Chapter 70 Digging a Hole
Chu Chengzhao stood up, not knowing what to say, and glanced at the empress.
"Zhao'er, you forgot that your mother did not agree to your going ice skating. Did you go there secretly? You are so naughty."
The queen looked at her son with a smile and nodded, indicating that he should just tell the truth.
But what she didn't know was that the ice skating incident was exactly Chu Chengzhao's plan to get rid of Wang Zixuan.
Ever since Chu Chengzhao could remember, he knew that Wang Zixuan looked very similar to him.
If someone who was not familiar with them met them, they would not be able to tell which one of them was the prince and which one was the young master of the general's mansion.
He is the legitimate son of the Empress Dowager, how can he be similar to others?
So, when he learned that the palace was going to hold a full-moon banquet for Chu Qinshu, he discussed with Luo Yongsen a plan to lure Wang Zixuan to go ice skating at Bi Bo Lake.
As long as Wang Zixuan fell into the ice cave, even if he didn't die at the time, his body would be soaked in ice water and it would damage his foundation.
It is much easier to kill a sick person.
"In reply to your Majesty, I have indeed been to Bi Bo Lake, but many people had already gone down to the ice when I went there. I don't know who led the way down."
What Chu Chengzhao said was true. He really didn't see who took the lead in going into the lake.
"Is that true?"
Emperor Yongping also frowned when he saw that Chu Chengzhao did not seem to be lying in his tone and expression.
If a young man behaves inappropriately in front of others, he will be shown mercy even if he is to be whipped.
But the reality before us is that I am afraid I will also be charged with the crime of deceiving the emperor.
However, the Duke Xuan's Mansion was deceiving the emperor at this moment...which was exactly what he wanted.
"I will never speak empty words."
Chu Chengzhao said solemnly.
Seeing that Chu Chengzhao had no intention of excusing him, Luo Yongsen felt a little flustered and looked at Duke Xuan with a flashing look in his eyes.
"Ma Aiqing, what do you think about this matter?"
Emperor Yongping glanced at Matthew indifferently.
"Your Majesty, why not ask the commander of the Imperial Guard? After all, the Imperial Guard is guarding the outside of the Garden. I'm afraid only they can explain the truth of this matter."
Matthew Li was not a judge, and he did not dare to draw any conclusion based on the three different stories.
The Queen's party, he and Prince Ning's father-in-law and son-in-law naturally wanted to overthrow them.
But if you don't have the conditions to hit the target with one strike, it's better to endure it than to provoke it.
"Then let's do as you say. Is Commander Lu here?"
Emperor Yongping asked.
"I am here."
The commander of the Imperial Guard, Lu Jihui, was a 30-year-old strong man from the Lu family, a family of military generals.
However, all the elders in the clan died on the battlefield during the previous emperor's time, and no one survived.
Emperor Yongping did not send him to join the army in the border city, but instead sent him to the Imperial Guard when he was sixteen years old, and promoted him all the way to the position of commander of the Imperial Guard.
"Do you know the cause and effect of the Bi Bo Lake incident?"
Emperor Yongping asked.
"I, your humble servant, know this well, ..."
Lu Jihui recounted the story of ice skating at Bibo Lake in a steady and powerful voice.
He also called the names of all the children who had gone off the ice, and said that if there were any unclear points, they could check with the children again.
By the time he had finished speaking, the truth was clear.
Luo Yongsen was stunned when he heard this. He knew that there were imperial guards guarding outside the Yu Garden.
But he didn't even see the shadow of a single guard by the Bi Bo Lake. How could Commander Lu know so clearly?
"Duke Xuan, does this matter need further verification?"
Emperor Yongping did not make a direct conclusion, but threw the question back to Duke Xuan.
Gambling is about winning the biggest victory with the least loss, and making the loser convinced.
[It is true even after verification. I just don't know if the emperor dares to take action against the Duke Xuan's Mansion after the matter is concluded? ]
Chu Qinshu kept her ears perked up to listen to the gossip.
She couldn't hear what Emperor Yongping was going to do, but she was afraid that Emperor Yongping would not dare to deal with Duke Xuan's Mansion.
To be honest, the Duke Xuan's Mansion cannot be easily moved.
After all, the power of 50,000 soldiers in the suburban camp is in their hands. If they are not careful, the people in the suburban area of the capital will suffer an unexpected disaster.
The only way to prevent the common people from suffering is to find a way to remove their military power without bloodshed.
This is also the real reason why Emperor Yongping did not take action against the Empress before finding out all the truth.
[The most intimidating person in the Beijing Suburban Camp is the Left Deputy General Jiang Baiqing. He is the one who trains the troops on weekdays. He is so powerful that he can command the support of hundreds of soldiers.]
Emperor Yongping: Then wouldn't it be a good idea to remove the military power from Duke Xuan's Mansion and promote Jiang Baiqing?
[Unfortunately, Jiang Baiqing had long been the queen's little licker. Poor his father, Guiyi Hou, who was loyal and brave enough to defend the border for the country, was eventually killed by him.]
Emperor Yongping: "......"
So the cuckold he had been searching for for a month was actually in a camp outside Beijing?
Damn, Jiang Baiqing is several years younger than the Empress, right?
But Long Wei didn't find any clues.
Also, that kid actually killed his father, Guiyi Hou?
He seems quite smart on weekdays, how could he be so confused?
[Alas, this is the love-brained man. He has never married for the queen's sake, but he has never even touched the queen's hand. I don't know whether I should say he is stupid or loyal.]
Chu Qinshu's thoughts were scattered, and the thoughts of Emperor Yongping and Chu Chengyi who were listening also flew up and down for a while.
The last sentence comforted Emperor Yongping somewhat.
If you haven't even touched the Queen's hand, then you are not considered a cuckold.
"Your Majesty, since Commander Lu has already explained the truth, there is no need to verify it. It's just that my grandson was disrespectful in front of you. I'm afraid he was afraid and couldn't express himself clearly. He didn't lie intentionally. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
As soon as Lu Jihui finished speaking, Duke Xuan was so frightened that his face turned pale. Seeing that Emperor Yongping was asking him, he decided to admit the crime of impoliteness before Yu.
After going through so much trouble, it is impossible to get away unscathed.
The crime of misbehavior in front of the emperor is much less serious than the crime of deceiving the emperor.
"Commander Lu, how should we deal with Yu Qian's indiscretion according to the law?"
When Emperor Yongping asked this question, Duke Xuan was delighted.
It seems that the emperor will no longer care about his grandson's lies.
But most of the court officials present did not think so.
Their emperor has not been as easy to talk to as before recently, and has been setting traps for them everywhere in the court.
The Right Military Secretary Chen Mengyi was dismissed from office and sent back to his hometown because of his blind optimism.
I wonder who will be the next person to return home?
"In reply to the emperor, if you violate the rules, you will be flogged fifty times at the least and beheaded as a warning to the public at the worst."
Lu Jihui was a tall and strong man, and his voice was so intimidating that it made Luo Yongsen tremble with fear at the sound of his voice.
Just as Luo Yonghui was wondering how he could escape the whipping, he added.
"Oh, the whip used for execution is specially made. It has barbs and rotten flesh, all left by those who were punished in the past.
The barbs are hard to clean, so I just let the rotten flesh wind do its thing. I’ll need them for executions anyway, so whoever they scratch is their flesh.”
Duke Xuan was furious when he heard this. He dared to admit the crime of impoliteness in front of Yu because he was sure that the empress would let the executioner show mercy.
After hearing what Lu Jihui said, who among his subordinates would dare to accept the bribe and commit crimes?
"Well, Luo's son, do you plead guilty?"
Emperor Yongping nodded and turned his gaze to Luo Yongsen.
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