Zhu Zhirong did not expect that Lin Jue would come up with such an idea. His original intention was to test Lin Jue's tone and put some pressure on him. Because after the morning meeting today, someone found him and asked him to do Lin Jue's work. Zhu Zhirong did not want to hide this matter for Guo Bing. So he deliberately said these words. Suspended Lin Jue pending investigation? He did not have the power, and he was unwilling to do so. Because it seemed that he, Zhu Zhirong, was oppressing Lin Jue. Zhu Zhirong did not want his position to be known so quickly.
"There's no need to suspend him. It's not you who killed someone. Besides, what should you do if you give up your choice and bring up the matter of the punishment department? It's hard for Yang Xiu to take it seriously. Then why should I ask the court for someone? I won't mention this matter again. You also understand what I mean. On this matter, my attitude is doubtful, but not absolute. The imperial court will conduct a thorough investigation and make its own public judgment on right and wrong."
"What your Excellency said is absolutely true. The imperial court will conduct a thorough investigation and make its own public judgment on right and wrong. Before that, all speculations and speculations are useless." Lin Jue nodded.
Zhu Zhirong smiled and suddenly said in a low voice: "Lin Jue, let me ask you a personal question aside from the official business. You were on the boat at the time. You should have been able to see what was going on. Can you tell me? , based on your judgment, did the prince accidentally drown Kang Zizhen?"
Lin Jue laughed loudly. He originally thought that Zhu Zhirong was a shrewd person, but when he asked this question, it showed that Zhu Zhirong was stupid. Could it be that Zhu Zhirong also considered himself a fool and really wanted to ask something? This was so funny. Or maybe Zhu Zhirong was eager to know something. Someone behind him wanted him to ask something about himself, so he looked a little embarrassed and a little anxious. However, how could he get the answer?
"Guess!" Lin Jue answered with a wink and a smile.
…
By the northwest lake, in the old palace, the young prince Guo Kun greeted Lin Jue, who was riding a horse slowly, in anxious anticipation.
As soon as Lin Jue entered the palace, Guo Kun complained impatiently.
"Why didn't you come until now? I'm almost crazy with anxiety. Did you not take this matter to heart at all? Do you know that this morning, my father's confession was dismissed by the officials as useless. The reason for manslaughter was ridiculed by everyone, and everyone thought it was a sophistry. The emperor has ordered that your former teacher Fang Dunru be sent to investigate the case together with people from the Dali Temple Punishment Department of the Court of Justice to investigate the case thoroughly. Do you know the cause and effect? Someone in court suggested that my father should be immediately arrested from Hangzhou and brought back to Beijing for interrogation. It’s urgent, but you still act as if nothing happened?"
Lin Jue frowned and looked at Guo Kun and said: "Little prince, what's wrong with you jumping around? The matter has come to this, what should we do in your opinion? What's the use of being furious here?"
Guo Kun glared and said: "I understand, you want to stay out of the matter, so you don't rush. Don't think that you will have a good life after our palace is over."
Lin Jue was really angry, and threw the riding crop in his hand to the ground with a snap, and shouted in a cold voice: "Little prince, if you say such things again, I will leave immediately. Until now, you are still so childish and impulsive, and you have not made any progress at all. . How can you achieve anything in this state? If you are so angry, why don't you lead people to overthrow the palace and rebel and seize the throne? You can't do these things, but you are here biting and jumping, what's the use? If you want to If you want to save people, just listen to my arrangements honestly, otherwise, don't blame me for speaking harshly."
"You! Presumptuous!" Guo Kun was so angry that the veins on his forehead popped out. Lin Jue actually dared to talk to him like this. It was nothing big or small. Guo Kun glared at Lin Jue angrily, like a beast about to attack.
Lin Jue glared at Guo Kun without mercy. He did not want to compromise with this impulsive young prince at this time. The two of them were like two big cocks about to fight, glaring at each other angrily, and they might start to fight at any time.
Shen Tan saw this situation and hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "Little prince, isn't the county horse master here? The prince's letter asked the young prince to listen to the county horse master's arrangements. He must have a plan. The county horse master last night I have just returned to Beijing, and naturally I have to report to the Yamen today. After all, he is also under the jurisdiction of the Shangguan. They are all trying to think of the same thing, why did they start a quarrel first? Calm down your anger, calm down, and sit down to discuss it. It’s serious.”
Guo Kun saw a hint of uncompromising courage in Lin Jue's eyes. He thought of what his father had said in the letter, which required him to fully cooperate with Lin Jue's arrangements. Furthermore, he really had nothing to do now, and the only one he could rely on was his brother-in-law. There was really no need to be so mean to him. He snorted and looked away.
"You'd better have a good idea and let my father pass safely this time, otherwise..."
"I can't guarantee a safe passage. No one can guarantee this. My father-in-law makes a mistake, what can I do? In short, I will try my best. If I really can't save it, we will all die together. In short, I will do my best. I'm a grasshopper on a rope. I can't jump on you, and I can't run away from me." Lin Jue said angrily.
Guo Kun cursed, turned and walked into the hall, saying as he walked: "My mother is waiting in the back house, come with me to see her. My father said that I want to listen to your arrangements, but I want to see what arrangements you have. "
Lin Jue smiled bitterly and followed him to the back house. Shen Tan beside him whispered: "Don't be as knowledgeable as the young prince. He is so confused now that he has lost his plans. Please bear with him."
Lin Jue nodded and said, "I know. Brother Shen, please take someone outside the house. Someone was watching me when I came. You can find a reason and beat us up so that they know we are not blind."
Shen Tan was stunned, gritted his teeth and said: "Damn it, at this moment, there are really a lot of people who are adding insult to injury. I will make them disappear from this world."
Lin Jue waved his hand and said: "There is no need to kill people. The origin of these people is unknown. It is not a good time to get into trouble now. Just give a warning. I need to be completely clean behind me tomorrow, so I might as well alert the snake so that they will not dare to send people to follow them tomorrow. .”
Shen Tan nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go right away."
Lin Jue, led by the young prince Guo Kun, met the frowning princess in a splendid room on the second floor in the small building facing the Northwest Lake in the back house of the old prince's palace. The princess obviously did not sleep well last night, her eyes were Her eyes were red, and the bags under her eyes were also visible. She was originally a beautiful woman who still had charm, but now she seemed to be several years older.
Seeing Lin Jue, the princess's eyes lit up. She ordered someone to serve tea and then turned away everyone. The princess asked eagerly: "Lin Jue, what should we do now? Kuner's news today said that the court's attitude is very serious. Not good. Almost none of the government officials came out to speak for the prince, and the reason for the manslaughter was considered by the court to be sophistry. What should we do?"
Lin Jue bowed and said: "Mother-in-law, please don't panic. Isn't all this expected? I told you on the way here that the situation in the capital must be very tense and chaotic. You must stay calm at this moment. If you panic, Without rules, it’s easier to make mistakes.”
The princess nodded and said: "I understand what you mean, but I can't help but panic. My heart is in my throat. Do you think I should go into the palace to see Concubine Rong today? In fact, I did so last night. Want to go."
Lin Jue hurriedly waved his hands and said: "Absolutely not. Mother-in-law must not act without authorization. Fortunately, you did not act without authorization, otherwise it would have ruined everything."
The princess said: "It was because I didn't discuss it with you that I didn't enter the palace. According to Kun'er, I entered the palace last night."
Lin Jue glanced at Guo Kun. Guo Kun was a little embarrassed and frowned: "Then if you don't ask for help now, when will you go? Do you want to wait until they arrest daddy?" Lin Jue frowned and didn't want to talk to him, and turned to face him. The princess cupped her hands and said: "Even if you ask Concubine Rong to go to the palace to ask for it, the meeting between mother-in-law and Concubine Rong must not be known to anyone. Mother-in-law, I have arranged everything. Just listen to my arrangements. I will tell you tomorrow I will arrange for you to meet Concubine Rong in my box at the Nancheng Grand Theater. Concubine Rong will travel incognito, and your mother-in-law cannot make a big show. Tomorrow at noon, the young prince asked Shen Tan to give her a mask to her mother-in-law so that she can disguise herself. Dress up and go to Nancheng Grand Theater alone."
Guo Kun said in shock: "Going alone? Are you crazy? I'm afraid my mother doesn't even know the way. Besides, why are you going in disguise? Why can't we meet openly?"
Lin Jue sighed and said to himself: "With your IQ, it's really hard for me to explain to you."
"In that case... just send someone in disguise to accompany my mother-in-law. Mother-in-law, if you go out disguised as an ordinary servant, some eyes and ears will not follow you. I also do this to ensure that this matter is kept secret. You also know , this matter cannot be ostentatious." Lin Jue said.
The princess nodded and said: "Okay, I will take a maid with me tomorrow. Kun'er doesn't have to worry. Your mother and I have traveled all over the capital before, so how can we not know where we are? Lin Jue also did this to keep it secret. For the sake of safety. If the emperor knew that we were doing something, wouldn’t it make him even more unhappy? In this situation, we need to be extremely careful."
Guo Kun said: "Okay, I will protect you secretly along the way."
Lin Jue shook his head and said: "No need, the young prince's mission tomorrow is to go to the army as usual and pretend to be as if nothing has happened. There is no need for you to come forward. You are now a key target of surveillance. If you move, everything will be exposed."
Guo Kun frowned and said, "Then we can't have no one to protect us. What if something goes wrong?"
Lin Jue said: "Let's do this. Commander Shen can lead a few capable people to pretend to be ordinary people and hang out in the market and near our grand theater to guard. This is the biggest concession, but in fact, I personally think it is unnecessary."
Guo Kun frowned and said: "Okay, let Shen Tan go. But I have some doubts. You can invite Concubine Dongrong to your grand theater? Do you have such a great reputation? You are traveling incognito. I don't believe it." "
Lin Jue said: "Of course I don't have such a big face, but someone can. Mother-in-law, I have asked Lu Wu to go to the palace to invite Concubine Rong to watch a new play. Concubine Rong will definitely agree to her."
When the princess heard this, she suddenly realized. If Lu Wu went to invite her, she would be more respectable than anyone else. Naturally, Concubine Rong was willing to watch the theater with her daughter.
The young prince asked strangely: "Lvwu? That little maid next to you? Why can she be invited just by going?"
The princess and Lin Jue looked at each other and remained silent. Guo Kun noticed something was wrong and said anxiously: "Are you hiding something from me? Mother, I am your son, I can tell Lin Jue anything."
Can't you tell me?"
The princess sighed: "Kun'er, I will tell you later. Your temper is too hasty, so I can't tell you now. What you just said is completely wrong. Lin Jue is half of my mother's son, so how can he be so close? You are not allowed to talk like this in the future.
.”
Guo Kun was mortified, but he could only nod in agreement. Lin Jue stood up and said, "That's it, it's settled. I'll wait for my mother-in-law at the Grand Theater tomorrow. Everything will be according to my arrangement, and there will never be any complications. Tomorrow
Whether we can persuade Concubine Rong to help lobby the Queen Mother is the key right now. There must be no mistakes."
The princess nodded and said, "Don't worry."
Guo Kun couldn't help but asked: "But what if Concubine Rong refuses to help tomorrow?"
Lin Jue smiled and said: "She will help. Helping others is helping yourself. She will understand."
