The doctor of the Ministry of Rites, the foreign minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, the Prime Minister of Taichang Temple, and others stood in the main hall, and the Queen's voice still echoed in their ears.
They finally entered the four major academies. After leaving the academy, they waited for an unknown amount of time to fill a real vacancy. They also struggled in the officialdom for many years before they achieved their current status.
Decades of hard work have come to nothing today.
They should have thought long ago that Li Mu, as cunning as a fox, could suddenly fall out of favor. This was all a trap set by him. Of all the officials in the court, they were the only ones to fall for the bait.
After the court dispersed in the morning, the Minister of Rites was taken away directly by the Ministry of Punishment. It was unknown how many people would be involved behind his back.
The remaining nine officials were also dismissed from their posts, especially the Ministry of Rites. Under the Shangshu, half of the important officials were lost. The imperial examination was about to take place, and the court had to fill the gap of officials in the Ministry of Rites as soon as possible without delaying the imperial examination.
As usual, this matter was nominated by Zhongshu Provincial officials.
The position of Minister of Rites is very important and requires experienced officials. However, there are not many fourth-rank officials in the court. Everyone holds an important position. It is impossible to transfer officials of the same level to the Ministry of Rites.
If you go, there will always be a gap in one position that cannot be filled, which will cause chaos in the other departments.
After much thought, Liu Yi, a member of Zhongshushe, came to the Ministry of Rites to seek the opinion of the Minister of Rites on this matter.
The Minister of Rites was also worried about this matter. The imperial examination was about to take place, and the manpower of the Ministry of Rites was not enough. Due to this commotion, most of the officials of the Ministry of Rites were gone, and even the Minister of Rites was dismissed. He was in urgent need of a deputy to assist him.
He thought for a while, but could not think of any suitable candidate, and finally said: "Otherwise, let Liu Langzhong take over. Although he has just joined the Ministry of Rites, he is already familiar with the affairs of the Ministry and can take on important responsibilities."
Liu Yi had some impressions of Mr. Liu, and said, "Mr. Liu has just been transferred here and will be appointed as the Assistant Minister. Isn't this promotion speed a bit too fast?"
If someone is available under his command, the Minister of Rites will not rush to the shelf. He shook his head and said: "Mr. Liu is here on a regular basis and is not promoted. His qualifications are not shallow. Although he is a minister, there are still some shortcomings. But
There is no other way at the moment. The imperial examination is important. If it is delayed, none of us will be able to take responsibility..."
According to the practice of the Great Zhou Dynasty, officials from various ministries rarely transfer from outside. The position of Minister of Rites is usually taken over by a doctor, but often a doctor has to work hard for ten years or more to become a minister. This doctor, Liu, was just transferred here.
, he was promoted as an exception, which is very rare in officialdom.
But whoever let the former minister of the Ministry of Rites seek death, it was not good to touch anyone. He had to touch Li Mu. It didn't matter if he moved him. Li Mu had nothing to lose, and most of the Ministry of Rites was lost to him.
If the official vacancies in the Ministry of Rites are not resolved as soon as possible, the imperial examination will definitely be affected.
After thinking for a long time, Liu Yi nodded and said: "Since Lord Shangshu recommended Dr. Liu, Zhongshu Province has nominated him..."
Ministry of Punishment.
Inside the prison of the Ministry of Punishment.
The Minister of Rites, who was still high-spirited in the early court, has become a prisoner, sitting dejectedly in the corner with a lonely look on his face.
Zhou Zhong walked to the cell door and said, "Open the door."
The jailer quickly opened the cell door and Zhou Zhong walked in slowly.
He walked up to the Minister of Rites and said, "Your Majesty has an order to severely punish those involved in this case. Mr. Qin and that Li Mu have no grudges. Who is behind this?"
The Minister of Rites said: "Zhou Chu is my brother-in-law. He died because of Li Mu. I just wanted to avenge him. No one was behind it."
Zhou Zhong shook his head and said: "You are a doctor in the Ministry of Rites, holding a high position. After the reform of the imperial examination system, you hold great power. Zhou Chu is your brother-in-law, not your biological brother. There is no reason for you to do this."
The Minister of Rites said: "I am responsible for one person's work, so you don't have to waste your breath."
Zhou Zhong smiled and said: "Actually, even if you don't tell me, I also know that on the day Li Mu was imprisoned, his wife and mother-in-law came to the Ministry of Punishment. If anyone in this city hates Li Mu the most, it is of course the minister's mother-in-law.
Her biological son died in Li Mu's hands. It is reasonable and reasonable for her to kill Li Mu for revenge..."
The Minister of Rites looked at him and said: "Master Zhou should know better than me. Some things require evidence."
Zhou Zhong shook his head and said: "I know what you are waiting for. You are waiting for the Zhou family to protect you, but have you ever thought about why no one from the New Party stood up to support you in the court today?"
The Minister of Etiquette's expression became condensed. This was something he had not figured out yet.
Zhou Zhong said to himself: "They have known for a long time that this is the plan of His Majesty and Li Mu, but they did not tell you. Obviously, they have given up on you. You hired someone to frame your colleagues, which triggered His Majesty's rebellion.
The Zhou family cannot protect you, and there is no way to protect you. Regardless of whether you confess to them or not, you will be sent to the battlefield in the border county. With your cultivation, I am afraid that within a month, you will become the soul of those demon kings and ghost kings.
..., no, they will devour your body and soul together, and will not let you have the chance to become a dead soul..."
As the Minister of Rites thought carefully, his face gradually turned pale.
Zhou Zhong looked at him and said: "When the late emperor was here, he chose your majesty as the crown princess early. At that time, the Zhou family's purpose of stealing the country had not yet been exposed. The late emperor was very good to the Zhou family and gave them two royalties.
Death gold medal, now that you are sentenced to exile, it is actually no different from the death penalty. If the Zhou family is willing to save you, although you cannot be reinstated, it can allow you to stay in the divine capital and save your life. If the Zhou family is not willing to save you,
You, then you can only wait to die..."
Zhou Zhong glanced at him one last time, turned and left.
A quarter of an hour later, a woman came to visit the prisoner.
When the Minister of Rites saw the woman, he immediately got up, ran to the door of the cell, and shouted: "Madam, madam, save me..."
The woman looked ugly and asked, "How did this matter come to light?"
The Minister of Rites said: "His Majesty must have used his great powers to deduce that Li Mu's fall from grace was a lie. We were all deceived by them!"
The woman gritted her teeth and said: "We are her relatives, and she actually did this to us for an outsider!"
The Minister of Rites said quickly: "It's too late to talk about this now. Madam, you have to find a way to save me. I heard that the Zhou family has two death-free gold medals. As long as I have one, I don't have to be exiled to the border county..."
The woman nodded and said, "I will go and beg you, dad, and you will wait for me here."
Zhou Mansion.
Zhou Ting had just finished his retreat. When he heard about recent events, he said angrily: "Stupid!"
The woman who had returned to Zhou's house had a cold face and said: "Whether it's stupid or smart, I must avenge Chu'er. He is the flesh that fell from my body, and I will not let his death be in vain..."
…”
Zhou Ting said solemnly: "Because of your stupidity, we lost a Minister of Rites. Do you know how important the Minister of Rites is now?"
The woman said coldly: "I don't know, and I don't want to know. I only know that I want to avenge Chu'er!"
Zhou Qian looked at her father and said, "Dad, you have to save your husband. If he is exiled to the border county, what will I do and what will happen to our children..."
Zhou Ting said calmly: "This matter is already known to everyone in the court. His Majesty personally issued the decree. How can I save it?"
Zhou Qian said: "Don't our family have a death-free gold medal? As long as he uses the death-free gold medal, he can be exempted from the crime of exile, right?"
Zhou Ting glanced at her and asked, "Who told you?"
Zhou Qian did not answer directly, but said: "Dad, I beg you, please save your husband!"
Zhou Ting's face was expressionless. The Zhou family has a gold medal for immunity from death, and two of them were given by the late emperor. The Zhou family has taken away the emperor's Qi and ruined the continuation of the Xiao family. Now they have to use their gold medal for immunity from death. I'm afraid.
It will completely anger Xiao's old party.
Besides, the doctor of the Ministry of Rites is already useless, so there is no need to waste a gold medal to save him. Even if he agrees, the eldest brother and others will not agree.
Zhou Tingdao: "The Zhou family doesn't have a gold medal to save him from death, so he can't be saved."
Zhou Qian cried and cried: "Dad, are you so cruel that you want to watch your daughter lose her husband and your grandson lose his father..."
Zhou Ting thought for a while, looked at her, and said: "There are many talents in Shendu. After you reconcile with him, I will choose another young hero for you, who will be several times better than him..."
"..." Zhou Qian looked at her father and her crying gradually stopped.
Half an hour later, Zhou Qian stood outside the cell in the Prison Prison and said to the Minister of Rites: "I asked, the Zhou family does not have a death-free medal, and my father can't save you. Don't worry, after you go to the border county,
I will take good care of the child, and don’t involve any more people in this matter..."
Zhou Qian didn't stay long and left in a hurry. The Minister of Rites leaned against the door of the cell and slid down weakly.
After an unknown amount of time, a sigh came from behind him.
He turned his head, looked at Zhou Zhong standing in the shadow, and asked, "What are you sighing for?"
Zhou Zhong looked at him and said slowly: "It's not worth it for me to rush here for you. You, the Minister of Rites, have done a good job and have no enmity with Li Mu, but you got into trouble because of someone else. Your efforts in the first half of your life were in vain. Your life is in vain."
Not long ago, but the people who caused you to fall into this situation are not even willing to save you. I believe you also know very well that the Zhou family has a gold medal to avoid death, but they are just unwilling to save you."
The Minister of Rites looked at him with a sneer and said, "Don't you just want me to confess more people? I'm afraid you will be disappointed. This matter was done by me alone and has nothing to do with anyone else!"
Zhou Zhong looked at him, smiled and said, "Have you ever thought about what it will be like after you die?"
He looked at the Minister of Rites, his eyes were like a deep pool, and with a strange power in his voice, he said slowly: "Although your wife is no longer young, she is still in her prime. After you die, she will still have a lot of time left in her life."
If she grows up, she will definitely remarry. When the time comes, she will marry a husband who is younger and more handsome than you. They will have their own children in the future. That man lives in your mansion and the woman who sleeps with you is unhappy.
Maybe even beat your children..."
Zhou Zhong looked into his eyes with deep eyes and said leisurely: "Is it worth it for you to defend them so much when they treat you like this?"
Zhou Zhong's voice seemed to have a kind of magic power. When the Minister of Rites heard it, a trace of confusion appeared on his face at first, and then his chest began to rise and fall slightly, his breathing became rapid, veins popped up on his forehead, and bloodshot eyes appeared...
After a moment, the Minister of Rites suddenly stood up, as if he was crazy. He gasped for air and gritted his teeth and said: "You are right, they were the first to be ruthless, so don't blame me for being unjust. I have no grievances with that Li Mu."
Wu Qiu, Zhou Zhu died immediately. What does it have to do with me? I didn't want to intervene in the first place, but that old woman forced me to do so. She also gave me the False Form Pill, but she didn't save me.
Why doesn't she save me? Since she won't let me live, then die with me!"
