Chapter 212 The prince thinks that I asked the imperial physician to lie?
The hall was suddenly silent, and even the sound of breathing could be heard clearly.
The emperor slammed the dragon table, causing the teacups on it to clink. "Where is Mo Jicang? Get in here!"
Just as he finished speaking, a eunuch's shrill announcement came from outside the palace: "The Regent has arrived—"
Everyone looked back and saw Mo Liyuan, dressed in a black python robe, walking into the hall with steady steps. Behind him followed Mo Jicang, who looked pale with beads of sweat on his forehead.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you..." Mo Jicang had just knelt down to pay his respects when he met the emperor's sharp gaze and trembled all over. "Your Majesty, please understand. The Crown Prince's injury has nothing to do with me!"
"Ha!" Mo Yufeng sneered, "If Lan Xiyue hadn't seen through the Thousand Changes Poison and found the antidote from you, I'm afraid I would have died long ago! Are you still trying to quibble?"
All the civil and military officials in the hall were in an uproar when they heard this. Lan Zhenrong and the Duke of Huguo looked at each other, and saw shock in each other's eyes - even the accompanying imperial physician couldn't find out the Thousand Changes Poison, but Yue'er could actually see through it?
Mo Jicang rested his forehead on the ground, his voice trembling: "Father! Lan Xiyue is only of age, how could she know more about poisons than the imperial physician? It is obvious that she is lying just to frame me..." Before he could finish his words, he felt a cold gaze piercing him like a knife.
Mo Liyuan stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes as deep as ink. Although he didn't say a word, Mo Jicang felt as if he had fallen into an icy cave, and his clothes on the back were instantly soaked with cold sweat.
The Emperor's gaze wandered between the three of them, finally landing on Mo Liyuan. "Prince Regent, you were there at the time. What are your thoughts on this matter?"
Mo Liyuan calmly took out a memorial from his arms, and Eunuch Fu hurriedly stepped forward, took it with both hands and presented it to the emperor.
The emperor unfolded the memorial, his eyes sweeping over the piercing words. His face suddenly turned ashen. He suddenly clenched his fingers, squeezing the memorial until it creaked, and then he abruptly stood up.
"You bastard!"
With a roar of anger, the Emperor rushed down the jade steps and kicked the Crown Prince. Mo Yufeng staggered and said in panic, "Father..."
The emperor turned around and kicked Mo Jicang's shoulder hard again.
All the civil and military officials in the court gasped in shock. What could have made the usually calm emperor so angry?
"I sent you to provide disaster relief, and yet you all are such a bother! Every one of you is a troublemaker."
The emperor pointed at Mo Yufeng with a trembling finger, "How can you hang out with the guards? Where does this put the reputation of the royal family?!"
Mo Yufeng knelt hurriedly: "Father, please allow me to report...I am wronged..."
"Shut up!" The emperor laughed in anger, turning around and grabbing Mo Jicang by the collar. "And you, rebellious son! How dare you have an affair with the remnants of King Xiaoyao! Tell me! Where are those rebels hiding?"
Mo Jicang's face turned pale: "Your son is innocent! I really didn't know those people were the remnants of King Xiaoyao..."
"You won't tell me? Come, drag the eldest prince away!" The emperor swung his sleeves and turned around. "From this day forward, the eldest prince will be confined to his mansion. Without my written order, he is not allowed to take a single step out!"
Two golden-armored guards entered the hall, lifted up the limp Mo Jicang and led him out.
At this moment, the emperor's cold voice sounded again:
"Crown Prince Mo Yufeng has failed in moral conduct and is deposed immediately..."
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!" Bai Xianzhe suddenly fell to his knees, banging his forehead heavily on the gold brick. "The Crown Prince is the foundation of the country. How can he be deposed based on rumors?"
Upon seeing this, the other ministers knelt down one after another, and the sound of their crowns hitting the ground became continuous.
The emperor snorted coldly, "Rumors? Humph! Mo Yufeng, tell me, are the rumors circulating in the capital recently rumors or facts?"
Mo Yufeng broke out in a cold sweat. He never expected that what happened that day would be reported to the capital. The memorial that the Regent had just given to his father should have also mentioned what happened that day in Huilong County, otherwise his father would not be so angry.
"Father, I am innocent. I was framed."
The ambergris in the golden beast incense burner in the hall has burned out, leaving only a wisp of green smoke.
The emperor slowly sat back on the dragon throne, tapping the gilded armrests with his fingertips from time to time. The "tapping" sound seemed to strike at the hearts of his ministers.
"Oh?" The emperor sneered, "Who framed you?"
Mo Yufeng's Adam's apple rolled, and out of the corner of his eye he saw the darkly embroidered dragon pattern on Mo Liyuan's black python robe glowing coldly under the candlelight.
He gritted his teeth and said, "It's... Lan Xiyue!" His voice suddenly rose. "After meeting her that day, I felt unwell all over and then lost consciousness. She must have done something!"
"Oh."
A soft laugh fell like shattered ice. Mo Liyuan slowly twirled the black jade ring on his thumb, a cold glint in his eyes. "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, is looking for an excuse to frame a courtier's daughter? He's so philandering himself, yet he's trying to frame an unmarried girl?"
"Little Uncle!" Mo Yufeng suddenly raised his head, a trace of resentment flashing in his eyes. "You are defending Lan Xiyue so much, isn't it just..." He deliberately dragged out his tone, "that you have developed feelings for Lan Xiyue!"
There was a burst of gasps in the hall, and the ministers couldn't help but look at Lan Zhenrong. They had heard one gossip after another today.
If what the prince said was true, with the regent as the son-in-law, the Wuguo Marquisate would surely prosper.
Lan Zhenrong's grip on the tablet suddenly tightened, and he was extremely excited.
Mo Yufeng sneered inwardly. On the way back to the capital, he had finally figured it out. The Prince Regent had fallen for Lan Xiyue, and that bitch Lan Xiyue had also fallen for someone else. Damn it! Even if it wasn't Lan Xiyue, he would have insisted on her today. Otherwise, his position as Crown Prince would be in jeopardy!
"Your Majesty, please understand!" Mo Yufeng kowtowed heavily, resting his forehead on the cold gold brick. "What this son said is true. This son was drugged by Lan Xiyue. Otherwise, how could this son and the guards..."
The Emperor tapped his fingertips lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Mo Liyuan, his voice tentative, "Is the Prince Regent really, as the Crown Prince said, interested in Lan Xiyue, the legitimate daughter of the Wu Kingdom Marquisate?"
Mo Liyuan's wide sleeves fell, the dark patterns on his black python robe faintly visible in the light and shadow. He raised his eyes and looked directly at the emperor, "Your Majesty, I am deeply attracted to Yue'er and will marry her." After saying this, he bowed solemnly, "I sincerely ask your Majesty to grant me the marriage."
"Ridiculous!" The Emperor slammed the table. "Lan Xiyue has a terrible reputation. How can she be worthy of the position of Regent Princess?" He glanced at the civil and military officials in the hall. "There are so many famous ladies in the capital. Who is not better than her?"
Mo Liyuan's lips curled up slightly, his fingertips stroking the jade pendant at his waist: "Three thousand rivers of water..." He paused, his voice suddenly becoming deeper, "Your humble servant will only take a sip."
The ministers were shocked when they heard this.
Lan Zhenrong's hand holding the tablet trembled slightly, he was both surprised and happy.
The emperor's expression changed, and he finally waved his hand: "Let's discuss this matter later." His eyes suddenly became sharp, "But the Crown Prince accused Lan Xiyue of drugging..."
"The imperial physician examined the prince afterwards and found no trace of Chinese medicine." Mo Liyuan interrupted slowly.
The emperor pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked loudly, "Crown Prince?"
Mo Liyuan shuddered, "Father, it must be the imperial physician..."
Mo Liyuan looked at Mo Yufeng with cold eyes, "Why? Prince, do you think I told the doctor to lie?"
Mo Yufeng lowered his head, "I dare not..."
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