When Sima An brought people into the Prime Minister's Mansion, Zhu Maichen and Zhuang Qingzhai were drinking in the study. The two were not panic and calm, and were filled with respect. He pushed away the soldiers who rushed forward. In order to show respect, he personally bounced the dust on Zhuang Qingzhai's shoulders and stretched out his hands.

In the court trial, Zhuang Qingzhai did not refuse and did not hide his behavior.

Zhao Yu, who was in charge of the trial, didn't understand at all. Why did he create perjury and frame others when he was the prime minister of Han and his power reached the peak?

Is this necessary?

But he didn't know how many people Zhang Tang did and whether those people were wronged.

Zhuang Qingzhai just smiled indifferently and said, "Sir, you have always had a good relationship with Zhang Tang, so you can naturally be blinded. But in fact, please ask Zhang Tang. Why did he fabricate fake evidence to frame others? Is it a reward for one report?"

Zhao Yu pondered for a moment, and felt a little disdainful of Zhuang Qingzhai's actions. Why do you come by yourself if you can let others do it?

But he immediately suppressed other thoughts, thought for a while, and asked again: "Does Zhao Wan's affairs have anything to do with you? Did the Empress Dowager instruct you?"

Zhuang Qingzhai looked up at the roof of the Tingwei Mansion and said, "No need to ask more. The daughter who stole Zhao Wan's memorial was sent to the Zhao Mansion. If you want to blame me, please blame me. Don't insult the Empress Dowager."

The trial was so smooth. Neither Zhao Yu nor Sima An expected that the Prime Minister cooperated surprisingly.

After the morning court the next day, when Liu Che saw Zhuang Qingzhai's prison poem in Xuanshi Hall, he was very complicated for a moment. He could not evaluate the right and wrong of everyone in this burglary of gold, nor could he give these two important officials an accurate description in his heart. It seemed that what they did was essentially meaningless.

Human! It's really too complicated.

Zhuang Qingzhai followed Zhang Tang's footsteps and chose to commit suicide to end his life. He left no words. Liu Che didn't want to do this, but to this point, death may be a relief for Zhuang Qingzhai.

If he is released,

Instead, he will be depressed for life.

When Sima An sent someone to collect his body, he thought, maybe this is because he deserves the sin...

The deaths of Zhang Tang and Zhuang Qingzhai cast a rustling mist on the court, and a farce destroyed two important officials, which made people feel sad.

The government and the opposition privately discussed the new candidate for the foreign dynasty for many days, but Liu Che was in a dilemma. He still lacked a lot of appointments. He favored one and the other, and there was always internal strife.

These days, he almost passed the court officials since Yuanguang one by one through his eyes several times and carefully considered it.

Suddenly, he was surprised to find that the Han Dynasty, which had always claimed to be academic prosperity and literary style, could not find a prime minister who was highly regarded and a censor who was both honest and upright, and skilled in the affairs of the court.

Either it is not suitable or virtue is not compatible. It is really a big head and it is difficult to make a decision.

On that day, Liu Che passed on Wei Qing to Xuanshi Hall, asking him to follow Zhou Yafu and serve as the prime minister as his military position.

However, Wei Qing thought about it again and again, and still gave up frankly, not greedy for the position of prime minister.

"It's not that I intentionally refuse, but that I am now in the Grand Marshal, and I often feel like walking on thin ice, like facing the abyss, worried about doing something wrong, making something wrong, and for fear of court officials discussing it.

If you serve as the Prime Minister again, you will become the target of public criticism. I am unbearable. I hope Your Majesty understands that once you get to power, not only will the Prime Minister not do well, but the military affairs will be slapped."

"But I have considered it repeatedly, but there is no suitable candidate. What should I do?" Liu Che stood up and paced back and forth, looking helpless.

Wei Qing said: "I recommend one person, but I don't know if your Majesty will take a look or not."

"who?"

"How about the Taifu Zhao Zhou?"

Liu Che thought for a while, waved his hand and said, "I'm afraid it's difficult to be competent. He came to the court with his ancestors' achievements. He has made few achievements, so it's okay to teach. If he wants to be the prime minister, it's probably difficult to convince the public."

Wei Qing said: "No one is perfect. Didn't I be a cavalry slave back then? Please consider appointing me first. Lord Zhao has always been generous and virtuous, and is the best candidate at the moment, and there is nothing wrong with it."

"Then let it be! I want Shi Qing to do it now."

Zhao Zhou received the emperor's imperial edict in Bowangyuan. The fate of his ex-girlator Zhuang Qingzhai made him feel fear of a disaster when he received the edict.

Zhao Zhou is a person with no ambitions and no desires, and he has no interest in promotion.

The experience of my father,

It left a deep impression on him.

In the first year of Emperor Jing's Zhongyuan, his father was brutally killed because he refused to rebel with King Liu Wu of Chu. In order to commemorate his meritorious officials, the late emperor named him the Marquis of Gaoling.

Since he entered the court, he has devoted all his thoughts to studying Confucian classics. His Majesty ordered him to replace Zhuang Qingzhai as the crown prince's tutor. He felt a little flattered.

He has always been content to teach Confucian classics in Bowangyuan every day, because this not only conforms to his personality, but also prevents him from quarrels with court officials and does not have to be able to get along in the muddy waters.

But who knew that a major case of the stolen gold in the tomb of the late emperor pushed him to the forefront.

Zhao Zhou returned to his mansion, locked himself in his study, and recorded in his heart the changes in the court's personnel since the Jianyuan period.

There was a discovery that made him frightened - except for Gongsun Hong's death, from Dou Ying to Tian's family, and from Li Cai to Zhuang Qingzhai to commit suicide, none of them died a good end.

As the emperor grows older, the frequency of this conversion to prime minister becomes shorter and shorter.

In fact, Liu Che didn't want to do this. This was forced by the situation. He was not a casual person. If Li Cai and the others did not commit suicide, they would not die at all.

After all, in the fourth year of Gongsun Hong, Li Cai and Zhuang Qingzhai were in power for only three years...

What's wrong with this court? He couldn't help but wonder. Not only that, the censors and doctors also changed frequently. They are still dealing with political affairs in the office today. Maybe tomorrow, there may be some charges on their heads.

Can he feel relieved when he takes over as prime minister at this time? Perhaps it is impossible.

...

When Wei Qing had just entered the two miles of Ganquan Mountain, he saw smoke and clouds surrounding the palace, and there was a faint flash of fire.

He looked at Li Ye who was following behind him and said, "Go and report to the Prime Minister quickly, and I will say that I have urgent military information to report to Your Majesty."

"promise!"

Li Ye went there for a while,

Zhao Zhou followed.

After seeing each other's rituals, Wei Qing asked, "Your Majesty is still in the palace now?"

Zhao Zhou sighed and said, "Your Majesty almost didn't sleep last night. He sat next to the temple altar. The fire in the altar was blazing all night. The cooking utensils and the imperial couch were all moved to the altar."

Wei Qing then asked Li Ye to take the guard outside and guarded him, and he followed Zhao Zhou into the palace.
Chapter completed!