Looking up at the gray sky, Ma Shunde felt uneasy and wandered in the corridor for a long time, sighing: "The heroes will not be free if they are shipped away!"
I think back then, even though I was young and young, I was able to climb up the palace ladder, reach the position of Prime Minister in thirty years, and control the Imperial City Department. But now, everything is difficult and deteriorating.
"We have to be afraid of fate. Does Zhao Pifu feel the same way?"
"No, I will not accept my fate. Feng Shui can change my fate."
Ma Shunde originally didn't believe in Feng Shui. Wei Shizu once said that life depends on people, not the place, let alone Feng Shui. But when people are exhausted, who doesn't look for other hope?
Just then I thought about it, and someone hurried over from the archives. He hadn't slept all night, and his eyes were bloodshot. He knelt down and reported: "Duke Gong, there is no official named 'Huo Lianqi' above the fifth rank!"
No?
How could it not be!
Ma Shunde was startled, narrowed his eyes, and asked gloomily: "Have all civil servants and military officers been investigated?"
Fanzi kowtows: "I'm reporting to the Governor. We've checked everything. Civil servants and military officers, none of them above the fifth rank have this name. Now they are checking for those below the fifth rank."
Although I haven't checked it out yet, I think it is also known that with Ma Shunde's identity, it is unlikely that he can remember the name of an officer below the fifth rank.
Those who can leave an impression on Ma Shunde are basically officials of fifth rank or above.
Ma Shunde's face sank. Being able to rise up in the court must be extraordinary. He didn't believe that he had remembered it wrong. How could he not find it out?
Could it be that these people didn't try their best and missed something?
Ma Shunde suddenly became angry when he thought about it. He stared gloomily and was about to get angry. In an instant, the sound of rapid footsteps was heard, and someone walked in quickly and said hurriedly: "Eunuch Hu has brought people in!"
Hu Huaian is here?!
Ma Shunde knew very well what this meant. Someone came from the palace, and the emperor sent someone to ask questions!
However, even if it was an angel, it would be rude to break in without reporting. Ma Shunde was startled again and hurriedly walked out when he saw Hu Huaian coming in with someone.
"Ma Shunde, listen to the instructions!" Hu Huaian stood expressionless.
"My slave Ma Shunde is here!" Ma Shunde hurriedly came up to greet him, knelt down heavily and lay on the ground.
Hu Huaian stood there, not showing any emotion at all, and asked coldly: "You said that the King of Qi accumulated armor and soldiers, is there any evidence?"
This is Hu Huaian, the imperial envoy, repeating the emperor's questions.
These words were not well-intentioned. Ma Shunde's heart skipped a beat and he kowtowed hurriedly: "This slave has been reported by Gong Qianhu. Someone has been sent to verify it and the people involved have been recorded!"
After saying this, he also explained all the evidence obtained from the informant.
Hu Huaian said coldly: "Quickly investigate and report!"
"Yes! My slave, Ma Shunde, must find out this matter as soon as possible!" Ma Shunde responded immediately.
After Hu Huaian asked, his original expression changed. He was no longer as cold as before, but returned to a smiling face. He took two steps forward and quickly helped up the kneeling Ma Shunde.
"Mr. Ma, it's cold on the ground. Get up quickly! We don't mean to embarrass you. It's really our sacred duty!"
"The Emperor was furious after hearing the news reported by the Imperial City Division. This is no small matter. You must investigate this matter quickly and provide conclusive evidence. Otherwise, it will be difficult for our family to communicate!"
"We understand..." Ma Shunde sighed. He stood there tremblingly, his waist suddenly bent.
Ma Shunde even felt sad. This emotion made him almost shed tears, but if he shed tears at this time, he would be seeking death.
He tried hard to hold down this emotion, and quickly straightened his expression. He turned around and faced Gong Qianhu and others who were also walking over, and ordered: "Except those below the fifth rank, go and quickly check and dismiss the guilty ones."
Officials of fifth rank and above cannot be omitted!"
"yes!"
Seeing Hu Huaian coming, Gong Qianhu also knew that if he didn't find out, the people below him would be angry.
"Your Majesty, go check it out in person right away!" Gong Qianhu felt that the atmosphere here was really depressing, so he took his people to look through the files.
Ma Shunde stood in front, shivering all over as the rain fell.
Hu Huaian was actually caught in the rain, but he seemed to be in a good mood. He consoled him: "My father-in-law Ma's erudition and strong memory have been well-known in our family for a long time. I'm sure he won't make any mistakes, and there will be good news soon!"
This was said beautifully, and Ma Shunde nodded in his mind: "I think our family will remember it correctly."
Humph, you feel like you have failed and it’s your turn to take the lead?
Those who betray you have already hated Zhao Xunzhong. As long as the emperor's holy family fades a little, your death will be over.
What makes Ma Shunde sad is not this person. I have seen many such people, and they all disappeared quickly, but they were not willing to have a direct conflict, let alone stand here and wait.
"Since your Majesty has given orders, how can we sit back and wait? Let's go and supervise and see if these people are checking carefully!" Ma Shunde handed over his hand and led the people away.
Now the rain has slowed down a lot, and there is only the sound of pattering. When I walked to the archives office, I saw everyone busy under the candles.
But it was quieter than before. After a while, Ma Shunde subconsciously turned his head to look to the east, and there was a faint light.
It will be dawn soon.
"Eunuch Hu, let's go to the front hall and wait first!" Ma Shunde said.
Hu Huaian could wait anywhere, so he naturally smiled and nodded while looking around.
The Imperial City Department can be said to be the outstretched hand of the inner court, and it can even be said to be the only one. Any eunuch would be proud to be in charge of this department. Otherwise, even if he has the title of great eunuch, he is just a
It's all appearance.
"Humph, although this person is in charge, he is incompetent. If it were me, I would certainly not disappoint the emperor." Hu Huaian looked at the busy Fanzi who was standing respectfully and smiled.
After sitting in the front hall for a while, Ma Shunde suppressed his anxious mood, while Hu Huaian slowly drank tea. Not long after, he heard the first rooster crow, coming from a distance.
Hu Huaian put the tea bowl in his hand on the table, stood up, and said to Ma Shunde: "My father-in-law Ma understands that our family cannot wait any longer. We must go back now and report the truth to the emperor."
Seeing this man about to leave, Ma Shunde's vision went dark and he almost fell to the ground. He held on to the chair and held on to his fingers, clasping his fingers tightly before he could calm down.
He opened his eyes wide and looked at the figure turning around. In a daze, he seemed to see a similar scene.
In that scene, the person with the same character as Hu Huaian, isn't he his former self?
Ma Shunde found that he started to reminisce again.
Obviously he is not very old yet, but recently he can't help but recall the past, the days when he and Zhao Bingzhong competed.
He remembered again that day, he looked at Zhao Bingzhong condescendingly like this.
Was Zhao Bingzhong in the same mood and situation at that time?
Just then, someone came in in a hurry.
Reported to Ma Shunde: "Duke, found it!"
found it?!
This sound made Hu Huaian's footsteps stop.
Ma Shunde was surprised and happy at the same time. Of course, surprise is naturally greater than happiness. At this point, there is happiness, but how much can it be?
He immediately took the file handed over by this person. When he saw it, Ma Shunde was really shocked this time.
What surprised him was that although this was indeed Huo Lianqi's file, it only contained the official position and files of Qianhu, but no information about the guards he belonged to.
Strange, could it be that the person who made the file leaked it?
Ma Shunde frowned, this person who made the file should really get fifty slaps!
Wouldn't this cause him trouble?!
But finding this file is better than finding nothing at all.
Now that he has this file, he has reason to go with him to see the emperor.
As long as you see the emperor and adapt to the situation before the emperor, you may be able to avoid this disaster.
With this in mind, he stuffed the file into his sleeve and said to Hu Huaian: "We will enter the palace with you and report to the emperor."