Jiuxi

Chapter 687 Chapter 685 [Prisoner]

"I originally planned to have you reinstated after a while, leading the Great Jing Iron Cavalry to conquer Jiangnan, thus creating an unprecedented feat."

Emperor Jing took two steps forward, looked down at Qing Yugong, and said coldly, "It's just that I didn't expect that you would hold a grudge against me just because you lost the position of Marshal of the Southern Court, and even use this method to retaliate against me."

As soon as this statement came out, the whole palace was in an uproar.

The emperor's words almost clearly pointed out that Qing Yugong was the real culprit behind the prince's death.

For the civil and military officials, although Qing Yugong had been dismissed from the post of Marshal of the Southern Court, he was still an extremely honorable Jinglian Wuxun, and the title of Dajing Military God was only slightly tarnished. No one dared to underestimate the status of this prince.

The strength of the Qingyu family is still strong, and the soldiers of the Xiashan Army and the Fangcheng Army still follow his lead.

If this monarch and his minister had a public falling out, no one could imagine how much of a turmoil it would cause.

In this palace and even in the entire Dadu, the emperor undoubtedly holds an absolute advantage. Even though Qing Yugong is an outstanding martial arts master and can be called the best master in Dajing, he cannot stop the emperor's army that is as fierce as wolves and tigers.

Outside of Dadu, the Xiashan Army and the Fangcheng Army do have the ability to cause enough trouble, provided they have the moral upper hand.

If the emperor attacks Qing Yugong for no reason, the forces belonging to the Qing Yu clan will certainly not accept it, and the other major tribes will not sit idly by and watch the emperor act in this way. Didn’t you see that at today’s court meeting, people like Sagai, who usually have a strong conflict with Qing Yugong, never expressed their stance?
The emperor can arbitrarily frame Qing Yugong with a crime today, and he can naturally use the same method to deal with them tomorrow.

The key lies in whether Qing Yugong plotted to murder Crown Prince Nalan.

In the increasingly tense atmosphere, Qing Yugong said calmly: "Your Majesty, I am sorry that I do not understand what you are saying."

"After the crown prince fell into a coma for no apparent reason, I knew there was something fishy going on. The reason I asked Tian Jue to investigate was because all of your attention would be focused on him, so I would be able to find some clues."

Emperor Jing's words made most of the court officials worried. Could it be that Qing Yugong was really responsible for the death of the crown prince?
Some elderly court officials felt dizzy when they thought about the consequences that this truth might cause.

To murder the crown prince of this dynasty is a heinous crime committed by the barbarians. When the butcher knife falls, there will be countless heads rolling!

How many people from the Qingyu clan will die? How many generals from the Xiashan and Fangcheng armies will be implicated and executed?
Emperor Jing said slowly: "At this point, you still refuse to plead guilty?"

Qing Yugong sighed softly, bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, what crime have I committed?"

Emperor Jing said, "I will ask you for the last time, what poison has infected the prince?"

Qing Yugong shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know."

"I don't know? What a great unknown."

Emperor Jing sneered a few times, and the important officials in the court felt cold. Then the wise and mighty emperor turned around and sat on the dragon chair, and asked word by word: "Does the prince still remember File No. 7?"

Number A-7?
file?

All the ministers were bewildered and had no idea what the emperor was talking about.

But some people suddenly noticed that the normally calm and reserved Prince Changshan's face changed, with a hint of doubt on his face.

"The celebration is spreading throughout the country."

The emperor's cold voice echoed throughout the palace.

Not long after, a man in his forties walked into the Daqing Hall and came to the central area. He bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

Emperor Jing said calmly: "No need to be polite, just stand up."

All the ministers looked over, their doubts growing.

This man named Qing Yuyingye was an official of the Prince's Mansion. In the past, he was a trusted confidant of Qing Yugong and was considered an honored guest in the mansions of the powerful and wealthy in Dadu. For the sake of Qing Yugong, even Sagai would give him some respect.

However, at this moment, whether out of guilt or fear, Qing Yuyingye did not dare to look at Qing Yugong who was not far away.

Emperor Jing asked, "Did you bring the file?"

Qing Yuyingye bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, I have brought it."

"read."

"The minister obeys the order."

Qing Yuyingye took out a file from his sleeve, cleared his throat and read under the close gaze of all the ministers, "Lu Chen, courtesy name Jing'an, was born in Guangling Prefecture, Huaizhou, Southern Qi, on June 13, the fifth year of Yuankang in Qi. His father, Lu Tong, courtesy name Zhongming, died on September 9, the fifth year of Jianwu in Qi. Lu Tong never remarried, and Lu Chen has no brothers or sisters."

Gradually, everyone realized that the so-called File No. 7 was the record of information about Lu Chen of the Southern Qi Dynasty.

This was not an act beyond the rules. Qing Yugong was previously the Marshal of the Southern Court, and collecting intelligence on the generals of Southern Qi was his job. If he did not do so, he would have been derelict in his duty.

But what does this have to do with the prince’s death?
Qing Yuyingye paused and raised his voice slightly.

"Lu Chen was smart when he was young, but he never had the ambition to study. In the fourth year of Jianwu, Lu Chen began to learn martial arts, and it is suspected that he was taught by Lin Jie, the leader of the Seven Stars Gang. In the early January of the twelfth year of Jianwu in Qi Dynasty, Lu Chen led a caravan out of Panlong Pass to sell goods in Tieshan City of Yan State. After getting drunk, he suddenly fell into a coma for half a month. He sought medical treatment and medicine from many places, but to no avail. He suddenly woke up and luckily saved his life." The noise exploded so loudly that Qing Yuyingye could no longer read the rest of the words.

Marshal Sagai of the Northern Court glared at Qing Yugong and said sternly, "Prince Changshan, how do you explain this?"

Another senior Jinglian noble, Jia Gulie, shouted angrily, "Qing Yugong, you actually sent someone to poison His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, you are courting death!"

With these two taking the lead, the roars of a group of Jinglian nobles instantly drowned out Qing Yugong.

Most of the civil officials were able to hold back from speaking, but expressions of fear and surprise appeared on their faces.

The chief musician Tian Jue turned his head and looked at Qing Yugong, his eyes full of disbelief.

From the records in File No. 7, we know that Lu Chen of Southern Qi had a similar experience as Crown Prince Nalan a few years ago. The difference was that he survived in the end, but the crown prince died.

The symptoms of the two are extremely similar. Both develop after drinking alcohol, both are in a coma for a period of time, and both have no known cause or cure.

Emperor Jing sat on the dragon throne, looking at Qing Yugong with great disappointment, and said slowly: "You have to give me an explanation."

Even though he was being criticized by thousands of people, Qing Yugong's mood did not change much. He looked up and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know the details of the Crown Prince's coma. I asked for permission to visit the Crown Prince in the palace some time ago, but Your Majesty did not allow it and strictly ordered that no one in the court or the public should discuss the Crown Prince's situation. Like all the other gentlemen in the court, I also learned the details of the Crown Prince's death from Lord Tian at the court meeting today."

Although these words made sense, after Qing Yuyingye read them out, it was obviously unable to convince everyone.

Qing Yugong understood this and continued, "As for this No. 7 file, firstly, it has been a long time since I read it every day and memorized it, so it is inevitable that I can't remember the details clearly. Secondly, even if Nanqi Lu Chen's sudden illness is similar to the Crown Prince's coma, it cannot prove that this has anything to do with me."

Sagai said sternly, "Prince Changshan, stop quibbling! Since you knew there was such a poison in the world, why did you pretend not to know when His Majesty asked you just now? It's obvious that you were too guilty to admit it. Now that the truth is out, do you still dare to deny it?!"

"I have already said that the connection between the two is very far-fetched, so I have not linked them together."

Qing Yugong laughed at himself, then stared into Sa Gai's eyes and asked, "This poison has nothing to do with me. Do you think I would poison Nanqi Lu Chen for no apparent reason a few years ago? At that time, he was just an ordinary merchant's son. As the Prince of Dajing and the Marshal of the Southern Court, would I use poison to deal with this unknown young man?"

Sagai choked.

Qing Yugong turned to look at the indifferent emperor sitting on the dragon throne, and said with a sigh: "Your Majesty, I asked people to collect information about Lu Chen of Southern Qi. The focus is to understand his methods on the battlefield. The rest of the information is just a convenience. In this file, there is only a short sentence about Lu Chen's coma. No one, including me, would think of poisoning at first glance. Maybe he just contracted a strange disease. I don't know about poison, and I will not poison His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Please be careful."

Emperor Jing asked faintly, "Are you trying to say that I am framing you?"

"I dare not!"

Qing Yugong bowed his head and said earnestly: "Now it seems that the person who poisoned me must be related to Southern Qi. After all, this poison has appeared in Southern Qi, and the guys at Dachang can prove this. I dare not speak nonsense about others, but from the beginning and the end of the whole thing, it is clear that someone deliberately framed me with the intention of provoking disputes and civil strife in the court of Dajing!"

Emperor Jing looked at him steadily for a long time before he said, "Stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Qing Yugong stood up straight, his face showing a more weathered look.

Emperor Jing asked the eunuch to take the file from Qing Yuyingye, and he looked at it slowly for a moment, then said slowly: "Based on this evidence alone, it cannot prove that you are related to the death of the crown prince, but it is enough to prove that you are a suspect. Do you admit it?"

All the ministers in the hall looked at the middle-aged man nervously.

Qing Yugong lowered his eyes and said, "I admit it."

"In that case, you should go back to the Prince's Mansion. I will not punish you for the time being, but——"

Emperor Jing threw the file to the eunuch beside him, and his tone suddenly became cold and stern: "Before I find out the truth about the death of the crown prince, you cannot leave the Prince's Mansion. If I find any unusual movements, don't blame me for not considering the loyalty between the monarch and his subjects for so many years!"

The corners of Qing Yugong's mouth twitched slightly, and after a moment he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I, Qing Yugong, thank you for your grace!"

Sagai curled his lips quietly, seeming to feel it was a pity.

The other Jinglian nobles had different expressions, some had the same feeling as Sagai, while others frowned tightly.

Emperor Jing took in all the reactions of these people, then stood up and walked towards the back hall. The eunuch's loud voice echoed throughout the hall.

"Retreat!"

All the ministers shouted "Long live the emperor".

The next moment, more than a dozen of the emperor's personal soldiers with bright eyes appeared in the hall and said to Qing Yugong, "Prince, I will escort you back to your palace."

Qing Yugong looked around at the crowd and saw extreme vigilance and alertness in their eyes. He couldn't help but smile with a complicated expression and walked forward in silence.

His back seemed much older.

(End of this chapter)