Everyone in the hall looked up at the emperor, wondering what the evidence was.
The old emperor took the things presented by the eunuch and glanced at them casually. Suddenly, his face darkened and he threw the things to the ground. He looked at the people below with gleaming eyes, "Absurd!"
The palace was completely silent. No one dared to say anything else. The old emperor had a look of anger on his face. His voice was old but powerful. "I know what the atmosphere in the court has been like in recent years. You know it too. I know you are quite dissatisfied with the regent's killing of officials, but ask yourselves, which of those dead officials was clean!"
The hall fell into deathly silence; even the sound of breathing seemed so abrupt.
"I asked the Regent to assist in the administration of state affairs because I did not want the atmosphere in the court to continue like this. However, you have been talking nonsense and have not reflected on yourselves. You are still slandering others. How can this be disgraceful!"
After he finished speaking, the old emperor started coughing violently again, and the eunuch beside him quickly brought him a cup of hot tea.
The people in the side hall all had subtle looks, probably because they didn't expect that although the emperor was seriously ill, he still had his own plans for state affairs. However, the regent's actions were really hard to agree with.
Xia Tong actually wanted to laugh. Seeing how high-sounding the old emperor's words were, he must be eager to kill the villain behind his back. There must be some reason why he had to protect him like this. Even if he really produced evidence of the villain's rebellion, the old emperor would probably pretend not to see it.
"My queen!"
At this moment, a palace maid suddenly walked in hurriedly, bowed and replied: "Your Highness is awake."
"What?"
The queen suddenly stood up, a glimmer of joy in her eyes. She had no intention of listening any further and hurriedly left with her people. The other ladies also followed suit and whispered to each other. It was obvious that they did not expect the prince to wake up at this time.
At this time, a eunuch hurriedly told the people in the main hall what was happening. In an instant, everyone started whispering, some were glad, some were sighing, but not everyone hoped that the prince would wake up.
Upon hearing this news, the old emperor's expression eased slightly, but the third prince below continued to say: "Father, there is conclusive evidence that the officials of the Xiahou Mansion abused their power and should be dealt with according to the law."
After he finished speaking, the attention of the others was drawn back. The old man in the upper position narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "So what do you think should be done?"
At this point, the Third Prince glanced at the others and said respectfully, "According to the laws of the dynasty, even if we don't investigate the poisoning of my brother, the crimes are enough to confiscate the Xiahou Mansion and punish all the people in the mansion. The men will be exiled to the border, and the women will be made courtesans. They will never be allowed to serve as officials for five generations."
After saying this, everyone in the hall was thinking about their own things, while glancing at the Regent above. Everyone knew that the Regent Princess came from the Xiahou Mansion, and no one knew what the Regent was thinking.
"If that's the case, I have a copy of the account books of various ministries in my hand, which contain a lot of information. I hope Your Majesty will take a look at it."
The young censor suddenly presented a stack of things, which made everyone in the hall look at a loss. They stared at the stack of account books with sharp eyes, obviously not expecting that Lord Liu would have this thing!
In fact, each department has its own set of rules. The account books in public and in secret must be different. Everyone has known this for so many years, but why is this thing in the hands of Lord Liu!
For a moment, everyone was worried, sweating profusely, and lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
Looking at what the eunuch presented, the old emperor squinted his eyes and flipped through it casually, but his expression became increasingly gloomy, and the whole hall was filled with a solemn and tense atmosphere.
"The Third Prince is right. If we want to eradicate this unhealthy trend, we should start from the Xiahou Mansion. Other ministers should do the same." An imperial censor stepped forward and said respectfully.
After saying this, the Third Prince glanced at the others without saying a word. He did not argue as he did before, but there was a hint of unwillingness in his eyes. Only now did he understand that this was a trap from the very beginning.
"What do you think, my dear ministers?" The old emperor looked at the people below with a sharp gaze.
Instantly, everyone below looked at each other in silence. A bold official stammered, "Xia... The Xiahou Mansion has been loyal to the emperor and defended the country for generations. Even if they have no merits, they have worked hard. I believe that Lord Xia and his men will also realize their mistakes, repent, and thank the emperor for his grace."
"Yes, yes, that's exactly what I meant. If the merits and demerits are offset, it can also reflect the emperor's great grace."
For a moment, some people echoed the sentiment. The man from the Grand Tutor's Mansion looked particularly unhappy, but he didn't say anything in the end.
"Absurd!"
The old emperor coughed, and cast a sharp gaze at the people below, "If the law is not right, how can we support the country!"
"Your Majesty is wise." The young censor immediately agreed.
The other ministers all lowered their heads with different expressions and dared not speak, cold sweat unconsciously appearing on their foreheads.
"You all pretend to obey but secretly disobey. Look at the good things you have done!"
The old emperor threw the pile of things on the ground with a sullen face, "Lord Ji, please take a good look at these things. Don't miss any of them. You must investigate them thoroughly!"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone was shocked. One of the ministers of the Ministry of Personnel, who had a square face, immediately stepped forward to pick up the things, and said respectfully, "I obey your order."
At that moment, everyone felt a chill in their hearts, because everyone knew that the newly appointed Lord Ji was the regent's man.
"As for the matter of Xiahou Mansion, what do you think, Lord Gu?"
In an instant, everyone turned their attention to the man who could not be ignored. Even though the regent was quiet during court sessions, whenever he spoke, someone would be in trouble.
Facing the different gazes from the crowd, the man raised his eyes slightly and said in a cold voice, "The hereditary titles of the Xiahou Mansion will be revoked, the people involved in the case will be dismissed and investigated, and the rest will be demoted one rank and have their monthly salary deducted for half a year as a warning to others."
In an instant, everyone seemed to understand something. Everyone knew that nothing had been found out about the Regent's father-in-law. Although the Regent seemed to not care about the Xiahou Mansion, he was actually paving the way for his father-in-law!
Hearing this, the old emperor didn't say anything else. He just coughed twice tiredly and waved his hand, "So be it."
As the eunuch shouted to adjourn the court, everyone knelt down and shouted "Farewell to the Emperor".
At this point, everyone knows that things are not over, but have just begun. The things are still in Lord Ji’s hands, and no one knows how the emperor will deal with them in the end.
After hearing this in the side hall, Xia Tong wanted to release her parents immediately. However, she also understood that the poisoning of the prince was a good thing for the royal family, because they could use that evidence to eliminate the power of the aristocratic families on a large scale and consolidate the imperial power. What puzzled her was how that piece of evidence fell into the hands of the Grand Tutor's Mansion?
"I knew that Lord Xia and the others were wronged, and it turned out to be true." A lady suddenly stepped forward with a smile, took her hand, and said attentively: "The princess is really filial. She still cares about her mother's family at this time. This kind of love alone is rare and precious."
"That is to say, how could a man as honest as Lord Xia do such a thing? Fortunately, the emperor cleared Lord Xia's name."
In an instant, the others also came over eagerly and flattered her desperately. Xia Tong smiled and said nothing. These people were just worried about their own safety. After all, there was a sword hanging over the head of each person in the account book. It all depended on how Gu Qin would check it.
"Master, the prince is waiting for you outside."
At this time Qing'er also came over, and Xia Tong immediately had an excuse to get rid of these people. Then she immediately walked out of the side hall, only to see the carriage still standing in the cold wind. People were coming and going outside the main hall, and there were many people who wanted to make a relationship with the hall, but with Xifeng guarding there, no one dared to approach.
After getting on the carriage, Xia Tong saw a lazy and cold figure leaning in the carriage. When she saw him, her cheeks suddenly felt hot for some reason. She sat quietly aside without looking at him.
As the carriage began to move, the compartment gradually became silent, and a strange atmosphere filled the air. Xia Tong sat there absentmindedly lifting the curtain to look at the scenery outside, but her heart was actually beating exceptionally fast.
The villain's decision was a fatal disaster for the Xiahou Mansion, but it was the best thing for her father. In this way, the mansion could only rely on her father's power to continue to support it in the future, and the old lady would certainly not dare to arrogantly blame her mother again.
After a long silence, she suddenly turned her head slowly and glanced at the man over there, "Can I... go pick up my parents?"
The man looked at the bamboo slips without raising his head, and said with his thin lips slightly parted, "There are always so many troubles."
Through the curtain, Xifeng could naturally hear the voices inside. Without saying a word, he asked the coachman to rush to the Ministry of Justice prison.
"This time... Thank you, Your Highness. But I don't know why the evidence is in the hands of the Grand Tutor's Mansion." When Xia Tong said this, he looked thoughtful.
The man didn't speak, as if he didn't hear her voice. Xia Tong didn't say anything else either. When the carriage stopped outside the prison, she couldn't wait to walk out. She accidentally stepped on an empty step. It was not until a big hand from behind held her arm tightly that she steadied herself and stepped down.
The Regent seldom came to the Sky Prison. When they saw him coming, the jailers inside all bowed to him with a chill in their hearts. Even though they had seen many kinds of torture, they were still afraid of the Regent from the bottom of their hearts.
The sky prison was still dark and damp, and people were being tortured every day. When they arrived at the cell where her father was imprisoned, it should have been impossible for him to leave the cell because the imperial decree of demotion had not come down so soon. However, with Gu Qin there, the jailers dared not stop them and rushed to open the cell.
"father!"
Xia Tong hurriedly walked in and helped her father up, and while smiling she told him the Emperor's order. For a moment, Xia Lin and the others felt dizzy. Being dismissed and investigated meant that they could no longer enter the official career, which was like a bolt from the blue for them.
Xia Zhian was still sharp-eyed and clear-minded. When he saw the man outside, he quickly stepped forward and bowed, "Thank you for your care, Your Majesty. I will remember it in my heart."
In an instant, Xia Lin and the others suddenly remembered this and immediately knelt down to thank him, "Your Majesty, your kindness is so great, and we in the Xiahou Mansion will never forget it."
Even if they are dismissed from their posts and investigated, as long as the Regent takes care of them, they will surely make a comeback.
Glancing at the people in front of him, Gu Qin said calmly, "Just behave yourself in the future."
After he finished speaking, everyone thought that the prince wanted them to stay out of the spotlight, so they quickly responded. Only Xia Zhian lowered his eyes, making it impossible to see what he was thinking.
"Go back home."
Gu Qin glanced at the woman and walked straight ahead. Xia Tong was about to say that she was going to pick up her mother, but now she could only ask Xifeng for help, and then immediately followed the man.
All kinds of creepy screams could be heard from time to time in the gloomy prison. Looking at the tall and proud figure in front of her, Xia Tong immediately went up to him and held his hand, blinking her eyes and said, "How about I cook lunch for the prince today?"
The big eyes were bright and clear, filled with his own reflection. Gu Qin's eyebrows moved slightly, and he suddenly wrapped the soft little hand tightly, "Dogleg."
"He's also the prince's lackey. I'm not someone who flatters everyone." Xia Tong curled her lips and snorted. This man never says nice things.
After leaving the prison and getting on the carriage, Xia Tong began to analyze who had stolen her evidence. Since Fang Yuqing'er couldn't have done it, then who could have approached her room without being discovered?
After returning home, she immediately went to prepare lunch, thinking of visiting her parents tomorrow. Now, only her father was safe and sound in the Xia family. If the old lady and the others were smart, they should know what to do. If they still didn't know, she would just let her father split up the family. Anyway, the downfall of the Xia family was none of her business.
The study was silent and gloomy, with a solemn atmosphere. There was a pretty woman in black brocade clothes kneeling on the ground. She had sweat on her forehead and a hint of nervousness on her face. She lowered her head and said nothing.
The man put his hands behind his back, staring blankly at a painting on the wall, and said in a cold voice, "Does this king keep you just to betray me?"
"Master, please forgive me!" Hong Xue's face changed, and her voice was a little flustered. "The princess must have hidden the evidence in order to harm the master in the future. I saw it with my own eyes. It must be someone in the Grand Tutor's Mansion who gave the things to the princess."
There was a slight pause in the last sentence, and Xifeng at the side frowned, looking at the woman on the ground with disappointment. He obviously didn't expect that the companion who grew up with him would become so confused.
Gu Qin suddenly turned around and glanced down at the woman who was kneeling on one knee. A cold light flashed in his bottomless eyes, "So in your eyes, I am a fool."
"Your subordinate——"
Grabbing the woman's neck with one hand, the man looked into her horrified eyes with no warmth in his eyes. "It's been a long time since I've done it myself."
As the woman's face gradually turned pale, her head suddenly tilted to the side and her whole body suddenly fell to the ground. The figure that was still alive just now was now silent.
The man wiped his palms with a handkerchief slowly and glanced at them. "Throw it into the snake cave."
Those who betray their master never have a good ending. Xifeng never thought that Hongxue was so foolish that she would do such a thing to frame the princess. Her mind was really blinded by greed.
Xifeng didn't feel sorry for her. At least the master had given her a quick death. When she squatted down and carried the body, she unconsciously glanced at the man beside her, "Master Zhang and others have been waiting in the main hall for a long time. Do you want to meet them, master?"
This incident involves a wide range of people, and is most suitable for clearing out the foundation of the aristocratic families and severely damaging the Grand Tutor's Mansion. However, I believe that the Grand Tutor's Mansion will not sit idly by. However, the prince is also treacherous. He has been in a coma for so long due to "poisoning" and woke up so timely today, allowing their master to offend people while he himself reaps the benefits.
Gu Qin paused, suddenly looked at the sky outside, and said in a low voice, "The King is going to have dinner."
The author has something to say: Next chapter hehehe!
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