Chapter 23 The Prince

The bloody battle in Xunyang City, because of Cui Junji's serious injury, was like a heavy stone thrown into a stagnant pool, causing huge waves in the capital.

The victory report and the tragic casualty figures arrived at the same time. The emperor's anger and the uproar in the court almost blew off the roof of the Taiji Hall.

When Shen Zijie arrived in the capital, escorting several traitors who had tried to escape during the chaos when the city was broken but were identified by the secret order that Cui Junji had brought back at the risk of his life, as well as the thin silk secret order soaked with the blood of countless loyal souls, the atmosphere in the entire court froze.

However, the storm has just begun.

A few days later, when Cui Junji was barely able to sit up under Wen Youqing's careful care, he insisted on meeting the emperor in person despite the strong dissuasion of the medical officer and Wen Youqing.

"You are in poor health now." Wen Youqing did not agree with Cui Junji to go. She sat at the table with an expressionless face, holding the bowl of medicine and silently confronting Cui Junji.

"When I'm not here, the emperor can't see this bloody battle, and the aristocratic families can't see this bloody battle either. The court values ​​evidence! It also values ​​human feelings!" Cui Junji was so angry at Wen Youqing's stubborn attitude that his chest heaved, but the injury on his leg prevented him from standing up.

"Okay, go ahead. Do you think I want to control you? It will be more effective if you die on the road. Those old ministers in the court will believe it more!" Wen Youqing snorted coldly with disdain in his eyes.

"Then don't block the road!" Cui Junji said and asked the guards to come in and pack their luggage.

But the guard just came in and didn't move.

"This is outrageous! You know..." Cui Junji was about to explode in anger when Wen Youqing scoffed, "Your family employs excellent secret guards. Their first priority is to keep you safe, and only then will they obey you. Forget it. Even if you leave, they can still catch you back."

Cui Junji was at his wit's end and could only glare at Wen Youqing angrily. Wen Youqing didn't care. She had been living comfortably in Cui Junji's house these past few days, drinking plenty of good tea. She stared directly at his rage and said, "You and him are brothers who have shared life and death together. You should believe that he has the ability to do this. I believe in him too, which is why I'm here to take care of you. I advise you to be obedient and not let him get caught between us. It's hard to deal with."

Wen Youqing turned a court issue into a personal issue in just a few words. Cui Junji was speechless for a moment, glared at her hatefully, and took the medicine bowl.

-

On the other side, a court meeting that was enough to shake the country began in the solemn atmosphere of Taiji Hall.

Inside the Taiji Hall, the floor was paved with golden bricks, and pillars with coiled dragons soared to the ceiling, yet the atmosphere was as heavy as lead, oppressive and suffocating. Atop the dragon throne, the elderly emperor's face was ashen, and within his cloudy eyes was a terrifying storm.

At the steps, all the civil and military officials stood in awe, their voices trembling in fear. Crown Prince Sima Lu stood at the head of the officials, clad in an apricot-yellow python robe. His posture remained erect, though his face had turned slightly pale, and a flicker of desperately concealed panic crossed his eyes.

He forced himself to remain calm as he glanced down, his gaze suddenly fixed on the palace door.

The heavy palace door slowly opened, and a figure, supported by two eunuchs, walked in with a halting step.

It is Shen Zijie.

He wore a plain white linen undershirt, barely covered by a loose, ill-fitting, worn robe, which only made him look even more emaciated. Having just recovered from the battle, his body was frail, and every step was an arduous one. Fine beads of cold sweat oozed from his forehead, and his face was as pale as paper. Only his eyes, astonishingly bright, like tempered cold stars, shone directly at the Crown Prince on the steps.

The entire hall was dead silent, with only his stumbling footsteps and heavy breathing echoing in the empty space. Everyone's eyes were focused on him, filled with shock, inquiry, sympathy, and even concern hidden in the eyes of many important officials of the aristocratic families.

Finally, Shen Zijie reached the foot of the imperial steps, only a few steps away from the crown prince. He stopped, slowly broke free from the eunuch's support, and tried to straighten his spine, which was almost broken by the pain.

He raised his head, his eyes as sharp as knives, meeting the prince's eyes which contained warnings, threats and a hint of imperceptible pleading.

"Mr. Chen," the emperor's voice broke the silence, a hint of fatigue and a barely perceptible tremor in it. "You are seriously injured, why do you need to come in person? I already know about the matter in Xunyang... I will make a wise decision."

"Your Majesty!" Shen Zijie's voice was hoarse, but unusually clear. Every word seemed to be squeezed out from the depths of his chest, carrying the breath of blood foam. "Your Majesty, I, Shen Zijie, risk my life to come to the palace today, not to plead my case, but to... denounce!"

The word "accuse" struck like thunder! A suppressed gasp echoed through the hall. The prince's face turned pale, his lips moving slightly, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Shen Zijie's eyes were fixed on the prince. His expression was extremely complicated. There was the heart-wrenching pain of being betrayed by his closest relatives, the grief and indignation for the soldiers who died in vain on the border, and a determination to burn his boats.

He took a deep breath, as if to use up all his strength, suddenly raised his uninjured left hand, and grabbed the collar of the loose old robe he was wearing.

“Sizzle!”

A sharp sound of tearing cloth suddenly tore through the dead silence of the hall!

Shen Zijie used all his strength and yanked hard! The robe that symbolized official power was torn apart from the collar to the ribs! The torn pieces of cloth fell to the ground, revealing his bloodstained white undershirt and the layers of wounds on his chest that were still shocking!

This sudden and decisive action was like a silent thunder, shocking all the civil and military officials in the court!

Crown Prince Sima Lu was trembling violently all over, staggering back a step, the blood drained from his face, and his eyes were filled with unbelievable fear and despair.

"I am Chen Zijie, and I am here today," Shen Zijie's voice suddenly rose, carrying a tearful sorrow and power, resounding throughout the Taiji Hall.

He pointed fiercely at the crown prince, who was teetering on the throne, and his words were as resounding as a knife: "I denounce the crown prince Sima Lu! He colluded with the Xiongnu Chanyu and secretly communicated with the enemy! He betrayed the defenses of Xunyang City! He caused countless casualties among the soldiers at the border, and the people suffered terribly! His crimes are heinous and condemned by both humans and gods! Your Majesty, please investigate and demand redemption for the blood debt of the heroic souls who died unjustly at the border!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly pulled out the blood-stained oilcloth package from his arms and held it high up, as if he was holding up a blood-stained monument!

He trembled as he untied the leather rope and tore open the oilcloth, revealing several relatively well-preserved parchment letters and a bronze token engraved with the private seal of the Xiongnu Chanyu!

"This is what Cui Junji, Cui Jijiu, found after escaping death in the Xiongnu Chanyu's Golden Tent! It contains the Chanyu's personal seal and secret correspondence with the Crown Prince! It's irrefutable evidence, please review it, Your Majesty!"

The eunuch walked down the steps tremblingly, took the heavy evidence from Shen Zijie's hands, and placed it on the imperial desk. The emperor took up the parchment letter on top with trembling hands.

This wasn't enough. Shen Zijie wept bitterly, "Jijiu, a mere civil official, broke into the enemy camp alone, risking his life to bring back irrefutable evidence and witnesses. The border is bitterly cold, and medicine is in short supply. And now Jijiu is still...still unconscious...I...I feel ashamed of Jijiu and the Cui family."

As soon as these words were spoken, the people of the Cui family were instantly excited. That was their most promising child and the hope of the entire Cui family. The Cui family members, headed by Cui Taifu, knelt down and did not talk about punishing the prince, but only asked His Majesty to save Cui Junji.

When the emperor's eyes swept over the familiar handwriting of the crown prince's trusted advisor, as well as the ferocious wolf-head mark of the Xiongnu Chanyu at the end of the letter, terrifying rage instantly erupted from his cloudy eyes! He slammed the imperial desk with a loud bang that shook the entire hall!

"Rebellious son! Rebellious son—!" The emperor's hair and beard stood on end, and he roared angrily like a wounded lion. "How dare you...treason! Where will my kingdom and the millions of soldiers and civilians on the border be?!"

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, see clearly! I am innocent! This is a frame-up! It's a frame-up!" Crown Prince Sima Lu fell to his knees with a plop, tears streaming down his face. He defended himself at the top of his lungs, pointing at Shen Zijie, "It was him! It was he who colluded with the Cui family, fabricated evidence, and intended to frame me. He has evil intentions! Your Majesty! Don't trust him!"

"Framed?" An old, sorrowful voice echoed in the hall. The current head of the Cui family, the current Grand Tutor Cui Hongzheng, who had remained silent, slowly stepped out.

This veteran of three dynasties seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, his face filled with grief and fatigue, but his eyes were as sharp as ever. He didn't even glance at the weeping Crown Prince, but simply bowed deeply to the throne. "Your Majesty, I have failed to raise my son well, and my family has suffered misfortune. I have raised this traitor, and I deserve death. However..."

He raised his head, looking directly at the emperor, and spoke word for word, "Zihe and this child have been upright since childhood, and this old minister knows this well. If it weren't for the overwhelming evidence, and witnessing the blood of his comrades stained in the yellow sand, he would never, and would never dare, take the action of accusing the crown prince! My Qinghe Cui family has been loyal and righteous for generations. Today, I am willing to use our family's good reputation to vouch for what Lord Shen has said! Your Majesty, please... conduct a thorough investigation! Severely punish the culprit!"

Cui Hongzheng's words were the final straw that broke the camel's back. The Qinghe Cui clan's leader's public statement was so weighty it was enough to dispel any doubts. It was also a quick break with the crown prince.

The emperor slumped back onto the dragon throne, looking at the prince who looked like a madman below the stairs, then at the several glaring secret letters and blood-stained evidence, and finally his gaze fell on Shen Zijie's pale and resolute face, looking at the fresh blood seeping onto his plain clothes on his chest.

Even if he wanted to keep his child, he was powerless in front of the aristocratic family. Moreover, the prince was really so foolish as to do something wrong.

After a long moment, the emperor seemed to have been drained of all his strength. He waved his hand, his voice hoarse and tired, filled with endless desolation:

"Crown Prince Sima Lu... is insane and has collaborated with the enemy and committed treason... His crime is unforgivable... From today on... he has been demoted to a commoner... and imprisoned... in the Zongzheng Temple... and is not allowed to leave without an imperial decree..." Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth with great difficulty, draining all his energy.

"Father—!" Deposed Crown Prince Sima Lu let out a shrill, desperate howl, like a dying beast. He was then grabbed and dragged away by two ferocious palace guards. The howl echoed in the empty hall for a long time.

A deathly silence fell over the court. Only Shen Zijie stood there, his back straight, listening to the howling fade away. His face showed no trace of the gratification of revenge, only a near-numb coldness and deep exhaustion.

When the emperor's gaze fell on him, with a hint of complexity and hatred, Shen Zijie slowly and with difficulty bowed again, his voice hoarse but clear:

"Your Majesty... I, Chen Zijie, have failed to live up to Your Majesty's grace and brought disgrace to my family. I dare not return to the court. I implore Your Majesty to allow me to stay in the northern border forever... to atone my sins..." Chen Zijie kowtowed.

The emperor looked at the young man standing below him, his emaciated form gleaming in his eyes, as still as a burnt ember. He remained silent for a long moment. Finally, he closed his eyes wearily and nodded slowly. "Stay here for three years. The Ministry of Revenue will allocate silver and materials to Xunyang. The court still needs rising talents like you."