Emperor Xuande didn't know why Song Hongshen brought up this matter, but just hearing what happened made him so angry that he threw the cup on the table.
"Nonsense! How dare the provincial government cover up such a serious matter?"
"The people live in hardship and have to endure humiliation and oppression from them."
"Wang Jian, Jingyun, is this how you, the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple, investigate cases in various places?"
Upon hearing this, the two men immediately walked to the center of the hall, knelt down, and said in unison: "Your Majesty, please calm down. We have failed in our duty."
For a moment, the hall fell silent again.
The emperor was so angry that they even stopped breathing.
Song Hongshen didn't care whether Emperor Xuande was angry or furious. He said, "Your Majesty, don't blame them. No matter how clean the administration is, it is inevitable to deceive the superiors and conceal the truth from the subordinates."
"In my opinion, the two gentlemen have served for many years and have not slacked off in their duties. If they had truly failed in their duties, such matters would have become commonplace, and I would not have had to bring them up in this palace."
Wang Jian and Jing Yun were overwhelmed with gratitude towards Song Hong upon hearing this. They had never expected that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would be willing to speak up for them at a time like this.
Emperor Xuande said coldly: "If it's not their fault, then is it still my fault?"
"I don't blame them, I blame myself? Should I issue a self-criticism edict?"
Song Hongshen shifted his gaze to Taoist Zhihuai and said in a cold voice, "This matter is not your father's fault. The mastermind is this Taoist Zhihuai. He is wearing the clothes of a Taoist master, but doing such a cruel and insane thing."
Emperor Xuande was stunned, wondering how this matter had led to Taoist Zhihuai again.
"What do you mean by that?"
Song Hongshen explained, "It means exactly what it says. The biggest mastermind behind that incident is Taoist Zhihuai."
"He spent money to escape punishment."
"But who could have imagined that he would be so bold as to commit fraud in the palace?"
"Today, his son is still in prison."
Ever since the emperor became obsessed with alchemy and Taoist Zhihuai entered the palace, Song Hongshen began to investigate these people.
Others didn't find out anything, but this Taoist priest Zhihuai found out these dirty things.
The evidence was delivered to the Eastern Palace last night. He had no intention of exposing it in person, but planned to present it to the emperor privately.
But who would have thought that these people would plot against Su Zhilan in a suicidal way.
He may not be very capable, but he has great ambitions, so it's no wonder.
Taoist Zhi Huai immediately panicked and knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, I am innocent. This is all nonsense."
When pleading for mercy, he subconsciously looked at Empress Chen Fei Jiang Ziyan, hoping that she could speak for him.
Jiang Ziyan turned her face away and did not respond to him.
He secretly cursed Taoist Zhihuai for being so greedy that he dared to serve in front of the emperor even though he had committed a murder.
If he had told her earlier, she would never have let him enter the palace.
Also, why would he bother to provoke the Princess of Anping for no reason?
How could she possibly plead for him at this time?
When necessary, she had to kneel down and apologize to the emperor.
After all, it was she who had solemnly guaranteed that this Taoist Zhihuai was a reclusive master.
Apart from Taoist Zhihuai, the most panicked people in the hall were Madam Wang and Wang Jinyao.
The mother and daughter looked at the scene in shock. The development of the situation was beyond their control.
Afterwards, Song Hongshen said loudly, "Come here, present the evidence."
Immediately afterwards, someone came to the hall and handed Song Hongshen a file and a thick letter.
Song Hongshen personally delivered these to Emperor Xuande, and then he grabbed Taoist Zhihuai's collar and dragged him to the center of the hall.
"Father, please watch first. I will interrogate this old Taoist first."
When Emperor Xuande was looking at the evidence, Song Hongshen had already called the guards to the hall to arrest Taoist Zhihuai.
"Your Highness, what...what are you going to do?" Taoist Zhihuai was so frightened that he couldn't speak clearly.
Song Hongshen didn't have the patience to beat around the bush with him, so he simply ordered someone to hold his hand.
"The Taoist priest will answer whatever I ask. If you say one wrong thing, you will lose your hand."
"I don't mind staging a Ling Chi execution scene in this palace."
As he spoke, Song Hong squatted on the ground, and the knife in his hand fell on Taoist Zhihuai's wrist.
If he exerted a little force, Taoist Zhihuai's hand would be separated from his arm.
His vicious gaze and the sneer on the corner of his lips made Taoist Zhihuai tremble to his core.
He did not doubt Song Hongshen's words at all. If the crown prince wanted to kill him, it would be no different from crushing an ant.
"Your Highness... Your Highness, please ask."
Song Hongshen asked, "What's the matter with the poison in the pill? Is it really related to the Princess of Anping?"
As he asked the question, the strength in his hands increased.
Taoist Zhihuai felt that his hand would be chopped off in the next moment.
He hurriedly said, "No, Princess Anping didn't touch the bottle. I sprinkled the medicine in there beforehand, it has nothing to do with Princess Anping."
Song Hongshen nodded with satisfaction and asked, "Then why did you wrongly accuse the Princess of Anping?"
Taoist Zhihuai is only concerned about himself now, so how can he hide the truth for Madam Wang and her daughter?
He said, "Madam Wang and Miss Wang ordered me to do this. If I cooperate with them to get rid of the Princess Anping, they will ask Minister Wang to release my son."
"I thought that since Shangshu Wang is the Minister of Justice, this should be possible."
Mrs. Wang and Wang Jinyao showed despair on their faces when they heard this. Minister Wang, who was originally kneeling on the ground, also supported himself on the ground with his hands dejectedly after hearing this.
Taoist Zhihuai felt that his life and death now depended on His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Then he continued, "Madam Wang also told me to tell His Majesty when necessary that Miss Wang is the perfect choice to be the Crown Princess."
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