This guy thought about it carefully. If there is any connection, it should be with Concubine Yang. In fact, ever since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince came forward to take care of that side, the people around him have persuaded him that Concubine Yang is indeed losing power now, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is in the ascendant. If you deliberately make things difficult for that side, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince may get angry with you at any time.
This guy didn't take it seriously. In his opinion, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was very busy. Moreover, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wu had a mediocre relationship. How could he possibly stand up for Concubine Yang? He really regretted not coming to help His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The even more ruthless His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had come.
"To reply to Your Highness, I am the one on duty today, and I am also responsible for the red candle matter, but there are reasons for this..."
Zhang Defu and his men naturally had a reason for doing this, and were preparing to implicate more people. Once too many people were implicated, the matter would become impossible to investigate further. There were so many complicated relationships in Chang'an City, and perhaps they could eventually trace it back to the Eastern Palace.
"How should the law deal with this?"
Li Xiang did not give him a chance to speak, but interrupted him directly.
"In reply to your Highness, any concubine interfering in military or national affairs shall be punished by death according to the law."
Qian Ping is also a smart man. If our prince wants your life today, then we have to make a big deal out of it. Delaying the distribution of candles will at most result in a fine of a few months' salary, and then you will be sent to the cold palace for a while. It won't be a big deal, but you have delayed military and national affairs.
"Your Highness... this is not your Highness..."
Zhang Defu went crazy when he heard this. If things continued to develop like this, he would definitely lose his head. Although he had a lot of face in the palace, that was only in front of the servants. If a prince wanted to attack you, you could only endure it, not to mention that the one in front of you was the crown prince.
"Where are the warriors in front of the palace?"
Li Xiang looked at his fingers and said, if he didn't take action at this time, outsiders would say that he was indecisive. He was putting on such a big show. Didn't he come here just to see blood?
Killing people in the Imperial Household Department hasn't happened in more than ten years. But now Li Xiang has said it. If these guards with swords don't take action, then you guys should probably change your positions. What are you here for?
Zhang Defu wanted to say something, but his mouth was blocked. This was the rule in the palace. When a eunuch was about to be executed, he would definitely curse, so his mouth had to be blocked first so that he would not even have the chance to curse.
Everyone present was so frightened that they dared not say a word, and even their breathing was low. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince came and left quickly. After dealing with Zhang Defu, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince returned to the Eastern Palace.
Zhang Defu's body has been dragged out. He was just a chief eunuch. No one would feel sorry for him. Although he lived with some dignity in normal times, compared with the East Palace, your dignity is nothing.
These eunuchs and palace maids in charge are not fools. They have gathered together at this moment, all wondering what happened today.
For the nobles in Chang'an City, the death of not only one eunuch, but even the death of several eunuch chiefs would not be a big deal to them. They were just slaves.
But for these eunuchs, the dead were on the same level as them, and they had not made any major mistakes in the past ten years. Even if they used the money in the palace to make money outside, who hasn't done such a thing?
The crime does not deserve the death penalty!
The eunuchs in the palace had plenty of time, especially after the birds they needed to serve had rested, they would start to think about this matter. If they couldn't analyze it in the past few years, they would have to analyze it in the future.
They soon came to a conclusion that this matter must be related to Concubine Yang, because Li Xiang and Zhang Defu had very few opportunities to meet, so how could they be sad?
This afternoon, His Highness was supposed to go to Concubine Yin's palace, but for some reason he returned early. On the way, he passed by Concubine Yang's palace. There used to be four red lanterns, but now there are only two. This means someone has cut back on them. Then think about the misery inside...
The eunuchs quickly came to the conclusion that Zhang Defu's death was a worthy one.
We advised you earlier, and the Eastern Palace has already intervened. Is your affair with Concubine Yang still a big deal? You should have honestly changed, but you ignored our advice. Now that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has learned of it, he hasn't even given you a chance to defend yourself.
These eunuchs immediately figured it out and hurried to check whether they had offended Concubine Yang. If so, they had to make amends while there was still a chance, otherwise they would lose their heads without knowing how they got there.
Li Shimin also got the news soon. He was a little puzzled. Li Xiang usually would not argue with his servants. Even if there was something, Li Xiang would show leniency. Why did he suddenly kill the eunuch chief today?
Li Shimin had an impression of Zhang Defu. I had assigned him a task before. He was a man who knew his place very well. How had this guy offended Li Xiang?
The palace was Li Shimin's base camp. If you want to know something, why did Li Shimin get the answer so quickly? The reason why there are so many unsolved cases is because he didn't want everyone to know about it.
He soon found out why Li Xiang killed people. After knowing this, Li Shimin asked about it personally. He didn't expect that Concubine Yang had such a hard life during this period.
The quarrel between Li Shimin and Concubine Yang is a matter between the couple. If you, the people below, get involved, then you really don't know the limits of your own business. What's more, Empress Zhangsun has passed away now, and Li Shimin has few people to talk to, and Concubine Yang is definitely the first one to come to the fore.
Concubine Yang had fallen out of favor, but she would recover quickly. When Li Shimin learned of this, he immediately sent Wang De to do the work. Wasn't Yan Dehai on vacation at home? Then he didn't need to come.
That night, everyone learned another story: another eunuch who was on good terms with Zhang Defu was executed by the emperor in his own courtyard. The reason was self-evident: he was too harsh on Concubine Yang...