The next day, when Emperor Xuan came to court, Shen Yifeng was the first to stand up:
"Your Majesty, I have a report!"
Emperor Xuan sat on the dragon throne and glanced at the people standing below.
"Permitted."
Shen Yifeng is about the same age as His Majesty. Although he has not been involved in government affairs in recent years, as a Duke and the King's uncle, no one dares to ignore his importance in the court.
"I wish to report the Imperial Censor, Wei Shaoqing, for deceiving the emperor, being corrupt, and having no regard for honor and shame. His actions are despicable!"
His voice was deep and his white beard twitched, showing his anger.
When Emperor Xuan heard this, he asked calmly, "Where is Wei Shaoqing?"
Someone from the Ministry of Personnel stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Wei received thirty canings from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince yesterday and is taking leave today."
"Go and bring it here." Emperor Xuan just waved his hand, and Zheng Lu immediately took people there.
While waiting for Wei Shaoqing to arrive, Emperor Xuan had other government affairs to deal with.
He picked up a memorial and looked at the ministers below. "The Northern Qiang have always been a major concern for our Dacheng. Fortunately, our army has grown stronger in recent years, and the Northern Qiang have also experienced internal strife, which has enabled us to stabilize the border."
"A few days ago, their new king ascended the throne and immediately showed goodwill to our dynasty. The new king hopes to send envoys to the capital. What do you think of this, my dear ministers?"
Court officials came forward one after another:
"Your Majesty, the border situation has been stable in recent years, and trade channels have also been established. Northern Qiang and our dynasty have frequent trade, so perhaps we can establish ties with them."
"I believe the ascension of the new king of Northern Qiang may be an opportunity. South Vietnam has become increasingly unstable in the past two years. If we can establish good relations with Northern Qiang, Dacheng will be able to better guard against South Vietnam."
"The new king of Northern Qiang is the former fourth prince Duota. As far as I know, he is treacherous and ambitious. I'm afraid his purpose in sending an envoy here is not simple."
"No matter how ambitious King Duota is, he cannot stop my brave and powerful warriors."
"We must not underestimate the enemy. There are not many generals in the court now. Don't forget the battle in Swift Wind Valley..."
…
There was a fierce quarrel in the court.
Huo Yan stood aside without saying a word. His Majesty had urgently summoned him and Yuan Cheng last night to discuss this matter.
But when he heard the three words "Swift Wind Valley", he could feel many eyes in the court were cast towards him.
Emperor Xuan raised his hand slightly, and the arguments among the court officials gradually died down.
"What does the prince think?"
Yuan Cheng lowered his eyes and replied, "The Northern Qiang are skilled in martial arts. They will certainly make moves upon the throne. Their willingness to send envoys this time is likely a test. While Dacheng is not afraid, we must not let down our guard on the border."
When the court officials heard Yuan Cheng's words, they all nodded in agreement.
Many people's attention was once again focused on Huo Yan.
The frontier cannot do without General Huo, so he will probably have to return to the northwest.
Emperor Xuan tapped the armrest of the dragon throne with his hand and finally decided, "Crown Prince Yuancheng and the Ministry of Rites will be responsible for handling the details of welcoming the envoy. Huo Yan will leave the capital within the month and return to the northwest to garrison."
"Your son obeys your order."
"I obey the order."
…
After saying this, Zheng Lu also came back with his men.
Wei Shaoqing was carried into the hall, and everyone's eyes were focused on him.
After learning about the impeachment, he endured the pain and knelt down, admitting his fault:
"Your Majesty, I am guilty of this. I should not have indulged in beauty and failed to keep my promise to you and the princess. I accept the full punishment."
At this time, Wei Shaoqing didn't even have the courage to refute.
Seeing his good attitude, some court officials also stood up to speak for him.
"Your Majesty, although Lord Wei's personal morality is not good, he has always been diligent during his tenure as the prefect of Yangzhou, and has both faults and merits."
"I second the motion. Lord Wei is a rare talent in the imperial court. The imperial court is in urgent need of talent. I ask Your Majesty to be lenient with his punishment."
…
Yuan Cheng glanced at the ministers who spoke up to plead for Wei Shaoqing, and they were all Shu Guifei's men.
Wei Shaoqing knelt on the ground, feeling a piercing pain in his buttocks.
He could never have imagined that he had only kept a concubine, but how could it have caused such a situation in the court?
If Your Majesty gets angry and dismisses him from office, wouldn't all his years of work be in vain?
Now when he heard someone pleading for him, he kowtowed repeatedly.
"Your Majesty, I was confused for a moment and was blinded by the beauty of women, making one mistake after another. But my heart for the princess is witnessed by heaven and earth, sun and moon. I beg Your Majesty to examine it!"
Shen Yifeng, who was standing in front, snorted.
"Princess Showa is the daughter of the late Empress. At the age of ten, she was given the title of the Most Noble Princess of Dacheng. Your Majesty has chosen a consort for her and granted her marriage."
"But Wei Shaoqing disregarded the emperor's will and acted with such audacity that he and his concubine murdered the princess and the royal bloodline. The evidence is there!"
Wei Shaoqing was stunned and looked at Shen Yifeng in astonishment.
What witnesses and evidence?
"Bring it up." Emperor Xuan said solemnly.
Wei Shaoqing turned around and saw the palace doctor who was supposed to be in Yangzhou, and Aunt Cui who was beside the old lady...
Also presented were testimonies and evidence.
Yuan Cheng personally handed the testimony to Emperor Xuan, but Emperor Xuan did not read it and only gestured to show it to his ministers.
The court officials circulated it one by one, and finally it came into the hands of Lord Zhou, the Minister of the Dali Temple.
Lord Zhou stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Duke Ming has prepared all the necessary evidence. This court physician confessed to altering the princess's prescription, causing the chronic poisoning. Nanny Cui also confessed to having participated in the princess's eldest son's fall and drowning, the poisoning of the second daughter, and the abduction, abandonment, and abuse of the fourth daughter by the third son."
For a moment, the whole hall was in uproar.
"He actually did so many evil things, were they all done by the prince consort and his concubine?"
"How cruel! He didn't even spare the princess's child. What is he trying to do?"
"This... do you really think there's no one behind the princess?"
When Wei Shaoqing heard these words, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. He had never expected that these things would be revealed today.
He spoke quickly, even breaking his voice in anxiety.
"His Majesty!"
"I am wronged!"
"I don't know anything about these things! I don't know anything at all!"
What he said was actually a mixture of truth and lies. For example, he knew that Yuan Zhao had been drugged, and he also knew that Yuan Zhizhi was going to be frozen to death, but he really didn't know about the other things.
But he could guess that it was most likely Bai Ruyue and his mother who did it.
Now, whether he knows or not, he has to pretend that he doesn't know.
A chill ran through his body. He had no idea who had figured out all these things and when.
Was it Yuan Zhao? Did she have such a talent? Had she been holding it in just for today?
Thinking of this possibility, Wei Shaoqing subconsciously rejected it.
Impossible, Yuan Zhao is not that smart.
If she was so scheming, how could she be controlled by him for so many years?
It must be the Crown Prince! Only the Crown Prince has the skills and the power to uncover all these things!
He was shaking like a sieve and had no idea what his fate would be.
What should he do? What should he do?
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