After reading the interrogation transcript, Fourth Master seemed to have anticipated that Eighth Master would deny the charges.
After putting down his confession, the Fourth Prince remained silent for a long time before solemnly addressing the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review: "I hereby issue this decree: The Duke of Yingguo colluded with the prince to create a famine, harming the people and threatening the Qing Dynasty. This is an act of treason. Considering his unwavering confession, he is hereby sentenced to exile and never to return to the capital!"
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review quickly agreed, but since the Eighth Prince had not yet given any explanation, and the Court of Judicial Review had no conclusive answers to his investigation, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty? What about the Eighth Prince...?"
Fourth Master pondered for a long time before saying, "Continue! Until he tells everything!"
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was covered in cold sweat. As long as the Eighth Prince's case remained unresolved, it was his heavy responsibility. Now that the Fourth Prince had spoken up, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review felt more confident.
Just as the two were discussing Hongshi's case, Su Peisheng arrived.
"Your Majesty, the Empress just sent someone to deliver lotus seed soup..." Fourth Prince looked at the food box Su Peisheng was carrying and asked in surprise, "That's all they sent?"
Su Peisheng carefully opened the food box and brought out a bowl full of lotus seeds to Fourth Master. Although it was called soup, there was almost no water in the bowl; it was all lotus seeds.
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and Su Peisheng were taken aback, and silently nodded without saying a word. The Fourth Prince stared blankly at the soup bowl and immediately understood what this meant.
Lotus seeds... I miss my child...
The Empress is going to great lengths to plead for Hongshi. Since Hongshi's incident, the Fourth Prince has been unwilling to see the Empress. Although he knows that the Empress is definitely involved in Hongshi's affairs, the Empress's position is at risk of jeopardizing the stability of the Qing Dynasty's politics. The Fourth Prince does not want to involve the court at this time, so he turns a blind eye to the Empress.
However, the Empress was still worried that the Emperor would really show no mercy to Hongshi, so she sent someone to deliver lotus seed soup, hoping that the Emperor would remember that Hongshi was his own flesh and blood and forgive him this time.
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, seeing the Fourth Prince's expressionless face, couldn't fathom his thoughts and waited patiently. The Fourth Prince pushed the lotus seed soup aside and said without hesitation, "Hongshi, as a prince, is unkind, colluding with others with treacherous intentions, and his insatiable greed nearly caused a great disaster. He is hereby demoted to a commoner, stripped of all his salary, and only his residence is retained..."
Su Peisheng and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review both sighed inwardly. It seemed that the Fourth Prince was really serious about investigating this case and was showing no mercy even to his own son.
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review accepted the order and conveyed the Fourth Prince's oral decree to the Duke of Ying. Upon realizing that his life had been spared, the Duke of Ying was so moved that he burst into tears. He then bowed three times and nine times towards the palace, shouting his gratitude.
Upon hearing that he had been demoted to a commoner, Hongshi was stunned. The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review reminded him, but Hongshi abruptly stood up, grabbed the minister, and shook him violently: "Father, did you really say that? I don't believe it, I don't believe it… I want to see Mother Empress…"
The censor behind the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review quickly stepped forward to stop the madman Hongshi. The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review straightened his clothes and said disdainfully, "Your Highness, I have already conveyed the Emperor's edict. This is what the Emperor said himself, so please stop causing trouble!" He paused, then added contemptuously, "Your Highness's actions have crossed the Emperor's bottom line. It's already a miracle you're still alive..."
Hongshi sat on the ground, shaking his head in despair, still unwilling to accept reality. In just a few short months, he had gone from a high-ranking prince, the future crown prince candidate, to a commoner… Hongshi was utterly disillusioned and collapsed to the ground, weeping uncontrollably…
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