Chapter 125: A Play
After Xing Chong finished speaking, he handed over the charges again.
After the emperor looked at it for a while, he slammed the evidence on the table and angrily shouted, "Rebellious son! Beast!"
"Your Majesty, this case involves deep-seated issues and has wide-ranging connections! Therefore, please make a decision as soon as possible to appease Mingxin!" Wu Guozhang said, cupping his hands.
"Yes, father! In this boudoir meeting, all the noble families donated money for the disaster relief in northern Henan. If we can't give them a satisfactory answer, I'm afraid it will make all the noble families in the world feel disheartened! It is said that this time, Fu Qian, the young master of Huitong Commercial Bank, was poisoned. Fortunately, no tragedy occurred... otherwise, the consequences would be disastrous." Xiao Wenyan said with a bow.
As Xiao Wenyan opened his mouth, more and more people agreed.
Xiao Shentian frowned and said, "Xing Chong, according to the laws of Daxia, what should we do?"
"These people should all be executed in the autumn!" Xing Chong said with his hands clasped.
Xiao Shentian said to Xing Chong, "Then follow the Great Xia law and throw him into the Heavenly Prison and execute him in the autumn!"
"Your Majesty, there are still more than four months before the autumn harvest. If the execution is carried out after the autumn, it will be difficult to support the people. Now there are hundreds of people standing at the gate of the imperial palace, with coffins parked at the gate, crying out for injustice and asking Your Majesty to uphold justice!" Xing Chong said to Xiao Shentian with his hands clasped.
"Yes, father! If you make them wait for four months, those noble families will think that you are biased... I suggest that you directly issue an imperial decree and execute them after the empress dowager finishes her fast!" Xiao Wenyan said with a bow.
"I second the motion..."
"I second the motion..."
Without waiting for Xiao Shentian to speak.
Xing Chong continued, "Your Majesty, I have something else to report."
"What's the matter?" Xiao Shentian said to Xing Chong with a frown.
In his heart, he already knew what he was going to say next.
Including everything that happened today, Huangfu Chou went to the palace to report late yesterday night.
"During yesterday's interrogation, I also uncovered a case within a case!" Xing Chong said.
Xiao Shentian signaled Xing Chong to speak directly.
Xing Chong continued, "When I was interrogating Xie Xunfeng and Guan Chong, I also learned that they were instructed by the prison warden Huangfu Ling to capture the young master of Linxian Manor and the second son of the Yuan family, Yuan Ba. Huangfu Ling also formed a clique with the fourth prince to plot for the position of crown prince, and also planned the assassination at the South Gate!"
Xing Chong's words caused an uproar in the entire audience.
"The reason why Xie Jizi was able to accurately tell us the location of the murder was because he was also involved in this matter. He shouted loudly after learning that Your Majesty was not in the carriage. He was not trying to help us. Instead, he was trying to alert the leader of the assassins. Therefore, when we caught him, we did not find the leader!"
"All of the above evidence is conclusive. The Fourth Prince, Guan Chong, and Xie Xunfeng have all confessed to the crime! Due to Huangfu Ling's special status, we have not yet approved his arrest. Your Majesty, please issue an order so that I can arrest him!"
After Wu Guozhang heard this, he was the first to jump out and said with an unpleasant expression, "Your Majesty! The prison warden is your Majesty's confidant. The Fourth Prince actually colluded with your confidant. This crime is even more serious! Huangfu Ling planned treason and should be sentenced to death. His entire clan should be implicated! Please issue an order, Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, please give your order!"
…
Xiao Shentian's face was extremely ugly. He slammed the table and said, "This is really outrageous! How dare they be so arrogant! They have no respect for the law. Throw them all into death row! After the Queen Mother's fasting is over, they will be executed on a chosen day!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Everyone knelt down and cheered.
Xiao Shentian said, "After this incident, I also found that the position of the crown prince is uncertain, and the people in the court are unstable..."
Xiao Shentian looked at Xiao Wenyan and said, "Grand Prince, as the eldest son, it's time for you to share some of the burden for me!"
Xiao Wenyan's face was immediately filled with joy, he knelt down and said, "Your son, I will do my best to help your father share his worries."
Xiao Shentian nodded and said, "After those rebellious sons and traitors are killed, we will hold the canonization ceremony!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
There was another round of cheers...
Xiao Shentian announced the adjournment of the court without saying anything else.
…
In the Hall of Mental Cultivation
Xiao Shentian saw that Huangfu Chou had been waiting there early.
"Huangfu Chou, I did as you said... Is what you said reliable? Can we eradicate the masterminds of the assassination case in this way? Is the plan you said reliable ?"
Huangfu Chou smiled awkwardly and said, "Your Majesty, I also heard it from Xie Jizi... As for whether it is certain or not, I don't know."
Yesterday, after Huangfu Chou heard Hou Jie's message, he disguised himself and went to the Ministry of Justice prison again.
After meeting Xie Xunfeng, Xie Xunfeng told him a plan.
After listening to Xie Xunfeng's plan, Huangfu Chou felt that it was very risky.
But, it is doable.
By using this method, the people behind the assassination can be eradicated at the lowest cost.
Xiao Shentian raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Let's do this first! I will accompany that fool to perform this big drama! After all, if it doesn't work, there is still room for maneuver."
At this moment, Huangfu Chou nodded repeatedly.
"It's you, be careful..." Xiao Shentian said to Huangfu Chou.
Huangfu Chou smiled and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I have worked as a prison warden for so many years... I still have these abilities..."
As he was speaking, Eunuch Chang stood at the door and said, "Your Majesty, Grand Tutor Yan is here."
"Please come in quickly!" Xiao Shentian said hurriedly.
Xiao Shentian said to Huangfu Chou, "Go do your thing first."
Huangfu Chou smiled and slipped out of a side window.
Yan Song came over after a while.
Xiao Shentian sat at a table, pretending to review memorials.
After Yan Song came over, he stood in front of the table and waited quietly without saying a word.
After a while, Xiao Shentian said to Yan Song, "Master Yan, you are here?"
Yan Song cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I wonder what your Majesty wants me to do..."
After hearing Yan Song's words, Xiao Shentian smiled faintly, and then said, "Master Yan, why didn't you say a word in the palace today? Could it be that you have some opinions?"
Yan Song glanced at Xiao Shentian and said, "Your Majesty, I have no objection. However, I still have my doubts."
Xiao Shentian smiled faintly, and then said to Yan Song, "Master Yan, what do you mean? Suspicion? Do you think there is something wrong with the case that Xing Chong tried?"
When Yan Song heard Xiao Shentian say this, his guess became more certain, and he thought that the time was almost right.
"Your Majesty, I think that the case examined by Minister Xing is problematic! Moreover, I don't think any of the charges he made are true... There is something fishy about it! Therefore, I think that the Fourth Prince, Prince Guan, Xie the Hostage, and even Huangfu Ling are all innocent!" Yan Song stepped forward and said with a bow.
