Chapter 109: Reactions from all parties

Xiao Fan walked out of the palace with a trembling body and returned to the yamen of the Fushi Office.

He leaned against the back of the chair with a pale face, and the cold sweat on his forehead was still flowing down. He took a few deep breaths, but still could not stop the heartbeat that was as fast as a drum.

At this moment, he really wanted to smoke a cigarette to calm down the panic and desperate feeling in his heart.

How did things develop to this point? Unconsciously, he walked into a dead-end alley. As his Jinyiwei Tongzhi, in the eyes of ordinary people, what Zhu Yuanzhang ordered was actually a simple case. He arrested a few examiners and tortured them, and then killed a few more people. After changing the list, the matter was successfully resolved, as simple as eating.

But why are you now walking into a dead end? This game has formed an irresolvable dead end.

The reason for everything is that my inexplicable conscience.

Xiao Fan was unwilling to harm others, especially unwilling to harm an old man who had no grudges with him. Liu Sanwu was innocent. He was just a stubborn old man who was extremely serious about academics. Unfortunately, Zhu Yuanzhang had to pay the price of his life for this scientific investigation case, so as to calm the anger of the northern students and achieve the political purpose of the imperial court's desire to win scholars.

Anything that gets involved in politics becomes dirty and bloody.

Xiao Fan couldn't do it.

It's really a irony. In the notorious Jinyiwei, everyone is an executioner who is bloody and inhumane. Only Xiao Tongzhi, the second-ranked Jinyiwei, actually has a compassionate Bodhisattva heart. If this is to Huang Zicheng and Huang Guan, the Qingliu school, they will definitely laugh out loud.

However, this is indeed the case.

Xiao Fan could not convince himself to attack Liu Sanwu, although he knew that as long as he ordered, countless lieutenants in the Jinyi school would be dispatched to the capital, and in an instant, he could catch all the officials involved in the examination and the scientific and technological examination case, and then he would hand the list to Zhu Yuanzhang against his conscience. Zhu Yuanzhang would be very happy, and he would be promoted to the title.

But Xiao Fanda was unwilling to do this from the bottom of his heart. He only knew that killing innocent people was one and two things. He didn't want to start this. If he did too much of this kind of thing, his only remaining conscience and human nature would be completely lost, and he would become a true court hawk. What's more, Liu Sanwu was kind to Zhu Yunwen, and Zhu Yunwen was also staring at him pitifully behind his back. If he pleased Zhu Yuanzhang, wouldn't Zhu Yunwen hate him so much?

But how did I survive this life and death crisis? Zhu Yuanzhang's words have been made very clear. If Liu Sanwu does not change the list, then his fate will be death. How could this stubborn old man Liu Sanwu be willing to change the list?

This time my life is lingering...

The light outside the door dimmed, and Cao Yi walked in. Seeing Xiao Fan's face was pale and his face looked like earth, Cao Yi was shocked and hurriedly said, "Sir, what's wrong with you?"

Xiao Fan felt warm when he saw Cao Yi's concern. Fortunately, he still had such close friends in this world.

Xiao Fan sighed and slowly told Cao Yi about the past and consequences.

After hearing this, Cao Yi looked at Xiao Fan with a strange look on his face.

"If the king wants his minister to die, he has to die. Lord, Your Majesty has told you clearly about his intentions, but you don't want to act according to Your Majesty's will. Do you want to die?"

Xiao Fan sighed dullly: "Brother Cao, to be honest, I am a soft-hearted person and cannot do this to Liu Sanwu. Besides, Liu Sanwu has kindness to His Royal Highness Grand Prince. If I take Liu Sanwu, wouldn't His Royal Highness Grand Prince hate me to death..."

Cao Yi couldn't help but suffocate and said in a bad mood: "This is a trouble... I've flattered Your Majesty and offended the crown prince again. It's really hard to deal with!"

Xiao Fan rubbed his forehead, stood up and smiled bitterly, "Your Majesty has given me three days. I will think of a solution in these three days. There is always a turning point in the world..."

Seeing Xiao Fan's cramped back disappearing at the gate of the Fushi Office, Cao Yi's eyes looked thoughtful.

"Liu Sanwu can't kill him, but other deputy examiners can kill him, right?" Cao Yi frowned and murmured to himself.

When he looked up again, Cao Yi's eyes were full of determination.

Brother Xiao, treat me like a brother of life and death. You don’t want to bear the reputation of killing innocent people indiscriminately. So let the brother help you carry this reputation! If you don’t kill a few people, how can you hand over to Your Majesty? How can you save your life?

"Who are there all the households in the yamen? Come out!" After making up the idea, Cao Yi stood in the middle hall of the yamen of the yamen of the fushi and shouted loudly.

As soon as he finished speaking, four or five hundred households wearing Jinyiwei Feiyu suits walked out of the signing rooms on both sides of the yamen.

Cao Yi stood in front of them, his eyes became majestic and cold. He slowly glanced around and said gloomyly: "Mr. Xiao, the Tongzhi, was ordered to investigate the case of Ding Chou Department this year. This case is at a deadlock. I have now ordered that the deputy examiners of Ding Chou Department and the tributes who had contact with the deputy examiners be taken into the imperial prison and torture them strictly! You can lead the captains under your command and act separately according to the list!"

"Yes!" The hundreds of households in brocade clothes responded with stern words.

In an instant, the horse-dressed cavalry came out everywhere, and the capital was covered with clouds.

In the late spring, under the warm and bright sunshine, a cold and cold breath has been lingering for a long time.

Huang Zicheng Mansion.

Huang Zicheng took off the tea cover, blew the hot tea water, and then took a sip.

Huang Guan sat in the guest seat on the right side of the inner hall, twisting her body with anger.

"Mr. Huang, at noon today, the Jinyiwei has already taken action..." Huang Guan said angrily with anger blushing.

Huang Zicheng narrowed his eyes, leaned forward without realizing it, and said, "The Jinyiwei has taken someone again?"

"Hmph! The examiners of the Ding Chou Department, including the deputy examiner Bai Xinda, the examiner of the same examination, Si Xian, Wang Ganghua, Zhang Jian, Yan Shuzai, Zhou Heng, etc., as well as Chen Zi'an, Yin Changlong and Liu Shiyan, who are ranked first in the top three, have been taken to the Jinyiwei Zhaozhu, but the examiner Liu Sanwu and Liu..."

"Bang!"

The teacup in Huang Zicheng's hand fell to the ground, making a crisp cracking sound.

"What does Xiao Fan want to do? What does he want to do! This traitor, isn't there enough killing my ministers in the court? How many more people do he have to kill to be satisfied?" Huang Zicheng roared.

Huang Guan was also full of indignation and said excitedly: "Since Xiao Fan, a traitor, entered the court as an official, there have been dozens of innocent ministers in our court, implicated hundreds of family members, and all of them have risen up because of this! Lord Huang, we can't sit still! If we allow this thief to continue to do things in a rebellious manner, I am afraid that the loyal ministers in the Ming Dynasty will be slaughtered by him, and the treacherous ministers will soon be in power in the court, and the country and the country will be in danger!"

Huang Zicheng's furious expression suddenly calmed down and pondered: "I took so many people, but I didn't touch Mr. Liu. It seems that the key to this matter is the list of tribute scholars that Mr. Liu personally designated..."

"What does this mean by sir?"

"I heard that Your Majesty has issued a strict order to Xiao Fan. If Xiao Fan cannot make Liu Sanwu change the list of all the Jinshis in the South, he will ask Xiao Fan to kill Liu Sanwu to calm the anger of the northern sons. If Xiao Fan cannot make a move, Your Majesty will kill Xiao Fan..."

Huang Guan said dejectedly: "Xiao Fan has killed many ministers, why are you afraid of killing one more Mr. Liu? Mr. Liu is in danger this time."

Huang Zicheng sneered: "Otherwise, Xiao Fan is in a dilemma this time, and things are not that simple."

Huang Guan was stunned and hurriedly said, "What does this mean by sir?"

Huang Zicheng stroked his beard and said, "Your Majesty ordered Mr. Liu Sanwu to change the list. With Mr. Liu's character, he would rather die than change. Xiao Fan obeyed His Majesty's strict order. If Mr. Liu refused to change, he would kill him. This was a natural thing, but a Grand Prince of the Grand Prince came in. In the middle, Liu Sanwu was kind to His Grand Prince. Yesterday, His Grand Prince of the Grand Prince told me that he had greeted Xiao Fan. Xiao Fan promised His Highness that he would protect Liu Sanwu's life. In this way..."

Huang Guan thought about it and then said excitedly: "In this case, he can't even ask for Xiao Fan to kill or not Liu Sanwu. On the one hand, it is His Majesty's strict order and on the other hand, His Majesty's instructions, If Liu Sanwu is not killed, Your Majesty will kill him. If Liu Sanwu is killed, Xiao Fan will bear His Majesty's defeat. In the future, Your Majesty will ascend to the throne. If Your Majesty ascends the throne, he will be resentful to Xiao Fan. No matter what Xiao Fan does this time, he will not be able to achieve the best of both worlds. Haha, Lord Huang, this is God's help to me..."

Huang Zicheng smiled gloomyly and said, "Your Majesty's strict order, Ding Chou Case, Xiao Fan will give the result within three days. Shang Bin, you can walk around with all your colleagues and say hello. In the morning court three days later, we will attack Qingliu together. This case will be fueled by force Xiao Fan overwhelmed. It is best to persuade Your Majesty to kill him. We all have a hard time and swear to kill this traitor!"

Huang Guan nodded excitedly, then said with confusion: "Mr. Huang, I have something unknown. Why does Your Majesty have to force Xiao Fan to kill Liu Sanwu?"

Huang Zicheng sneered: "Your Majesty gives high hopes for Xiao Fan. Xiao Fan is the loyal minister left to His Majesty by His Majesty. Your Majesty respects Xiao Fan so much, so naturally hopes that he will perform. Ding Chou Ke case is a test stone. Your Majesty uses it to test whether Xiao Fan's blade is not sharp and can be used by the emperor. If this knife is disobedient, Your Majesty will definitely not leave this disaster to harm His Majesty in the future. You can only remove it to ensure the peace of the country..."

Huang Guan nodded, looked suddenly, then couldn't bear it, and said, "Then... isn't the life of Mr. Liu Sanwu..."

Huang Zicheng sighed, "Shangbin, have you not seen it yet? Your Majesty has murderous intent on Mr. Liu. No matter who saves it, it is useless. Xiao Fan cannot save him, and we cannot save him. Your Majesty wants to use Mr. Liu's blood to calm the anger of the northern sons. Therefore, Your Majesty knows that Mr. Liu will definitely not agree to change the list, but insists on forcing him to change it. Mr. Liu... has become an abandoned son in His Majesty's hand."

Huang Guan was stunned for a while, finally lowered his head and sighed sadly.

Huang Zicheng's eyes were filled with awesome expression and said excitedly: "Since ancient times, there is no price to eliminate traitors in the court? If Mr. Liu's life alone can be exchanged for the execution of the thief Xiao, this is an immeasurable merit! When the old man mourned in the future, we will apologize for guilt and carry the coffin in front of the old man's heroic spirit!"

Chengxi South Beauty powder store.

Princess Jiangdu was pretty and said to Chen Ying'er with a panic look on her face, "Ying'er, what should I do? What should I do? Xiao Fan...he..."

Chen Ying'er frowned and said, "What's wrong with Xiao Fan?"

Princess Jiangdu lowered her head, and her heart was filled with bitterness. She said with tears in her tears: "I heard from the emperor's brother Yunwen that Xiao Fan is in danger now, the emperor's grandfather makes things difficult for him, the foreign minister makes things difficult for him, and the northern disciples also make things difficult for him. Now he is surrounded by enemies..."

Chen Ying'er's pretty face changed and she calmed down for a while and said quietly: "Princess, don't worry, explain this matter carefully."

Princess Jiangdu sobbed and said intermittently about the whole story of the Ding Chou case.

After hearing this, Chen Ying'er's delicate body trembled a few times unconsciously, and her pretty face turned white and then became rosy again.

I should be happy, right? Xiao Fan now has no way out and no one can save him. My revenge is about to succeed. Xiao Fan, you are in a desperate situation and you are all asking for your own fault! If you married me, we would die peacefully in Jiangpu, how could the disaster today come to you? Xiao Fan, you deserve it!!

Chen Ying'er closed her eyes and ordered herself to be happy. Isn't Xiao Fan's disaster the end of the country the result I have been looking forward to? I should be happy.

Just as her beautiful eyes closed, two strings of crystal tears slid off her face without realizing it.

"Ying'er, why are you... crying?"

"I... I can't stand others crying. When you cry, I feel uncomfortable..." Chen Ying'er hurriedly wiped the tears from her face.

Princess Jiangdu didn't see Chen Ying'er's panicked eyes, and lowered her head and said quietly: "He... is a good official with a conscience. Yunwen told me that if he was cruel to arrest Liu Sanwu and asked for punishment, all the problems would be solved. But he just didn't want to kill innocent people indiscriminately. It was his conscience that forced him to go to a desperate situation... Ying'er, can we do something for him? Help him and save him. I don't want to die from a bad life because of my conscience..."

The princess looked at Chen Ying'er with anticipation, so charming and lovable.

Chen Ying'er was stunned when she heard this. He... was in a desperate situation because he was unwilling to kill innocent people? Xiao Fan, why are you so stupid? Where did you abandon me? Liu Sanwu is innocent, isn't I, Chen Ying'er?

Love and hate, gratitude and grudges, repeatedly entangled in her heart, lingering...

"Ying'er..." Princess Jiangdu's weak and pitiful plea interrupted Chen Ying'er's thoughts.

Chen Ying'er looked at Princess Jiangdu's beautiful eyes, her heart softened and finally sighed.

"Liu Sanwu and the list of Southern Jinshi in his hands are the key!"

Chen Ying'er revealed the essence of the matter to the point.

After saying that, Chen Ying'er felt regretful and relaxed.

Princess Jiangdu's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she didn't see Chen Ying'er's pretty face full of contradictions and resentment.

One day passed, the undercurrent of the court in the capital was surging, and the storm was turbulent. Countless pairs of eyes were staring at Xiao Fan and Liu Sanwu. Everyone knew that a storm was coming, and Xiao Fan and Liu Sanwu were the center of the storm.

Will Xiao Fan kill Liu Sanwu? If he can't do anything, Your Majesty will punish him. How will Xiao Fan choose?

Countless waiting and watching faces showed different expressions, some gloating, some anxious and worried, and some dark tears...

At noon the next day, the grandson of the emperor Zhu Yunwen went to the palace to meet Zhu Yuanzhang, pleaded with the emperor's grandfather, and asked for pardon of Liu Sanwu. He forced the spring examination list to be changed in the form of an imperial edict, and this exposes the Dingchou case. Zhu Yuanzhang refused and insisted that the chief examiner Liu Sanwu change the list himself, otherwise he would be severely punished.

Zhu Yunwen asked for a replacement to handle the case, and replaced the case chief Xiao Fan, but Zhu Yuanzhang still refused.

Zhu Yunwen was helpless, so he came to Liu Sanwu's mansion and asked Liu Sanwu to change the spring exam list with the honor of the grandson, but Liu Sanwu refused.

Cao Yi mobilized the Jinyiwei of the Capital and had already cast the sky net on the fifty-two tribute men on the spring exam list. He asked at all costs to force the tribute men to commit bribery to the chief examiner within two days, and to do his best to try to save the defeat within two days and save Xiao Fan's life.
To be continued...