lcionline Chapter 890: A soldier who once followed a general under Duke Dingguo (59 votes plus)
Chapter 890: A soldier who once followed a general under Duke Dingguo (59 votes plus)
The Minister of Justice replied respectfully, "Yes," and immediately sent someone to the Ministry of Justice to pick up the person.
Concubine Kang was usually served by many people in the palace. After kneeling for so long, her knees were a little sore.
However, how could she dare to show it in front of the emperor?
The suspicion on her has not been cleared yet. If she is charged with another crime of "disrespecting the emperor", she will not be able to escape unscathed...
Therefore, Concubine Kang could only grit her teeth and persevere.
Shen Zhinian saw how upset she was, and said to Nangong Xuanyu, "Your Majesty, Concubine Kang is the mother of the Fifth Prince after all. There is no direct evidence that this matter is related to her, so why not let her get up first?"
Nangong Xuanyu felt helpless.
Concubine Kang is the person who might have framed Nian Nian. Before her innocence is proven, Nian Nian actually speaks for her?
However, Shen Zhinian was the victim in this matter. Since she had spoken up for Concubine Kang, Nangong Xuanyu would naturally not refuse her face.
"Give me a seat."
The maids around the concubines were not allowed to enter the Yangxin Palace without being summoned. Therefore, Xiao Huizi stepped forward and helped Concubine Kang, whose legs were sore from kneeling, to a chair: "My queen, please be careful."
Concubine Kang looked at Shen Zhinian with gratitude.
These two days, while she was worried about her family, she was also worried that Concubine Chen would have conflicts with her because of this.
Seeing that Shen Zhinian's attitude towards her was the same as before, Concubine Kang felt much more relieved.
But at the same time, she felt a little bitter...
If she was as favored as Concubine Chen, how could she have ended up being framed today, unable to defend herself and having to rely on others?
Time passes by little by little.
Finally, the person sent by the Minister of Justice came back.
However, his face was very ugly. After paying his respects, he lowered his head and said tremblingly: "...Your Majesty, the second son of the Zhang family, the second son of the Zhang family has died in the cell..."
"What did you say?!"
The emperor's eyes suddenly darkened, and a raging rage appeared in his eyes: "How did he die?!"
The Minister of Justice dared not stand still, and knelt on the ground with his head bowed to plead guilty: "Your Majesty, please calm down..."
After all, the Ministry of Justice was under his jurisdiction, and if something like this happened, it was because he was not doing his job well.
The man just now said: "Your Majesty, after the coroner's examination, the second son of the Zhang family died of a sudden heart attack. No abnormalities were found in the cell."
"How could this be?"
This is not good news for Concubine Kang.
Since there is no evidence, how can we prove the Zhang family’s innocence?
In the eyes of others, the second uncle and the Zhang family are one, and he must have committed suicide out of fear of punishment in order to preserve the Zhang family.
Kangpin would not accept her fate, so she knelt down and explained, "Your Majesty, someone must have killed someone to silence him!"
"Although my second uncle had a heart disease, he had controlled it very well until I entered the palace, and it had not occurred for many years. How could he die of a heart attack when you were about to interrogate him in person?"
"It's obvious that someone wants to leave no evidence so that they can pin the blame on the Zhang family!"
Shen Zhinian narrowed his eyes and analyzed quickly in his mind.
Of course she didn't believe that the death of the second son of the Zhang family was a coincidence.
Either this incident was really done by the Zhang family, and they wanted to leave no evidence and let the second son of the Zhang family bear all the charges.
Or it could be just like what Kangpin said.
Combining various clues and evidence... Shen Zhinian is more inclined to the latter!
Nangong Xuanyu naturally understood what they could think of.
If he still had some doubts about the Zhang family just now, now he is more convinced that the Zhang family is just a scapegoat.
So... who on earth has such great ability?
Nangong Xuanyu was able to sit in this position because his scheming, cunning and strategy are far superior to those of ordinary people.
If the seal was broken and the news of Zhou Yuxi's failed raid came, it was someone who deliberately arranged it to happen on the same day.
Well, with the death of the second son of the Zhang family, the clues on Baoxi's side were cut off, so we have to start investigating from the other side!
Nangong Xuanyu looked at Li Changde and said, "...Send an audience to Zhou Yuhu!"
Zhou Yuhu was the runner-up in this year's imperial examination and was appointed as an editor in the Hanlin Academy. He also had another identity, that is, Zhou Yuxi's cousin.
The Zhou family is full of military generals, and Zhou Yuhu's father died in the battlefield when he was just born.
Perhaps it was because of this that Zhou Yuhu's mother did not allow him to practice martial arts and instead trained him to be a civil official.
As the whole family was full of loyal warriors, the Zhou family lost countless brave generals who died on the battlefield, resulting in the dwindling population. After General Zhou and Zhou Yuxi went to the battlefield, Zhou Yuhu became the temporary head of the Zhou family.
If you want to know about the border as quickly as possible, you can probably ask Zhou Yuhu.
Li Changde immediately said: "I obey your command!"
The Hanlin Academy is very close to the imperial palace, so that it is convenient for the emperor to summon him.
After receiving the order, Zhou Yuhu rushed over as quickly as possible.
His eyebrows and eyes are very similar to Zhou Yuxi's, but his skin is much whiter than Zhou Yuxi's. He looks handsome and elegant.
After entering the inner hall, Zhou Yuhu bowed his head and saluted respectfully: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!"
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine Chen and Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine Kang!"
Nangong Xuanyu said: "Stand up."
"I summoned you here to ask you some details about Zhou Yuxi's injury. Do you know?"
Shen Zhinian raised his eyebrows.
What Zhao Yungui knew was learned from the family letters passed down to Zhou Yuhu by the Zhou father and son.
So Zhou Yuhu naturally knew the news about the soldier.
Could it be that Nangong Xuanyu had the same idea as her?
Shen Zhinian was still thinking about how to "inadvertently" convey the news about Duke Dingguo's Mansion that he had learned from Zhao Yungui to the emperor's ears, but he did not expect that he would take the initiative to ask about it.
Zhou Yuhu said in a gentle voice: "Your Majesty, this is a military secret, and my uncle and cousin did not reveal too much in the letter. They only told me about the various circumstances after my cousin was injured, and asked the family not to worry."
"The main reason is... my sister-in-law is pregnant, and my uncle and cousin are afraid that she might not know the truth and worry too much, so they told her a few more words."
Nangong Xuanyu asked in a deep voice: "Before the news of Zhou Yuxi's injury spread among the army, who were the first to know about it?"
"Could someone... leak the news?!"
Zhou Yuhu looked around and seemed a little embarrassed: "This..."
"This is a very important matter. I dare not speak nonsense in front of you all, my Lords and Madams..."
If there weren't special circumstances, Zhou Yuhu wouldn't have to be so serious.
Shen Zhinian's lips curled slightly, and she stood up and said, "Your Majesty, your tea is cold. Concubine Kang and I will go make you another pot."
Given their status, why would they need to do this in person? It was just an excuse to leave temporarily.
The Minister of Justice and the palace maids also went out tactfully.
Zhou Yuhu then said, "This is just hearsay, and I shouldn't speak nonsense. But since Your Majesty asked, I dare not not answer."
"The first person to know that my cousin was injured, besides his confidants, was indeed a soldier who had once followed a general under Duke Dingguo..."