diskusbooks Chapter 453 Punishment
Chapter 453 Punishment
"It's just an invitation. Is it more gratifying to you than your father's praise?"
The empress said with a disdainful expression.
"Mother, you are mistaken. This is no ordinary invitation. It comes from the overseas Kingdom of Qingwu. Their monarch said that he will support me in successfully ascending the throne..."
"Qingwu Kingdom?"
The Empress looked at the nanny beside her.
"Granny Chang, have you heard of this?"
"Your Majesty, this old servant has never heard of it!"
And you, Qingluan?
"This servant has never heard of it..."
After asking around, the Empress was greatly disappointed by everyone's answers.
She looked at her son, "Yue'er, have you been fooled?"
Seeing their disappointed expressions, the Crown Prince immediately became displeased.
He looked at Qiao Yuanliang beside him.
"Come here and explain to my mother what's going on!"
It was embarrassing that these people didn't even know about Qingwu Kingdom.
Qiao Yuanliang, whose name was called, glanced at the Crown Prince and saw him nod at him.
"To the Queen."
"Get up! Tell me what happened..."
"Your Majesty, it is said that Qingwu Kingdom is a newly established country outside the sea, with a vast territory, covering about two-thirds of our Great Wei."
I have also heard that Qingwu Kingdom is rich in various minerals, such as salt, iron ore, and coal, which are in short supply in our Great Wei...
The fact that Qingwu Kingdom has proposed establishing trade relations with Great Wei, and that they approached the Crown Prince first, shows that they have high hopes for him.
Of course, the crown prince will be the emperor of the Great Wei in the future, so they can be considered to have good foresight.
Therefore, my humble suggestion is to accept the proposal from the Qingwu Kingdom regarding economic and trade relations between the two countries. With their support, the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne will naturally follow!
The Empress lowered her eyes as she listened to Qiao Yuanliang's analysis.
If it's really as he says, then there's no loss in associating with this Qingwu Kingdom; in fact, we'd gain an ally.
I just don't know if that's the truth.
"Alright then! Since you have your eye on the Qingwu Kingdom, I will send you with a group to investigate it..."
If this is true, it proves that Qingwu Kingdom is indeed reliable and a worthy ally.
If not, then...
The Empress looked sharply at Qiao Yuanliang.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
As she emerged from the East Palace, the Empress suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She seems to have forgotten something.
"Granny Chang, did the Crown Prince mention the name of the current ruler of Qingwu Kingdom just now?"
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince did not mention it..."
Listening to Granny Chang's words, the Empress frowned. She felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"Forget it, let's wait until Qiao Ziliang returns from his mission to Qingwu Kingdom!"
A rumor has been circulating in the public in recent days.
It is said that Prince Min did not die from a high fever, but was poisoned.
When the news reached the emperor's ears, Emperor Mingcheng, who was already in a bad mood, was furious and ordered the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate to conduct a joint trial and thoroughly investigate the case.
Gao Yansong, the highest-ranking official of the Court of Judicial Review, was temporarily stripped of his official hat by the emperor and imprisoned at home pending investigation.
"Madam, the master has sent me to summon you back immediately!"
Upon hearing the news, Ms. Bai, who was having tea at her best friend's house, hurriedly put down her cup.
"Did the master say what it is?"
"This……"
Butler Liu glanced at the others, a troubled expression on his face.
Well, this is definitely not something that can be said in front of others.
Mrs. Bai looked at her best friend, Mrs. Shen, and said, "Taoying, I'm so sorry."
You see, I have something to take care of, so I'm afraid today's tea banquet might be affected..."
"It's alright, family matters are more important. You should go back quickly, don't keep Master Gao waiting!"
"Ok!"
After the maidservant saw the person out, Madam Shen looked at the steward standing to the side.
"Go and find out what happened at the Gao residence!"
A moment later, Butler Qian hurriedly returned.
"Madam, this old servant has just learned that His Majesty has dismissed Lord Gao from his post, supposedly because of Prince Min's case..."
"The case of Prince Min?"
More than a month has passed since Prince Min's coffin was buried. Why did the emperor suddenly decide to reopen the case?
not good!
Madam Shen seemed to have thought of something, and her expression suddenly changed.
"Steward Qian, quickly prepare the sedan chair, I need to go to my sister's house!"
Three days later.
When Sun Zhengnan of the Ministry of Justice presented all the evidence of the conspiracy to assassinate Prince Min and the list of those involved to the emperor, the emperor was furious.
"This is outrageous! How dare these people try to harm my son!"
Guards, take all these people on the list to the prison and punish them for murdering the crown prince!
"Cough cough..."
Emperor Cheng was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged.
"Emperor calm down!"
Eunuch Wei quickly stepped forward and patted the emperor's back, which helped Emperor Mingcheng catch his breath.
"Calm down? If it weren't for these people, Min'er might be alive and well."
As a result of them, Qin Baihe, that prostitute, had the opportunity to poison my son..."
Thinking of Min'er's despair before her death, Emperor Mingcheng suddenly felt short of breath.
Although he had never had much interest in this good-for-nothing son since he was a child, even tigers don't eat their cubs, so how could he possibly kill him as the princess of Xiliang Kingdom wished?
"Guards! Drag that wicked woman Qin Baihe to the tomb of Prince Min, make her kneel before my son for three days and three nights, and then bury her alive on the spot!"
In this way, if Min'er knew this in the afterlife, perhaps she wouldn't blame her father.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The eunuch who received the order trembled with fear after hearing it; it seemed that the Emperor truly hated Qin Baihe.
"As for the other one..."
Emperor Mingcheng's sharp eyes glanced at Eunuch Wei beside him.
When the emperor's gaze swept over him, Eunuch Wei's heart skipped a beat.
But he quickly regained his composure.
At this moment, the emperor is probably not targeting him.
Sure enough, Emperor Mingcheng announced: "Gao Yansong, as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, concealed the facts of the case, which led to the innocent and tragic death of Prince Min. Such behavior is truly despicable and hateful!"
Considering his loyalty to me over the years and his contributions to the court, I will not kill him…
Emperor Cheng of Ming pondered for a moment.
"Let him be exiled to Chulong Prefecture!"
Upon hearing the emperor's words, Eunuch Wei replied nervously, "Your Majesty, this old servant will go and deliver the decree immediately!"
Gao Mansion.
Bai was in tears.
"Master, please think of something! If we really go to that wolf's den, how are we supposed to survive..."
The lord offended so many people when he was in office, and so many prisoners escaped there.
If they really went to Chulongzhou, it would be no different from committing suicide.
The emperor is trying to force his own master to his death!
Gao Yansong sighed when he saw that his wife had grown a lot of white hair overnight.
"Madam, it is Yan Song who has wronged you..."
"It's all because of your good sister. If it weren't for her husband causing so much trouble, you wouldn't have been implicated and demoted..."
Thinking of how the emperor had banished them to Chulongzhou, a place as fierce as wolves and tigers, Bai felt as if she were living a life worse than death. Her eyes were fixed blankly on a pillar in front of her.
Seeing that there was no sound from inside the house, Gao Yansong turned around to comfort his wife, only to witness a scene that took his breath away!