mtl008 Chapter 573 Framed, evidence of treason?
Chapter 573 Framed, evidence of treason?
Yao Qingnian and the others took it and opened it, and found that someone had indeed forged evidence of Prince Jing and the Duke's rebellion. Fortunately, the old lady was smart, otherwise, they would be in trouble today.
"Tell me! Who told you to do this! You traitor! The master saved your life out of kindness, and you don't know how to repay the favor! You even teamed up with outsiders and wanted to put our Duke's Mansion in danger!" The old lady was shocked when she saw the content of the letter. She asked someone to take the cloth out of Shi Tou's mouth and scolded him.
After reading the letters, Yao Qingnian put them all into his space. If someone with ulterior motives saw them, they would definitely make a big fuss about it.
"Madam, I don't know anything!"
"Don't you know? How dare you put anything in the master's study! Someone, come! Drag him away and beat him to death with sticks!"
"Madam, please spare my life! I said! That person...that person just asked me to put the letter in the master's study. I didn't know it was something that could harm people!" Shitou knelt on the ground trembling.
"Don't you know that it's something that can harm people?! If you know what's good for you, explain the matter clearly. Otherwise, don't blame us for being rude!"
"Some time ago, I accidentally got addicted to gambling and owed a lot of money outside. Then someone came to me and said that if I could do a small favor for him, he would help me pay back the money and give me an extra 500 taels of silver. I was blinded by greed for a moment, thinking it was just a small matter, so I agreed without thinking too much... I really didn't expect that it was something that could harm people. The Duke and the old lady have been so kind to me. Even if I had a hundred guts, I would not dare to do such a thing of betraying my master for fame and fortune!" Only then did Shi Tou realize how big a mistake he had made. He knelt on the ground and knocked his head.
"Gambling? Great! Because of you, our Duke's Mansion was almost implicated by you! How could the old man and I save a dog slave like you! Come on, drag him out! Beat him to death and throw him into the mass grave to feed the wolves!" Old Madam Chen said with a dark face. They were lucky today and found it. What if they didn't find it? The old lady couldn't imagine what kind of situation the Duke's Mansion would be in if they found such evidence today.
The couple have always been generous and never abused or beat their servants. Today they have set a precedent!
After dealing with the stone, Old Madam Chen felt a little uneasy, so she asked Chen Shuhua and Nianran to go and see if Jinghong had returned. If not, they should think of a way to send him a message, asking him not to come back yet and leave Yao Qingnian alone.
After seeing Chen Shuhua and the others leave, the old lady sighed and said, "Alas! I'm afraid that Prince Hong won't let me go so easily."
"Grandma, is it possible that grandpa has some grudge against this Prince Hong?" Yao Qingnian asked after thinking for a moment.
"Well, this Prince Hong used to be in the capital, and before he was crowned as a prince, he had been at odds with your grandfather. This matter started when the retired emperor was still alive. At that time, Emperor Cang Ling was just an unfavored prince, and the crown prince and Prince Hong, who was still the second prince, were ready to make a move, and tried every means to win over your grandfather.
But your grandfather never participated in court disputes and always maintained a neutral attitude. No matter what he said to the former prince, he refused and scolded them harshly. This caused the displeasure of Prince Hong. He was a proud and arrogant person. If he couldn't win over someone, he would destroy him. Therefore, he tried to make trouble for your grandfather many times, but his attempts were resolved one by one by your grandfather. The two of them also became enemies because of this.
When the retired emperor passed away, your grandfather followed the imperial edict and overcame all difficulties to help Emperor Cang Ling ascend the throne.
The Crown Prince and others launched a coup, saying that your grandfather had colluded with Emperor Cang Ling to tamper with the imperial edict.
Although Prince Hong did not participate in the palace coup and rebellion, he was implicated. He and the crown prince were brothers. After the crown prince's death, Emperor Cang Ling wanted to deal with Prince Hong as well, but he had just ascended the throne and the court was in turmoil. Taking action at this time would easily lead to unnecessary trouble, and Duke Chen promised the emperor not to let them kill each other, so Emperor Cang Ling gave him a fiefdom and assigned him to a place far away from the capital.
When he left, Emperor Cang Ling left his eldest son in the capital to remind Prince Hong. Later, Prince Hong's eldest son died in an accident. Prince Hong was extremely sad and thought that all this was caused intentionally by your grandfather. If it weren't for your grandfather, the prince would have ascended the throne smoothly, how could he have left his hometown and been assigned to such a faraway fiefdom, and his son would not have died in the capital.
He has been very well behaved in his fiefdom over the years and has not caused any trouble, so Emperor Cang Ling has let down his guard against him. "
"I see. But if that's the case, then logically, the new emperor should be wary of him. Why would he let him come back to the capital and stay there for such a long time?!" Unless... the new emperor wants to use him... to get rid of old Duke Chen.
"Qing Nian, you are a smart person, so you should know why, right? The current situation of the Duke's Mansion is unclear, and I am afraid that something big will happen. At my age, there is nothing to be afraid of. I am just worried about you brothers and sisters and your mother."
"Grandma, don't worry, nothing will happen to the Duke's Mansion."
"Everyone outside the mansion is their people now. Grandmother wants to ask you for something. Please find a way to take your mother and Nianran out and don't come back."
"No, I won't leave. They can just accuse the Duke's Mansion of treason. If we leave, what will you do?!"
"Child, be obedient! Among you brothers and sisters, as well as your mother, I trust you the most. You are smart and sensible. With you here, I believe your mother and the others will be fine. And don't worry, I just want you to take your mother and the others out to avoid the limelight. Come back after the storm has passed."
Yao Qingnian understood what Old Madam Chen meant. The mansion was not safe now, with Prince Hong and Shen Wenting watching them from outside, and they were probably not up to good intentions.
"Then I'll take you with me."
"No, if I leave, they can't say whatever they want. The mansion needs someone in charge now, and I am the most suitable. I will be relieved if you protect your mother and the others!" The old lady patted her shoulder, then took out a box from the side, opened the box, and revealed two keys inside: "These are some things your grandfather and I have saved in our lifetime. They are all kept in Julai Village. One key is on your mother, and your grandfather and I each have one. It takes three keys to open it together. I'm keeping it for you now. It will come in handy at a critical moment."