"Master, Master, you are too suspicious."
Facing everyone's puzzled gazes, Marquis Pingyang swallowed nervously, his eyes wandering.
"I just don't want to be misunderstood by the Emperor and my colleagues, so I'll explain."
None of the people present were fools, and seeing his expression, they all understood.
For a moment, everyone looked at him with more or less disdain in their eyes.
At this time, a young eunuch at the door loudly reported, "Your Majesty, the Queen's palace's Yu Ma is here."
Taking a look at the old tutor who looked calm and in control, Emperor Qixuan raised his eyebrows frivolously.
Could this also be the work of the Grand Tutor?
"Xuan!"
Nanny Yu walked into the hall with two timid concubines.
If Chu Yaoyao saw them, she would definitely recognize them. They were two of the three people who were scared half to death by her that night.
"Your Majesty, there were rumors about Princess Qiyuan in the harem a few nights ago. The Empress has investigated the matter thoroughly and has ordered this servant to bring people here."
The two concubines knelt on the ground tremblingly, "Greetings, greetings to the Emperor."
Emperor Qixuan looked displeased, "What exactly happened? You two tell the truth!"
"otherwise……"
As he spoke, his eyes turned cold and his tone carried a hint of murderous intent.
"To slander the princess is a great disrespect. According to the law, you should be beheaded!"
"I dare not!"
The two concubines were so frightened that they could only kowtow and beg for mercy, "Your Majesty, please spare my life!"
Emperor Qixuan looked away impatiently. When Su Maowen saw his expression, he took a few steps forward, swung his whisk heavily, pointed at the two of them and said sternly: "Why don't you confess the truth?!"
Seeing them trembling like sieves, he felt even more disdainful.
Sure enough, there is a reason for being unpopular.
What a coward, what a tactless person!
You deserve to be used as a gun! The two concubines trembled and told each other what happened that night.
"Yes, it was Concubine Han. She found us and asked us to cooperate with her to spread rumors in the palace that the little princess is a demon."
"She insisted on saying it in front of the little princess, and she also said..."
The two of them glanced at Pingyang Hou cautiously, and noticed the other party's eyes full of murderous intent. They were so scared that they quickly lowered their heads, with a hint of crying in their tone.
"Han Jieyu also said that this was the order of Pingyang Hou, and that he would be handsomely rewarded after the success!"
Marquis Pingyang looked at the two men with gritted teeth, a bloodthirsty light flashing in his eyes, and he let out an angry roar.
"That's complete nonsense!"
After saying that, he turned around abruptly and said, "Your Majesty, after I came out of Ci'an Palace that day, I did meet Concubine Han, and I did complain to her a few words."
"But never let her do anything!"
Marquis Pingyang looked calm, but only he knew that his clenched hands under the sleeves of his wide navy blue dragon robe were covered in cold sweat.
Don't panic! Han has been banished to the cold palace. If she doesn't want to live a miserable life for the rest of her life, she will definitely know what to say and what not to say.
We must not lose our composure! The situation became stalemate again, and Old Master Zhou's expression gradually became serious.
News came from the Queen this morning that Han refused to identify Marquis Pingyang no matter what.
As long as Marquis Pingyang refuses to admit it, they really have no way to deal with it.
Emperor Qixuan naturally thought of this. He waved his hand with an unhappy look on his face and had the two concubines taken away.
Seeing this, Marquis Pingyang raised the corners of his mouth proudly, revealing a smile of victory.
He bowed to the old tutor and prepared to step back and stand still.
Seeing his actions, Censor Zhou narrowed his eyes slightly. It was finally his turn to share the emperor's worries!
He cleared his throat and was about to speak when he suddenly heard a report: "Your Majesty, this is the evidence we found in Yuan's mansion!"
Li Wanjing strode in and presented a booklet with both hands.
Su Maowen received the signal and quickly walked down the platform. After taking the booklet, he hurriedly presented it.
Emperor Qixuan flipped through two pages and suddenly clenched his hand holding the booklet, causing the papers to rustle.
Although I already knew that Bai Zi had dirty hands, I didn't expect him to be so bold!
"He accepted bribes, openly sold official positions for a fixed price, and secretly participated in the trafficking of women and children!"
Emperor Qixuan spoke each word clearly, and shot a cold gaze at Marquis Pingyang, as if he wished he could cut him into pieces!
Every time he heard a word, Marquis Pingyang felt a layer of chill all over his body.
Finally, he felt as if he was in the coldest winter, and his whole body was frozen stiff.
"Bang!"
He slammed the book shut.
"I didn't even know that since when has it been up to you, Marquis of Pingyang, to make the final decision on the appointment and dismissal of officials in Daqi?!"
As he spoke, Emperor Qixuan threw the tray containing memorials at him.
"What else do you have to say?!"
Pingyang Hou did not dare to dodge and was hit hard, with his forehead being smashed.
"I am ashamed!"
He knelt on the ground and began to cry.
"I have been taught by my father and brothers since I was young, and I know that all the glory of the Bai family is the grace of the emperor!"
Censor Zhou rolled his eyes.
here we go again.
Whenever he encountered problems, he would bring up his deceased father and brother.
If General Bai Lao and General Bai Shao knew that he had done such harmful and evil things, they would probably be in their coffins, right? Pingyang Hou's voice was choked with sobs, his tone was sad, and he looked like he regretted his decision.
"My father and brother died on the battlefield to protect the people of Daqi. I actually betrayed their will. I really deserve to die!"
Emperor Qixuan rolled his eyes in an inelegant manner.
He has heard this so many times that his ears are almost callused!
Bai Zi said this just to arouse his guilt and then give him a lighter sentence.
Humph, then he made a wrong calculation! Instead of playing the emotional card here, it is better to be practical and directly use the death exemption certificate to exchange for his own life! "Pass the order down, Pingyang Hou is guilty of corruption, bribery, selling official positions, and trafficking women and children. His crimes are unforgivable!"
"Immediately deprive him of his title, confiscate his property, throw him into death row, and execute him in three days!"
Marquis Pingyang looked dejected and collapsed backwards in despair.
He lost.
Emperor Qixuan narrowed his eyes and looked at him.
It has come to such a situation, yet you are still unwilling to hand over the golden certificate of immunity from death?
Is he really not afraid of death? It was Pingyang Hou, no, now it was just Bai Zi.
When the Royal Guards were preparing to take Bai Zi away.
Censor Zhou finally had the chance to stand up!
"Your Majesty, I want to impeach the Marquis of Pingyang for allowing his son to forcibly seize a woman and take human life lightly!"
As he spoke, he took out the evidence which was much thinner than before.
When Bai Zi heard him mention his son, he became visibly panicked with a dazed look on his face.
He struggled twice, then stretched his neck and shouted at Censor Zhou.
"They are just some women who are trying to curry favor with the rich and powerful. How can it be said that it is forced if it is something we both agreed to?!"
Emperor Qixuan slammed the testimony on the table, looked at him with a sullen face, and questioned him through gritted teeth.
"Those two women were tortured to death, and you still say it was consensual?!"
"Your Majesty, there must be a misunderstanding!"
Bai Zi was so anxious that he was incoherent and cold sweat was pouring down his forehead.
Censor Zhou glanced at him and said lightly.
"The parents and relatives of those two women are now in the Ministry of Justice. Why don't we let Bai Si Che go to the Ministry of Justice and confront them face to face?"
"Absolutely not!" Bai Zi refused subconsciously.
But his reaction seemed even more suspicious in the eyes of everyone.
Bai Zi didn't care about that anymore.
Scher had been spoiled since childhood, how could he withstand the torture of the Ministry of Justice? When he thought of his son suffering, he didn't know where he got the strength from, struggled to break free from the grip of the two imperial guards, and fell to his knees on the ground.
He clasped his hands together and kowtowed continuously. The golden crown on his head had fallen off, and a few strands of half-white hair fell down.
Half of his face was covered in blood, and he looked both miserable and horrifying.
"Your Majesty, I, no, I am a humble servant. I have a death-free gold certificate granted by the late emperor. I only ask for it in exchange for my son's life!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Qixuan loosened his clenched fist, then clenched it again.
He bought and sold other people's children like objects.
Such a heinous person actually has a kind heart? How ironic!