Chapter 141 In the Golden Palace, two princes are in trouble!
Chinese New Year.
Let alone royalty.
Even ordinary families should strive for harmony and peace within the household!
However, His Highness the Crown Prince, who is always friendly and respectful to his brothers, intends to impeach the Third Prince tomorrow.
And they either don't take action at all.
Make a move.
We'll make sure the Third Prince can never recover!
The officials in the Crown Prince's faction were naturally very anxious and agitated!
So they kept urging Xiao Qingxuan to pay attention to his reputation: "Your Highness, your image has finally improved a little bit in His Majesty's eyes..."
Xiao Qingxuan interrupted them directly: "It is precisely because the end of the year is approaching that this matter must be resolved. Those survivors have lost their families and lives. For them, how can they celebrate the New Year without taking revenge? Third Prince has already crossed the line of human ethics. If we delay until after the New Year, there may be unforeseen circumstances, or the Third Prince's faction may find an opportunity to back down."
These words, like a heavy hammer, shattered the hesitation of several advisors.
That's true.
They follow His Highness the Crown Prince precisely because they admire his diligence in governing and his love for the people.
How come he's now being blamed for standing up for the people?
After several aides agreed.
Xiao Qingxuan then asked, "Have the survivors been taken care of?"
"Your Highness, rest assured, everything has been properly arranged and they are absolutely safe. Their petition has also been delivered through reliable channels to several censors who are known for their integrity and have a long-standing feud with the Third Prince."
Several advisors revealed a knowing smile: "Just wait until tomorrow morning court, and the storm will break."
The crown prince nodded.
In this life, he wants to give Qian Yueshu a bright future.
A bright path to the throne that requires no effort from her...
Therefore, one should not be kind to anyone.
actually.
While Qian Yueshu was fighting for herself and her family, the Crown Prince was not idle either.
The Crown Prince had already eliminated the Third Prince's faction, as they were too wicked to be won over.
The rest were the die-hard loyalists of the Third Prince's faction.
For example, the third prince's maternal grandfather controlled 200,000 troops, and the third prince's father-in-law was a first-rank official.
Another group was won over by the Crown Prince's faction.
Xiao Qingxuan, after all, retained memories of his previous life and knew that some people were talented and not inherently bad, but their political affiliations were problematic...
Therefore, the crown prince won over these people.
The next day.
The Golden Palace.
The emperor, seated on a golden throne with nine dragons, had his face hidden behind a white jade crown with twelve tassels.
Although his exact expression was unclear, his imposing aura, though not angry, was enough to instill awe in everyone in the hall.
at first.
As usual, the imperial palace was filled with reports on local government affairs, proceeding in an orderly manner.
Anyone with a keen eye can sense that beneath the calm surface, a rapid undercurrent is surging.
Crown Prince Xiao Qingxuan stood at the head of all the princes, his eyes fixed on his nose, his expression calm and serene.
His key advisors also remained silent for the time being, as if waiting for the best opportunity.
However, Xiao Qingxuan and the Crown Prince's faction, who had been preparing all night, had not yet made their move.
Xie Jingxing and his family made their move, targeting the Sixth Prince.
Its strikes are deadly.
"Your subject, Xie Jingxing, has a matter to report!" His voice was loud and clear, breaking the false tranquility of the hall.
The emperor turned his gaze to him and said calmly, "What can I do for you, Minister Xie?"
Xie Jingxing took a deep breath, his words clear and sharp: "I hereby impeach the Sixth Prince for three major crimes! First, he privately amassed armor and weapons, hiding over three hundred elite assassins in his villa in the southern mountains outside the capital! Second, he illegally mined and established workshops, illegally manufacturing military equipment and crossbows, plotting treason! Third, he formed cliques for personal gain, undermining the foundation of the nation!"
These words were spoken.
The entire hall erupted in uproar!
Maintaining a private army, manufacturing weapons, or currying favor with officials—any one of these is a serious crime that touches the emperor's sore spot!
Xie Jingxing struck directly at the vital point with his first move.
He didn't even give the Sixth Prince and his faction a chance to refute him.
Some of the evidence was presented on the spot.
There is a hidden topographical map of Nanshan Villa, marking the location of the private army camp.
There are samples of privately cast arrowheads, whose markings have been ground off, but the craftsmanship characteristics are still obvious.
There are also several copies of secret letters exchanged between the Sixth Prince and local officials. Although not explicitly stated, their ambiguous wording has sparked much speculation.
On the dragon throne, the emperor's face instantly darkened.
He already disliked the sixth prince because of his mother's humble origins.
Hearing that he dared to do such a treasonous thing, his anger was even more uncontrollable.
The sixth prince was ashen-faced and trembling like a leaf. He wanted to step forward to defend himself, but his legs were too weak to utter a complete sentence. He could only prostrate himself on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly and saying, "Father, please understand, I have been wronged."
The Xie family clearly came prepared, and their chain of evidence was perfect.
The emperor looked at the sixth prince with eyes full of disgust and disappointment.
He might tolerate his son's mediocrity, but he could never tolerate his ambition to challenge imperial power and threaten the state.
Even with the immense power of the Third Prince and the Crown Prince, they wouldn't dare to do such a thing.
Does the Sixth Prince really not take him seriously?
The emperor did not give him many opportunities to defend himself.
After questioning him sternly and receiving a nonsensical response from the Sixth Prince, he completely lost his patience.
He snorted coldly and issued an unquestionable decree: the Sixth Prince Xiao Qingyu was stripped of all titles and ranks, reduced to a commoner, and immediately placed under house arrest in the Imperial Clan Court, not to be released without an imperial edict. His residence was to be searched, and all his associates were to be tried jointly by the Three Judicial Offices; those involved would be severely punished.
The Crown Prince was surprised.
In their past lives, the sixth prince and Xie Jingxing were in cahoots, but now they have become enemies.
He had initially scoffed at Qian Yueshu's attempt to use women to sabotage Xie Jingxing and the Sixth Prince.
Looking at it now...
He underestimated women, and he also underestimated Qian Yueqiu!
The matter concerning the Sixth Prince has been resolved.
Before the dust had completely settled, the princeling faction also began to make their moves.
An elderly censor with white hair stepped forward, holding a jade tablet, his voice trembling, and presented the petition written in blood and tears.
Immediately afterwards.
Several officials echoed the sentiments, their words vehement, directly accusing the Third Prince of disregarding human life, massacring villages and burning corpses—actions that defied all reason and justice!
One piece of evidence after another was presented: the blood-written testimonies of survivors, corroborating evidence provided by local officials who dared not speak out, and even some standard items belonging to the Third Prince's personal guards found in the ashes... The evidence was overwhelming and interlocking.
The third prince initially tried to argue his way out, flying into a rage and accusing others of slander.
But faced with a torrent of attacks and irrefutable evidence, his rebuttals appeared weak and powerless.
The emperor, seated high on the dragon throne, changed his expression from initial shock to gloom, and finally to a chilling disappointment and fury.
besides.
The Crown Prince's faction also added other crimes committed by the Third Prince.
"You're a traitor... you're a traitor!"
The emperor's voice trembled slightly, but it carried an undeniable authority: "As a prince, instead of cultivating virtue and serving the country, you have been tyrannical, cruel, and oppressive to the people. You have deceived the emperor, formed cliques, and committed all sorts of evil deeds that are intolerable to heaven and earth and arouse the wrath of both gods and men!"
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