The atmosphere in the room was a little dull for a moment. Liu Ling's words were like a heavy hammer in everyone's heart. Those who were hit were breathless. The temperature in the warm room seemed to have dropped. Snowflakes were falling outside.
It seems to have penetrated through the thick cotton curtain and penetrated into everyone's heart.
After a long time, Emperor Xiao took a long breath and sighed: "I treat my brothers well!"
Liu Ling smiled awkwardly. He knew that he could only say this by himself. None of the people in the room were stupid. On the contrary, they were all as cunning as white-haired old foxes. He didn't believe that no one had thought of it.
At this level, no one is willing to bring it up first.
Yes, when it comes to the emperor's methods, my second brother is considered to be generous enough. Those who helped the prince and those who helped the fourth child, and those who died were not the prince himself? Since the second brother ascended the throne, he has never
If I feel sorry for my brothers, I will give them the title of prince and not even a copper penny in salary will be lost to them.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Liu Ling went to war with Zhou Dynasty in the south. News of the victory in the first battle happened to be delivered to Taiyuan City on the day before August 15th. The sick Emperor Xiao took advantage of the joy of the victory to send his brothers in the capital to
They all were invited to the palace, and they enjoyed the moon and ate cakes together on the Mid-Autumn Festival night, remembering their childhood together. He personally put clothes on the still sick Prince Hui Liu Zhi, and the tears in the latter's eyes made Emperor Xiao think that he had found his soul.
The lost brotherhood.
It's a pity that Liu Ling's words just now were like a knife, coldly and without leaving any mercy, cutting the softness in his heart to pieces. Liu Ling's guess was correct. Only people from the royal family with the surname Liu can do this.
To stabilize the situation in chaos, as long as you kill yourself, no matter which prince named Liu ascends the throne, there will be no big obstacles.
Hou Shen glanced at the sadness on Emperor Xiao's face, and said with a hard heart: "Prince Zhong's speculation cannot be ignored. Since it is mentioned, I will boldly guess which prince is most likely to do something big."
He knew that his status in the circle of these five people was almost the lowest. Pei Hao still had His Majesty's personal approval after all, and he only gradually entered the decision-making circle because of the prince's appreciation. Regardless of whether he seemed to be a disciple of the emperor
Pei Hao, or Lu Sen, who was the Prime Minister of the two dynasties, said what he just said was more appropriate than him. But seeing the sadness in Liu Ling's eyes, the Minister of Rites, who thought he would never let his emotions influence his reason, became emotional.
He couldn't bear to let Liu Ling continue talking alone. Liu Ling was also a prince and his Majesty's brother. It would be really cruel for him to continue talking. Lu Sen was an old fox. Although he was loyal, he would not get burned.
After all, Pei Hao had little experience, so he could not see the helplessness and desolation in the prince's eyes.
This evil man, let me do it.
Hou Shen took a deep breath, and the smell of burning wood hit his nose. It felt very bad. Hou Shen would rather go outside and enjoy a heavy snowfall to calm down. Unfortunately, he
There is no way out.
He didn't dare to look into Emperor Xiao's eyes, nor did he dare to look into Liu Ling's eyes. He knew that as soon as he brought up the topic just now, his career would basically come to an end. Thinking of how he had climbed up step by step over the years, he felt
It's really a bit unwilling to give up like this.
He smiled, not daring to raise his head, and looked at the burning fire and said word by word: "There are still four princes in power in Taiyuan City, King Ning Liu Shan, King Hui Liu Zhi, King Lu Liu Yuan, and King Zhao Liu Zhuan.
"
After saying these four names, Hou Shen could feel Emperor Xiao's cold, knife-like gaze on his face. He could also feel the gratitude and guilt in the eyes of loyal king Liu Ling when he looked at him. He could also feel Lu Sen's look on his face.
The sympathy and ridicule in his own eyes.
Forget it, the future is gone anyway, so just have a good time.
"Ning Wang Liu Shan is good at martial arts. He rarely goes out at home. He hired countless famous teachers but failed to develop any good skills. Recently, he seems to be obsessed with the art of Qihuang alchemy and has become very close to several Taoist priests from Sanqing Temple.
Not long ago, I donated 300 yuan to Sanqing Temple. It is worth mentioning that when the court called for donations, Prince Ning was the only member of the Liu family who did not donate."
Before anyone could interrupt, Hou Shen, who was already ready to fight, continued: "Hui Wang Liu Zhi is a very talented man and a good writer. But he was seriously ill the year before last and has been bedridden at home. Most of the people who move around on weekdays are from Taiyuan Prefecture.
I am a man of letters, and the court recently raised funds, and King Hui donated three hundred guan. As far as I know, King Hui is usually frugal, and all this money was saved from his salary."
"The King of Lu, Liu Yuan, was a womanizer and loved to sing and dance. He and King Zhao Liu Zhuan hung out in the brothel and music studio day and night. The two princes also liked to travel in the mountains and rivers. It was rare that they could still calm down and go fishing in the lake. They often made appointments.
A group of friends had a picnic, enjoying themselves, and were very carefree. According to what I learned, the two princes donated money when the court raised funds, but because they spent a lot of money on weekdays, they didn't have much savings."
As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Xiao stood up suddenly, pointed at Hou Shen and yelled: "Hou Shen! What kind of peace of mind do you have!"
Hou Shen gave a wry smile, stood up from the horse and slowly took off his turban, then gently took off his official uniform, wearing only a snow-white shirt underneath, and knelt down next to the stove.
Head touches the ground.
"I secretly investigated a member of the royal family and deserved death. I only ask that your Majesty, for the sake of my loyalty, pardon the death penalty for my family. My death is not a pity, but I still have something to say. Lu
King, King Zhao is extremely stubborn and bullies others, but it seems to me that he has no intention of treason. As for King Ning, he has already pursued immortality and will not covet the throne even if he thinks about it. He is a person who does not even care about the face of the royal family.
, As a prince, he would rather donate three hundred guan to the Taoist temple, but he is not willing to give out a single coin for the imperial court's fundraiser. Your Majesty can rest assured that Prince Ning will not rebel against anyone who rebels."
"But King Hui, I can't see through it."
After saying this, Hou Shen fell to the ground and paused: "After I have finished speaking, please grant me a death. I have not been very courageous since I was a child. I definitely dare not kill myself. The white silk is not appropriate. I am afraid of heights, so I will give it to you."
A glass of poisonous wine, given my courage, I can’t say it’s poisonous wine, but I still have to trouble Mr. Pei to help me pour it into my mouth.”
Before he died, he dared to joke a few words, that is, Lord Hou Shenhou.
Liu Ling smiled, looked at Emperor Xiao's pale face with anger, and then looked at Hou Shen who was lying low on the ground with his butt stuck out, he suddenly realized that the smartest one was not the silent Lu Sen.
It wasn't Pei Hao who looked at Hou Shen coldly and was even more angry than Emperor Xiao, but it was Master Hou Shen who was kneeling on the ground and begging for death, who was so smart.
Lu Sen has mastered the art of self-protection wisely, and he will not intercede for Hou Shen unless he has to. Moreover, the old fox seems to have guessed Emperor Xiao's thoughts, and is already shaking with anger. Emperor Xiao has not even issued an order to punish the daring Hou Shen
Shen sent people out to chop him up, so why did Lu Sen talk so much?
Pei Hao was a die-hard loyal to Emperor Xiao and was regarded as a protégé of the emperor. He was like a mastiff raised by Emperor Xiao. He would show his fangs to anyone who was unfavorable to his master. Even if he couldn't bite him to death, he would still tear off a layer of flesh.
And this loyal dog is obviously more angry than its owner. Now as long as Emperor Xiao gives him even a look, Pei Hao will take Hou Shen down and take him to the Ministry of Punishment to take care of him.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room seemed to be frozen. No one except Liu Ling could laugh now.
"You are so brave! Do you think I dare not kill you?"
Emperor Xiao shouted with a trembling body.
Liu Ling stood up and kicked Hou Shen's pouted buttocks. He blocked Pei Hao intentionally or unintentionally, pointed at Hou Shen and angrily yelled: "Go outside and kneel, think about how to die."
Just die, don't kneel here and make people look disgusting."
After being kicked by Liu Ling and lying on the ground, Hou Shen raised the corner of his mouth and smiled vaguely, then got up on his knees and kowtowed to Emperor Xiao several times, saying that he deserved to die for his crime and climbed out.
After arriving at the Military Aircraft Department, he knelt down in the snow in an orderly manner. The eight guards standing like nails outside the Military Aircraft Department's duty room frequently looked sideways, with surprise in their eyes. Some people sighed, some gloated, and some were worried.
, some people sighed.
Anyone who can enter the Military Aircraft Department to discuss affairs is treated as a prime minister by all civil and military officials. No matter who meets an adult who can enter the Military Aircraft Department, he must be respectfully called Prime Minister. I thought that a Prime Minister Su was killed from the Military Discipline Department and an Ouyang Prime Minister resigned.
, I am afraid that after today there will be one more Hou Xiang and one more Pei Xiang. Who knows how much effort it took to have Hou Xiang take off his official uniform and kneel in the snow?
The guards stood upright, with half a foot of snow on their bodies. White air filled them every time they breathed in and out. However, they were still wearing big cloaks and thick cotton-padded clothes. Now Master Hou was in a miserable state. He only wore the same clothes.
Kneeling in the snow wearing thin underwear, what kind of sin do you suffer?
Emperor Xiao in the room was trembling with anger and breathing heavily. Liu Ling knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, Shen is really bold at this moment. In my opinion, if I don't treat him seriously, I'm afraid all the ministers will follow suit in the future."
He is dead. I don’t want such a minister. I asked for an order to have Hou Shen’s family confiscated and his family exterminated. His head was hung at the gate of the city for public display.”
After saying that, Liu Ling waited for Emperor Xiao's order.
Lu Sen smiled knowingly, rubbed his butt off the horse and knelt down in the tunnel, saying: "Old minister, I second my opinion. You should be punished by your Majesty for your punishment. You should be punished by death."
The two people knelt down and said this, but Pei Hao was a little at a loss. He looked at Emperor Xiao's face, then at the prince and the old prime minister, sighed, knelt down, but did not speak.
Emperor Xiao took a deep breath and sighed: "That's all, are you forcing me to be a foolish king? Don't think that I don't know your little thoughts, I'm not stupid! Pei Hao, let Hou Shen come in and see me, really
If he froze to death, I would still have to lose money and pay my share of the money!"
Pei Hao was stunned. Things didn't seem to be going in the direction he imagined. He suddenly had a feeling that the people in the military aircraft department seemed to be smart people except for himself, an idiot.
"I heard this. Just come in and don't bother Mr. Pei."
The cotton door curtain rolled up at one corner, and Hou Shen, who was almost frozen into a popsicle, curled up and rolled in. His legs and feet were frozen, so he crawled over and kowtowed: "My body was stiff and I couldn't move, so I had to crawl over.
Please make atonement for your majesty and thank you for not killing me!"
