northernbook Chapter 210 Strange
Chapter 210 Strange
After that, everything went smoothly along the way and the group returned to the palace smoothly.
As for how to explain to the emperor, Jiang Wanyue doesn't have to worry about it.
At the gate of the imperial palace, Li Ce got off the sedan chair first and went to the Sanqing Temple.
Li Ce walked into the hall with a solemn face. Zhang Rao was originally preaching to the retired emperor. Seeing Li Ce's expression, he guessed that he had something important to say, so he stood up on his own initiative.
"It's getting late, and I don't know how those two boys are doing with their homework."
He bowed to Li Ce.
"I will take my leave first."
After saying this, he turned and walked out of the hall.
The emperor was a little surprised when he saw Li Ce: "Didn't you say you were going to Tianfu Temple to pray? Why are you back so early?"
Li Ce took a breath and told the story of Ling Lan's affair and secret collusion with the Lu family in a serious manner.
The emperor was shocked. He widened his eyes and looked at Li Ce in disbelief.
He didn't believe Ling Lan would do such a thing.
He was about to ask, when he suddenly heard Li Ce's next words.
"Ling Lan claims his surname is Wu and he is a member of Queen Wu's clan."
The retired emperor's face suddenly changed color.
There was a gleam of anger and fear in his eyes.
"How dare she do such a thing? Kill her immediately!"
The emperor gritted his teeth.
Seeing that Li Ce didn't respond, the emperor glared at him and said, "Why are you still standing there? Why don't you go quickly?"
Li Ce was confused and didn't understand why he was so sensitive to Ling Lan's last name.
Could it be that there is some hidden story behind Empress Wu’s death?
His eyes flickered and he wanted to ask, but when he saw the expression on the face of the retired emperor, he finally didn't ask.
"Father, please don't be angry. Fortunately, the news of Ling Lan's pregnancy has not been spread out, and outsiders don't know about it. I plan to let her stay in Tianfu Temple in the name of praying for blessings, and after this period of time, I will announce to the public that she died of illness." Li Ce slowly said his plan, and did not forget to explain, "If we execute her now, it will inevitably arouse suspicion and affect your reputation."
The emperor gritted his teeth and held his breath as he agreed to his proposal.
"Just do as you say, but as soon as possible! We must not let the remnant of the Wu family live!"
Li Ce remained calm and responded with a "yes".
After that, the emperor no longer had the heart to talk and waved his hand to let him go back.
Li Ce didn't stay any longer.
He walked out of the Sanqing Hall and returned directly to the Liangyi Hall without stopping.
After entering the Liangyi Hall, Li Ce waved away everyone and called in the inner guards.
"Tell two people to keep a close eye on the Sanqing Palace and protect the emperor at all times. However, don't let him find out."
The inner guards took the order and left.
Li Ce walked to the desk and sat down, opening a book of memorials. He seemed to be reviewing them, but he didn't move his pen for a long time.
He was always thinking about the Wu family.
"Father's reaction was too much. He was not angry about Ling Lan's affair and betrayal, but because Ling Lan's surname was Wu... What is it about the Wu family that made father so afraid? All the members of the Wu family died, and only Ling Lan was left, but it made father so shocked and angry..."
Thoughts kept swirling in his mind, and he couldn't figure it out.
"If I ask directly, Father will definitely not tell the truth... It seems that I can only ask those old ministers."
The first person that came to Li Ce's mind was the former eunuch chief.
But he is dead.
"Why did he die at this time?"
Li Ce muttered.
As soon as he finished speaking, his expression suddenly froze.
"How could that old fox Wang Zhong die so quietly?"
He stood up quickly, walked to the door and shouted.
"Liang Gaosheng!"
Eunuch Liang jumped out from the corner.
"What is the emperor's order?"
Li Ce waved at him and said, "Go and fetch the case file of the former eunuch chief Wang Zhong."
"Yes."
Eunuch Liang bent over and ran out quickly.
Judging from the emperor's expression, this was obviously an important matter, so Liang Gaosheng did not call anyone else, but went out of the palace in person.
He went to the Dali Temple first, thinking that given Wang Zhong's status, the case would definitely be handed over to the Dali Temple.
But unexpectedly, when he went to the Dali Temple to ask, he found out that he guessed wrong.
The Dali Temple did not accept Wang Zhong's case.
Liang Gaosheng had no choice but to go to the Ministry of Justice.
The officials from the Ministry of Justice searched through the case files and soon found them.
The case file is written very simply.
Liang Gaosheng took a quick glance and saw a line of words after the case summary, and his eyes suddenly froze.
He hurriedly grabbed the official who was looking for the case files.
"Who tried this case? Who wrote the case file?"
The minor official was startled.
"Yes, it was copied by the Right Vice Minister during the interrogation, and the Minister of State stamped his seal after reviewing it."
After saying that, he couldn't help but add another sentence.
"The Right Assistant Minister is a master at solving cases. He will not make mistakes."
Liang Gaosheng's face twitched and he clutched the case file tightly.
"You can't be wrong? Haha! Why don't we believe it? How could a man like Wang Gonggong, the former chief eunuch, set fire to his own house and lose his own life?!"
Liang Gaosheng was furious and wanted to find the Right Vice Minister to question him, but when he thought of the Emperor waiting in the palace, he had to hold back.
"I will go back and report to the Emperor first, you all wait!"
Liang Gaosheng came in a hurry and left in a hurry.
Soon, the case file was delivered to Li Ce.
Li Ce's first reaction was the same as Liang Gaosheng's.
He also didn't believe that someone like Wang Zhong would set himself on fire.
Li Ce rubbed his brows and gave another order.
"Summon the Minister of Justice and the Right Vice Minister of Justice to the palace."
Liang Gaosheng rushed out and immediately sent someone to pass on the message.
The two adults arrived one after the other.
As soon as the two men finished their greetings, Li Ce threw the case file on their heads.
"Tell me, what's going on?"
The Minister of Justice was confused and hurriedly picked up the case file and glanced at it. After reading it, he was even more confused and didn't understand why the emperor was angry.
The Right Assistant Minister, who was standing behind him on the right, stretched his neck and took a look.
The Minister of Justice simply handed him the case file and questioned him with his eyes.
After the Right Assistant Minister saw it clearly, he was also very puzzled.
He bowed deeply and spoke.
"Your Majesty, this case was presided over by this humble servant. I was present during the investigation and trial, and there was nothing wrong."
Li Ce narrowed his eyes.
"You mean, Wang Zhong really set himself on fire and killed himself? Listen to what you said, do you believe it? Minister Feng also thinks it's true?"
Minister Feng bowed in response.
"I have read the case files and there is nothing wrong with it."
As soon as the Shangshu finished speaking, the Right Vice Minister hurriedly began to explain.
"Your Majesty, the coroner concluded that Eunuch Wang died of smoke inhalation and suffocation. After searching, the yamen runners found that Eunuch Wang's room was locked from the inside and could not be opened from the outside. Upon questioning, the servants of the Wang family can all testify that Eunuch Wang was alone in the room that night and no one else entered."
He said this in a serious tone, and couldn't help but continue.
"I was a little skeptical at first, but the evidence is before my eyes and I can't help but believe it."
Minister Feng took over the conversation: "So, this case was not submitted to the Dali Temple."
This case was investigated twice, and there were no other suspicious points.
To be honest, if the deceased had not been the former chief eunuch, such a case would never have been sent to the Ministry of Justice.