Chapter 229 Hope It’s Not Too Late
Cui Daoyuan was stunned when he heard this.
Loyal to Dasheng? Isn’t being loyal to Dasheng the same as being loyal to the Emperor?
Looking at Zhang Xian's impartial, upright appearance, Cui Daoyuan's heart sank. What else could he not understand?
His fingertips trembled slightly, and he shouted angrily: "You are simply a smooth talker, stealing the name and the reality!"
"People thought you, Zhang Xian, were so loyal, but it turns out you were colluding with Lin Wanting and plotting a rebellion!"
"Someone come! Someone come! Zhang Xian is plotting evil and treason. I want to see the emperor!"
Zhang Xian stood where he was, remaining as still as a mountain in the face of Cui Daoyuan's indignant shouts.
Cui Daoyuan's expression changed again when he saw this.
Zhang Xian is so confident, it shows that those guarding outside are all his trusted confidants. The Ministry of Personnel... is completely under Zhang Xian's control!
Seeing Cui Daoyuan finally react, Zhang Xian took a step forward slowly, knocked on the letter sandwiched between the documents on the table, and said calmly:
"These are some of the charges I copied from dozens of letters of accusation, including nepotism, tampering with assessments, and suppressing dissidents..."
"Minister Cui, take a look, is there any injustice against you?"
Report a letter? Dozens of letters?
Cui Daoyuan suddenly lowered his eyes and stared at the letters.
He is only under house arrest in the Ministry of Personnel now, and the emperor has not even issued an explicit decree. How dare those fence-sitters take advantage of his misfortune?
Did something happen to Lang'er? Has Lang Er already taken action?
No, if that were the case, why would Zhang Xian come to deal with him today.
Besides Lang Er, there is only...
"How is Concubine Shu doing lately?"
Cui Daoyuan's heart suddenly tightened, and he put his hands on the table and spoke quickly.
Zhang Xian's face remained calm upon hearing this, and he simply said truthfully, "The Concubine Shu offended His Majesty two days ago and has been confined to her house."
"Under house arrest?"
It is said that when a wall falls, everyone pushes it, but the emperor was still desperately urging everyone behind the scenes, wishing to announce to the world that his Cui family was about to face a disaster.
Cui Daoyuan suddenly felt dizzy and his whole body swayed slightly. He was about to sit down slowly, but his waist bent and then suddenly straightened up.
He and the Empress were both placed under house arrest, so what would Lang'er think when he didn't understand the Emperor's intentions?
Lang'er would definitely think that the emperor is clearing obstacles for the emperor's grandson, and the next step is to deal with him!
Two days...
Two days have passed. Maybe Lang'er has already started setting up the plan and is about to use those letters.
Since His Majesty has already set his sights on Lang'er, why does he still want to confine the Empress and try every possible means to force Lang'er into a desperate situation!
As soon as this question came up, Cui Daoyuan had the answer in his mind almost immediately.
test.
Your Majesty is testing Lang'er!
But human hearts are always unpredictable. How can His Majesty test people's hearts and human nature in such an extreme and desperate situation?
Cui Daoyuan was filled with rage and gripped the edge of the table tightly with both hands. However, before he could vent his anger and resentment, it turned into a deep feeling of powerlessness.
He seemed to have suddenly lost all his strength and slowly sat back down. The moment he closed his eyes, traces of regret overflowed from his pale face.
When the late emperor was still alive, Concubine Chen was the most favored. After the Crown Prince was deposed for being immoral, everyone said that Prince Rong had the best chance of winning.
Cui Daoyuan had been in the officialdom for so many years and inevitably offended many people, including the Cao family, the mother's family of Concubine Chen.
For the sake of future wealth and glory, and for the sake of the already thriving Cui family, he racked his brains to get in touch with the emperor of that year, and joined forces with several court officials to risk his life.
After making all kinds of calculations, he thought he had achieved great success by following the dragon, and that everyone would be happy in the future.
But he really underestimated the emperor's indifference.
He is suspicious, arbitrary, capricious, and untrustworthy!
Even today, when I have clearly chosen Lang'er, I still have to test and explore again and again.
Being so nitpicking and worrying about gains and losses will eventually lead to the severance of the relationship between father and son!
At this moment, Cui Daoyuan seemed to understand why Lin Wanting had started planning so early.
Looking back to the time when he was planning everything, he had also suggested to the emperor that Lin Wanting be included.
At that time, Lin Wanting was a man of both talent and virtue, and had already gained great fame in the capital. If one could get his help, everything would go smoothly and be even more powerful.
However, when the emperor heard this, he rejected him without hesitation.
If we investigate the reason at this moment, I am afraid even His Majesty knows it in his heart. Lin Wanting knows his character best and has always been upright. Not only may he not support such a plan, he may even "kill his own relatives for the sake of justice" and report it to the late emperor.
No wonder Lin Wanting resigned several times after the emperor ascended the throne.
Did he foresee at that time that the emperor's character was bad, which would eventually lead to suspicion between fathers and sons and fratricide, and that the court would be cold and demoralized, and he originally wanted to protect himself by being prudent.
It was only later that I could not resign, so I made preparations for a rainy day and laid a long-term plan...
He never had the chance to verify what Lin Wanting was thinking.
Now that things have come to this, the only way to protect the Cui family and avoid all their efforts being in vain is to do our utmost to save Lang'er.
Thinking of this, Cui Daoyuan slowly raised his head, reached out to grab the document on the table, and said in a deep voice:
"Zhang Yushi, even if you want me to plead guilty, you have to wait until I have read these documents, right?"
As he spoke, he seriously picked up the nearest document at hand and began to read it.
Upon seeing this, Censor Zhang looked at Cui Daoyuan deeply, then turned and left.
As the door was closed, the room was instantly shrouded in silence.
In August, the sun was bright and hot, but it seemed as if it could never shine into this room.
Choi Do-won raised his head from the documents and looked around.
This duty room was where he often sat. In the same position, he once was able to call the shots and was in high spirits.
But what is on the table now are all the evidence of his crimes.
Cui Daoyuan raised the corners of his mouth slightly and forced a sad smile, unable to hide his self-mockery and sadness.
For most of his life, he has lived an ambitious and vigorous life.
Now, as long as it can help Lang'er to rise to fame and the children of the Cui family to have a bright future, it is enough.
Thinking of this, Cui Daoyuan closed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and when he opened his eyes again, his eyes were full of determination and calmness.
He just raised his hand to the ink stick beside him and started grinding the ink.
The ink stick slowly turned in the inkstone, making a rustling sound, which was particularly clear in the silent room.
This is the only way, I hope it's not too late...
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