Chapter 120120 Trouble
Chapter 120
In Chengming Palace, warm fragrance filled the air. Qi Jingyan and Yi'er were sitting opposite each other on the warm couch, having breakfast quietly.
Yi'er swallowed the shredded chicken and millet porridge in her mouth and asked doubtfully, "Brother, did you leave Yi'er and go out last night?"
Qi Jingyan drank a mouthful of porridge without changing his expression before saying, "No."
Yi'er tilted his head, recalling the details of last night in confusion: "But Yi'er woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't find his brother. Just when he was about to look for you, you came back, still cold. Yi'er was shivering from the cold. Then..."
Qi Jingyan interrupted him: "You must be dreaming. Don't talk while eating, don't talk while sleeping, just enjoy your meal."
Yier thought about it and felt that since his brother said so, he must be dreaming, so he nodded obediently: "Oh." Then he picked up the spoon and continued eating.
As the two were eating, Mu Feng walked in and reported in a low voice, "Your Highness, the officials are waiting outside the palace. They say they want to see His Majesty."
Qi Jingyan nodded slightly, indicating that he understood. He still accompanied Yi'er to finish breakfast at a leisurely pace. Then he calmly got up and went into Emperor Kangwen's bedroom. He watched Doctor Tang give Emperor Kangwen acupuncture to remove the poison, feed him pills, and clean up.
Then he walked up to Emperor Kangwen and tucked in the corner of his quilt, his movements gentle and carefree, like a filial son. He spoke softly, as if chatting casually, "Your Majesty, today I intend to interrogate the Third Brother and the Zhang family. You should go and see for yourself."
"So as to avoid a repeat of what happened back then, where I, your son, had no recourse but to shed tears and blood in vain."
He paused slightly, a hint of confusion in his voice, "This son still can't understand why Father refused to even see this son back then."
Emperor Kangwen, sitting on the dragon couch, pursed his lips and said nothing, his skinny fingers trembling slightly in his sleeves. He avoided his gaze and looked towards the ceiling of the tent.
Qi Jingyan stared at him for a moment, then chuckled as if suddenly realizing something: "Yes, I understand. Your Majesty is probably too embarrassed to see me, let alone the courage to confront me, because Your Majesty knows better than anyone that I've been wronged."
After saying this, he looked directly at Emperor Kangwen with a sharp gaze. Under his gaze, the emperor turned his head away, his expression evasive.
"Coward." A trace of cold sneer appeared on Qi Jingyan's lips. "Dare to do it, but not to take responsibility."
Then he stood up, waved his sleeves, turned and left.
Yi'er, who stood quietly by, thought of his brother's broken leg and his mother lying cold on the ground. He rushed to the bed and violently ripped off the corner of the quilt that his brother had just tucked in. He imitated his brother's tone and whispered with disdain, "Coward."
After saying that, without even looking at Emperor Kangwen's sad and angry face, she quickly turned around and trotted to catch up with Qi Jingyan, holding her brother's big hand with her little hand.
The two brothers stepped out of the palace side by side, and saw countless ministers in purple and red robes standing at the steps with bated breath.
Last night, the situation in the capital suddenly changed. The residence of the Third Prince and the Zhang family collapsed at the same time. The ministers waiting in front of the steps now all knew that the situation in Daxing was about to change.
But except for a few confidants like Marquis Cheng'an, most people only knew one side of the story.
They simply thought that the Cheng'an Marquisate was acting on the secret orders of His Majesty, and that the emperor had suddenly recovered and wanted to settle accounts with the Third Prince for his actions in the past two years.
So early this morning, before daybreak, they could not wait to gather at the palace gate. As soon as the palace gate opened, they swarmed in, all wanting to see with their own eyes what would happen to them under these huge waves.
But who would have thought that the former crown prince, who was supposed to have been crippled and struggling to survive in the malaria-ridden land of Lingnan, was now standing tall and straight, wearing a black cloak, and walking out of the palace steadily and energetically, with an even more graceful demeanor than before.
The loyal and upright ministers, led by the Marquis of Cheng'an and his son, were instantly overwhelmed with emotions, tears welling in their eyes. Dozens of them knelt on the ground in unison, their sobs breaking through the sky: "We respectfully welcome His Royal Highness Prince Shen back to the capital, and we respectfully welcome His Royal Highness the Seventeenth Prince back to the capital!"
When Qi Jingyan was wrongfully imprisoned in the past, those fence-sitters who ignored the country, justice and ethics and turned a deaf ear to it, although they were so frightened that their hands and feet became weak and they felt extremely guilty, they pretended to be calm and knelt down to pay homage.
Feeling lucky, he secretly thought that this former crown prince, who was known for his benevolence, had always been generous and would not pursue the past.
As for the Third Prince's followers and officials who had close ties with the Zhang family, since hearing about the incident last night, they recalled the tragic end of those ministers who were loyal to the Crown Prince and those who spoke up for him after he was deposed, and they were all terrified.
They had been trembling with fear all night, unable to sleep. Seeking a glimmer of hope, they had finally braved the urge to enter the palace today, hoping to express their loyalty before His Majesty and beg for forgiveness. Some had even written letters of apology and were now tucked away tightly in their arms.
But who could have imagined that the person standing before them was the deposed prince who they had forged evidence against and forced out of the capital!
In an instant, everyone woke up as if from a dream. It was not that His Majesty's condition had improved, but that the former crown prince had come back to kill him!
They were filled with fear and secretly cursed the people sent by the Third Prince to stop the deposed Crown Prince from returning to the capital, calling them all incompetent good-for-nothings and good-for-nothings.
But no matter how much they cursed in their hearts, when they thought of the current situation, they were all scared out of their wits, their legs went weak, and they all knelt on the ground.
Standing at the front was the Third Prince's most trusted confidant, the Minister of Rites Meng Huaifu. He was so frightened at the moment that he couldn't even kneel steadily and fell directly to the ground.
The officials on both sides were afraid of attracting Qi Jingyan's attention, so they hurriedly dragged him up, shrinking their necks and wishing they could hide in the cracks in the ground.
Qi Jingyan calmly swept his eyes over the ministers kneeling before him and slowly raised his hand: "Everyone, please stand up."
Yi'er also imitated his brother's behavior and raised his little hand in a very realistic manner. Although he didn't say anything, he had the majesty of a royal family.
All the ministers expressed their gratitude in unison, stood up, bowed their heads and stood solemnly, waiting with bated breath for Qi Jingyan's instructions.
Qi Jingyan said without further ado, "I think everyone has questions in their minds. Why did such a sudden change happen last night? Why did His Majesty order the Third Prince and the Zhang family to be detained in the Heavenly Prison?"
Several old ministers, headed by Marquis Cheng'an, stood quietly with their eyes lowered, secretly rejoicing in their hearts. No matter why, catching him would be a great joy.
An official from the Third Prince's faction, secretly nudged by his colleagues, had no choice but to step forward with trembling courage, his hands holding the chopping board trembling slightly. "Your Highness, Prince Shen, is ignorant and stupid. Please clarify your instructions."
Qi Jingyan narrowed his eyes slightly, and said in a steady voice, "Since that's the case, please follow His Majesty to the Heavenly Prison and see for yourself what's going on."
There was a sudden whisper from the steps below.
"Your Majesty, has your dragon health really improved?"
"Since you can go to the Heavenly Prison in person, you must be safe..."
Qi Jingyan gave Mu Yun a look, and Mu Yun immediately understood and turned into the hall with four Yulin guards.
Not long after, Emperor Kangwen, wrapped in a bright yellow brocade quilt, was carried out on a soft couch. The corners of the quilt were still pulled down to the same degree that Yi'er had pulled it down before, and Emperor Kangwen's neck and chest were exposed, but no one cared.
Qi Jingyan stepped forward and bowed, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."
Upon seeing this, the ministers immediately knelt on the ground again and shouted in unison: "Your Majesty, we respectfully wish you the best of health. Long live Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty!"
Qi Jingyan walked to the couch, leaned over as if listening, and then bowed solemnly: "Your son will obey the will of Your Majesty."
He stood up and said in a loud voice, "My lords, please stand up. His Majesty has requested that you all go to the Heavenly Prison together."
All the officials responded, thanked him and stood up, but they couldn't help but secretly look at the emperor whom they hadn't seen for several months.
Emperor Kangwen's face was pale, perhaps due to the cold weather or his serious illness. His neck was twisted towards the ministers, his facial muscles were stiff and distorted, and his expression looked a little strange.
Qi Jingyan raised his hand to signal, and Mu Yun ordered the Yulin Guards to carry the couch ahead.
The eunuchs brought two sedan chairs at the right time, and Qi Jingyan and Yi'er each sat in one, following closely behind.
Mu Feng led the guards and surrounded him, and all the civil and military officials followed silently.
The father and son of Cheng'an Marquis stood on the left and right, leading the Yulin Guards to protect the team on both sides. They were nominally escorts, but in fact they were on guard.
Braving the biting cold wind, the group marched towards the Heavenly Prison.
---
The space inside the prison was limited and could not accommodate all the civil and military officials, so irrelevant personnel had to wait outside the prison.
In front of the cell where the Third Prince was imprisoned, Qi Jingyan sat upright on the Grand Master's chair, with Yi'er standing quietly beside him. Emperor Kangwen's soft couch was placed on the other side of Qi Jingyan's chair.
Relevant officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Supreme Court have all been ordered to arrive at the scene to prepare for the joint trial.
Although the Third Prince's followers, led by the Minister of Personnel Meng Huaifu, had not yet been arrested, they were also asked to stand aside and observe the interrogation.
Seeing that everything was ready, Qi Jingyan stood up and saluted Emperor Kangwen: "Your Majesty, everyone is here. I will order the trial to begin. If you feel anything is inappropriate, please inform me at any time."
Emperor Kangwen gritted his teeth, trying not to make the "woohoo" sound that made him feel extremely humiliated and humiliated. He just stared at Qi Jingyan with anger in his eyes.
Qi Jingyan, however, pretended not to notice the malicious gaze. He leaned closer and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, please listen carefully and watch slowly to see how your good son and good concubine are plotting to murder you step by step."
After saying this, he stood up and bowed solemnly to Emperor Kangwen: "Your Highness, I will follow your instructions and investigate this case thoroughly. I will not tolerate any leniency!"
Then he turned around, sat back in his chair, and looked at the Minister of Justice beside him: "Master Qu, please come in."
It was the coldest time of the year, and the prison was cold and damp. Even then, the Minister of Justice, Lord Qu, was sweating profusely, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead. Upon hearing the order, he quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, I obey your command."
Mu Feng came forward carrying a wooden tray full of evidence. The Minister of Justice took the top file, unfolded it with trembling hands, and read it out with a trembling voice.
"The Third Prince, Qi Jingche, colluded with the Zhang family's relatives and local officials to illegally establish over a hundred gambling houses and brothels across the country."
"His followers fabricated excuses to levy heavy taxes and even abduct women, torturing the people and causing countless families to be broken up and the souls of the innocent to rest in peace."
"Chang'an County lawyer Song Weiyi, realizing that the Chang'an County Magistrate, the County Magistrate, and others were willingly acting as pawns of the Zhang family, colluding with their gambling dens and brothels to exploit the local population, wrote a petition and intended to submit it to the capital. However, his actions were discovered, and he was beaten to death. His feet were tied to a huge rock, and his body sank to the bottom of the river, where it was picked up by the ship of Prince Shen heading south..."
"More than a hundred people from Canghai and Nanpu counties fell into the trap, forced to lose everything they had, and their families were separated..."
"The Zhang family used this ill-gotten wealth to bribe local and imperial officials, and sent innocent women they had abducted to various government offices, recruiting loyalists for the Third Prince and forming a clique for their own selfish ends."
"In addition, the Third Prince secretly administered a chronic poison to Your Majesty. When the Imperial Hospital was helpless, he falsely introduced a Miao witch doctor to the palace to treat Your Majesty. After deceiving the emperor and gaining his trust, he even refined a so-called 'golden elixir' by mixing human blood and human hearts with highly toxic substances. He colluded with Concubine Zhang and others to deceive the emperor day and night, ultimately causing Your Majesty to become seriously ill and bedridden..."
"During his time as acting governor, he further excluded dissidents and framed loyal officials, causing chaos in the government and unrest in the country..."
"The Third Prince even set up a secret room in his study to privately make a dragon robe and a throne. His intention to treason and usurp the throne is clear as day."
"Three years ago, the Third Prince, in order to seize the throne, disregarded the foundation of the country, fabricated charges, deceived the emperor, and framed the former Crown Prince, who was unjustly imprisoned..."
“…”
"...The Third Prince's crimes are so numerous and evil that they are beyond description and cannot be forgiven by heaven and earth!"
At first, the third prince sometimes shouted and cursed in the prison, and sometimes cried and appealed to Emperor Kangwen, with an extremely arrogant attitude.
"Qi Jingyan! You, a traitor who usurped power, dared to return to the capital without permission and frame me!"
"Father! Father! I have been wronged. Please help me!"
However, as the Minister of Justice read out the charges and the hard evidence one by one, the Third Prince's face became paler and paler, and his shouting and cursing gradually subsided.
After all the evidence was read out, the Third Prince knew that the situation was hopeless. He immediately changed his expression and begged in a mournful voice:
"Brother Emperor, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me this time!"
"Do you still remember when we were little, I climbed up a tree out of play and was afraid to come down. It was my royal brother who personally climbed up the tree and brought me down."
"And that year, my cat accidentally scratched my mother, so she had it strangled to death, saying that a prince shouldn't be distracted by pets. I hugged it and cried bitterly, but it was my brother who comforted me and buried it with me."
"And that time, when I didn't memorize my lessons, Father spanked my hands and made me copy books as punishment. It was you, big brother, who accompanied me to take the punishment and copy together..."
"Brother Huang, have you forgotten all these past events?"
Qi Jingyan's face was as cold as ice: "When you fabricated charges against me three years ago, did you ever think of our old friendship?"
The Third Prince paused for a moment, tears welling up in his eyes. "Brother, please understand. I had no choice but to do what I did back then!"
Qi Jingyan sneered: "Is it necessary?"
The Third Prince nodded repeatedly: "Yes, it's all my mother's fault. She wanted to be the Queen and hoped to be the Queen Mother. That's why she forced me to fight for the position of Crown Prince."
"I don't want to harm my brother. I really don't want to harm you. I hope my brother will give me a chance to reform. From now on, I will work like a slave to repay my brother."
Qi Jingyan slowly shook his head: "Qi Jingche, you are no longer a child. Even now, you are still putting all the blame on your biological mother. You are completely irresponsible."
He raised his hand and pointed to the cell next door: "Noble Concubine Zhang is right here. Do you want to hear what she has to say?"
The Third Prince whipped his head around to see Concubine Zhang kneeling in the adjacent cell, her hands clutching the bars tightly, her eyes filled with grief and disappointment. His expression froze, and he subconsciously avoided Concubine Zhang's gaze.
Qi Jingyan's voice was icy: "Coincidentally, the imperial concubine's confession is exactly the same as yours. She said that everything was ordered by her and you were just forced by her."
The Third Prince suddenly looked at Concubine Zhang. The color drained from his face and his eyes were filled with complex emotions that were difficult to describe.
Qi Jingyan: "However, you don't have to rush to put the blame on her. She is guilty of the crime that cannot escape death anyway."
He turned to look at Emperor Kangwen, who was already furious at the Third Prince's string of crimes. The corners of his lips curved slightly, "Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine Zhang has wreaked havoc in the palace and poisoned the Emperor. The evidence is irrefutable, and she should be granted a white silk garment."
After a brief pause, pretending to listen, he bowed his head and said respectfully, "Your son obeys your command."
Then he turned around, his expression darkening: "Someone come here."
Mu Yun clasped his fists and replied, "I'm here."
Qi Jingyan: "In compliance with His Majesty's order, I bestow upon Concubine Zhang the white silk."
Emperor Kangwen, who was speechless, suddenly raised his hand and pointed at Qi Jingyan's profile. His eyes were wide open, and a hoarse sound came from his throat, but he could not utter a word.
All the ministers lowered their heads, closed their eyes, held their breath, and pretended not to see anything.
Noble Consort Zhang was horrified upon hearing this. She slammed her shackled hands against the bars of the cell, "Prince Shen, I am a noble concubine. You, a mere prince, have no right to punish me."
Seeing Qi Jingyan's expression remained unchanged, she turned and rushed towards Emperor Kangwen, shouting at the top of her lungs: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please say something! Please save me!"
Qi Jingyan said no more and raised his hand to signal. Mu Yun accepted the order and nodded to the two guards waiting on the side.
The guard walked into the cell holding a white silk, wrapped the snow-white silk around Concubine Zhang's neck, made her face towards Emperor Kangwen, and slowly tightened his grip.
Concubine Zhang's face flushed, her eyes bulged, her feet kicked, and her shackled hands desperately scratched the white silk around her neck, but it was in vain.
She reached out to Emperor Kangwen, but saw that the emperor had his eyes tightly closed. She turned to the Third Prince with all her might, and uttered a broken voice in her throat: "Che'er...save...save me..."
The third prince had already turned his face away, his fists clenched tightly in the chains, and he never looked back.
In the double silence of her husband and son, the last bit of light in Concubine Zhang's eyes was completely extinguished. She gradually stopped struggling and finally died.
The prison was dead silent, with only the crackling of torches and the suppressed breathing of the crowd to be heard.
The two guards who were carrying out the execution were afraid that Concubine Zhang would recover, so they strangled her neck until her body slowly cooled down. Only then did they follow orders and hang the body from the beam.
The figure in the white prison uniform swayed slightly in the dimness, making the already dark prison even more eerie.
The Third Prince turned around at the sound, only to be confronted by the corpse dangling in mid-air. His expression suddenly changed, and he stumbled back two steps, falling heavily to the cold ground. The shackles on his hands and feet clanged against each other.
Emperor Kangwen opened his eyes upon hearing the sound and caught a glimpse of a white shadow swaying under the beam. His eyes immediately rolled back and he fainted.
The neighboring cell held Concubine Zhang's father, brothers, and nephews. They had been cowering in a corner, not daring to make a sound. But when they saw the corpse slowly turning towards them for some unknown reason, they immediately started to scream. Several of them were soaked and collapsed like a puddle of mud. Their usual domineering and arrogant faces were no longer visible.
Meng Huaifu was trembling violently all over. If it weren't for the Yulin guards beside him holding up his arms, he would have collapsed to the ground.
Qi Jingyan looked at the distraught Third Prince, then at the silent Emperor Kangwen, shook his head, and stood up to walk out: "Your Majesty is not feeling well, please return to the palace."
The Minister of Justice stumbled forward and asked, "Your Highness, what should be done with the Third Prince?"
He was the one who read out the charges today. If the Third Prince doesn't die, when he makes a comeback one day, he will certainly lose his life.
Qi Jingyan turned around and looked at him coldly: "Your Majesty's holy body is not in good condition. I will judge you another day."
After a brief pause, he spoke in a gentle yet chilling tone, "By the way, the jailers who guarded this prince back then were quite loyal to their duties, so transfer them over to serve His Highness the Third Prince."
After saying that, he turned around and strode away with Yier.
When the Minister of Justice heard this, his legs went weak and he knelt on the ground.
How could he not know that those fawning jailers had tortured His Royal Highness the Crown Prince many times in order to please the Third Prince.
Although he was intimidated by the authority of the Third Prince and found an excuse to avoid it, as the Minister of Justice and the official in charge of the Heavenly Prison, he was afraid that he could not escape accountability.
The Third Prince also instantly realized Qi Jingyan's intention. Thinking of the torture he had ordered the jailers to use on Qi Jingyan, a chill instantly spread throughout his limbs and bones, and he trembled uncontrollably.
He rushed towards the prison door like a madman, his shackles rattling, and roared heartbreakingly: "Qi Jingyan, you can't take revenge on personal gain!"
But Qi Jingyan had already left the Heavenly Prison, and several Yulin Guards also lifted Emperor Kangwen's couch and walked out.
The Third Prince knelt and climbed up, dragging his iron chain clanking as he chased after him, crying and begging for mercy: "Father! Father! I know I was wrong! Please save me!"
Deep in the sky prison, the Third Prince's cries echoed in the empty prison, but no one responded.
Qi Jingyan and his group had already left, and the officials from the Dali Temple, the Censorate, and the Ministry of Justice were like frightened birds, scrambling to leave this gloomy place.
Not long after, the jailers who had guarded Qi Jingyan in the past walked in with pale faces. They walked to the Third Prince's cell door, knelt down and kowtowed several times, "Third Prince, I'm sorry."
Soon, a shrill scream came from the cell: "Qi Jingyan, you killed me, you killed me..."
Everyone in the Zhang family huddled in the corner, shaking like sieves.
The four jailers guarding the entrance to the prison trembled in unison upon hearing the sound, looked at each other, and simultaneously took a few steps away.
One of the old jailers was also guarding outside the door three years ago. He recalled the scene of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince being carried out of the cell, covered in blood and with both legs broken. However, he clearly remembered that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was inside and did not say a word from beginning to end.
Qi Jingyan held Yi'er's little hand and asked, "Are you scared?"
Yi'er shook his head: "I'm not afraid of the bad guys being punished."
Qi Jingyan reached out and touched his head, praising him with a smile: "You are so brave."
Yi'er tilted his head and asked, "Brother, why don't you kill them all today?"
Qi Jingyan's lips curled slightly: "We have to wait until His Majesty wakes up and let him make the decision himself."
Besides, how could they die so easily?
---
Inside the Cining Palace, Meng Yuning and Cai Yuezhao were having breakfast with the Empress Dowager when they suddenly saw a young eunuch come in and report that a group of ladies from outside the palace wanted to see the Empress Dowager and also announced their identities.
Meng Yu frowned, put down his chopsticks, looked at the empress dowager, and thought to himself that trouble had come.
The Queen Mother gently patted the back of her hand and said calmly, "Don't worry. The situation in the capital is now under Yan'er's control. It is they who should be anxious, not us."
As she spoke, she pushed a basket of steaming hot meat dumplings in front of her. "This is Auntie Tao's specialty. Come and try it while it's hot."
Meng Yuning smiled and said yes. She picked up her chopsticks again, picked up a small, exquisite bun and put it in her mouth. She took a bite. The skin was thin and the filling was tender. The fragrance was overflowing. She squinted her eyes in satisfaction: "It's delicious!"
Seeing her innocent and lovely appearance, the Queen Mother couldn't help laughing: "If you like it, eat more."
Cai Yuezhao also reached out his chopsticks to pick one up: "I want to eat too."
The Queen Mother looked at them with a smile: "Okay, okay, eat all, don't fight over it, there's more."
They had a very enjoyable breakfast, and the Empress Dowager even had half a bowl of porridge. Nanny Tao and Eunuch Song watched from the side, with smiles of satisfaction in their eyes and brows.
After the three of them finished their breakfast and chatted over a cup of tea, the empress dowager ordered the palace servants to summon the ladies-in-waiting who had been waiting outside the palace for a long time and were almost frozen to death.
Everyone knelt and paid their respects according to etiquette. The empress dowager gently ordered everyone to stand up and told the palace maids to find seats for them.
The group of ladies then sat down on the embroidered cushions tremblingly, all with lowered heads and respectful postures.
Meng Yuning sat quietly beside the empress dowager, her gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd. She saw a woman in a crimson brocade robe, looking up at her with barely concealed eagerness.
She recognized her at a glance. It was her nominal stepmother, Meng Huaifu's second wife, Jiang.
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