"Rong Baichuan, now that the evidence is conclusive, what else do you have to say?" said the emperor in a deep voice.
"This letter was not written by me. Someone framed me!" Rong Baichuan refused to admit it.
"At this point, General Rong is still quibbling!" Advisor Yang Cun sneered, "Then we'll verify the handwriting right here and then, and you'll have nothing to hide!"
"His Majesty……"
"Enough!" The emperor interrupted coldly, his eyes as deep as ice as he looked at Yang Cun, "I don't understand his handwriting yet! Back off!"
"Yes." Seeing that the effect had been achieved, Yang Cun lowered his head and responded with a triumphant smile on his lips. He stepped aside and said no more.
"Rong Baichuan, now that we have all the evidence, how can I believe that you have no intention of rebellion?"
The emperor looked at Rong Baichuan with disappointment and gave the order with reluctance.
"Come here, throw Rong Baichuan into the Heavenly Prison and choose a date..."
"Your Majesty! This old minister is wronged..."
Before the emperor could finish his words, Marquis Annan crawled out on his knees with a look of fear on his face.
"This old minister and Rong Baichuan have long severed their father-son relationship. I know nothing about what he did, and it has nothing to do with the Annan Marquisate... I hope Your Majesty will investigate."
The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at Marquis Annan, and said nothing.
"Old official, old official, I report that the Qin family has been hoarding food and fodder and transporting it to a village outside the capital. He is raising troops there and preparing for rebellion."
He wanted to do his best to distance himself from the matter and get rid of the Annan Marquisate.
"Is what Lord Rong said true?" asked the emperor.
His tone was indifferent, and it was hard to tell what he was feeling at the moment.
"Yes, yes..." Marquis Annan wiped his sweat and continued tremblingly, "Your Majesty, please send someone to investigate. Everything I said is true..."
"I am asking about the matter of you and Rong Baichuan severing the father-son relationship." The emperor interrupted.
"Ah? ...Yes, yes."
Although I don’t understand why the emperor mentioned this separately, it’s fine as long as he is not counted among the nine clans.
"After I noticed something, I severed my father-son relationship with him. Because I didn't have solid evidence, I didn't report it. It's not that I didn't report it. Your Majesty, please forgive me."
"Rong Baichuan, is what Marquis Rong said true?" The emperor looked at Rong Baichuan who was staring at Marquis Annan with an expression of disbelief.
Although he already knew the original fate, Marquis Annan personally presented evidence of his treason, forcing him to commit suicide in the Golden Palace in order to save his family.
Now that I hear it with my own ears, my heart, which had been broken for a long time, has turned into powder.
Rong Baichuan turned stiffly to look at the emperor, his eyes full of determination.
"Yes, the father-son relationship of over thirty years was severed the day we moved out of the Annan Marquisate. I, Rong Baichuan, have long since severed all ties with the Annan Marquisate. They...are no longer among my nine clans!"
Rong Baichuan finished speaking word by word with great difficulty, each word was full of tears.
In the hall, there was silence for a moment, and then there was a quiet uproar.
Some people secretly cursed Marquis Annan for being heartless and disloyal, and for abandoning the father-son relationship of more than 30 years.
Some people think that he can't be blamed for sacrificing his pawns to save his chariot. After all, Marquis Annan didn't know about this matter, and he couldn't sacrifice his entire family's lives for a traitor in vain.
Some people also lamented that Rong Baichuan had impure intentions, but he was very kind to his family. Faced with his father's abandonment and even stabbing him, he not only did not pull others in, but also thought about saving him.
He is a filial son.
It’s a pity that he is only filial but not loyal.
"Okay." After a moment of silence, the emperor suddenly spoke, "Since your two families have no connection, then this matter has nothing to do with Marquis Annan. You may withdraw."
"Yes, yes, yes..." After receiving the pardon order, Marquis Annan hurriedly retreated.
"Rong Baichuan..."
"His Majesty."
The emperor's words were interrupted again, and he looked at the person who spoke impatiently - it was Qin Zhongshu.
The weather is cold, and because of the stress of looking for Rong Chaoxi yesterday, Qin Taifu has taken leave to stay home today.
At this moment in the hall, there is still one person among Rong Baichuan's nine clans, and that is his relative from the Qin family, Qin Zhongshu.
Is the Qin family going to sever ties?
Not only the court officials thought so, but the emperor also thought so.
He narrowed his eyes and looked at Qin Zhongshu.
"Your Majesty, Rong Baichuan would never do such a treasonous act. Please investigate thoroughly. Someone must have framed him."
"I second the motion..." At this moment, a person who had nothing to do with the matter walked forward and knelt beside Rong Baichuan.
"Although Rong Baichuan is a shameless, ungrateful, heartless, worse than pigs and dogs, a beast in human form, and a shameless despicable villain, he would never do such a foolish thing as seeking the skin of a tiger and usurping the throne! I hope Your Majesty will be able to see clearly and not let Dongwu lose a brave general who has served the country and the people and has intimidated the people."
Well…!!!
Everyone was upset.
Is Xu Wanli saving him or adding fuel to the fire?
Who would plead for someone like this?
I think he just wanted to take the opportunity to insult Rong Baichuan. After all, Rong Baichuan couldn't talk back at the moment.
Rong Baichuan turned his head and looked at Xu Wanli.
On the happy day of this person becoming the top scorer in the imperial examination, Rong Baichuan poured slop on his head, making him a laughing stock in the whole capital. After that, his corpse would be taken out and whipped every time the top scorer in the imperial examination was paraded through the streets, causing him to pretend to be a young lady and not go out of the house during the autumn examination.
Even when the emperor asked him to be an invigilator many times, he refused angrily.
The person who always found fault with Rong Baichuan and once swore to make sure Rong Baichuan died without a burial place, actually pleaded for him?!
Rong Baichuan's face was three parts shocked, four parts puzzled, and ten parts speechless...
If you want to beg for mercy, just beg for mercy. Why add so many prefixes? You recite a dozen idioms in one breath, and you seem to be cultured! ???
The emperor curled his lips speechlessly, "Rong Baichuan, what else do you have to argue about?"
The severance you wanted has been resolved. Now you can prove your innocence.
The emperor winked at Rong Baichuan.
Rong Baichuan also raised his eyebrows at the emperor: Don't worry, I know what I'm doing.
"Your Majesty, I have evidence to prove that the contents of this letter do not indicate treason..."
"Oh! You're on the verge of death, yet you're still trying to argue. Do you think the wise and mighty Majesty would be fooled by a few words of yours?"
The Imperial Counselor Yang Cun jumped out again.
He looked up at the emperor and quickly lowered his eyes to hide his impatience.
The people of Dongwu are just indecisive. Even though there is solid evidence, they are still hesitating and arguing about it. What the hell are they doing?
Rong Baichuan was not annoyed when he was interrupted. Instead, he turned around and looked at Yang Cun with a smile.
"You...why are you staring at me like that!?"
Seeing that Yang Cun was uncomfortable with being stared at, Rong Baichuan continued,
"My conspiracy letter not only records the plan for rebellion, but also contains a list... a list of spies that the Northern Barbarians have placed in the Dongwu court. Would Lord Yang like to hear it?"
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