An official beside the carriage said to the general: "Wait a minute, this is the private box of Prince Chang Le, you are not allowed to inspect it at will."

  The general furrowed his brow and sneered slightly: "Since it's the prince's box, why didn't it enter the city with the prince just now?"

  This... official was blocked and couldn't speak out.

  Pei said at this time looking towards the general: "We are ordered to escort the prince back to the capital, and to transport some luggage for the prince."

  The general obviously didn't believe him. As soon as he saw his gaze, he immediately looked at Li Xiuzhi's carriage.

  Li Xiuyi's carriage was quiet, and the general hesitated before saying: "Your Highness, please forgive me, but recently we received an order that a death row prisoner has escaped from Lingnan's Cold Tower."

  Pai Tan's eyes moved slightly.

  "What is Lingnan Cold Tower?" Someone's eyes widened in horror.

  The general turned around again and stared at the trunk: "So, all past vehicles must be inspected. Even if this trunk is placed in the king's carriage, I will open it for inspection to ensure the king's safety."

  After finishing speaking, the general coldly stared at Pei Tan.

  Everyone is watching, but it's just a trunk. If you refuse to open it for inspection, it will only arouse suspicion.

  "Unboxing."

  "Wait a minute," said Pei Tan again just as they were about to take action in defending the city.

  The general's gaze had to be doubly vigilant. "Pei Si-kong, do you know what crime it is to stop the city gate inspection three or four times?"

  Although Pei Tan was a third-grade official of the Dali Temple, a gatekeeper was smaller than an ant. However, the gate general of Chang'an City was an ant holding a sacred edict, and this ant could even trample an elephant to death.

  Looking at Wang Le's choice of silence, it is clear that he also does not dare to speak lightly, lest he be guilty of disrespect.

  Pei Tan said, "I'm not trying to stop the search, but after all, this box contains the king's private belongings. With so many people watching at the city gate, wouldn't it be improper to expose the king's private belongings to everyone's eyes?"

  The general's expression changed, and he showed hesitation. Although they dared to move the king's carriage, that was just their duty, but in their hearts, they did not want to offend these people who held power in the Tang Dynasty.

  "Come over here, you few." The commander frowned and beckoned a few of his men.

  "Look at these people, 'Take the box to the alley next door and check the items inside.'"

  This seems like a good way, no matter what's inside the box, it won't be known by irrelevant onlookers.

  The general's eyes looked at Pei Tan and slowly said: "Then I'll go with Commander Pei to check the box, how about that?"

  "Good."

  As he walked over, he felt Li Xiuzhi's somewhat chilly gaze. From start to finish, the Prince of Chang Le didn't say a single word.

  Pei Tan glanced at him.

  The box was carried into a secluded alley, and the person carrying the box immediately retreated. In the alley were Pei Tan, the commander, and another guard.

  The general said calmly: "Open the box."

  The guard immediately stepped forward and opened the box.

  At this moment, the city guards who were used to wind and rain were frightened out of their wits and sat on the ground with a thud.

  The commander stared at the box, his face turning pale.

  He immediately looked at Pei Tan, his eyes cold and piercing: "Pei Temple, didn't you say this was the prince's box? Dare I ask, how could there be a dead person inside the prince's box?"

  This cry was accompanied by a stern interrogation, and in the open trunk, a woman was found curled up, her face pale and stiff, apparently having been dead for some time.

  The general drew out his sword from his waist and pointed it at Pei Tan.

  "Whose corpse is this?" He glared at Pei Tan.

  The yamen runner who had been sitting on the ground finally came to his senses and stood up with a tremble, pulling out his knife.

  At this time, Pei Tan stared straight at the box, and the woman was neatly placed inside. The pale and twisted face could barely be recognized as Wang De Fei.

  While alive, all is splendor and glory; in death, there is nothing but desolation and cold.

  The general suddenly shouted loudly towards the direction of the city gate: "Who's there!"

  What I have seen with my own eyes is an irrefutable case of murder. Even if Pei Tan remains silent, it cannot change the fact in front of us.

  Just outside the alley, footsteps were heard, and the city guards who had heard the sound rushed over.

  Pei Tancan suddenly stepped forward and closed the lid of the trunk with a bang.

  The three pairs of eyes were enough when they saw Wang De's corpse.

  "General Chen, it seems that this matter is beyond your city guards' control." Pei Tan slowly stood up from beside the box.

  The matter is too big, and the power of a small city lord is far from enough.

  Many city guards rushed in from the alley entrance. General Chen stood guard, staring at Pei Tan: "Where is your king?"

  "A newly arrived and ignorant official trembled as he said: 'Your Highness, Your Highness has already driven away...' "

  The general paused for a moment and couldn't help but give Pei Tan a cold smile.

  Trying to shift all the blame onto the current king, this Temple of Pestilence in Chang'an really has a big nerve.

  General Chen ordered: "Detain all the people and vehicles from the Dalit Temple, they are suspected of being involved in a major blood case, not one is allowed to escape!"

  Everyone in the alley looked shocked.

  The box was carried out by several city guards. Pei Tan was pushed out of the alley with a knife held by General Chen.

  Several frightened officials of the Dalish Temple had no idea what was happening and saw Pei Tan being taken away: "Sir, what happened?"

  As soon as they saw the city gate, everyone started whispering and pointing at each other.

  Every noble family in Chang'an City has informants, and by afternoon, the news can spread throughout Chang'an, shocking the whole city.

  Zong Chuke stared at the flying and dancing scout who came back: "What did you say was in that box?"

  Only then would the majestic Temple Master be directly caught by the city gate guards.

  What kind of crime is this?

  The scout replied, "Pei Tan deliberately let people carry the box into the alley, no one saw what was inside, but it's said that the city guard who followed him into the alley first, when he came out, his whole face had changed..."

  Curiosity is the most annoying emotion, especially when everyone has seen the city guards' cowardly appearance.

  Zong Chuke's eyes were deep and mysterious.

  "Sir, this is a great opportunity, let's thoroughly get rid of that young master Pei and avenge the young lord..." The scout fawned and sought to gain merit.

  Zong Chuke knocked over the teacup on the table: "What's there to be proud of? Do you think Pei Tan is a fool?"

  Pei Tan brought a box into the city, and was even checked by the city guards, causing a big commotion. Didn't he know that the palace had just issued an order to close the city gates yesterday? How stupid is that?

  The scout was so frightened that he dared not speak a word.

  Zong Chuke's eyes were gloomy and intimidating: "I'd like to see what kind of tricks he has up his sleeve this time."

  More people are guessing where Pei Tan, who was caught by the city guards, will be taken.

  Pei said he was the chief of the Dali Temple, who could judge him?

  It wasn't long before news spread that Pei Tan had been escorted into the palace under arrest.

  Inside the Zichen Hall, Zhongzong faced Pei Tan alone, and there was no palace staff within ten zhang outside the hall.

  Pei Tan knelt on the ground, with that large trunk beside him. It was a bit eerie. The trunk had been transported into the palace and no one had opened it since, now Zhong Zong stared at it intently.

  "Well done, Pei Tan! You've been gone for six days, what have you brought back for me?"

  In this entire Tang Dynasty, which official of the imperial court dared to leave his post for six days and return to Chang'an with such a stir that shook the whole city?

  It can be seen that Emperor Zhongzong was really angry, his face slightly twisted.

  Pei Tan's eyes drooped, and this scene was all too familiar.

  "It's my fault," he said with downcast eyes.

  Zhong Zong stared at him, "You even dare to kill people?" The news that came out was shocking.

  "The minister said calmly after a moment: 'I did not kill anyone.'"

  Jungjong walked up to the box and pointed: "What is this? Tell me?"

  Shou Cheng Wei Ming said clearly that in the box, he and Pei Tan found a dead body together. During the investigation, Pei Tan actually used Prince Chang Le as an excuse, but at this time, Prince Chang Le had already returned to his own palace and closed the door without going out.

  Pei Tan remained silent and didn't say a word.

  Before the Emperor could lift the lid of the box, Pei Tan suddenly said, "Your Majesty, six days ago, apart from me, did you secretly give anyone else a confidential edict?"

  Zhong Zong's hand stopped, and he turned cold: "Pei Tan, what do you mean?"

  Pei Tan raised his head, and his eyes met those of Zhong Zong: "Because I have thought it over, in this world, only Your Majesty has the ability to make the monks of Qinglong Temple behave abnormally."

  Jungjong's expression was gloomy and frightening.

  Ordinary people were already intimidated by the majesty of the Son of Heaven, but Pei stood up straight and looked at Zhongzong, saying directly: "Inside the box is the body of Wang De, the concubine of the late Emperor Ruizong."

  Zhong Zong's face changed greatly, and he stared intently at Pei Tan.

  "Say it again?"

  Pei Tan slowly said: "The box contains the body of De Fei, which is also the person who sat in the carriage that you ordered me to escort six days ago. It was Your Majesty's intention from the beginning to sentence De Fei to death and instructed the people of Qinglong Temple to do it."

  Zhong Zong suddenly turned around and lifted the lid of the box. The face of Wang De Fei, who had passed away, had already started to turn purple.

  Seeing this face, Zhong Zong's eyes turned black in front of him, and his complexion was more terrifying than ever before.

  "Your Majesty, if you want De Fei to become a nun, you naturally wouldn't send her to Qinglong Temple."

  That is where monks live, since ancient times empresses and concubines have become nuns, there are nunneries, such as the Temple of Sensitive Industries that Tian Hou once stayed in.

  "So, Your Majesty is sending De Fei on her way."

  Zhong Zong slowly turned around, his deeply cold eyes staring at Pei Tan: "Pei Tan, I must kill you today."

  When Shou Chengwei escorted Pei Tan into the palace, the powerful officials in Chang'an City who received the news had already begun to bet on whether Pei Tan could walk out of the Great Ming Palace alive.

  Zhong Zong's expression changed and he really wanted to kill: "You dare to defy my imperial decree, disobedient and disrespectful. I will execute your entire clan."

  In the Zi Chen Hall, Emperor Zhong's voice was as cold as frost. Within a radius of ten zhang, there was no one else present; it was as if they were in a ghostly realm. Kneeling down, Pei Tan was the only one who could endure this overwhelming pressure.

  The fearful person.

  His pale face was like thin transparent paper, he slowly looked at Zhong Zong, "I received the order of the Grand Justice Temple, Your Majesty once promised me that all the cases I broke during my tenure would have nothing to do with my family."

  The two major judicial institutions of the Tang Dynasty, the Ministry of Punishment was one of the six ministries, and all the prime ministers were controlled by the aristocratic families. In order to balance power, Zhong Zong had to reuse the Temple of Great Justice, so he couldn't help but give Pei Tan a sword of authority.