On May 18th, news spread inside and outside the capital that the emperor was going to summon all the civil and military officials including the government, ministries, science and education officials to personally interrogate Jiang Gongchen and Zhou Yanru who had participated in the investigation.
The case of Pengbi's adultery was a surprise to everyone in Beijing.
After all, in the entire history of the Ming Dynasty, there were very few examples of cases like this where the emperor had to go to trial, and every occurrence represented a huge shock in the court.
Of course, no matter how the outside world reacts, it cannot affect the final outcome of this major case.
Three days have passed. At this time, the Wenhua Hall has gathered all the civil and military officials from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and Lin Jing has also arrived at the Wenhua Hall. He saw that in addition to the extraordinary things in the hall, all the belongings of Dongchang and Jinyiwei have been displayed.
All kinds of cruel instruments of torture are filled with a solemn and terrifying atmosphere, which makes people shudder.
Emperor Chongzhen was dressed in plain clothes, with a gloomy anger on his face. He first summoned Hao Chang, the person who uncovered this major case, and asked about the reasons, and then summoned the person who nailed the case into stone.
Jiang Gongchen, the censor of the case.
Jiang Gongchen walked out of the ranks of officials with an expressionless face. There was no excitement or fear on his face. His years of service as an official had already trained him to be calm, and he was even more calm today.
Calmly.
Many people secretly looked sideways at this audacious person, wanting to know where he came from.
Lin Jing was also looking at Jiang Gongchen curiously. However, this was the first time that Lin Jing saw Jiang Gongchen. However, after an investigation by the Epidemic Prevention Bureau, Lin Jing realized that this person was not a small person. In fact, he had already been there.
He has made a great name for himself in the local area.
Jiang Gongchen was originally a Jinshi in the seventh year of Chongzhen. In his early years, he served as a county magistrate in Xinhua, Huguang. At that time, thieves were everywhere in the Chu region. Jiang Gongchen even personally arrested the villain Wang Dazuo and built a city to stabilize people's hearts. People at that time called him "Jiang Gongcheng".
Then Jiang Gongchen successively served as magistrate of You County, Yidu and other places, pacified local thieves and brought local arrogant and domineering people to justice, thereby stabilizing people's lives. His official reputation was very good, and he was later promoted to Shanxi Road Censor.
.
Now, after Jiang Gongchen was promoted to the censor of Shanxi Province, he decisively targeted Zhou Yanru and his confidant Wu Changshi. Although this was the work of Lin Jing and Luo Yangxing, it was also in line with Jiang Gongchen's nature.
"Your Majesty, in the past when Wuchang was under Zhou Yanru's rule, he and Dong Tingxian were treacherous, both inside and outside. They were everywhere, and there were numerous evidences of stolen goods for all to see. Even if they were listed in the Nanchang, if they were not relatives, they would bribe them, and they would all be bribed by Changshi.
Because of this, Bai Ding, Tong Tong, Wang Shu, Chen Ziji, etc. all claimed to be on the list. They are so corrupt and unruly, and they don’t even know that there are court laws and regulations!"
Jiang Gongchen said in a deep voice: "Now, in order to plan Feng Quan's matter, Zhou Yanru even arranged for Wu Changshi to bribe the court ministers. But now that his deeds were exposed, he burned down all the pavilions where he lived, and built up his life treasures, which were collected here.
..."
When Chongzhen heard this, he couldn't bear it anymore. He looked at Luo Yangxing and snorted coldly: "Is this possible?"
"Your Majesty, Zhou Yanru's residence was indeed accidentally flooded yesterday, and the fire completely burned down his attic..."
Luo Yangxing honestly stated the scene he saw without adding or modifying anything. Only at the end, he deliberately said: "It is indeed a pity. I heard from people in the Zhou Mansion that there are only sable tents in the building."
Dozens of them, as well as a pair of gold beads weighing ten taels presented by Qinghe, and they say that if they are not the best treasures, they will not be able to climb up to this attic..."
"Bang--"
Chongzhen couldn't bear it any longer. He thought that he was frugal in the palace and had to live very tight even after the Zhou Dynasty. Everything was just to make the money go to the proper path of the court. But at this time, he thought
Zhou Yanru, his master, was so extravagant and absurd behind his incorruptibility... An inexplicable anger made Chongzhen's face turn red.
"Someone, bring Wu Changshi up!"
Chongzhen said word for word that he wanted to take a good look at this evil guy in person.
After a while, Wu Changshi was quickly escorted up. His originally somewhat unruly face was no longer as bright as before, but was filled with despair. When he looked at Chongzhen, he was even more...
Shout loudly.
"Your Majesty, I am wronged, I am wronged!"
"Are you wronged?"
Chongzhen snorted coldly and said: "Then you talk about Zhou Yanrutong's affairs. I want to see how you defend yourself?"
Wu Changshi's mind was sharp, and he quickly understood what the emperor was really afraid of - to put it bluntly, what happened to Wu Changshi was nothing at all. The reason why he was being chased and beaten now was entirely because he was implicated by Zhou Yanru.
The key thing that affects Zhou Yanru's wealth and life is this time's "Tong Nei" case!
Therefore, Wu Changshi quickly came to the conclusion that other crimes could be admitted, but Zhou Yanru's "Tong Nei" must not be confirmed, otherwise there would be no room for change.
When he thought of this, Wu Changshi hurriedly knelt down on the ground and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, our Ming Dynasty has its own ancestral legal system. We have to be beheaded by internal servants. The laws are strict. I am just a small literary doctor. How dare I violate it?"
"What a sharp tongue!"
Chongzhen was about to laugh out loud. He quickly glanced at Jiang Gongchen and said coldly: "Jiang Gongchen, how about you confront Wu Changshi?"
"I shall take my orders myself."
Jiang Gongchen nodded expressionlessly in agreement. What he wanted to do now was naturally very simple, that is, to completely prove Wu Changshi's crime.
However, at this moment, Wu Changshi put on an excited look and said loudly: "Your Majesty will certainly want to serve as your minister, so how can I dare to disobey the holy will? You should accept it. If you want to give in, you really can't."
"
"Bang--"
A hint of coldness appeared on Chongzhen's face, and he said: "It seems that such a slippery-tongued person won't speak until he is punished. Come on, I'll be punished!"
When they heard this, a trace of worry appeared on the faces of the ministers. They were not worried about the so-called Haochang Shi, but that the Ming Dynasty had never used torture in the Wenhua Palace. It was extremely inconsistent with the system.
It even damages the royal family’s face.
Academician Jiang Dejing quickly stood up and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, those who have violated the law like Wu Changshi can just be brought to the Three Laws Division for trial and sentencing. Now that your Majesty is being tortured in the Wenhua Hall, it is really disrespectful to the court.
....."
Yes, where is the Wenhua Hall? It is the place where the court discusses important matters. How can a cunning villain be allowed to be tortured there?
Soon the academician Wei Zaode also stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I also think that it is inappropriate to use torture in the Wenhua Hall."
Two bachelors came out to dissuade Chongzhen, but they did not change his mind. He sneered and said: "Such cunning people have supernatural powers. If they were not in a place like Wenhua Hall, I am afraid no one would dare to follow the law."
Asked!"
Lin Jing shook his head slightly in his heart, stood up and said: "To inform my father, I believe that the concerns of the two elders are not unreasonable. If my father is worried that no one dares to investigate impartially, I am willing to shoulder the responsibility!"
"
Chongzhen glanced at his son and hesitated. Originally, he did not intend to leave this matter to others, but during this period, he saw Lin Jing's performance in his eyes, and he was indeed able to make him
Relax.
"In this case, the Crown Prince will join the Tri-Faculty Division for a joint trial!"
"I would like to see what kind of black heart is underneath the skin of such traitors!" This chapter has been completed!