This morning’s court session was worthy of being included in the history of the Wei Dynasty.

The Wei Dynasty had not been established for ten years. During these years, the Emperor had been busy leading troops to fight wars most of the time. The so-called court laws were not very strict.

This was the first time that the Ministry of Justice had encountered such a major case as the assassination of the Second Huangzifei. There was no precedent and no experience in dealing with it. Before they could find out anything, they reported the preliminary interrogation results to the court.

Facts had proven that such behavior was absolutely unacceptable.

As soon as the matter involved the Zhao family, Marquis Puyang jumped out on the first day, Marquis Guangping fanned the flames on the side, and King Xingyang said nothing with a cold and murderous look in his eyes. There were also civil officials, led by Prime Minister Qiao, who petitioned the Emperor to severely punish the murderer.

To describe it as a mess was no exaggeration.

Veins popped out on Emperor Yongjia’s forehead, and his right hand tightly grasped the handle of the dragon throne.

Eunuch Liu, who was standing nearby, was terrified, fearing that Emperor Yongjia would lose control and get furious.

Fortunately, Emperor Yongjia managed to hold back.

“My dear ministers, please stand up first.” Emperor Yongjia tried his best to slow down his voice. “I am more angry than you about this incident. I have handed the case over to the Ministry of Justice. I will investigate it thoroughly and punish severely.”

Prime Minister Qiao lost no time in bowing and said, “Your Majesty is wise.”

All the civil officials echoed in unison, “Your Majesty is wise.”

The reactions of the generals were much more complex and subtle.

Xingyang King Lu Lin was the first to sincerely thank the Emperor for his grace: “On behalf of my daughter, I thank the Emperor for his grace.”

Marquis Guangping glanced at Marquis Puyang and said, “There must be something else going on. I believe that Marquis Puyang is not such a cruel person.”

Marquis Puyang did not appreciate it at all and sneered and said, “In my opinion, this matter suddenly involved the Zhao family. Someone must have planned it in advance, wanting to divert the trouble to others, instigate it, and reap the benefits. I beg the Emperor to investigate it thoroughly and clear my name.”

Emperor Yongjia felt a headache after hearing this, and said, “Alright, shut up. Let’s adjourn the court today! Minister Yang, follow me to Wenhua Palace, and the rest of you, go back and do your own work.”

…

No one knows what Emperor Yongjia and Minister Yang talked about.

After Minister Yang returned from the palace, he immediately returned to the Ministry of Justice.

As soon as he stepped into the Ministry of Justice, someone came to report quietly, “His Royal Highness the Second Prince came early in the morning. He said he would stay in the Ministry of Justice to see how we investigate the case.”

Minister Yang cursed a thousand times in his heart, but his face remained calm: “Did His Highness disturb your investigation?”

The official from the Ministry of Justice who reported the news shook his head and said, “That’s not the case. After His Highness came, he stayed in the prison to see how we interrogated the prisoners. He also read the files. He didn’t say a word more.”

Minister Yang glared at him and said, “If that’s the case, Your Highness can stay if he wants to. Why are you wasting your words?”

The smiling tiger stopped smiling and his face was gloomy and scary!

The official of the Ministry of Justice was scolded and retreated in disgrace.

Minister Yang calmed himself down and went to the prison.

The Ministry of Justice Prison was a place that frightened people. The light was dim and the air was filled with the smell of blood. When one entered the interrogation area, all one could see were various torture instruments.

Anyone who was timid would be scared to death if they entered such a place.

They were unable to find Chu Da’s identity for a while, so Third Zhao’s family was interrogated. After a night, they were all covered with wounds, and their cries and begging for mercy were endless.

The Second Prince, dressed in the clothes of a prince, stood in the dark prison, which made the prison look brighter. However, his handsome face was no longer as gentle as usual, and his black eyes flashed with an almost cold light.

Minister Yang sighed inwardly and walked forward to salute.

“Minister Yang, please don’t be so polite.” Li Jing held Minister Yang’s arm with his hand and whispered, “It’s against the rules for me to come to the Ministry of Justice in person. Please understand. I will not interfere with the Ministry of Justice’s investigation and interrogation. I will just stay here for three days. Once the case is fully investigated, I will go back.”

At this point, Minister Yang had no way to drive away the noble Second Prince, so he could only reply, “Your Highness, I cannot rest easy knowing that you are staying in such a filthy place.”

“Please rest assured, Your Highness. No one in the Ministry of Justice dares to slack off. We will definitely solve the case as soon as possible.”

After a pause, Yang Shangshu whispered again, “During the morning court session today, the Marquis of Puyang almost caused a scene in the court, and the Emperor was very unhappy.”

As for the private instructions given by Emperor Yongjia, Minister Yang naturally could not tell them.

Li Jing’s eyes flickered, and he nodded slightly: “Thank you, Minister Yang, for your advice.”

This assassination case actually involved the Yongjia Emperor’s maternal family and vaguely pointed to Empress Dowager Zhao. No wonder the Yongjia Emperor was so furious.

…

“What? How could it be related to the Zhao family? This is ridiculous!”

In Shouning Palace, Empress Dowager Zhao’s angry voice was heard: “Marquis Puyang is my zhí ^[1]the son of your brother and your biǎodì^[2]the son of the brother (or sister) of your mum who is younger than you. Even if I don’t like Lu Shi, I will not use such cruel means to kill her! To be honest, it doesn’t matter to me whether she lives or dies. The child in her belly is the legitimate blood of the Li family.”

Emperor Yongjia had been in a very bad mood since last night.

At this moment, being yelled at by his own mother, his face became even uglier: “How could I doubt my mother?”

Empress Dowager Zhao said angrily, “It is not okay to doubt the Zhao family!”

Empress Dowager Zhao was famous for protecting her own people. In the palace, she protected Qin Shi and the Fourth Prince. Outside the palace, of course, she would protect her zhí.

Emperor Yongjia was also angry and said in a harsh tone, “Whether the Marquis of Puyang is innocent or not, we have to wait for the Ministry of Justice to continue investigating. I am worried that someone is fanning the flames in Mother’s ears, so I came to tell you in person. Mother, please don’t ask about this matter.”

Empress Dowager Zhao stood up suddenly: “I want to ask what happened! I believe in Marquis Puyang, he will never do such a murder to Lu Mingyu!”

In a hurry, Empress Dowager Zhao didn’t care whether her words were harsh or not: “The princes are all wàishēng ^[3]the son of sister, in this case, father’s sister of Marquis Puyang. It doesn’t matter who becomes the Crown Prince for the Zhao family. Why should the Zhao family take such a risk and take action against the Lu Shi?”

“Marquis Puyang is only slightly biased towards the Fourth Prince. After all, the Fourth Prince has not yet married, so he won’t be so anxious.”

“If something happens to the Lu Shi, who will be the biggest beneficiary? The murderer must be her!”

Emperor Yongjia also stood up suddenly and said in a cold voice, “Mother! How can you say such nonsense without any evidence?”

Empress Dowager Zhao was sometimes confused and dull, but today she was particularly sharp and pointed: “Your Majesty knows better than anyone whether I am talking nonsense or not. When this matter involves your heart and soul, where is your wisdom and decisiveness?”

“Don’t try to make the best of a bad situation and throw this basin of dirty water on the Zhao family. As long as I am here, no one can dare to touch the Zhao family.”

“In my opinion, Your Majesty should go to the Yanxi Palace and ask your good guìfēi! She is capable of doing such sinister and vicious things. Your Majesty even dares to sleep next to her pillow! Be careful that she may use the ‘qiānjī’ again one day!” ^[4]you go Old Lady discipline your son

Emperor Yongjia: “…”

(End of this chapter)