Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 471 Relatives

Feng Ziying interrogated Yun Guang, Feng Bing and others overnight.

Although he is smart and clever, he is still just a little dandy who has everything going his way and has not really seen the evil of human nature.

As for torture and other things, I know the results but not the reasons behind them.

Tao Xingjian and Zang Ao went to watch the fun.

When they saw that Feng Ziying was just shouting and yelling at the prisoners who refused to confess to have their legs broken, the two men couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"If I had known, I would have kept Xiao Erzi for two more days."

"Tao Mo? Where did he go?"

"With Prime Minister Dai gone, what will happen if the Grand Master doesn't have a smart person to serve him? I asked him to follow the Grand Master for the time being."

"It's okay if Tao Mo is not here, I'm here."

"I think you should come too."

The two of them chatted for a few words, and Zang Ao stepped forward and patted Feng Ziying on the shoulder, giving him a way out:

"You haven't slept for a few days? Go get some sleep. I'll interrogate you first."

From the time he left Beijing on the ninth day of the first lunar month to today, which is already the twelfth day of the first lunar month, Feng Ziying has hardly slept.

After hearing what Zang Ao said, he felt his head buzzing. He responded vaguely and was taken by Tao Xingjian to the tent where the two military governors had lived. He fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.

Zang Ao sat down, the light of the torch flickering, outlining increasingly sinister curves on his ferocious face.

"Come on, pull out your nails." Zang Ao said nonchalantly.

The guards below were stunned for a moment: "Which one should I pull out?"

"I've pulled them all out." Zang Ao yawned, stroked them casually, leaned back on his cheek, and closed his eyes slightly, "I've pulled these out, I'm going to take a nap first."

After a while, screams were heard.

"Shut your mouth!" Zang Ao suddenly growled, murderous, "It's just such a small place, who can afford to disturb the Holy Emperor?!"

The guards understood what was happening, so they tore off the sleeves and collars of the prisoners and stuffed them directly into their mouths, then began to carefully pull out all the prisoners' nails.

The interrogation that day went very quickly. Before half past two o'clock, Zang Ao had packed the pile of confessions into a box and then fell into a sweet sleep.

When Emperor Zhaoming got up the next morning, Tao Xingjian presented all the confessions and, with a smile, described Feng Ziying's inexperience.

Emperor Zhaoming couldn't help but smile: "Ziying is young and still lacks experience. No matter what, he can't compare to Zang Ao who has been by my side for so many years and has seen so much.

"Tomorrow, when everything is peaceful, we should let this kid out to see the world."

Tao Xingjian also smiled and nodded.

Emperor Zhaoming flipped through the confession and his face darkened again: "They all accuse me of being harsh, but look at what they have done, which one is forgivable?"

As he said this, he pointed at one of the sheets angrily and said, "The person watching the fun here is actually the Crown Princess's cousin!"

Tao Xingjian was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly and advised: "There are all kinds of birds in a big forest. So what if she is the cousin of the Crown Princess? Prince Yu is still your cousin.

“Relatives are just for show and should not be taken seriously.

"The Crown Princess is kindhearted and can't make decisions on her family's affairs. What's more, she's just a cousin?"

Emperor Zhaoming did not intend to vent his anger on the Crown Princess. He just felt ashamed and annoyed that he had not chosen the right in-laws.

After listening to Tao Xingjian's words, the depression in his chest was slightly relieved, so he called Feng Ziying to come and personally conveyed his order:

"The Yun and Feng families are charged with treason, so we must do what needs to be done, immediately.

“The rest of the accomplices will be dismissed from office.

“All the innocent people implicated have been promoted two levels and temporarily used.

"The Chang'an garrison commander will temporarily take over the post of Jiedushi."

Seeing Feng Ziying's eyes widen, he explained: "This matter must involve a wide range of people. I want to spend a thousand gold coins to buy the horse bones."

Feng Ziying understood and left after receiving the order.

In just half an hour, those who should be killed were killed, those who should be dismissed were dismissed, and those who should be exiled were handed over to the newly appointed Chang'an Jiedushi to be taken back and imprisoned.

Before the bloody smell in the camp had dissipated, someone came hurriedly to report: "The Queen Mother's procession is only ten miles away."

Emperor Zhaoming hurriedly ordered Feng Ziying to follow him to meet the Empress Dowager: "The Empress Dowager will feel relieved only when she sees you."

As expected, in the spacious chariot, the empress dowager saw Feng Ziying, who was beside Emperor Zhaoming, intact, through the gap in the curtains, and breathed a sigh of relief:

"It's okay! The fact that this little monkey can still be grinning here means that nothing serious has happened!"

Tanchun, who was serving beside her, relaxed her tense shoulders a little and spoke softly:

"His Majesty came to pick you up personally, probably because he's worried about you. Would you like to say a few words to His Majesty first?"

The Queen Mother hummed.

Zijuan quickly lifted the carriage curtain, allowing the Queen Mother to reveal half of her face. Aunt Meng got out of the carriage again, smiled and nodded to Emperor Zhaoming, signaling him to come over.

Emperor Zhaoming came forward and saw from outside that the empress dowager looked fine, so he felt relieved and greeted her again: "Why are you in such a hurry? Did you sleep well last night?"

"You think you're in a hurry? You can't even move three fingers in one step! My chariot is so big, it sways slowly all the way, it's not as good as riding a horse myself!"

The Queen Mother couldn't help but complain endlessly.

Tanchun smiled, and first saluted Emperor Zhaoming, then reported: "Your Majesty, rest assured, the convoy is moving steadily and is not traveling at night.

"It's just that the Queen Mother was so worried that she tossed and turned at night and didn't sleep well. She even dozed off on the way just now, but now she has rested."

Emperor Zhaoming nodded and asked others, "Are you okay?"

As usual, it was Tanchun who answered: "The rules in Yanjia Palace are strict, and no one talks too much. Now Imperial Concubine Jia and the Crown Princess are both safe."

Emperor Zhaoming nodded in understanding, turned around and ordered Feng Ziying to lead the way to Chang'an Posthouse, and he got on the carriage at the empress dowager's signal.

The convoy continued to move forward slowly.

"What's the situation?" As soon as the curtain was lowered, the Queen Mother was eager to ask for details.

Emperor Zhaoming considered it again and again and finally told the truth.

The Queen Mother's eyes went dark as she heard this. She shook herself and grabbed Tanchun who was sitting beside her, tears welling up in her eyes:

"The prince is a good boy!"

Emperor Zhaoming sighed, his eyes reddened: "This is all his fate."

"You said that His Majesty has already gone to Tiewang Mountain with the Crown Prince?" The Queen Mother calmed herself down before asking again.

Emperor Zhaoming nodded and said, "I left yesterday. Chang'an Posthouse was badly damaged and is not a place for the Emperor to rest and the Crown Prince to recover.

"Besides, with Zhou Yan personally leading a large army to escort us, I will feel more at ease if we can reach the palace safely earlier."

The Queen Mother pondered for a moment and nodded in reluctant agreement.

Emperor Zhaoming further explained that he stayed behind to handle the matter, and that he would send them to Tiewang Mountain and then return to the capital immediately.

The Queen Mother didn't care about this and waved her hand: "I don't care about any of this!

"Since you have picked me up, don't waste any more time staying in Chang'an Posthouse.

"We don't need to stop, just go straight to the palace."

Emperor Zhaoming thought about it and decided, "This place is not far from Tiewang Mountain. We can reach it in three or four hours. Father will feel relieved."

The group did not say anything else and even had a quick lunch in the car. In the evening of the same day, they arrived at the Tiewangshan Palace.