Ten days later, a memorial from Prince Rui broke the long-standing peace in the capital.
"During the autumn hunting last year, the crown prince was assassinated, and I was also framed. After much investigation, I finally caught the mastermind behind the murder. It turned out that the one who assassinated the crown prince and framed me was actually the fifth prince!"
Su Han's face changed drastically when he heard this, and he fell to his knees with a thud.
"I am innocent!"
Su Xu, however, looked extremely distressed and continued, "Not only that, the Crown Princess was assassinated in Yizhou a few years ago, and it was actually the Fifth Prince who did it! I didn't believe it at first, but the evidence is there, so I can't help but believe it!"
Having said that, he asked the eunuch to present the relevant evidence.
Three days ago, he received an anonymous letter saying that there was a great gift for him in the ruined temple outside the city. He sent someone to find out that it was Su Han's wet nurse and former attendant!
The two were tied up in the ruined temple, with a signed confession next to them.
It clearly described how Su Han had ordered them to kidnap the family members of the Bai Mansion's guards to get the news that Su Bi was poisoned, how he bought killers on the black market with the intention of assassinating Su Bi during the autumn hunting to cause the poison to take effect, and how he mobilized all forces to surround and kill Ning Xihua in Yizhou.
After being sent away, the two were afraid of being silenced by Su Han, so they shook off Su Han's spies on the way and even left Su Han's order to the assassins in Yizhou just in case. Unexpectedly, they were caught in one fell swoop and sent directly to Su Xu.
With such comprehensive evidence, Su Xu couldn't help but be tempted.
How could he not know that someone wanted to use him to get rid of Su Han, and this person was most likely his royal brother whom he had never taken seriously before.
But this was a conspiracy he could not refuse. Compared to Su Bi, he wanted to kill Su Han more.
So he gladly accepted this great gift, and after three days of planning, he presented it at today's court meeting.
Emperor Shao Yuan's face darkened the moment he heard Su Xu's first words, and the emperor's anger made everyone in the court speechless.
When he saw the evidence presented by Su Xu, he became furious and threw the things at Su Han's feet.
"Do you have anything else to say?"
After the banquet at the palace, Su Han knew that Su Xu might be targeting him, but he didn't expect that his first move would be a fatal accusation.
When he saw the testimony and the warrant, he couldn't believe it. He had been looking for these two people for a long time and they had fallen into Su Xu's hands.
At this moment, he could only desperately defend himself, "These two people ran away last year because they were resentful of the mansion. Their words are not credible!"
Su Xu sneered, "What about this warrant? Could it be a forged one?"
Su Han glanced at the warrant and calmed down and said, "This warrant is indeed mine, but it was lost when the two men disappeared last year! I am truly wronged!"
After saying this, he looked up at Su Xu, his face serious, and said meaningfully, "Third brother, don't let some absurd rumors blind your mind and deceive you by these two villains!"
As soon as these words were spoken, all the ministers understood clearly.
During this period, rumors that Prince Rui's concubine and Prince Duan were having an affair were spread with details and details, and all the court officials and noble families had heard about it.
At this time, Prince Rui came out to accuse Prince Duan of assassinating the crown prince, which inevitably aroused the suspicion of revenge for personal gain.
Su Xu's expression became even colder when he heard this. "The evidence is here. I have not said a single word falsely! Fifth brother is making such a cunning excuse. Where do you place the trust of our father? Where do you place the government of Dali?"
Emperor Shao Yuan listened to the two arguing for a long time without interrupting them, but at this moment his eyes fell on Su Bi.
"Prince, what do you think?"
Su Bi bowed his head respectfully, "I don't want to believe that brothers killed each other, but my third brother has evidence... I believe that my father is wise, but I will listen to his decision."
This statement shows his neutral stance. He would neither help Su Xu suppress Su Han, nor help Su Han clear his grievances. He would not help either side and let Emperor Shao Yuan make the final decision on everything.
Emperor Shao Yuan nodded and looked at his ministers again.
"How about the nobles?"
Prince Ning was the first to jump out.
"The Crown Princess was shot by an assassin during the autumn hunt and nearly died. She was surrounded and attacked by assassins in Yizhou and barely escaped death. Now that the evidence is conclusive, the emperor should be punished the same as the common people if he breaks the law. I think Prince Duan should be severely punished!"
After saying this, he stared at Su Han fiercely with an evil look on his face, as if he wanted to bite a piece of flesh off of him.
Emperor Shao Yuan was not surprised at all. Prince Ning loved his daughter dearly, so if he really took this matter lightly, that would be a problem.
As the grandfather of Prince Rui, Minister Sun of the Ministry of Justice naturally supported Su Xu and demanded that the murderer be severely punished to set the record straight.
Zhang Mo, the official in charge of history, also seconded the proposal.
"Prince Duan's actions are not only a quarrel between brothers and against human ethics, but also a disturbance of the government. His crime is unforgivable. If he is given a light sentence because of his status, then all the officials in the court will worry that they will be secretly assassinated because of their political differences. The people will panic and the country will be unstable! Your Majesty, this precedent cannot be set!"
Although the ministers expressed their own opinions, they all knew in their hearts that how the matter would be handled depended entirely on Emperor Shao Yuan's decision.
After all, although Prince Duan's words were far-fetched, they could be explained away. If the emperor wanted to let him off, he could also find a reason to suppress the matter.
But what is strange is that Prince Duan's father-in-law, Marquis Weiyuan, remained silent throughout the whole process.
"Marquis Weiyuan, tell me what you think."
When Emperor Shao Yuan called out his name, Marquis Weiyuan lowered his head and said, "I am just a military officer and do not understand the matter of judging a case. Your Majesty is wise and will surely give everyone justice."
Hearing this, the ministers were somewhat surprised.
Marquis Weiyuan didn't say a single good word for Prince Duan and just obeyed the emperor's orders, even though he was his son-in-law!
Su Han's face turned pale in an instant.
He looked up at the expressionless Marquis Weiyuan, then turned to look at Su Xu who was full of confidence. He knew that Su Xu must have done something to make Marquis Weiyuan abandon him and even ignore his pregnant daughter.
When Emperor Shao Yuan heard Marquis Weiyuan's reply, he understood what he meant.
Originally, this marriage was requested by the Grand Tutor. Now that Su Han had committed a crime, what he cared about most was Marquis Weiyuan's opinion.
Marquis Weiyuan has always been loyal. Since he doesn't care, there is no need for him to offend Prince Ning and other ministers for the sake of an unfavored bastard.
Looking at Su Han with a look of despair in the courtyard, Emperor Shao Yuan finally couldn't bear it and spared his life.
"The fifth prince Su Han has assassinated the crown prince and the crown princess. The evidence is solid. He is now stripped of his princely title, demoted to a commoner, and exiled to Jizhou. He is not allowed to return to the capital for the rest of his life."
After saying this, he pinched his brows, announced his withdrawal from the court, and no longer wanted to hear any objections from anyone.
Su Han, who had always been gentle and refined, was now sitting paralyzed on the ground, no longer having the high-spirited vigor of a nobleman.
He couldn't understand how Su Xu's brain, which was played around by women, could have grasped his lifeblood?
Why would Marquis Weiyuan, whom he had gone to so much trouble to win over, suddenly turn against him?
If Marquis Weiyuan had shown a tougher attitude today, there would still be room for this matter to be turned around!
But it was too late. In just one day, he lost everything.
Su Xu approached Su Han, looking down at him with the attitude of a victor, his eyes full of ridicule and disdain.
"Like I said, I will repay your hospitality double for what you did for me that day!"