Li Tian rushed over, grabbed the blueprint, and tremblingly opened it. His eyes lit up! He was shaking with excitement, and his voice was trembling. He shouted, "Your Majesty! This is the same blueprint I drew that day! It clearly marks that Dawang Mountain is passable! I can finally prove my innocence!"
Li Tian was so excited that tears streamed down his face. He was crying and laughing at the same time and couldn't control himself.
While the ministers were shocked, they all admired the emperor's plan and looked at Han Cheng with contempt and anger.
This man is an important official of the country and receives a salary from the court, but for his own selfish reasons, he disregards the safety of the country and the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers. He really deserves to be cut into pieces!
Han Cheng finally realized that the situation was hopeless.
"Prince Regent, explain why you kept this original painting at home and delivered the fake one?"
Han Cheng knew it was pointless to argue at this point. He paused for a moment before speaking, "Since Your Majesty has already obtained the true map, you should also know that I had no choice that day. Otherwise, why would I have kept this map? Wouldn't it be impossible to prove it if I had simply destroyed it?"
When the ministers heard this, they thought it made sense. Who else could force Han Cheng to do this except the late Emperor Dezong?
Renzong suppressed his anger and said, "No matter how unavoidable it is, you shouldn't disregard the country and the people, disregard the safety of the country, the lives of innocent people, and the soldiers of the three armies. Do you think you can absolve yourself of guilt by saying you had no choice?"
Han Cheng felt as if he had fallen into an icy cave, shivering with cold. Emperor Dezong was dead, Huang Yanjing was dead, and all those who had framed the Duke of Zhenguo were dead. How could he possibly survive?
The emperor's plan was really good.
Han Cheng suddenly lost all hope, his legs went weak, and he fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowed and begged for mercy.
"Your Majesty, I deserve death. Please consider my many years of service and loyalty and punish me alone, sparing my family!"
Renzong's eyes flashed with anger. He accuses him mercilessly, "You think of your family now, but have you ever thought of the soldiers and the people? They also have families! Why didn't you think of your family when you did this?"
"Your Majesty, I dare not excuse myself. If the emperor commands me to die, I must die. That day, I received a secret order from the late emperor to stop this matter. I have always been loyal to the emperor and dare not disobey!"
"Are you being loyal to the emperor? You are being foolishly loyal! You are putting the late emperor in an unjust position! You, Han Cheng, are unforgivable!" Renzong was so angry that he stood up from the throne, kicked over the brocade cushion beside the throne, and shouted sternly.
Han Cheng collapsed to the ground.
Renzong's words clearly told him that if he was truly loyal and cared about the emperor, he should die. He asked the emperor to revoke his order instead of blindly flattering him, which was a mistake on top of a mistake. He also made the emperor bear the blame for his foolish suspicion and forcing a loyal and good man to death.
Even if he was executed for disobeying the imperial decree, he would die for justice and his death was worthy.
Because of your inaction, the emperor has become a tyrant.
Think of Han Cheng, who assisted Emperor Dezong all the way, was loyal for many years, and always considered the emperor's interests. But in the end, he was betrayed by this emperor and had no way out.
There was only one way out before him: death.
"Your Majesty, considering that I have kept the evidence, could you please show some mercy..." Han Cheng's voice gradually became lower and he closed his eyes in despair.
Behind the throne, separated by a curtain, Queen Xie Wanyun sat on a chair. She saw the whole scene clearly from beginning to end.
Twenty years of injustice were finally redressed, and she couldn't help but burst into tears.
"I hereby declare that Prince Regent Han Cheng has disregarded the country for selfish reasons. He is to be stripped of his title and handed over to the Ministry of Justice for trial!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
There was a burst of cheers.
The case was supervised by the Emperor, so the Ministry of Justice handled it swiftly. Once the Regent fell, the forces that depended on him also fell apart.
The Ministry of Justice received numerous reports alleging that the Prince Regent had abused his position to sell official positions, oppress the good, accept bribes, and exclude dissidents. The various charges, after investigating them one by one, were all confirmed.
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