Chapter 326 Physician Wang Appears
Many officials exchanged glances, sharing the same question: Was the day chosen for the late emperor's burial truly an auspicious day?
The Imperial Observatory deserves to die!
The new emperor sat upright in the hall and said succinctly: "Prince Fu and Yang Zhen have forced the emperor to abdicate and rebel. They will be punished according to their crimes after we return to the capital."
As for the alleged forgery of the late emperor's edict, the new emperor did not mention it.
Even if it is indeed a forged edict, as long as it appears, there is a possibility of suspicion. There is no need to get involved in this mess when you have already won the battle.
The ministers all exclaimed in unison, "Your Majesty is wise!"
"You may all step down. We will rest for half a day and then set off."
"We take our leave."
Unlike the officials who gradually dispersed, Zhu Qiang, the commander of the palace guards, came to report: "Your Majesty, the entire Prince Fu's residence has been brought under control."
After directing the Imperial Guards to deal with Yang Zhen's cronies, Zhu Qiang personally led his men to the residence of the Prince of Fu and captured the Prince of Fu's third son and others.
"Thank you for your hard work, Commander Zhu." The new emperor rubbed his temples to relieve his fatigue. "Yan Rong, go there personally and tell people to treat Princess Fu and Princess Rongning with courtesy."
"yes."
Zhu Qiang and Yan Rong both left, leaving only Xue Han.
The new emperor raised his hand and patted Xue Han on the shoulder, saying with emotion, "Xue Han, you've worked hard too. I wouldn't have been able to get to where I am today without your help."
At this moment, his mind was at peace, as if he had already sailed past countless mountains, and he appreciated the person in front of him even more.
"Your Majesty is too kind to me. It is all my duty."
The new emperor smiled and said, "There is a world of difference between being dutiful and dutiful, and I will keep it in mind."
He is still young, and Xue Han is also young. I hope that this pair of ruler and minister can walk hand in hand for a long time.
Despite being told they would rest for half a day, few people were able to fall asleep.
Princess Consort Kang nudged Prince Kang's arm: "Your Highness, are you asleep?"
Prince Kang opened his eyes, his face darkening: "Can you please stop pushing me? This is the eighth time!"
Princess Consort Kang sat up abruptly: "Your Highness, how could you sleep after something so serious happened?"
Prince Kang's lips twitched: "You've asked this question for the third time now."
Princess Consort Kang stared blankly, muttering, "I spoke with Princess Consort Fu during the day, how come the Fu Prince's residence has become a prisoner's residence before the night is even over..."
Prince Kang closed his eyes and said, "That's because Prince Fu is ambitious and courting death. I won't do anything stupid, so what are you afraid of?"
Princess Consort Kang moved her lips, thinking to herself that Yun'er had been involved in the demonic incident earlier, and she was just feeling lingering fear.
However, saying this would only make the prince less concerned about Yun'er losing her position as heir, so she wouldn't mention it.
“Your Highness, there’s something else that I find quite strange.” Princess Consort Kang nudged Prince Kang again.
Prince Kang gritted his teeth: "What is it now?"
"It's Ah Heng."
"What's wrong with Ah Heng?"
Princess Consort Kang paused, then lowered her voice: "That year during the autumn hunt, Aheng stayed with us. That night, the Crown Prince's residence caught fire, and something terrible almost happened! This time, Aheng is staying with us again, and there's a fire in the mausoleum area, and Prince Fu rebelled and forced the emperor to abdicate... Don't you think this is a bit eerie?"
Prince Kang hurriedly emphasized, "It's not in the mausoleum area. The new emperor said that the fire occurred outside the mausoleum area."
They were all ancestors, and the fact that the imperial tomb caught fire and was recorded by the historian will bring shame upon them in the eyes of future generations.
"That's not the point, it's about Ah Heng!"
Prince Kang glanced at Princess Kang and said, "Whether Aheng is strange or not is none of your business. As long as nothing happens in the Prince's mansion, that's all that matters. Princess, let me remind you, Aheng is not the same as before. Be polite to her."
"Does Your Highness even need to say that?"
Princess Consort Kang thought it made sense. As long as Aheng wasn't bothering the Prince's residence, she felt relieved and unknowingly fell asleep.
After daybreak, the group set off back to Beijing, but there were quite a few changes compared to when they left the city.
Yang Zhen, the promising Deputy Commander of the Palace Guard, was now a corpse, placed in a thin coffin covered with lime, and transported back to the capital for further disposal.
In the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty, the crime of treason was punishable even if the person died, with punishment applied to the corpse.
Apart from the Princess Consort of Fu and Princess Rongning, everyone else in the Prince Fu's mansion was put into a prison cart.
As for officials who have close ties with Prince Fu and Yang Zhen, their status will remain unchanged for the time being, with people secretly keeping an eye on them until they are thoroughly interrogated upon returning to the capital before a final decision is made.
Several of these officials, who knew they were doomed, fainted along the way due to immense psychological pressure.
The new emperor was much lighter in mood than when he arrived. Being young, he didn't feel tired at all when he saw the familiar and majestic city gate. He only felt relaxed, as if everything had finally settled down.
Only then did he truly feel secure sitting on the dragon throne.
Inside the main hall, all the officials and nobles were present, while Prince Fu and others were bound hand and foot and kneeling on the cold gold bricks.
In just a few days, Prince Fu's hair turned completely white, disheveled and hanging motionless as if he had lost his soul.
"Prince Fu, you colluded with the traitor Zhu Youwei, deceived the late emperor, seized power, and staged a coup... Do you know your crime?"
Upon hearing the new emperor mention that Prime Minister Zhu had been executed by slow slicing, the officials were filled with lingering fear.
On the day Zhu Xiang was executed, they all went to see it at the new emperor's request. It was truly horrific and would haunt them for at least a year.
Prince Fu remained silent.
The new emperor sneered: "What, Uncle Wang, do you dare to do it but not admit it?"
Prince Fu's eyelids twitched, and he looked up to meet the new emperor's gaze. His numb expression changed slightly, revealing a resolute determination after realizing there was no chance of turning the tide: "The victor is king, the loser is villain. There's nothing more to say."
His voice was hoarse and shrill, like gravel rubbing against a hard object.
"And what about that sorcerer Miaoqing? Is she one of your people?" The new emperor asked, but his tone was certain.
Prince Fu lowered his eyes and did not answer.
The new emperor glanced at Xue Han and said loudly, "Summon Xue Quan."
Xue Quan, who had been living in the inner prison, was waiting outside the hall and was soon brought in.
"Your Majesty, I, the guilty subject Xue Quan, pay my respects."
"Xue Quan, tell me again how you recommended the sorcerer Miao Qing?"
“Yes…” Xue Quan lowered his head, “The sorcerer Miao Qing’s reputation spread far and wide in the capital. When the late emperor heard of her, he asked me about her. I was misled by her reputation and just followed what others said… The sorcerer wanted to present the late emperor with a magical elixir, so I asked Physician Wang to examine it. After examining it, Physician Wang said there was nothing wrong with the elixir…”
As Xue Quan finished speaking, the civil and military officials standing on both sides of the main hall began to discuss in hushed tones.
Xue Quan had already said this when Zhu Xiang was punished, but it was ultimately only one side of the story.
The new emperor ignored the whispers among his ministers, his face remaining calm: "Xue Han, go and bring the person in."
"yes."
Xue Han left, and not long after, he came back in with one other person.
An official near the palace gate exclaimed in surprise, "Imperial Physician Wang!"
"It really is Physician Wang! Physician Wang is still alive!"
Prince Fu, who hadn't reacted much until now, suddenly turned his head and stared wide-eyed at the person approaching.
The person walked past him and subconsciously paused for a moment.
Prince Fu would never mistake that face; it was none other than Physician Wang!
"Your Majesty, I, a subject of this crime, pay my respects."
Xue Quan was stunned for a moment, then burst into tears: "Doctor Wang, you have caused me so much suffering!"
We've finally waited for this moment!
(End of this chapter)
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