mtl008 Chapter 422 Blank Imperial Edict
Chapter 422 Blank Imperial Edict
After the emperor learned that Dianfan had died by hitting his head against a pillar at the gate of the mansion, the inkstone that had hit Prince Jing's forehead eventually fell to the ground and broke into several pieces.
Eunuch Wan and Duan Xu in the hall were both trembling with fear.
"Your Majesty!" Eunuch Wan stood by with awe and trepidation, advising: "The imperial physician checked your pulse this morning and said that your Majesty has a lot of liver fire recently. It is not advisable to get angry, as it will harm your health."
The emperor ignored him and angrily shouted, "You old bastard, you dare to mess with me before you die!"
Duan Xu knew that this was not the time to let the emperor lose his temper, so he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, calm down. I have re-examined the case overnight and have obtained different confessions. This is related to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
The emperor was still furious, but after hearing what Duan Xu said, he suppressed his anger and looked at him coldly, "What confession?"
"These past two days, I have conducted another strict interrogation of Wang Qing's residence. Wang Yirong, the second daughter of the Wang family, was probably too scared and confessed another thing. She said that she had accidentally heard Wang Qing and his wife say that they would bite the king of Jing, and then the prince would find a way to give their biological daughter, the crazy Wang Jingshu, a concubine and support her for life."
"Is there any evidence?" the emperor asked with a frown.
Duan Xu said: "Wang Yirong said that there was no evidence, and she just overheard what the couple said. She confessed and hoped that she would be given a lighter sentence."
The emperor gradually calmed down at this time.
Dianfan's death further confirmed that King Jing was the mastermind behind the Wang Qing case, at least that was the opinion in public opinion.
But the person behind the scenes may be the prince.
Now that the matter has fermented and spread among the people, in order to stop people from talking about it, no matter who is behind it, someone must take responsibility.
If we continue the investigation, not only will the royal family lose face, but what we find out will only make things more confusing.
The emperor's eyes were as heavy as the icy water in a cold pond, and Duan Xu didn't dare to move.
After a long while, the emperor spoke in a deep voice: "Everything ends here. As for the crown prince, you investigate secretly."
Duan Xu didn't dare to say much, but just replied "yes" respectfully.
After seeing Duan Xu leave, the emperor ordered Eunuch Wan: "Summon the Prime Minister to the court."
In the Prince's Mansion, Xiao Changshi leaned leisurely on the recliner and asked the servant, "What's going on?"
The servant looked excited, "Just as Your Highness guessed, the news has spread all over the streets."
Xiao Changshi raised his head and drank the warm wine in the cup, with a sneer on his face, "Very good, as his elder brother, I should also send him off again and make sure he never recovers."
He casually placed the wine glass between his fingers on the low table, stood up and told the servant, "Prepare the car."
*
Early the next morning, in the Golden Palace, the emperor had not yet arrived, but the court officials were already talking about the situation.
Minister Fang Wen walked up to Zhang Zhong and asked, "Master Zhang, what do you think of what happened yesterday?"
Zhang Zhong frowned and said in a deep voice: "Although I am involved in investigating this case, I know very little. What is important is what your majesty thinks. Why not ask the Prime Minister? I heard that he was summoned to the palace by your majesty yesterday."
Prime Minister Cui Maoxing was standing in the hall with a solemn expression on his face, his eyes lowered in thought. The two men came to his side and bowed.
Fang Wen asked, "Master Prime Minister, I heard that His Majesty summoned you to the palace yesterday. Is it related to what happened yesterday?"
Cui Maoxing nodded solemnly, "Yes, Your Majesty summoned me because you are worried about this matter."
Fang Wen saw that Cui Maoxing did not hide anything, and his brows relaxed slightly. He continued to ask: "I wonder what your majesty thinks?"
After he said this, the people around him stopped talking and waited quietly to hear what was to come.
Cui Maoxing said: "Your Majesty summoned me to see you, also to ask me what I think?"
"How does the Prime Minister answer?"
"We are a great country, and we govern by law and convince people by reason, from the emperor to the subjects. However, your majesty has few children, and for the future of Daning, you should also consider the future carefully."
When Cui Maoxing said this, everyone who heard him understood what was going on.
This has happened in every dynasty. There is a chance that a crown prince will either have his son succeed his father or his younger brother succeed his older brother.
King Jing could not kill the crown prince because he had no children.
"No!"
A loud and resounding voice broke everyone's speculation, and the three or five people who were whispering in the hall turned around and looked at him.
Minister of War Li Yi walked towards Cui Maoxing and the others and said loudly: "First, Your Majesty is in his prime, so there is no need to consider the succession issue now. Second, we are loyal to Daning. If the crown prince has bad intentions and bad conduct, and inherits the throne in the future, it will be a great disaster for Daning and the people!"
"Besides, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is in good health now, so why should we make another choice?"
Li Yi's words were sonorous and powerful, and for a moment, no one in the hall dared to refute him.
Cui Maoxing looked at Li Yi with a frown on his face.
Li Yi seemed not to notice. He looked at Jiang Fu who was standing with Duan Xu not far away and asked, "Master Jiang, if King Jing succeeds to the throne in the future, will you or Master Jiang still be able to assist him with all your strength without any reservations?"
Everyone in the hall looked at Li Yi in shock. In the Golden Palace, with the emperor still on the throne, he could actually say such outrageous words.
Jiang Siyuan looked at Jiang Fu standing aside and couldn't help but worry about him.
Li Yi is setting a trap for Jiang Fu.
If Jiang Fu said yes, it would mean he had ulterior motives. If he said no, it would mean he was narrow-minded.
There is no correct answer to this question.
Jiang Siyuan was about to speak for Jiang Fu, but Jiang Fu stepped forward to stop him, raised his head and looked directly at Li Yi and said, "Jiang Fu is only loyal to Your Majesty. As for future matters, Your Majesty has not issued an order, so Jiang Fu dare not make any rash comments."
Jiang Siyuan stepped forward and bowed to Jiang Fu, "Father's teachings, I will remember them forever."
Cui Maoxing looked at Li Yi with a smile on his face, "Lord Li, it seems that you and I are still not as insightful as Lord Jiang! As subjects, we should do what His Majesty says, this is loyalty. Why should we cause trouble to His Majesty unnecessarily!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Eunuch Wan's voice came, "Your Majesty has arrived!"
When everyone heard this, they immediately returned to their seats. The emperor walked from the back hall to the dragon throne and sat down.
After everyone in the hall knelt and saluted and stood up, the emperor glanced at everyone in the hall, with an imperial aura that was intimidating without even being angry.
He looked at Xiao Changshi, who had remained silent from beginning to end, and asked, "What do you think about King Jing's matter, Crown Prince?"
Xiao Changshi looked at the emperor, his heart tightened, but then he made up his mind and said, "Father, I think Lord Jiang is a loyal minister. King Jing shouldn't have been so confused and framed him, hurting the heart of a loyal minister. If loyal ministers are afraid, who will be willing to serve the court wholeheartedly in the future! In order to appease the people and Lord Jiang, as well as all the ministers in the court, please punish him severely!"
"Good!" The emperor looked at Xiao Changshi coldly and said in a deep voice, "As expected of my prince, you are truly selfless."
Although it was a compliment, the words were like ice, piercing Xiao Changshi's heart.
Xiao Changshi knew that the emperor would be angry if he said this.
But this time he finally got hold of Xiao Changan's handle, it would be a shame if he didn't make good use of it!
He is the crown prince. Even if the emperor is angry, he is the only son who can inherit the throne. He will forgive him after a while, just like the last time he put him under house arrest.
Xiao Changshi suppressed his fear and said, "Father is wise!"
The emperor looked at Xiao Changshi with disappointment in his eyes.
Seeing the emperor's expression, before the emperor could speak, Li Yi took the initiative to step forward and said, "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Jing dared to frame Lord Jiang this time. In the future, it may be the turn of other ministers in the court. I am really terrified. Please punish him severely and do not show favoritism!"
A dozen ministers from the Ministry of War, Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Rites, and Imperial Academy stood up and said, "I second the motion!"
The voice was loud and resounding throughout the Golden Throne Hall, and it was unstoppable.
The emperor glanced at the people who came out. His expression was calm, but he had a kind of pressure from a superior, and he was intimidating without even getting angry.
"Lord Jiang is the victim in this matter. I will give you an explanation." He looked at Jiang Fu and said, "Jiang Fu, accept the order."
Jiang Fu had a bad feeling in his heart, so he took a step forward and knelt down.
The emperor spoke slowly: "I order that King Jing shall be at the mercy of Jiang Fu, regardless of life or death."
After saying this, Eunuch Wan handed the imperial edict to Jiang Fu. Jiang Fu opened it and saw that it was a blank imperial edict with a seal on it.
"Your Majesty, I dare not do this." Jiang Fu looked at the emperor in fear.
He has no power to deal with criminals. Isn't the emperor just putting him on the fire?
Zheng Zixu, the Minister of Rites beside Jiang Fu, also saw the imperial edict and was shocked. He quickly understood what the emperor wanted to do and stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this is inappropriate. Since ancient times, no Minister of Revenue has ever drafted an imperial edict. Please take back your order!"
As soon as these words came out, several officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel knelt down again, "Your Majesty, this is inappropriate!"
The emperor looked at everyone and rebuked them coldly: "I didn't teach my son well, and Jiang Qing suffered injustice. You said you would punish him severely! Now I hand my son over to you for your punishment. What's wrong with that? I have another son. If he makes the same mistake in the future, I will let him be dealt with by you in the same way. What are you dissatisfied with?"
Li Yi said, "Your Majesty, if the prince makes a mistake, it should be your Majesty and the department in charge of the prison who should convict him, not anyone else."
The emperor looked at Li Yi coldly and said, "I remember that your son Li Xiaoyun accidentally killed Su Heng's son. I handed the case over to Su Heng to handle. He is still in prison."
Li Yi's face turned pale, and he remembered that if his son was dealt with by the criminal justice department, he would be sentenced to death.
The emperor ignored him and said to the people below the stage: "If you have something to say, please stand up and report it. If not, please leave the court."
Xiao Changshi could no longer utter a word. His future fate was just a matter of words from the emperor.
After waiting for a while, no one spoke again, and the emperor left the Golden Palace with the help of Eunuch Wan.
Cui Maoxing helped Jiang Fu up and whispered, "Sir Jiang, you can talk to Sir Duan about it." Then he left.
Jiang Siyuan walked to Jiang Fu and comforted him, "Father, if you don't know what to do, why not go and see His Majesty again."
Jiang Fu held the imperial edict in his hand and shook his head solemnly, "Your Majesty will not see your father, let's go back to the palace."