Chapter 268: Interlocking
Meng Yuande was imprisoned in the imperial prison for five days, during which the interrogation never stopped.
The chief of Zhaoyu had unusual methods of interrogating people. Ordinary people would be tortured into confessing within a day, but Meng Yuande, despite his old age, gritted his teeth and endured it.
On the sixth day, things finally took a turn for the better.
Emperor Zhaowen was always suspicious. As soon as Meng Yuande was imprisoned, all the palace servants serving him were abandoned. After all, they were all trained by Meng Yuande.
All the palace servants were replaced, and a eunuch named Chang Xi was appointed to serve him.
But not long after this group of people were replaced, Emperor Zhaowen was poisoned.
When the news of Emperor Zhaowen's poisoning came out, the court and the country were shocked.
First it was the eldest prince, then the emperor. Who was so bold as to repeatedly commit violence in the palace?
When Pei Jing received the news from Emperor Zhaowen, he entered the palace immediately and went straight to Emperor Zhaowen's bedroom.
"You're here." Emperor Zhaowen said weakly.
Pei Jing said "hmm" and walked to the dragon bed. He looked around and found that except for a few personal guards, the rest of the palace people were unfamiliar faces. This was a new batch. It seemed that Emperor Zhaowen was quite frightened.
"What did the imperial physician say?"
Emperor Zhaowen said, "It's a chronic poison. Fortunately, it's only been a few days, so it was discovered early."
Emperor Zhaowen looked at Pei Jing's expression and coughed twice. "You should stay in the palace for the next two days. I can't trust any of the people around me anymore."
Pei Jing's heart moved slightly, "What about Eunuch Meng?"
Mentioning Meng Yuande, Emperor Zhaowen's tone was filled with obvious regret. "I was wrong about him. I have already released him from the imperial prison, but he suffered a lot in there and is unable to serve me."
Pei Jing naturally knew that this regret was not directed at Meng Yuande, but because Emperor Zhaowen was worried about his own life without Meng Yuande.
"It's all my fault," Emperor Zhaowen said, a chill forming in his eyes. "I didn't think about it carefully. Yuande has been with me for over thirty years. It's obvious that someone figured out my intentions and used Yi'er's poisoning to frame Yuande and get him away from me."
"As long as Yuan De is here, no one will take advantage of my daily life. Once Yuan De falls, I will be left with no one around me, and they will be able to attack me without restraint."
Anyone who is qualified to sit on the throne must have a lot of calculations in mind. He can't trust any of them now.
Only Pei Jing, as he said, had no qualifications to succeed to the throne and therefore had no reason to attack him, could make him feel at ease.
The guards acted quickly and returned to report in the afternoon.
"Have you found out anything?" asked Emperor Zhaowen.
Chen Tiejiang reported back, "Chang Xi, who had been serving the emperor for several days, has committed suicide out of fear of punishment. His body has been examined and it is clear that he hanged himself."
Emperor Zhaowen frowned and was about to speak when Chen Tiejiang added, "But I have found out something else. Chang Xi has a sister outside the palace who married a silk merchant in the west of the city. That silk merchant is a distant cousin of the steward in Prince Jing's palace."
Emperor Zhaowen's pupils suddenly widened. "Say it again?"
Chen Tiejiang presented a case file, "That silk merchant had close dealings with the First Prince's residence, and a considerable amount of money was exchanged."
With a "clang" sound.
Emperor Zhaowen swept the medicine bowls and teacups beside the couch to the ground. "I'm not dead yet! How dare he touch me!"
…
In the Chongli Hall, Pei Yi was sitting by the window, listening to his confidant's reply with a smile on his lips.
"That old bastard Meng Yuande, while publicly a member of Father's side, secretly has probably long since defected to Pei Jing. I merely cut off one of Pei Jing's arms, and he couldn't sit still anymore. He even dared to attack Father. This move was too hasty."
The confidant echoed: "Pei Jing's move is undoubtedly seeking his own death."
"It's not just Pei Jing." Pei Yi picked up the teacup and took a sip. "It's time to take this opportunity to clean up the evil spirits hiding in this palace. Once father has dealt with Pei Jing, the position of crown prince..."
Before he finished speaking, there was a sudden sound of chaotic footsteps outside the hall, accompanied by the guards' scolding.
Immediately afterwards, Chen Tiejiang rushed in with a team of personal guards.
Pei Yi put down the teacup heavily, his expression suddenly changed: "How dare you! Who allowed you to trespass into the prince's bedroom?"
Chen Tiejiang clasped his fists and saluted, but his tone was cold and hard, "In compliance with the Emperor's order, Your Highness, please move to the Zongzheng for questioning."
Pei Yi stood up suddenly, the teacup fell over, and the scalding tea spilled onto the table.
Zongzhengfu, what is that place?
If a member of the imperial clan is guilty, he must first be reported to the head of the imperial clan, and then to the emperor.
"I...what crime have I committed?" Pei Yi felt guilty and couldn't even speak clearly.
Chen Tiejiang's expression was profound, "Your Highness will know when you arrive at the Zongzheng Mansion."
…
The case was brought to the attention of the Imperial Clan Affairs Office. Pei Yi would not admit to the crime of regicide, especially since he had never done it.
He framed someone by poisoning himself, and others followed suit by poisoning the king. It can only be said that the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, and others are more skilled than him.
Pei Yi originally thought that as long as he refused to admit it, the matter would not be blamed on him.
Unexpectedly, his close confidant could not withstand the torture and confessed that Pei Yi had poisoned himself.
Pei Yi poisoned himself to frame others and got rid of the most capable eunuch around Emperor Zhaowen. Then he replaced the people around Emperor Zhaowen and was poisoned by someone.
This series of events together seems like a perfect, interconnected scheme.
Although Chang Xi, who poisoned the house, had committed suicide and there was no evidence to prove his guilt, he still had a close connection with Pei Yi's Prince Jing's Mansion.
Emperor Zhaowen was a suspicious person. Even though there was no conclusive evidence to prove that Pei Yi instigated the poisoning, the previous events had already made him believe that Pei Yi was behind the scenes.
The palace has been in complete chaos these days. The queen has been confined to the central palace, isolated from the outside world. Even her daily expenses have to be checked by layers of inspection before they can be delivered.
What followed was a top-down cleanup, in which many people were killed. Even the square outside the temple was washed repeatedly with water several times, and dark red bloodstains still remained in the cracks.
Pei Jing gained some trust from Emperor Zhaowen, and stayed by his side all the time these days, resting in a side hall at night.
Jiang Fei was not at home, and the palace felt empty, but he didn't want to go back.
It was not until Meng Yuande was able to barely get out of bed and return to serve the emperor that Emperor Zhaowen agreed to let him return home to rest.
Xiesongzhai was no different from before he left. It was still morning, the spring scenery was beautiful outside, but the house was very quiet.
Pei Jing sat in the chair, stroking the armrest with his fingers, and a thought suddenly popped up in his mind. If he had known earlier, he would not have come back. He had not thought about it before.
Just as I was thinking about it, I heard light footsteps at the door.
He thought it was a maid bringing water, so he didn't look up, but heard a familiar voice: "When did you come back?"
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