When Wang Xian passed through the palace gates and arrived at the main hall of the East Palace, he saw the prince coming out with the support of two eunuchs.
The prince has a noble status, but his legs and feet are not good. There is no one in the world who can welcome him except the current emperor. Now that Wang Xian has been condescended to this level, how can he not be flattered?
He quickly rushed forward and knelt down in front of the prince with tears in his eyes.
"Your Highness Jun'an"
"Well, Zhongde..." Zhu Gaochi pushed away and held Wang Xian's shoulders tightly. Although there was a smile on his face, he couldn't help but burst into tears and said: "Good boy, get up quickly, get up quickly."
Wang Xian knew that the prince was inconvenienced and did not dare to exert any force. He quickly followed the prince's movements and stood up, helping him to walk into the palace.
In the main hall, when the prince sat down, Wang Xianzhong saluted again, and the prince ordered him to sit down. After Wang Xian sat down, the emperor and his ministers looked at each other in silence for a long time. The shocking secrets of the past year appeared in front of their eyes.
Rain, the attack on Kowloon Pass, the East Palace Welcome Incident, the official scandal in Shanxi... Each of these thrilling events makes it hard to breathe when I think about them. I really don’t know how I survived.
"Zhongde..." After a long time, the prince came back to his senses from the surging heart. He looked at Wang Xiandao with tearful eyes: "Any words of gratitude are too pale. I just want to say that you are my son in my heart.
Nothing will change in my life."
"Your Highness," Wang Xian is not a person who is easily moved, but he was still moved by the prince's heartfelt feelings, and hissed: "I will be loyal to Your Highness throughout my life, and I will never have second thoughts."
"Of course I believe that Zhongde, if there is anyone trustworthy in this world, it must be Zhongde and not anyone else." The prince said loudly, and then said with some frustration: "But now I can't repay you with anything, even treat you well."
I have to worry about my father’s suspicion at all, I really feel ashamed of Zhongde..."
"Why did Your Highness say this?" Wang Xian said emotionally: "You treat me like a son, and I treat Your Highness like a father. When the king and father are in trouble, the ministers go to the trouble. This is the duty of a minister and a son, so why should there be any reward?
?”
"Zhongde is right, I am too outspoken..." The prince was so moved by Wang Xian that he pointed to his chest with tears in his eyes and said: "Anyway, you are here. Sooner or later, you will let the world know about it."
, you and I are like biological father and son.”
"Your Highness..."
After a burst of tears and emotion, the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty and the chief of the royal police finally spoke normally. Wang Xian came today because he had official business, otherwise the emperor would not have dared to leave the capital, so he came to report to the crown prince.
He came here this time for the final settlement of the Qi Dazhu case. After so many twists and turns, this case has changed from an ordinary murder case to an imperial case that affects the Four Law Divisions, Jin Yiwei, and several senior officials. Since it is an imperial case,
Although the case was specifically handled by Wang Xian, it was ultimately decided by the emperor. However, before leaving the capital, Zhu Di only ordered the death of Li Chun and did not mention the handling of other officials at all, leaving everything to the prince to handle...
Wang Xian was summoned by the prince to discuss the case, so he could come to see the prince openly.
"Zhongde, I have already read the relevant files." Regarding Wang Xian's matter, the prince naturally puts it first. After returning to Beijing yesterday, he read a thick pile of case files overnight and has already grasped the development of the case.
The context. When he thought of the injustice suffered by good citizens and good officials like Qi Dazhu and Yan Qing, which could not be compensated even if the case was overturned, the prince showed anger and said:
"Originally it was a case of murdering a mother and seizing the treasure, but because the murderer was a secret agent of Fusi in Beizhen, the Jinyiwei did not hesitate to frame a good citizen, confront the Fasi, and protect him unconditionally. It is really lawless and crazy that Li
I really don’t regret Chun’s death.”
Listening to the words and listening to what the prince said, Wang Xian understood what he was thinking... The case was limited to Li Chun. No one under Li Chun would be spared, and anyone above Li Chun... could only be punished symbolically.
It is reasonable for the prince to think this way, and there is nothing he can do about it, because the only one in the world who can touch Ji Gang is Zhu Di. Anyone else who touches him will be regarded as a challenge to the imperial power. But this time the emperor did not personally judge, but put this errand
Handing it to the prince is a sign that he doesn't want to touch Ji Gang yet. If the prince does not care about life or death and attacks Ji Gang, he may incur the wrath of thunder in the blink of an eye...
"Zhongde, how do you plan to convict this case?" The prince naturally wanted to ask Wang Xian's opinion first.
"I can't say anything about this case. I can only rely on His Highness' wishes." Wang Xian smiled bitterly.
"Yes, you are also an official of Beizhen Fusi now. It is really inconvenient to say some things..." The prince nodded considerately and said: "Then leave it to Gu..." He then pondered for a moment and said: "Zhang Gouzi,
Li Gou'er, a low-level official, relied on the power of Jin Yiwei to dare to falsely accuse this guy, frame him up and silence him. If he didn't kill him, the people would be outraged, so they ransacked his house and beheaded him. Zhang Gou'er's wife, You Shi, knew clearly that she was aiding the tyranny, so she should be sentenced to prison. Although Li Chun
He has been executed, but his house still needs to be ransacked." After a pause, the prince looked embarrassed and said: "If we just deal with Ji Gang... if he is convicted of deceiving the emperor, he will be sentenced to death. This is not something that can be decided alone."
"Yes, we should ask the Emperor for instructions on this crime and see what the Emperor wants." Wang Xian said softly.
"What Zhongde said makes sense." The prince said with a smile upon hearing this: "Zhongde is really powerful. I thought about what to do all night long, but you solved it with just one sentence."
"I have been thinking about it for a long time," Wang Xian said humbly, "I actually coincided with His Highness."
"But we can't spare Ji Gang. Let's punish him for being lax in his duties." The prince thought for a moment and then said, "A demerit will be recorded, he will be demoted one level, and he will be fined for half a year. Other crimes will be punished later."
"Yes." Wang Xian nodded, and that was all he could do for now. Then he asked softly: "What about the officials and prisoners who should have been wronged?"
"The wrongly accused officials were dismissed from punishment and restored to their original posts. Qi Dazhu was rehabilitated and paid all Zhang Gouzi's property to compensate his sister as her food, clothing, and dowry." The prince said: "The rest of the neighbors involved will also be exempted from guilt, and Ying Tianfu will commend them.
To be honest and forthright, I will divide the copied property of Li Chun's family equally among them as compensation. As for Li Chun's property, let it be divided equally between Zhang Tiejiang's widow and Yan Qing." He sighed and said, "Mr. Yan is an upright and capable official.
I have known him for a long time. He was definitely able to become the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, but now he is disabled and his official career is ruined. No amount of money is enough to compensate..."
"Yes, he is currently helping me in the Zhenfu Division." Wang Xian nodded and said, "I really feel wronged to him.
"He's helping you? That's great." The prince was pleasantly surprised and said, "We must keep him. Talents are hard to find."
"It's difficult. Wei Chen kept him because he wanted to deal with Ji Gang. When Ji Gang falls, he will probably not be able to keep him..." Wang Xian shook his head.
"It all depends on people," the prince encouraged him, "and there is no sign of Ji Gang's downfall for the time being. There is still plenty of time."
"Yes." Although Wang Xian agreed with his words, he had a different view in his heart. In his opinion, after his heavy blow, Ji Gang had almost lost all his holy family, and his downfall was only a year or two away.
The so-called talking about official business was just a cover, and as for how to deal with it, it was tacitly understood, so he explained it in a few words. What he really wanted to say was what the prince really cared about...
"How many masters can survive in prison?" After a moment of silence, the prince asked Wang Xiandao softly.
"How can you live in jail?" Wang Xian replied: "But I have tried my best to improve the conditions. They are not in the dungeon now, but live in cells on the ground. Ventilation and lighting can be guaranteed, and there are dedicated personnel.
Cleaning, this can prevent you from getting sick. As for the food, although you can't eat chicken, duck and fish, it is much better than ordinary prisoners, at least you can eat enough." He introduced the overall situation of the princelings in prison to the prince in detail.
, "The physical condition of the masters is generally good, but there are a few who are suffering from chronic illnesses and are being treated..."
The prince felt sad and said: "The masters have been in prison for more than half a year, and we don't know when they will be released. Naturally, they are sick in their hearts. If Zhongde hadn't gone, I'm afraid many of them would no longer be alive..."
"Don't worry, Your Highness, I will do my best to protect all the masters." Wang Xian hurriedly assured him. Seeing that the prince was still depressed, he comforted him: "Actually, most people are still very calm. Some are like Master Yang, who studies all day long.
Non-stop. I asked him why he had to study so long and forget food and sleep, what do you think he answered?"
"I can't guess." The prince shook his head.
"He said he was too busy in the past and never had time to study hard. Now that he is finally free, he naturally wants to enjoy himself." Wang Xian said with a smile.
"Haha, this is a good way to pass the time." The prince was indeed in a much better mood and praised: "I have spent the past six months reading books to get through this."
"If a minor minister is in the company of Jingshi Ziji, it will be more terrifying than being in jail." Wang Xian said with a bitter smile: "Your Highness and Master Yang are really amazing."
"What's so great about that? It's just a hobby," the prince shook his head and smiled: "In terms of ability, Master Yang and I are tied together, so I am no match for you."
"Your Majesty, that's a compliment." Wang Xian said with a smile: "Don't talk about Your Majesty, with Master Yang's erudition and understanding, I am no match for you."
"Don't be self-effacing. Excessive modesty is pride." The prince finally laughed out loud and looked deeply at Wang Xiandao: "Zhongde, it's thanks to you again that I protected the masters..."
"This is the duty of a humble minister." Wang Xian, however, did not take any credit and said softly: "And the emperor originally asked me to be this official because he wanted to protect the ministers who were in prison."
"Father, it's true," the prince said helplessly after hearing this: "Holy grace is unpredictable..."
"Yes." Wang Xian nodded and said, "So your Highness can rest assured that the Emperor is actually measured."
"I'm afraid they are too involved with me..." The prince showed a bitter smile.