Chapter 311: His Majesty and Gao Ming are playing chess
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is supposed to be a festive day.

The common people were unaware of the situation and were still happy, but none of the civil and military officials in the court were happy.

It’s not possible even on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, let alone after that.

The high-level officials in Chang’an were shrouded in a cloud of worry and gloom.

They all paid close attention to the developments in the political situation.

“How long will it take for Aye to get to Chang’an?”

Feng Zhidai was extremely anxious, his face full of fear, and he couldn’t stop walking, as if this was the only way to make him feel better.

Dang Renhong is the governor of Guangzhou.

If he is impeached, can the Feng family of Lingnan remain unscathed?
You will definitely be dragged into the vortex of this political struggle.

It is hard to say what the outcome will be, but it is likely to be a bad one.

What frightened Feng Zhidai the most was that after several years of contact with Chang’an, the Feng family had long since let down their guard.

This year is the Holy Emperor’s 50th birthday, and I must come no matter what.

His father set out for Chang’an last year.

Now we have long left the Lingnan area and are not far from Chang’an.

It is simply impossible to ask Aye to turn around and go back to Lingnan immediately. Isn’t this a clear sign of rebellion and disobedience?

Once the imperial court learns of such an action, it will immediately issue an order and the troops along the way will make it impossible for Aye to move forward.

“There are still three days left.”

“Three days.”

Feng Zhidai closed his eyes, revealing a trace of despair.

What has been done cannot be undone. There is no way to save it.

He finally understood that his father was in Lingnan, and he still had enough composure to think about the problem.

But Aye is now less than three days away from Chang’an.

He had no confidence at all and was completely panicked and terrified.

“Alang!”

“People from the Censorate, Dali Temple, and the Ministry of Justice are coming.”

The butler came hurriedly to report, and the words fell.

The people from the Three Departments had already strode in, not caring at all whether their master Feng Zhidai agreed or not.

Feng Zhidai’s face turned pale.

coming.

It came so quickly.

The Feng family couldn’t escape this disaster after all.

The leading official of the Censorate said, “According to the order of the Holy Emperor, the case of Dang Renhong will be investigated and interrogated by the Censorate, the Dali Temple, and the Ministry of Justice. All people who are related to him or may be related to him, regardless of their official positions, can be taken away for questioning by the three courts without having to report to the higher authorities.”

“The people being questioned must not resist, conceal anything, slander or defame others, and must unconditionally cooperate with the three bureaus’ inquiries.”

“Feng Zhidai.”

“Please come with us.”

The people from the three departments just looked at Feng Zhidai, waiting for him to decide whether to cooperate.

“My father will arrive in Chang’an in three days. Please give me some time and let me meet with him first…”

Feng Zhidai said so and he wanted to discuss it with Aye.

“Feng Zhidai, the three officials are questioning you very seriously. Please take it seriously.” The Dali Temple Secretary said in a deep voice: “You don’t have any conditions to negotiate.”

“Now tell us whether you will cooperate with the three divisions’ inquiries.”

Feng Zhidai gritted his teeth and said, “I am willing to cooperate, but can you give me some time so I can write a letter?”

“impossible!”

The official from the Ministry of Justice said: “The three judges came together to prevent any possible abuse of power and ensure fairness and justice.”

“Since you are willing to cooperate.”

“Let’s go then.”

“Don’t make things difficult for Sansi.”

If it weren’t for the Eastern Palace’s sake, they wouldn’t have said so much to Feng Zhidai.

After saying the polite words, he ordered his men to take him away by force.

resignedly.

Feng Zhidai had no choice but to follow the three officials and leave.

When he was taken away by the three officials, many people outside the mansion were shocked when they saw this scene.

The news quickly spread to every household in Chang’an.

“Will Feng Zhidai take revenge on Dang Renhong?”

“He should know that Dang Renhong has done a lot of bad things.”

Some people are happy, some are sad, and some are indifferent.

I originally thought that the focus of the court’s struggle was in Jiangnan.

Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, the focus of the struggle would shift to Lingnan.

The three officials asked.

Imperial Censor Ma Zhou, Minister of Justice Liu Dewei, and Supreme Court Minister Sun Fujia were present in person.

When Feng Zhidai saw the three big guys, he almost couldn’t stand.

It’s just questioning him, not interrogating him, is it necessary to make such a big deal?
“Feng Zhidai, this official, Minister Liu, and Minister Sun have asked you questions. Any answers will be recorded. I hope you can answer truthfully. Any concealment or fabrication may bring you unpredictable consequences.”

Ma Zhou said.

“I understand!” Feng Zhidai said respectfully.

“According to the impeachment of the Lingnan Censor, Dang Renhong was corrupt and lawless in Guangzhou and even Lingnan, bullying the people, oppressing the good, harming the common people, and forcibly seizing women.”

Ma Zhou said: “This has caused the local people to complain and resentment has risen everywhere, and they are dissatisfied with the court and the Holy Emperor.”

“Is this possible?”

After he finished speaking.

The three of them looked at Feng Zhidai at the same time, waiting for him to speak.

But when Feng Zhidai heard these charges, his mind went blank and he dared not answer.

Of course he knew that these were not false, because news was passed to him from Lingnan from time to time.

This includes some of Dang Renhong’s actions.

He couldn’t make a reasonable judgment now, whether it was true or not.

This is so critical.

If there is, once Dang Renhong is fine in the end, the Feng family would offend Dang Renhong, which would be a small matter, but would incur the disgust of the Holy Emperor, which would be a big matter.

If he said no, and Dang Renhong had something wrong, he would be guilty of concealing it and resisting the inquiry of the three courts. Even if it had nothing to do with him, he would be implicated.

“To reply to the Three Departments, I have been living in Chang’an for a long time in recent years and seldom go back to Lingnan, so I am not very clear about it.” Feng Zhidai avoided the main point and planned to delay for a while before talking about it.

Wait until Aye arrives in Chang’an and then make a decision.

“Feng Zhidai, you should know that the weight of the three-division inquiry is recorded. If you know, you know. If you don’t know, you don’t know.”

Ma Zhou said with hint of meaning.

“Please ask the three courts to investigate carefully.” Feng Zhidai could only continue to play deaf and dumb.

See this.

Ma Zhou lowered his head and talked to the other two people for a while, then said, “In that case, you can stay for a while.”

“You are not allowed to have any contact with the outside world until the three divisions’ interrogation is completed.”

“Take it down.”

Feng Zhidai was taken away, and when he was going out, he saw a merchant from Lingnan who had just been brought there.

His pupils shrank.

These businessmen can seek profit and avoid harm, but they are unaware of the dangers involved. When questioned by the three officials, they will probably tell whatever they know.

……

The three officials took Feng Zhidai away for questioning, which was just the beginning.

Afterwards, one after another, people who were related to Dang Renhong in Chang’an or Guangzhou in Lingnan were all taken away by the three departments for questioning.

The signal conveyed by this situation is extremely subtle.

It made both the government and the public a little confused.

Many years later, Feng Ang came to Chang’an again, but he did not expect to run into such a disaster head on.

Still deeply involved.

The moment he entered Chang’an City, the Three Officials took him away in front of the Ministry of Rites.

This move caused an uproar.

After all, Feng Ang came to Chang’an to celebrate the emperor’s birthday. The three courts should at least ask after the emperor’s birthday.

But as soon as they arrived in Chang’an, they did just that, without any courtesy at all.

It goes against common sense and convention.

The undercurrents hidden behind this made the ministers in the court much more cautious in their words and actions.

“This matter is out of control.”

Gao Shilian said this, and Zhangsun Wuji paused with the teacup half-raised in the air, and said, “Uncle, what you mean is…”

“Dang Renhong…”

Gao Shilian shook his head, saying nothing.

Zhang Sun Wuji was surprised and said, “It shouldn’t be like this. Your Majesty knows clearly what the consequences will be if you deal with Dang Renhong.”

“How can we make the noble families get what they want?”

Gao Shilian said calmly: “As you wish?”

“Now, they should think about how to prevent His Majesty from getting what he wants.”

“I’m trying to find a way to exonerate Dang Renhong.”

“Because, His Majesty wants Dang Renhong to die.”

Zhang Sun Wuji almost jumped up in shock and asked, “Your Majesty wants Dang Renhong to die?”

“how come.”

“Absolutely impossible. I know His Majesty well. He is very sentimental…”

As he spoke, he became less confident and certain.

“I can no longer see through it.” Gao Shilian sighed, “Judging from the actions of the three officials, they are really aiming to convict Renhong, their close friend.”

“Otherwise, Your Majesty could have just asked the Censorate to investigate, but you want the three departments to investigate together.”

“Three Departments and the Censorate, you know how little chance there is of turning this around.”

Chang Sun Wuji’s body sank slightly, his brows furrowed, and he said, “This is out of character, there must be something fishy.”

“uncle.”

He suddenly thought of a possibility and asked, “Your Majesty, have you already thought that this kind of incident would happen?”

Gao Shilian was silent for a moment, then said, “Perhaps it is a wise move.”

“Without Dang Renhong, it could have been something else.”

“All I can say is that we may all be caught up in this big situation without even realizing it.”

Changsun Wuji shuddered and his whole body began to tremble involuntarily.

“If they were wise, if they were Your Majesty, they would have anticipated this day.”

“Doesn’t this mean that when Dang Renhong was sent to Your Majesty and Gao Ming, they already had a plan…”

Gao Shilian said nothing, just nodded.

“What’s the countermeasure?”

Changsun Wuji felt extremely uneasy about the countless possibilities of the future.

A feeling of fear that one cannot control or understand.

According to this analysis, His Majesty and Gao Ming have been waiting for them to make a move.

Confessed.

So how to counter it? The benefits of countering will be greater than the impact it brings.

What will it be?
Gao Shilian said quietly, “Fu Ji, Ji Fu is in the East Palace.”

“The current situation is not just you, but also the officials in the court.”

“In this game, the opponents on the chessboard may be only Your Majesty and Gao Ming. We, the people of the world, the noble families, are all chess pieces on the board.”

“Follow your majesty and Gao Ming’s plan.”

“So, you just follow the procedures, be impartial, and speak according to the facts.”

“You must not get involved in the Dang Renhong case.”

“Now, I just feel that there is something even more terrifying brewing behind this big case.”

Something more terrifying?

These words made Changsun Wuji shudder.

He also understood what his uncle said.

Since Gao Ji Fu was in the East Palace, the prince’s attitude towards the Gao family and the Changsun family was friendly.

Just follow the crowd and don’t stand out.

(End of this chapter)