Song Gexing

Chapter 76 Zhao Fang’s cruelty

Two days later, Zhao Fang was completely angered by a memorial from the admonisher Wang Zhi.

"Xia Song, Wang Zhi, you are seeking death!"

On today's Xun Dynasty, Zhao Fang sent someone to inquire about the results early in the morning. Originally, he thought that his troubles in Daqing Hall would make these people scrupulous.

Unexpectedly, early this morning, Xia Song first proposed that Concubine Zhang had made great contributions, and then Wang Zhi immediately impeached the queen for participating in the planning of the palace change.

Although Yushi He Tan objected and argued that the queen could not do this, and Renzong did not do anything to Empress Cao, Zhao Fang was really angry.

"Come on, prepare a horse!"

Zhao Fang was unusually strict and forbade the guards to follow him, so he left alone. Wang Zhongzheng was so panicked that he asked someone to follow him, but he could only follow him from a distance after being ordered to do so.

No one knew what he was going to do. They just saw him wandering around. It was almost noon and he suddenly rushed to Zhuque Street and headed straight for the Zhuangyuan Building.

Officials in the Song Dynasty returned to their respective posts after attending court in the morning and did not go home until the evening. They usually had lunch outside at noon.

As for where to go, it's a matter of personal preference, but most people take Zhuque Street, and the Zhuangyuan Building at the south entrance of Madao Street is where many civil servants like to go.

Zhuque Street is very close to here, just go through Xiu Alley and turn a corner.

Officials in twos and threes, most of them walking together, there are also some who are alone but very few. After all, this is a business meal time every day and has nothing to do with forming a party.

Xia Song was with three people today, one of whom was Wang Zhi. The four of them came separately and came out together after meeting here.

Just as the three of them asked Xia Song to board the carriage, a horse rushed out from the side, quickly slowed down and trotted in front of them.

"King Wei!"

The sharp-eyed Wang Zhi recognized Zhao Fang and hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

Suddenly Zhao Fang looked horrified and fell off his horse with a scream: "Escort! There is an assassin!"

A shrill voice came from his mouth, and he rolled towards Wang Zhi and others. The shocked Xia Song saw a bright red bloom.

"So cruel!"

Before Xia Song could lament, Wang Zhongzheng and others rushed over not far away. The sound of swords being unsheathed was followed by angry roars.

Zhao Fang had a bright short knife stuck in his left arm, his hair was disheveled and he was crying. Wang Zhongzheng originally thought that he was fake, but he screamed after seeing his injuries.

"Your Majesty! Don't let people go, capture them all for me!"

The stunned Wang Zhi and others were immediately knocked down and detained. Xia Song was the privy envoy and no one dared to attack him, but they were surrounded and stared at with swords raised.

"Xia Xiang, don't call me disrespectful. King Wei was assassinated in front of you. You can't explain it clearly. Just hang up and follow us."

After Wang Zhongzheng checked Zhao Fang, he simply bandaged him and ran to Xia Song, saying with a solemn face.

Xia Song glanced at Zhao Fang, who was being supported by someone, and said with an ugly face: "Go and ask the Kaifeng Mansion to come over to inspect the scene. After recording the confession, I will go home and wait for the results."

Wang Zhongzheng nodded, understanding that this was the correct procedure. It was impossible for Xia Song to run away, and he could not escape.

And I can't arrest him. The Privy Councilor is the deputy prime minister, and no one can touch him except with an imperial decree.

By the time Bao Zheng hurried over, Zhao Fang had been bandaged up with medicine and his hair had been combed again.

After some questioning, Wang Zhi complained, and Bao Zheng said angrily: "The injury of King Wei is obvious to all. A knife penetrated his left arm. Do you dare to say that King Wei did it himself? Do you think everyone in the world is blind?" Of course Lao Bao said He also doubted that he knew that Zhao Fang was highly skilled in martial arts, so how could he be successfully assassinated by a civil servant like Wang Zhi. But such injuries were real, how could he admit that Zhao Fang had committed self-harm and framed him.

Even if it is true, this matter can only be said in front of the emperor, never in front of the public.

This matter is too big, and if it is not handled well, it will cause shock to the government.

People like Wang Zhi who interfered in the harem and dared to slander the queen were punished by death in other dynasties, but not in the Song Dynasty.

The only thing that can convict him is treason, and assassinating the prince is equivalent to rebellion. As for the other two people who were affected, there is nothing you can do about it, who will make you unlucky.

Zhao Fang was sent home, Bao Zheng hurriedly entered the palace in person, Xia Song went home with an ashen face to wait for his participation, and the Zhuangyuan Building became lively like a farce.

"Bao Qing is saying... that the eldest brother may have framed himself for harm?"

Bao Zheng would not hide anything from the emperor. Zhao Zhen stuttered and asked with a shocked look on his face before sitting down slumped.

"Your Majesty, the queen can't move! Your Majesty can't shake the foundation of the country for your own preferences, right?"

Bao Zheng advised earnestly. He knew this without looking into it. As long as Zhao Fang really hurt himself, it must be because of what happened in the morning.

"I didn't say I wanted to touch the Queen."

After replying, Zhao Zhen asked again: "Brother really committed suicide. Does Bao Qing have any evidence?"

Bao Zheng hesitated for a moment and then replied: "There is no evidence, but King Wei has been practicing martial arts since he was a child. I have heard that ordinary people can't get close to him. If he is scratched, it is possible, but the knife penetrated the arm and avoided the blood vessels." Bones, this suspicion is too obvious.”

"Penetrated through the arm! How dare he! What if he missed it?"

Zhao Zhen groaned feebly. He thought that his son would be angry, argue with him or even quarrel, but he never thought that he would be so capable.

Bao Zheng glanced at Zhao Zhen, lowered his eyelids and said: "The officials shouldn't think about these things now, let's think about the aftermath. I'm afraid it won't take long before the memorial will flood the Chongzheng Palace, and assassinating the prince is tantamount to rebellion. This is what King Wei is doing Take these people’s lives.”

"This……"

Zhao Zhen hesitated, thought for a while and asked tentatively: "Since there are doubts, do we need a joint trial by the three agencies?"

Bao Zheng slowly stood up straight, saluted solemnly and said: "Interrogation is necessary, but I am worried that King Wei will not be willing to do it again, and then..."

With a "hiss" sound, Zhao Zhen gasped.

Bao Zheng looked at him with burning eyes and spoke again: "The only solution for now is to cut through the mess quickly. So what if they were wronged? They deserve to die if they dare to interfere in the inner palace. Only I, the Song Dynasty, can't convict them. Now Yes, ending it as soon as possible will also serve as a warning to others."

"But...but that traitor...oh!"

"The officials are wrong. The king of Wei is just too filial, so he has to use this trick. The dignified prince wants to use such a method to defend his aunt. Shouldn't the officials reflect on themselves?"

Bao Zheng said sternly, resumed Bao Heizi's black-faced behavior, and began to accuse the emperor of being partial and wanting to spoil his concubine and destroy his wife, which led to this result.

Zhao Zhen blushed when he was told that, although he was still unwilling, he could only pinch his nose to admit it, otherwise he was really afraid that something big would happen.

"Okay, Bao Qing will take care of it, but Xia Xiang... Xia Xiang..."

When it came to his opinion on how to deal with Xia Song, Zhao Zhen hesitated.

Xia Song had not yet come into contact with Zhao Fang, and the distance between the two was still two to three feet, so he could not be identified as an accomplice just because the four of them were together.

(End of this chapter)