As dusk approached, the square outside the Meridian Gate was still crowded with people.
The royal officials at the end have already left. As for the mood in which they left, it may vary from person to person.
The people still staying in the square at this moment are basically some nearby residents who are not too far away from Wumen. For various reasons, they did not see the unprecedented show in Meridian Square today.
After listening to the embellished narrations of those who were at the scene, I couldn't restrain my curiosity and surprise, and rushed to the Meridian Gate Square again. There were a group of three or five pointing at the guillotine and talking to each other about what happened here today.
matter.
What happened today, although Xiao Chen only killed Cang Cheng at his repeated request. But all the discerning people could see at a glance that this was just Xiao Chen forcing Cang Cheng to the guillotine step by step.
Rather than saying that Cangcheng's self-righteousness led to his own murder, it is better to say that this young captain in purple is very scheming and cruel, and he does things with thunderous means in one step.
Just because of the accusation against him, he used the head of a second-rank official in the imperial court to establish his prestige in public. This person would never dare to be easily offended.
The entire capital city was in a state of commotion.
In the imperial study room, there was a thick layer of memorials placed on the table. However, Ming Chengzu did not review it, but fiddled with the golden incense burner with the faintest hint of sandalwood.
Next to the table, Hong Tianren, the Minister of War, and Chen E, the Yin of Shuntian Prefecture, were slightly hunched over, with serious faces.
"So late at night, the two beauties rushed to see the saint in such a hurry. What's the reason?" Ming Chengzu said slowly without taking his eyes off the incense burner.
"Your Majesty, that Xiao Chen chopped off Cang Cheng's head at the Meridian Gate guillotine." Hong Tianren took a step forward and whispered.
"Oh, is there such a thing?" Ming Chengzu turned around, "Liao Xianghe didn't kill him, how could he kill Cang Cheng?"
In fact, Lin Shangli had just left before this. The difference with these two people was that Lin Shangli came to plead with Xiao Chen, while these two people came together and seemed to want to file a complaint.
Ming Chengzu did not give Lin Shangli a clear answer. Is it right for Xiao Chen to torture the Minister of Rites? And he did not intend to express his attitude towards the two people in front of him. He wanted to see how the same thing could be judged from the perspective of the three people.
How much difference can it make if you say it in your mouth?
"After returning to the emperor and going to court, all the ministers followed the emperor's instructions and went to the Meridian Square to watch the execution of Liao Xianghe. They happened to see Xiao Chen wearing purple clothes giving guillotine wine to the prisoners, and Mr. Cang thought that the purple clothes represented the emperor.
How could you give wine to a felon in the imperial court? So he stepped forward to accuse him, and accidentally missed the execution time. First, Xiao Chen cut off the index finger of his right hand that accused him, and then forced Mr. Cang to the guillotine. "Look.
Looking at Ming Chengzu, Hong Tianren, Minister of the Ministry of War, lowered his head and replied.
"That's right. He rushed to the execution ground first, and having his finger cut off by Xiao Chen gave him a memory. However, Cangcheng is also the Minister of Rites and a second-rank official in the imperial court. Even if he wanted to be beheaded because he rushed to the execution ground
, we should also report it to the Ministry of Punishment, right? The Minister of the Ministry of Punishment was not present at the time, or did he deliberately fail to stop it?"
Ming Chengzu asked calmly with no expression on his face.
"Back to the emperor," before Hong Tianren could speak, Chen E, the governor of Shuntian Prefecture, had already intervened: "At that time, Mr. Li, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, also wanted to go up and stop him, but Cangcheng climbed up the guillotine by himself and begged Xiao Chen to chop him off.
It’s hard for others to interfere in this situation.”
"Is there such a thing? Begging others to chop off your head?" Ming Chengzu was stunned, as if he didn't believe it.
Before, Lin Shangli said that Xiao Chen pressed Cang Cheng on the guillotine and cut something. Hong Tianren said that Xiao Chen forced Cang Cheng to the guillotine. But now, Chen E said that it was Cang Cheng who climbed onto the guillotine. Please
He ordered Xiao Chen to chop off his own head. On such a matter, three people had three different opinions.
Is this forcing me to do everything myself and not trust anyone?
"Two of you, one said that Xiao Chen forced Cang Cheng, and the other said that Cang Cheng begged Xiao Chen to kill him. Which of you do I believe?" Ming Chengzu's voice was very low, but the weight of it was almost overwhelming the two of them.
Got to suffocate.
With a "pop" sound, the two of them fell to their knees at the same time.
"To report to the emperor, Xiao Chen used Cang Cheng to collide with Ziyi, which is why he collided with the emperor. Cang Cheng was so frightened that he climbed onto the guillotine." Hong Tianren explained hurriedly.
"Oh." Ming Chengzu put his hands behind his back and took a step slowly with a smile on his face, "That makes sense. I thought that Cang Cheng, as the Minister of Rites, didn't know that the purple clothes represented me."
When Ming Chengzu said these words, Hong Tianren's head buzzed as if it was about to explode.
As a prestigious official in the court, I also made the same mistake as Cang Cheng, who was preconceived. Based on my own subjective opinions, I came to complain to the emperor, but ignored Xiao Chen's identity in purple.
He kept staring at Xiao Chen, but he didn't realize that what Xiao Chen did today represented himself. Wearing purple clothes, it was the emperor's behavior. No matter whether he did right or wrong, a minister would never be the same.
Is there a reason for accusation?
And just now, he had unscrupulously complained to the emperor, saying that Xiao Chen had forced Cang Cheng to death. Doesn't this mean that the emperor had forced his minister of rites to death? He really had too much power in his hands, and he was just as forgetful as Cang Cheng.
Thinking of this, big beads of sweat broke out on Hong Tianren's forehead.
Chen E, on the other hand, was much calmer. After the emperor heard the news that Xiao Chen had killed Cang Cheng, there was no emotional fluctuation. Chen E knew that the emperor had tacitly approved of this matter.
If he is still complaining to Xiao Chen as before, he doesn't want the black gauze hat on his head anymore.
"To attack Ziyi is to attack the emperor. I think that Xiao Chen's execution of Cang Cheng outside the Meridian Gate was not enough to shock the world. The law of the Ming Dynasty stipulates that if you attack the holy power, you should kill all the nine implicated clans. So, I am like this
I came late to ask for an audience with the emperor because he wanted the emperor to kill all the nine tribes in Cangcheng in accordance with the imperial decree." Realizing his crisis, Hong Tianren's tone of voice changed drastically.
Upon hearing this, Ming Chengzu did not say anything, but slowly walked to the window and quietly looked at the open space outside the window.
Chen E on the side began to feel sorry for Hong Tianren in his heart.
This old guy, why did I come with him to ask for an audience with the emperor? Who is the emperor? Do you need to teach me what to do? I just accused Xiao Chen in person and killed them all, but you changed your tone temporarily to protect yourself.
, asking the emperor to convert the warehouse into the nine implicated clans. Do you think the emperor is stupid and can't see your little ninety-nine?
"It's cold on the ground, you all should get up." Ming Chengzu said lightly with a smile on his face.
