Lord Li stuck out his neck and shouted at him.
"Alright! If that's the case, Lord Li, have you met them? Then summon these people. I can confront them face to face. I have a clear conscience about what I haven't done."
Sheng Mingyu nodded and remained calm in his response.
The ministers below looked at each other in confusion. Many of them hoped that Sheng Mingyu would fall, but seeing him like this, they felt unsure.
"I don't know where he got that petition from all people. Could he have been tricked?"
"I think so too. Even though Lord Li is on the Third Prince's side, he's doing good things for the people. Maybe someone is taking advantage of his innocence and deceiving him."
There was a lot of discussion and different opinions below.
Sheng Mingyu remained calm from beginning to end, and the emperor felt something was wrong after he calmed down.
Although Lord Li did not achieve any great achievements, he was truly dedicated to the people.
He's just a little stupid and shouldn't do anything so casually. I guess there's someone controlling him from behind.
"Well, you two are arguing in the hall, and I don't know who to listen to. Why don't you summon those people here? Lord Li dared to bring the petition of the people here. Did you also detain those people outside the hall?"
The emperor nodded and agreed to Sheng Mingyu's proposal.
Anyway, they have no other choice, so they might as well confront each other directly.
"Yes, Your Majesty is wise. I have indeed led the people outside the hall. They are waiting outside now. Please ask the eunuch to invite them in."
"Well, go ahead."
After hearing everyone's discussions, Li Liang began to doubt his own judgment.
He urgently needs to know the truth now. He hates the feeling of being manipulated by others.
The eunuch was quite quick and in the blink of an eye he brought a group of people in from outside the hall.
The people trembled, their eyes avoided, and they lowered their heads very low, not daring to look up at the emperor.
Fortunately, someone had just taught them etiquette outside, so everyone knew how to greet each other.
"Long live His Majesty."
"Stand up."
The emperor's calm voice came, and if you didn't look at his current state, you would think he was very serious.
In fact, he was stretching his neck to see who these people below were.
"I heard from Lord Li that you sent the petition to him in order to sue the Crown Prince? What evidence do you have to prove that the above-mentioned things were all done by the Crown Prince? Since the petition has been delivered to me, you must tell the truth, otherwise you will be punished with death."
The emperor started threatening as soon as he opened his mouth, frightening everyone.
Du Changming and the second prince, who were standing below, had their eyes flashed, and then continued to stand quietly as if nothing had happened.
"Common people...common people..."
The people below were so frightened that their voices trembled. Didn't they say that all they had to do was sue? They didn't say that they would risk their lives!
"Don't be nervous. I have always been benevolent and caring towards my people. As long as you tell the truth, I will punish the Crown Prince severely and seek justice for you. I will never let the people suffer injustice or humiliation."
Seeing everyone hesitating, the emperor softened his tone.
The people took a deep breath and finally calmed down.
"Your Majesty, I want to sue His Royal Highness, but I don't have any evidence. After His Royal Highness harmed the girl, he killed her."
After he finished speaking, he knocked his head heavily on the ground, and several people nearby nodded vigorously and agreed with him.
"Yes, that's my daughter, whom I raised since she was a child! Your Majesty, please help me! The Crown Prince was drunk and, despite my dissuasion, he came to my house and took my daughter by force! Your Majesty can't turn a blind eye just because he's the Crown Prince."
As soon as the people below finished speaking, the emperor's face turned ashen.
The chief eunuch assessed the situation and immediately scolded, "How dare you! When did His Majesty say he couldn't see? Didn't he even say he would make the decision for you? Don't embezzle His Majesty at will. This is a capital crime!"
Even the officials in the court did not dare to slander Sheng Mingyu, but they still held on to him. How bold!
The people below all shuddered, not daring to say anything more, but their eyes were full of pleading.
The emperor frowned. "Mingyu, please tell me what's going on. They don't have any evidence, but their feelings are so real. Even if I wanted to make a decision for you, I can't intervene. You should show me the evidence."
He really had no choice but to push the matter back onto Sheng Mingyu.
Sheng Mingyu has always been smart. He should have been aware of every little thing that happened. Why was he so careless today?
"Your Majesty, I didn't do it. No matter how these people try to smear me, I won't admit it. If you want evidence, I don't have it. Shouldn't the person who is slandering me provide the evidence?"
Sheng Mingyu shook his head with a cold tone.
He has always been so indifferent that he would not take it seriously even if the problem was brought to his attention.
The emperor's face was full of disapproval, he sighed slightly, and had to continue speaking.
"Well, since you want to sue the prince, then tell me when this happened? Who was with the prince? You should all know. After all, she is your daughter, and you saw it with your own eyes."
Many ministers below were very dissatisfied. Wasn't the emperor blatantly siding with Sheng Mingyu?
I wonder what kind of drug has been administered to His Majesty? He doesn't even bother asking for the truth, nor does he seek justice for the people.
"This..." As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the people below looked at each other, feeling guilty for a moment.
"Speak! Since you've all come to the palace, you should have all the evidence ready. If I ask you and you don't know anything, you'll be committing the crime of deceiving the emperor."
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I really can't remember the date. It's been several months. Even if I had a good memory, I couldn't say it accurately."
The atmosphere was deadlocked and the ministers were very confused.
If they say they are fake, they will have the courage to sue Sheng Mingyu.
But if they are true, there is no evidence...
"You lied to me?"
Li Liang, who was kneeling in front, opened his mouth in shock when he heard this. He turned to look at everyone with disbelief on his face.
"Didn't you say you had all the evidence and could even accurately state the time? I brought you to see His Majesty, yet you're clueless about anything I ask you. Are you trying to fool me?"
He questioned every question, and even if he was a fool, he understood what the situation was.
"Sir Li, if I hadn't said that, would you have brought me to court? What I said is true. It was really His Royal Highness who defiled my daughter!"
The man avoided looking at Lord Li again.
Sheng Mingyu rolled his eyes and continued, "Since they have no evidence, they should find a way to verify it. Your Majesty, please send someone to Jiangnan to find out what my reputation is there. If most of the people say that I have committed many evil deeds, then I will plead guilty."
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