Chapter 0994 Tigers must see blood when they come out (make up tonight and tomorrow)
Chen Lin found a eunuch and led Kou Ji's carriage to the Daqing Palace.
When Kou Ji arrived in front of the Daqing Palace, he saw that outside the Daqing Palace, which had been somewhat deserted in the past, there were many more imperial guards, eunuchs, and palace maids.
They stood guard outside the Daqing Hall, quietly, like sculptures.
Kou Ji didn't like this atmosphere very much.
However, the rules in the palace are like this, always constraining people like a cold machine.
In the entire palace, no one can live freely.
Even Zhao Zhen, who is the master of this palace, has rules that restrict him.
Kou Ji got off the carriage, shook off his robe, and walked to the entrance of Daqing Hall.
The female officer guarding the door saw Kou Ji and took the initiative to greet him.
"Kou Gong, you are here. His Royal Highness has been kneeling inside for three hours."
The female officer belonged to Empress Cao. When she saw Kou Ji, she knew that Zhao Run's savior had arrived, so she acted very eagerly.
Kou Ji felt relieved when he saw the female officer.
Zhao Zhen also allowed the people around Queen Cao to guard Zhao Run, which showed that he did not believe that his son would miss his woman.
Kou Ji nodded to the female officer and waved his sleeves to the imperial guard guarding the door of Daqing Hall.
The Yulin Guard opened the door of Daqing Hall without any hesitation.
Kou Ji stood at the door and looked inside, and saw Zhao Run kneeling alone in the middle of Daqing Hall, looking very lonely.
Kou Jimai walked into the Daqing Hall, ordered the imperial guards to close the door of the Daqing Hall, and walked to Zhao Run step by step.
"gentlemen……"
Zhao Run saw Kou Ji appearing next to him, knelt on the ground and bowed his hands.
Kou Ji casually sat next to Zhao Run, waved his hand, and said calmly: "Sit down and talk..."
Zhao Run hesitated for a moment and whispered: "Father, let the students kneel..."
Kou Ji said calmly: "You sit down when I tell you to. No matter how powerful your father is, you can't trouble me with such a trivial matter."
Zhao Run hesitated again and again, but still shook his head.
Kou Ji pulled Zhao Run down, and Zhao Run looked shocked.
Kou Ji rubbed Zhao Run's head and said with emotion: "I will write to your father later and ask him to drive those old guys who taught you knowledge back home to raise pigs.
I used to be such a lively little guy, but they taught me to be a little old-fashioned."
Zhao Run whispered: "Gentlemen, you are not slacking off when teaching students. It is the students themselves who did not understand the rules before."
Kou Ji laughed and said, "Are you stupid or am I stupid? Rules have never restricted us. We have a high position and have always broken or established rules.
It is the responsibility of the people below to abide by the rules."
Zhao Run raised his head, stared at Kou Ji and said seriously: "Sir, the way to be a king is to restrain oneself and return to etiquette."
Kou Ji scolded disdainfully: "That's nonsense. Only people with a weak brain would believe such nonsense."
Zhao Run looked at Kou Ji in astonishment.
Kou Ji curled his lips and said: "We restrain ourselves in order to restrain the greed in our hearts and prevent it from running out to harm other people. After all, with our status and power, if we let out the greed in our hearts, there will be countless
People are dying because of our greed.
Therefore, we are self-denial just to protect the weak and shoulder our responsibilities, and it has nothing to do with being a king."
Zhao Run asked doubtfully: "What about Fu Li?"
Kou Ji laughed and said, "Restoring rites means that everything we do should be attributed to rites. The total meaning of restraining oneself and restoring rites is to restrain oneself and make everything one does be attributed to rites.
As long as you can do this, you can reach a state of benevolence.
And benevolence lies in the heart, not in form.
So as long as we can keep our true intentions and not do things that harm others and benefit ourselves, we can reach the state of benevolence.
So whether or not you stick to the rules has nothing to do with it.
And benevolence is what everyone should possess.
So he has nothing to do with being a king."
After listening to what Kou Ji said, Zhao Run obviously relaxed a lot. He sat side by side with Kou Ji and asked doubtfully: "But those gentlemen in the palace, why do they tell students that self-denial and restoration of etiquette are the way to be a king?"
?”
Kou Ji said with a smile: "Because they want to use these things to trap you and make you a benevolent king. When your father was studying in the East Palace, they used the same thing."
Zhao Run frowned and asked, "Can you be a benevolent king by denying yourself and returning to etiquette?"
Kou Ji pondered for a moment, "Let's see who is right."
Zhao Run was a little confused.
Kou Ji shook his head and said with a smile: "The closest to the king are the officials. Therefore, if the king restrains himself and returns to courtesy, he will naturally be a benevolent king to the officials.
But for the common people, that’s not necessarily the case.”
Zhao Run frowned again.
Kou Ji patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile: "The human heart is greedy, and those who hold power are even more greedy. Therefore, if a king is too kind to officials, it will encourage their ambitions.
Just like Taizu, Taizong, and late emperors, they were all very kind to civil servants.
When Taizu was in court, he saw with his own eyes the corruption of Zhao Pu, a subordinate of Tong Zhongshu, but he did not touch Zhao Pu and only dismissed Zhao Pu from his official position.
After Taizong ascended the throne, he re-established Zhao Pu as Tong Zhongshu's subordinate Ping Zhangshi.
With Zhao Pu as an example, other civil servants can naturally feel free to be greedy boldly.
When your imperial grandfather was in power, corruption was rampant.
Wang Qinruo, Ding Wei, Lin Te and other traitorous officials were extremely greedy and played tricks on power.
So that the mountains and rivers are in turmoil.
Therefore, a king who restrains himself, restores etiquette, and is kind to his officials is very beneficial to them.
But it will not be of any benefit to the people, nor will it be of any benefit to the country."
Zhao Run pondered and said: "So sir, you don't agree with the words of the gentlemen in the palace?"
Kou Ji smiled and said: "If you are a king, you still have to have benevolence. But benevolence should not be placed on the officials, but on the people.
To be kind to the common people, to show authority to all officials, and to be domineering to foreign countries is the true way to be a king."
Zhao Run wanted to speak, but Kou Ji didn't want to say more about it. He turned his head, stared at Zhao Run and said with a smile: "Have you fallen in love with the beauty in your father's palace?"
Zhao Run tensed up and said with a stiff face: "The student didn't do anything."
Kou Ji laughed and said: "You don't have to be so cautious. If you like it, you will like it. As long as you ask, my teacher will go and ask for it for you."
Zhao Run stood up suddenly and said with a livid face: "Students will definitely not do such a thing that goes against human ethics."
Kou Ji curled his lips and said disdainfully: "A coward like a mouse can never become a great person. After your imperial grandfather ascended the throne, he sent all the women in your great-grandfather's palace outside the palace.
I don’t know how many of them married into good families and became other people’s wives and concubines.”
Zhao Run's face suddenly became very ugly.
Kou Ji pretended not to see Zhao Run's expression and said carelessly: "Your great-grandfather said in front of the civil and military officials of the court that there were only a hundred women in his harem.
As a result, your imperial grandfather raped thousands of women..."
The implication is that your ancestors have done all the embarrassing things.
It doesn't matter if you do something.
Zhao Run seemed not to have heard the deep meaning of Kou Ji's words. He said with an ugly face: "Most of the women my emperor's grandfather gave to good deeds were palace maids."
Kou Ji grinned and said, "You will help your imperial grandfather cover up his shame."
Zhao Run said seriously: "My imperial grandfather's move was rated as good governance by the courtiers at that time."
The smile on Kou Ji's face faded and he said calmly: "If I deal with this matter, even if I kill those women and be accused of being a butcher, I will not let them go."
Zhao Run stared, not knowing what to say.
Kou Ji asked calmly: "Tell me why you went to Fang Meiren's palace today, and why you were charged with molesting Fang Meiren?"
Zhao Run hesitated for a moment and whispered: "The student doesn't know why he went to Fang Meiren's palace. The student did not molest Fang Meiren. The student just arrived at the door of Fang Meiren's room. Fang Meiren fell out of the door wearing a light veil.
The student subconsciously helped me..."
Kou Ji raised his eyebrows slightly, "What then?"
Zhao Run sighed and said, "Then Beauty Fang said that the student was frivolous towards her."
Kou Ji asked again, "Is there anyone else in Fang Meiren's palace at that time?"
Zhao Run's face turned a little pale and he said, "There are two palace maids."
Kou Ji pondered and said: "Since someone has testified for you, why are you still charged with molesting a beautiful woman?"
Zhao Run gritted his teeth and said: "One of them hit a pillar, and the other threw herself into a well... They falsely accused the students of pushing them when they were committing violence..."
Kou Ji raised his eyebrows, "So there are no witnesses, but two more lives were lost?"
Zhao Run nodded.
Kou Ji squinted at Zhao Run and said, "Why did you go to Fang Meiren's palace?"
Zhao Run gritted his teeth and hesitated again and again, but still did not speak.
Kou Ji's face turned cold, "Do you know that destroying human ethics is a huge crime. You yourself are the only one who should be punished. Your mother and your brother will also be punished."
Zhao Run's face froze and he whispered: "Someone told the students that there are some herbs planted in Fang Meiren's palace, which can relieve fever. If they can be taken out and distributed to Huimin Pharmacy for planting, they can benefit people."
All nations.”
Kou Ji sneered: "Do you believe this kind of stupid thing?"
Zhao Run said with a bitter face: "The students didn't believe it at first, but someone in Fang Meiren Palace had a fever. After boiling water with that thing and drinking it, he recovered immediately."
Kou Ji asked: "Did you see it with your own eyes?"
Zhao Run confessed: "The student saw the sick eunuch and confirmed that he had a fever."
Kou Ji asked again: "So you went to Fang Meiren's palace and looked for it. Did you find the medicine?"
Zhao Run slowly shook his head, "There are many flowers, plants and trees in Fang Meiren's palace, but there are no herbal medicines. When the student wanted to go to Fang Meiren to ask for details, he bumped into Fang Meiren who was wearing a light veil..."
Kou Ji nodded thoughtfully and asked, "Who told you that there was medicine in Fang Meiren's palace?"
Zhao Run hurriedly said: "Jixian Pavilion is waiting to make Iron Wenxiong..."
"Iron Bear?"
Kou Ji muttered, realizing that he had no impression of this person.
Kou Ji stood up slowly and told Zhao Run: "Kneel here and don't go anywhere."
Zhao Run hurriedly got up and asked: "Sir, do you believe that the student is innocent?"
Kou Ji curled his lips and said, "If you had a lustful heart and courage, you would already have a group of wives and concubines."
Zhao Run was somewhat moved and saluted Kou Ji.
"Thank you sir for the gift..."
Kou Ji ignored Zhao Run and walked out of the Daqing Palace. When he arrived outside the palace, he gave instructions to the female officer next to Empress Cao.
"Keep an eye on him, don't let anyone in, and don't let him out. The more this happens, the easier it is to cause trouble again."
The female officer nodded solemnly.
Kou Ji got into the carriage and ordered the groom to drive to Zhao Zhen's palace.
The carriage drove all the way to the entrance of the harem and stopped. After Kou Ji got out of the car, he showed his waist badge and entered the harem.
Although Kou Ji has the power to travel within the palace, it does not include the harem.
If Zhao Zhen had not taken the initiative to invite him, Kou Ji would not have set foot in the harem.
This time I took the initiative to rush to the harem because I had no choice but to do so.
When Kou Ji entered the entrance of the harem, four eunuchs immediately appeared and guarded Kou Ji's surroundings.
Kou Ji curled his lips in dissatisfaction, but had no words.
When a scandal occurs in the harem, the wariness of men in the harem naturally increases.
Those four eunuchs were not there to protect Kou Ji, but to keep an eye on Kou Ji.
Kou Ji ignored them and rushed to Zhao Zhen's palace leisurely.
In front of Zhao Zhen's palace, there was a sea of people.
The eunuchs and concubines of each palace were waiting outside the palace.
When Kou Ji arrived at the door of the palace, he was immediately stopped.
The people who stopped him were people from the Queen Mother's palace.
Kou Ji could walk sideways in the palace, which was a privilege given by Zhao Zhen.
But this privilege was of no use in the eyes of the Queen Mother.
After all, Zhao Zhen occasionally had to listen to the Queen Mother when it came to family matters.
Although Queen Mother Li is far less powerful than Liu E, she still deserves the respect she deserves.
After Kou Ji informed him of his intention, the eunuch in the Queen Mother's palace went in to inform him, and then invited Kou Ji in.
Kou Ji entered Zhao Zhen's palace and saw that Zhao Zhen's palace was full of people.
Empress Dowager Li is in the first place, and Zhao Zhen is sitting next to her.
Almost everyone else was standing, except for the beauty who had been 'taken advantage of' by Zhao Run, who was kneeling in the middle of the palace.
"Chen Kou Ji, I have met the Queen Mother, the officials, the Queen, and all the nobles..."
When Kou Ji arrived at the palace, there was silence in the palace.
Kou Ji bowed and bowed to everyone.
Zhao Zhen had a gloomy face and said nothing.
Empress Dowager Li forced a smile on her face and said, "The Kou Qing family doesn't need to be polite... I'll give you a seat..."
Kou Ji cupped his hands again and said, "Thank you, Queen Mother."
Kou Ji was not polite and thanked Empress Dowager Li decisively.
Logically speaking, Queen Cao was standing, but Kou Ji couldn't sit down.
But since Empress Dowager Li offered her a seat, he didn't want to refuse hypocritically.
The eunuch brought a seat and placed it on one side.
Kou Ji's big horse with a golden sword went up a level.
Empress Dowager Li smiled dryly and said: "There has been a scandal in the royal family, and the Kou Qing family is laughing."
Kou Ji cupped his hands and said: "As a human minister, I should share the royal family's worries. Furthermore, if my son marries a royal princess, he is also considered a member of the royal family. I am also half a member of the royal family.
Now that something is wrong at home, I should come and help."
When Queen Mother Li heard this, the smile on her face naturally became much brighter.
Obviously, she is very satisfied with Koji calling himself a royal person.
I am also very satisfied with Kou Ji's classification of this matter as a family matter.
"Fourth brother, how did the officials react?"
Zhao Zhen asked in a slightly lower voice after Queen Mother Li spoke to Kou Ji.
Kou Ji cupped his hands and said: "This matter has not yet been clarified. The officials wanted to enter the palace to find out what happened, but they were blocked by me."
Zhao Zhen said in a deep voice: "It's better if the officials don't come to trouble me. I'm afraid that I won't be able to control my temper and punish the virtuous."
Kou Ji was speechless.
Empress Dowager Li said softly to Zhao Zhen beside her: "Your Majesty, control your anger."
Zhao Zhen cupped his hands at Empress Dowager Li and said nothing more.
After Empress Dowager Li comforted Zhao Zhen, she looked at Kou Ji, "The Kou Qing family must have known the whole story. How does the Kou Qing family view this matter?"
Kou Ji said bluntly: "I only know a little bit about it, so I want to hear what Fang Mei went through at that time."
Queen Mother Li nodded and looked at Fang Meiren kneeling in the hall, her face slightly cold.
"Fang! Tell me!"
The beautiful woman looked miserable.
She has said it more than eight times and will say it again.
Again, she doesn't care.
What she really cares about is that things develop completely differently than she thought.
She originally thought that if such a scandal happened in the palace, Zhao Zhen would definitely imprison Zhao Run and ban Empress Cao.
But now Zhao Run was only sent to the Daqing Palace to think about his mistakes, while Empress Cao still stood proudly beside Zhao Zhen.
Fang Meiren choked up slightly and said in a low voice: "When I returned to my mother's house, I was having a nap in the palace, and the prince forced me into my concubine's bedroom and wanted to do something wrong.
The concubine was awakened and desperately escaped from the bedroom. When she saw Chun'er and Nuan'er being killed, the concubine was so frightened that she ran away. Finally, after the prince was stopped, the concubine escaped."
Concubine Li snorted coldly and shouted: "Evil!"
Empress Cao hurriedly bowed and said: "I have not disciplined the prince well, please ask my mother to punish me."
Concubine Li snorted again and ignored Empress Cao. Instead, she looked at Kou Ji and asked, "What do Kou Qing's family think?"
Kou Ji cupped his hands and said: "The right thing is that family scandals should not be made public. Officials should not be involved in this matter."
Concubine Li was stunned for a moment and then said hesitantly: "There has always been a popular saying among the officials, which is called 'the Tian family's selfless affairs', and besides, the prince is the crown prince.
If the officials are not allowed to participate, will they cause trouble?"
Kou Ji said slowly: "As the Prime Minister, I have the responsibility to supervise the officials. I have my own officials to deal with it."
Concubine Li let out a long breath and was very satisfied with Kou Ji's statement, "Kou Qing's family's words are reasonable. The Ai family always feels that the officials frequently interfere in the Tian family's family affairs, and the Tian family has no secrets at all.
The prince's every word and deed is closely watched, and his life is too miserable."
Kou Ji said frankly: "If the officials cannot be selfless, how can we make the Tian family selfless?"
As soon as these words came out, Mrs. Li became even more satisfied, "Then the Kou Qing family thinks this matter should be investigated, and where should they start?"
Kou Ji said bluntly: "The investigation can be put aside for the time being. The guards around Fang Mei's palace, as well as the palace servants, have the responsibility to protect Fang Mei.
If Fang Mei is humiliated now, then the guards and palace attendants in her palace should be beaten to death."
Kou Ji's words were spoken lightly, but once he spoke, they could decide the life or death of dozens of people.
Everyone in the hall looked shocked.
The beauty's face turned pale.
Fang Meiren said in shock: "This matter is the prince's fault. Why did he kill the people in my palace with a stick?"
Empress Dowager Li also felt a little cruel. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Kou Ji say coldly: "The Lord humiliates me and I die!"
Mrs. Li decisively shut her mouth.
Zhao Zhen felt that Kou Ji's approach was very consistent with his wishes. He pointed at Chen Lin and said, "Go!"
Chen Lin bowed and exited the palace.
After Chen Lin left, Kou Ji continued: "The Crown Prince's maid and bodyguard failed to take good care of the Crown Prince and should be punished."
Zhao Zhen said coldly: "Then let's kill them all with a stick."
As soon as the words fell, a eunuch immediately went out to deliver the news to Chen Lin.
For a moment, the people in the palace looked at Kou Ji with a hint of fear.
A tiger is a tiger. If it doesn't move, it will eat people.
From the time he entered the palace to the present, only one stick of incense has passed, and hundreds of people have died with sticks because of his words.
Kou Ji didn't care about other people's moods, so he spoke again: "The prince's husband cannot teach well and should be punished."
As soon as these words came out, many people in the palace stared.
A word came to everyone's mind.
Do you want to be so cruel?
Don’t even let yourself go?
You are one of the princes and gentlemen, and you are the most important one.
Zhao Zhen was a little hesitant when he heard Kou Ji's memorial asking him to punish himself.
He has experienced a lot of bad things in the palace, how could he not know that there is something fishy in this matter?
It is precisely because of this that he only banned Zhao Run without punishing him, and even the queen did not hold him accountable.
This matter has nothing to do with Mr. Kou Ji from beginning to end.
Seeing that Zhao Zhen was hesitant, Kou Ji said decisively: "The official family, no matter what, the officials need the royal family to show an attitude."
Hearing this, Zhao Zhen sighed and said: "That's all... the fourth brother will be fined for one year, and the other ministers will be given the same salary."
Kou Ji cupped his hands and said, "Thank you so much, officials..."
After saying this, Kou Ji sat on the seat without saying a word.
Empress Dowager Li was stunned for a moment. After thinking about it, she roughly guessed what Kou Ji was waiting for and remained speechless.
After Zhao Zhen fined Kou Ji his salary, he just sat there and said nothing.
Seeing this, Fang Meiren shouted in a trembling voice: "It was obviously the prince who made the mistake, why didn't he punish the prince, but instead made things difficult for my palace people? If they hadn't saved me, I would have been poisoned by the prince."
Empress Dowager Li, Zhao Zhen, and Kou Ji were all indifferent.
Queen Cao's eyes fell on Fang Meiren, and a cold light flashed through her.
The calmer Empress Dowager Li, Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji acted, the more flustered Fang Mei became.
She shouted in horror: "Do I deserve to be humiliated?"
Queen Mother Li and Zhao Zhen both frowned.
Queen Cao clenched her fists.
Kou Ji said coldly: "Do you know that in the countryside, if a woman loses her virginity, she will be thrown into the pond? If you are really a fierce woman, you should have killed the prince when he used violence against you, not here.
roar.
If you were a corpse at this moment, even if I, Kou Ji, tried my best not to become an official, I would still ask the officials to depose the prince.
But you are not!
There are currently no witnesses to this incident, so it remains to be determined.
So you'd better not say anything.
If the prince really makes a mistake, the officials will punish him."
Fang Meiren said sternly: "What does it mean that the prince is really wrong? According to you, it was me who framed the prince. I am also from a scholarly family, and I know what it means to be incorruptible and shameless. Kou Ji, I am the king and you are the minister, how dare you