Staring at the closed doors, Dongfang Shaoting and the others were still unwilling to leave. They stood firmly outside the imperial study, continuing to wait.
No matter what, there had to be an answer today.
Ye Liangyu knelt on the cold bluestone bricks, his kneecaps already aching slightly. The emperor had not told him to rise, so he could only continue kneeling.
Xiao Chengjing's mouth pressed into a deep frown, his voice as sharp as an ice pick.
He ordered Zhao Yande, Bring the items up.
Zhao Yande walked over to Ye Liangyu with quick strides, taking the letter and confession Ye Liangyu was holding up and handing them to the emperor.
Xiao Chengjing first read the confession from beginning to end, then opened the letter with trembling hands.
After reading everything, he remained silent for a long time before looking up. Where is the messenger currently locked up?
Ye Liangyu looked directly into the emperor's eyes and answered, In the prison of the Jingzhao Prefecture.
Xiao Chengjing stacked the letter and confession together and placed them by his hand.
I feel that although the handwriting on these three letters somewhat resembles that of Prince Qi, they were not written by Prince Qi himself. It seems someone is trying to frame him. You do not need to concern yourself with this matter anymore; I will send someone to investigate.
Ye Liangyu's eyes widened in astonishment. The handwriting on the letters was clearly identical to Prince Qi's, and the messenger had also stated that it was written by Prince Qi's own hand. Was the emperor trying to shield Prince Qi?
He bowed low and kowtowed, his forehead striking heavily against the hard bluestone bricks, and said with a resounding tone, Your Majesty, according to the culprit's confession, Prince Qi instructed Earl Zhongqin to steal the potatoes and hand them over to the Northern Shu Kingdom. The purpose was to save his left eye.
The motive, witnesses, and material evidence are all conclusive. Coupled with everything that has happened before, you absolutely must not tolerate this time.
Xiao Chengjing stared fixedly at Ye Liangyu with displeasure.
The culprit you speak of is a servant of Earl Zhongqin's estate, and the letters could also have been forged by Earl Zhongqin. In my view, this entire affair was orchestrated solely by Earl Zhongqin from start to finish. After the incident was exposed, he wanted to save his own life, so he framed Prince Qi. Rong Che's right eye is already blind, and he has been recuperating in his estate all along. He simply had no opportunity to do such a thing.
His nails dug into his palms, veins bulging on the backs of his tightly clenched fists. Ye Liangyu's voice trembled as he persisted unwillingly, That is precisely why Prince Qi ordered Earl Zhongqin to do this. The letters were written by Prince Qi himself, and the steward of Prince Qi's estate personally handed the letters to the messenger. If Your Majesty does not believe it, you can have the Ministry of Justice or the Supreme Court arrest the man immediately.
Bang! Xiao Chengjing slammed his palm onto the imperial desk. The eunuchs and palace maids in the room immediately fell to their knees, not daring to look up.
I said Earl Zhongqin is the mastermind, so he is the mastermind. Prince Qi's right eye is already blind, and his left eye is on the verge of losing its sight. Even if this matter is truly related to him, his merits offset his faults, and he is innocent.
Ye Liangyu clenched his jaw tightly. At the thought of everything that had happened before, his eyes began to turn red.
The emperor had already spared Prince Qi many times.
He held his head high and his chest out, throwing caution to the wind as he said, A prince who breaks the law is as guilty as a commoner. It is true that Prince Qi has merits in pacifying the southwest, but how can the crime of treason be so easily forgiven? If Your Majesty shields Prince Qi, will it not make a mockery of us before the people of the world once word gets out?
The distance was close, and the walls of the imperial study were not soundproof.
The sound of the table being slammed and Ye Liangyu's sonorous, forceful admonitions reached the ears of Dongfang Shaoting and the others loud and clear.
Everyone had already guessed seventy or eighty percent of what was happening inside.
The emperor wanted to protect Prince Qi, turning a major issue into a minor one, and a minor one into nothing.
Ye Liangyu disagreed, which was why he said things like a prince breaking the law is as guilty as a commoner.
Insolent! I am the sovereign and you are the subject. It seems I have been too lenient with you, giving you the audacity to speak such words that offend the imperial dignity.
Ye Liangyu did not retreat a single step. He kowtowed once more, his forehead bruising purple.
Advising the sovereign on his faults above and correcting the officials on their transgressions below is inherently my duty as an imperial censor. I do this for Your Majesty, and for the eternal legacy of the Dongzhao Kingdom. I beg Your Majesty to see clearly.
Xiao Chengjing's face was as dark as deep water. Even Zhao Yande, who was kneeling beside a pillar, began to tremble.
Plucking hairs from a tiger's head—how was this any different from courting death?
Utter nonsense.
Guards, drag Ye Liangyu out and give him thirty strokes of the cane. Without my decree, he is not to attend court for the time being. Let him reflect thoroughly at home.
Ye Liangyu gritted his teeth so hard he almost shattered his molars.
When he straightened his upper body, the look he directed at Xiao Chengjing was filled with heartache and despair, as if his faith had collapsed and his entire worldview had been shattered.
Even as the guards dragged him out, he did not utter a single word begging for mercy.
