Chapter 223 Re-investigation
Emperor Yongming did not believe that Chu Jichen would really return power to him.
Looking at Chu Jichen's appearance, which showed no interest in the country but only in the beauty, he felt it was absurd and laughable.
This man endured years of hardship and bided his time, even going so far as to cut off his own legs for power!
Now that he has finally gained power, how could he easily give it up for the sake of a mere Shen Qingci?
He always felt that Chu Jichen... was lying to him!
Chu Jichen naturally knew that Emperor Yongming would not believe it.
He coughed twice, his voice weak but filled with unwavering resolve: "I can... write a written agreement."
"If Your Majesty can thoroughly investigate the truth behind the massacre of the Shen family and clear their name, I... will never interfere in politics again and will return power to you."
Emperor Yongming stared intently at Chu Jichen for a long time before slowly speaking, his voice filled with probing and greed: "But... return power to me?"
"But my uncle still holds such a powerful position. And many officials in the court are his loyal supporters. Even though I hold the reins of power, I still have to live in fear every day."
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen sneered, his laughter filled with endless mockery and disdain.
"Since I intend to return power to you, then naturally... I will return everything to you."
"As for the officials in the court," a cold glint flashed in his eyes, "three years ago, at the beginning of my regency, I dealt with all the officials in the court who did not submit to me with swift and decisive measures, and only after a bloodbath in the court was this established."
“One cannot be soft-hearted when governing the country. Your Majesty… could do the same.”
Emperor Yongming's heart skipped a beat!
Eliminating dissidents and replacing everyone with people you trust and can control—how tempting that sounds!
But he still felt there was something fishy going on. He gritted his teeth and said, "I will consider this matter."
After Emperor Yongming left, Shen Qingci finally couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, do you think... he will really agree?"
"He will." Chu Jichen's tone was full of certainty.
Shen Qingci was still somewhat worried: "Then... how will he investigate the Shen family's affairs? Clearly, it was his order to frame the Shen family before. He wouldn't... find out about himself, would he?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen smiled. He looked at her, his eyes full of approval and understanding.
"He naturally won't trace it back to himself."
“But,” he said, a hint of wicked amusement in his voice, “I have already given him a hint.”
A suggestion?
Shen Qingci recalled Chu Jichen's words and instantly understood his intention!
Her eyes lit up instantly, and she immediately smiled: "You mean... he'll pin everything on Liu Wenyuan?"
After she finished asking the question, her eyes shone even brighter!
"Indeed!" Her voice was filled with glee. "In Emperor Yongming's eyes now, no matter what, Liu Wenyuan is a true traitor!"
"Since he's a traitor, then naturally... he can be used as a shield!"
“He could easily pin everything about the Shen family on Liu Wenyuan. At worst, he could just issue another arrest warrant for Liu Wenyuan.”
“I just don’t know,” her brows furrowed again, “that things have developed to this point, with Liu Wenyuan knowing we’re investigating the Shen family, and Emperor Yongming trying to use him as a shield… will he show himself?”
Chu Jichen slowly shook his head: "Liu Wenyuan... also understands Emperor Yongming."
He knew that Emperor Yongming must already be suspicious of him. He knew that even if he revealed himself, Emperor Yongming... would never let him go easily.
"At this point, instead of running out to prove my 'innocence' to Emperor Yongming, I might as well fight to the death and definitively establish the charge of treason! Perhaps... I can still gain a glimmer of hope for myself."
Shen Qingci nodded, "That's true."
Chu Jichen added, "However... if Liu Wenyuan is truly wary of me and chooses to come out and fight with Emperor Yongming in order to win me over, then... that would be even better."
Chu Jichen's prediction was correct; however, half a day later, Emperor Yongming indeed arrived again.
This time, he was no longer alone; he was accompanied by two personal eunuchs, one of whom was carrying a bright yellow brochure and a heavy imperial gold seal.
As soon as he entered, he got straight to the point, his voice filled with an undeniable imperial authority: "Uncle, I... have thought it through."
"I agree to reopen the Shen family's old case. But," his gaze, sharp as a knife, shot directly at Chu Jichen, "you also need to... fulfill your promise."
Chu Jichen smiled upon hearing this.
He looked at the document that Emperor Yongming had ordered to be presented to him and read it aloud word by word.
"...I, Chu Xiao, ascended the throne as a successor to the late Emperor's will. However, I am of limited virtue and ability, and the court has relied heavily on my uncle, the Regent Prince. Now, my uncle is afflicted with serious illness and wishes to relinquish power. I have made a pact with my uncle: if I can thoroughly investigate the Shen family's old case within three months and clear the Shen family's name, my uncle will relinquish his position as Regent, cease interfering in court affairs, and enjoy his remaining years in peace..."
After reading it, Chu Jichen picked up a pen without hesitation, signed his name, pressed his fingerprint, and stamped the Regent's seal. He then gently put the seal down and gave Emperor Yongming a meaningful smile.
“Your Majesty,” he said calmly, “you should also sign, affix your fingerprint, and stamp your seal.”
As Emperor Yongming watched Chu Jichen sign, affix his seal, and stamp the document he had prepared, his doubts finally vanished completely.
Without the slightest hesitation, he stepped forward and pressed his fingerprint and gold seal heavily onto the document!
...
The next day, Shen Qingci and Chu Jichen received the news.
Emperor Yongming staged a spectacular "sudden awakening" in front of all the civil and military officials during the morning court session!
Yuanbao vividly reported to the two of them the grand occasion of the morning court session that day:
"Your Highness, Your Highness, you didn't see it! Today, Emperor Yongming was simply... a complete drama queen!"
"He first expressed his deep regret, saying that he had been mistaken in trusting that old fox Liu Wenyuan! He said... it was Liu Wenyuan who told him about the Shen family's affairs!"
"It was Liu Wenyuan who insisted that the Shen family colluded with an enemy country and intended to rebel! It was also Liu Wenyuan... who handed over all the 'evidence' to him!"
“Now,” Yuanbao mimicked Emperor Yongming’s regretful expression, pounding his chest and stamping his feet, “he has finally realized that the one with the real wolfish ambitions is not General Shen at all, but… Liu Wenyuan!”
"Therefore, he further suspected all the officials and generals who had been murdered by Liu Wenyuan's 'advice'! So, he decided—"
Yuanbao's voice suddenly rose, filled with a dramatic tone, "Investigate thoroughly again! Every single official and general who was framed by Liu Wenyuan must be...investigated again!"
"First, let's start by investigating the Shen family's affairs!"
“He also specifically mentioned,” Yuanbao’s eyes flashed with a hint of excitement, as if he were watching a good show, “that some of the so-called ‘evidence’ that Liu Wenyuan submitted before, according to Liu Wenyuan himself, was obtained through Huo Yunzhan!”
"His Majesty said that Huo Yunzhan used his special relationship with Your Highness to obtain some evidence. But he is not sure whether that evidence is true or false."
"Although Huo Yunzhan is now 'dead in battle,' you, Your Highness, once suspected that the one who died in battle... was not Huo Yunzhan, but Huo Yunting! It was Huo Yunzhan who impersonated Huo Yunting!"
“Therefore,” Yuanbao’s lips slowly curled up, “Emperor Yongming immediately issued an edict—to arrest the Marquis of Yongning at once! And… to seal off the entire Marquis of Yongning’s residence for a thorough investigation!”
Yuanbao said with a look of pure schadenfreude: "Back then, Huo Yunzhan's face was even uglier than if his father had died!"
"He immediately knelt down on the ground, repeatedly crying out his innocence, saying that he... was indeed Huo Yunting! But His Majesty did not listen to his explanation at all, and directly ordered the Imperial Guards to... drag him away on the spot!"
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