Ning Hongxi looked at him with deep sorrow in his eyes: "It's too late, Xun'er. I just learned that Yun Zhuo came to the Prime Minister's residence early this morning under the pretense of visiting you and your siblings. The people on both sides of the street from the Crown Prince's residence to the Prime Minister's residence heard it all."
"When he left, his mouth, chin, and clothes were covered in blood, and it was Luo Xing who carried him out. The people outside saw it with their own eyes and heard it with their own ears."
"Also, that palm strike to his chest, it really was you who struck him. Since Yun Zhuo made preparations in advance, your palm print must have been left on his chest."
"Once you enter the palace, Luo Xing will accuse you. Even if the emperor wants to protect the Prime Minister's family, he will have no choice but to find someone to compare your seal under the remonstrances of the court officials."
Ning Xun's body stiffened, his lips trembling: "What should I do, Father? What should I do? Am I just supposed to wait to die like this?"
Ning Hongxi corrected him, saying, "Killing the crown prince will not only kill you, but if the crime is true, it will also mean the extermination of your entire family, including nine generations of your relatives."
Ning Xun was stunned for a moment, then became anxious and hurriedly grabbed Ning Hongxi's hand.
"Father, I don't want to die. I'm still young. Please don't let me die. You are the Prime Minister, and the Emperor trusts you the most. Please save me..."
Ning Hongxi sighed inwardly, his gaze falling on Ning Xun's legs. The eldest son was already crippled, and even if he were kept, he would be of no use in bringing glory to the family in the future.
Originally, it wouldn't have been a big problem for the Prime Minister's Mansion to have such a useless person, but after today's incident, if Ning Xun doesn't die, the entire Prime Minister's Mansion will be doomed, and his younger brothers and sisters will all die.
After a moment's thought, Ning Hongxi tenderly patted Ning Xun's head, his face full of affection.
He said, "Of course, your father will find a way to save you and the entire Prime Minister's mansion. Your legs are covered in blood, go back and rest first. I will have someone brew medicine for you to stop the bleeding."
...
Yun Zhuo was sent to the palace, and the emperor soon learned of this and immediately arranged for the imperial physicians to treat Yun Zhuo.
After examining him, the imperial physician said, "His Highness the Crown Prince was already suffering from a severe poisoning and was very weak. This blow almost shattered his heart meridian... I have already given His Highness medicine, which can temporarily save his life, but His Highness will inevitably suffer some pain."
The emperor frowned, unable to understand why the Prime Minister's residence would clash with the Crown Prince at this time.
He didn't quite believe what the imperial physician said, and even suspected that the physician had been bribed by Yun Zhuo. He sent almost everyone in the Imperial Medical Academy to treat him, but they all gave basically the same answer.
Only then did the emperor believe that the slap Yun Zhuo had suffered was truly serious.
Moreover, when the emperor learned that Yun Zhuo had gone to visit Ning Xun and was injured by Ning Xun with a single palm strike, many ministers in the court also rushed over upon hearing the news.
Once they confirmed that Yun Zhuo was indeed injured and had almost had his heart meridian shattered by Ning Xun, and that there were witnesses, they immediately submitted a joint memorial to the throne.
"Prime Minister Ning Hongxi allowed his son to commit violence, beating the Crown Prince in his own home, bringing the Crown Prince to the brink of death. This is an unforgivable crime! The Great Zhou Law states: 'Anyone who beats the Crown Prince shall be beheaded; anyone who plots to harm him shall have his entire family executed.' Now that the Prime Minister's residence has overstepped its bounds to this extent, if it is not severely punished, how can we uphold the moral order and deter the world?"
There were also those who rushed directly to the emperor and died remonstrating with him.
"Your Majesty! The Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation. Now that the Prime Minister's family has harmed him, it shakes the very foundation of the state! I beg Your Majesty to behead Ning Xun outside the palace gates and exile the entire Prime Minister's family as a warning to others! If Your Majesty does not agree, I am willing to die by striking my head against a pillar in remonstrance!"
He was not the only one who died for his principles.
However, at this moment, Prime Minister Ning Hongxi brought his son Ning Xun to the palace to request an audience.
Ning Xun was bound and carried in by guards. He was still bleeding and was awake, but he was in a state of madness.
In front of the emperor and his court officials, Prime Minister Ning Hongxi tearfully explained that his son had his leg broken and had become mentally unstable, practically insane. He said that the Crown Prince had visited him, and the entire Prime Minister's household was extremely grateful. However, they never expected that Ning Xun, in his madness, would attack the Crown Prince, leading to such a terrible disaster.
He also said that the servants in the mansion had also been harmed by Ning Xun for no reason, and that Ning Xun was not targeting His Highness the Crown Prince.
"Now that I have brought my wicked son Ning Xun to the palace, I beg Your Majesty to see the truth. Every word I have said is true, and I dare not conceal anything."
Everyone was shocked. The eldest son of the Prime Minister's family, who was perfectly fine not long ago, had gone mad after breaking his leg.
How is that possible!
One of the ministers suggested, "Is Lord Ning perhaps trying to exonerate himself by lying to us that his son has gone mad?"
Ning Hongxi knelt on the ground, his eyes red and swollen, and said with great pain, "Your Majesty can order the imperial physicians to treat this wicked son. If he is not insane, how dare he disregard the lives of his entire clan and lay a hand on His Highness the Crown Prince? Besides, they are cousins, and have a deep bond since childhood!"
The emperor was skeptical, so he summoned half of the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy to treat Ning Xun on the spot.
Several imperial physicians were nearly bitten by Ning Xun.
About an hour later, the imperial physicians all said that Ning Xun had indeed gone mad and no longer possessed the thinking and discernment abilities of a normal person.
The imperial physician also said, "When people suffer extreme blows, they may indeed go insane if they cannot bear it. Presumably, someone as noble as the young master of the Prime Minister's mansion could not accept that he had lost his leg, which is why he went insane."
The news shocked and saddened everyone.
At this moment, Ning Hongxi took off his official hat, placed his hands on the ground, and burst into tears.
"Your Majesty, my heart aches every time I think of His Highness the Crown Prince's serious injury! Although this was not my wish, 'if a son is not taught, it is the father's fault,' and I dare not defend my unfilial son's actions!"
"My family and I are completely unaware of this matter. I beg Your Majesty to spare the lives of my family in consideration of the many years I have served you. I am willing to resign my position as prime minister to appease the world; I am willing to commit suicide in front of the palace to appease the wrath of Heaven!"
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