Chapter 195 The Execution of the Prince of Qi

On the day of the grand court, all civil and military officials gathered in the court.

The atmosphere in the court today was strange and bizarre. The spacious hall was silent, and hundreds of officials stood on both sides, without even a cough. The

Shandong Road river management project silver corruption case was just an ordinary matter, and the ones who were worried were just those who had something to hide. But the matter of the Prince of Qi being arrested and imprisoned for treason, no one knew what kind of storm this royal bloody storm would sweep across the court?

The Prince of Qi, who was the prefect of Kaifeng, was in a high position and had great power, and there were many court officials who had personal relationships or interests with the Prince of Qi's mansion. Throughout the dynasties, there have been too many tragic cases where officials who were slightly involved

in the heinous crime of treason were massacred. Officials who are familiar with the Records of the Grand Historian will shudder when they think about the major cases of treason and rebellion in all dynasties, and how many people were massacred.

Although this dynasty has been extremely generous and kind to its ministers since the founding of the dynasty by Emperor Taizu. In history, the first thing most founding emperors did after they took the throne was to purge the powerful ministers who held great power and were too meritorious to be a threat to the emperor, but Emperor Taizu only used a veiled trick of releasing military power with a cup of wine, and let the old brothers who followed him to conquer the world retreat unscathed.

The emperor of the Song Dynasty was a benevolent and wise monarch, and Emperor Taizu vowed to rule the world together with the literati. In recent years, the court officials of the Song Dynasty have received extremely generous salaries and are unlikely to be sentenced to extreme punishment. They can be said to be working as officials with peace of mind. However, this time, the King of Qi is guilty of treason and regicide. I wonder how the emperor will deal with him? How many innocent officials will be implicated?

The emperor sternly glanced at the officials and his eyes fell on the King of Qin who was standing quietly beside him.

"King of Qin, has the case of corruption in the Shandong Road River Management Project been reviewed?"

King of Qin Zhao Defang walked out of the class, "Reporting to the emperor, the surprise interrogation in recent days has been completed yesterday. I have brought the case files. Please make your decision, Your Majesty!"

Wang Jien walked over and took the thick stack of case files and handed them to the emperor.

Several court officials who had something to hide were so frightened that their hearts were beating like drums, and cold sweats broke out on their backs.

The emperor did not look at the file carefully, but just flipped through the case summary on the last page.

The more he read, the gloomier his face became. At the end, he was furious!

"It's so abominable! Wang Jien, read the summary of this case file!"

Wang Jien's shrill voice was like a death warrant, floating in the sky above the hall!

The officials involved in the bribery whose names were read walked out with pale faces and trembling legs, and knelt in the center of the court.

Luo Zhongqing, the Minister of Revenue who accepted a bribe of 60,000 taels of silver, was nervous, waiting for the moment when the boots would drop to the ground!

Wang Jien's shrill voice stopped, and all the court officials who had been bribed in this case knelt in fear in the center, waiting for the emperor's decision and the verdict of their fate!

[My name is not on the list? ... The King of Qin who was in charge of the trial of this case actually let me go? ]

Luo Zhongqing, the Minister of Revenue, was surprised! The heart that was stuck in his throat fell to the ground. He did not think that the wise and intelligent His Royal Highness the King of Qin was incapable of finding him out. He looked at His Royal Highness the King of Qin, who stood at the head of all the princes, with grateful eyes.

When their eyes met, King Qin Zhao Defang raised the corners of his lips and smiled slightly!

Luo Zhongqing was so grateful that his nose was sore, his eyes were red, and he almost burst into tears. His Royal Highness

the Prince of Qin, who always hated corruption among officials and was ruthless and cruel, actually showed some leniency to him. This was a huge favor!

Although he was in a high position and had a large network of connections in the court, he might be let off lightly by the emperor in the end.

But if his mortal enemies held on to him tightly and forced the emperor to make up his mind to dismiss him, it would be like the tree falling and the monkeys scattering, and it would be difficult for him to make a comeback! The worst outcome would be that he would be dismissed and exiled to a barren and cold place like the left prime minister Zhao Pu, and even his children and grandchildren would suffer with him.

Why did His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin help him with favoritism and corruption? Could it be that His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin intends to marry into the Luo family for the sake of his little daughter Ruixue who is infatuated with him?

Luo Zhongqing, who was given a break by His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin, was full of gratitude and wild thoughts.

He only heard his subordinate, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Qin Guangnian, crying and cunningly saying, "It's unfair!... Please Your Majesty, I am innocent! I only accepted a bribe of 30,000 taels, not 90,000 taels!..."

Luo Zhongqing understood instantly that His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin was trying to put the 60,000 taels of silver that he, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, had accepted as a bribe on the head of the Minister

of the Ministry of Revenue. Qin Guangnian must be arrested today, so as not to let down His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin's kindness. Luo Zhongqing secretly signaled to several court officials who were friendly with him and dependent on him, and ordered that Qin Guangnian must be killed today!

Zuo Dading secretly wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, and glanced at His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin with a grateful look. When their eyes met, His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin also smiled slightly.

The two censors from the Historian's Office and the officials from the Ministry of Revenue were all filled with righteous indignation and asked the emperor to severely punish Qin Guangnian, the corrupt official who accepted a huge amount of bribes. Several important ministers also came out to second the proposal, saying that if Qin Guangnian was not severely punished, it would not be enough to appease the people's anger!

Shen Xi stood steadily in the line of court officials, and his admiration for the prince in his heart was like the endless Yellow River!

Everything was just as the prince had imagined, Qin Guangnian was dismissed from his post, imprisoned, and his property was confiscated. The Vice Minister Lu Duoxuan, who accepted bribes of 30,000 taels, was treated lightly by the Emperor. After a few reprimands, he was ordered to return the bribes and be fined for six months.

Luo Zhongqing, the Minister of Revenue, and Zuo Dading, the Vice Minister of Works, who were given a break by His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin, silently expressed their gratitude to His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin for his great kindness.

The case was soon concluded in accordance with the Emperor's will after the discussion. The next thing to discuss was the handling of the case of Prince Qi's rebellion, and the atmosphere in the hall immediately became tense.

The eldest prince Zhao Yuanzuo walked out with a sad face, and knelt down on the ground with a "thump", lying on the ground and crying!

: "Father!... You and the emperor's uncle are brothers, blood is thicker than water... Please forgive the emperor's foolish behavior this time!..."

Everyone knows that the eldest prince and the prince of Qi have a deep relationship. I can't help but secretly praise the eldest prince's loyalty and righteousness. Anyone who dares to speak up for the prince of Qi at this time will take the great risk of being wrathful by the emperor. The

kind-hearted eldest prince begged his father to let his uncle go, but how could the ruthless emperor let go of his brother who dared to rebel and kill the king?

Moreover, there is the hidden danger of the "Golden Casket Alliance". If the stumbling block of the prince of Qi is not removed, the emperor will not be able to do the matter of appointing a prince.

Apart from the eldest prince who cried and begged, no one in the court dared to stand up and plead for the Prince of Qi. If he was implicated in the crime of treason and regicide, it would be a heinous crime that would exterminate all nine generations of his clan!

The Prince of Qin, Zhao Defang, stood there quietly, looking sad, but he was also prudent and kept silent.

The emperor's cold eyes swept over the King of Qin and returned to his own son who was lying on the ground crying and begging.

This rebellious son is too sentimental. With such a soft heart, even if I pass the throne to you, can you keep it?

The emperor spoke coldly: "Prince Qi's conspiracy to treason and regicide is a heinous crime, unforgivable!

For the sake of brotherhood and royal blood, I will let his two young and ignorant sons go and hand them over to the clan house for discipline for a few years.

Three days later, give Prince Qi Zhao Tingmei a cup of poisoned wine to save his face. Princess Qi and concubines will all be given a piece of white silk to save their dignity.

This case will be handed over to the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice for joint trial. Those who are found to have participated in the conspiracy to treason and regicide will all have their homes confiscated, beheaded, and their nine clans exterminated!

Dismissal!..." After the emperor made his judgment, he stood up and dismissed the court with a sullen face.

"Father!...Father, you can't! Please spare my uncle's life!..."

The eldest prince cried and crawled over to hug his father's thigh, begging bitterly!

The emperor was so angry that he kicked this ignorant son to the ground and walked out of the hall angrily!

"Father!...You can't!...Father! Please spare my uncle's life!..." The eldest prince cried bitterly!

Qin Wang Zhao Defang walked over silently, helped him up from the ground, and ordered: "Send the eldest prince back to the East Palace."

The two guards obeyed the order and stepped forward, helped the crying eldest prince out of the hall!

Some of the civil and military officials felt sad, while others secretly breathed a sigh of relief! The case was handed over to the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice for joint trial. According to the character of His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin, the Chief Justice of the Dali Temple, and Li Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice, it should not involve too many people.

After the court session, Prince of Qin Zhao Defang did not return to the palace, but went directly to his mother's Yayan Pavilion.

Queen Song looked at her son with a sad face and asked in a trembling voice: "What kind of punishment did the Prince of Qi receive?"

Prince of Qin looked up at his worried mother and said: "He was given a cup of poisoned wine, and the execution will be carried out in three days. The two young princes will be sent to the clan house for discipline."

Queen Song sighed!

"I had expected it a long time ago. How could the emperor, who finally caught the handle, let go of the opportunity to get rid of the Prince of Qi?

My son, the emperor's next target is only you, you must be extremely careful."

A sharp light flashed in the eyes of Prince of Qin Zhao Defang!

"Please be at ease, mother. I am not a soft persimmon that can be bullied at will!"

Princess Yongqing, who was standing quietly beside Queen Song, said with a heavy heart: "Royal brother, don't be careless in your actions. Discuss more with the royal sister-in-law. The wise royal sister-in-law will definitely help you."

Speaking of the princess, Qin Wang Zhao Defang immediately raised a happy smile at the corner of his lips, "Yongqing, I didn't expect you to have such a superb ability to judge people!

No! "My Queen, Li'er is my greatest helper now!

With her magical ability to help me, I will be invincible!"

Queen Song asked in surprise: "Does Li'er really have the ability to help you?"

Qin Wang Zhao Defang smiled and nodded, "My princess can match all the staff and a hundred thousand strong troops!"