RPAGF Chapter 536 A eloquent tongue
Chapter 536 A eloquent tongue
Cui Zhihao stepped forward, blocking Shen Yanzhou and Lin Chuying. "Third Prince, you colluded with foreign officials, plotted rebellion, and framed loyal officials. Now that the evidence is conclusive, what else do you have to say?"
Looking at Cui Zhihao's determined eyes and then at Shen Yanzhou's calm expression, Shen Jinyu felt increasingly panicked.
He knew he was probably doomed this time.
But he was unwilling to give up! He had planned for so long, and success was just around the corner. How could he let it all fall apart like this?
Just then, his eyes suddenly hardened, and he secretly gave a wink to one of his trusted confidants.
The confidant immediately understood and slowly retreated, trying to slip away in the chaos.
Choi Ji-ho had noticed his subtle movements long ago and shouted sternly, "Trying to leave? Stay here!"
As he spoke, he raised his hand and waved it, and the guards beside him immediately rushed forward and stopped the confidant.
Seeing this, Shen Jinyu knew there was no point in staying any longer, so he turned to leave: "Since General Cui has 'evidence,' then this prince will return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to report the situation to my father."
"Want to leave? It's not that easy!"
Cui Zhihao snorted coldly, "You led men to trespass into the East Palace and framed the Crown Prince. How can you just leave like that?"
Just as tensions were running high and a fight was about to break out, a eunuch's shrill voice suddenly rang out from outside: "His Majesty has arrived—"
Everyone was stunned. Why would His Majesty suddenly come to the East Palace?
Shen Yanzhou and Cui Zhihao exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes.
Why has His Majesty come at this time? Did he believe Shen Jinyu's words, or did he see the secret letter sent by Cui Zhihao?
From the direction of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a group of people surrounded His Majesty on the dragon throne as they slowly approached.
Shen Yuxi's face remained gloomy. His gaze swept over the messy study, then landed on Shen Yanzhou, Shen Jinyu, and Cui Zhihao, making it impossible to guess his thoughts.
Shen Jinyu was overjoyed and immediately stepped forward to kneel and pay his respects: "Father, I have found evidence that the Crown Prince colluded with Prince Rongyang to plot a rebellion. I beg you, Father, to do justice for me!"
Cui Zhihao immediately stepped forward and presented the secret letter: "Your Majesty, this is the irrefutable evidence of the Third Prince's collusion with the Prince of Rongyang! The Third Prince fabricated evidence, framed the Crown Prince, and trespassed into the Eastern Palace. He deserves to die!"
Shen Yuxi looked at the two pieces of "evidence" on the ground, then at Shen Jinyu kneeling on the ground and Shen Yanzhou standing to the side, and remained silent for a long time.
The atmosphere inside the hall was extremely oppressive; everyone held their breath, awaiting His Majesty's verdict.
Shen Yanzhou looked at his father, feeling somewhat uncertain.
My father has always been very suspicious, and this matter is so complicated. Who will he believe?
Just then, Shen Yuxi suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse and authoritative: "Guards, bring up both pieces of evidence. I want to examine them myself."
The eunuch immediately stepped forward and handed both pieces of evidence to His Majesty.
His Majesty carefully perused the document, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.
Shen Jinyu and Cui Zhihao watched him nervously, waiting for the final result.
However, Shen Yanzhou's gaze inadvertently fell on a eunuch behind His Majesty.
The eunuch had his head down, so his face couldn't be seen, but Shen Yanzhou noticed that he was wearing a ring on his finger with a pattern similar to the one on the seal of Prince Rongyang.
Shen Yanzhou's heart skipped a beat, and a terrible thought surged into his mind.
Could it be that the Emperor also has the Third Prince and Prince Rongyang's people by his side?
If that's the case, then this game is far more complex than he imagined.
Whether they can extricate themselves from this crisis remains to be seen.
The candlelight on the imperial desk flickered violently, casting the two "ironclad pieces of evidence" on and off, and also reflecting Shen Yuxi's face, which was wrinkled like a walnut.
Yu Heng stood to the side with his back bent, his fingertips seemingly unintentionally resting on the edge of the imperial desk, with a few barely noticeable ink stains under his fingernails.
His voice was high-pitched and deliberately respectful: "Your Majesty, look at the secret letter presented by General Cui. Although the handwriting is well imitated, the ink is too light, clearly indicating that it was forged in haste."
In contrast, the private seal and note found by the Third Prince had a thick, dark ink and the paper carried the distinctive sandalwood scent of the Eastern Palace study, suggesting they had been stored for some time.
Shen Jinyu quickly echoed, his knees still on the cold gold bricks, but he didn't care about the pain: "Father, you are wise! I knew that Cui Zhihao was acting under someone else's orders to frame me! This secret letter must have been forged by him and my elder brother, the Crown Prince!"
Cui Zhihao was so angry that the veins on his forehead throbbed. He took a step forward to argue, but Shen Yanzhou raised his hand to stop him.
Shen Yanzhou's gaze was fixed on Eunuch Liu's hand resting on the imperial desk, or more precisely, on the inconspicuous black jade ring on his ring finger.
The lotus scroll pattern engraved on the ring is exactly the same as the pattern on the private seal of the Prince of Rongyang!
"Does Eunuch Liu's statement make it sound as if he had already seen through the difference between the two pieces of evidence?"
Shen Yanzhou's voice was not loud, but it had a penetrating quality, "I just don't know how you, who serve in the Hall of Mental Cultivation every day, could be so familiar with the sandalwood incense in the East Palace study? And how could you determine at a glance that General Cui's secret letter was forged?"
Liu Gonggong stiffened, instinctively withdrawing his hand and shifting his gaze. "Your Highness is joking. This old servant was just... just speaking offhand, having seen much of His Majesty."
"Just something offhand?"
Lin Chuying stepped forward, her skirt swaying slightly, her face bearing a hint of sternness. "The day before yesterday, when I went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to pay my respects to the Emperor, I clearly saw Eunuch Liu and the Third Prince's personal guards whispering in the corner of the side hall. The brocade box that guard was holding was exactly the same style as the brocade box that the Third Prince took out today!"
The hall fell silent immediately upon hearing this.
Shen Jinyu's expression changed drastically, and she shouted angrily, "Crown Princess, stop making false accusations! Eunuch Liu is Father Emperor's close attendant, how could he speak privately with my people? Are you trying to slander Father Emperor's people as well?"
"Whether it's slander or not, just ask Eunuch Liu."
Lin Chuying's eyes were firm, without the slightest hesitation. "My maid Qinghe also saw it that day. Qinghe is an honest person and never lies. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may summon her for questioning!"
Liu Gonggong's face turned pale instantly, his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.
Shen Yuxi's gaze swept between Eunuch Liu and Shen Jinyu, her suspicion growing stronger.
He's lived most of his life; what kind of conspiracies and tricks hasn't he seen?
Given Liu Gonggong's flustered appearance and Lin Chuying's confident assertions, he simply couldn't believe there wasn't something fishy going on.
"Chuan Qinghe."
His Majesty said in a deep voice, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.
Liu Gonggong's body went limp, and he almost collapsed to the ground, but fortunately, a young eunuch next to him caught him.
Shen Jinyu was also flustered. He never expected that Lin Chuying would actually witness Eunuch Liu and his people in contact!
Before Qinghe could be summoned in, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall, and a commander of the Imperial Guards rushed in, stumbling and crawling.
His armor was askew, and his face was filled with terror: "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! Outside the city... outside the city, a large army is approaching, claiming to be Zhou Biao, the deputy general under the Prince of Rongyang, saying that they want to... say that they want to purge the court of corrupt officials and kill the Crown Prince!"