Chapter 117
The court was silent, everyone felt that Zhang Zhijing must have lost his mind, and now the emperor is obviously very optimistic about Zhou Yi, so he jumped out at this time, isn't it to throw the emperor's cold water?
If it was a serious crime, it would be fine if Zhou Yi could be brought down with one blow, but now it was only fifty thousand taels of silver bills, before Zhou Yi brought back ten million taels of silver to the state treasury, this amount of money was not even a dime.
Moreover, the emperor's imperial decree has already been issued, and Jun Wu's jokes are not just for fun. Such a small crime can at most disgust Zhou Yi, and the seal will never be taken back.
On the contrary, Zhang Zhijing might be rejected by the emperor because he disturbed the emperor's interest.
Zhou Yi knelt on the ground, his expression unchanged.
After hearing Zhang Zhijing's words, Emperor Chongzheng looked at Zhou Yi gently as if he hadn't heard of it, "Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhou Yi accepted the order and stood up.
After Zhou Yi stood up, Emperor Chongzheng said indifferently: "Scholar Zhou, please tell me what happened to the fifty thousand taels of silver note."
Zhou Yi smiled and glanced at Zhang Zhijing, but Zhang Zhijing Seeing the souls of the dead, in Yuanping Mansion, Zhou Yi used such a smiling appearance to kill Ma Jiuyin and others.
"My Majesty, this is all my fault. Because of the special situation at that time, too much information was leaked, so I didn't tell the truth to Mr. Zhang and Mr. Feng. The reason why I accepted the fifty thousand taels of silver note was just to let Ma Jiuyin relaxed his vigilance and automatically showed off his feet, and when Wei Chen got the fifty thousand taels of silver, he immediately reported it to you, the emperor. Your Majesty, Wei Chen was indeed tempted at that time, but after looking at Yuanping Mansion After the tragedy, I deeply felt that corrupt officials really did harm to people. In order not to be condemned for my own conscience and to live up to your love, I finally withstood the temptation. I hope the emperor will see clearly." Zhou
Yiyi After finishing speaking, Zhang Zhijing's body began to tremble, he knew that Zhou Yi was not so easy to deal with, he knew...
Emperor Chongzheng listened to Zhou Yi's self-defense, and smiled with satisfaction: "Yes, it is really rare for you to have such an awareness, but you are too honest, you didn't take those bank notes in the first place, why do you have to live?" Tell me about your covetousness? Are you not afraid that I will be angry?"
Zhou Yi seemed to be stunned for a moment when he was asked by Emperor Chongzheng, and he asked in confusion: "Ah? Your Majesty, can you not talk about it? I think that being loyal to the emperor is to show respect to the emperor. The emperor has confessed everything, as a subject, if you still hide something from the emperor, isn't that deceiving the emperor?"
Zhou Yi seemed a little embarrassed when he said this, his face turned red, he touched his nose and said: " Your Majesty, I am still young, although I am a little ignorant, but you have a heart as big as the sky, you should not care about me?" The last sentence seems to be a little lacking in confidence. Zhou Yi was a little cautious and asked hesitantly.
"Hahahahaha..." Emperor Chongzheng was amused by Zhou Yi's reaction: "Since you have said that, then I can't argue with you anymore, otherwise wouldn't I lose my mind as broad as the sky? "
Zhou Yi knelt on the ground with a plop: "My minister is lying." Emperor Chongzheng smiled unabated: "Get up, you can be so sincere to me, which shows
your sincerity."
The teasing and teasing like a cross talk made the teeth of all the courtiers in the hall sore, and they all cursed Zhou Yi in their hearts; such a cunning boy, he can hit the heart of a flatterer like this. But Zhou Yi's appearance was so confusing that many people couldn't tell whether Zhou Yi really thought so.
If this is Zhou Yi's true thoughts, then it's no wonder the emperor finds him so pleasing to the eye. If this is Zhou Yi's faking, then this kid Y is too good at putting on an act.
Emperor Chongzheng glanced at the ministers again: "It is enough to be a role model for you."
The ministers in the hall bent down: "I will remember the emperor's instruction."
Zhang Zhijing had already knelt on the ground at this moment, and his whole body began to tremble violently. .
Emperor Chongzheng glanced at Zhang Zhijing, stopped his smile, and said indifferently: "Zhang Zhijing, I sent you to assist Zhou Yi in investigating the case, but look at yourself, what have you done in Yuanping Mansion, Zhou Yi is investigating the case?" At that time, you were on the sidelines because you were afraid of getting into trouble, and that's how you did my job?"
Zhang Zhijing threw himself on the ground with a thump, and said in a trembling voice; "Mr...you should die."
"Damn it? You should die! Hidden during investigation Stay far away, for fear of getting a little fishy smell, but now you are wantonly slandering the meritorious ministers, are you worthy of wearing this official uniform, a corpse wrapped in plain clothes, what use do I need you? Come on, retreat Zhang Zhijing Official hat, depose his position, and never hire." After Emperor Chongzheng finished speaking, he gave the prince who was standing in the front row an indifferent glance.
The prince trembled and hurriedly lowered his head.
In an early court, Zhou Yi became a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, while Zhang Zhijing was stripped of his official uniform and went to Yuanping Mansion to investigate the case, but now the treatment is very different.
Zhou Yi was walking slowly with the imperial decree in his hand, and the courtiers behind him glanced at Zhou Yi from time to time, discussing something quietly.
Zhou Yi pretended not to hear, Shi Shi ran out of the Meridian Gate.
Zhang Zhijing had his official hat removed, and was standing outside the Meridian Gate, looking towards the palace with a complicated face, as if nostalgic and relieved.
Zhou Yi walked past Zhang Zhijing without stopping.
But Zhang Zhijing stopped Zhou Yi with a loud voice: "Master Zhou."
Zhou Yi turned around and looked at Zhang Zhijing with a smile; "Master Zhang called me for something?"
Zhang Zhijing smiled self-deprecatingly: "Master Zhou, please stop making fun of the grassroots. , now I am just a commoner, how can I bear the title of an adult?"
Zhou Yi nodded: "Okay, why did Brother Zhang call me?"
"Brother Zhang?" Zhang Zhijing murmured: "You are still willing Call me Brother Zhang?"
Zhou Yi smiled: "We have worked together anyway, so why not call you Brother Zhang?" "
But...but I joined you." Zhang Zhijing
Zhou Yi smiled gently: "You don't know the truth of the matter. Those who don't know are not to blame."
Zhang Zhijing took a deep look at Zhou Yi after hearing this: "Master Zhou, to be honest, I don't know your truth. Whether what you are saying is true or not, you are so clever, you made me dream back in the middle of the night, and I feel scared when I think about it. But I am just a commoner now, and you don’t need to say anything against my will in front of me. Mr. Zhou, Don't blame me, I can't help myself, but I'm just someone else's dog, and now that my leg is broken, the owner doesn't even give me a look." Zhang Zhijing sighed with indescribable sarcasm and said
: "But you are still willing to call me Brother Zhang..." After finishing speaking, he approached Zhou Yi, and whispered as he passed by him, "Be careful of the prince."
Zhou Yi looked at Zhang Zhijing's back with a calm expression. Guessing that there is a problem between Feng Daolun and Zhang Zhijing, according to what Zhang Zhijing said just now, he seems to belong to the prince. As for Feng Daolun, whether he belongs to which side or not, Zhou Yi is still not sure yet.
This also makes sense.
Ma Jiuyin is the prince's cousin, Zhou Yi guessed that Ma Jiuyin's greed for a large sum of money disappeared, and most likely it was in the hands of the prince.
The princes are all adults, and they are fighting fiercely.
Although the eldest prince is a crown prince, he occupies both the heir and the head, so it is reasonable to say that he will inherit the great lineage in the future. But the following younger brothers have grown up, and Emperor Chongzheng has no obvious preference, and he is more guarded against the prince. In this way, even if he is the crown prince, the eldest prince will still feel uneasy. He will try his best to win over the courtiers and make secret preparations, but all of this cannot be done without money. Be his pocketbook.
Ma Jiuyin is undoubtedly one of them, and now that Zhou Yi has brought down Ma Jiuyin, it is equivalent to breaking one of the prince's arms, of course the prince will hold grudges in his heart.
But Zhou Yi was still puzzled. It stands to reason that the crown prince would not be so restless, and the means are also like this... It's hard to describe.
Zhou Yi walked slowly towards the house, frowning and thinking, maybe Zhang Zhijing is not from the prince, but just a smoke bomb sent by other princes? Misleading him specifically, thinking that the one who troubled him was the crown prince? Seeing his strong fighting power, want to use him to deal with the prince?
Thinking about it this way, it seems that the latter guess is more plausible.
Zhou Yi shook his head while thinking, there is no fuel-efficient lamp!
In the East Palace, the prince and his advisers were also discussing this matter.
"His Royal Highness, why did Zhang Zhijing do this? Was it your order? Excuse me, this move is too unnecessary. Now not only Zhang Zhijing has been defeated, but Zhou Yi has not been harmed at all, and he has been offended for nothing. , we have enough enemies now, it is really inappropriate to provoke another strong enemy." A doorman said.
The crown prince frowned, and said a little irritably, "It's not what I ordered. No matter how ignorant Zhou Yi is, I'm not so stupid." When he finished
speaking, everyone in the East Palace was taken aback. , "Could it be Zhang Zhijing's own idea? Then he really deserves to die. Although it is hidden, Zhang Zhijing belongs to your prince, and someone knows it. Zhou Yi can find out clearly with a little investigation. In this way, how can Zhou Yi Could it be a misunderstanding?"
The prince stood up and walked back and forth in the room, and finally said coldly: "It is impossible for Zhang Zhijing to make decisions on his own, I'm afraid it was my good brother who did it again. What a Zhang Zhijing, the snake and the rat The villain of the nest!"
The prince is tall and tall, with sword eyebrows and star eyes, coupled with the royal style cultivated since childhood, when he loses his temper, he has a majesty of his own.
"The prince doesn't need to be angry, but the subordinates have different opinions." Another subordinate official said.
"Oh, how do you say it?" the prince asked with a calm expression as he turned the jade finger on his thumb.
"You can't underestimate Zhou Yi's scheming. With such a clumsy plan, even if Zhou Yi finds out that Zhang Zhijing belongs to you, he will probably feel suspicious. If he continues to follow the vine to investigate, he may not want to blame your people but instead If you can steal the chicken, you will lose the rice."
The prince heard the words and sat down: "Is that true? Are you thinking Zhou Yi is too clever? Ma Jiuyin is my cousin, and now he has just fallen into Zhou Yi's hands, Zhang Zhijing joined He has one copy, and Zhang Zhijing happens to be mine, no matter who looks at this matter, they will feel that it was ordered by me." "
Prince, Zhou Yi is not an ordinary person. He has only been in the court for a few months. The emperor's eyes were so blue, and he made the two court elders who wanted to find him unlucky one after another suffer. Ma Jiuyin was not a fool, but he played him around, and finally made him confess all his previous embezzlement. Such a person , he will be so easily deceived?" said the officer.
His words made everyone in the room nod; "That's right, Zhou Yi shouldn't be fooled so easily." "
However, since Zhou Yi is so smart, he should know that a large amount of Ma Jiuyin's money is still missing, why? He won't continue to investigate?" the prince asked softly.
"Prince, this is Zhou Yi's strength. According to my subordinates, he is really a genius. If the prince can get this unicorn, he will be even more powerful!" Sitting on the bottom left, the elegant man over fifty years old stroked his beard. He said, his name is Dongfang Ming, and he is the crown prince's number one adviser.
The crown prince shook his head: "How can you say it so easily, Mr. Zhou Yi, who first entered the officialdom, came to prominence when the Great Qiang envoys came. At that time, Yang Zhiwen and Xing Jing both tried to win him over, but he remained steadfast, even in the officialdom. He is not even willing to form the most normal faction in the village, let alone the struggle between the princes!" "
Prince, where there is a will, there is a way. As long as the prince shows sincerity, he will not be moved, but as long as someone with a little ambition , I am afraid it will be difficult to refuse Conglong Zhigong." Dongfang Ming said with a smile.
The prince listened, and moved his mind: "Okay, I will give it a try, but Zhou Yi, before our major affairs are settled, can only be wooed, not offended, even if he is not used by the palace, as long as he is in the middle." If we don't get drawn in by the other princes, let's not provoke him."
The people below all responded.
At the same time, the residence of the second prince.
The second prince sat at the top and said excitedly: "Today, the king asked Zhang Zhijing to participate in Zhou Yi's book. Now my good brother has offended Zhou Yi." "What? Let Zhang Zhijing participate in Zhou Yi's book.
" Is it Your Highness's idea?" The subordinate officer asked in surprise after hearing this.
"Yeah, what's the matter, isn't this a good idea? Zhang Zhijing is obviously a man of the prince. Just as Ma Jiuyin fell into Zhou Yi's hands, Zhang Zhijing turned around and read his book. Now, Zhou Yi Even if you are not against the prince, you will definitely not be used by him." The second prince said happily.
"Your Highness, you...why don't you discuss it with me, this matter, this matter is a bit poor." Zhang Yaoyuan, the second prince's uncle, said with a somewhat unsightly expression.
"Uncle, why is this matter so bad? Isn't it good to borrow a knife to kill people?" The second prince stood up and asked.
"Hey, Your Highness, you think Zhou Yi is too simple. This strategy may be useful to others, but it may be counterproductive to him. Moreover, Zhang Zhijing is the secret son we managed to bury under the Crown Prince, so it is useless now. It's really a pity."
The second prince didn't believe it: "It's not as evil as you said, anyone can see this as the eldest prince's revenge on him, I don't believe that Zhou Yi really thought so deeply. I have been with the prince for so many years, and I haven’t seen any useful information for us, so let’s discard it.”
Zhang Yaoyuan shook his head slightly, the second prince’s scheming is still much worse than the prince’s, and it’s not yet the critical moment. Since he is a dark son, it is natural not to act rashly. You must know that in the decisive period, any inconspicuous person may have an unexpected effect. The second prince is really... .
But who let this careless thing be his nephew? Even if the Zhang family does not stand in line and does not help the second prince to fight for the reserve position, but the Zhang family holds military power in their hands. I'm afraid I won't be able to tolerate the Zhang family. In this case, it's better to take a gamble.
Zhou Yi naturally didn't know that the two princes were discussing him, he actually suspected the prince and other princes.
Although Zhang Zhijing's last words with him and him did look like someone trying to frame the prince at first glance.
But Zhou Yi had another consideration. When he got home, he sat in the study and knocked on the table, thinking to himself, who can guarantee that the prince didn't deliberately use such a clumsy trick to arouse his suspicion? False and real, people can't see clearly.
After a long time, Zhou Yi shook his head, forgetting about it, no matter who it is, there are only two goals, if it is the crown prince, it is intentional revenge on him, the result is obvious, and it was not achieved. If it was other princes, they just wanted to use this incident to frame the prince, but Zhou Yi made up his mind not to get involved in the seizure of the heir apparent, and would not provoke any prince. So no matter who it is, it can be regarded as doing useless work.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yi was immediately refreshed, opened the door, took a deep breath, and sighed: "That's right, there are no troubles in the world, and nothing disturbs others. Ah! The weather is so nice!!!" Qingzhu passed
by , looked up at the sky, and saw that the sky was covered with dark clouds, and he couldn't help wondering: "Master, it's going to rain now, where is the weather better?"
Zhou Yi turned around and knocked on Qingzhu's head: "Is it raining? Isn’t it because the weather is good, young master, I just like rain?”
Qingzhu covered her head and pouted her mouth: “Why do you like rain? Didn’t rainy days annoy you the most before?”
Zhou Yi said with a dead voice: “Just You talk too much, hurry up and go to work!"
"Oh." Qingzhu ran away quickly.
Today he received a reward, the emperor also granted him two days off as an exception, and it was only around noon when Zhou Yi arrived home.
Seeing that it was going to rain and Zhou Jia was coming back from the academy, Zhou Yi asked Qing Zhu to prepare the carriage and went to pick Zhou Jia up with an umbrella.
Zhou Jia's academy was on the outskirts of the capital, and when Zhou Yi arrived at the gate of the academy, it happened to be the time when he was finishing school at the academy.
At this time, it has started to rain, and now it is going to enter summer, and the rain is getting heavier and heavier.
Zhou Yi waited at the gate of the academy holding an umbrella, looking at the scholars coming out of the academy with their schoolbags on their backs, he couldn't help feeling emotional, it was only half a year, but the days of carefree study seemed to be far away from him, Hey, this officialdom really makes people grow old!
Just when Zhou Yi was in a daze, Zhou Jia had already seen him standing on the steps of the academy, and was busy shaking his arms happily: "Brother, brother!!!"
Seeing him standing in the rain, Zhou Yi hurriedly walked a few steps holding an umbrella Going to his side: "Are you stupid, didn't you see it's raining?"
Zhou Jia laughed straight: "Brother, why do you have time to pick me up today? Shouldn't you be in the yamen?" With rain on his face, he asked with a smile.
Zhou Yi led Zhou Jia to the direction of the carriage, and said as he walked: "Your brother, I have been promoted again, this time I am a third-rank official, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, the emperor specially let me take two days off, how about it, it's amazing. Zhou
Yi had a brisk smile on his face, and only in front of his family would he really smile like a seventeen-year-old boy.
"Really?" Zhou Jia clapped his hands in surprise: "Brother, you are so powerful. As expected, my brother is the most powerful in the world!!!"
Zhou Yi smiled and patted Zhou Jia's head: "Yes Are you flattering your brother so much!"
"It's true that I didn't succeed!" Zhou Jia retorted.
The two brothers were talking and were about to get into the carriage when a female voice suddenly sounded: "Young Master Zhou."
Zhou Yi turned around and saw that it was Pan Si who was still covering her face and was opening the curtain of the carriage to look at him. .
Panth? What is she doing here? Zhou Yi was puzzled, but he didn't ask. He just cupped his hands and called Miss Pan indifferently. Before Pan Sifu could reply, he directly pulled Zhou Jia into the carriage and left in a hurry.
Pan Si managed to meet Zhou Yi in the name of coming to pick up his younger brother, but he couldn't even talk to him, so he couldn't help feeling bitter.
She bit her lip.
Reluctantly looking at the direction Zhou Yi's carriage was leaving.
"Miss, shall we go home now?" Xing'er asked cautiously.
"If you don't go back to the house, can't you stay here in the rain?" Pan Si said coldly, and then put down the curtain.
After the carriage moved, Xing'er carefully sat in the corner, while Pan Si frowned and thought about things. Sure enough, everything was developing according to the previous life.
In fact, Pan Si was not very clear about these things. In her previous life, she didn't care about these things, and she only vaguely heard about Zhou Yi's deeds.
But now, Pan Si is very concerned about Zhou Yi's movements in the court. Although the details are unclear, the general direction is not different from what she heard in her previous life.
Zhou Yi has gradually embarked on his path, but her plan to marry Zhou Yi has not made any progress.
Why, since God asked her to do it all over again, why can't she still get what she wants?
"Oh, Miss, your hand is bleeding." Xing'er suddenly screamed and rushed to Pan Si.
Pan Si spread out his hands, looking at the blood stains on the beautifully manicured nails, his eyes flickering. That's right, there is no such thing as dropping a pie out of thin air. If she wants to achieve her wish, she must have the determination to shed blood.
Zhou Yi rested at home for two days. As soon as the leave was over, he went to the Imperial Academy to do his work step by step, reading in the morning and studying in the afternoon, without being arrogant or impatient.
After waiting for two days, Zhou Yi decided to look for Emperor Chongzheng once again when he felt that the time was almost up.
On the way to meet Emperor Chongzheng, Zhou Yi couldn't help but feel amused. The more he thought about it, the more he felt like a coquettish slut vying for favor in every possible way. blue eyes.
In the Hanlin Academy, there are not many opportunities to meet the emperor.
But it doesn't matter, if the mountain doesn't come, he will go to the mountain, and the Da Viet Times he buried before will serve as a bridge between him and Emperor Chongzheng!