Ci Jinzhi

After sitting down, Emperor Xingyuan slowly sipped his tea and looked at the ministers standing with their hands hanging down.

"I have called you here to discuss the matter of burying Queen Xin." Emperor Xingyuan noticed the changes in the expressions of the ministers and said calmly, "I discussed it with the Zong Ren Ling yesterday. This is the charter issued by the Zong Ren Mansion. You Take a look too."

 The regulations were first handed to the Minister of Rites, and then passed on. After reading them all, the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Feeling the gaze of his colleagues, the Minister of Rites was about to stand up and object. The Minister of Hubu spoke first: "Your Majesty, if we follow this regulation to organize funerals, it will cost a lot of money. Nowadays, disasters are frequent in various places, and the national treasury is very tight for disaster relief. , I can’t afford so much money!”

"Oh? Then tell me, Yu Shangshu, where can we reduce the regulations?" Emperor Xingyuan looked like he was asking sincerely.

"Queen Xin has passed away for more than a year. I don't think it is necessary to stay in mourning for several months. There are too many monks and Taoists..." The Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs kept talking, pointing out the extravagance one by one.

The corner of the Minister of Rites' mouth twitched, and he wished he could kick the Minister of Hubu who was standing in front of him.

He also opposed Empress Xin’s burial in the imperial mausoleum. Why did he skip this step and instead fight with the emperor over funeral expenses?

Who agreed!

When the Minister of the Ministry of Finance finished speaking, he was temporarily satisfied with the result of the fight, when he suddenly felt many cold eyes falling on him.

What's going on here?

Inadvertently catching a glimpse of the slightly raised corners of Emperor Xingyuan's mouth, the Minister of Hubu suddenly realized: Oops, he forgot to object to Empress Xin being buried in the imperial mausoleum.

This can't be blamed on him. He is in charge of Daxia's money bag. How can he not be excited when he sees the huge expenses listed?

"Do you have any other suggestions?" Emperor Xingyuan glanced at the faces and asked calmly.

The Minister of Rites still stood up and said, "I believe that Queen Xin should not be buried in the imperial mausoleum in the name of the Queen."

“Where can I be buried if I’m not buried in an imperial mausoleum?”

The Minister of Rites cleared his throat and lowered his eyes to avoid the emperor's cold face: "Xin Daizhao's farmland is located on the outskirts of Beijing. It is beautiful and open. I think it is appropriate to be buried there. Empress Xin has a spirit in heaven and knows that your majesty will give Xin Daizhao the gift." I will definitely be satisfied if I sleep peacefully on the imperial edict’s land.”

"How can Sun Qing be so sure that Queen Xin is satisfied? Have you asked her?"

 The Minister of Rites looked ugly.

Your Majesty, this is a clear threat!

Deng Ge Lao said at this time: "Your Majesty, I also think Sun Shangshu's proposal is good."

Xie Cheng'an, the head of the Hanlin Academy, stood up and said, "I don't think so. Empress Xin has made great contributions to the country. If she cannot be buried in the imperial mausoleum, won't the world laugh at your majesty's ruthlessness and the unrighteous ministers who founded the country?"

“Queen Kexin left the palace that year, which meant that she abandoned her status as queen—”

Meng Jijiu also stood up: "I second the proposal to thank the Chancellor. We are not saints. Empress Xin was a little rash when she left the palace, but compared with the empress's achievements, the flaws are not outweighed."

Seeing that the ministers were divided into two parties, quarreling with each other, and you were coming and going, Emperor Xingyuan took a sip of tea without any hurry.

What he wants to do must be done, and let these rebellious ministers who like to confront him dance for a while.

Before the ministers could reach a conclusion, the chamberlain came to report that Chang Lehou He Qingxiao had something urgent to see him.

The scene suddenly fell silent, and all the ministers looked at Emperor Xingyuan who was sitting at the top.

Jin Linwei has a sensitive status and rarely appears on such occasions, so as not to irritate the civil servants and generals. And once these scruples are ignored, something big is obviously going on.

 What could it be?

Whether it was the ministers who opposed Queen Xin's burial in the imperial mausoleum or those who supported it, they were all beating in their hearts at this moment.

 As Emperor Xingyuan spoke, He Qingxiao quickly walked in.

 “I have seen your majesty.”

"Without courtesy. He Zhenfu is here at this time. What's the matter?"

Because of different opinions, the ministers subconsciously separated into two sides. He Qingxiao glanced in the direction of the Minister of Rites and others, and reported to Emperor Xingyuan: "On the way to Beijing to pick up the coffin of the late empress, the team stayed at the ruined temple due to rain. The venomous snake crawled to Xin Daizhao and almost bit him..." Huang Cheng and others escorted Zhou Ming and Qian Da to Beijing without any fanfare. Of course, it is hard to say how many interested people were watching. At least at this moment, the ministers present showed shock.

Emperor Xingyuan looked cold and asked, "Why are you reporting it now?"

Facing the emperor's angry questions, He Qingxiao remained calm, and his calmness also calmed down Emperor Xingyuan's turbulent emotions.

“I realized that the matter was not that simple, so I sent my subordinates back to Beijing to investigate, so as not to alert the snakes and not let them publicize it.”

“I didn’t see you mention it yesterday.” Emperor Xingyuan’s tone was displeased, but in fact he was not very angry.

 He still understood He Qingxiao, and would not choose to report at this time without substantial progress.

"I just returned to Beijing yesterday. I would like to know the progress so that I can report to His Majesty."

 “Tell me, what did you find out?”

"After investigation, it was found that Uncle Wang Peng had close contacts with Tong Dafeng, the head of the Ministry of Personnel. Tong Dafeng has been arrested and imprisoned. After interrogation-" He Qingxiao looked at the Minister of Rites and others again.

The Minister of Rites and others could not help but feel frightened and their palms became sweaty.

"After interrogation, Tong Dafeng admitted that he was ordered by the cabinet minister Deng Chongjing." He Qingxiao stared at Mr. Deng Chongjing and said the answer he pried out from the mouth of Chief Tong.

The minister who was close to Mr. Deng Ge subconsciously stepped aside, showing an incredulous look: "Mr. Deng Ge?"

Deng Chongjing immediately took off his official hat and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, I have been wronged -"

"You mean that the governor of Hezhen slandered you?" Emperor Xingyuan asked coldly.

“I have no enmity with Xin Daizhao, so how could I instigate someone to murder him?”

“In this case, the Governor of Hezhen—”

 “I am here.”

Emperor Xingyuan looked at He Qingxiao with hidden satisfaction.

After this incident, Xinxin's burial in the imperial mausoleum will not be troublesome. This young man really knows how to get things done.

 “Take Deng Qing to Jinlin Guards and ask him about it.”

 “I accept the decree.”

Upon hearing this, Deng Chongjing collapsed on the ground and looked at Zhang Shoufu for help.

Chapter Chief Assistant Zhang stood up and said: "Your Majesty, it involves a cabinet minister. It is not a trivial matter. I think it should be handed over to the Three Law Departments for joint investigation."

 “I second the proposal.” Two more officials spoke out.

Emperor Xingyuan looked at these people expressionlessly and said calmly: "Everything must have a beginning and an end. This case was investigated by Jinlin Guards. The governor of Hezhen was also present when the case occurred. No one is more suitable than him."

 “Your Majesty—”

Emperor Xingyuan raised his eyebrows: "Why, you are so nervous just for taking Master Deng to ask. Could it be that you are all involved?"

As soon as these words came out, several people who stood up knelt down to apologize.

Emperor Xingyuan glanced at He Qingxiao.

"Wei Chen, please leave." He Qingxiao neatly picked up the earth-colored Mr. Deng Ge and strode away.

Emperor Xingyuan looked away and took a sip of tea: "Let's continue discussing the burial of the queen."