavates and crosses the border, it will be impossible to tell. ”

"A royal fief?"

"Well," Shi Zheng pointed not far away, "past that hill." ”

Li Yunhan pondered for a while, and said that in order to prevent accidents, he advised him to stop no matter what, and wait until the truth was explained to His Majesty.

"Okay." Shi Zheng nodded, turned around and ordered everyone to stop working immediately and gather the team to return to the capital; If there is a violation, the punishment will be severe!

As soon as Emperor Xuan returned to the capital, he summoned his ministers to hold a pre-imperial meeting in the Qinzheng Palace. He glanced at everyone with a gloomy face, left the dragon seat, walked to Shi Zheng, and said, "Shi Aiqing, I haven't seen you for many days, and I heard that you have done another big thing. ”

Shi Zheng was stunned when he heard this: "This ......"

"Say it." Yang Silang urged on the side.

Shi Zhengqiang cheered up a little and said: "Back to Your Majesty, two months ago, the minister was ordered to go to Jizhou to inspect the disaster relief, and found that the local officials had deducted grain and collected taxes, and asked Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly. ”

Emperor Xuan said "um" and asked him if he had any evidence?

Shi Zheng was a little embarrassed when he heard this, touched his body for a while, and replied carefully: "Yes, Your Majesty, the minister has recorded all the evidence of the crime investigated in the notebook, but he forgot to bring it when he went out in a hurry." ”

Lord Shi answered the question, what are you pretending to be confused! Yang Silang sneered on the side.

"Disaster relief is on hold;" Emperor Xuan asked Shi Zheng with a tense face, "Say, what are you doing when you go to Nine Lotus Peak?" ”

"This," Shi Zheng didn't know how to answer for a while.

"Why don't you dare to say it!" Wang Gong glared angrily at Shi Zheng, "You have privately excavated the royal forbidden land, Nine Lotus Peak, and your sin is unforgivable!" ”

"Say, what the hell is going on?" Emperor Xuan asked.

Shi Zheng calmed down and said, "Your Majesty, the minister went on the order of Lord Lin, and he was about to make a statement to His Majesty for this." ”

Emperor Xuan waved his hand lightly and asked, "Then why didn't you play it earlier, and you had to wait until I inquired about it?" ”

"Your Majesty, as soon as the ministers returned to Beijing three days ago, Prime Minister Lin summoned the ministers to discuss the matter. He said that there was a secret treasure hidden under the Nine Lotus Peak, and ordered me to dig it quickly; I asked the Holy One if he knew about it, and he said that the Holy One had agreed. He asked me to do it overnight and present this great gift when His Majesty returned to the palace. ”

"What about the gift?" Emperor Xuan sneered and asked.

"Go back to Your Majesty, and only after the ministers break ground will you know that you have been deceived, and then bring people back to report to Your Majesty."

"Really?"

"The minister doesn't dare to say a word." Shi Zheng said and took out a notebook, "Your Majesty, this is the notebook written by the minister when he went down the mountain, and he will write down the incident one by one." ”

The eunuch Gao Jun hurriedly stepped forward to take the fold.

Emperor Xuan took it, glanced at it roughly, and threw it aside.

"Also, Your Majesty," Shi Zheng mustered up his courage, "that day, Lin Xiangzhi ordered his ministers to go to dig up treasures, and Yang Silang and Wang Gong were also present. ”

"The two of them are also there......" Emperor Xuan said, glancing at Yang Silang.

Lin Fu listened and said unhurriedly: "Your Majesty, the two of them did come to the minister's mansion that day. However, this matter is not as Lord Shi said. ”

"Oh?" Emperor Xuan's eyes widened.

"Your Majesty, the minister is guilty of dereliction of duty." Lin Fu said eagerly, "As soon as Shi Zheng arrived at the minister's mansion that day, he said that he wanted to send some soldiers and horses to Jiulian Peak to dig treasures. I asked him if His Majesty knew about this, and he said that he couldn't wait and wanted to present this great gift when His Majesty returned to the palace. The old minister couldn't persuade him, so he had to agree. ”

Shi Zheng became angry when he heard this, and said angrily to Lin Fu: "You reverse black and white and confuse right and wrong, you are really a villain!" ”

Yang Silang said: "Your Majesty, what Lin Xiang said is true, and the minister was indeed present that day; Shi Zheng was eager to invite merit, and insisted on going to excavate despite our dissuasion. ”

Wang Gong then added: "Shi Zheng has always done his own thing, and he is hungry for profit, he saw that Lin Xiang was old, and he wanted to replace him, so he was eager to dig up treasures and invite merit." ”

"Nonsense!" Shi Zheng trembled, and said hatefully to Wang and Yang, "This is obviously a trap set by you and the other three!" ”

Yang Silang was not to be outdone when he heard this, and pointed at Shi Zheng and scolded: "You are dying, and you dare to be hard-mouthed!" ”

Lin Fu walked two steps to Emperor Xuan, and said softly: "Your Majesty, Zhongnan Mountain is the dragon vein of Sheji, and Nine Lotus Peak is a royal forbidden land, and Shi Zheng wantonly destroys the royal feng shui, and he should be punished according to the laws of the Tang Dynasty!" ”

Wang Gong took out a copy of the recital from his sleeve and presented it with both hands: "Your Majesty, the minister has a book to impeach Shi Zheng." ”

"Wang Aiqing, you ......" Emperor Xuan was a little surprised.

"Your Majesty, Shi Zheng is addicted to alcohol, and people give him the nickname 'Drunken Prime Minister'; Wang Gongdao.

"Well, Shi Qing drinks extraordinarily, and I have heard of it in the palace."

"Your Majesty, the minister still has something to do." Yang Silang looked solemn, "The last time Wei Zhi conspired against him, it was originally an iron case decided by His Majesty, but he complained about it, and he often ridiculed His Majesty as a virtuous and incompetent monarch after drinking. ”

Shi Zheng panicked when he heard this, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, the minister is wronged, how can you believe this drunken words!" ”

Yang Silang snorted and still didn't give up, saying that Shi Zheng privately dug the royal forbidden land and destroyed my Tang dragon vein, and sympathized with the rebel party, the crime was unforgivable, and he thought that he should be handed over to Dali Temple to ask for guilt.

Wang Gong said: "Your Majesty, the minister seconded the proposal." ”

Emperor Xuan was at a loss for a moment when he heard this, and looked around with cold eyes.

Shi Zheng knelt down at the feet of Emperor Xuan with a thud, and shouted: "Your Majesty, this is a treacherous plan set up by the three of them, and they have to put their vassals to death!" Please also Your Majesty to be clear! ”

Emperor Xuan hesitated for a long time, and when he saw that the prince had been bowing his head and remaining silent, he asked him what he thought?

The crown prince coughed with a frightened expression, and said respectfully: "Father, since this matter involves Wei Zhi's case, it is better for the sons and daughters not to say it, so as not to give people the truth." ”

"This case is not another case," Emperor Xuan smiled slightly, "Say it, my father won't blame you!" ”

"Erchen thinks that Lord Shi is upright and honest, although he is suspected of tampering with the forbidden land, but afterwards he can explain the truth to his father in time, know his mistakes and repent, and he should be punished lightly."

"Well, that's right," Emperor Xuan nodded, "Although it is a big crime to dig up the royal fiefdom privately, it didn't cause any big losses when it was stopped halfway; However, in order to show punishment, Shi Zheng was immediately removed from the post of left minister, demoted to Cangwu County, and left Beijing seven days later to take up his post. ”

After hearing this, Shi Zheng suddenly felt that his eyes were dark, and he almost fainted on the ground.

Lin Fu, Yang Silang, Wang Gong and others were proud when they saw that their plan had succeeded, and hurriedly shouted in unison to Emperor Xuan: "Your Majesty Shengming." ”