Chapter 159 Personal Admitment

"However, the greatest credit for this matter belongs to my Crown Prince."

Su Xuanmao had been standing in the crowd for a long time, his gaze fixed on Shen Pingjin, who had just knelt on the ground.

He felt his heart flutter.

Shen Pingjin had never dressed so simply. She was naturally beautiful, with her jade-like skin exposed, and a few strands of black hair tied into a bun, casually draped over her shoulders.

She was so beautiful that she took his breath away.

Even the air they exhaled became increasingly scorching hot.

Only when he heard Emperor Anqing calling him did Su Xuanmao come to his senses.

"Father."

Su Xuanmao stepped forward.

Emperor Anqing's eyes revealed his appreciation, "I thought it would take several more twists and turns to get the evidence, but I didn't expect this matter to be resolved so quickly."

"It's all thanks to you."

Upon hearing this, Su Xuanmao felt a slight surge of joy. He walked forward arrogantly, his posture resembling that of a crowing rooster.

"Father, you flatter me. If it weren't for your belief in me, I might have been delayed even longer."

Looking at Su Xuanmao, who was dressed in plain clothes but had an extraordinary demeanor, Emperor Anqing felt increasingly proud.

This son was worth raising. He's now able to help him with things.

"Now the evidence is conclusive, but Minister Chen is unaware that I am currently in Jiangnan. Tomorrow, I will send someone to meet with him."

Su Xuanmao smiled knowingly: "Father, perhaps this matter doesn't need to wait until tomorrow."

Emperor Anqing asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Su Xuanmao's face suddenly darkened, as if water could be squeezed out of it. "Bright Moon and Gentle Breeze, bring the person up to me!"

"Yes, sir!"

The bright moon and gentle breeze seemed to have been waiting for a long time, and immediately ran outside after receiving the order.

"Help, ugh, ugh, help!"

The man, wearing an official hat and fine clothes, had a ferocious expression. His mouth was covered by a handkerchief held by Mingyue Qingfeng. He was being dragged into the hall, looking bewildered and helpless, and kept shouting.

Upon seeing who the man sitting on the high platform was, the fear in Chen Jian's eyes vanished instantly.

Mingyue and Qingfeng exchanged a glance, knowing the time had come, and immediately let go of each other's hands.

Chen Jian crawled up to Emperor Anqing like a dog nearing the end of its life.

His face was filled with terror, and his voice was filled with surprise, "Your Majesty..."

He simply couldn't believe that the emperor would suddenly appear in front of him.

Although there have been rumors recently that the Emperor has come to Yangzhou in Jiangnan, but...

Chen Jian always believed that if the Emperor came to Yangzhou, he would definitely be summoned.

Emperor Anqing's gaze turned icy. "Hmph, so you still remember that I am the Emperor?"

"What...what is this...?" Chen Jian looked around at the crowd of people, and it would be a lie to say he wasn't scared.

He has indeed done a lot of absurd things during this period.

He had just stepped off his carriage after a night of revelry when someone covered his mouth and nose. He woke up in a dark room.

I initially thought someone wanted my life, but now it seems it wasn't just someone who wanted my life.

"Tell me, were you the mastermind behind this smuggling of salt?"

Emperor Anqing's gaze was fixed on Chen Jian. The murderous aura emanating from him as an emperor sent chills down the spines of everyone present.

Chen Jian had still held onto hope, but upon hearing Emperor Anqing's words, his heart sank into despair.

That's it, the Emperor knows everything now.

Chen Jian wilted like a crop scorched by the blazing sun.

"Your Majesty, I did indeed engage in the trade of smuggled salt, but my intentions were good. I never intended to seek personal gain. Your Majesty, please hear my explanation!"

The moment Emperor Anqing saw the evidence, he no longer wanted to hear Chen Jian finish speaking.

As the ruler of a country, he could not tolerate anyone touching his vital interests or defying his will.

First, there was the oppression of imperial authority; second, there was the state monopoly on salt and iron.

Chen Jian was one of his old ministers who helped him ascend the throne, and yet he trusted him so much...

Emperor Anqing said coldly, "The evidence is conclusive. It is wrong of you to oppress the people."

Large beads of sweat rolled down Chen Jian's forehead. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I have served you for many years. You cannot simply convict me based on the one-sided words of some villains!"

He looked at Emperor Anqing with hopeful eyes, but the next sentence plunged him into complete terror.

"It is precisely because you are a veteran minister that you understand best what my Achilles' heel is!"

"Now that you have touched my sore spot, I will not spare your life!"

"Do you think I wanted this? But once there's the first you, there will be a second. I'm a human being too, with flesh and blood. When I first found out you were dealing in smuggled salt, did you think I believed you?"

Emperor Anqing's face was so dark it was almost dripping with water. "But the evidence is right in front of me. You, Chen Jian! Don't try to use such an absurd excuse as 'for the common people' to plead guilty!"

"Your Majesty, it was you who sent me to Jiangnan back then. It was Your Majesty who said that as Your Majesty's right-hand man, I could use these private powers. Now... what are you doing!"

Emperor Anqing looked puzzled: "How come I don't remember saying that? Chen Jian, have you forgotten my identity?!"

"Yes, yes..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jian lowered his head completely, his face ashen, and remained silent.

But the next moment—

Hahahaha—

"So, I'm the only fool here!"

Chen Jian suddenly burst into laughter, catching everyone present off guard.

Guan Anhe stepped forward and said loudly, "Your Majesty, Minister Chen may have gone mad from the blow."

Emperor Anqing's face turned cold. "Insanity? Even if he is insanity, he cannot escape punishment."

"Now that the matter is settled, return to the capital by boat in a few days. Remember, take him with you to the capital as well. I want to watch him die."

"Those who betray me will never have a good end."

Emperor Anqing's words seemed to be both a soliloquy and a speech to Chen Jian.

But everyone present was a shrewd person; they all understood that the Emperor was making an example of someone.

Suppressing his shock, Guan Anhe raised his hand in a gesture of respect and said, "Your Majesty, I obey your command."

"And what about the rest of you? Do you have any objections?"

Emperor Anqing's icy gaze swept over everyone present, as if he wanted to see right through them.

Su Xuanmao couldn't help but shiver; he had never seen his father, the emperor, so unfamiliar.

He suppressed his bad thoughts and thought to himself that he should be more careful in the future.

Guan Anhe stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have no objection."

Guan Anhe, Wen Jinhe, and Ping An were the three highest-ranking officials among the ministers.

The other two officials, Guan Anhe and Guan Guan, stepped forward and shouted, "Your Majesty, we have no objections."

Only Wen Jin looked hesitant.