The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty, Chapter 31: Death in the Forbidden Palace

The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty. 《成化十四年》Chengnian Shisi Nian
The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty, Chapter 31: Death in the Forbidden Palace
Volume 3: The Eastern Palace Case

A line of men came speeding by, the night wind blowing in their faces, their clothes and robes rattling.


At this hour, the gates of the palace were already locked, but the Western Depot was under imperial orders and no one dared to stop them. The sergeant checked the waist tags of the men and let them go immediately. For Tang Fan, he asked a few more questions. However, the person who brought Tang Fan into the palace kept his mouth shut, only said Eunuch Wang said so. Those few forbidden guards' faces turned pale. A final wave of the hand. Let them in now.

When they entered the palace, they had to dismount, which was an iron rule that no one could violate. The cabinet ministers, the ministers with orders, were only carried by a small sedan chair at most, and the powerful officials like Wang Zhi Shang Ming had to dismount and walk when they entered the palace without such special treatment.

It's just that those inside the Depot who brought Tang Fan in were very anxious. The footsteps flew underneath. Tang Fan's feet were very fast, but they were martial artists, Tang Fan could not keep up with them after a while, he was panting, the leader was very anxious, he couldn't bear to let his men hold Tang Fan's shoulders and arms, he lifted him up halfway, he went forward quickly, this was good, Tang Fan himself didn't have to use force, his feet were only toe to toe, he stepped on the stone slab, as if he had learned light kung fu instantly.

He was also happy to be relaxed, and he would say something nice: "I'm not strong enough to drag you all down, so I'll let you all take the trouble to carry me!”

The Forbidden City was dark, with only faint candlelight in the palaces in front of it, and the occasional lantern in the hands of soldiers passing by, and a few lanterns in the hands of their own people.

The emperor is certainly rich. But if you want to brighten up this huge palace city. The lights are to be on at all times. That's also a huge expense. Can't afford it at all. Tang Fan had never seen the Forbidden City at night, but he didn't need to see the way, so he looked at the vast palace from a distance, not with admiration, but under the cover of darkness, in each room of the palace, there were many untold feuds and grudges, sorrows and joys.

If it weren't for the fear of breaking the ban, this would be a good place to write a book!

Under the flickering light of the candlelight, Tang Fan's flank is calm, neither panicked by being summoned to the palace late at night, nor afraid of dealing with the Western Depot.

Although the head of the inner Depot didn't know why Eunuch Wang would suddenly ask him to call this little official into the palace, Tang Fan's performance no doubt made his opponent look at him differently.

Luckily, he didn't know what Tang Da-ren was thinking, or he would have had to break down.

Plus this time. Tang Fan is here for the second time. The last time was more than three years ago, when he announced his ranking in the examinations, he entered the palace with many other people of the same year, and in a solemn atmosphere, he paid his respects to the emperor.

When I think back to that time, the Emperor's style was really, ahem... It's too far away to see.

Tang Da-ren, after all, is not a person who will know the layout of the Forbidden City for hundreds of years, you have to know that as the residence of the Prince of Heaven, to prevent prying eyes, this map of the palace must be strictly confidential.

So at the moment, Tang Fan didn't know where they were going to take him, so he had to follow them.

After about two quarters of walking, they passed through one palace gate after another, saw one palace wall after another, and finally slowed down their pace.




This was the destination of their journey, Tang Fan knew.

When the soldiers finally released him, Tang Fan felt a sense of peace of mind when he stepped on the rough stone floor.

The palanquin was quick, but it wasn't something he could enjoy, and both of his arms were aching.

"Let's go." It was only now that the head of the company, Tang Fan, finally spat out such a word.

Tang Fan couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "I dare to ask you, sir, where is the head?"

"Just go in and see." The other side didn't say anything.

Tang Fan wanted to prepare himself mentally, seeing that he was so serious, but in his heart, he thought about it, so he didn't ask any more, followed the men up the steps, he was searched and questioned by the guards at the door, and was let in only after half a while.

The one who took him in was not the one who just took him all the way into the palace, but a young eunuch with a strange face.

The other side thought he was often on guard here, first said "wait" to Tang Fan and went in, after half a while before coming out, he said "follow me", then turned around again and went inside.

When he entered the inner hall, he saw all the decorations in the hall, and although Tang Fan did not show his face, he already had some idea where he was.

When he was led to the main hall of the inner hall, he saw a middle-aged man sitting or standing in the main hall, and in the middle was a middle-aged man with a yellow silk robe. He didn't baffle. Knelt down directly and salute: "His humble servant Tang Fan. Pays his respect your Majesty."

"No need for courtesy." The Chenghua Emperor said, his voice was lazy, but he was not speaking lazy, but he was really lazy.

Tang Fan stood up and thanked him, and stood with his hands clasped, not looking up and down, his face still steady.

The Chenghua Emperor didn't care about the arrival of this little man, and he couldn't remember that three years ago he had praised his opponent for his "elegant beauty". He was already tired, but what had happened today was too serious, and even the three cabinet ministers were still here, not leaving the palace, so the emperor had to be energetic and strong in spirit.

He looked at Wang Zhi: "Wang Nechin, you are the one who recommended him to the palace, I will let you speak."

"Yes." Wang Zhi replied respectfully, not at all like the domineering man that Tang Fan had seen outside the palace.

“Tang Fan." Wang Zhi said.

"I'm here." Tang Fan remained in a slightly bowed position, normally, it would be disrespectful for him to look directly at the emperor’s face without permission, but he had quickly taken in all the people’s faces present when he had just entered.

The emperor, the prince were all there.

The Imperial court Prime Minister Wan An, Liu Xu, Liu Ji, and the famous Three Councilors of Papercloth were also there.  [1] These three men were the consul men were the n supposed to reprimand and correct the lazy Chenghua Emperor but everytime they were meant to correct him they only answered Long live the emperor

These bigwigs were already the equivalent of the peak level people who held great imperial power.

There were also other servants, Banner soldiers, who didn't need to be mentioned.

There were many of them, but they didn't make a sound.

Besides that, only the candles in the palace crackled from time to time.

But Tang Fan's eyes could see that behind the screen behind the emperor, there was a hidden figure.

The identity of the hidden man seemed to be revealed.

Wang Zhi had already started to talk about the reason for summoning him in.

The Prince of the Eastern Palace, Zhu Youcheng, had just been crowned Prince three years ago, although he had been in the palace for a long time, and his life had been difficult.

But now that his name has been set, he has to learn to read and write according to the specifications of the Crown Prince.

The prince's teachers were very strong, but in addition to teachers, he had to be accompanied by readers.

And the Prince's accompanying schoolmate is usually chosen from the palace eunuchs, but sometimes also from the minister's nephews, one of the current Prince's accompanying schoolmate is called Han Zao, whose father, Han Fang, is one of the Chenghua Emperor's Tutors when he was Prince.

Han Fang was ready to resign two years ago because of his ill health, but the Emperor, in consideration of his teacher's student friendship, gave Han Fang the false title of the Prince's Tutor and let Han Fang's son, Han Zao, to be the Prince's side reading schoolmate.

This was not the kind of slave servant who had to be punished for not doing his homework, but a real companion and playmate. Han Zao was the same age as the prince, and he spent his days studying together and the two had a good relationship.

But today, while the Prince was in the middle of their lesson, Han Zao suddenly cried out for stomach pain, but before the doctor could come, Han Zao suddenly fell to the ground and lost his breath.

Ooh come on!

The Eastern Palace was in an uproar, and the doctor came as quickly as he could, looking left and right, he couldn't tell why Han Zao had died.

What a coincidence. Not long before Han Zao cried out for stomach pain, the Noble Consort Wan had sent two bowls of green bean and lily soup.

The prince didn't drink it, Han Zao did.

And that's what happened.




Everyone knows that the Noble Consort Wan also had a son, he was the eldest son of the emperor, but he died shortly after birth. Later on, Concubine Bo gave birth to another one and the child was made Crown Prince. It turned out that he died again within two years. Since then. No heir was ever born in the harem again. Everyone says it's because the Noble Consort Wan didn't allow a harem woman other than her to give birth to an heir.

With even with Noble Consort Wan female prowess, the prince is now able to see the light of day again, and the ups and downs that he has gone through are all the more heartbreaking to hear and tears to see.

Now, it seems clear why Han Zao died, and there is no need for a trial.

As the emperor's most beloved woman, the Noble Consort Wan would probably not be hurt even if the prince is not dead. The smartest thing to do is to hurry up and make things small, find an excuse to cover up the past and keep the appearance of peace on the surface.

But the Noble Consort Wan was shocked to learn about the incident and cried out in tears. She immediately ran to the Emperor and swore that she did not do it herself and insisted that the Emperor should find out the truth and clear her name!

Because of this, the matter involved the Prince, the Noble Consort Wan and others were involved, and the Chenghua Emperor's son schoolmate, the Chenghua Emperor felt a headache, was forced to call the consuls into the palace to discuss measures.

The duties of the emperor are to govern the country. Although the three cabinet members are all in to help him, it doesn't mean that they could solve the case.

Prime Minister Wan An thinks in terms of politics and the big picture. It was suggested that the Emperor should gently uncover the matter. Anyway, the Prince is lucky to be safe. As for Han Zao, the imperial court can issue a decree to show the Han Family generous mercy. And so everyone can all rejoice.

But the Noble Consort Wan didn’t want to, and whether everyone believed it or not, she insisted again and again that she was completely innocent in this matter.

She understood that everyone knew that she hated the prince and wanted to get rid of him quickly, so the suspicion of her hand in the matter was the greatest, and if the emperor really made the matter clear, she would be in the rumor Yellow and her name and reputation would not be clean.

At the insistence of her beloved woman, the Chenghua Emperor had no choice but to send someone to invite the council into the palace and inform the Han Family at the same time.

Two bowls of green bean and lily soup, which the Prince did not drink, were given to Han Zao, and the rest was given to a young chamberlain.

The chamber maid was fine, but Han Zao died.

Before Tang Fan entered the palace, someone had already checked the pot of sugar water, there was no more of it, there was no way to find out if there was anything in it, but the bowl and spoon itself were not poisoned.

If there was something wrong with the green bean and lily soup, why did the squire drink it but not the other way around?

Was Han Zao the only one who drank the bowl of soup?

The maid of the Noble Consort Wan, who brought the soup, did not admit that she had poisoned it anyway.

Besides, Han Zao was just a young child, so how could have any enemies, even if it was the Crown Prince who was the intended victim, and who could be against the Crown Prince?

That's the same person who was in the palace.

But it's not easy to tell, so after the Prime Minister Wan An's proposal was rejected, he simply kept his mouth shut, so as not to offend the Noble Consort Wan.

He knew that the Noble Consort Wan was loved by the Chenghua Emperor, so he tried his best to get relations with the Noble Consort Wan, so the position of the Consort Wan was very secure.

This point is very shameful for other people, we secretly gave him a nickname, called the Long Live Emperor Cabinet Minister, in addition, there are all kinds of funny nicknames for the cabinet butchers, for example, Liu Ji, was called Liu Ji, because he was very thick-skinned, not afraid of reprimanding anyone, so everyone shouted behind him, directly called Liu Ji how.

Back to the main story, soup and bowl are no problem, the eunuch cannot give the dead person's pulse, also cannot prove that Han Zao was not originally sick, but according to the inner eunuch and the prince story, Han Zao was originally health, in the past there was no health problems.

If someone really poisoned, then no one will believe that the poison was just for Han Zao this little companion schoolmate to the Crown Prince, everyone is more willing to believe that this is a deliberate murder and poisoning, and the target is now the Crown Prince.

The Chenghua Emperor did not love the Crown Prince, but this love was limited. The Crown Prince had not been around him since he was a child, and now that he had established the Crown Prince for the sake of the country, the Chenghua Emperor did not begrudge him in what he should have given him, but he did not want to cause another storm over this matter, not to mention that in his heart, he also felt that this matter might have something to do with the Noble Consort Wan, his beloved woman.

The prince himself was also very understanding, and although he was sad about the death of his chaperone, he did not cry out to avenge the death of his little chaperone, and when the emperor asked him, he just said that he would obey his father's wishes.

Everyone wanted to make things smaller, but the Noble Consort Wan was unwilling to do so.

The emperor was very helpless, and did not want to disobey his beloved woman's will, the matter stalled there, before Tang Fan came, he had already sought his two most trusted eunuchs, Shang Ming of the Eastern Depot and Wang Zhi of the Western Depot.

Shang Ming immediately petitioned the Eastern Depot to investigate in order to take credit, but Wang Zhi understood the emperor's meaning, they both wanted to know the truth, but did not want to make a big announcement, in the emperor's opinion, this had to be secretly investigated, in case it was found to be related to the Noble Consort Wan, it was also going to be a cover-up.

So he recommended a man to the Emperor, Tang Fan.

Wang Zhi's reason for recommending Tang Fan was: Tang Fan was a very smart man, he was currently working as an officer in the Shuntian Prefecture, and he had a good career, and he had done well in the Marquis of Wu'an Mansion case, so he could investigate this one too.

The emperor agreed, and Tang Fan entered the palace.

The others wondered when Tang Fan got in touch with Eunuch Wang, but after listening to the story, Tang Fan just laughed bitterly: Wang Zhi is pushing me into the fire, who wants to get involved in such a difficult matter!

This eunuch Wang is really young and impetuous, so he is just as impetuous as ever, but he dragged Tang Fan into the water.




“Tang Fan, now that you know what happened, what do you think about this case?" Wang Zhi asked.

Tang Fan resented Wang Zhi's behavior of taking him too seriously, but he was not a complainer.

But he was not a person who could complain, and now that the matter had been set on fire, in front of the Emperor's cabinet, and he had no right to refuse, Tang Fan's anger just flickered away, and then he pondered a solution.

He thought about it and then said, "I have limited ability, and I dare not talk nonsense in front of His Majesty and all the consuls. I have not seen Han Zao's body, nor have I interviewed all those involved in the case, so I have nothing to say for the time being."

The Chenghua Emperor was a bit disappointed when he heard that he had not planned to let Tang Fan reveal the truth right away, but if he had such power, he was even more powerful than a god.

However, the Chenghua Emperor couldn't help but complain to Wang Zhi, "Chamberlain Wang, you've just said how powerful this man is, in my opinion, he's just like the Imperial Censor, he's invincible man!”

Tang Fan looked at his nose, nose at his heart, and pretended to be dead, as if the emperor had told him otherwise.

Wang Zhi secretly felt that Tang Fan did not know what to do and did not show his loyalty, but still stood aside like a wooden man, he said, "Your Majesty, many things are like a mess nowadays, and it is really difficult to find out anything immediately. I'd like you to know that Tang Fan was nominated by the Golden Palace in the 11th year of Chenghua and won the first place in the second position, and he was praised by His Majesty himself at that time!"

In order to prove that he had a good eye, the Chenghua Emperor lifted his eyelids and remembered that there was indeed such a thing, and his impression of Tang Fan had slightly improved.

"In that case, Tang Fan, I'll leave this case to you, but..." The emperor looked at Wang Zhi for a moment.

Wang Zhi agreed, and then said, “This case is very important, don't talk nonsense, or you will be punished severely."

After all eyes were on him, Tang Fan finally spoke out, but his words were shocking: "I dare not follow orders."

What?

Is this man crazy?

Does he know what he said?

Is this the kind of occasion where one can play with someone's temper?

Everyone, including the maids and guards who acted as the background, could not help but widen their eyes and stare at Tang Fan.

The chief consul, Wan An, shouted in front of everyone: "How dare you, Tang Fan, disrespect the holy will and disrespect your superiors!"

Wang Zhi was even more annoyed. He knew that Tang Fan was probably complaining about this job, but Wang Zhi also had his own plans. The emperor said, "I dare not follow orders", is he going to hit the emperor in the face?

“Tang Fan, are you out of your mind? What kind of an occasion is this? You're not allowed to have your way here! If you say anything, Xiang Zhong and Shang Lu can be a lesson from your past!"

Xiang Zhong and Shang Lu, one is a former Minister of War one is a former Prime Minister, both have stepped down because of their opposition to Eunuch Wang, one was dismissed as a citizen, one resigned and ran away, Wang Zhi took their example out, apparently to threaten Tang Fan, if he still dare to say anything, then they are an example of your downfall.

Wan An shook his head, thinking that Eunuch Wang was also furious, and his mouth was foaming full of words, did he not know that Tang Fan was now only the Lower Sixth Rank official. Using Xiang Zhong and Shang Lu, the two of them as an example. Wouldn't that instead be lifting up Tang Fan?

The Chenghua Emperor frowned and stared at Tang Fan with displeasure.

He was not an emperor who liked to kill, which was one of his good qualities, but if he looked at a person in a bad light and waved his small hand, he would either dismiss him or demote him to his post, and that would be enough to make the other person drink a pot.

The prince, Zhu Youzhu, likewise did not say a word. He was just looking at Tang Fan curiously.

It had been half a day since the incident, and now it was time for him to go to bed, but he still could not rest because of the matter that concerned him, but the prince did not look impatient, and although he was a little tired, he still stood beside his father, respectful as usual.

When the scolding and the reprimanding man had finished scolding him, Tang Fan then arched his hand and said slowly: "Your Majesty. As an official, I am investigating for the dead, but not the living. The complexity of this case is far beyond imagination, so if Your Majesty entrusts this burden to me, I wouldn't dare not take it, because there are some things I can't do without asking beforehand. Your Majesty will also forgive me."

The Chenghua Emperor said: "Ask only, and be forgiven for your innocence."

Tang Fan nodded: “Then I'll be bold enough to ask. Your Majesty can guarantee that this case has nothing to do with the Noble Consort Wan?"

When that happened, everyone was more astonished than before.

Everyone thought that Tang Fan was not only a madman, but also an idiot.

Such doubts are only in the heart. Is that something that can be said directly?




Even Chief consul Wan An, the Prime minister, was stunned, and then he couldn't help but shake his head, but he thought differently from others: this man was amazing. Tang Fan knew that she was here, and asked this question on purpose, so as to preempt others into false calm and open up the case, also so that he wouldn't be caught in the crossfire and fall victim.

Wan An also remembered that three years ago, it was his own words that made this young man's position as the first prize winner, which he was supposed to win, become a duck in the air.

Just as Wan An was thinking this, a figure behind the screen, unable to restrain itself, turned out in a rage.

"If I had done this, I would have been strike by lightning to death, but if I hadn't done this, you and your family will be struck by lighting and die!"













- The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty -



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