Chapter 59 Chapter 59 What else do you have to say! ...
Outside, footsteps approached hurriedly. Xie Zhi leaned over and picked up the golden hairpin from the pool of blood.
Ling Zhu seemed to see what he was about to do, and hurried forward, bowing sincerely, "Your Highness, please hand over the golden hairpin to me."
Nie Xiangyi wanted to take the golden hairpin from him. She stretched out her hand, but Xie Zhi held it.
Xie Zhi shook his head calmly, "He would only believe me if it was me."
It doesn't matter who did it.
Only with this golden hairpin in his hand, Xie Chengxin would ignore all the loopholes and spare no effort to make the emperor believe that the person was killed by him.
The footsteps outside were getting closer, making Nie Xiangyi feel nervous for no reason. Xie Zhi simply wiped her hands patiently with a handkerchief.
The always spotless and pure Third Prince had his clothes and hands dirty today, which was rare.
He only whispered to Ling Zhu, "Go find Pei Jue."
When Xie Chengxin came in, the mess on the floor almost made him unable to contain his inner ecstasy. He didn't care who was lying in the pool of blood, or whether it was his biological mother.
He originally thought that the imperial concubine was only trying to hold Nie Xiangyi hostage to Xie Zhi, but he didn't expect that she would give him such a big gift.
This was the handle that Xie Zhi handed to him personally.
He glanced at the pale-faced Nie Xiangyi and simply waved his hand gently, a determined smile on his lips, "Shen Ce Wei, capture him."
As the emperor's personal guards, even though Xie Zhi was once the commander of the Shen Ce Guard, they could only follow orders. Just as the Shen Ce Guard was about to take Xie Zhi away, Nie Xiangyi suddenly grabbed the corner of his clothes.
Xie Zhi looked back and saw that the usually lively face was now pale and beads of cold sweat were beading on the forehead.
Her cheeks wrinkled into a ball, one hand covering her heart, the other hand tightly grasping Xie Zhi's sleeve, "Your Highness... I'm with you..."
Xie Zhi's eyes dimmed slightly. He pursed his lips and held her cold hand in his, "Okay."
Suddenly, her body felt lighter, and Nie Xiangyi fell into his embrace, which was filled with a refreshing breath. Xie Zhi held her firmly in his arms, brushing her hair with one hand and letting her lean against his chest. "Ah Si, it's okay, don't worry."
His voice was soft and gentle, a tone no one had ever heard before. However, when he looked up again, his eyes were already sharp and cold. "Let's go."
The crowd in the hall dispersed, leaving only a messy mess on the ground. As he stepped out of the hall, Xie Zhi suddenly turned back to look at the hall. The woman he had been scheming for half his life was now lying quietly in a pool of blood, no one paying any attention.
Xie Chengxin strode forward.
Pei Jue seemed to have been waiting outside the palace for a long time. When he saw everyone coming out, he simply blocked their way, his expression neither humble nor arrogant. "This matter is serious, and it is beyond our power to make the decision. Please, Your Highness, report this to the Emperor!"
"My father is seriously ill, and as the crown prince, I should shoulder the heavy responsibility. Moreover, the Divine Strategy Department is in charge of the punishment of royal family members."
Xie Chengxin glanced at Xie Zhi and said, "My third brother murdered his mother and committed a crime against his superiors. If today's incident were to get out, I'm afraid he would be laughed at by the world. My royal family is so heartless and ungrateful."
Pei Jue refused to give in. "As an official of the Divine Strategy Department, I have already sent someone to report this to the Emperor."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a eunuch hurried over to announce his order, "The Emperor invites you all to come forward."
Xie Chengxin stared at Pei Jue for a long time, then suddenly smiled sinisterly, "Pei Jue, you're really something."
He had long anticipated that they would seek an audience with the Emperor and expose his true identity. However, now that the Imperial Concubine was dead, his words were no longer enough to prove his claim. Furthermore, the Imperial Concubine had died at his hands. If he rashly exposed the matter, his father would only think that they were seeking the throne by any means necessary.
After all, what my father hates most is brothers fighting with each other.
He raised his eyebrows slightly, "Then let's go."
Pei Jue stepped aside and asked the two princes to go first. When he passed by Xie Zhi, he was surprised to see Nie Xiangyi in his arms. He couldn't help but frown and lower his voice.
"Your Highness, why did you bring Ah Si along?" He asked questioningly, "Your Highness clearly knows that this matter is not entirely certain! If he is implicated..."
Nie Xiangyi simply curled up in his arms, like a wounded little animal seeking licking, crying out in pain, "Your Highness...it hurts so much..."
Xie Zhi frowned worriedly, lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead, while holding her tighter as if he was afraid that she would be shaken, "It's my fault... Ah Si... bear with it a little longer..."
"What's wrong with Ah Si!" Pei Jue became nervous when he saw this.
Xie Zhi said calmly, "It's the Imperial Concubine."
"That……"
Pei Jue was about to say something when Xie Zhi interrupted him, "Ling Zhu has already stayed in the palace to look for the antidote."
The Yannian Hall was completely silent. The palace banquet for the second day of the second lunar month was about to begin. Imperial family members and officials had all arrived, but they watched as the Divine Strategy Guards surrounded the hall, their faces solemn.
The incense burner was burning with wisps of green smoke. The emperor's wrinkled face was tinged with a sickly green and yellow color. He sat on the dragon throne, holding up his back.
There was still a sharpness in his cloudy eyes. With just a glance in the hall, the heavy atmosphere almost made people breathless.
"Your Majesty, at the hour of dawn today, there were reports of unusual movements within the Imperial Concubine's palace. When I hurried over, I discovered she had already passed away. With all the witnesses and evidence, I dare not conceal the truth. The Imperial Concubine's death was caused by my third brother."
When these words were spoken, everyone in the room was shocked.
Everyone's eyes fell on Xie Zhi, some suspicious, some surprised, some gloating. This once elegant Third Prince, the epitome of a prince, had actually committed such a rebellious act!
A court official immediately advised, "The Imperial Concubine was bestowed upon her by His Majesty, receiving a royal salary and following the rules of the harem. Although the Third Prince is a descendant of the royal family, he must also abide by the laws of the country and follow ethical standards!"
"The Third Prince murdered his mother and violated the moral code! I have no right to do this, so I beg Your Majesty to make a righteous judgment and investigate the cause of the Empress's death, so as to uphold the law and maintain order in the palace!"
There was a lot of discussion at once, and the once noble, indifferent and arrogant Third Prince became the target of public criticism.
All the court officials who had been troubled by the Shen Ce Guards were eager to add insult to injury and asked the emperor to punish them severely.
Xie Chengxin just watched all this coldly with a smile on his face.
This scandal of matricide was a matter of great importance to the royal family's reputation. The emperor, who also learned about it at the same time, was inevitably furious when it was suddenly exposed in front of all the ministers.
"Ruheng, you have always been polite, respectful, filial and brotherly. How dare you do such a rebellious thing!" He threw the teacup in his hand heavily, and with a "bang", the tea splashed everywhere.
There was a heavy sense of oppression in his eyes, "What else do you have to say!"
The emperor's anger silenced the discussions around him.
Seeing Xie Zhi remain silent, the emperor became even more furious. "If that's the case, then..."
But before he could make a decision, Pei Jue suddenly spoke, "Your Majesty, I have something important to report."
Xie Chengxin narrowed his eyes slightly and suddenly stood up straight.
Under the watchful eyes of all the officials, Pei Jue spoke with great force.
"The Third Prince, Xie Zhi, is the true son of the late Queen!"
The whole room was in uproar.
The emperor's pupils suddenly constricted, and he clenched the Mosuo bracelet in his hand. He seemed to be in disbelief and suddenly coughed violently, "What did you say?"
"I met a woman outside the palace who said she was the late Empress's wet nurse. She also said it was the Imperial Concubine who switched the two princes and confused their bloodlines!"
This news was even more like a bolt from the blue than the recent matricide scandal, shocking all the court officials present.
"So, does that mean the Third Prince is the real Crown Prince? And the Crown Prince is actually the Royal Concubine's biological son?"
Someone retorted, "Based on what Master Pei's family said, I'm afraid it's not credible. I'm afraid it's just a statement to exonerate the Third Prince, but who knows."
"Yes, now that the imperial concubine is dead, there is no evidence. Isn't it just a random fabrication?"
The emperor was already dizzy due to illness, and the whispers from all sides made him even more upset and angry.
He glanced coldly at everyone in the hall. Wherever his gaze reached, it was as if frozen by ice, and they suddenly fell silent.
"Go on."
"The woman also stated that the late Queen was responsible for her death!" Pei Jue said word by word, "It was the Imperial Concubine who took advantage of the late Queen's weakness after giving birth and bribed the servants to kill her!"
His words caused the emperor's breathing to quicken. His pale face flushed red, and he suddenly clutched his chest, breathing heavily.
An eunuch promptly handed him a cup of hot tea, which he drank hastily, and only then did he feel a little better.
Xie Zhi's gaze suddenly fixed on his hand that was touching his chest.
An official tentatively asked, "Then, His Majesty the Third Prince's actions today, could it be that he is avenging his mother?"
Someone snorted coldly, "It's just a way to exonerate yourself! Do you have any evidence?"
Xie Chengxin still chuckled.
"Although the imperial concubine is dead, it's actually not difficult to find the truth about this matter."
He spoke calmly, as if it wasn't him whose identity had been revealed. "Didn't Master Pei say that it was the woman who told you herself? Why not invite her into the palace and ask her? I'm sure Father will know too."
After saying that, he raised his eyebrows and looked at Xie Zhi.
Would he dare to bring someone who had an affair with the remnants of the King of Jin into the palace? Moreover, the remnants of the King of Jin had all been executed. If they reappeared, it would be a crime of deceiving the emperor.
The emperor pondered for a moment, "I remember that Wan Yue did have a wet nurse...who escaped from the palace..."
His eyes fell on Pei Jue, as if waiting for his next words, "Pei Jue, where are the people?"
Pei Jue seemed hesitant. He looked at Xie Zhi, as if wondering whether to take a gamble and bring Lin Qiao into the palace.
Before Xie Zhi could respond, Xie Chengxin chuckled, "Can't produce it? Looks like Master Pei has run into some charlatan."
The smile on his lips gradually widened. "Today she said that my third brother is the son of the late queen, and tomorrow she said that you, Little Master Pei, are the son of the late queen. Anyway, the imperial concubine has been killed by my third brother, so you can make up whatever you want."
A storm was brewing in the emperor's eyes. The successive incidents had left his already weakened body exhausted and depressed. Xie Zhi had murdered his mother first, and Pei Jue's words were so convincing that it was difficult to tell the truth from the false.
However, Pei Jue, who had no evidence, seemed to be caught up in a factional struggle and made the decision in a panic at this moment.
He thought of the imperial concubine, who had been diligent and conscientious over the years and could be described as virtuous and dignified.
"Pei Jue, I'll ask you one last time." He looked at Pei Jue with a sullen look in his eyes, "Can you find the late queen's wet nurse?"
Once Lin Qiao is brought into the palace, Xie Chengxin will definitely expose her connection with the remnants of Prince Jin.
Putting aside the crime of deceiving the emperor, even if she was the late queen's wet nurse after so many years, how much can the emperor believe what the remnants of Prince Jin say?
His silence made the emperor make a decision.
"The Third Prince, Xie Zhi, has committed matricide and disregarded human ethics and discipline. From today on..."
His breathing gradually became rapid, as if it was extremely difficult for him to make this decision.
Xie Zhi was, after all, his own bloodline, even though he had paid him far less attention than the frail Xie Chengxin over the years. But to be fair, he was the most outstanding of the princes.
If this scandal had not been exposed to the civil and military officials, he could have covered it up and sent him to the frontier or given other punishments.
But now that he is in public, he must give an explanation.
"From today on..."
"Your Majesty!" A eunuch hurried in to report, "Master Pei Ji is outside requesting an audience!"
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