readytorunbook Chapter 360 Joint Trial by the Three Judicial Offices 1
Chapter 360 Joint Trial by the Three Judicial Offices 1
Bian Langzhong breathed a sigh of relief.
The fact that the Emperor was willing to open a case means that what that person said was true, and that the Emperor did indeed want to investigate the Tong family and depose the Crown Prince.
"Your Majesty is wise!" he exclaimed.
Everyone stared at the seemingly foolish young official, unsure whether he was genuinely foolish or just pretending.
The crown prince did not understand why the situation had suddenly turned against them.
These people are all coming out to oppose him. Could it be that someone is really behind this?
“Father, I have no objection to having the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate investigate my uncle’s case, but not Xiao Ji’s.”
"Why not?"
"He...he may have ulterior motives, targeting the Tong family."
The Crown Prince had previously held Xiao Ji in high regard, but he never expected that the first person to betray him would be this promising young official.
If he weren't in cahoots with Shen Lan, he would definitely have stepped forward to recommend him.
The emperor smiled and shook his head, "Don't be willful. Xiao Ji grew up in the capital. Many adults here watched him grow up and become the top scholar. How could he possibly harm you?"
"but……"
The emperor interrupted him, "Don't believe everything you hear. Go back to your residence first. You are not allowed to enter or leave the Crown Prince's residence without my decree. The Crown Prince's residence is guarded by the Imperial Guards."
The crown prince never expected that he would be confined to his quarters again, and this time it was different from the last.
Last time there was at least a deadline, but this time, no one knows what awaits him.
"Father, I wish to kowtow to Mother."
The Crown Prince knew that something must have happened to his mother, otherwise she would have shown up after such a serious incident.
The emperor rejected him without hesitation.
"Your mother is seriously ill and should not be disturbed. If she finds out what you have done, she may faint from anger. You should stay in the Crown Prince's residence and not cause any trouble."
The emperor gave the Marquis of Pingyang a wink, and the latter immediately arranged for someone to take the crown prince out of the palace.
As soon as the Crown Prince left, the Emperor's expression turned sour. Pointing at the members of the Tong family, he said, "Guards, seize all the people from the Tong family and imprison them in the Imperial Prison to await joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices!"
The women of the Tong family couldn't help but burst into tears.
Madam Tong's death is still imminent. Even without the crimes listed by Physician Bian, the fact that she led assassins to besiege Kunning Palace today is enough to send the Tong family to their deaths.
In front of everyone, the Marquis of Pingyang asked, "Your Majesty, should we continue to interrogate these survivors?"
The emperor glared at him. "I order you to find out the hiding places of all the Tong family's assassins and wipe them out within a month. If you let even one escape, you can forget about being the commander of the Imperial Guards!"
Marquis Pingyang was not threatened; whoever wanted to be the commander of the Imperial Guards could take the position.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will do my utmost!"
Marquis Pingyang was not without clues. With the clues provided by Xiao Ji, his purpose was very clear. That very day, he led his men out of the city to Vulture Peak Mountain.
Meanwhile, Tong Yiwen disappeared without a trace. Marquis Pingyang dared not be careless and sent a team to Yishan Academy to capture him.
The movement of the Imperial Guards also signifies the Emperor's intentions.
The court officials were best at reading the winds of change, and the already wavering opportunists began to gradually turn against the crown prince.
Master Xiao rushed home in a rage and saw his son dressed in official robes about to go out. He immediately stopped him.
He looked around, pulled his son aside and asked, "Tell me honestly, were you involved in the Crown Prince's affairs?"
Xiao Ji did not deny it, "Father, the Crown Prince is not a wise ruler. You told me this a long time ago."
"Yes, but that doesn't mean our Xiao family can become the family that overthrows the dynasty. What the Crown Prince does is none of our business."
Our Xiao family is a clean and upright family; we don't participate in factional struggles, so it doesn't matter who the emperor is.
"Do you really think so? Did the Xiao family get to where it is today because of its reputation as a 'pure and upright' family?"
"Isn't that right? If everyone were like you, blindly taking sides, the Xiao family would have been dead hundreds of times over."
Xiao Ji disagreed, "Father, I won't take sides casually. I will only do what I believe is right."
Master Xiao wanted to teach him a lesson, but Xiao Ji ran away first.
"Father, I have to go investigate the case, so I won't talk to you any longer."
Old Master Xiao snorted coldly and cursed helplessly, "You brat, all you know how to do is screw over your father."
Now that things have developed to this point, it's difficult for the Xiao family to avoid becoming enemies with the Crown Prince.
He believed that Xiao Ji was not a capricious person, and he had to admit that what happened in the palace today was quite satisfying.
"Someone, go and call Miss Shen to my study."
This was the first time in so many days that Master Xiao had the idea of seeing Shen Lan.
After saving Li Ge that day, Shen Lan didn't go out much, worried that the Tong family would retaliate.
Moreover, she was injured, and even if it didn't kill her, she would need to rest for a few days to recover.
She entered Master Xiao's study, curtsied, and said, "Master, please ask me what you need to ask."
Her cooperative attitude put Mr. Xiao at ease.
"Is it true that you reported this to the Emperor?"
"Yes."
"No lies?"
"No, every word I said is the truth."
Master Xiao didn't know whether to pity her or admire her.
He had considered that Shen Lan's background was difficult, but he never expected it to be this difficult.
“I can’t see any hatred in your heart. Your usual behavior is no different from that of a normal person, which means you are a very deep person.”
Shen Lan did not refute.
She has some knowledge of psychology and can make a judgment about her own situation.
She suffered from severe depression for a while and even experienced somatic symptoms. Later, she gradually adjusted her mindset through self-regulation.
"You deliberately approached Xiao Ji, didn't you?"
Shen Lan shook her head: "No, it was Lord Xiao who extended an olive branch first, and I just happened to want to use his identity to investigate some things, so we hit it off immediately."
To Master Xiao, the phrase "a perfect match" sounded like mutual affection.
He frowned deeply.
If before this, Xiao Ji had wanted to take Shen Lan as a concubine, he would have wholeheartedly agreed.
But now, he dares not agree so easily.
Moreover, he did not believe that Shen Lan, burdened with such a deep-seated hatred, would be consumed by romantic love.
"Did Xiao Ji teach you to beat the drum to appeal for justice?"
"Of course not. If Lord Xiao had known beforehand, he would have stopped me."
Shen Lan spoke with certainty, clearly indicating that she had a thorough understanding of Xiao Ji.
Master Xiao couldn't quite understand the relationship between the two, and felt inexplicably sorry for them.
He knew his son, and he didn't believe that Xiao Ji had no feelings for Shen Lan at all.
After the Zhao family's engagement was called off, Madam Xiao devoted herself to finding a new marriage for Xiao Ji. If it weren't for her health issues, she would have put this matter on the agenda long ago.
"Have you thought about what to do next? Your painting and your words are more than just offending the Tong family and the Crown Prince."
Shen Lan assured Master Xiao, "I will move out today. It was wrong of me to implicate the Xiao family. If the Xiao family ever needs anything in the future, I, Shen Lan, will never refuse to help as long as it is within my power!"
"Haha, Miss Shen has the demeanor of a chivalrous woman."
At this time, Master Xiao was unaware that Shen Lan indeed possessed the martial arts skills of a chivalrous woman.