Empress Xiaomin took Zhao Ying away. On the way, Empress Xiaomin asked Zhao Ying, "Among the noble ladies in the capital, is there anyone who can become the Princess of Ding?"
Empress Xiaomin had been away from the capital for many years and was no longer familiar with the officials' wives in the capital.
Zhao Ying also felt that the matter of establishing a concubine was imminent. How could such a huge palace be without a mistress?
Moreover, after this incident, the emperor will definitely put this matter on the agenda. He originally intended to let Zhao Xi inherit the throne. How could that be possible without an heir?
But when asked suddenly, Zhao Ying had no idea for a moment.
Queen Hyomin had a list of unmarried noble ladies brought and had their portraits drawn, and the mother and daughter began to carefully select one.
In the previous dynasty, after Empress Xiaomin and Zhao Ying left, Emperor Jianxi asked the cabinet ministers to come in, saying that he wanted to ask for advice, but in fact he just wanted to silence them.
As long as the mouths of these ministers are shut, this matter can be reduced to a small matter, and over time, the impact will dissipate.
Emperor Jianxi said that Zhao Xi's drunkenness was an unintentional mistake, Jia and the Fang family divorced, and Prince Ding was responsible for taking her into the palace. The three parties had discussed it and had no objections.
Taifu Yang was a member of Prince Ding's party, so he naturally agreed with what Emperor Jianxi said. Emperor Jianxi was very satisfied and thought that Shangguan Shu would object. However, Shangguan Shu said nothing. Instead, Prime Minister Yin spoke harshly and kept harping on the matter, saying very unpleasant things.
Later, Prime Minister Yin and Grand Tutor Yang started arguing in public.
Everyone present understood Prime Minister Yin's paranoia, because he was the mentor of the deposed Crown Prince Zhao Cong. After Prime Minister Liu was angered to death, Emperor Jianxi promoted Prime Minister Yin. In addition to his real ability, it was also to stabilize Zhao Cong's throne.
Everyone is used to quarreling over state affairs and insulting civility. When things get serious, they even resort to physical violence.
Emperor Jianxi drank his tea slowly, watching the two old men fighting each other. When they got tired of fighting, he put down his teacup and asked, "Runzhi, why don't you say anything?"
Shangguan Shu bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I will not comment because I disagree with both Grand Tutor Yang's call for leniency and Prime Minister Yin's call for harsh punishment."
"Oh?" Emperor Jianxi sat up straight.
There are seven people in the cabinet, and the three ministers have the most say. The odd number is set only so that when there is a disagreement, they can vote for an idea. For example, if Prime Minister Yin and Grand Tutor Yang hold opposite opinions, whichever side Shangguan Shu supports will have a greater chance of being accepted for advice.
Who knew Shangguan Shu would not play by the rules and remain neutral...
Prime Minister Yin and Imperial Tutor Yang had gloomy faces, their complexions as pale as earth.
Shangguan Shu answered Emperor Jianxi's doubts, "Your Majesty, don't you think that His Royal Highness Prince Ding has been framed?"
Emperor Jianxi's eyes lit up instantly, and Runzhi finally got it.
Shangguan Shu spoke calmly, "There are three reasons why I have this thought. First, it's His Royal Highness the Prince Jiuding's character. He doesn't seem like the type to do something like this. As for being carried away by success, that's out of the question. I've only heard of royal relatives and nobles being carried away by success and winning the first prize, so how could he forcibly take my wife from my own house?"
"Secondly, the evidence is insufficient. His Highness Prince Ding's confession lacks sufficient witnesses to be credible. But is Jia's confession credible enough? Ultimately, Jia doesn't have any solid evidence either..."
Prime Minister Yin said coldly, "But His Majesty has already had the palace maid examine Jia's body and confirmed that she has had sexual intercourse!"
"That's exactly what I'm trying to say. Does the presence of sexual activity mean Prince Ding was the culprit? On the contrary, if Prince Ding was truly wronged, then Jia and the person who orchestrated it were so meticulous. They deserve to be punished!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Jianxi's eyes became cold and stern.
When it comes to the future crown prince, we certainly can't be careless.
Prime Minister Yin was so angry at Shangguan Shu's words that he laughed, "This is just your one-sided statement. What you said is even baseless conjecture!"
Shangguan Shu frowned.
Yang Taifu then said, "Prime Minister Yin is so eager to convict His Royal Highness Prince Ding, could it be you who did it..."
"You're talking nonsense! How could an old minister frame His Royal Highness Prince Ding?"
Prime Minister Yin was so frightened that he immediately knelt down, "Your Majesty, please understand!"
Emperor Jianxi raised his chin and said, "Alright... Runzhi, go on."
Shangguan Shu said, "The third is Jia herself. According to my investigation, Jia is indeed as virtuous and kind as the rumors say, but she has never found a good husband and is often beaten by General Fang. However, I have also found that before Jia married, she was engaged to her cousin. Later, her cousin injured his leg and could not walk, and was unable to enter the government. So the Jia family abandoned him and married Jia to Fang Dong."
"Is this related to this matter?"
Shangguan Shu paused and said, "Your Majesty, the groom who took Jia to Prince Ding's mansion that night was a lame man..."
"And after the incident, the groom fled the capital overnight!"
"I would venture to speculate that after Jia married into the Fang family, she gradually drifted away from Fang Dong's mistreatment, and later rekindled her old relationship with her cousin. She wanted to divorce and live with her cousin, but the Fang family would certainly not allow it. If...she had caused such a scene, used His Highness Prince Ding to successfully divorce, and then reunited with her cousin who had fled far away after the divorce, and even had sex with him, all of this would be..."
Half a cup of tea later, Emperor Jianxi ordered the capture of Jia's groom and brought him back for trial.
At the same time, Zhao Xi returned to the mansion with a deep look in his eyes.
Who designed him?
It feels terrible that the enemy is in the dark and he is in the light.
And how to solve this situation?
If I just accept it and marry Jia, wouldn't I be suffering this injustice in vain?
Although he was not sure whether he really defiled Jia while drunk, he was sure that he would never force Jia. As Jia said, he even... carried her into the bedroom. Qian Chengluo saw that he was carried into the bedroom after he was drunk, and there was nothing wrong with it.
The only solution now is to check again!
Before entering the palace, he had asked Qian Chengluo to investigate Jia Shi thoroughly, but he didn't know what they found out.
Just as Zhao Xi was thinking about it, Qian Chengluo came back and brought useful news. Zhao Xi asked someone to invite Hengbi, and the three of them discussed it together.
Qian Chengluo said excitedly, "That Jia has a cousin who is lame. The groom who brought her here last night was also lame. I heard from the people in the Fang Mansion that the groom is deeply favored by Jia. Others get fifty cents a month, but that groom gets a full one ounce!"
"That is to say, if Jia and the groom were secretly having sex, leaving traces, and then blaming it on the prince, that's also possible."
Zhao Xi narrowed his eyes, "So, I was indeed framed..." He suddenly thought of something and asked, "How did you suspect the groom?"
Qian Chengluo sneered, "The one who set up the trap made a mistake. The groom actually fled the capital overnight after committing the crime. If he had no guilty conscience, why would he run away?"
Zhao Xi frowned. "But these two, just to stay together after the divorce, were so audacious as to harm me? I think there's someone behind them. Mr. Heng, what do you think?"
Hengbi remained silent until Zhao Xi asked, then he said, "To know who harmed His Highness, we need to see who would benefit most if this matter were to succeed. His Highness has lost prestige and face because of this incident. His Highness is the emperor's most cherished son and the future ruler of Great Chu in his eyes. Those who harmed His Highness and caused him to lose the emperor's favor are nothing more than those who oppose His Highness in the court."
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