Chapter 150 Does the Truth Matter?

Just before the Lunar New Year, the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review jointly issued a public notice to the people.

This was truly the first time in the Great Yu Dynasty.

There's no way around it; this incident is far too serious, and the main battleground for public opinion is in Beijing. If we don't explain it properly, who knows what kind of rumors will spread.

Didn't you see? Those who discussed these things on the Spring Festival Gala are going to have their own special episodes.

They were all filled with righteous indignation, wishing they could roll up their sleeves and take the stage to try the case themselves.

If a clear explanation isn't given soon, those people will probably divide this matter into twelve volumes, each with twelve sections, and discuss it repeatedly over twelve hours.

As for why the discussion took place during the Spring Festival Gala?

Hehe, because discussing these issues in other teahouses could easily get you arrested and sent to the military police station.

If spring is not too late, this problem will not exist.

On the day before the Lunar New Year, the people of the capital flocked to see the newly posted notice.

It turns out that the doctor of the Jiangning Imperial Textile Bureau really colluded with the two sons of the Marquis of Ping'an to switch the death row inmate!

A total of twelve officials, both high and low-ranking, were involved, and the perpetrators profited 700,000 taels of silver.

Among them, three people from the Jiangning Textile Bureau were involved, eight people from the Ministry of Justice were involved, and only one person from the Court of Judicial Review was involved, that person being the second son of the Earl of Ping'an...

All those involved in the case have been detained, and the main culprit will be executed at Caishikou next year.

All other personnel, including adult males, were exiled, while women were either sold into slavery or imprisoned in the brothels.

Among them, the Ping'an Earl's Mansion, which committed the most serious crimes, was almost completely uprooted.

The first family in the Dayu Dynasty to be executed along with nine generations of their entire clan...

No one escaped.

The people understood what was going on as soon as they saw it.

Not only did they intercept and kill wanted criminals, but more importantly, they dared to intercept and kill members of the imperial family, which crossed the bottom line of the imperial family.

If we don't punish them severely, who knows if others will follow suit...

The discussion in the capital lasted for two more days, but it was gradually overshadowed by the festive atmosphere of the New Year.

Several high-profile cases came to an abrupt end just like that.

It felt a bit like it started strong but ended weakly to Shangguan Jin.

Who would have thought that such a big incident was caused by the concubine's daughter of Vice Minister Mei?

Although Shangguan Jinti and the others gave it a slight push, the subsequent developments were completely beyond their expectations.

"Now you know how cruel it is!" Shangguan Jin asked the Seventh Prince.

The seventh prince nodded.

They definitely know; the struggle for the throne is not just talk.

This one incident has caused such a rift between the Crown Prince and the King of Qin.

However, what shocked the Seventh Prince the most was the Crown Prince's actions...

The heir apparent of the Duke of Qi must be the most wronged one...

The Seventh Prince also understood why his aunt said that whether the Crown Prince or the Prince of Qin ascended the throne, his fate would not be good.

What are brothers and sisters? Compared to the throne, they're just teacups, to be smashed at will!

"Aunt, what do we do now?" the Seventh Prince asked, still shaken.

"What do you think we should do?" Shangguan Jin asked the Seventh Prince.

"Let's wait! I think it's good to wait and see the Crown Prince and the King of Qin continue their struggle."

This game is over, and their next game should be starting soon.

"Let's just enjoy the New Year!" the Seventh Prince said earnestly.

Shangguan Jin patted the Seventh Prince on the shoulder and said with a smile, "You're right, fighting and killing is too bloody. Let's just enjoy the New Year!"

The seventh prince nodded seriously.

This time, many families were raided, and the Emperor's private treasury was filled up considerably.

He planned to take advantage of his return to the palace for the New Year to find another opportunity to go in and see if he could get a few more things out...

"Aunt, do you think Father Emperor knows the truth?" the Seventh Prince suddenly asked.

Shangguan Jin was taken aback.

the truth?

"Your father is so powerful, how could he not know the truth!"

But what is the truth? Does the truth matter to your father?

What he needs, that is the truth.

He had to consider the big picture, the safety of the imperial court, and the stability of the Great Yu.

Therefore, for him, the truth is simply a fact.

As for whether he'll acknowledge it or not? That depends on whether he needs it or not.

You're still young and not in that position yet, so you can't see things far enough ahead. Don't overthink it; thinking too much will only make you get stuck in a rut.

Come on, Auntie will take you to see the new shoes she made for you. If they don't fit, we can alter them..."

The seventh prince, who seemed to understand but not quite, was pulled away by Shangguan Jin.

......

Emperor Xiao Jing could also be idle in the palace.

The case seemed to be closed, but he never truly believed it was over.

The notice was for others to see; he wanted to know much more than just that.

A figure quietly entered the imperial study.

Emperor Xiao Jing was not reading the memorials at the moment. He was playing with a jade pendant in his hand and lying on the Luohan bed with one leg propped up.

"Your Majesty, everything has been investigated." The figure bowed.

"Wu Youde, select two items from my private treasury and send them to the Empress," Emperor Xiao Jing said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Wu Youde quickly told the two eunuchs to leave.

Before leaving, he gave instructions to the other eunuchs who were serving him.

"Just watch from a distance, don't get too close."

Only Emperor Xiao Jing and that person remained in the imperial study.

"Speak! What have you found out?" Emperor Xiao Jing said slowly.

"The silver obtained by swapping the death row inmate was far more than 700,000 taels; it totaled 1.2 million taels."

Of these, 500,000 taels were sent to the Duke of Anguo's residence, and 400,000 taels were sent to His Highness Prince Qin's residence.

The rest went into Earl Ping'an's pocket.

"Hmm, so that's why no silver was found when they raided the house?" Emperor Xiao Jing asked.

"Yes! Not much silver was found when the Ping'an Marquis's mansion was searched."

There's another matter: of Minister Mei's three daughters, one was taken away by the Earl of Ping'an, and the other two by the Marquis of Wuding.

"Oh? Where did Marquis Wuding hide the person?" Emperor Xiao Jing asked.

"An outer residence."

But the day before yesterday, the outer residence suddenly caught fire, killing three people.

The official statement from the Marquis of Wuding's residence is that the residents are relatives of the Marquis of Wuding's wife, and they are currently handling the funeral arrangements.

Emperor Xiao Jing's face darkened.

Is this to prevent them from reopening old cases? Did they handle it in advance?

Haha, they just burn people to death like that? They have absolutely no respect for the law!

"There's one more thing, which I've also discovered."

Emperor Xiao Jing narrowed his eyes.

"Speak! What is it?"

"The ambush outside the capital was actually... ordered by the Crown Prince."

Emperor Xiao Jing...

There was not a sound in the imperial study. The guards remained bowed, not daring to raise their heads.

After a long silence, Emperor Xiao Jing asked calmly.

"Then... does the Crown Prince know that the heir of the Duke of Qi is also in the escort team?"