Chapter 105: Protect the Throne or Protect the Family
"Lin Fu, quickly send someone to summon the imperial physician.
Two more people, please help Master Su hold his arm and sign. Be gentle and don’t hurt Master Su’s arm.”
Emperor Yongping knew that Su Pengxin was deceiving him, but he did not expose it.
Anyway, he is in the study and can't escape even if he pretends to be sick.
Before Su Pengxin could react, two eunuchs supported his arms.
Lin Fu even went straight up to him, held his hand and helped him with the painting.
"Lord Du, this deed is in triplicate. I will give one to you and Lord Su. You will get what you wish for within three years."
Emperor Yongping gave a copy of the signed contract to Du Hongdao and Su Pengxin respectively.
Su Pengxin fumed and refused to take it, so Lin Fu folded it for him and put it directly into his sleeve pocket.
Du Hongdao happily accepted the deed.
His face was filled with joy as he was about to hold his great-grandson in his arms.
"Lin Fu, go and see if Lord Yu has fallen into Anping's golden basin. Why has he been gone for so long?"
Emperor Yongping put away his copy of the deed and saw the box on the table that Fu Ronger had brought to the Qinzheng Hall.
This box contains all of Fu Ronger's dowry.
If she is willing to divorce, she can take all these back to Fu's family.
Unfortunately, she delivered them all to Emperor Yongping.
Alas, I wonder if she will regret it when she knows Prince Xiaohuai's thoughts in the future.
"Your Majesty, I was trying to coax the little princess to sleep and forgot the time."
Yu Jinming quickly carried Chu Qinshu back to the palace, pretending to be innocent, as if he really knew nothing about what had just happened in the palace.
Emperor Yongping glanced at him, then naturally reached out and took the sleeping Chu Qinshu.
"Okay, take the things in this box and show them to Lord Du and Lord Su."
Emperor Yongping never looked at what was in the box.
But he was also present at King Huai's wedding.
The royal merchant married his legitimate daughter into the palace as his principal wife. The standards were no higher than those for the empress, princess, or crown princess, but it was a rare display among the common people.
Moreover, every piece of dowry was made of solid gold and jade.
There are countless farmland and shops.
It goes without saying that there will be plenty of things.
"Your Majesty, is this Princess Huai's dowry?"
Du Hongdao was the first to ask after reading the list assigned to him.
A woman's dowry is private property. How can the emperor be concerned about it?
"Yes, this is indeed Princess Huai's dowry."
Emperor Yongping did not deny it either.
When Fu Ronger made a commotion outside the Qinzheng Palace, all the civil and military officials in the court heard it.
There was no need for him to hide it.
"Your Majesty, Princess Huai took out her dowry because she wanted to follow her family's example and donate her wealth to serve the country?"
Su Pengxin also finished reading the list assigned to him.
I have guessed about 70% of what Rong'er will do.
Prince Huai's crime has not yet been determined, so what she did could not be considered as paying the penalty.
"That's right. Of course, she also said that she wanted to atone for the sins of the prince."
Emperor Yongping nodded, his tone somewhat helpless.
If Prince Huai assassinated Chu Chengyi in private, it would at most be considered a complete commemoration of the death of Chu Chengyi.
But in the royal family, it was an attempt to murder the emperor.
Fortunately, Chu Chengyi was not murdered by him.
Otherwise, according to the law, he would be beheaded and his family would be demoted to commoners.
"Your Majesty, the crime that Prince Huai committed is hard to forgive. After all, he attempted to murder the crown prince. If you give him a lighter sentence, the officials will not accept it."
When Yu Jinming saw Emperor Yongping showing hesitation, he immediately spoke out to remind him.
He and Chu Chengyi spent a lot of time and effort to find out the truth of this case.
Only he understands the hardships and dangers he has experienced.
There was no way he would agree to let Prince Huai off easily.
"I know what you mean. I asked you to come to Yu's study just to discuss a solution, didn't I?"
It’s not that Emperor Yongping didn’t want to severely sentence Prince Huai.
He made such a big move, cutting off King Huai's arm, wasn't it just to make him unable to cause any trouble anymore?
But no matter what, Prince Huai is his son.
He was somewhat reluctant to cut off his arm and face a heavy sentence.
But if he gave a light sentence, he would not be able to explain to Chu Chengyi who was seriously injured by Prince Huai.
"Alas, women are always the easiest to be soft-hearted. How come Princess Huai is so stupid?"
After listening to the conversation between Emperor Yongping and others, Du Hongdao guessed what Fu Ronger meant.
According to the criminal law, Fu Ronger, as the principal wife of Prince Huai, could not escape the crime of being exiled with him no matter what.
But the Fu family donated their property, and she was also pardoned.
She wanted to follow the example of the Fu family and donate her dowry in order to save Prince Huai.
But if the crimes committed by Prince Huai could be offset with money, the Crown Prince would probably have a hard time living in peace.
Don’t all of those adult princes have to give it a try?
Once things are done, there will be an opportunity to compete for storage.
If the crime fails, the daughter-in-law's dowry can be used to atone for the crime.
With such a small price, any prince would probably be willing to take a chance.
"My dear Su Aiqing, do you have a way to achieve the best of both worlds?"
Sure enough, Su Pengxin, a man who was well-versed in law, was highly expected by Emperor Yongping.
"Your Majesty, according to the law, Prince Huai should be exiled three thousand miles, and his family should go with him to the place of exile, but the law does not mention whether his throne and property should be retained."
Su Pengxin's words were very unconfident.
Although the princes were guilty of the same crimes as the common people, the common people had no titles and did not have much wealth.
When common people were beheaded and limbed, the most they would receive was a beating.
However, if a commoner assassinates the crown prince, it is a serious crime that will result in immediate execution and the extermination of all nine generations of the clan.
No matter what, if a prince breaks the law, he cannot be punished the same as a commoner.
"I wonder if Princess Huai donated her dowry to protect the family of Prince Huai or to protect Prince Huai's throne?"
After hearing what Su Pengxin said, Yu Jinming immediately raised questions.
King Huai had to be exiled even if he didn't want to.
But whether he wanted to go into exile with his family or with the throne, the situation could be changed because Princess Huai donated her dowry.
No matter how much more, if he is not willing, Chu Chengyi will definitely not be willing either.
"In my opinion, Princess Huai wants to protect Prince Huai's family."
Du Hongdao stroked his gray beard and said with a look of understanding.
"In my opinion, that may not be the case."
Su Pengxin didn't understand Fu Ronger, but he knew what those princes were thinking.
In their view, everything other than identity is nothing but clouds.
Otherwise, why would Prince Huai want to assassinate the crown prince?
"How about I go back to the Dali Temple and ask Prince Huai what he thinks?"
Yu Jinming saw that Emperor Yongping also had no clear opinion.
Du and Su did not dare to speculate.
If this continues, I'm afraid we won't be able to reach a conclusion.
"Let's do as you wish."
Emperor Yongping pondered for a moment and agreed to Yu Jinming's proposal.
"The three of you go to the Dali Temple together. I will be waiting for you in the study."
The case of Prince Huai was concluded today, and I will have to give an explanation to the court officials at the morning court tomorrow.
With these three trusted ministers handling this matter together, a lot of trouble can be avoided.
And Chu Chengyi, he was seriously injured that day, he couldn't bear this punishment in vain.
Well, I have to comfort him properly afterwards.
"I accept your order"
Yu Jinming and the other two received the oral order in unison and went to the Dali Temple without stopping.
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