Chapter 156 My Son
Zhao Huaizhang knelt upright in the hall. All the ministers were frightened by this sudden scene and were unable to sit still. They stood still, not knowing whether to leave or stay.
Emperor Sheng sat at his desk and first took in everyone's expressions. Then his gaze fell on Zhao Huaizhang. His eyes, which were usually gloomy, now revealed a bit of surprise.
Apparently, even Emperor Sheng had not expected this this time.
The next moment, everyone reacted and almost simultaneously looked at Prince Rong who was still sitting at the table.
At this moment, Prince Rong's eyes were wide open, his face full of disbelief, and it seemed that he had not expected the Crown Prince to do such a thing.
"Huai Zhang, what are you doing!"
Prince Rong stood up suddenly and spoke sternly.
Zhao Huaixiang slowly put down the wine glass in his hand. There was shock and confusion in his slightly lowered eyes, but it soon turned into teasing and amusement.
What is Huai Zhang doing?
Could it be... that you want to bring him down?
At this time, Emperor Sheng finally spoke and asked in a deep voice: "Huai Zhang, what do you mean?"
Before Zhao Huaizhang spoke, he first looked at Zhao Huaixiang who was sitting in the upper seat.
With just one glance, Emperor Sheng waved his hand at everyone, "Everyone, leave."
All the court officials had been feeling uneasy for a long time. After all, it was better not to watch some excitement. After hearing the words, they felt as if they had been pardoned. They all bowed and took their leave, even Jiang Xun was no exception.
Zhao Huaixiang's gaze fell on Jiang Xun's departing back, and he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly.
Jiang Xun never looked for a chance to stay?
He didn't believe that Huai Zhang suddenly turned against him and that Jiang Xun had nothing to do with it.
But now Jiang Xun left so abruptly. Was it because he was sure that his father would call him back, or was it because he firmly believed that Huai Zhang alone could handle everything?
Emperor Sheng's eyes were dim, and he was also looking at Jiang Xun.
But seeing that he had already stepped out of Qingle Palace without looking back, Emperor Sheng finally spoke, saying in a calm voice: "Xiuzhi, stay."
Jiang Xun paused, turned around respectfully, and walked into the hall again under the gaze of all the court officials.
At this moment, all the outsiders have left.
Emperor Sheng turned his gaze back to Zhao Huaizhang, "Huaizhang, you just said you wanted to apologize, what crime have you committed?"
Prince Rong could no longer stand still at this moment, so he stepped out of the line, pulling Zhao Huaizhang, and said respectfully to Emperor Sheng:
"Brother Emperor, I'm afraid Huai Zhang has lost his mind today. This humble servant——"
“Hey.”
Emperor Sheng waved his hand with a smile on his face.
"Royal brother, since the child has something to say, why bother to stop him? Just let me listen, and you can go back and sit down."
Zhao Huaizhang also withdrew his hand at this time and whispered to Prince Rong: "Father, I must say these words, for the sake of His Majesty, and for you, Father!"
Prince Rong frowned, his face full of worry, but he could only sit back down as the Holy Spirit said.
Zhao Huaizhang then knelt on the ground and kowtowed, saying in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, I am guilty. My crime is knowing that His Royal Highness Prince Xiang was plotting to murder the Crown Princess in Prince Rong's mansion, but pretending not to know."
"Because of selfish motives, he chose to add fuel to the fire, which almost led to a disaster."
"Because I felt guilty, I was coerced by His Royal Highness Prince Xiang, and I framed the Anyang Earl and his wife on the day of the welcoming banquet."
"Today, His Royal Highness Prince Xiang has used his old tricks again and wants me to plot against Miss Shen and destroy her innocence, in order to stop the marriage between General Dingguo's Mansion and the Marquis Anyang's Mansion."
"My conscience is condemned, and I really can't bear it. I am afraid that I will get deeper and deeper into trouble, and finally be forced by His Royal Highness Prince Xiang to do something disloyal to Your Majesty. Now I speak frankly to plead guilty to show my loyalty, and I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"
After Zhao Huaizhang finished speaking word by word, regardless of how others reacted, Eunuch Fushun shuddered.
Before the window paper was broken, everyone was confused but everything was fine. But now, Prince Zhao revealed everything in just a few words!
I don’t know how this day will end!
Fortunately, His Royal Highness Prince Rui left the table just now, otherwise the situation would have become even more chaotic.
etc.
Eunuch Fushun suddenly raised his eyes.
The timing of His Royal Highness Prince Rui's departure just now seemed quite subtle...
When Emperor Sheng heard this, there was no anger on his face.
However, Prince Rong had lost his composure and stood up again.
Emperor Sheng's eyes swept across everyone's faces, then he looked at Zhao Huaixiang who remained calm, and said in a cold voice:
"Old Three, what do you say?"
Zhao Huaixiang, who was named, hurriedly walked out from behind the desk, knelt beside Zhao Huaizhang, leaned forward and said respectfully:
"Replying to Your Majesty, what Huai Zhang said is all nonsense. I have no knowledge of these things."
Zhao Huaizhang's face changed when he heard this, "Cousin!"
Zhao Huaixiang slowly straightened his upper body and tilted his head to look at Zhao Huaizhang beside him. A hint of indifference appeared on his usually gentle face.
"Huai Zhang, although the relationship between you and me as cousins in the past was not very deep, we have always been friendly and respectful to each other."
"I don't know who ordered you to slander me today, even at the cost of eight hundred lives."
"Cousin, let me ask you, do you have any evidence for what you just said?"
Zhao Huaixiang's voice was very calm.
The "adulterer" at the flower-viewing banquet had been killed by a knife, and the rest, whether it was leading away the maids or ordering the eunuchs to drug the cakes, were all passed on through layers of communication.
All the people involved had no idea who was the mastermind behind it.
As for the welcoming banquet that attracted the Anyang Marquis and his wife, that was even simpler. Huai Zhang was the only one who took care of the whole thing.
Huai Zhang said that he was coerced by him?
Words are not enough, just show us solid evidence.
Zhao Huaizhang opened his mouth immediately upon hearing this, but looked towards Emperor Sheng.
"Your Majesty, I am the evidence! Last night, my cousin met with me in the palace and asked me to take advantage of Huai Zhen's friendship with Miss Shen."
Before Emperor Sheng could speak, Zhao Huaixiang chuckled and tilted his head to say, "Huai Zhang, you are the plaintiff, how can you take the plaintiff's words as evidence?"
When Zhao Huaixiang said this, he suddenly turned his head to look at Jiang Xun who was standing silently beside him, and said in a calm voice:
"Lord Jiang is the best at judging cases. Please ask, is there any truth to this?"
Zhao Huaixiang's words instantly drew everyone's attention to Jiang Xun.
Emperor Sheng frowned and asked, "Xiuzhi, haven't you been investigating the flower viewing banquet? Have you found out who started it?"
Jiang Xun stepped out upon hearing this, shook his head, and said truthfully: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for my incompetence. The case of the flower viewing banquet has not yet been solved."
When Zhao Huaixiang heard this, a hint of sarcasm flashed across his lips, and it was obvious that he had expected this.
He knew that the flower-viewing banquet was organized by him, and everyone must have known it.
But as long as they can't produce any evidence, my father will naturally be happy to see them fight to the end.
Besides, Huai Zhang is still stupid...
Just now he had suspected that what happened today was Jiang Xun's plan, but now looking back, such a vulnerable move was really not like Jiang Xun's level.
Prince Rong's existence is a thorn in the emperor's side. I didn't expect Huai Zhang to commit suicide today. So, why not give the emperor a chance to resolve this major concern?
This way, he actually got the advantage.
Thinking of this, Zhao Huaixiang turned back to look at Zhao Huaizhang, whose face was pale, with a cold look in his eyes, and said in a deep voice:
"Huai Zhang, you slandered and wronged me today. I can let it go and not pursue it, but as a member of the royal family, how can you be so ignorant and stupid as to be easily deceived and used by others?"
"and--"
"When you apologized just now, you mentioned the word 'selfish'. I am very curious. How dare you allow the evildoers to murder the Crown Princess in Prince Rong's mansion? What...what selfish motives do you have?"
When Emperor Sheng heard this, his eyes narrowed immediately.
His left hand casually stroked the wine glass on the table, and the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a faint smile.
Zhao Huaizhang raised his eyes suddenly, and seeing the unpredictable expression on Emperor Sheng's face, he could no longer hide the panic on his face. It seemed that he did not expect that Zhao Huaixiang not only bit back at him so neatly, but now he was deliberately picking on his mistakes.
He...how could he talk about his selfish motives? Now he could only avoid the main issue and focus on the trivial matters.
"Your Majesty, everything I said is true. The flower viewing banquet was indeed organized by my cousin. He is determined to become the crown prince. He schemes at every step and uses ruthless means."
"I just don't want to be restrained by my cousin and be disloyal to Your Majesty, so I took the risk and stood up today. I hope Your Majesty will investigate it!"
When Emperor Sheng saw that Zhao Huaizhang was defeated step by step by Zhao Huaixiang's counterattack with just a few words, he actually curled the corners of his mouth almost imperceptibly.
My father wanted my younger brother to be the crown prince, but in the end, wasn't he the one who sat on the throne?
Now, the son of the emperor's younger brother is very different from my son, and his intentions and methods are even more different.
"Huai Zhang, what's going on? You can't produce any evidence at all?"
"Then do you know what the crime is for slandering the prince?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Huaizhang suddenly looked up, his face full of bewilderment. He was so anxious that he knelt down and took two steps forward, mumbling over and over but unable to say anything.
When Prince Rong saw this, he couldn't help but show despair.
He walked out of the case again, bent his knees and was about to kneel down to plead for mercy to Zhao Huaizhang, but at this time a report came from outside the hall:
"Your Majesty, Princess Xiang is outside seeking an audience!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhao Huaixiang, who felt that he had already won, suddenly turned his head to look outside, and couldn't help but frowned slightly.
Ayin...?
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