These words made everyone scream out in surprise, shouting in unison: "No!"
Chunjiao said anxiously: "Sir, are you crazy? We killed so many people last night and arrested so many people, and they are still locked up in the dungeon. These people are the wings of the people in the court. They are now
Everyone hates you to the core, so when you enter the palace at this time, don't you take the initiative to send him to your door? If you don't show up, and the court investigates you, you can hide for a while, and then directly enter the palace and tell everyone that you have returned to the capital soon?
How could they let adults off so easily?"
"You can't hide. Now that I've taken action, I'm telling everyone that I, Xia Shang, am back. I must be present at the court this morning. Otherwise, based on the mouths in the court, I won't be able to find a place for the Metropolitan Procuratorate."
What crime?"
Chunjiao knew from Xia Shang's expression that he had already made a decision, so she said no more, frowned and asked: "Then do you want to ventilate the palace first? I'll go and send the message. There's still time."
"It's not a big deal, no need to worry about it."
"It's not a big deal!"
Chunjiao was really speechless. She wanted to say that since the founding of Dahua, there had never been such a bloody night, nor such a murderous act with such a wide range of influence.
Anyone can understand by thinking with their toes that if Xia Shang went to the court today, he would definitely become the target of public criticism. Who knows what the consequences would be?
It's okay to say that Merchant Xia is not here, and he can always hide it, but once he goes to the court, it will be proved that he is in Kyoto. If he refuses to admit the punishment result, he is openly provoking the court, and the crime cannot be washed away.
Therefore, Xia Shang's best choice is not to show up.
However, looking at Xia Shang's calm expression, it seemed that he already had a way to deal with it.
Chunjiao knew Xia Shang well, and had been on the line of life and death many times. Compared with the previous dangers, today's court appearance did not seem to be the most serious, so she arranged a carriage for Xia Shang according to Xia Shang's request and immediately went to the palace.
go.
The Jinluan Hall was lively just yesterday, and it will be lively again today.
For the imperial court, which had been silent for many years, this was absolutely new.
Today, there are less than half the officials who are going to court, because half of them are locked up in the dungeon of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
But today, the road to court was very busy. The procession of carriages and horses entering the palace at the entrance almost filled the huge square outside the palace.
The killings at night worried these officials.
With lingering fear, every family brought all their protective forces with them when they went out today.
Even a third- and fourth-grade official took a team of dozens of people with him on this trip, fearing that he would be beheaded on the way to the morning meeting.
Every official who wants to enter the palace must go through a detailed inspection, and there are so many people outside that even if only one official enters at a time, the release speed is pitifully slow.
Xia Shang arrived relatively early, but was still blocked outside.
Today is definitely the busiest day outside the palace. It is estimated that even the day when Dahua was founded was not as lively as today.
Xia Shang could hear the chatter outside one after another while sitting in the car. He didn't even hear his driver talking to him.
Knowing that the driver had opened the curtain, he poked his head in and spoke to himself: "Sir, someone is looking for you."
Xia Shang's thoughts were not here at all. He didn't want anyone to look for him. After he came to his senses, he felt strange. He said to himself that he had never been to court and had nothing to do with the officials in the court. How could someone look for him?
Just as he was wondering, a forty-year-old official showed half of his face at the carriage curtain: "Sir, your carriage and horses look strange. I wonder which house they belong to?"
"Sir, what's the matter?"
"I believe that your visit to the palace today must be because of what happened in Kyoto last night."
"Um."
"Since we all have the same purpose, we should naturally communicate more so that we can share the same hatred in the court later."
"What kind of communication method?"
"It seems that your Excellency really still knows nothing, so I have come to the right place. Your Excellency, please look outside. All the officials who came to the court are here for the purpose of murdering people last night."
"So what?"
"It is rumored that the head of the Metropolitan Procuratorate is arrogant and murderous, and he is extremely cunning. If you enter the palace, it will not be easy for you to join him in the name of wanton killing."
Xia Shang smiled and was a little curious: "He has killed so many people, why not take part in his killing?"
"It is rumored that the Metropolitan Procuratorate has the duty of supervising hundreds of officials. The people killed by the Metropolitan Procuratorate were all those who interfered with routine affairs. Although the methods were a bit excessive, there are laws to follow for their responsibilities, and their crimes will not lead to death."
Unexpectedly, this person had some knowledge. The Metropolitan Procuratorate did not kill anyone indiscriminately last night. Xia Shang had strict orders not to kill anyone randomly. Everything was in accordance with the rules.
First, report yourself to your home for routine inspection. If you don't recognize it, you will be inspected.
People with hospital status were killed.
Anyone who interferes with the inspection will be killed.
If anyone flees in fear of crime, kill him.
Those who behave themselves cannot be touched, and those who have problems are only caught but not killed.
The purpose is not to tell the truth so that he can defend himself in court.
Xia Shang originally thought that his arrangements were quite strict, but he didn't expect that someone would see through it now.
"Since you can't interfere with the indiscriminate murder of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, what about the crime of overstepping one's authority? After all, there is no imperial edict, no official document, and I heard that someone was killed in the palace. It must be someone who despises the imperial power, right? No, this should be considered bullying.
Jun..."
"It's useless. The Metropolitan Procuratorate has a close relationship with the Queen. Nowadays, when the Emperor rarely speaks, he usually acts as the Queen's agent. The Queen should protect the Metropolitan Procuratorate. If this crime is committed, the Queen should use the Emperor's oral instructions as an excuse.
.At that time, there must be a way to make the emperor admit it. Although the crime of deceiving the emperor is serious, it is difficult to place it on the head of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. As for exceeding the authority, even if it is confirmed, it is not a heavy responsibility."
"This won't work, and that won't work either. Let me see, sir, what kind of charge should be given to the Metropolitan Procuratorate."
The half face outside the sedan smiled: "This matter can only be accomplished if the civil and military forces of the entire court work together. The Procuratorate ignored the people's livelihood and killed people all over the capital. Now the people in the capital are panicked, and the people dare not go out. When an official
They dare not go to court. If this continues, the world of China will inevitably be in chaos. The Metropolitan Procuratorate can kill people casually in Kyoto in the name of routine. How can they be content with nothing happening in Kyoto after such a big incident? This is not only
It hurts the hearts of the officials and chills the hearts of the people. The imperial court must severely punish the Metropolitan Procuratorate and give the people an explanation, otherwise the people's hearts will be disrupted and the country will be unstable. This is the Metropolitan Procuratorate's biggest crime."
When Xia Shang heard this, a cold light flashed in the corner of his eyes: "A person who disturbs the people's hearts will have to be punished by the Metropolitan Procuratorate even if they cannot produce enough evidence of crime. Otherwise, the people's hearts will not be reassured."
The other party then said: "If the Queen still wants to protect the Procuratorate, then I and all the officials will remonstrate together. If the Procuratorate is not removed, the lives of all the officials will be difficult to stabilize. Please resign and return home. We are united, and the Queen will have three heads and six arms."
There is no guarantee that the Metropolitan Procuratorate will come."
"Who is your lord? You are forcing me to have a baby."
"Hey... Your Majesty, what you said is wrong. How can we force you into the palace? We are just punishing an institution for misbehaving. I am the chief scholar of the Hanlin Academy, Lin Yongshi, and you still don't know what position I hold?"
"The first Xia Shang of the Metropolitan Procuratorate."