Chapter 52 The Prince Who Failed to Revolt
When Zhang Xiaojia woke up, she saw the emperor sitting quietly beside her bed, his eyes deep and complex.
An indescribable sadness welled up in her heart. This was the first time in her life that she had witnessed a life disappear in her arms, and she was powerless to do anything. In her grief, she couldn't help but burst into tears, tears rolling down like beads from a broken string. She subconsciously pulled up the emperor's sleeve and wiped the tears and snot from her face.
"Daddy, Sister Yue died in my arms, I can't save her..." She cried and shouted, her voice full of helplessness and despair.
The emperor had a look of disgust on his face, but when he saw her using his sleeve to wipe her tears and nose, his expression softened instantly.
"Why don't you come to see me?" the emperor asked softly, with a hint of concern in his voice.
Zhang Xiaojia cried and replied, "I can't make things difficult for you. I'm a human being, and it won't be easy for you to choose either one. Actually, I didn't intend to kill the Prince of Hengguo. He is Mingming's biological father. I just want him to be exiled."
The emperor gently patted her head and said in a low voice, "You are well-behaved. I really can't help you now. I am planning to replace a group of Jiedushi. Helping you now will make the replaced Jiedushi feel disheartened, which is not conducive to my deployment."
What does Zhang Xiaojia's expression have to do with her?
Zhang Xiaojia had a bewildered look on her face, as if she didn't understand what the emperor said. She muttered, "I just want the Prince of Hengguo to receive the punishment he deserves. The joint measures are useless." After she finished speaking, she pretended to be puzzled and blinked at the emperor.
The emperor smiled helplessly and explained, "If you want the Prince of Hengguo to receive the punishment he deserves, you must file a lawsuit in the government office. As long as you win, he will receive the punishment he deserves. Go ahead and make a scene, I will support you from behind."
A glimmer of hope flashed in Zhang Xiaojia's eyes. She asked, "Dad, will the government accept this case as you said?"
The emperor nodded slightly: "I said I can't help you now, you have to handle it yourself. Okay, go to bed early." After saying that, he turned and left with firm and powerful steps.
The emperor left immediately after he finished speaking. When he passed by the mourning hall, he turned back, came to the incense burning area, took three incense sticks, lit them, and left without looking back.
Zhang Xiaojia sat upright on the bed, knowing the emperor's thoughts and intentions like a mirror in his mind, and also knowing his bottom line.
Normally, she relied on the friendship she had when she was a child when she called the emperor "Daddy" so that she could act coquettishly and mischievously and get a doting smile from the emperor, who would not care.
However, she knew very well that as a king, the emperor shouldered the heavy burden of the world. Once she asked to punish the minister's son, it would be a challenge to the king's authority. The emperor would definitely feel disgusted, and even their old friendship could not withstand the power of the emperor.
Zhang Xiaojia stood up. The royal family did not come forward to handle Sister Yue's funeral, so she had to write the documents herself and convey the news of Princess Anguo's death, especially to the wives of the civil servants and censors. She wanted to see what her support rate was in the court.
According to the list of court ministers given by Bai Zhu, he wrote them out one by one in regular script.
He Fei remained steadfast by Jia Jia's side, providing her with unwavering support and strength. In the Great Zhou Dynasty, the judicial system was rigorous and meticulous, deeply influenced by the Song Dynasty. The autopsy process was particularly crucial: once the government took over a case, three coroners had to jointly perform the autopsy and issue a detailed report. However, due to gender differences, only female coroners could examine a woman's body.
However, female coroners are scarce in Kyoto, with only two, and they have unfortunately been lured by the benefits and become pawns in the hands of others. Faced with this dilemma, He Fei acted quickly, sending his secret guards to search for a reliable coroner at an expedited speed of 800 miles.
"Your Highness, we have found a suitable candidate. I have arranged for secret guards to bring him back." The subordinate reported.
He Fei nodded in approval: "Very good, make sure they are safe. Money is not a problem, just ask the housekeeper for it."
Then, He Fei turned to A Da and instructed, "A Da, increase the publicity efforts and portray the plight of Princess Anguo in an even more miserable light. Have the storytellers at the storytelling hall use this as a theme to create articles such as 'Marrying Requires Wisdom,' 'Divorce If Love Is No Longer Existing, Why Kill for Money?' 'Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives is the Source of Family Decline,' 'Greed for Dowry, the Wife Suffers at the Hands of the Poisonous Hand,' and so on. Let them spread the story to every corner of Kyoto. Remember, don't use orders, use silver to buy their support; they also need to live."
He Fei then gave Ah Er another order: "Ah Er, you will be responsible for contacting the matchmakers and have them convey a message to the women in the backyard: If the murderer does not receive the punishment he deserves, the suffering endured by Princess Anguo will cast a shadow over the future of all women, and the next victim will be you. Give the matchmakers ample money, and don't be stingy."
Mr. Huang said with concern, "Your Highness, if the lawyer is Zhang Yuncheng, as the Junior Minister of the Dali Temple, he is not suitable to participate in this lawsuit."
He Fei rubbed his temples and said slowly, "Sir, please rest assured. Zhang Yuncheng has resigned and the emperor has approved his request."
Mr. Zhu frowned. "Your Highness, I think it would be best to send someone to investigate what happened four years ago when Duke Heng and his family were on their way to Langya City. It's quite strange. Why were the Duke Heng's son and Princess Anguo on good terms in the capital, but their relationship suddenly changed upon arriving in Langya? Especially since Duke Heng insisted on going to Langya City and even arranged for his son to marry the sixteen-year-old Princess Anguo. You know, most noble ladies in this dynasty didn't give birth until they were nineteen or twenty. Logically, a man shouldn't change his mind so quickly."
He Fei said, "Asan, go and check according to what Mr. Zhu said."
Mr. Huang pointed to the sky and said, "Will the backyard of the sky cause changes in the sky?"
He Fei saw Mr. Huang pointing to the sky and knew that he was talking about the emperor. It was impossible for Concubine Xian to make the emperor change. When the emperor burned incense to Princess Anguo, the crimes of the Prince of Hengguo were destined to be revealed.
He Fei shook his head and said, "No need. She is no longer a threat. She is no longer qualified to come. But it's okay to use her."
"When people are confused and panicked, they are prone to making mistakes and taking the wrong path. Anwu, tell that person that the emperor went to see Jiajia and burn incense for Princess Anguo..."
Mr. Zhu said, "Your Highness, please do not go to the capital. No department will take this case tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Everyone is waiting and watching. From what I have seen, it is estimated that the Jingzhao Yin will take this case after the day after tomorrow, after Princess Anguo is buried."
He Fei smiled and said, "No, Jia Jia wouldn't let me. Do you want to bet? The day after tomorrow morning, Jingzhao Yin will definitely take this case."
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