si-mexico Chapter 222 Unknown Awakening
Chapter 222 Unknown Awakening
Chapter 222: Unknown and Powerful
Cao Yang was grateful to Weiyuan Hou for sending Mu Lu to warn him in time, which prevented him from being implicated in the incident of the imperial farm and trapped in the Eastern Palace.
But he was a little puzzled by what Mu Lu said, that the Marquis did this to avoid embarrassing himself.
"Appreciate further details."
"Lord Cao, think about it... The matter of the Imperial Farm directly touched His Majesty's bottom line. Even if he won't depose the Crown Prince on the spot, he must make a statement in front of the entire court. The Crown Prince will definitely be punished. If he is confined to the Eastern Palace, he will naturally find a way to find someone to discuss a plan of escape. But who in the entire Eastern Palace is more suitable than you?"
Mu Lu took a sip of water and continued, "The matter of the Imperial Farm is so filthy. Given Lord Cao's personality, he naturally doesn't want to associate with the Crown Prince. However, as an official of the Eastern Palace, you have no choice but to obey. Then... wouldn't you be in a difficult position?"
Cao Yang suddenly realized: "So... the Marquis actually understands me so well!"
Indeed, he had faced this situation before when Chang Jing sent someone to deliver a secret letter.
Chang Jing did something so outrageous. As the crown prince, if he really cared about the people, he should have reported it to His Majesty. However, instead of doing so, he insisted on protecting Chang Jing and even asked him to give him advice.
He wanted to refuse, but the prince was also kind to him...so he had no choice but to suggest that the Chang family members take the blame.
In this way, even if Chang Jing is not sentenced to death, he still has to bear some responsibility for it, and the prince can get away with it, and he can be considered to have fulfilled his duty as an official. But who would have thought that the prince actually adopted his suggestion and sent secret guards to help Chang Jing kill people to silence them!
This is what brought about the disaster that is so difficult to remove today. After hearing the news, he also felt that he had escaped a disaster, but he did not expect that this result was actually arranged in advance by the Marquis out of gratitude to him.
In Jiangnan, he didn't spend much time with the Marquis, but he didn't expect that he could see through all his thoughts and difficulties.
He stood up and bowed deeply towards the direction of Weiyuan Marquis Mansion.
Mu Lu also stopped laughing and stood up to return the greeting on behalf of his master.
After both parties sat down again, Cao Yang asked directly, "I think the incident at the Imperial Farm and the Crown Prince's confinement were all arranged by the Marquis?"
"That's right." Things had come to this point, and Mu Lu had nothing to hide.
Cao Yang was a little surprised. He had a bold suspicion in his mind. After hesitating for a long time, he finally said, "Marquis Weiyuan... does he want that position?" "Our master?" Mu Lu didn't expect Cao Yang to be so bold. This idea was really deadly!
He responded, "Of course not, sir, please don't let your imagination run wild!"
Do people who are good at solving cases have such bold ideas in their minds?
Cao Yang knew he had misunderstood and blushed:
"Then why did the Marquis… He is the emperor's nephew, and the current princes are all his cousins. Why would he target the crown prince so much? And… he exposed it at court, leaving no room for maneuver."
Upon hearing this, Mu Lu smiled and said, "Master Cao, do you think that based on what the current Crown Prince is doing, will the people of our Great Zhou have a good life when he ascends the throne?"
He spoke very bluntly and did not leave any wiggle room for Cao Yang just because he was an official of the Eastern Palace.
Cao Yang lowered his head and did not comment.
He had asked himself this question countless times in his mind.
Seeing that he was silent, Mu Lu knew what was going on, so he continued:
"Let's talk about why we had to take action at court. If this matter wasn't made public, given His Majesty's doting on the Crown Prince, all it would take is for the Crown Prince and the Empress to come forward and complain, and this shocking crime that violates human ethics would simply be brushed aside. Even if these people were rescued, what about the future? Who can guarantee that the Crown Prince wouldn't condone his servants to do even more absurd and outrageous things?"
"Have you heard about the Crown Prince's brother-in-law occupying the Jiangxia Salt Mine, Lord Cao?"
Cao Yang nodded: "I've heard a little bit about it."
The prince's brother-in-law listened to other people's advice in Jiangxia and occupied the local salt mines, causing a big commotion. It was said that there was even a murder case.
Salt mines are the destiny of the country, and occupying salt mines is a capital crime. The prince knew that he could not escape, so he went to the emperor to admit his mistake.
"It was our grandfather who reminded him of that incident, otherwise he would still be kept in the dark when the crime happened."
"I see. Later I heard that someone in the court had submitted a memorial, but the Crown Prince had already admitted his fault before His Majesty, and the matter was eventually suppressed." Cao Yang finished speaking and looked at Mu Lu. "But the Crown Prince really didn't know about that matter."
"Yes, the Crown Prince didn't know anything." Mu Lu smiled slightly. "He didn't know about the Jiangxia incident, he didn't know about the Huangzhuang incident, he didn't know about everything... It's understandable that others didn't know, but the Crown Prince didn't know? Do you know what the biggest mistake of those in power is?"
"Take human life lightly?"
"No."
"Mercenary?"
"No."
"That is..." Cao Yang was a little confused.
"He's incompetent!" Mu Lu looked at him. "He has hundreds of attendants in the Eastern Palace, dozens of subordinates, and over a hundred secret guards. He has connections with officials everywhere in the court, but despite such connections, almost no one reports any major events to him... This only shows that although he is the crown prince, he is completely unable to control his subordinates."
"If this is the case even for the crown prince, how will I face those scheming ministers of the six ministries and the military marquises who hold immense military power if I ascend the throne in the future?"
"What will the Great Zhou be like then?"
"Incompetence is his biggest fault!"
Cao Yang had nothing to say.
He was previously only the Junior Secretary, handling some trivial affairs of the Eastern Palace.
Now that she was closer to the Crown Prince, she gradually understood the character of the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace. When she tossed and turned in bed late at night, she heard the singing and dancing in the Crown Prince's bedroom, and she became worried about the future of the Great Zhou.
But...his business is just a small official in the Eastern Palace.
Apart from solving cases, he has no other abilities or interests.
The reason why he was willing to stay in the Eastern Palace was because the prince promised that he would recommend him to be an official in the Dali Temple in the future.
And now...
He raised his eyelids and looked at Mu Lu: "In the Huangzhuang case, as long as Chang Jing's guilt is proven, the prince will be unable to escape. What does the Marquis need me to do?"
If nothing happened, Mu Lu would not have come to look for him so early this morning.
Today is the day when Your Majesty will personally interrogate Chang Jing in the palace.
Mu Lu smiled slightly when he heard this. "Do you know that the Crown Princess' uncle, who was the magistrate of Puyang County, died suddenly last winter?"
Cao Yang nodded. During that period, the Crown Princess cried all day long, was deep in thought and was tired, and had no time to take care of the affairs of the palace.
The prince had complained to him several times.
"That incident was done by Chang Jing."
"How could this be?" Cao Yang was stunned. This was simply unbelievable!
Chang Jing is the uncle of the Crown Princess, and County Magistrate Lu is the uncle of the Crown Princess. They are relatives by marriage. Why would Chang Jing attack his own people?
"It's to better control the Crown Princess. After all, if the Lu family gets close to the Crown Princess, it won't be a good thing for the Chang family."
Cao Yang felt a chill on his back: Is it because of this that Chang Jing is so cruel to his in-laws?
Now, what is the meaning of Mu Lu telling the truth to himself?
He asked, "Does the Marquis want me to inform the Crown Princess about this?"
Mu Lu nodded.
Cao Yang pondered for a long time, but one thing remained unclear to him: "But Lord Chang Jing is the Crown Princess' uncle after all. Could it be that the Crown Princess will really abandon him because of this?"
"To be honest, I don't understand either." Mu Lu grinned. Cao Yang: "..."