Chapter 765 Could it be that she still likes Jiang Jinyan?
Upon hearing this, Jiang Fenghua could only sigh: It turns out that power can not only distort the truth, but it is also a circle, going around and around and back again.
What Minister Shu said does indeed explain why Shu Xue had also targeted the Jiang family. It was because Shu Lang was dissatisfied with Jiang Jinyan becoming his superior, so Shu Lang set up this scheme.
Now the culprit has become Shulang.
Xie Shang then asked, "So you were the one who spread the news of the Fourth Prince's rebellion?"
"Yes, I did everything." Shu Lang added, "I never expected that the Fourth Prince would rather admit to murder than report me."
"Did you also have the rumors about the Empress Dowager fabricated and spread?" Xie Shang pressed on while the iron was hot.
"Yes, Cui Tao is also one of my people. The Emperor favors the Jiang family, and I am not satisfied with that, so I thought of making everyone suspect the Emperor's identity."
Xie Shang sneered, "You are quite frank. Do you know that you have slandered me and damaged the reputation of the royal family and the Great Zhou Dynasty? You have committed a capital offense."
"I was confused for a moment," he said.
Soon, Cui Tao was also brought to the courtroom by Jiang Jinyan. She had been poisoned and rendered mute. Xie Shang would not allow any foul language that would harm the interests of the royal family or defame the royal family to circulate.
Cui Tao was indeed a maidservant who served Empress Dowager Cheng. She returned because she was found by someone and wanted to avenge herself.
Her eyes were wide open, bulging out, half her face was disfigured, and her eyes were filled with hatred.
Xie Shang stared at her, letting her out was only to lure out the real mastermind behind her.
In fact, many details of the case cannot stand up to scrutiny. For example, Jin Ji just recalled that a young master named Yun came to the shop to order cloth, but he seemed to have no connection with the case. There was also a man in black who contacted Yu Laoba, and a man in black who instructed the hooligans of Shengjing City to attract Lady Helan at Minister Li's residence.
Since the Fourth Prince had killed someone, there was no need for him to hand the body over to Shu Lang. Wouldn't it have been better to handle it privately? Shu Lang was just a court official, while Xie Yang was a prince. Could an official possibly influence a prince's thoughts?
Many other methods don't stand up to scrutiny. Was this the only way Zhang Yurou could think of to save the Fourth Prince? There are actually hundreds of solutions. Even digging a pit and burying the body would be better than making a big fuss!
But after Shu Lang came out and admitted that he was petty and jealous of Jiang Jinyan, everything made sense.
Now everyone understands that everything that happened these past few days was a rumor spread by Shu Lang.
Xie Shang was dressed in a dragon robe, and his appearance and temperament were exactly the same as the late emperor. Who would dare to say that he was not the late emperor's son?
There's no need to keep nagging and interrogating them. Once the matter is cleared up, the authorities will definitely convict them. Shu Lang's life will be over. It's a fact that the Fourth Prince killed someone, and he will be punished. As for Zhang Yurou, she has been released since she didn't kill anyone.
It is a fact that Xie Yang wanted to rebel and seize the throne. No one knows what crime Consort Chang committed. Xie Shang will certainly not let them pretend that nothing happened. This time, it was indeed Xie Shang who was injured.
The only thing the Jiang family could be happy about was that Xie Shang announced the immediate release of Jin Ji.
Only then did Jiang Rumeng run to him, hug him, and cry heartbrokenly, "Husband, you have suffered so much."
Aside from being badly beaten on the first day, Jin Ji didn't suffer any physical pain afterward, but he did lose weight.
Zhang Yumo and Feng Jingyuan stayed with her the whole time. Feng Jingyuan was also crying her eyes out. When Jiang Taifu saw this from afar, he frowned slightly. The two exchanged glances and Madam Jiang was quickly comforted.
Zhang Yumo also glanced at Jiang Jinyan. He had been very busy lately, but no matter how busy he was, he would still come to visit her and her daughter. She suddenly felt content. Ever since Jiang Jinyan explained his relationship with Bai Yuhan, she hadn't been so irritable.
Does she still like Jiang Jinyan?
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Jiang Fenghua did not return with the Jiang family, but instead went back to the palace with Xie Shang.
In the imperial study, Jiang Fenghua asked Xie Shang, "Didn't His Majesty say that he wanted to lure out Prince Kang and make the Empress Dowager's identity seem fake?"
“Uncle Kang is indeed very composed. Even if he gets out, we can’t punish him. He had someone spread rumors that the Fourth Prince was rebelling, but he himself has washed his hands of it.” Xie Shang added, “The reputation of the royal family is more important than anything else. Now that Shu Lang has been sentenced to immediate execution, it is what he deserves.”
Xie Shang did not punish Minister Tang and others. Since they had rebellious intentions, they certainly could not be allowed to live. However, since it concerned the ministers of the court, he had to deal with them slowly.
"Isn't Your Majesty afraid that Prince Kang might actually run back to the Northwest and rebel?"
"The Northwest was originally very barren. It's quite remarkable that Xie Kang was able to govern it well over the years. He doesn't want the Northwest; he wants the entire Great Zhou." Xie Shang added, "If he dares to show himself, I will make sure he never returns."
Xie Shang was full of vigor, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "His mother is in the palace. He will definitely come back."
Jiang Fenghua suddenly didn't want to ask anything anymore. This matter was not yet resolved, much less over.
She was about to return to Kunning Palace when Xie Shang stopped her. "Ruan Ruan, do you think I am not decisive enough, not swift enough, and even more so, that I have insidiously fabricated these things to make Shu Lang take the blame for the royal family?"
Jiang Fenghua was stunned. She said something that didn't mean what she thought. "Your Majesty does everything for the good of the royal family and the Great Zhou Dynasty. Besides, a man like Shu Lang deserves to die. I don't know Shu Xue and I won't judge her death."
"Your Majesty and I are probably the same kind of people. Your Majesty did these things for the honor of the royal family, while I was concerned about whether the Jiang family would be released without charge. Now that everyone is happy, I should also thank Your Majesty for seeking justice for Jin Ji."
People are selfish, including herself.
Xie Shang understood Jiang Fenghua. Even though she had lost her memory, she was still herself. During the trial today, regardless of right or wrong, she did not participate at all. In order to save face for the royal family in front of the people, he did not punish Xie Yang in public. He had been trying to maintain the brotherhood among the royal family.
The truth is, there is not a trace of the affection that should exist between brothers and sisters in the royal family.
"Ruan Ruan, have a drink with me!" Xie Shang said.
Jiang Fenghua was stunned. "Just the two of us drinking? The Emperor isn't joking, is he?"
"Who in this palace can I trust, who is worthy of my trust? No one, not a single one." Xie Shang at this moment was completely different from the Xie Shang who was presiding over cases in the capital. He longed for someone to understand him and help him, but even I would find it difficult to find just one.
Jiang Fenghua said, "Since Your Majesty is in a bad mood, I will have a little drink with you."
To Jiang Fenghua's utter surprise, Xie Shang got her completely drunk.
The couple didn't go anywhere; instead, they started drinking in the imperial study. Lin Feng, Wu Xin, and the others were extremely anxious. "What's wrong with the Emperor and Empress? We're surrounded by dangers; we should be extra careful. Why are they drinking?"
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