Chapter 440: Controversy among Court Officials
The next day.
Outside the Golden Palace, the daylight began to shine through, but it could not dispel the haze that permeated the palace.
Princess Taiping, Yan Shishu, dressed in a blood-red palace dress, knelt in front of the cold white jade steps of the Golden Throne Hall, begging the emperor to depose the prince.
Inside the hall.
On the throne, Yan Shixu's face was as gloomy as water, and deep in his eyes there was a gloom heavier than the leaden clouds outside the palace.
The ministers all breathed cautiously.
But there really are those ministers who are not afraid of death and think they are upright and incorruptible.
"Your Majesty!" The Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate stepped forward.
He held a jade tablet in his hand and spoke in a voice like a bell:
"We, your servants, are reporting this with tears in our eyes! As the crown prince, your actions are erratic and your methods are cruel!"
"Yesterday, he led his troops to surround Princess Taiping's residence, causing the young and frail Princess Jiahe to be overly frightened and suffer a sudden heart attack, unfortunately passing away!"
"This is a human tragedy that has shaken the government and the country!"
Before he finished speaking, another elder followed suit, speaking with deep sorrow:
"Princess Jiahe is your Majesty's niece, Princess Taiping's beloved daughter, and the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager also cherish her like a treasure!"
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince disregarded the bond between aunt and niece, and the young and frail Princess. To investigate an unsolved case of a frightened horse, he used his authority as Crown Prince to pressure her, even allowing his guards to engage in a swordfight in front of the Princess's residence!"
"How can such behavior be the behavior of a benevolent monarch? How can it be the way of a crown prince? This is brutal and immoral, and it shakes the foundation of the country!"
Seeing that someone had taken the lead, some ministers who were already dissatisfied with the fact that the crown prince was not the eldest son also stepped forward.
"Your Majesty! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is young and impulsive, acting impulsively. He has no tolerance for others and no compassion for the weak!"
"Yesterday, the princess's mansion was filled with the flashing of swords and sabers. Is this the kind of scene that should be seen in a peaceful and prosperous era?"
"How can a prince so tyrannical as this inherit the throne and raise the people?"
"Your Majesty, I implore you, for the sake of the country and the peace of the royal family, to depose the crown prince and choose another wise one!"
"I second the motion!"
"I second the motion!"
"I implore Your Majesty to depose the Crown Prince, to rectify the government and reassure the people!"
For a time, voices calling for the "dethronement of the crown prince" were heard one after another.
The remaining ministers who firmly supported the prince and maintained a neutral attitude moved aside cautiously for fear of being affected by them.
These people are really stupid.
The tragedy at the princess's mansion yesterday was obviously exploited and exaggerated by someone with ulterior motives.
The prince actually didn't do much wrong. How could the emperor depose him for this reason?
These people can just wait to be punished by the emperor and the prince.
He stood under the steps every day, his posture still straight.
But the hands hidden in the sleeves were clenched into fists, with the knuckles turning white.
He felt the questioning and angry gazes coming from all directions.
The accusations of "brutal", "immoral" and "shaking the foundation of the country" stung his ears.
He looked up at his father who was sitting on the throne. His face was blurred behind the crown and jewels.
Only those deep eyes scanned sharply at the ministers below who were in an uproar.
Just as the voices of those calling for the dethronement of the crown prince grew louder and louder, nearly drowning out the entire hall, a calm voice broke the clamor.
"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to report."
The one who stepped out was Pingnan Hou Su Muyang.
He was not wearing court robes, but a white casual suit, which made him look more upright and calm.
He ignored the surprised or dissatisfied looks, walked into the hall, and bowed to the throne.
"Please speak, Lord Su." Yan Shixu's voice showed no emotion.
"Your Majesty, my Lords."
Su Muyang looked around with a calm gaze.
"Yesterday's events at the Princess's residence were deeply distressing. However, despite this grief, we must remain calm, clarify the truth, and uncover the true culprit. This is the greatest comfort to the deceased and the best explanation to the living."
He changed the subject, his tone suddenly becoming sharp:
"The piece of rice paper Princess Jiahe clutched before her death was repeatedly examined by the imperial physician, who determined that the 'Jingzhe Powder' impregnated on it was the fatal poison that triggered the sudden onset of Princess Jiahe's congenital heart disease and ultimately led to her death!"
"Do you think the poison was administered by the Crown Prince?"
The hall fell silent, and no one dared to respond.
Su Muyang glanced around and saw that these people had stopped nagging, so he said:
"Last night, Minister Liao, who is in charge of this case, searched the residence of the princess's personal maid, Luo Tao, and found remnants of 'Jingzhe Powder', as well as... several blank pieces of paper that had also been treated with the potion, with the writing disappearing!"
"The texture and material of the piece are exactly the same as the one in the princess's hand! However, Luo Tao committed suicide by taking poison after the incident!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall was in an uproar.
Is the murderer really someone close to Princess Jiahe?
Then this is Princess Taiping's fault. She didn't notice that there were people with ulterior motives around her daughter. It really has little to do with the prince.
Su Muyang's eyes were like lightning, pointing directly to the core:
"The person behind the scenes took advantage of the princess's innocence and gave the poison to Princess Changle in the name of a gift!"
"Even while the Crown Prince was pursuing clues, he once again used the Princess, using a piece of poisoned paper as bait to create this horrific tragedy!"
"Their goal is to kill two birds with one stone. They are plotting to murder Princess Changle and using their organization to frame the Crown Prince, thereby destabilizing the foundation of our Great Yan Nation!"
He suddenly raised his voice: "This beast's mind is so vicious, his plan is so meticulous, and his methods are so ruthless!"
"He hid in the princess's mansion, lurking beside the princess, treating human life as worthless and the dignity of the royal family as nothing!"
"Instead of fully apprehending these culprits right now, we are tempted by momentary grief and anger to commit acts that destroy our own great power, bringing grief to our loved ones and joy to our enemies. Isn't this playing into the hands of the traitors?"
Su Muyang's words were like a basin of cold water poured on the heads of those ministers who shouted "Depose the Crown Prince".
They looked at each other, and the angry expressions on their faces froze, replaced by a hint of surprise and fear.
Yes, if it is true as what Pingnan Hou said, that they strongly demanded the abdication of the crown prince, wouldn’t that just clear the obstacles for him?
"His Majesty!"
Su Muyang bowed deeply to the throne again.
"The most urgent task is to capture and kill this beast, rather than criticize the Crown Prince! I implore Your Majesty to order the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, the Imperial Court, and the Crown Prince's subordinates to investigate this case with all their might! Thoroughly investigate everyone in the Princess's residence and ensure this venomous snake hiding in the shadows is brought out and torn to pieces!"
"Only in this way can we appease the spirit of Princess Jiahe, clear the name of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and deter those evil spirits who dare to wreak havoc in the palace and undermine the foundation of the nation!"
Su Muyang's voice echoed in the Golden Palace, and every word was like a heavy hammer, smashing the clamor of the "deposed crown prince".
Yan Shixu sat upright on the dragon throne, the pearls and jade on his crown tassels swaying slightly, obscuring the sharpness in his deep eyes.
He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying the authority of an emperor, clearly drowning out the remaining noise in the hall:
"What the Marquis of Pingnan said is exactly what I want."
"Although the Crown Prince was eager to uncover the truth yesterday, his methods were certainly inappropriate, causing Jiahe to be frightened and leading to a tragedy. You are ordered to confine yourself to one month to reflect on your mistakes and serve as a warning to others."
"According to Marquis Pingnan's words, the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court, in coordination with the Internal Court and the officials of the Eastern Palace, will fully investigate this case! Dig deep to find out who is behind this! All suspects, regardless of their identities, will be thoroughly investigated! This beast and his followers must be eradicated completely!"
Led by Minister Liao, the other officials who were named immediately stepped forward to receive orders.
"I... obey your command! I will do my utmost to find the real culprit!"
Yan Shixu glanced outside the palace and arranged for someone to "invite" Princess Taiping back.
Then he stood up and walked away with Tiantian in his hand.
Yongtai looked at the ministers below who had different expressions on their faces, and added hurriedly:
“Retreat from the court——!!!”
…
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