The court is the same as the rivers and lakes, both are involuntarily controlled.
You have to do things you don't want to do, and you have to kill people you don't want to kill. And being an official, like being a gangster, is a high-risk profession, and there is a risk of losing your head at every turn.
Ever since he was awarded an official title by Li Zhi, Li Qinzai had expected that he would be getting closer and closer to the muddy water of the court. Sooner or later, he would step into the muddy water with his feet and keep in line with everyone else's color.
But he didn't expect that this day would come so quickly.
The Palace, Weary of Victory, involves the emperor and the empress, and even contains religious elements. If you think about it, you will know how serious this matter is.
If he doesn't handle it well, whether it makes the emperor or the queen dissatisfied, he will not have a good life. From then on, he has laid a hidden danger, and he doesn't know when it will explode.
However, when Li Zhi requested him so earnestly, Li Qinzai really couldn't refuse.
After saying goodbye and leaving Tai Chi Palace, Li Qinzai's mind was still a mess as he walked out of the palace gate.
Li Zhi left the matter to him in one sentence, but Li Qinzai didn't know where to start the investigation. The people he was questioning, Guo Xingzhen and Fan Yunxian, were obviously two small fishes. There must be someone behind them. This person might be the queen, or he might be from a noble family.
Maybe it was the courtiers in the court who had ulterior motives.
Outside the palace gate, the Li family's carriage was quietly parked in the open space, waiting for him.
Li Qinzai reluctantly told Liu Asi to send someone to Ganjingzhuang and tell Cui Jie and Qiao'er that he would have to stay in Chang'an City for a few more days.
I couldn't help but feel a little worried. Di Renjie had left Zhuangzi and went to Bingzhou to take up his post. If there was no one to control the little beasts in the school, wouldn't they be going to heaven?
Let them continue to be rampant for a few more days. When things get done here, and Li Qinzai returns to Zhuangzi, their wings will be broken and their paradise will be destroyed, okay?
Just as he was about to board the carriage and go home, a figure jumped out from behind the carriage and suddenly appeared in front of Li Qinzai.
Li Qinzai was startled and subconsciously slapped him in the face.
Snapped!
There was a crisp sound, and Song Sen covered his face innocently, his aggrieved little mung bean eyes watering.
Li Qinzai felt extremely guilty and apologized hastily: "I'm really sorry, I didn't see clearly just now..."
Before he finished speaking, Li Qinzai felt something was wrong and immediately glared: "What are you doing all of a sudden? Is your Baiqisi's professional level just pretending to be a ghost? Do you know how noble I am? Do you know how much compensation I have to pay if I am scared?
!”
Now it was Song Sen's turn to apologize: "I'm rude, I deserve it. I shouldn't have put my face in County Uncle Li's slap..."
Li Qinzai's expression softened slightly and he said: "Next time, try to be more normal and gentle when you appear. Even if you slowly emerge from the pit in slow motion, I still respect you as a man."
Song Sen's face turned green, but he could only laugh along.
They are old acquaintances, so there is no need to be too polite when speaking. Li Qinzai looked at him and said, "You came to see me?"
"Yes, according to His Majesty's decree, the Chang'an Baiqi Division was transferred to Li County Bo's command."
Li Qinzai looked him over and said, "You can't even dodge a slap. How can Baiqisi do that?"
Song Sen said aggrievedly: "Uncle Li, Baiqisi's ability is not to be slapped..."
"But you can't pry for information. Last time I was assassinated by the Japanese envoy sent to Tang Dynasty. You didn't find out anything before and it almost killed me." Li Qinzai brought up old scores like a quarreling woman.
Song Sen opened his mouth and found that he had nothing to say.
Damn it, my uncle.
After hesitating for a long time, Song Sen smiled bitterly and said: "Baiqisi... is not omnipotent. There are always omissions. Please bear with me, Mr. Li County."
Li Qinzai spread his hands and said: "Look, what a rogue statement, I almost died, but you just said 'forgive me' and got over it. Logically speaking, even if you don't have to commit suicide by caesarean section, you should at least pay some compensation, right?"
Song Sen was sweating on his forehead, and he said nonchalantly: "Uncle Li County, please forgive me, but I really don't have any money. Bai Qisi is a hard worker, and the court doesn't have that much money to allocate."
Li Qinzai sighed and said, "Do you know what happened in the palace today?"
Song Sen nodded: "I know."
"Your Majesty ordered me to investigate secretly and find out the mastermind. Does Baiqisi have any clues?"
Song Sen bowed and clasped his fists: "Everyone in the cavalry department will obey County Uncle Li's orders."
Li Qinzai kicked Song Sen in the butt: "You are a big official, but you have learned all about the slippery ways of officialdom. Answer questions well and don't be perfunctory."
Song Sen smiled bitterly and said: "The official suggested... go to Dali Temple to interrogate Fan Yunxian and Guo Xingzhen first."
"This is not nonsense. Okay, let's go to Dali Temple."
…………
Dali Temple is located across the street from Jiangzuojian, a bit far from the Imperial Palace.
After all, it is a place where prisoners are imprisoned and where punishments and killings are carried out. It would be unlucky to be too close to the palace.
Li Qinzai and his party soon arrived outside Dali Temple. Liu Asi stepped forward to identify himself. A Dali Temple chief came out to welcome Li Qinzai and politely led Li Qinzai into the prison.
After living two lifetimes, this was the first time that Li Qinzai entered a cell. He entered through a passage that was as strict as a stone castle and walked down the stairs. A stench and musty smell hit his nose, making Li Qinzai take a step back.
Seeing the ugly look on Li Qinzai's face, the Prime Minister of Dali Temple couldn't help but smile and said: "Excuse me, Mr. Li, the prison is just like this. The people in it are those who deserve to be killed. We don't need to make them live too comfortably. What do you think?"
Right?"
Li Qinzai frowned and said, "Stop talking nonsense. Find a quiet room with no one around. I want to interrogate Fan Yunxian and Guo Xingzhen."
The Prime Minister of Dali Temple led him into a room filled with instruments of torture. In the middle of the room there was a low table and a greasy and smelly futon. The only oil lamp on the table was swaying dying, like a cluster of will-o'-the-wisps about to be reincarnated.
It made the atmosphere in the cell even more gloomy and terrifying.
Li Qinzai looked at the futon under his feet with disgust, kicked it away, and simply knelt down on the ground.
The temple chief smiled and asked Li Qinzai to wait a moment while he called the jailer to pick up the prisoner.
Not long after, a prisoner wearing a white prison uniform with heavy shackles on his hands and feet was pushed into the room by the jailer.
Si Cheng accompanied him and said with a smile: "Uncle Li County, this person is Fan Yunxian."
Li Qinzai hummed and looked at Fan Yunxian calmly.
The eunuch's standard face was pale and beardless, his body was stooped, and he shook occasionally. His eyes looked at Li Qinzai in horror. There were whip marks all over his body, and his exposed hands and feet were also stained with blood. Apparently, he was interrogated just after he was taken to the prison, and he was treated badly.
Used punishment.
Li Qinzai looked at him for a long time and suddenly asked Si Cheng: "Who has tried him before me?"
Si Cheng said hurriedly: "Xu Youxiang sent someone to interrogate him, and officials from the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple were also present."
"Has Fan Yunxian made a move?"
Si Cheng smiled and said: "He only said that he was wronged. He never colluded with Guo Xingzhen, nor did he do anything to hate winning. The anonymous letter of remonstrance dropped in front of Taiji Hall was clearly framed."
As soon as the Si Cheng finished speaking, Fan Yunxian knelt down in front of Li Qinzai and wailed: "I beg the superior officer for guidance. I have served the queen for many years, and the emperor and the queen have been in love for many years. How could I do such a treasonous thing as curse the emperor?"
"That letter of remonstrance was written by someone who wanted to frame this slave. Please let me know what's going on!"