usatvline Chapter 529: A game of chess, neither side gives in
Chapter 529: A game of chess, neither side gives in
"Xiao Jincheng has confessed that he was the one who sent someone to secretly assassinate you when you were in Funing. I thought he wanted you to mend the relationship between brothers, and I didn't want to see a rift between you two. I didn't expect that he would even lie to me!"
"Your Majesty, through this incident, I have figured it out. Xiao Jincheng has been plotting against me for a long time. His mother taught him since he was a child to compete with me, but I didn't realize it. Not only does he think that my position as the crown prince should be his, he also misunderstands that his mother died because of me and my mother. There is no family affection between him and me, only hatred."
All the ministers in the court understood what Xiao Yanan meant.
This means that Xiao Jincheng must be brought to justice.
"What you said makes sense, but I want to leave the matter of how to deal with Xiao Jincheng to your father. After all, Xiao Jincheng is also his son. This matter, to put it mildly, is also a family matter."
Xiao Yan'an understood what the lady said might not be what she meant.
The emperor did have another trick up his sleeve.
Letting his father decide Xiao Jincheng's life and death, isn't that equivalent to asking his father to kill his son with his own hands?
If my father does not sentence Xiao Jincheng to death, it would be a cover-up!
Xiao Jincheng was assassinating someone in the imperial capital. Where did he put the law and imperial power?
I'm afraid that by then, my father will also be to blame?
The emperor's intentions are indeed sinister!
They are not having an easy time either way.
Xiao Yanan was a little anxious. Is there no way to deal with it?
"Your Majesty, I have objections to this matter!" Rong Yuchuan suddenly stood up.
"Does your Excellency Rong have any objections?" The emperor frowned rapidly.
"My youngest son was also on the boat and was seriously injured by the assassin! I believe that since the truth has been uncovered, the matter should be dealt with according to the law! There is no need to ask King Huaiyang about this. I believe King Huaiyang will not disregard the law and deliberately shield Xiao Jincheng! I beg the emperor to sentence Xiao Jincheng to death!"
The emperor glanced in the direction of the four seas.
Chao Sihai suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
He forgot to report that the young master of the Duke of Rong's Mansion was injured. He thought that this matter was not important and did not even involve anything!
"My dear Lord Rong, why didn't you ask the imperial physician to come to your house to treat your son? How is your son's injury?" the emperor asked with concern.
"At present, the doctor in my house can still treat my son. I also want to personally invite the imperial physician to my house to treat my son after the court session today." Rong Yuchuan responded softly.
Now, with the Rongguo Mansion interfering and daring to say so in the court, it is not impossible for the Rongguo Mansion to put some pressure on the Prince of Huaiyang.
The effect the emperor wanted to achieve was greatly reduced.
Xiao Yan'an immediately breathed a sigh of relief, then thought that Rong Xiaosi was quite skilled and should have been able to escape from the assassin, but he was injured.
Could it be that Rong Xiaosi was injured on purpose?
Madam, did you anticipate that the Emperor would push the blame on your father?
"Your Majesty, I think that this matter should be informed to Prince Huaiyang. If a son is not well educated it is the fault of the father. Prince Huaiyang has an unshirkable responsibility for raising such a son!" Prime Minister Qin stood up and said in a serious tone.
"Prime Minister Qin, you don't know that when we were in Huaiyang, Xiao Jincheng conspired with his mother to assassinate me. After the plot was exposed, my father spared them once. His mother, Concubine Gao, was taken back by County Magistrate Gao. Not long after, she died in County Magistrate Gao's mansion. As for how she died, I'm afraid I'll have to ask County Magistrate Gao."
"My father has already given Xiao Jincheng a chance, and I agree with what he did. But Xiao Jincheng insisted on leaving Huaiyang and coming to the imperial capital, and he hid his tracks. My father sent people to look for him everywhere, but they couldn't find him. His actions are the same as breaking with my father. I don't think his current actions have anything to do with my father! If we really have to find someone to be held responsible for this matter, I think that Lord Gao Jin, who took him in, should be held responsible!" Xiao Yan'an confronted Prime Minister Qin head-on.
"Just now, the emperor also said that this is a family matter. He doesn't want to make a big deal out of it and he also wants to give face to Prince Huaiyang. Prince, do you mean that he will not stop until Xiao Jincheng dies?" Qin Xiang questioned Xiao Yan'an.
"Prime Minister Qin, look at what you said. He has committed such a serious crime. If I still plead for him, will Prime Minister Qin accuse me of shielding him? You can say all kinds of twisted and crooked things with your mouth." Xiao Yan'an showed no mercy to Prime Minister Qin.
Prime Minister Qin was so angry that his face turned red.
He holds a very important position in the court and is the head of all officials. Even the emperor has to give him some face in front of his ministers.
Xiao Yan'an actually dared to say that to him.
"My Lord, do you not care about the relationship between brothers at all? How do you know that your father wants his son to die? Maybe he will plead for his son and spare his life?"
"Yes, what Prime Minister Qin said makes sense. Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs! Besides, the prince isn't hurt at all. Why should we kill him all?" Someone stood up and agreed with Prime Minister Qin.
With this said, Xiao Yanan, the victim, became a ruthless person who disregarded the brotherly love and was determined to get rid of his own brother.
These people are really good at confusing people.
The court was also divided into two factions. One faction, headed by Prime Minister Qin, believed that human relations and family ties should be taken into consideration and Xiao Jincheng's life should be spared.
One group, led by Rong Yuchuan, believes that the law is strict and the punishment should be based on the crime.
Of these two factions, Prime Minister Qin's side is composed entirely of aristocratic families and nobles.
On Rong Yuchuan's side, there were new upstarts in the court, most of whom came from humble backgrounds.
The two sides argued about this matter for a whole morning.
In the end, the emperor sent someone to inform Prince Huaiyang at full speed, and put Xiao Jincheng's life and death in the hands of Prince Huaiyang.
After retiring from court, the emperor returned to the imperial study.
The sweat on Chao Sihai's back soaked his clothes, and he knelt in front of the emperor tremblingly.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty of not reporting Young Master Rong's injuries to you. Please punish me."
"I'll fine you one year's salary as a punishment."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Chao Sihai immediately bowed to thank the emperor for his grace.
This was already the lightest punishment for him.
"You go to Prince Ping's residence. No matter what Prince Huaiyang's attitude is, ask Prince Ping to protect Xiao Jincheng." The emperor ordered in a deep voice.
"Yes!" Chao Sihai did not dare to delay and went to deliver the message immediately.
Ji Chuhe seemed to be thinking about something when she heard Xiao Yan'an telling her about the situation in the court.
Xiao Yan'an also had doubts in his mind.
"Madam, did you arrange for Xiao Si to get injured?"
"Prince, I haven't calculated it to this extent. This is just a coincidence. My uncle just acted according to the circumstances." Ji Chuhe responded softly.