Chapter 548: Should Be Executed
Jiang Lin's eyes gradually deepened, as if he could see through everything, and the corner of his mouth slowly curled up.
Anliu saw this unfathomable look and naturally realized that Jiang Lin was more insightful than Anliu thought. Fan Zhengde's conspiracy and tricks had nowhere to hide in front of Jiang Lin.
"Master, what is Fan Zhengde's next step?" With someone as smart as Jiang Lin around, Anliu doesn't have to think at all.
However, Jiang Lin didn't intend to tell him at this time. He smiled and said to An Anliu, "Let's just wait and let them kill each other for a while."
Anliu nodded. In that case, while they were fighting each other, Jiang Lin would have some free hands, allowing them to better prepare for the inevitable power grab.
Fan Zhengde successfully imprisoned the Ninth Prince in the cell. Even though they all knew that they couldn't keep him there for long, it was enough to change the situation outside a little.
There have been rumors in the palace these past two days that the ninth prince's mother, Concubine Zhen, lost her life because of an affair with someone else.
Some people would secretly ask: "But wasn't Concubine Zhen ultimately killed by the Seventh Prince's mother?"
"Are you brainless? If that's the case, then why didn't the emperor find out the truth and arrest her? It's obvious that the emperor condoned Concubine Zhen's death."
This statement still sounded convincing, and people believed it to about 70% of the time, so the prince's identity became something they talked about a lot.
The Ninth Prince, who was deep in prison, was not completely unaware of what was happening outside. Someone even came to talk to him about the situation.
"That's pure nonsense," the Ninth Prince said in a resounding voice. "Remember those who spread this nonsense. I'll definitely settle accounts with them when I get out."
The person who came to ask questions was the one who had just chosen to join the Ninth Prince not long ago. He never expected that the other party would be so careless in doing things. He came to ask questions today because he had doubts and hesitations.
The Ninth Prince's words did not reassure him.
The Ninth Prince saw his expression clearly and narrowed his eyes. "Think carefully! If you choose the wrong direction, you won't know how you'll die in the future."
Having his little thoughts exposed, a trace of embarrassment flashed across the visitor's face, but what the Ninth Prince said was right. This was a choice concerning life and death, and he needed to carefully consider how to proceed.
Even though the visitor was wavering on whether to follow the Ninth Prince, he could not give a definite answer openly and had to maneuver between multiple parties.
"Ninth Prince, I was misled by those rumors. Don't worry, I will be waiting for your return outside." The visitor expressed his loyalty in front of the Ninth Prince.
But they both knew whether these words had gained the Ninth Prince's trust.
After the Ninth Prince discovered the ugliness in these people's hearts, he felt no other emotions except disdain and ridicule, because he was not surprised at all that there would be such an outcome.
When people outside were spreading the news that the Ninth Prince was not a real prince, the Emperor did not express his opinion. In front of all the ministers, he only expressed his regret that the Ninth Prince could do such a vicious thing.
"Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince has committed such a heinous act; he should be executed!"
"Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince's crime does not deserve death. Please investigate carefully!"
This was a debate between those who chose to stand on the side of the Ninth Prince and those who temporarily switched sides. They made a big noise in the court. Both sides sounded very convincing and spoke very unpleasantly.
"The evidence is conclusive that the Ninth Prince wants to usurp the throne!" Finally, the emperor determined the Ninth Prince's guilt with one word and ordered that he be executed immediately.
The ministers fell silent for a moment, and then someone shouted "Your Majesty is wise" from somewhere in the crowd, and the others began to repeat the words.
But no one has taken the time to count how much reluctance there is.
When the Ninth Prince received the news that he was going to be beheaded, he did not seem to be in a hurry and even had a smile on his face.
"I want to see the emperor." The ninth prince said to the visitor.
"Ninth Prince, times have changed. You won't be able to see the Emperor again. Please enjoy this last meal. Afterwards, we will send you on your way."
How could the yamen runner who delivered food convey a message for the Ninth Prince? This was a thankless job.
"How many years have you been here?" The Ninth Prince did not pursue the matter and insisted on delivering the message, but instead started chatting with others.
The yamen runner wanted to turn around and leave, but the Ninth Prince's lonely voice reached his ears, "I'm about to be killed by my biological father, and I'm very scared. Before I leave, I just don't want to be alone."
However, who were the yamen runners? They were used to seeing people dying, but perhaps because their identities were completely different from the noble Ninth Prince, the yamen runners stayed behind out of curiosity to explore.
"Thank you for accompanying me." The Ninth Prince smiled at the visitor.
The yamen runner smiled indifferently and said, "Your Highness, you are too polite. I happen to be free at the moment, so why not chat with you and kill some time?"
Then the Ninth Prince really started chatting with him about family matters. During the conversation, the Ninth Prince intentionally revealed that he had hidden some money and silver, but it was a pity that he would not be able to enjoy it in the future.
When the yamen runner chose to stay and talk to people, he really had no bad intentions, but in the subsequent conversation with the Ninth Prince, every word he said was meant to appeal to the yamen runner's selfish motives.
As expected, the yamen runners, who didn't have much good intentions to begin with, took the bait and became extremely interested in the Ninth Prince's money.
"Look at me, I'd completely forgotten about you." The Ninth Prince watched the man's eyes light up before he feigned enlightenment. "It's fate that we meet again today. Why don't you take all those things so they don't go to waste?"
The bailiff was a little excited, but he still restrained himself and pretended to refuse.
But he could not resist the Ninth Prince's insistence, and finally nodded reluctantly in front of the Ninth Prince.
Having gained such a huge profit, the yamen runner politely said to the Ninth Prince: "Ninth Prince, you are truly a kind person."
The Ninth Prince sneered upon hearing this, "If I were truly a kind person, would I have fallen to this point?"
"This...this..." The bailiff apparently regained some of his senses at this moment and remembered the reason why the ninth prince was imprisoned here.
"Don't be afraid," the Ninth Prince said to the somewhat panicked yamen runner, "This matter is too complicated. My father has misunderstood me."
It was not the yamen runner's place to judge these matters, so he told the Ninth Prince that he wanted to leave. "Ninth Prince, time is running out. Please finish your last meal first. Someone will come to take you away later."
The Ninth Prince looked up and smiled at him, saying "OK", then he picked up his bowl and chopsticks as if resigned to his fate and chewed the food without any taste.
"Ninth Prince, how can I get the Emperor to see you?" After the bailiff left a few steps away, the man suddenly turned back and asked the Ninth Prince with a firm expression.
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