Chapter 212 Cover-up
Minister Du said righteously, "The Prince of Zhenbei dares to commit such evil deeds only because he has a million-strong army under his command. I believe that the Prince of Zhenbei should relinquish his military power and be stripped of his title as a prince of a different surname. Princess Jinzhi has committed countless evil deeds in the capital. The Thousand Birds Division is directly under His Majesty. Such an important position should not be given to such a person. His Majesty should strip the princess of her title and remove her from office."
Prime Minister Cui then asked, "The emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners. In that case, the Prince of Zhenbei should pay for the wrongful deaths."
Minister Du said, “Prime Minister Cui has been the head of all officials for a long time, so it is understandable that he lacks some sense of reason and compassion. However, Prince Zhenbei has fought for the Jin state all his life, so the punishment of taking away his throne is already severe enough.”
Prime Minister Cui sneered. This Du Zhong still had the mind to take the opportunity to put him down.
"I second that opinion; Minister Du's words are reasonable."
Applause suddenly erupted from the main hall.
Qin Jinzhi stood above, clapping with a serious expression.
"Minister Du and Prime Minister Cui have truly shown great care for me and my grandfather. Such a serious matter, yet they didn't even ask us, grandfather and granddaughter, to pay with our lives. They truly are old friends."
Du Zhong snorted coldly, "Princess, please be careful with your words. I have no connection with the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion."
Qin Jinzhi said thoughtfully, "So we didn't have any relationship. I thought that Minister Du's presentation of such detailed information was because he overheard it under my grandfather's bed."
Du Zhong's expression changed; he knew Qin Jinzhi was up to no good!
Prime Minister Cui said, "Princess, there's no need to argue with Minister Du. The evidence is overwhelming. His Majesty is virtuous. Even if you and His Majesty are like father and son, he will not protect you in front of the people of the world."
Look at that, it's so well said, not a single word is out of place.
Qin Jinzhi nodded. "This princess also thinks that my grandfather is virtuous and would not let criminals go unpunished. However, I still want to ask Minister Du, why did my grandfather make counterfeit money? Our Zhenbei Prince's Mansion is not short of money."
Du Zhong stepped forward and said, "This is why this old minister requests Your Majesty to spare the life of the Prince of Zhenbei."
The emperor raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "Oh? Minister Du, tell me about it."
Du Zhong said, "The national treasury is empty. Our Jin state has been at war with the Chu state for many years, but the army has always been short of supplies. The Prince of Zhenbei made counterfeit money for the soldiers. However, the Prince of Zhenbei should not use so many lives to support the Zhenbei Army!"
Qin Jinzhi smiled slightly. "You mean, my grandfather used all the counterfeit money he made to buy military supplies? Are you sure?"
Du Zhong snorted coldly, "The testimony is here!"
Qin Jinzhi nodded. "Since Minister Du is so certain, I also have something for Your Majesty to see. Eunuch Hong, please bring the person in."
The emperor nodded, and Eunuch Hong left the main hall.
A moment later, a figure followed in behind Eunuch Hong.
Many officials recognized him as the head of the Zhao family.
Zhao Yuanying stepped forward and said, "This humble woman greets Your Majesty."
Upon seeing this, the emperor asked, "Jinzhi, what is the meaning of this?"
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. "What I want to show you is in this man's hands."
Zhao Yuanying took out an account book from her sleeve and presented it with both hands.
Eunuch Hong immediately stepped forward.
The emperor opened the account book, his expression gradually becoming serious.
He then closed the ledger. "The case of the Prince of Zhenbei manufacturing counterfeit currency is pure slander. If there was a miscarriage of justice back then, there must be a mastermind behind it who has escaped justice. I will have the Three Judicial Offices reinvestigate the miscarriage of justice from back then!"
Upon hearing this, Du Zhong immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, you must not cover this up! The evidence is conclusive. If you cover it up, you will chill the hearts of the people!"
Prime Minister Cui also stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, we know that the Prince of Zhenbei is as close to you as a brother, but this matter is of utmost importance. We beg Your Majesty not to tolerate it!"
"Your Majesty, this must not be tolerated!"
All the officials, led by Prime Minister Cui and Minister Du, knelt down.
For a time, only a handful of ministers remained standing in the hall.
Upon seeing this, the emperor's face instantly turned angry.
"I did indeed protect some people, but I didn't protect the Prince of Zhenbei!"
The emperor stood up and threw the account book directly in front of Du Zhong and Prime Minister Cui.
Du Zhong, puzzled, opened the account book.
But the more he looked, the darker her face became.
All the military supplies over the years have been funded by this Zhao family.
The time, place, quantity of materials, all the people involved, and value were all recorded in great detail!
Didn't Qin Jinzhi send all the funds to the army from the silver earned by Tianxianglou?
In this scene, they were certain that Qin Jinzhi would not reveal the source of her money.
After all, the military pay for a million-strong army is earned through physical labor.
If other countries found out, they would be ridiculed for a hundred years.
Qin Jinzhi curled her lips as she looked at the darkening faces of the crowd below.
How can these adults be so naive, believing everything they hear?
Qin Jinzhi spoke calmly, "Gentlemen, have you seen it clearly? If you think this ledger is fake, you are welcome to investigate."
This ledger is so detailed that it would be extremely difficult to forge it.
The group looked at each other in bewilderment.
At this moment, Qin Jinzhi spoke up: "Now, this princess would like to ask, what is your intention in slandering and framing us, grandfather and grandson?"
Du Zhong and Cui Cheng immediately understood what His Majesty had just said.
The people Your Majesty was referring to as protecting are them!
The officials knelt down, pleading, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
Just then, Qin Jinzhi spoke up: "Minister Du, if you resent me for not saving your grand-nephew, you can just say so. There's no need to involve so many people and go through such a roundabout way to frame us. You're chilling the hearts of my million-strong Zhenbei Army."
Du Zhong quickly said, "Your Majesty, I was deceived and had no selfish motives. Please forgive me."
Qin Jinzhi clicked her tongue repeatedly, "A dignified Minister, the head of all officials, is so easily deceived. This is truly a calamity for our Jin Kingdom. I think we don't need to fight anymore. Just hand over all the affairs of the court to Minister Du and Prime Minister Cui. In a few years, all the loyal ministers in the court will be unjustly killed."
Prime Minister Cui immediately spoke up, saying, "This matter was due to my oversight. I beg Your Majesty to punish me. As for the matter of the Prince of Zhenbei manufacturing counterfeit currency, the evidence is conclusive. Even if this ledger is genuine, it cannot prove that the Prince of Zhenbei is innocent."
His eyes lit up; he knew he shouldn't have too much contact with Qin Jinzhi.
Every word she utters is purposeful, always setting a trap.
The ledgers were so well prepared that Qin Jinzhi had been on guard for who knows how long.
Rumors circulated in the palace that His Majesty was cold towards the Prince of Zhenbei and Qin Jinzhi, causing them to overlook some details.
Even with their thorough preparations, once this ledger is released, even if the Prince of Zhenbei is suspected, he will not be able to be convicted!
The Emperor said coldly, "Then investigate! If the Prince of Zhenbei is guilty, I will not show favoritism. But if it is found that someone has framed a loyal official, I will never let such a traitor go!"
Qin Jinzhi and Qin Ye stood up, "Your Majesty is wise!"
The emperor looked at Zhao Yuanying kneeling on the ground and said:
"Zhao Yuanying, step forward to receive your appointment!"
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