Pan Yuanzhou bowed deeply to Ye Qingxue.
Not long after Pan Yuanzhou left, Ye Qingxue quietly entered the Zichen Palace through the back door, and the news of her entry quickly reached the ears of Empress Shen and Yun Chi.
Yun Chi said, "It seems she really did go to complain!"
Empress Shen asked him, "Have you tried the effects of the 'Silk-Pulling Agent'? How was it?"
Yun Chi laughed: "I've already tried it. Father listens to his son. In the evening, he listened to his son and gave Minister Liu thirty strokes of the cane."
...
The officials were still strolling and chatting outside the palace, while the emperor was still resting inside, with Huaifu massaging his temples.
He's been feeling tired lately, and this makes him feel much better.
Pan Yuanzhou came in alone to request an audience. The emperor lay on the couch with his eyes closed, looking languid and tired. He said, "What is it, Minister Pan? Can't we talk about it later?"
His tone carried a hint of displeasure.
Pan Yuanzhou knelt before the bed: "Your Majesty, I have just received news that the flood could have been much more severe. Prince Jing had already led his men to evacuate the villagers in time, and thousands of innocent villagers should not have drowned."
"But what was the result? So many villagers still died. It wasn't because the flood was severe, nor because Prince Jing didn't evacuate in time, but because someone deliberately damaged the dikes, causing the flood to break out prematurely!"
The emperor slowly opened his eyes, sat up from the couch, and looked down at Pan Yuanzhou.
"Who deliberately damaged the dike? Who did it? Is there any evidence?"
Pan Yuanzhou, his eyes red-rimmed, said angrily, "This person is none other than His Highness Prince Ding! He not only destroyed the dike, but also arranged for assassins to kill Prince Jing!"
Pan Yuanzhou's voice gradually grew louder, and he accused with all his might: "Prince Ding is so heartless and insane, just to prevent Prince Jing from saving the villagers, making a great contribution, and restoring him to the position of Crown Prince!"
Pan Yuanzhou kowtowed violently to the ground, his voice trembling with grief: "Your Majesty, please arrest Prince Ding immediately and bring him to justice, so that we can give Prince Jing and the people of the world an explanation—"
Before the word "dai" was even finished, the emperor's foot had already kicked him, knocking Pan Yuanzhou to the ground.
His forehead slammed against the bluestone floor with a loud thud. He felt dizzy and, when he reached up to touch it, his face was covered in blood.
"As the Minister of Rites, and with your father having served as the Crown Prince's tutor, I have always trusted you. Who knew you would side with Prince Jing? I am not even dead yet, and you are already slandering my other son for Prince Jing's sake!"
The emperor trembled with rage and pointed at him angrily.
"Chi'er is my son with the Empress. I know his character perfectly well, and I will not tolerate you slandering him like this!"
"Since you are loyal to Prince Jing, then follow him in death. For the sake of your deceased father, I will grant you a complete corpse."
"Guards, drag Pan Yuanzhou away and give him poison!"
The emperor was furious, and no one dared to speak out. Moreover, the emperor had recently become very bloodthirsty, and even Huaifu was trembling with fear. When the guards outside heard the emperor's summons, they were about to enter and drag Pan Yuanzhou away.
But Ye Qingxue came in first.
"Your Majesty, I have a witness who can confirm that what Lord Pan said is true!"
The emperor's gaze was sharp as a blade, fixed on Ye Qingxue as if he were about to skin her alive.
Ye Qingxue remained calm and walked towards him step by step, kneeling down in front of him to pay her respects.
The emperor scoffed, "You are also one of Prince Jing's men. You were the one who saved Prince Jing and helped him return to the palace. Don't think I've forgotten."
"You and Pan Yuanzhou are both trying to frame my Chi'er for the sake of Prince Jing!"
Ye Qingxue said, "Your Majesty, whether it is a false accusation or not, we can find out by summoning the witnesses to the court."
The emperor remained silent, staring intently at her with a deep, unwavering gaze, like a mountain, determined to crush Ye Qingxue into dust.
Ye Qingxue suddenly looked up at him and said, "Your Majesty, why are you unwilling to summon witnesses? Is it because you are biased towards Prince Ding and dare not face the truth?"
"You insolent wretch, how dare you speak to me like that! Don't think that just because you've rendered great service, I won't dare to do anything to you! I'll chop off your head right now!"
The emperor jumped to his feet, looked around, and searched for the sword!
Ye Qingxue was horrified. The emperor wouldn't even give a witness a chance to appear in court. How could he believe that Prince Ding wouldn't do such a heinous thing?!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
