Chapter 112
Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.
The air was so heavy it seemed as if water was about to drip out. Emperor Jingming sat high on the dragon throne, his face as gloomy as water. His face, which bore some resemblance to both Shen Yanzhi and Shen Yancong, was now filled with dark clouds.
In his hand was a memorial that Shen Yanzhi had just presented. It detailed everything from the account book to the confession of Manager Qian, and then to the unsuccessful attempt by the shadow guards of Prince Wei's mansion to assassinate the relatives of the witness last night.
At the bottom of the study, on one side was the Crown Prince Shen Yanzhi with a solemn expression and a straight back, and on the other side was the Prince of Wei Shen Yancong who had just been urgently summoned into the palace with a look of panic and grievance.
"Brother! Father! I am innocent!" As soon as Shen Yancong entered the room, he fell to his knees with a plop, tears streaming down his face. "The Crown Prince and I have always had a deep brotherly bond. How could I do such a treasonous act? It's clear that the Crown Prince is fabricating charges to frame me in order to eliminate dissidents! Your Majesty, please understand!"
He cried with such sincerity, as if he had suffered a great injustice. If Shen Yanzhi had not seen his acting skills before, he would probably have been fooled by his appearance.
Emperor Jingming didn't look at him, his eyes still fixed on Shen Yanzhi's face. His voice was low and majestic: "Prince, your brother said that you framed him. What do you say?"
This was the emperor's method of checks and balances. Even if the evidence was irrefutable, he would listen to both sides' arguments and test the prince's character.
Shen Yanzhi bowed with a respectful attitude, "Father, I dare not. What I have presented is all true. Sun Mingzhe, the Minister of Justice, can testify that he personally witnessed the confession written by Manager Qian. Qin Feng, the guard of the Eastern Palace, can testify that he personally fought against the shadow guards of the Prince of Wei's palace. There is both human and material evidence, and this is absolutely not a fabrication of mine."
"Evidence? A corrupt shopkeeper and your personal bodyguard, how can their words be believed!" Shen Yancong immediately refuted, he grasped at the last straw, "Father, that shopkeeper Qian embezzled so much money from me, and after being discovered, he held a grudge and was instructed by the prince to frame me. This makes perfect sense! As for the shadow guard, it's even more nonsense! Who knows if it's just a show put on by the prince!"
His words, while distorting right and wrong, were not entirely without reason. After all, the identities of the witnesses were indeed closely related to the Crown Prince. For a moment, the Imperial Study fell into a stalemate.
Emperor Jingming's knuckles tapped lightly against the armrests of the dragon throne, making a dull sound. He looked at his second son, who was kneeling and crying, and then at his eldest son, who stood upright, with a mixture of emotions. He knew that deposing a grown prince would be a huge blow to the reputation of the royal family and the stability of the court. He needed irrefutable evidence that would completely destroy his defense.
At this moment, the eunuch outside the palace announced: "Your Majesty, the Crown Princess is outside requesting an audience."
Emperor Jingming frowned. Harem women were not allowed to interfere in government affairs; this was the ancestral rule. What did Song Qingyuan want to do by coming here now?
Shen Yanzhi was also a little surprised, but he immediately realized that Qing Yuan would never do something without a purpose. He stepped forward and said, "Father, the Crown Princess may have new information to report. I beg Your Majesty to allow her to see you."
Jingming… Cong's heart skipped a beat, and he had a bad feeling. This Song Qingyuan had been peculiar from the beginning, and now that things had gotten to this point, her shadow was everywhere.
"Announce." Emperor Jingming pondered for a moment and finally uttered a word.
A moment later, Song Qingyuan, under the gaze of the crowd, slowly walked into the imperial study. She was dressed in a simple, elegant palace dress, without any makeup, but she looked even more elegant and refined. She first politely bowed to Emperor Jingming, then stood up and calmly glanced at the King of Wei.
"Father, I heard that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei accused His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of a frame-up. I couldn't bear it, so I came here to clear things up for His Royal Highness." Her voice was clear and pleasant, like a stream of clear spring water in this depressing room.
"Oh?" Emperor Jingming looked at his daughter-in-law. "How are you going to clarify this?"
Song Qingyuan did not answer directly, but turned and whispered to the outside of the hall: "Bring him in."
Everyone was stunned. Lin Xiaoshu walked in from outside the hall, holding the hand of a little boy, about six or seven years old. The child, dressed in clean cloth, was probably seeing such a scene for the first time. His face turned pale with fear, and he clutched the corner of Lin Xiaoshu's clothes tightly. His large, distinct black and white eyes were filled with fear and confusion.
"This is..." Emperor Jingming was puzzled.
"Father," Song Qingyuan's voice was filled with pity, "This is Shopkeeper Qian's only son, Qian Baoer. Last night, if the East Palace guards hadn't arrived in time, this child, along with his mother, uncle, and his family, would have been killed by the sword by now."
She didn't say anything accusatory, she just stated a fact.
The moment Shen Yancong saw the child, he was struck by lightning and his face turned pale. He had calculated everything, but he had never expected Shen Yanzhi and Song Qingyuan to bring this child to the emperor!
That child was the most direct and irrefutable evidence. A seven-year-old child, he knew nothing, couldn't lie, and didn't even know what was happening. But his presence was a resounding slap in the face to the claim that the King of Wei was "acting."
Emperor Jingming's gaze slowly shifted from the child's terrified face to the pale face of his second son. The panic and guilt on that face could no longer be concealed. As a father, as a king, at this moment, all hesitation and reluctance were replaced by a raging rage.
For the sake of power and to frame his brother, he actually wanted to do such a cruel thing to a seven-year-old child!
"You...you rebellious son!" Emperor Jingming stood up suddenly, grabbed the memorial on the table, and threw it fiercely at Shen Yancong, "How could I give birth to something as vicious and evil-minded as you, worse than an animal!"
The memorials fell on Shen Yancong's head, scattering to the ground. He collapsed to the ground, knowing that everything was over. The moment that child appeared, he had lost, completely lost.
"Father...your son...your son was just confused for a moment!" He tried to defend himself in vain, his voice full of despair.
"Confused?" Jing Ming...Emperor was shaking with anger. "To harm your brother, poison your siblings, and slaughter innocent people, is this also a moment of confusion? Come here!"
Two imperial guards rushed in immediately.
"Capture the rebellious son, Chen Yancong!" Emperor Jingming's voice was icy and emotionless. "Strip him of his royal title and confine him to the Imperial Clan House, where he will never be allowed to leave! All those responsible for his residence will be brought before the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Justice, and the Censorate for a joint trial. Anyone implicated in this case will be severely punished!"
"Father, spare my life! Father!" Shen Yancong was dragged out by the guards, howling like a pig being slaughtered, but Emperor Jingming turned a deaf ear to him and just waved his hand tiredly.
As the King of Wei's wailing faded away, the imperial study returned to dead silence.
Emperor Jingming sat back on the dragon throne, as if he had aged ten years in an instant. He looked at Shen Yanzhi and Song Qingyuan standing in the hall with a complicated expression. After a long time, he slowly spoke: "You have done very well. Yanzhi, you did not disappoint me. Song, you... are also very good."
This simple compliment carries weight like Mount Tai.
Song Qingyuan held the frightened child in her arms, soothing him softly. Then, she and Shen Yanzhi bowed together and said, "I, your son (your daughter-in-law), do not deserve this honor. I only wish that our Great Zhou Dynasty will be governed with justice and that the people will live in peace and contentment."
Emperor Jingming looked at the couple standing side by side, one calm, the other intelligent, working together seamlessly. The pain in his heart caused by his second son's crime seemed to be diluted by a trace of relief.
He waved his hand, "Everyone, withdraw. Give the child... a safe place. His father, considered a meritorious servant, can be given a lighter sentence. His family will be compensated by the court."
"Yes, I obey your order."
Shen Yanzhi and Song Qingyuan left the imperial study with the child. Outside, the sun shone brightly, its warmth radiating down upon them. A conspiracy storm that had raged for days finally came to an end at this moment.
Song Qingyuan looked down at the child in his arms who was gradually calming down, and said softly, "Don't be afraid, it's all over. From now on, no one will hurt you again."
The child looked up as if he understood, looked at her gentle smiling face, and nodded timidly.
Shen Yanzhi stretched out his hand and gently placed it on Song Qingyuan and the child's hands. He said nothing, but Song Qingyuan could feel the warmth from his palm, firm and strong.
They had won this game of chess. It was a clean and decisive victory, a thrilling one. And after this victory, no one could challenge the Eastern Palace's position. The road ahead seemed to become brighter and broader as the haze lifted.
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