After February, it rained continuously for several days.
Seeing that the day of the Crown Prince Ceremony is approaching, the rainy weather is still like this, which may affect the Crown Prince Ceremony.
Sheng Hong was a little angry and muttered in front of Xie Mingxi: "The Ministry of Rites chose to go here and there, but they chose February 26th. If the rain doesn't stop, won't it delay the ceremony of Aluo's establishment of the crown prince."
The ceremony for the canonization of the crown prince will last for a whole day. You will have to go to the Ancestral Temple to worship heaven and ancestors. Such a great event always makes people feel unhappy on rainy days.
Xie Mingxi glanced at Sheng Hong with a smile: "If you are dissatisfied with the Ministry of Rites, just reprimand the Minister of Rites in court. What's the use of saying this in front of me!"
Sheng Hong chuckled and took Xie Mingxi's hand: "Rebuking the Minister of Etiquette means losing your face in public. How can I bear it!"
Xie Mingxi smiled and spat at him, but did not withdraw her hand.
A Luo twitched the corners of her mouth and turned her head to the side.
Tsk tsk! The old couple is still acting so disgustingly!
In fact, there was no need for Sheng Hong to open his mouth, everyone in the Ministry of Rites was also uneasy. Xie Jun, the Minister of Rites, was even more upset. He went to Qintian Prison angrily and scolded the official in Qintian Prison who was responsible for calculating the weather.
Those two officials were also full of bad luck.
How can the weather forecast be so accurate? There have been no mistakes in the past, but who would have thought that this time there would be a big mistake.
Could it be that those secret rumors from outside are true?
Is this because the emperor's insistence on appointing Princess Duanrou as the crown prince angered God, so God sent continuous rains as a warning?
…
No matter how secretive the rumor is, once it spreads, it is no longer a secret.
When going to court these days, all the ministers have to make gestures with their faces, and even whisper a few words in a low voice when they see each other who are personal friends.
Where did this rumor come from?
I couldn't tell clearly for a while. The rumors that were spread by word of mouth among the officials were tacitly understood by everyone, and they all knew the benefits and risks involved, so they did not exaggerate and spread them wantonly.
However, the emperor and empress had many eyes and ears and were well-informed, so they soon found out.
Sheng Hong's face was sullen, with anger gathering in his eyes: "Eunuch Wei, go and check in private to find out who spread this rumor first? I will never forgive such insidious villains with ulterior motives!"
The emperor was really angry, and Eunuch Wei did not dare to neglect, so he immediately accepted the order and retreated.
There was no smile on Xie Mingxi's face, and she said coldly: "There is no smoke without fire. There must be someone causing trouble among them."
Those who have the courage to cause trouble at the moment of the prince's canonization ceremony are definitely not ordinary ministers.
Sheng Hong snorted coldly, with a hint of awe-inspiring killing intent flashing in his eyes.
A'luo also frowned and whispered: "Father and Queen, it is raining continuously, so it is indeed inconvenient to hold the canonization ceremony. Otherwise, cancel the canonization ceremony and choose an auspicious day!"
"Absolutely not!"
Xie Mingxi opened her mouth without thinking: "If the canonization ceremony is canceled due to rumors, firstly it will catch people's attention, and secondly it will also confirm the rumors."
Sheng Hong nodded slightly and continued in a deep voice: "That's right. The canonization ceremony must be held as scheduled. Let alone rain, thunder and hail, we will still worship heaven and ancestors!"
A Luo: "..."
All right!
Compared to her father, queen and mother, her skin is still a little too thin and tender!
…
After receiving the imperial edict, Eunuch Wei did not make any public announcement. He only ordered people to secretly investigate where the rumors came from.
Eunuch Wei has been on the job for many years and is a shrewd and experienced man. In just two days, he found out the whole story: "...to report to the emperor, this rumor came from the palace of Prince Wuling."
Sheng Hong raised his eyebrows and sneered.
A few years ago, Sheng Hong issued an order to pacify the vassals. Several vassal kings were imprisoned in the clan's mansion and suffered a lot. They were released from the clan's mansion two years ago and returned to the feudal prince's mansion.
King Wuling is one of them.
Probably because he had been imprisoned for a long time, King Wuling was full of resentment, but he dared not speak out. He was no longer qualified to go to court and hunkered down in the palace all day long.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, King Wuling deliberately gossiped and stirred up trouble. The rumor soon spread to the ears of all officials.
Sheng Hong coldly issued an order: "Xuan Fenyang County Prince and An Prince enter the palace."
Eunuch Wei received the order and delivered the decree. In less than half an hour, Prince Fenyang and Prince An hurried into the Yiqing Hall together. After burning a stick of incense, they left with dark faces.
"This King of Wuling doesn't want to live a good life. This time I will help him directly!" Prince Fenyang was so angry that he gritted his teeth and said angrily.
As Zongzheng of the Zongren Mansion, it is not difficult for Prince Fenyang to take action to punish a vassal king who has lost power and angered the emperor!
A coldness flashed in King An's eyes, and he reminded King Fenyang in a low voice: "This matter is not that simple. King Wuling has been out of power for a long time, and he doesn't have much contact with civil servants. What kind of courage and ability does he have to do this?
thing?"
Prince Fenyang frowned and looked at Prince An: "You mean, someone is secretly instigating Prince Wuling?"
Prince An whispered: "Yes or no, take Prince Wuling to the clan's residence and ask him carefully."
The Zongren Mansion is different from the Ministry of Punishment. The Ministry of Punishment imprisons prisoners and often interrogates them with torture. The people detained in the Zongren Mansion are all members of the clan and royal family, and cannot be punished. To deal with high-ranking princes, prefectures, princes and vassals, the emperor must personally issue an order.
However, as long as he entered the clan's mansion, there was always a way to get King Wuling to reveal the truth.
Prince An and Prince Fenyang looked at each other and each sneered.
…
King Wuling was not a hard-nosed person. After entering the clan's mansion, he was deprived of food, drink, and sleep. After only two days, he couldn't hold on any longer. He confessed that Prince Ning had instigated him to do this.
King An's heart sank, and he threatened with a sullen face: "Prince Wuling, you have to think clearly. The crime of deceiving the emperor is not a joke. If you dare to deliberately slander and gossip, if you are found out, you will never be able to do anything good.
"
Prince Fenyang also frowned and said angrily: "Prince Wuling, don't talk nonsense. Prince Ning's son is getting married soon. He has been busy with marriage matters recently. How can he have time to encourage you to spread such rumors?"
"Furthermore, Crown Prince Ning is deeply indebted to the Emperor and is as close as brother and sister to Princess Duanrou. On that day, he even took the initiative to submit a memorial and asked Princess Duanrou to be appointed as the heir apparent. How could he harbor resentment?"
King Wuling, who is nearly sixty years old, is short in stature and has a plump figure. Hearing this, his body trembled slightly. However, he did not change his words and insisted that he was instigated by Prince Ning.
Prince Fenyang and Prince An had no choice but to go to the palace to recover.
The emperor and Princess Duanrou were both in the Yiqing Palace. One was reviewing the memorial and the other was carefully reading the memorial. The atmosphere was peaceful, harmonious and beautiful.
Coincidentally, several princes were also called to accompany him today. Prince Ning's prince Sheng Ting was also among them.
Sheng Hong put down the memorial and asked King Fenyang: "What did King Wuling tell you?"
Ah Luo put down the memorial together and looked at Prince Fenyang intently.
Several princes also looked over together.
Prince Fenyang calmed down and reported in a deep voice: "King Wuling said that it was Prince Ning who encouraged him to do what he did."