Chapter 11 The Current Emperor Liu Jin
The third prince Liu Chang's shoulders twitched violently and he suppressed sobs, obviously terrified.
The nanny's face also looked extremely ugly. She comforted Liu Chang and looked at the throne in fear.
Liu Jin's gaze was like a cold probe, sweeping over the crying eldest prince and the trembling Liu Chang, his brows slightly furrowed.
These two adopted sons are truly useless! I shouldn't have agreed to those old guys from the royal family... If my son were still alive...
Liu Jin endured the piercing pain
His gaze passed over everyone and fell on the young man who was standing in front of the imperial desk with his hands hanging down and his posture as straight as a bamboo.
Cui Xiao, the heir of Weiyuan Marquisate.
He stood there, his back straight, neither humble nor arrogant.
The sly smile on his face was gone, and he was no longer in fear of being in front of the emperor.
His face was pale, but his eyes were unusually calm, like the calmest point in the center of a storm.
Her eyes were slightly lowered, her long eyelashes casting shadows, as if she was thinking.
"Cui Xiao," Liu Jin said. His voice was quiet, as calm as ice beads falling on a jade plate, yet it pierced through the wails and requests for mercy.
Cui Xiao heard the voice, stepped forward, and knelt neatly in front of the imperial desk: "I am here."
Liu Jin cast a deep gaze on him, examining him.
"You were there. Tell me exactly what happened. Don't miss a word."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Cui Xiao's voice was clear and steady. He ignored the eldest prince's threatening and resentful gaze, and undisturbed by the crying, and spoke clearly and logically:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it was dinner time and I was dining with the Third Prince in Xiefang Hall.
Outside the palace, a young eunuch brought in a mahogany food box, saying that the eldest prince felt guilty for the verbal offense he had committed during the day, so he specially sent a box of lotus pastry to apologize to the third prince.
The Third Prince was grateful for the First Prince's kindness and ordered the Chief Palace Maid Chuntang to take it.
After Chuntang expressed his gratitude, he took a piece of lotus cake and ate it. After taking two bites, he suddenly covered his throat, his face turned blue and purple, he fell to the ground, convulsed, foamed at the mouth, and died soon after.
"Our officials were terrified, and Eunuch Fuhai immediately summoned the imperial physician to report. "Every word I have said is true, and the people in Xiefang Palace can all testify to it."
The narration is objective and accurate, without any subjective conjecture or exaggeration, and the details are clear as if they are being replayed before your eyes.
After hearing this, the eldest prince Liu Jue looked up and screamed as if he was grabbing a life-saving straw.
"Father! You heard it! Cui Xiao also said it! I only sent someone to deliver snacks! What does this have to do with me? Someone must have framed me! Please investigate!"
The young eunuch also kowtowed: "Yes, Your Majesty! I only deliver gifts! I don't know anything else!"
Liu Jin ignored the cry of injustice and fixed his deep gaze on Cui Xiao.
He keenly noticed the slight emphasis on Cui Xiao's tone when he mentioned the "unfamiliar little eunuch" and "Chuntang edibles." He is very thoughtful.
"According to your opinion," Liu Jin said, his voice expressing neither joy nor anger, "what do you think of this matter?"
This question was like thunder in the imperial study.
The nanny hugged Liu Chang tightly and looked at Cui Xiao worriedly.
The eldest prince stared at him with flaming eyes.
Cui Xiao raised his head and met the emperor's deep gaze.
There was no fear on his face, only a calmness and insight beyond his age. He paused for a moment, carefully considering his words, and spoke clearly and calmly, with great penetrating power.
"Your Majesty, I believe this matter is full of strange things. To conclude that Your Highness was responsible simply because 'the snacks were sent from Your Highness's palace' would be biased and unconvincing."
At these words, the eldest prince Liu Jue stared at Cui Xiao in disbelief. Nanny and Liu Chang were also surprised.
Cui Xiao continued logically, each word like a stone dropped into a still lake:
"First, the motives are questionable. Even if there are disagreements between the First and Third Princes, they are merely quarrels between brothers. Your Majesty is wise and insightful, and pays close attention to the prince's words and actions.
If His Majesty really wanted to commit such a heinous crime of poisoning his brother, shocking the palace and incurring His Majesty's wrath, why would he be so brazen?
Using his own palace food boxes and sending his own palace eunuchs to deliver poisoned snacks? This is not murder, it is suicide!
Although His Highness is... straightforward, he is definitely not so foolish."
Liu Jin tapped lightly with his fingertips on the rosewood imperial desk, and a faint light flashed in the depths of his eyes.
Cui Xiao continued, "Secondly, the target was misplaced. The direct victim of the poisoned dim sum was the palace maid Chuntang, not the Third Prince.
If the First Prince intended to poison the Third Prince, why didn't he make sure the snacks reached the Third Prince's mouth?
How would it benefit His Highness to poison a palace maid by mistake? It would only increase the risk of exposure."
"Third, they acted hastily. They argued during the day, and then sent 'apology' snacks in the evening. The timing was too coincidental and deliberate.
If they really poisoned someone, why not wait until the situation calms down? Being so impatient seems like... an attempt to cover up the truth, or... an eager attempt to shift the blame?"
The last four words were so light, yet they struck the heart like a hammer. The imperial study was deadly silent, and the eldest prince's sobs ceased.
Cui Xiao lowered his eyes and spoke in a steady voice.
"I dare to speculate that this case may not be what it seems. Someone may be using Your Highness's name to frame and instigate.
"They have also pinned the blame on Your Majesty, causing the tragic loss of two sons and shaking the foundation of the nation. The person behind this is ruthless! Please, Your Majesty, be vigilant and do not cause the pain of your loved ones and the joy of your enemies!"
As soon as he finished speaking, you could hear a pin drop in the imperial study.
Liu Jin's gaze rested on Cui Xiao for a long time, his gaze fixed on him. Deep admiration filled his scrutiny.
A fourteen-year-old boy, in the midst of turbulent waves, has a clear mind, clear logic, and thorough analysis, getting straight to the core! This is the wisdom of the mind.
Although he doesn't look like me, but his demeanor...
He is just like the young Liu Jin who fought hard to protect Xiao Ziran under the pressure of Empress Dowager Zhou!
If my own son were still alive, he would be this old...
Complex emotions surged like boiling magma beneath Liu Jin's frozen heart. He suppressed his throbbing, his face deep and calm.
Liu Jin's voice broke the silence, carrying the emperor's decisiveness.
"The eldest prince, Liu Jue, failed to discipline his subordinates, causing unrest within the palace. He is now confined to Zhaoyang Palace and is not allowed to leave without permission!
Order the Internal Court to strictly investigate the person who sent the snacks, and thoroughly investigate the source of the Hibiscus Pastry and all the people who handled it!
The Third Prince was frightened, so the nanny took him back and comforted him. Cui Xiao..."
His gaze fell again on the young man who was kneeling upright with clear eyes. He paused for a moment, and something seemed to melt quietly in his frozen eyes.
"You have been a great student companion and remained calm in times of crisis. Reward."
The word "reward" weighs more than a thousand pounds.
The eldest prince Liu Jue collapsed to the ground, confused and scared after surviving the disaster.
The suspicion was not cleared, but Cui Xiao's words gave him a chance to breathe.
He looked at Cui Xiao with complicated eyes: confusion, reluctance, fear, and dread.
Liu Chang raised his head and looked at Cui Xiao with tearful eyes, his little face full of trust and dependence.
Cui Xiao kowtowed deeply: "Your Majesty, thank you for your grace."
He stood up, his back straight. The light from the imperial study fell on his young face, outlining a firm and calm outline.
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