But Su Mingli is not only alive, his illnesses have even improved a lot, and he can now get out of bed!
He slowly walked to He Yunce's side, brushing past him, and everyone heard him say softly, with a slightly sarcastic tone:
"Young Master He, you don't still suspect that I'm an imposter, do you?"
"Should we call the imperial physician to take my pulse and see if it is beating?"
He Yunze was stunned by his question and stood there without saying a word.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Su Mingli was helped forward by someone, gritting his teeth.
Although every step he took was incredibly difficult, his previously stiff legs now felt like they were being pricked with needles.
Yet he still walked silently to Emperor Guangqi and knelt down, his withered back slowly bowing, as if one could see his unyielding spirit:
"Your humble servant Su Mingli greets Your Majesty."
Emperor Guangqi looked at him with great surprise: "Minister Su, please get up quickly. Are you feeling better?"
But Su Mingli stubbornly refused to stand up. He slowly raised his head, and a hint of tears welled up in his phoenix eyes.
"Your Majesty, please see the truth. I am not dead. The Su family is loyal and has not deceived the Emperor. All the rumors circulating among the people are baseless. My family has already suffered too much these days."
Su Mingli had spoken this far in one breath, and was already panting heavily. He continued,
“However, my life or death may be questioned, but my niece’s reputation must never be questioned. Your Majesty must give Xizhi an explanation.”
As Su Mingli spoke, he became more and more excited, and his face became increasingly flushed.
But the more He Yunce listened, the paler his face became, as if he could collapse to the ground at any moment.
Prince Yu, who had been looking amused, had stopped smiling. His hands, which were hanging at his sides, clenched into fists, and he fell silent.
Emperor Guangqi pondered for a moment, his dark gaze slowly sweeping over the people in front of him, his face showing obvious displeasure.
"Since Minister Su is not dead, and can even attend court, how did the rumors in the capital spread?"
"He Yunze, did your Two-Tax System really win Minister Xin's favor? Xin Kaiji also told you personally that he couldn't appreciate or promote you because Su Mingli is still alive?"
He Yunze knelt down before the emperor with a thud. He felt a buzzing in his ears and his mind went blank.
"Your Majesty, I do not know why Su Mingli is still alive, but it is a fact that his family bought a coffin, and it is also a fact that the Two Tax Laws came from my mouth."
He Yunze was determined that as long as he denied it outright, there would be no evidence.
He didn't do any of it; he was a complete victim!
"I don't know who spread such rumors, which made me believe them. I was just being foolish!"
Emperor Guangqi closed his eyes, then bent his index finger and tapped it twice on the desk: "Where is Xin Kaiji? Why hasn't he come yet?"
"Summon him immediately; I am determined to get to the bottom of this."
Emperor Guangqi gave the order, and several eunuchs hurriedly went out. But before they had gone far, they encountered Xin Kaiji, who was rushing over.
Emperor Guangqi looked at him with displeasure: "Why are you so late?"
Xin Kaiji wiped his sweat, panting, took a deep breath, and then replied, "Your Majesty, this old minister heard rumors circulating among the people and went to investigate the matter. Only now have I obtained the evidence."
Only then did everyone notice that Xin Kaiji was carrying a bundle in his hand, and his face was somber, not looking too good.
He Yunze stared at Xin Kaiji's back, and for some reason, he felt a heavy weight in his heart, with a sense of foreboding.
The next moment, he saw Minister Xin open the package in his hand, take out a silver note, and present it to the emperor.
“Your Majesty, as you can see, this silver note was obtained by this old minister from the storyteller. They said that a few days ago, a man brought silver and asked them to tell this story, which they did.”
He Yunze looked up in disbelief, his mind instantly tense.
Vice Minister Ke Xin continued, "Look at the back of the banknote, it bears the name of the Marquis of Anding's residence. This banknote came from the Marquis of Anding's residence!"
After the words were spoken, the Imperial Study fell silent.
The tension in He Yunze's mind snapped in an instant.
Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Anding trembled and immediately knelt before Emperor Guangqi:
"Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, please forgive me! It is my fault for failing to discipline my son properly! Lord Xin had already given me advice before, but I still allowed this unfilial son to do such a thing!"
The Marquis of Anding's mournful pleas for mercy jolted He Yunze back to his senses. He shouted, "Impossible! This is impossible!"
"Your Majesty, please understand. I am sure I have been framed. I beg Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly."
He didn't give me this banknote!
He's not mentally deficient; how could he possibly give out silver notes bearing the mark of the Marquis of Anding's mansion, thus giving people something to gossip about?
Someone must have framed us!
It was Xin Kaiji, no, it must have been Song Xizhi who framed them! It was Song Xizhi!
Before he could even utter a word of explanation, the Marquis of Anding slapped him hard across the face in front of the emperor, making his vision go black.
At this moment, the mournful voice of the Marquis of Anding rang out: "My son is young and ignorant, and this old minister is willing to take the punishment in his place!"
As he spoke, he kowtowed heavily to Emperor Guangqi again, his forehead swelling up instantly: "This old minister is sorry to Xizhi, sorry to the Su family, and even more sorry to Your Majesty."
"This old minister will certainly give an explanation for this matter!"
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