amaotonovel Chapter 217 Blood Splattered on the Spot
Chapter 217 Blood Splattered on the Spot
Ten days have passed in the blink of an eye.
After several days of searching, Lu Zhiheng finally managed to capture Xu Fei, the deputy general who had fled.
That man was bold and resourceful, playing the field in the dark, and had been hiding in the outskirts of Beijing all along.
After being subjected to severe interrogation, the lieutenant finally confessed everything.
It turns out that he had been secretly communicating with Wang Chengxun's eldest son, Wang Jinghao. The imperial guards also found many letters between Xu Fei and Wang Jinghao at Xu Fei's residence.
Now all the blame is being directed at the Wang family. If we want to exonerate Chu Tianheng, we will inevitably have to offend the Wang family.
Chu Tianheng has been imprisoned in the Zhaoyu prison for half a year. Now that His Majesty has found new evidence and wants to overturn the case, it has once again caused a great uproar in the court.
The court officials, led by Wang, all opposed the idea.
"Your Majesty! The matter of Chu Tianheng's treason and collusion with the enemy has already been settled. Why is it necessary to investigate it again now?"
Pei Yuanling sat upright on the dragon throne, his expression cold and stern. His gaze slowly swept over the opposing crowd in the court, and his voice was deep yet carried an undeniable authority: "This matter concerns the loyalty and treachery of the court. As the ruler of the country, how can I ignore doubts?"
"If there is truly an injustice, how can I face the people of the world, and the loyal service of the Duke of Chu's family over the years?"
Wang Chengxun stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, “Your Majesty, the initial verdict was based on conclusive evidence. Now, to reopen the investigation based on some unfounded speculations is likely to discourage the officials handling the case and cause unrest in the court.”
At this moment, Lu Zhiheng stepped forward and said loudly, "Lord Wang, the initial verdict seemed to be based on solid evidence, but in reality, there were many doubts. Now, the evidence points to the Wang family's slander. If this is not thoroughly investigated, it will be truly unjust."
These words immediately caused an uproar in the imperial court.
Wang Jinglin's expression changed drastically, and he glared angrily: "Lord Lu, don't make baseless accusations! Without any evidence, how can you slander my Wang family so easily?"
Lu Zhiheng remained calm and took out a stack of evidence from his sleeve and presented it: "Your Majesty, this is what I have recently investigated. Wang Jinghao, the eldest son of the Wang family, who is now General Wang who has succeeded General Chu, had been secretly communicating with General Chu's deputy. The incident in which General Chu's former subordinates attempted to assassinate Your Majesty in the street was also due to the misleading rumors spread by General Wang."
Pei Yuanling took the evidence, his face growing increasingly grim as he examined it: "Lord Wang, how do you explain this?"
Wang Chengxun broke out in a cold sweat, but still tried to remain calm: "Your Majesty, there must be a misunderstanding. Perhaps someone is framing my Wang family."
"Framed?"
Pei Yuanling scoffed coldly, "The evidence is conclusive, so how can you say it's a frame-up?"
But if it weren't for him, the entire Chu family wouldn't have been exiled thousands of miles away.
If it weren't for this incident, Chu Qingyin wouldn't have been so disheartened and died a miserable death in the cold palace.
He was deeply grateful and unwilling to let the Wang family off the hook.
Thinking of what Empress Wang had done some time ago, he wanted to punish her even more severely.
The atmosphere in the court was tense, but Wang Chengxun, though feigning composure, was inwardly like a cat on a hot tin roof.
Wang Jinglin, having regained his senses, hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Lord Lu is attempting to slander my Wang family with just a few pieces of paper. I fear he has long been colluding with the Chu family, hoping to use this opportunity to bring down my Wang family. I urge Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
"Whether it's slander or not, we'll find out by bringing that lieutenant general in and questioning him!"
Lu Zhiheng snorted coldly and then winked at the little eunuch standing to the side.
Upon hearing this, Wang Chengxun's expression changed drastically.
He had already dealt with that person, so how could Lu Zhiheng still find him!
Soon, a tall man dressed in tattered clothes was escorted into the hall by guards, causing an uproar in the hall.
"Isn't that Xu Fei, General Chu's trusted confidant?"
"Yes, I heard that General Chu treats him like a brother."
The murmurs of the crowd sounded like a mountain to Xu Fei, making it hard for him to breathe.
After being escorted to the palace, Xu Fei's legs went weak, and he knelt down with a thud, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
Wang Chengxun forced himself to remain calm, but his heart was in turmoil.
He couldn't understand how the person he had sent to silence him could still be here.
Lu Zhiheng's gaze was sharp as lightning, taking in everything. He sneered repeatedly, "Tell me, how did you collude with Wang Jinghao, and how did you fabricate evidence to frame the Duke of Chu's mansion?"
"I...I was forced into this situation."
Xu Fei trembled all over, not daring to raise his head, and stammered, "General Wang is threatening the lives of my entire family. If I don't comply, he will kill my whole family."
Upon hearing this, Wang Jinglin flew into a rage: "You dog of a thief, stop spouting nonsense and slandering my brother!"
Pei Yuanling slammed his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne and roared angrily, "Wang Jinglin, how dare you roar so recklessly in the imperial court!"
Wang Jinglin shuddered. When he met the other party's cold and stern gaze, he barely managed to suppress his anger, but the resentment in his eyes was undisguised.
Lu Zhiheng then asked, "Did you forge that letter of treason?"
Xu Fei gritted his teeth and finally nodded: "Yes, it was forged by me based on the sample given by General Wang, imitating General Chu's handwriting. As for the so-called treason, General Chu knew nothing about it; he was wronged."
Just then, a powerful shout suddenly rang out from outside the hall—
"Where did this vicious dog come from, daring to bite members of the royal family at will!"
The officials inside the hall were greatly surprised and all turned to look at the entrance.
When Empress Dowager Wang learned of what had happened in the previous court, she grabbed a sword and stormed into the main hall, followed by Empress Wang, who was recovering from a long illness.
Upon seeing the sword she was carrying, everyone immediately knelt down, not daring to utter a sound.
That was a precious sword bestowed by the late emperor; seeing this sword is like seeing the late emperor himself.
"Mother, what brings you here?"
When Pei Yuanling saw her approaching with a sword, his brows furrowed tightly.
The Empress Dowager did not respond to him, but stood below the throne. "Your Majesty, I have only been away from the court for a few years, and you are already so impatient to deal with the Wang family?"
As she spoke, she glanced around the court, her sharp gaze piercing Lu Zhiheng: "A mere subject dares to attempt to tarnish the royal family? Does he think I don't exist? Your Majesty, don't let treacherous people blind you!"
Although Empress Wang was pale, she forced herself to stand up and stepped forward: "Your Majesty, the Wang family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, and has made great contributions to the court. How can you convict my Wang family based solely on the words of a deputy general of unknown origin?"
"Yes!"
Seeing the Empress Dowager arrive, Wang Chengxun became even more confident and hurriedly said, "My Wang family has served the monarch since the founding of the country and has never made a mistake. How could we betray the country for our own selfish desires? Please, Your Majesty, see the truth!"
Pei Yuanling's gaze fell on the precious sword, his face darkening.
The Wang family is so arrogant and domineering simply because they have made great contributions to the founding of the country and have produced three empresses in succession.
Not only are they eliminating dissidents in the court, but now they don't even respect him, the emperor.
The kneeling deputy general, Xu Fei, was already drenched in sweat. He knew he had no way out and felt even more sorry for General Chu's cultivation.
Now that General Chu's case is about to be overturned, he absolutely cannot afford to make any more mistakes!
He didn't know where the courage came from, but he suddenly stood up and shouted, "This was all my doing, it has nothing to do with the Wang family, and it has even less to do with General Chu!"
"I am the one who colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, and I am also the one who implicated the royal family. I will take full responsibility for all the crimes! I am willing to die to atone for my sins. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
Having said that, he slammed into the pillar with lightning speed, blood splattering everywhere.