Chapter 172 Relics

Marquis Cheng'en didn't understand why Prince Yu did this. They had clearly transported the "food" out, and the boat had sunk to the bottom of the river.

Even if Emperor Jing'an sent someone to investigate, they could still set up a trap to lure the imperial envoy into the matter. With leverage over the imperial envoy, the envoy would obey their orders.

They said it was grain, and the imperial envoy would naturally report to the court that what sank in the river was grain.

Just when the final blow was about to be delivered, Prince Yu suddenly turned against him and sided with Gu Zongci, pushing him out to die.

Marquis Cheng'en's mind was in a mess. From time to time, he could hear the laughter of Emperor Jing'an and the compliments of Prince Yu. It was like a picture of a loving father and a filial son.

But he knew very well that Emperor Jing'an suspected Prince Yu and specially invited him into the palace for questioning and had him hide in the inner hall so that he could see Prince Yu's true face and achieve the purpose of alienating them.

Both father and son are full of calculations, let alone him as a minister?

The sky above Marquis Cheng'en's head collapsed, and he almost saw the end of his death.

He didn't notice when Emperor Jing'an came in.

It was not until Emperor Jing'an stood in front of him that he came back to his senses.

"Your Majesty, I have devoted myself to the court and have done everything myself. Even if I have no merit, I have worked hard."

Marquis Cheng'en knelt on the ground and said: "I have served as an official for most of my life, and everything I have done is worthy of this official uniform. Even if the emperor asked me to sacrifice my life for the people, I would never refuse. I only hope that I came into this life with a clear conscience and will leave it with a clear conscience."

Talking about the bitterness, he burst into tears and said, "Your Majesty, I absolutely do not have the courage to exchange sandbags for food. Please be clear-headed and seek justice for this humble minister!"

"Your father served as an honest official his entire life. Even before his death, he was still thinking about the large ship being built by the Ministry of Works. He ordered his men to carry him to see it. Only when the ship he had personally sketched was completed did he smile in his grave." Emperor Jing'an said slowly, "As his son, you should emulate his father's style."

Marquis Cheng'en recalled his father's serious and stern face when he was alive. Only when facing his eldest brother would he show a rare expression of gentle appreciation.

He was not convinced and went to question his father, "Why do you only have eyes for my eldest brother and never value me? You are too partial!"

His father looked up at him and asked, "How did you get the position of the prince's companion? Who completed the homework I assigned you?"

He lowered his head and dared not speak, because the role of study partner was given to him by his eldest brother, and the essays assigned by his father were also written by his eldest brother for him.

"You're not as kind and benevolent as your eldest brother, nor as sincere as your brothers. You're not as studious and hardworking as them. You're just opportunistic. How can I, your father, value you?" The father said solemnly, "Of all my sons, you're the least like me."

Thinking of this, Marquis Cheng'en lowered his head.

"An official's purpose is to serve the people, bring honor to his family, and benefit his descendants," Emperor Jing'an said gravely. "In the ups and downs of officialdom, mistakes are inevitable. But only by admitting mistakes and correcting them can one have a chance of survival. If one resists stubbornly and protects his accomplices, even if I, out of consideration for our old friendship, grant a lighter punishment, it would be difficult for me to do so."

Marquis Cheng'en pondered the meaning of Emperor Jing'an's words over and over in his mind, and soon he understood.

Emperor Jing'an hinted to him that if he confessed his accomplices, his crime would be mitigated and he would be given a lighter punishment.

Marquis Cheng'en still had concerns in his heart. After all, he and Prince Yu were in the same boat, and the mess in Qingzhou would be difficult to clean up.

Once it is revealed, Emperor Jing'an will definitely chop off his head in anger.

He still held two amulets in his hands, so he was not in a hurry to betray Prince Yu.

Marquis Cheng'en had not completely given up on Prince Yu. He was even still thinking about how Prince Yu would face the test of Emperor Jing'an. He was afraid of being tricked, so he agreed with what the Qingzhou Censor said.

He must meet Prince Shang Yu again before he can make a decision.

Emperor Jing'an instructed the Embroidered Uniform Guard to take Marquis Cheng'en away and put him in jail.

-

Marquis Cheng'en looked around the dark and damp prison, his inner panic intensified, and he truly realized that the butcher's knife was at his neck.

He waited for Prince Yu to send someone to see him, but in the end, it was Madam Shen who came.

Madam Shen looked anxious: "My Lord, is your condition serious?"

Marquis Cheng'en glanced around and saw no jailers. He lowered his voice and said, "The Emperor asked Your Highness if the Gu family should be held accountable. Your Highness spoke in defense of the Gu family and revealed that the ship was loaded with sandbags. The officials responsible for transporting the grain should be held accountable."

Madam Shen clenched the handkerchief in her hand. Before she came to the prison to visit Marquis Cheng'en, she already knew the whole truth of the matter.

"Your Highness, are you going to use you as a scapegoat?" Madam Shen grabbed the Marquis of Cheng'en's arm and said urgently, "My Lord, give me Princess Yizhen's belongings. I will ask the Princess to take me to see the Emperor. I will take Princess Yizhen's belongings and ask the Emperor to show mercy and spare your life."

Princess Yizhen was the half-sister of Emperor Jing'an. Empress Xiao'en arranged for her to go to Northern Qi with Emperor Jing'an as a hostage. The relationship between the two siblings was very deep.

Marquis Cheng'en suddenly became alert: "When we really reach the end of the road, I will take it out myself and plead with the emperor."

"The imperial family has always been unkind and ungrateful. Now that more than 20 years have passed, you can't guarantee that the emperor still cares about Princess Yizhen. You are just gambling, betting that the emperor will give you a lighter punishment because of his sister's relics."

Madam Shen said anxiously: "If all the crimes you have committed are exposed, even if the emperor wants to spare your life, what can he use to explain to the people and the officials?"

Marquis Cheng'en looked unhappy.

Madam Shen continued, "If the emperor is determined to punish you, we can compromise and ask the emperor to spare Huai'er's life."

Marquis Cheng'en looked at Madam Shen calmly, the anxiety in her eyes almost overflowing.

But this worry was not for him, but for Shen Shaohuai.

She came to the prison to see him today just for Princess Yizhen's relics.

Marquis Cheng'en said, "Do something for me, and I'll give you something."

"you say."

"Go and find out why Prince Yu abandoned me. Clearly everything is going according to plan. It's not the point where I have to cut off my arm to survive." A dark light flashed in Marquis Cheng'en's eyes. Even if he was going to die, he wanted to die with a clear understanding.

Madam Shen's eyes flickered slightly. She knew that Prince Yu had changed his mind and wanted to make Marquis Cheng'en the scapegoat.

I just don't know the reason.

"My Lord, just wait patiently. I will go to Prince Yu to ask him about this and convince him to help you overturn the verdict. That way, our family won't be held accountable."

Madam Shen comforted Marquis Cheng'en, then turned around and left the prison and got into the carriage.

Shen Shaohuai was waiting in the carriage and whispered, "Mother, the person in charge of Gu's Shipping Company can no longer be found."