Chapter 492: Forcing Emperor An
Grand Tutor Liang is forcing Emperor An.
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became solemn.
How could Emperor An not understand what Grand Tutor Liang meant? He glared at Liang Guangyi and said, "I've already said that I will personally order an investigation into Xiao Yan's affairs. Tonight is the Mid-Autumn Festival, so I'll let all the ministers return to their respective residences to reunite..."
"Since it is a festive occasion, Your Majesty, why don't you conduct the trial now?"
Grand Tutor Liang looked at him and said, "The dethronement of the empress has become public knowledge, and Zheng Kun's words cannot be concealed. If we cannot thoroughly investigate this matter before the court officials tonight and ascertain the truth of the dethronement, it will tarnish your Majesty's reputation and make people think you are cold-hearted."
"The Lu family was wrong to commit treason, and Queen Lu deserves death for what she did. But if they were lured into this situation by someone, shouldn't Your Majesty give an explanation to the people of the world?"
"Liang Guangyi!"
"His Majesty!"
Grand Tutor Liang calmed down his anger and said to Emperor Shang'an, "This old minister knows that Governor Xiao is a close minister to the emperor, and he was the one who handled the Lu family's affairs. If this was truly authorized by Your Majesty, then it's fine. Those who accomplish great things don't care about trivial matters."
"But if he didn't have Your Majesty's authorization, then he colluded with the prince as a eunuch, had secret affairs with the empress, and deceived the emperor. Each of these acts is a serious crime. Your Majesty, please conduct a rigorous investigation and give an explanation to the court officials, the royal family, and Minister Cui and Prince Zan, who Your Majesty disliked because of Prince Cheng's incident."
Liang Guangyi's voice was not loud. Compared with the anger of Cui Lin and others, he was unusually calm. However, the more so, the more people could feel the ruthlessness of this prime minister of the current dynasty.
In the past, because Liang Guangyi was about to retire and the Liang family had no successor, the affairs of the court had long been handed over to officials from other aristocratic families. They would not speak easily unless it was a major matter.
But once he opened his mouth, he revealed his power as the Grand Tutor and the head of powerful officials.
Everyone in the hall was extremely quiet, but Emperor An looked at Liang Guangyi angrily, enduring the severe pain in his head and wishing he could kill this old man.
He also hated Xiao Yan for secretly interacting with Lu Qingfeng and her son, and hated him even more for knowing about Prince Cheng's affairs but not saying anything, which made him lose face. However, Emperor An knew better that no matter what the relationship between Xiao Yan and Queen Lu was, he could not judge this person in public.
Since Xiao Yan gained his reliance, he has done too many shameful things. In order to clean up the court and eliminate the aristocratic families for him, he used all means.
He knew too much of his private affairs and too many secret things.
Even if Xiao Yan really colluded with Lu Qingfeng behind his back, Emperor An could only execute Xiao Yan in secret and never let him speak in public.
However, the old villain Liang Guangyi put him on a high pedestal, making it difficult for him to move forward or backward, and almost blocking Emperor An's way to deal with Xiao Yan privately.
As the emperor and his minister confronted each other, the atmosphere in the Purple Palace was heavy and tense.
Grand Tutor Liang suddenly looked at Xiao Yan. "Lord Xiao has always been eloquent and self-righteous. I'm sure he doesn't want to live his life in confusion under Zheng Kun's accusations."
Xiao Yan raised his thin lips slightly: "The innocent will be innocent."
"Oh, I think you are indisputable!"
Cui Lin mocked directly, and then looked at the silent Prince Zan. "Second Prince, you are just like me. You exposed the past affair between Empress Lu and Prince Cheng, which incurred His Majesty's dislike and earned you such a humiliating title."
"You and I were both plotted against by that bastard Xiao Yan. He deliberately set us up to fall into his trap and murder us. Don't you want justice?"
When Prince Zeng was sitting at the table and was called by Cui Lin, he hesitated for a moment with the wine glass in his hand.
He never expected that Xiao Yan had been in contact with Queen Lu and her son for a long time, and knew about Prince Cheng's affairs even earlier. So did he really not know what he would do later, or did he deliberately allow him and Cui Lin to secretly investigate the matter and push them to offend his father?
Prince Zeng couldn't help but look at Xiao Yan, and saw that even when facing so many people's attacks, and even when Zheng Kun exposed his past affairs in the court, he did not change his expression, and his black eyes were still cold and indifferent.
That wasn't a feigned calmness; it was as if everything that had happened in the palace, Zheng Kun's death, Cui Lin and the others' questioning, his father's wrath, had nothing to do with him...
The heart of Prince Zeng, which had been shaken by Cui Lin and the others, was like being poured with a basin of cold water, and he suddenly remembered Xiao Yan's methods.
His mind cleared up instantly, and he immediately let go of the scorching wine glass in his hand. After standing up, he said calmly:
"When I exposed the affair between the Queen and Prince Cheng, it was simply because of my own conscience. I had anticipated that my father would loathe me."
"I'm different from Minister Cui. You're investigating this matter to get promoted and benefit the Cui family, but I simply don't want the royal family to be tarnished and the royal bloodline to be confused."
Cui Lin never expected that Prince Zeng would suddenly say this. Looking at his righteous and awe-inspiring attitude, as if saying "I won't go along with you", Cui Lin widened his eyes and almost fainted.
The King of Zan faced Cui Lin's angry gaze and said calmly while standing at the table:
"As a member of the royal family, I enjoy the support of the people of the world. How could I hide the truth just because I feared my father's dislike? Even if Xiao Yan deliberately led me to discover this, I would only be grateful to him. If not, who knows how long the royal family would have kept this secret after being deposed."
"you……"
Cui Lin almost cursed out loud, "You idiot, are you crazy?"
No one knew what kind of person Xie Pingjia was better than him. When he had bypassed the Fourth Prince to gain the support of the aristocratic families and tried to please him in every way, he was not so upright. In order to deal with the Fourth Prince, he had used all means.
Her heart is dirtier than anyone else's, but now she is pretending to be a pure and innocent girl. Who is she trying to show off to?
If he wasn't in front of the emperor, if there weren't so many people in the hall watching, he would have wanted to spit in his face.
"Didn't you hear what Zheng Kun just said? Xiao Yan colluded with the prince and had an affair with the concubine!" Cui Lin said angrily.
Prince Zhe frowned: "It's just a casual remark made by a thief who pretended to enter the palace with evil intentions. How can it be used as evidence?"
"Since Zheng Kun is the one who deposed the empress, he naturally resents Governor Xiao for taking action against the Lu family. Besides, it's just what he said. Who knows if he really is the one who deposed the empress? Maybe someone dislikes Governor Xiao and deliberately bribed Zheng Kun to frame him?"
After he finished speaking, he turned to Emperor An and said, "Father, Governor Xiao is an important official in the court after all. No matter what, we should focus on evidence instead of convicting him based on a few words from others."
"Minister Cui is so anxious to embarrass Governor Xiao. Is it for my father or for personal reasons?"
"This old minister only seeks justice..."
"Since it's for justice, why can't the Emperor order a thorough investigation before rigorously interrogating Governor Xiao?"
Prince Zeng looked directly at Cui Lin. "If we were in their shoes, could it be true that someone just showed up and said that everything that happened tonight was the work of Minister Cui? You've long been jealous of Governor Xiao's favor with the Emperor, and the Cui family has suffered setbacks recently, so you deliberately colluded with Madam Xuan and Zheng Kun to cause tonight's incident just to frame Governor Xiao?"
"You are talking nonsense!" Cui Lin suddenly became angry.
Prince Zeng laughed. "Look, even Minister Cui knows this is nonsense. He's trying a high-ranking official in public based on a few casual words from a dead man who insulted my father and humiliated the royal family. Isn't this even more ridiculous?"
"Minister Cui, I know you and Governor Xiao have been at odds for a long time, but please don't be too selfish."
Cui Lin: “…”
Hey, hey, your mother's head!
This damned Prince of Hate, is he crazy? ! !
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