The Four Great Cases of Wu Zetian

Chapter 52

With old grudges, Zhongliang made angry words to redeem the treacherous plot
But Wu Chengsi made some remarks, and Wu Zetian said angrily: "I used to be just because of the former emperor's subjects, and I refused to do everything! Tomorrow morning, you will play the Ming Dynasty in the Golden Palace, so I can ask you immediately." Wu Chengsi He said: "Your Majesty is like this, so you can live in peace." After Dao Bafu comforted Empress Wu, Xue Aocao accompanied him in the palace at ease, and then came out to discuss with Wu Sansi for a night.

The next day, the five drums entered the court, and the Shanhu was over. The left and right civil and military ministers stood in two groups.Suddenly Wu Chengsi stepped forward and said: "I have received your majesty's kindness, and I am thinking of repaying it. It is rumored that others are resentful, saying that your majesty severely demoted your parents and sons, abolished the emperor Ming, and put the power of the world under your own control. Rebellion, in the name of assisting the king of Luling, wants to put the ministers to death and force your majesty to abdicate. The ministers have received the country's generous favors and dare not hide. I beg your majesty to bow down to the innocent and dismiss the ministers so as not to suffer this great rebellion In the name of the general, His Majesty has the idea of ​​abusing his personal interests. Now that the King of Luling is still in Fangzhou, he still asks His Majesty to send a decree to call him into the capital and restore the Great Treasure, so as to avoid accidental disasters." Wu Chengsi said this Speaking of words, the ministers of civil and military affairs on both sides were all shocked, and each other was horrified. I don't know who made this argument, so Wu Chengsi made a false statement.I saw Empress Wu angrily said: "This is a widow's family matter! Because the prince was weak and unable to handle the post of the great treasure, I came to the court to listen to the government. Who is the treacherous minister who made false comments on the affairs of the court with the intention of rebelling? I don’t know why this person’s reasoning is not true, why is he playing vaguely? You can understand the playing and hear it, so that you can handle it according to your name.” Wu Chengsi said: “This person is Liu Weizhi, a scholar of Zhaowen Museum, along with Su Anheng and Yuan Xingchong. , Heng Yanfan and others discuss privately in Liu Wei's house every day. I beg Your Majesty to bestow Liu Weizhi's death first, and then hand over the rest of the party to the Ministry of Criminal Interrogation." Wu Zetian heard this and saw Liu Weizhi in the Golden Palace, and then said angrily: " Liu Weizhi, the widow treats you well, since you have received the country's great favor and received the imperial salary, why did you seek rebellion and alienate the court? What do you have to say now?"

Liu Weizhi was consciously surprised at this time, hurriedly fell down on the golden steps, and played up: "This is Wu Chengsi's enmity with his ministers, who made such rebellious words, slandered the saints, and framed the humble ministers. Since the crown prince was wronged and relegated to Fangzhou, and led the subjects of the land, all regretted it. The ministers and others have selfish thoughts, and have long wanted to play to your majesty, so they recall the prince to comfort the hope of the subjects with the love of mother and child. Moreover, your majesty is tall and tall, There are countless daily worries, daily food and night clothes, and exhaustion. The family has a son, and it is reasonable to face the court. The country has a wise king, and it is appropriate to sit in Zen. Afterwards, you can visit the palace and enjoy the rest of the year. Mother and child are hopeful, even if the whole world leads the subjects of the land, it will be beneficial. In this way, those treacherous officials and thieves who spy on the artifacts and disturb the court will naturally not have delusions, and will not confuse the king's mind. Dare to express your thoughts clearly. If you say that the ministers and others conspired to rebel, and Wu Chengsi's slander is true, please ask your majesty to issue an order and ask Wu Chengsi what evidence is there!"

Hearing this, Wu Zetian said angrily: "You said that he played falsely, that is to say, because of what you played, you have no king in your eyes! The reason why the crown prince is far away is because he is weak and ignorant? Why do you say that he led the subjects? , I feel sorry for you? This is not to say that the widow is wrong, and I hate everyone? The lonely family is old, don’t you know it, but why do you want you to read it? It is beneficial to follow what you say, and it is useless if you don’t follow what you say. This rebellious situation has already been seen in words, what else do you say! Left and right, push Liu Chuanzhi out of the Meridian Gate and behead him!" As soon as the decree was delivered, the guards in front of the palace swarmed up, even if they wanted to do something.I saw Yuan Xingchong and Su Anheng kneeling at the bottom of the steps and said: "Wu Chengsi sued the ministers and others for their accomplices, and there is no need to defend the grievances of the ministers and others.

But Wu Chengsi can't just talk nonsense, and listen to the confused king!And please Your Majesty, all the ministers and other yamen will be searched. If there is any evidence, not only Liu Wei will be beheaded, but even the ministers will be willing to plead guilty.

"Wu Zetian, who is willing to play, shouted: "You are deeply thought about by the country, and you are willing to be rebellious. It is a kindness outside the law that I beheaded one of Liu Wei. You still dare to read and play!" "

At this time, Di Renjie saw that everyone's performance was inaccurate, and he knew that Wu Zetian was remorseful, and wanted to use this to vent his sulking, so he stepped forward and said: "Liu Weizhi should be beheaded for making false comments on the government, but the minister's visit to this matter is really more than that. There are several people, including Wu Sansi, Wu Chengye and others. If your Majesty wants to kill Liu Weizhi, he must kill Liu Weizhi, and it will be fair." Wu Zetian heard this and said quickly: "Di Qing's family, don't harm people indiscriminately. Thinking twice and inheriting business are all my nephews, how can there be any reason for rebellion, could it be that the Qing family falsely accused them?" Di Gongdao: "Why don't the two of them want to rebel? Ever since the crown prince was demoted, he has tried every means to please His Majesty. , Thinking that His Majesty passed on to him. Seeing that His Majesty did not deliver the decree, he felt resentful and wanted to bring troops into the palace to kill the king. Unexpectedly, Liu Weizhi and others heard about it and tried their best to prohibit it, so as to avoid this disaster. Therefore, Wu Sansi and the others hated him for cutting his bones, and because he played it to know the Holy One, they falsely played it today to avenge their personal revenge. If the two of them are not beheaded, there will be great changes." Wu Sansi heard this and said, Scared out of his wits, he hurriedly said to Chengye: "How dare I do this? It's really Di Renjie's intention to falsely play and deceive the Holy Majesty with these words that have no influence." Di Gong did not wait for Empress Wu to speak, and hurriedly said: You say I have no influence, what is the influence of Liu Weizhi? Your Majesty said that you are the emperor's nephew, and you will never rebel. The brothers beheaded together, and then even the old ministers had to be beheaded, so that there would be no one in the court, and the treacherous ministers would be in power. If the favor is not beheaded, all must be pardoned, in order to be fair." Wu Zetian saw Di Gong's words, obviously to protect Liu Weizhi, and said: " Di Qing's family should not make a false report. What should he talk about about his own family's affairs? What he just played in front of the palace is full of rebellion. If such a treacherous person is not ordered to be beheaded, what else is there to do?" Di Gong hurriedly played again. Said: "Your Majesty's words also miss the meaning. The world is the world under the world. What Liu Wei said is the public opinion of the world. How can it be called your majesty's family affairs? If you kill loyal ministers because of this, I fear that your majesty's sage king will Anti-Mongolia has a bad name. The crown prince was relegated to Fangzhou, so he looked at the Palace of Mercy from afar, thinking about it all night long. If Wu Chengsi made a false report, he would kill the ministers, fearing that the people of the world will not say that your majesty is deceived by treacherous officials. On the other hand, it is said that His Majesty has no intention of giving way to the crown prince in holding the throne. It destroys the kindness of mother and child, and also loses the righteousness of the monarch and his ministers. It will last forever. Why is Your Majesty like a human being? Don’t you mistake your own name because of the villain’s words? , Missed the important affairs of the country? Wu Chengsi's play, really intends to frame, please His Majesty send another minister to examine the matter, so that the truth can be revealed, without party or bias. The minister risked his life to speak out because of the important state affairs, I pray for your majesty's enlightenment!

"Wu Zetian was speechless at what he said, so he had no choice but to play it. Liu Weizhi and others were handed over to the Ministry of Punishment for interrogation, and then retreated from the court. Not to mention that Wu Sansi hated Duke Di for obstructing his affairs, but also to say that the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, since Wu Chengsi opened the vacancy Empress Wu was afraid that others would take over and could not follow her own ideas, so she immediately ordered Xu Jingzong to give a supplementary teaching. This person is from Xincheng County, Hangzhou. Wu Zetian was the main palace, and all the ministers tried their best to admonish him. He said: "The old man in the farmhouse is better than ten dendrobium wheat, and he still wants to renew his wife.The emperor is rich all over the world, so what's wrong with setting up a queen and abolishing a queen? "After hearing this, Emperor Gaozong made Wu Zetian the queen.

Since then, Empress Wu has monopolized power and is very fond of her appointment. All major court affairs are discussed with Jingzong.Jingzong then catered to his will, and he worked hand in hand with the two parties of Wu and Zhang on weekdays, killing many loyal ministers unknowingly.

At this time, for the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, it was also the meaning of Empress Wu who ordered him to take care of Huaiyi.Now Liu Weizhi is sent to his ministry. When he returned to the Yamen, he brought back the people Wu Chengsi had played, and did not dare to interrogate him for a while.In the evening, the private server left the yamen and came to Wu Sansi's mansion. The family members went in and met in the study immediately.Jingzong asked, "Your Royal Family, what you played today has fulfilled your wish. Behead him, and implicate this old Di innocently on your Royal Family, so as to save the matter. For the trial, I came here to discuss with the royal family, how can I make Liu Weizhi confess?" Wu Sansi said, "It's been a long time since my lord is here, and I know that this matter is not afraid of the imperial court's cunning, but Di Renjie obstructed too much. It must be so, so, no Let him know, and then we can act." Xu Jingzong said: "Although this is true, how can we do it in front of the Holy One?" Wu Sansi said: "The Holy One is very bored at this time! My brother entered the palace last night and explained the reason. My lord can follow the official method, and this matter will be unimpeded." At that time, he talked about Xue Aocao again.Xu Jingzong naturally agreed.

In the morning of the next day, Jingzong did not go to court, so at dawn, he passed on the messengers and tried the case in the lobby.

Liu Weizhi and Su Anheng were guarded separately, and he was promoted to the public seat, and Liu Weizhi was brought here first.Wei Zhi saw that it was Jingzong, and knew that this matter must be difficult, so he put his own life aside at this time, because it was the emperor's court, so he had to kneel down.At that time, Jingzong said: "Master Liu, you are also an old minister of the late emperor. You and I work together as a monarch and live together in the same place. Today, I am not an official who resists myself and sits in the court. It is only because of the will of the emperor that I have to act like this. All Regarding the conspiracy, please come with a true confession, so as not to embarrass the official and hurt the old relationship." Liu Weizhi replied loudly: "In the official speech, in the court, the emperor is the emperor's imperial envoy. Interrogate this matter. It is reasonable to kneel on the court. But ordering the officials to confess, except for being loyal and helping the Tang Emperor, there is no half-sentence confession. The kind of slandering Zhongliang, clinging to the powerful, and sending the whole country to the rebellious officials and thieves, Liu wished to tear him into ten thousand pieces, is there any reason to be wrong? My lord sees the old feelings, but it’s all right to be fair.” Xu Jingzong said with a smile: “This matter was sent by the sage, how could it be so vague Zou? Yesterday in the court, it was said that the sage hurt the love of mother and child, the crown prince was wronged, and the people complained. This is clearly because you are not angry, and you want to bring troops into the palace, abolish the king and set up an heir. It can be seen that this is a treasonous and immoral thing, if the confession is not tried, the headquarters will also punish, then don't hate to be punished by the lower officials." These words made Liu Weizhi scold him endlessly.

I don't know what will happen next, let's see the next chapter.

(End of this chapter)