"Yes," Li Rong knelt and said calmly, "In the suburbs, after being massacred by people, the corpse was abandoned in the wilderness, and the children searched for a long time before finally found the human body. Father, now there are no witnesses. Now, the Qin family must be placed in the Criminal Department, and the children are not at ease."

"That's why your highness means that all the witnesses are now dead, and there is no possibility of overturning the confession. There are all personal and physical evidence. Qin's crime cannot be corrected."

Xie Lanqing slowly said: "The Qin family cannot be corrected. Your Royal Highness firmly believes that the Qin family is innocent, so now you have to protect the Qin family. Then my Highness, why do you believe that the Qin family is innocent? You now, get it. Is there any evidence?"

"In any case," Li Rong's voice was calm, "the witnesses were all killed. Is there any problem with this case?"

"Who killed this person?" Xie Lanqing raised his voice, as if to remind something. Li Rong turned around and looked at Xie Lanqing coldly. Xie Lanqing smiled, "His Royal Highness, if you say something disrespectful, the witnesses are dead. It may be that there is a problem with the case, or it may be that the case is okay."

Xie Lanqing didn't finish speaking, but Li Rong already understood what he meant. A young court official seemed to be puzzled and whispered, "How come the case is okay?"

Immediately, the other court official laughed, his voice was not too loud, it seemed to be a private discussion, but it happened to be heard by everyone: "Master Zhang does not understand. The witnesses of a case are all dead. It seems that there must be a problem. , But if it’s actually okay, some people insist that this case cannot be judged?"

When people die, everything becomes suspense. If Li Rong insists, it is to postpone the case indefinitely without any evidence.

"So your Highness, the witness is dead, and nothing can be proved. Even if the witness is dead and the evidence is still there, Yang Lie's letter is true. The gold they accepted for bribes was also found from the Qin family. These exhibits were collected by the Ministry of Justice. Dali Temples have all tested them. Does your Highness think that the three divisions are deceiving you?"

Xie Lanqing said, and sneered: "His Royal Highness, you just got married. Don't take part in the court affairs. Go back and do what women do, embroider and read the scriptures, and cultivate your character."

After Xie Lanqing finished speaking, the court and officials all agreed in a low voice.

Li Rong knelt on the ground, pretending that he had never heard of it.

This is true for women in this world, even if you are a arrogant person, if something goes wrong one day, your identity is the original sin.

Li Rong felt angry when he heard these words when he was young, and often wanted to prove something, but now listening to these words, even if it is uneven, he is calm.

She only said: "Since the three divisions feel that there is no problem, why is it so difficult for me to fetch files, adjust evidence, and interrogate prisoners?"

"His Royal Highness is joking," Xie Lanqing said calmly. "The Criminal Ministry is used to doing things in accordance with the rules and regulations, and will not deliberately embarrass anyone."

"Master Xie is not the veteran of the two dynasties, Master Shang Shu who sits firmly in the penalty department," Li Rong said. She put one hand on her knees and slowly got up. Xie Lanqing frowned and watched Li Rong turn around. , Raised his eyes to look at Xie Lanqing, and said calmly, "A clever mouth is foolish, and things are not done well, but the mouth is very neat."

"His Royal Highness, this is the central issue being said by the veteran, who is so embarrassed and angry?"

"I'm angry, of course I'm angry, why don't this palace be angry?!" Li Rong shouted loudly, "You are an expert in the criminal ministry, facing suspicious cases, don't think about how to investigate the case, don't want to restore the truth, just want to play Power, regard human life as a must, how can you keep this palace from being angry?!"

"The Superintendent of the Palace Construction, you people," Li Rong raised his hand, pointing to the court officials one by one, "Thinking about how to seize power and how to make this palace retreat when it is difficult. This palace adjusts the files and the Criminal Department is in a dilemma. , You push me and I push you. I can't get an approval after running for an afternoon. If my palace doesn't force it, how can I get the file?"

"The evidence of the Ministry of Criminal Justice is still evasive and refuses to show the evidence to me. How can this palace know the truth?"

"You keep talking about the process and the rules and regulations. If everyone has to go through the process of handling a case for a month even for the chief trial officer to obtain evidence, I think your Criminal Department is unnecessary. Rebuild!"

"Just your group of witnesses who don't protect well, but only know the wine bags and rice bags of people who are difficult to handle. Your house will give you a face when you call you. Do you really want your house to tear your face off and step on it?"

Li Rong yelled, Xie Lanqing's complexion became dark, an official of the Criminal Ministry stood up and said loudly: "Your Highness, this is the hall, not the place where you spoiled, you..."

"Retreat!" Li Rong yelled at the official, "What kind of thing do you dare to talk to this palace like this?!"

"What you are going to do, this palace knows."

Li Rong looked around: "But this palace will also tell you today that you may die unjustly of the Qin family. They are not just a few courtiers, not just a few lives, but they are also a high wall on the border. Backbone! What you are ruining today is Daxia’s country, Daxia’s future! Our palace is here today, and it is absolutely impossible to make concessions for this."

"But Qin is guilty," Xie Lanqing looked calm, "His Royal Highness can't show evidence, he is guilty."

"I know if he is guilty of you!" Li Rong shouted angrily, "Xie Lanqing, many things are not mentioned in the court, I will ask you, are you worthy of your conscience? Even the frontier people are crying. You can't hear the sound, can you not see the blood left by the second girl Qin in front of my princess mansion?! You bullied the Qin family today, but it is because the Qin family came from a poor family that you have no power and power to bully! But you think Have you ever been, if the Qin family leaves today so unjustly, who else will be loyal to the border in the future? And in the future, as long as you come from a poor family, can you endure such humiliation?"

"His Royal Highness said too much," Su Minzhi, the right minister, frowned. "The trial and sentence are about evidence. Your Royal Highness has a position, so emotionally, how can we talk about justice?"

Su Minzhi's words were right, and the old officials all agreed with them, but they never noticed that among the young courtiers, there was a slight looseness.

Naturally, Li Rong did not tell these old foxes to appeal to such sentimental statements. It is just that in this court, there are not only politicians who have been immersed in power for a long time, but also ministers who are worried about this world. The door, there are those poor people who manage to walk in the lower ranks.

After Li Rong’s reminder, seeing that the goal was achieved, she returned her gaze to Su Minzhi and calmly said: “Yes, what Su Xiang said is that everything should be used to tell evidence. Now that the witnesses are collectively killed, is it possible? Prove that this case is suspicious?"

"There is a connection, but it cannot be absolutely proven." Su Minzhi said calmly, "His Royal Highness, you have been investigating for so long. The Qin family's case should have been settled long ago. It was you who insisted on reversing the case, and now you have not found a case. For what reason, it is impossible to delay the case again and again for the belief in your heart. Please return the Qin family to the Ministry of Criminal Affairs and return the power to Your Majesty, deserve rewards and punishments, and deal with them in accordance with the law."

"Su Xiang's worry is that the palace used the name of investigating the case to delay the death of the Qin family. Then we might as well take a step back." Li Rong stared at Su Minzhi. "The palace does not postpone the Qin family's execution. Before being sentenced, they need to be protected by people from the palace in the princess mansion, and no one can be brought to trial. People in the palace can continue to review the case. If evidence of injustice in the Qin family is found at any time, the case can be reversed. "

Su Minzhi hesitated for a moment, but Xie Lanqing categorically said: "No, your Majesty has given your Highness many opportunities, but your Highness has made troubles in my criminal department. What we are discussing today should not be the Qin family case. It’s about how His Royal Highness repeatedly injures the Department of Penalty."

"I bear the responsibility of breaking into the Criminal Department without permission!" Li Rong shouted, "I asked the Qin family if you dare to put it with me, do you dare to let me investigate the Qin family case! Since the death of a witness cannot prove the Qin family case? There is a problem, what are you afraid of me checking?!"

"Weichen is not afraid that His Highness will investigate the case," Xie Lanqing refused to give up. "Weichen is afraid that His Highness will make trouble!"

"Then what do you want?"

Li Rong stared at Xie Lanqing: "I have to check the Qin family."

"His Royal Highness must also punish."

Xie Lanqing replied with Li Rong and said coldly: "Weichen is the official book of the Criminal Ministry. We can't tolerate someone trampling on the king's law in this way. Even if your Royal Highness is a princess, he should abide by the rules of the emperor."

"Okay," Li Rong nodded, "Thank your sir, then I am as you wish."

Li Rong said with a wide sleeve, turned around and kowtowed towards Li Ming, and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, the son-chen trespassed into the penalty department without permission. For the son-chen’s fault, I would like to ask myself to blame thirty. The North Yan Pagoda recites sutras. January."

After Li Rong finished speaking, Xie Lanqing looked satisfied, and immediately heard Li Rong say: "But the people of the Criminal Ministry do not do things well, do not protect key witnesses much, record their whereabouts, and indirectly cause all witnesses to die at the hands of others. This is a crime."

"Despising the power of the emperor, the emperor granted the position of superintendent of the children's ministers, but the Ministry of Criminal Affairs refused to obey the imperial decree and fully assisted in handling the case. On the contrary, it made trouble for the children in the name of regulations. This is a two crime."

"Now that I know that all the witnesses are dead, the case is suspicious, but I am lazy and reluctant to investigate deeply. This is three crimes."

"Master Xie is the official book of the Penal Department and is in charge of the Penal Department. Today, the Penal Department is full of malpractices. Master Xie can hardly shirk the blame. The children are willing to receive the punishment, but it is imperative to rectify the Penal Department. Although these three crimes are concentrated in the Qin case, they Being able to see the leopard in your eyes and knowing the style of the Criminal Department on weekdays, this is a matter that harms society and the country, and I ask my father to conduct a thorough investigation and never tolerate it!"

Li Rong continued speaking sentence by sentence, and the expressions of the people in the Criminal Ministry gradually became difficult to look. Li Rong kowtowed to the ground and said calmly: "In the case of Qin, since the sons and ministers have interfered, they won't let them go. Please father the emperor to give them another 20 days. ..."

"No..."

The courtiers yelled one after another. Before they finished speaking, they listened to Li Rong shouting: "After 20 days, if the palace really cannot find out anything, it will be enough to prove that the Qin case is not wronged. I voluntarily receive the penalty, and I am willing to be expelled from Huajing, return to the fief and never enter Beijing again!"

Since returning to the fiefdom, he will never enter Beijing again.

For a princess, it is completely expelled from the center of power, and there is no turning back in her life, which is equivalent to a disguised exile.

Everyone fell silent, Shangguan Xu frowned, feeling a little unbearable: "His Royal Highness..."

"Father, please allow me!"

Li Rong knelt on the ground and shouted loudly. Li Ming looked at his daughter who was kneeling on the ground with an unpredictable expression. After a long time, he finally uttered a bit of a dumb voice: "Since Princess Pingle is willing to expel For gambling, I will give you a chance to redeem your merits. It’s just that you offend the Ministry of Justice. To prevent you from getting into trouble, during the investigation, you will ban your feet in the Beiyan Pagoda, copy the Buddhist scriptures, and cultivate your character. The stick responsibility will be exempted. After all, it’s a girl’s house. If you go down thirty feet, isn’t this killing you?"

As Li Ming said, he raised his head to look at Xie Lanqing, and said rather tiredly, "Master Xie, what do you think?"

Xie Lanqing frowned, and Li Ming reminded: "In fact, Pingle has something to say that is not unreasonable. The Ministry of Criminal Justice has been a little too staid in doing things these years."

Li Ming's words are a kind of threat in disguise. If Xie Lanqing continues to speak, he will start to send the sentence to the Ministry of Punishment for reasons.

Xie Lanqing understood Li Ming's words, and respectfully said: "Weichen is just a courtier. This matter should be unanimously discussed by everyone and your Majesty decides."

Li Ming nodded, and looked up at everyone: "What do you think?"

No one spoke, Li Rong knelt on the ground, quietly kowtowing. After a long time, a smiling voice came from below, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, Weichen thought, this couldn't be better."

This made everyone look at it collectively, and Li Rong also secretly looked sideways and looked at the speaker.

But when I saw the speaker standing behind the court hall, he was actually an incompetent little official. He was extremely young. His brows and eyes seemed to be born with a smile. There was a bit more romantic taste, and he was incompatible with that official uniform. The court is very eye-catching.

Li Rong looked at him for a moment, and then she recognized the person, and then listened to Gu Zidao, the official book of the Ministry of Rites, and snorted: "Cui Yulang, what are you crazy?"

The young official held the wat board and smiled: "Master Gu, the Weichen said it was from his heart. You see, your Highness should also be punished, and the Qin family's execution time has not been delayed. Your Highness, as a princess, uses his own future. Why not protect a general? If the Qin family is guilty, His Highness did not delay anything. If the Qin family is not guilty, then His Highness has accumulated great merit. Isn't such a beneficial and harmless thing excellent?"

Cui Yulang said, kneeling down with a smile, and kowtowing: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks what the princess said is very true, please let your majesty be generous and accept what the princess said."

Not long after Cui Yulang spoke, a young official walked out, closed his eyes and knelt down: "I beg your Majesty, please accept what the princess said."

Then in twos and threes, a few officials came out. Although the number was small, they knelt on the hall, and they seemed to have a kind of silent power.

Li Ming looked at those people. After a long time, he looked at Li Chuan who had been standing next to him: "What do you think of the prince?"

"Erchen..." Li Chuan seemed to be embarrassed. After a long time, he finally said: "Erchen listens to his father."

"In that case, just follow what the princess said."

Li Mingdan said: "From today, Princess Pingle has forbidden her foot in the Beiyan Pagoda, copied 100 Buddhist scriptures, prayed for the Queen Mother, and showed her filial piety. She will go directly after the next dynasty, and let her servants pick up what she needs. The family’s execution date remains unchanged and will be under the care of the princess for the time being. The Ministry of Criminal Affairs has rectified and streamlined the process. After the streamlining, the entire case handling process will be handed over to me."

"Yes." Xie Lanqing saluted respectfully.

After Li Ming dealt with these matters, he inquired about other political affairs, and finally announced his next dynasty.

After waiting for the next day, Li Rong turned his attention to Cui Yulang who was walking out in the crowd chatting and laughing with the people next to her. She hesitated for a moment, did not step forward, just turned to look at Li Chuan who was walking towards her.

Li Chuan didn't look very good. Li Rong glanced at Shangguan Xu behind him and knew that it was Shangguan Xu who asked Li Chuan to come to her.

Li Chuan still has to talk to the family. Now that Li Rong is standing opposite the family, Li Chuan has to show too much in front of the family.

So as soon as Li Chuan walked in front of him, Li Rong got cold face and said directly: "You don't have to say anything to me, the ways are different and you don't want to conspire, forget it."

"Sister," Li Chuan frowned, "You are too much."

The words of the siblings attracted the attention of the courtiers who had not left. Li Rong sneered: "Is it too much or they are too much? It's time to be punished, I'm leaving, and the prince is free."

After Li Rong finished speaking, he left directly. Li Chuan frowned, as if to say something, but couldn't say anything in the end.

As soon as Li Rong walked out of the door, many courtiers gathered around and said bitterly: "His Royal Highness, the director-in-chief also has a degree of character, what is she going to do!"

"Everyone, I will try to persuade her, but she is my elder sister after all..." Li Chuan said, showing embarrassment, "I was too spoiled before. When I find the opportunity in private, the orphan will talk to her well. After all," Li Chuan said in a low voice, "She is also the princess of Shangguan's family."

Hearing these words, everyone calmed down a bit and sighed: "I also hope that your Highness can turn the corner by himself. If you really make trouble to expel Huajing..."

While speaking, the talking minister shook his head and left with a sigh.

Li Rong didn't need to listen to these ministers' conversations with Li Chuan, and guessed that they were invariable.

She is the best candidate for the Construction Supervision Department, not because of how capable she is, but because she is the princess of Shangguan family and the elder sister of the prince.

This is her amulet. What she is doing today, if another person does it, why would the family be willing to spare her so easily?

But just believing that she would eventually stop her hands in the face of the prince, and she didn't dare to do anything in the face of Shangguan's.

This is the reason why Li Mingken started her, but it is also the reason why Li Ming refused to help her completely and always observe her and test her from behind.

Li Rong thought about everything in the hall, and walked towards the North Yan Pagoda.

The Beiyan Pagoda was a star-gazing place specially built for her mother and queen when Li Ming was young. Later, the two emperors and queens rarely went there. Over time, it was deserted. Later, due to the remoteness and cleanness, it became the usual forbidden foot in the palace. place.

Li Rong told Jingmei what she was going to bring, and babbled to the front of the tower. The Beiyan Pagoda is the tallest building in the palace. It has a tall gate and a long body with a copper bell overhanging the eaves. Li Rong looked up for a moment before leading the people away. Went in.

She followed the stairs all the way, climbed to high places, and when she reached the top floor, she arrived at her daily residence. The attendant opened the door for her. As soon as she entered the door, she saw Li Ming sitting inside, drinking tea with her head down.

Li Rong paused for a moment, then showed a surprised expression, and couldn't help but say: "Father?"

Li Ming was sitting at the table making tea, and said flatly: "Come in."

Li Rong didn't speak, she walked in with her skirt, kneeling respectfully next to Li Ming, Li Ming personally poured tea for her, and said slowly: "I haven't been to the Beiyan Pagoda for several years."

Li Rong did not dare to answer, and Li Ming's voice was a bit of nostalgia: "When this tower was built, your mother was pregnant with you. I was very happy to be a father at first. At that time, my relationship with your mother and queen was very good. When she was born in 2013, I don’t know what she likes. I always see her looking at the sky, so I think she likes to see the stars, so in the first year of her ascension, she built the North Yan Pagoda."

Water was boiling over the small fire, making a faint sound of boiling water, as if it had just opened up. Li Ming turned his head and looked at the open window in the distance.

The windows in this room are all opened very wide. When they are opened, the sky outside looks like a painting. Li Ming said slowly: "Sometimes I also hope that I can always be like back then, thinking about nothing, what If you don’t understand it, you might live well. At least, my wife and I should be very affectionate with you, Chuan’er," Li Ming turned his head and looked at Li Rong. He looked at her. After a long time, slowly Said, "Should have good feelings, I will be a good father."

"Father has been very good."

Li Rong comforted him, Li Ming waved his hand, and smiled: "Who knows in my heart, you don't need to say."

Li Ming said, he paused for a while, and after a long time, he said: "You are a smart boy, smarter than Chuan'er."

"Father, Chuan'er is only young."

"You are young too," Li Ming chuckles, "but you see it more thoroughly than him, if you were a man, it would be fine."

Li Rong did not speak.

In fact, she is not much smarter than Li Ming. If there is, she just knows the end of the first life in advance because she has gone through the whole life.

In the previous life, like her Li Chuan, they chose a seemingly better path together, completely dependent on other people, and then as the years grew, Li Chuan became the next Li Ming, and the cycle went back and forth.

"I used to think that you were just a little smart, not different from your mother's queen. You helped me level the Yang family, but it was for my own marriage and the establishment of the Supervisory Department. It was only because of Pei Wenxuan's instigation to control more power. , But today I suddenly feel that you are actually better than I thought. Rong'er," Li Ming sighed, "A lot of things, I have no choice but to blame me, but if one day, I will return to heaven for a hundred years, you I can know that, in my heart, I also hope that you and Chuan'er can have a good time."

Li Rong looked at Li Chuan quietly. In fact, Li Chuan is now under 40, but he looks like an old man over half a hundred years old.

He is running out of time.

Li Rong clearly realized that in his last life, Li Ming was going to die in the winter two years later.

She used to feel that her feelings for Li Ming had faded, but now she saw this person apologize to her, she knew that the power lies in this person's heart, far above her, but she still felt unspeakable soreness. Come up.

"Why is Father Father telling me this now?"

Li Rong smiled bitterly: "You didn't say anything before."

"I didn't say it in the past, because I was afraid that one day you would be sad." Li Ming's expression was flat. "I didn't know what you would do in the end. If in the end, you and Chuan'er send me away? Say these things, you remember them. In my heart, I feel uncomfortable for a lifetime, so why bother."

"Today is different," Li Ming laughed, and he looked at Li Rong, "I am very happy."

"My father can be honest with my son," Li Rong laughed, "My son is also very happy."

"It's okay if you don't have any grudges in your heart." Li Ming sighed, "Today's court, I can't favor you too much. If the family feel that I am determined to deal with them, I'm afraid they will make too radical plans."

"I understand." Li Rong said slowly, "The family is intricately rooted. It is not a one-time evil, but a step-by-step approach. Moreover, the children are indeed reckless and should be punished."

"Why are you not a kid?" Li Ming was a little bit regretful, and Li Rong couldn't help laughing. "Father, Chuan'er is actually very good. If you know more about him, you will know."

"He's fine," Li Ming's voice was a little weak. "It's too much like me. Keep going, I'm afraid he will be the next me, maybe it's not as good."

Li Ming smiled, remembering something, and waved his hand: "But he is still young, let's look at the future. After all, he is a prince, and I don't make a big mistake, and I won't do anything."

"Erchen knows," Li Rong said, knowing that Li Ming was afraid of her being careless, "Father the emperor just wants Chuan'er to do better."

Li Ming answered, he didn't say much. After a while, he slowly said: "Upon the court, you have also seen it. I think you know why I argue with your mother and queen, in the future," Li Ming hesitated for a moment. , Finally said, "We father and daughter are united, don't be grudges."

"Father, don't worry," Li Rong said calmly, "In my son, Da Xia is in his heart."

Li Ming laughed, raised his hand and patted her shoulder, then remembered something: "Pei Wenxuan has left Beijing?"

"Yes." Li Rong said calmly, "Father, don't worry, he will come back."

As she said, she raised her eyes and hinted: "Bring back what the emperor wants."

"Okay." Li Ming high-five and laughed. He took a sip of tea and said happily, "Careful."

"Alright," Li Ming stood up and looked around. "You are here to take a good rest. If you have any needs, let people say blessings. I will be with you and wait for Pei Wenxuan to come back."

Li Rong stood up and saluted respectfully: "Send my father respectfully."

Li Ming nodded and walked out quite happily.

After Li Ming went out, Li Rong sat down and took a sip of the tea.

She did not believe what Li Ming said.

She knows Li Ming too well. Whether he treats her or Li Chuan, he has feelings, but in the face of power, feelings are not worth mentioning. On the one hand, his comfort today is because he is sure of her trust in him. Huanxi, on the other hand, was that he finally confirmed that she was available, and he deliberately cultivated feelings.

Li Ming held the cup, feeling a little cold and sour.

She didn't know why, and she suddenly missed Pei Wenxuan especially. She felt that Pei Wenxuan was sitting opposite her. Qingjun's face was a little smile, and she asked her: "His Royal Highness, what are you worrying about?"

Thinking of Pei Wenxuan's tone, she couldn't help laughing.

As soon as she poured the tea, there was a creaking door opening.

Li Rong looked up and saw Guanyue standing in the doorway dressed in court clothes.

Li Rong was stunned, then laughed: "Mother Queen."

Shangguanyue looked a little tired. She stood at the door, watching Li Rong motionless.

Li Rong thought for a moment, and said slowly: "Will the queen not come in and sit down?"

"Rongrong," Shangguan Yue muttered, "Are you wrong?"

"What did I do wrong?"

Li Rong's voice was peaceful: "Am I blocking your way, or did I seize your rights?"

Shangguan Yue didn't speak, but Li Rong saw her silent for a long time and reminded: "Won't the queen come in and sit?"

"No." Shangguanyue's voice choked. "I'm here to tell your uncle a word."

"Pei Wenxuan is dead."

Li Rong's movements froze, and the birds flew past the window as she whispered. She slowly raised her head inconceivably and looked at the woman at the door.

Shangguanyue pretends to be calm, and seems to be no different from the way she sits high in the day.

"Everything that goes against the torrent has a price."

"Rong'er, in the future," Shangguan Yue said extremely hard, "don't be capricious."

The author has something to say: Li Rong: "My husband was away on the first day, so I missed him a little bit, so I can find out how he is."

Shangguanyue: "He is dead."

Li Rong: "...That's not to ask."