"Father... is actually on his way to Dali Temple?"
On the way to Dali Temple in a carriage, Zhao Hongrun was deeply shocked.
You must know that in his impression, his father left the palace only a handful of times. Except for special days such as seasonal hunting and worshiping heaven and earth, he almost never left the palace. He always sat in the inner hall of Chuigong Hall to review memorials. He was a great figure.
A very diligent king.
However, this time, his father, Emperor Wei, was alarmed. Zhao Hongrun took a deep breath and felt more and more that the case was indeed very involved.
The two carriages slowly headed towards Dali Temple. Zhao Hongrun leaned against the inner wall of the carriage and glanced at the man sitting in the driver's seat with Zongwei Lu Mu - Yan Shun, the left commander of the Royal Court Guards of Chui Gong Palace.
Just now, Zhao Hongrun had inquired in detail about the situation of the "Cui Gong Palace Imperial Guards".
Yan Shun told him that the Imperial Guards of Chui Gong Palace were secretly planned and established by Emperor Wei before and after Zhao Hongrun led his army to conquer Chu last year. They were the fourth palace guards after the "Bing Wei", "Jin Guard" and "Lang Wei".
"Guard".
But to be precise, the Imperial Guard cannot be regarded as a guard army. It is structured more like a secret agent agency. It is now affiliated under the jurisdiction of the Internal Affairs Supervisor and is called the "Guard Guard Department".
Not many people in the government and the public know about this existence, but it is undeniable that the power of the Imperial Guard Division is very powerful, integrating investigation, arrest, and interrogation, and even has the authority to mobilize military guards and imperial guards.
More importantly, the "Gongwei Si" obeys the orders of the Chui Gong Palace and is under the jurisdiction of the Internal Affairs Supervisor. This means that the Gongwei Si can bypass the imperial court and directly reach Tianting. It is a newly established department with great power and aloof status.
Compared with the Gongwei Division, the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment seem to be insignificant. The status and rights of the former are actually superior to those of the Imperial Court's Punishment Yamen.
According to Yan Shun, there are currently about 500 imperial guards affiliated with the Gongwei Division, and the chief officers are "commanders of the left and right." That is to say, Yan Shun and Tong Xin do not have the official position of "commander in chief."
In a sense, Tong Xian, the great eunuch of the Internal Affairs Supervisor, also held the position of "Chief Commander of the Guards Department" to a certain extent, but he did not have a formal appointment title.
"Arch Guards..."
Zhao Hongrun adjusted his sitting posture and slowly closed his eyes.
In his opinion, the authority and status given to the Imperial Guard by his father were a bit transcendent. A newly established department under the supervision of the Internal Affairs Supervisor should not have been given such huge rights all at once, just like a "nouveau riche"
’ It seems that this is not conducive to the steady development of the newly established department.
After all, the Gongwei Division is not a pure government agency, it is a secret agency that integrates investigation, arrest, and interrogation. Once it expands, the consequences will be disastrous.
Perhaps it was for this reason that Emperor Wei placed the Gongwei Department under the jurisdiction of the Internal Affairs Supervisor, allowing the Internal Affairs Supervisor to control this "upstart".
But no matter how he looked at it, Zhao Hongrun felt that his father's move was a bit eager for quick success.
After thinking for a long time, Zhao Hongrun came to a conclusion in his mind: his father was anxious, or perhaps perceived a threat.
"Who is it? That villain?"
Zhao Hongrun frowned unconsciously.
And just as he was meditating on this matter, the carriage suddenly stopped slowly, and then the voice of Zongwei Lu Mu came from outside the carriage: "Your Highness, we have arrived at Dali Temple."
"Hmm." Zhao Hongrun nodded, putting all the speculations in his mind behind him, and bent down to get out of the carriage.
After getting off the carriage, he inadvertently looked up at Dali Temple, and unexpectedly discovered that Dali Temple was surrounded by layers of imperial guards. Compared with when he left Dali Temple and went to the headquarters of the Ministry of Punishments, the forbidden area outside Dali Temple was even smaller.
Wei, more than doubled.
"Has the father already arrived?"
Zhao Hongrun looked left and right, and then suddenly saw the great eunuch Tong Xian standing there with his hands down outside the gate of Dali Temple, as if waiting for something.
Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun had a flash of realization: It seems that his father is already in Dali Temple.
Thinking of this, he stepped towards Tong Xian.
At this time, the great eunuch Tong Xian had already seen him, walked a few steps to greet him, bowed his hands and said, "I pay my respects to His Highness King Su."
"Young Master, no courtesy." Zhao Hongrun waved his hand, then turned around and pointed not far away.
Not far away, Yan Shun and Tong Xin, who were accompanying them, were seen assisting Yang Yu, the young minister of Dali Temple, to bring Yu Yan, the official of the Ministry of Punishment, who had stolen the money and punished him, from another carriage.
Seeing this, Tong Xian immediately understood and said in a low voice: "Your Highness, these two are indeed the left and right commanders of the Arch Guard Department under my inner chamberlain."
After hearing this, Zhao Hongrun no longer had any doubts in his heart. After taking a look at the Dali Temple mansion, he asked: "Is the father already in the mansion?"
"Exactly." Tong Xian lowered his head and replied.
At this time, Yan Shun, the commander on the left and Tong Xin, the commander on the right, of the Royal Court Guards of Chui Gong Hall, had arrived in front of Lang Guan Yu Yan. Tong Xian glanced at the latter coldly and said, "Yanshun, you and Yang Shaoqing
, and imprison this traitor in the prison of Dali Temple."
"As ordered." Yan Shun clasped his fists and escorted Lang Guan Yu Yan towards the house.
But Tong Xin, the commander on the right side, stood on Tong Xian's side and didn't speak, just stood.
Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun was inevitably a little surprised. After all, although Tong Xian was an eunuch, he was not an eunuch in the ordinary sense. He was the eunuch in charge of the inner chamber, and one of the confidants of Emperor Wei, like Tong Xin.
There is something wrong with rashly siding with Tong Xin.
But the strange thing is that Tong Xian is not unhappy at all.
"Tong Xian? Tong Xin? Huh?"
Zhao Hongrun looked thoughtfully at Tong Xin, the right commander of the Arch Guard Division.
Seemingly noticing the expression on Zhao Hongrun's face, Tong Xian introduced with a smile: "His Royal Highness King Su, Axin is Lao Nu's cousin. He defected to Lao Nu a few years ago, and Lao Nu placed him in the imperial guard. It happened to be
There was an opportunity last year, so...Axin, this is His Royal Highness King Su, you must respect him more in the future, do you understand?"
Nepotism is unavoidable in any dynasty, such as the extremely powerful eunuch Tong Xian.
But at best, it also means that Tong Xin is one of his own who can be trusted.
Thinking of this, Zhao Hongrun expressed his kindness without hesitation: "Commander Tong, please go out with me more in the future."
"Yes, yes..." Tong Xin responded repeatedly with a happy face, presumably he also understood Zhao Hongrun's status.
At this time, Xu Rong, the minister of Dali Temple, and Chu Shuli, the minister of Daliang Mansion, had also come over. Seeing this, Tong Xian cupped his hands and said, "The two adults are frightened. Your Majesty is waiting for you two in the mansion."
After hearing this, Xu Rong and Chu Shuli ignored the questions along the way, adjusted their clothes subconsciously, respectfully raised their hands and said, "Please lead the way, Eunuch Tong."
"Please." Tong Xian bowed, led Xu Rong and Chu Shuli, and walked towards the house under the protection of Tong Xin.
Before leaving, he glanced at Zhao Hongrun, and his eyes clearly said: Your Highness, please help yourself.
This means that whether Zhao Hongrun wants to return to Prince Su's Mansion or follow him to see Emperor Wei, it is Zhao Hongrun's own wish.
However, Zhao Hongrun still followed him with the clan guards because he was very surprised by his father's sudden arrival at Dali Temple.
Following the eunuch Tong Xian to the side hall of the main building of Dali Temple, the group saw Emperor Wei sitting on a chair in the room, holding a cup of tea and slowly sipping it.
Seeing this, everyone hurriedly came forward to kowtow.
"Pingsheng." He said casually while putting down the tea cup. Emperor Wei was not surprised when he saw his son Zhao Hongrun among this group of people. He looked back at Dali Temple Qingzheng Xu Rong and said: "Xu Aiqing, I heard that you are waiting for this time
A murderer was caught from the Ministry of Punishment, and this person is also the official who confiscated stolen goods?"
Xu Rong's eyelids trembled slightly, and Lao Chen solemnly did not dare to ask in detail, "How did your Majesty know?" He raised his hands and said, "Report to your Majesty, it is indeed the case."
Emperor Wei nodded and asked: "Where is that evil party now?"
After hearing this, Tong Xian leaned aside and said: "Report to your Majesty, the old slave has ordered someone to take him to the torture chamber of Dali Temple."
"Okay." Emperor Wei stood up and said expressionlessly: "Take me forward."
The group of people came to the execution room of Dali Temple Prison again.
When Emperor Wei and others arrived at the execution room, the criminal gangster Yu Yan, the official who punished the criminals for the stolen goods, had been shackled to the wooden stand for interrogation by the jailers.
Perhaps because he saw Emperor Wei walking into the torture chamber wearing a dragon robe, Yu Yan, who was originally expressionless, showed hatred as if he wanted to choose someone to devour.
"Foolish Lord!" he cursed clearly.
This is the first time Yu Yan has spoken since he was arrested.
"Bold!" Tong Xian scolded in a high-pitched voice, causing everyone to snap out of their daze.
No one thought that this proverb would be so outrageous.
At this time, Tong Xin had already stepped forward, raised his hand and slapped Yu Yan several times in the mouth, so swiftly that even Emperor Wei turned his head and glanced at Tong Xin - maybe this was what Tong Xian had brought with him.
The cousin's reason.
"That's enough." Following Emperor Wei's whisper, Tong Xin immediately stopped his hand and took two steps back respectfully.
At this time, Emperor Wei looked up and down at the swollen-cheeked villain in front of him, and asked expressionlessly: "Yu Yan, do you have any complaints against me?"
"Complain?" Yu Yan laughed strangely twice and said gloomily: "Hunjun, your good days will not last long!"
"Presumptuous!" Tong Xin yelled, and was about to punish Yu Yan again, but saw Emperor Wei wave his hand and quickly retracted the steps he had just taken.
"..." Emperor Wei stared deeply at Yu Yan, with complex expressions flashing through his eyes, which seemed to be frightened, angry, fearful, fearful, and uneasy, which surprised Zhao Hongrun who was watching from the sidelines.
After a while, Emperor Wei took a deep breath and said expressionlessly: "Who is instructing you?"
Yu Yan sneered and said nothing.
Seeing this, Emperor Wei's face flashed with anger, and he said gloomily: "If you are willing to reveal the mastermind behind you, I can still spare your life..."
"Stop your delusions, you foolish king!" Yu Yan sneered.
After hearing this, Xu Rong, the minister of Dali Temple, said coldly: "Yu Yan, you were once a court official and received the emperor's favor. How dare you say such rebellious words? ... You think that with the power of the court,
Can’t you trace this matter clearly?”
"Go and investigate." Yu Yan glanced at Xu Rong, then stared at Emperor Wei with hatred, laughed loudly and said: "Go and investigate, find out the whole reason, it is best for everyone in the world to know.
"Go on, he looked deeply at Emperor Wei and said in a teasing and mocking tone: "What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Opening his mouth, Xu Rong swallowed back what he originally wanted to say, because he suddenly realized that the situation in front of him might not be something he could intervene in.