Chapter 244 The Planner
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhao Huailang's face changed immediately.
As everyone knows, Zhang Xian is now investigating a case under the order of the emperor. On the surface, he is investigating Lin Lao's clique and selfishness, but in fact, he is investigating the Cui family and the Ministry of Personnel.
Based on all the things that happened before, Zhao Huailang had to suspect that Zhang Xian's appearance at this critical juncture was definitely not a good thing for him.
If he doesn't hurry up, he might not even have the chance to speak in a while!
Emperor Sheng was thinking about whether to issue an edict for Shen Zhengsheng and Lu Yongzhu, when he suddenly heard that Zhang Xianhou was outside the palace. He was about to summon him, but Zhao Huailang's voice sounded again:
"Father, I am guilty!"
When Emperor Sheng heard this, his eyes flashed with lightning and a dark tide surged in his eyes.
Seeing Zhao Huailang kneeling down in front of him, Emperor Sheng's mouth curved up, but the smile did not reach his eyes, "Second brother, what crime have you committed?"
Zhao Huailang did not dare to hesitate for a moment and said quickly: "Father, I did believe the lies this time and failed to make a clear judgment."
"But there are people who are actually fanning the flames in order to put me to death!"
Emperor Sheng heard this, but his expression did not change. He just said calmly: "I just asked you, why didn't you tell me?"
Zhao Huailang seemed to have expected Emperor Sheng to say this, and immediately said in panic:
"Father, I didn't say anything just now because the truth I guessed was really unbelievable to me. And after the incident of the letter, I dare not make rash judgments in front of you again."
"But after thinking deeply a few times just now, and because General Shen asked for your approval, I have completely seen it clearly."
"Please forgive me for my crime of deceiving you. The person who was looking for me was not the princess, but my subordinate."
"Before entering the palace, I sent my men to pick up Gu Xizhi in order to facilitate the confrontation."
"But just now, my men were injured and returned in a hurry, but they heard that General Shen's daughter, Lord Jiang's wife, had already led the crowd to protect Gu Xizhi in the other courtyard. It seems that she and Gu Xizhi have a deep sisterly relationship!"
"Besides, rumors are spreading outside now, saying that the two generals were besieged in Shenlu Prefecture, and that I, your son, fabricated evidence to deliberately frame the two generals in order to protect my grandfather."
"Father, the more I think about this, the more frightened I feel!"
"If Gu Xizhi still has a deep relationship with the Shen family, why would she come to me, take out the letter, and insist that Shen Zhengsheng is colluding with the enemy and betraying the country?"
"General Shen's heartfelt words just now, asking for an imperial decree to clear his name, are reasonable and logical."
"But, Father, if you issue the decree, wouldn't it be like confirming this false accusation against me in front of the whole world?"
"You know, your Majesty, sent the Imperial Guards out of the palace to surround the mansion, and even Commander Wen was unaware of the reason. So where did this rumor in the capital come from?"
"It's so tightly linked and so seamless. Father, I can't help but suspect that this was a setup set up against me from the very beginning!"
"They are trying to take advantage of my loyalty to the Emperor and my desire to help him solve his problems, and trick me into writing a letter to sue the two generals, thereby causing the Emperor to become suspicious of me and making me infamous in the capital!"
"But Father, is this all for this round?"
When Zhao Huailang said this, he looked back at Jiang Xun, and then his eyes swept over the kneeling Shen Zhengsheng and Lu Yongzhu, and fell on Lu Yunzheng.
The next moment, he bowed his head and raised his voice:
"Father, last year Lu Yunzheng's regretful engagement caused a lot of uproar in the capital. Everyone said that Gu Xizhi and Shen Jiasui had become enemies."
"I was also deceived by her, so I trusted Gu Xizhi and fell into her evil scheme."
"If this game has been planned since last year, then the wisdom and ambition of the person who planned it are hard to estimate!"
"Father, please think carefully. In the past year, first it was my third brother, and then it was me. Is this really a coincidence?"
"What is the purpose of the person behind this? How many people has he united with? How many of them are important officials of the court and pillars of the country?"
"I dare to say that this is a true act of forming a clique for personal gain!"
"Behind this plot, is even my father... being pushed along?"
When Emperor Sheng heard this, his expression did not change at all, except for his slightly narrowed eyes, which seemed to contain deep meaning in the darkness.
He was silent for a long time, and one could hear a pin drop in the entire hall.
Everyone held their breath, and only heard Emperor Sheng gently stroking the armrest of the dragon throne. His cold fingertips rubbed against the hard armrest, making a subtle yet chilling sound.
Zhao Huailang prostrated himself on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold bricks. In the silence, his heart was in turmoil.
He knew very well that he was like walking on the edge of a cliff, and one wrong step would lead to eternal damnation.
"Then who do you think is the mastermind behind this so-called plot?"
Emperor Sheng raised his eyes slightly and threw the question back lightly.
Zhao Huailang's heart sank and he secretly took a deep breath, as if he wanted to inhale all the depressing and dull air into his lungs.
The situation is already like this, how much worse can it get? Big deal...
Zhao Huailang slowly straightened his upper body, straightened his spine, and said in a clear voice: "Father, even if others are afraid to mention something today, I have no worries anymore."
"Over the years, the court has been turbulent, with various forces fighting against each other. The root cause is the undecided position of crown prince!"
"My third brother has been imprisoned for life, and I am now stuck in a quagmire. The remaining candidates for the crown prince are self-evident."
"But father, Ye'er is still young and his character is not yet determined, yet someone is so impatient to push Ye'er to the position of crown prince."
"Father, think carefully, who is it that is so close to Ye'er, and who will benefit greatly from Ye'er's success in the future? Then who is the person who planned this?"
This was said almost without any concealment.
The people in the hall looked at Jiang Xun vaguely, and among them, Jia Shaobo's gaze was the most naked.
He is a man who can't hide his emotions.
Lord Jiang was once favored by the emperor and appointed as the tutor of His Royal Highness the Emperor's grandson. In this case, isn't he the person who has the closest relationship with His Royal Highness?
Could it be that Prince Rui's words were an allusion to Lord Jiang's plan to use this relationship to hold the young lord hostage and control government affairs in the future? Even attempting to steal the country and usurp the throne?
As soon as this outrageous thought came to his mind, Jia Shaobo felt a chill rising up, and he shuddered involuntarily, and hurriedly looked away.
At this moment, Jiang Xun, who was being stared at by everyone, looked at his nose with his eyes and his heart with his nose, as if he didn't hear anything.
Lu Yunzheng was kneeling at the end, and cold sweat broke out on his back when he heard this.
He raised his eyes to look at Jiang Xun in front of him, and saw that he was still as still as a mountain. At this moment he couldn't help but secretly admire him.
He thought that in his previous life, he had triumphed over the battlefield, and was far from being comparable to Jiang Xun, who was just a talker in the court.
But now, facing this "battlefield" without the smoke of gunpowder, I understand how difficult it is to guard against hidden arrows, and it's horrifying!
Just this once...
As long as this matter is over, he would rather live in the northern desert forever, gallop on the battlefield, and never turn back!
At this time, Emperor Sheng's ambiguous chuckle was heard in the silent imperial study.
Everyone trembled slightly, and then they heard Emperor Sheng ask slowly: "Xiuzhi, what do you think?"
Jiang Xun, who was named, raised his head and shook his head calmly, his voice clear and firm:
"Your Majesty, what the prince said is... nonsense."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
