Chapter 118 Protecting the In-Laws
On the evening of the 15th, the only falcon in the north flew to Chang'an and brought a message.
In order to rescue the missing prince, Qin Yue, the Marquis of Pingxi and the General of Zhenbei, wiped out the Qiang and Hu tribes and killed their leader Bu Chang. General Qin Yue was loyal to the country, but it was a pity that they did so much, but the prince was killed by Bu Chang on the day he was captured.
After reading the news, Emperor Kang Cheng had a blank expression and was unmoved. Someone had to be responsible for the death of the prince, otherwise would his prince have died in vain?
He read the news again. The Qin family was really useful. They did what they should do and didn't say anything they shouldn't say.
Qin Yue was so sensible, so he wouldn't kill them all, but he still had to suppress those who should be suppressed, otherwise it would be difficult for the new emperor to subdue them in the future.
Is this what the emperor has been waiting for? Wei Zili thought.
Sixteenth, the Great Court Day
Early in the morning, when it was still dark, the cold wind and heavy snow were blowing outside, and the ministers came to the side hall of the Golden Palace to wait.
The emperor has not been to court recently, and they don’t know whether the emperor will appear today, but they must appear. It is their honor as the emperor’s right-hand ministers to be able to attend the morning court.
Even if the emperor has not been to court recently, they came in vain and did useless work. But they dare not complain about the hard work, nor do they dare not come. If they dare to slack off and not come once, believe it or not, there will be many people who want to replace them.
If the emperor does not appear, someone will come to inform them that they will not attend court today, and they can go home or go to the government office to handle official business.
Lv Desheng also came. His new carriage has a good warming effect. After getting off the carriage, he put on a cloak and took it off when he arrived at the side hall, so he didn’t get cold at all.
As soon as he came in, Xie Mingtang followed closely.
Compared to the spirit of joy on Lu Desheng’s face, Xie Mingtang looked a little gloomy.
Yesterday, his eldest son Xie Zhan and the eldest daughter of the Zhao family got married. There were only a few ministers who came to congratulate them. The ceremony was not as grand as when his nephew got married! After asking around, he found that those who didn't come were afraid of offending Lu Desheng. How could he not be upset? When did their Xie family become suppressed by Lu Desheng?
As soon as Lu Desheng came in, someone came up to him and asked, "Lord Lu, do you think the emperor will come to court today?"
"Yes, the emperor has not been attending court early recently. I heard that the emperor is not in good health, and we, the ministers, are also very worried."
"Lord Lu accompanies the emperor every day. Tell us if the emperor is in good health, so that we can rest assured."
Lu Desheng laughed, "How would I know? Just wait." Want to find out the emperor's true situation from him? No way.
Until the end of the fifth watch, no one called them to leave. The ministers knew that the emperor would appear today! So they began to dress up one by one.
Lv Desheng also realized this and was surprised. The emperor's dragon body could hardly support his strength to go to court. In addition to being surprised, he also had a premonition that something big was going to happen.
Soon, it was time for the morning court.
When Emperor Kang Cheng appeared, his whole body was emaciated, and the dragon robe on his body looked empty.
Seeing the emperor like this, the ministers were really surprised.
The emperor looked like his end was coming! The ministers were beating their drums.
After the ceremony between the monarch and the minister, a more loyal and upright old minister couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, you must take care of your dragon body."
Others also reacted and stepped out, "Your Majesty, take care--"
Emperor Kang Cheng raised his hand to stop these empty words, and then glanced down, just in time to see Lv Desheng looking at him with worried eyes. A thought flashed through his mind. Among these people, I am afraid that only Lv Desheng really hopes that he and the prince are alive.
"Let's talk about business, there is no need to say flattering words." Emperor Kang Cheng said in a hoarse voice.
The ministers complained in their hearts: We care about you, you think it's flattery, and Lv Desheng cares about you, you think it's sincere? Don't be so hypocritical!
If they say, in fact, Lv Desheng is the real flatterer!
Emperor Kang Cheng didn't care what the ministers thought, he nodded to the left.
Taiwei Xiao Qun stepped forward and took out the report, "Now I want to tell you something!"
Seeing that it was the Taiwei who was in charge of military affairs, the ministers were shocked.
"I think all the ministers know that the prince set out on November 25 to inspect the northern border to comfort the soldiers."
Yes, they all know, and then what?
"However, the prince was unfortunate. When the group passed through Baihe Town, they were ambushed by a group of elite Qiang and Hu people, and their whereabouts are unknown."
As soon as these words came out, the ministers were obviously agitated.
"What? The prince is missing?!"
"The Qiang Hu tribe is so brave!"
"Is the northern army dead? How could they allow the Qiang Hu people to enter the territory of Dali?"
"Qin Yue failed in his duty!"
What happened to the prince in the end? Was he rescued? This is the most concerned issue for all ministers.
Taiwei Xiao Qun waited for them to calm down before continuing, "Two days later, Qin Yue, the Marquis of Pingxi and the General of Zhenbei, led the army to besiege the Qiang Hu official camp, annihilated the enemy army, and beheaded the leader Bu Chang."
The ministers in the court listened carefully. After hearing this, they all thought that the prince should be rescued, right?
"Through the torture of important generals under Bu Chang and Bu Chang's own confession, the prince had been killed on the spot in Baihe Town."
What, the prince is gone?
Lu Desheng was also listening carefully. When he heard the end, he couldn't help smacking his lips. Oh my god, the emperor is so powerful. He directly picked out the fourth prince. Who would have thought that the fourth prince was the mastermind behind all this?
The officials who followed the prince were so weak that they couldn't stand still. Regret, the prince shouldn't have been allowed to leave the capital!
Countless ministers beat their chests and stamped their feet! Some ministers even cast a vague glance at the emperor on the dragon throne. If the prince stayed well in Chang'an City, he would be able to successfully succeed to the throne in a short time, right?
Who, who originally suggested that the prince go north to work in the army? ! Stand up or I won't beat you to death!
Chen Bingguang, the prince's tutor, came out and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Your Majesty, Qin Yue has neglected his duty. I request that Qin Yue be severely punished to comfort the prince's spirit in heaven!" He was the leader of the prince's group.
Others echoed, "Yes, Your Majesty, the prince's death was so unjust and tragic." Wow, all their years of investment ended up being in vain. It's heartbreaking.
Lu Desheng sneered, look what shit he sprayed? ! He had noticed just now that the old man was so regretful, but now he was so quick to blame others. He made all the mistakes, and they were all the fault of others! If you can embarrass others, never embarrass yourself.
"You old people, you should be the ones who should reflect the most! You hang around the prince every day, but something still happened to the prince. I don't know if you were born with weakness and suppressed the prince, and then suppressed the prince. He's dead." Lu Desheng jumped out and exchanged insults with him. After all, Qin Yue was his in-laws, how could he be allowed to shout and kill? !
"Lu Desheng, you - you -" Chen Bingguang pointed at him and was speechless.
The people around him immediately responded, "You don't know right from wrong! You help me but don't help me!"
The people next to him quietly stood back, for fear of being affected. Lu Desheng's ability to label others and mess around was still so good.
"Am I wrong?" Lu Desheng asked.
Chen Bingguang, the Prince's Tutor: "Of course not, Lu Desheng, don't talk nonsense and try to divert attention! As the commander-in-chief of the Northern Territory, isn't it his responsibility to protect the safety of the Northern Territory? The prince died in the Northern Territory. He Take full responsibility!”
Lu Desheng narrowed his eyes slightly, Old Chen, something is wrong with you.
Generally speaking, after a failed investment or after losing the family property, shouldn’t one be very decadent? What good does it do you to regroup all of a sudden and keep holding the Qin family accountable?
My daughter said that when the prince's death is revealed, the fourth prince's people will definitely find a way to blame all the fault on the Qin family. So, you, old man Chen, have gone to the fourth prince's side?
Lu Desheng asked back, "Then General Qin was fighting to death with several foreign tribes in the northern border, and the death of the prince is entirely blamed on him, right?"
He continued, "Everything must come first, cause first, consequence first. If you don't let the prince leave Chang'an City, won't this happen? You made a mistake in your calculations, encouraged the prince to leave the capital, and ended up harming others and yourself! Your Majesty, look at this The most damning thing was the one who suggested that the prince go north to work in the army! Wei Chen was very suspicious that the other party deliberately asked the prince to die. "He said the last sentence fiercely, facing the emperor.
"You're talking nonsense!" Chen Bingguang's eyes widened in anger.
Lu Desheng's rebuke was so harsh that no one could bear it. He doesn't know either, and he has good intentions. Is it wrong for the prince to go north to work in the army?
Lu Desheng was about to argue with him again when he looked up and was stopped by the emperor's look.
Lu Desheng:? ? ? It seems that the emperor protects the four princes very closely. Okay, it's not good for him to drag on the fourth prince anymore.
Taiwei Xiao Qun finally said, "Qin Yue, Marquis of Pingxi and General of Zhenbei, after annihilating the Qiang and Hu tribes and beheading their leader Bu Chang, was seriously injured in several vital parts of his body, bleeding profusely and unable to be treated, and finally served his country loyally. , died at the age of forty-five." When he said these words, his voice was low, as if he was afraid of disturbing the heroic spirit.
The entire Jinluan Palace fell into silence.
The ministers who had just clamored to punish Qin Yue were like a drake that had their necks strangled, and they were all speechless.
What else can I say? Qin Yue has already apologized with death, what else do you want from me? Not only that, before the other party died, he uprooted the Qiang and Hu clan and avenged the prince! As you said, it’s not enough to give away the merit, right? Then plus my life, okay?
Even the most stern censor would not be able to say anything to condemn the Qin family.