diskusbooks Chapter 238 Going to court
Chapter 238 Going to court
Carriages were leaving from all parts of the capital, heading towards the palace gates.
The three of them sat in the same carriage, and the atmosphere seemed a little awkward, mainly because Wu Ziyan didn't try to hide anything.
Because she was still half asleep, she hugged Chu Qiu's arm as soon as she got in the car, rested her head on his shoulder, and squinted her eyes again.
Chu Qiu seemed to be quite self-righteous, something he hadn't done before.
I tossed and turned all night thinking about it, and I realized that what his third sister said made some sense.
Things will work themselves out in the end; let's just take it one step at a time.
Wu Chengji licked his lips, wondering how he should begin.
Today is supposed to be an extremely stressful day, but she's fast asleep.
Wu Chengye couldn't sleep all night, wondering who had left him a note in his room.
She opened it and, before going to court in the morning, rushed to deliver it to her third sister, Wu Chengling.
Even sitting inside the carriage, I was filled with trepidation.
The Prime Minister also received news of the weapons being confiscated last night, but he remained calm and composed this morning.
Sitting inside the carriage, it was as if nothing had happened.
They met at the main gate of the palace, where they had to get out of their carriage and walk inside.
Chu Qiu should have been barred from entering the palace.
But for some reason, he was allowed to go in with Wu Ziyan.
As Chu Qiu entered the palace gates, he was still somewhat puzzled. Where was his third sister? Why hadn't she come along?
Wu Chengji then remembered that they had never attended court together before, and he had forgotten to call her today.
They had walked quite a distance before they heard hurried footsteps behind them. Chu Yu had actually run over.
"Oh, Your Highnesses, why didn't you wake me up when you left this morning?"
The two of them didn't say anything; it couldn't possibly be that they forgot.
Just then, Chu Yu, being oblivious to these matters, approached them and spoke.
"I just saw the Second Prince and the Prime Minister in the back."
"They're quite brazen, acting as if they didn't do those wicked things."
"I don't know, but the Second Prince looked solemn, while the Prime Minister appeared completely calm," Chu Yu replied.
"We'll see the outcome in the imperial court later. By the way, should there be any survivors among those arrested last night?"
Wu Ziyan also looked completely at ease.
Chu Qiu rarely spoke up: "I thought Your Highness was just sleeping last night."
The three looked at him in surprise, as if wondering who had just spoken. Could it have been him?
Continuing onward, they encountered another familiar minister, who was of course familiar to Wu Chengji, but had little to do with Wu Ziyan.
However, upon seeing the two princes walking together, one should still politely greet them.
However, after saying hello, I had a thousand questions in my mind.
Isn't the Fourth Prince under house arrest?
Didn't she murder the two princes of Xiaorong Kingdom? Wasn't she flogged?
But why is she now standing perfectly fine next to Wu Chengji, and clocking in for work with a completely calm expression?
But she was, after all, the Fourth Prince, and no one dared to question her.
No one dared to speak up, and those who walked behind were afraid of provoking her and then being blamed.
Some of the ministers walking behind were on Wu Chengye's side.
Seeing Wu Ziyan brush past him, he slowed his pace and waited for Wu Chengye and the others.
"Second Prince, I think I just saw the Fourth Prince. She was with the First Prince."
"Ah, I know." She seemed a little dazed, as if she hadn't fully woken up.
It seems she really didn't die, and she wasn't injured either. Hopefully, her third sister will help her in the imperial court.
As for the Prime Minister, well, she could only apologize!
As all the ministers arrived at the court one after another, the sky was finally clear enough to see.
Everyone treated Wu Ziyan like a plague god.
After all, she hasn't shown her face, so all the blame has been placed on her these past two days.
Of course, there were also those who knew the inside story, and those were all from Wu Chengji's faction.
Before long, the palace officials announced the start of court, and the Empress was dressed in a heavy dragon and phoenix robe.
He looked even more majestic today, and the eyelids under the dragon crown on his head did not waver in the slightest.
He sat down in the chair, exuding an air of looking down on all living beings.
As he sat down, his gaze naturally fell on Wu Ziyan. So it was time.
Before the officials could even begin to speak, a crisp, clear thud was heard.
Wu Chengye knelt on the ground, a move that caught them completely off guard.
I thought she and the Prime Minister were already bound together, but it seems they're about to sever ties.
Those below the court were filled with turmoil, but how could they dare to whisper among themselves in the grand hall? They could only keep it all to themselves.
The Prime Minister's expression shifted slightly, but she hadn't expected Wu Chengye to pull this stunt; she had been careless.
No matter what, Wu Chengye is still the Empress's biological daughter. If she turns against her on the spot, the Empress might let her off the hook.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"
Several loud thuds echoed as the head slammed against the ground, each one resounding so powerfully that everyone held their breath.
They had heard about some of the things she and the prime minister had done in secret.
The fire in Jiu'an Prefecture yesterday was probably their doing as well.
The empress did not speak, but merely gave him a cold look, indicating that he could continue.
Her body was trembling, and she glanced at Wu Chengling.
If she's willing to kneel down and beg for mercy at the crucial moment, there's still a glimmer of hope.
"Your subject... Your subject was deceived by Sima Zongcheng for a time."
"Yesterday, the fire in Jiu'an Prefecture was started by the Prime Minister's men."
"Moreover, she also secretly transported a large number of troops out of the city. She used my seal to let them out of the city, which has nothing to do with me."
Well, that's really something. You think you can absolve yourself of all responsibility with just a few words.
But the solid evidence had already been presented to the Queen.
Wu Ziyan certainly didn't necessarily want to kill Wu Chengye.
However, her shameless sophistry is truly despicable.
"By the way, even the prince of Xiaorong Kingdom was actually killed by her men, and Chengdu was deceived by Sima Zongcheng!"
The prime minister remained silent, still maintaining his aloof and superior demeanor.
It was as if the person Wu Chengye spoke of wasn't her.
However, the ministers who were not aligned with their faction stood by with their hands in their pockets, watching the show.
They couldn't sit still and wanted to whisper among themselves; the prime minister wasn't a bad person to begin with.
Moreover, he has made great achievements in politics, which they just can't understand.
Why would the prime minister commit such a treasonous act of collusion with the enemy?
The Empress slightly raised her eyes to glance at Sima Zongcheng, then shifted her gaze to the kneeling Wu Chengye: "Anything else?"
Wu Chengye's father suddenly went blank. What other crimes could he be accused of? Hadn't she fabricated any?
"And... a batch of weapons has already been transported beyond the border, and it's estimated that they're about to be delivered to the Xiao Rong Kingdom?"
Even the factions on their side were now in dismay. What a momentous event this was!
If Shi Luantong is directly accused of treason, his entire family will likely be wiped out.
Those implicated with the prime minister were either dismissed from their posts or, in serious cases, had their property confiscated and were exiled.
In an instant, most people felt like they had the worst luck imaginable!