readytorunbook Chapter 695: Assassinating the Princess is a trivial matter?
Chapter 695: Assassinating the Princess is a trivial matter?
After Zhang Chong finished speaking, the other officials echoed him.
"That's right, Your Highness! The truth behind this assassination hasn't even been revealed yet, yet you've taken it upon yourself to massacre all the Northern Di people in Shanghe Prefecture. This is truly cold-blooded and heartless!"
He originally wanted to say "inhumane", but because he was afraid of the royal majesty, he finally changed the four words to "cold-blooded and ruthless".
"Your Majesty, Master Zhang and Master Liu are right! Prince Yong of Beidi came to marry Tianqi. Now that the princes and princesses of the two countries have just been married, Prince Yong of Beidi has been killed by our prince. In this matter, we Tianqi are not in the right!"
"I'm worried that if the Northern Di Emperor gets to know about this, war will break out between the two countries!"
Most of the officials who came to Taiji Palace were subordinates of the Eighth and Ninth Brothers. Now that they had this opportunity, they naturally wanted to overthrow Baili Moqing once and for all and make him lose the emperor's favor, so that their master would have greater opportunities in the future!
"What do you mean, Lord Xu? Who told you about the assassination? I haven't investigated it thoroughly yet?" Baili Moqing said coldly, then looked at the emperor, "Father, I have already found out the identity of the assassin!"
"The person who assassinated me was Shen Yao's Beidi secret guard! I have also prepared my testimony!"
Emperor Qiwen signaled Liu Qin to present Baili Moqing's testimony.
Zhenli entered the palace with Baili Moqing, and he had already prepared the testimonies.
After reading the testimony, Emperor Qiwen asked Liu Qin to pass it down and show it to the officials.
Of course he knew who sent these people, but it was good that they came to cause trouble. It was a good opportunity to make the matter of Shanghe Mansion public.
"My dears, have you seen clearly?" His expression remained unchanged as he spoke calmly, "The testimony clearly states that the person who assassinated Prince Li and his wife was Shen Yao. If that's the case, then it wouldn't be a problem for Prince Li to kill Shen Yao in anger, right?"
"After all, in my Tianqi Kyoto, he planned to assassinate my Tianqi's first-class prince. Even if Prince Li didn't kill him, I can't let him go!"
The officials wanted to say something, but the emperor continued, "Of course, Prince Li didn't follow the formal procedures, and his methods were inappropriate, but it can be considered excusable!"
"Do you have any questions, my dear ministers?"
Emperor Qiwen favored Prince Li in public, leaving the officials kneeling on the ground looking at each other in bewilderment.
"Your Majesty, but in Shanghe Mansion, Prince Li not only killed Shen Yao, but also killed General Fang Lifang of the Longwu Army!"
"This is our Tianqi's fourth-rank general. Prince Li kills him at will! Does the law still exist here?!"
"Furthermore, I heard from the soldiers of the Longwu Army that the assassination on Pingkang Street was aimed at Prince Li's wife, not Prince Li himself!"
"The deaths of Shen Yao and those people in Shanghe Mansion were simply the prince's revenge! Such behavior is really..."
"Master Zhang!" Baili Moqing raised his voice, his tone filled with danger and displeasure. "What do you mean the target is the Princess of Li, not me? Zhang Chong, you've emphasized this several times. Can I assume that, in your mind, assassinating the Princess is a trivial matter?"
Zhang Chong's expression changed slightly, "Your Majesty, I didn't mean that..."
"You didn't mean that? Then what do you mean?"
Baili Moqing stared at him coldly, emitting a strong sense of oppression, as if a mountain was pressing on Zhang Chong's back, making it difficult for him to breathe.
"Also, what does it mean to vent your anger?"
"My princess has been poisoned by Shen Yao and her life or death is unknown. I went to Shanghe Mansion to get the antidote to save her. You call this 'venting your anger'?"
"Zhang Chong, are you an official of Tianqi or of Beidi?"
Baili Moqing's questioning left Zhang Chong speechless. His last sentence even pointed out that Zhang Chong was suspected of collaborating with the enemy!
Emperor Qiwen's cold gaze swept over him, and Zhang Chong trembled with fear. He hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, I am innocent!"
"General Fang's family is crying outside the palace, saying they're going to sue Prince Li for murder without cause. I simply feel sorry for that family, so I want justice for General Fang!"
"Justice?" Zhen Li, who had been silent the whole time, stood up and said coldly, "What kind of justice do you want, Lord Zhang?"
"Fang Li, at Shanghe Mansion, publicly spoke rudely to the prince, committing a crime of insubordination. Even after this general's warning, he still refused to repent. Therefore, I shall issue an order to execute him to set the record straight! Lord Zhang, how was this general's action unfair?"
"If Master Zhang feels that this general has behaved inappropriately and wishes to lodge a complaint, you can report me to the Emperor! But why are you so intent on keeping an eye on His Majesty?"
"Is Lord Zhang truly serving the country on this trip, or is he being instigated by someone to do something shady?"
Zhang Chong's face turned pale as he kowtowed to Emperor Qiwen, protesting his innocence. "Your Majesty, I have a heart for this country that is worthy of heaven and earth! General Zhenli, you are slandering me with foul language, and you are trying to drive me to a dead end!"
Seeing this situation, the officials all lowered their heads.
General Zhenli and Prince Li, the three great generals, are not easy to deal with. It seems that they will return empty-handed today!
"Master Zhang, I'm just asking a normal question. Why are you so agitated? Are you feeling guilty and angry?"
"General Zhenli, you!"
At this time, Liu Qin came in to report, "Your Majesty, the imperial physicians have arrived!"
Emperor Qiwen's expression changed, and he said, "Quick, let them all come in and show it to Princess Li!"
"Seventh Brother, send your wife to the side hall to rest. She's been poisoned and seriously injured, so why is she still here with you in this hall?"
Baili Moqing nodded and took the group of imperial doctors to the side hall, and Emperor Qiwen followed.
The officials knelt where they were. When they saw the emperor and the others leave, they began to look at each other and discuss in low voices.
"Prince Li has described the assassination of the princess as an assassination of the prince. This has completely changed the nature of the matter! Even if this statement spreads to the Northern Di, it will be considered unreasonable by the Northern Di people! It seems that Prince Li can't be punished for this matter!"
"Judging from the Emperor's intentions, he seems to want to resolve this issue this way. My Lords, we must not confront the Emperor again!"
……
Listening to their discussions, Zhang Chong's face looked extremely ugly.
We clearly agreed to accuse Prince Li together, so why was he the only one who got hurt in the end?