Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 273 A Dialogue in the Hall
As the words fell, almost everyone present couldn't help but show their alarm.

How could Your Majesty be referring to the Left Chancellor? The Left Chancellor is the most respected and revered minister in the court. Although he is a remnant of the previous dynasty, he has always been diligent and conscientious, never slacking off in his duties. Who in the court would break the law? It couldn't be the Left Chancellor. But Your Majesty speaks with such certainty, could it be true?
Lady Ningguo glanced at the Left Prime Minister beside her with complicated emotions. In fact, she hadn't expected that the person secretly raising the bloodline of the former dynasty's royal family would be the Left Prime Minister. Otherwise, why didn't she realize at first that she was being silenced because she overheard this secret? However, the Left Prime Minister really didn't need to do such a serious thing that could lead to his death. He had already reached the position of the head of all the ministers. Even if he raised the orphans of the former dynasty's royal family, what use would it be?
If Lady Ningguo was filled with doubt, then Duke Ningguo was utterly panicked. This old man was, in a sense, related to the Duke Ningguo's family by marriage. Duke Ningguo considered himself a man of little ability, relying solely on his ancestors' close relationship with the current emperor to obtain the title of Duke. In his mind, the Left Prime Minister was undoubtedly the most senior and respected civil official in the bureaucracy.

He wasn't the only one who thought this way; almost all the officials present thought the same.

Jiu Que took the opportunity to carefully observe this highly respected senior official. She had met this Left Prime Minister before. As everyone said, he was a gentle and kind-looking old man. But no matter how gentle he was, it couldn't hide the truth that he was the mastermind behind it all.

It's true that things in this world are quite strange. In recent days, she has investigated the mastermind behind several cases, but each time she was just one step away, allowing the real mastermind to escape. Who would have thought that the mastermind who was so deeply hidden would be discovered by everyone because of an accident?
Moreover, judging from the Left Prime Minister's forced composure, Jiu Que finally realized that the person who sent assassins to kill people in the street twice in a row was definitely not the Left Prime Minister. Combined with the experience of the Lady of Ningguo, it was easy to think that the two incidents were probably instigated by the Left Prime Minister's wife.
At this moment, despite the piercing gaze, the Left Prime Minister remained calm and composed, at least outwardly. He even calmly bowed to Emperor Jingtai.

"Your Majesty, this old minister truly does not understand why you say that?"

"Ha, now that things have come to this, Prime Minister Zuo, there's no need to beat around the bush with me. We've worked together for over a decade; we know each other well. I didn't suspect you before, but now that I think about it, Prime Minister Zuo is indeed quite suspicious. Putting aside everything else, you were the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince of the last emperor of the previous dynasty, weren't you? Those years spent together, the bond between teacher and student was truly genuine. You dared to defy the world and even commit the crime of exterminating nine generations of your family to raise him. If I weren't the new emperor, I would truly admire Prime Minister Zuo's loyalty."

"...Your Majesty's statement lacks evidence, and I cannot agree with it."

The Left Chancellor remained as respectful as ever, though a slight look of confusion crossed his face, as if he didn't understand why His Majesty wanted to bring up matters of the previous dynasty.

"The Great Jing Dynasty has been established for thirteen years, and the old ministers and some former officials of the previous dynasty have worked diligently for the Great Jing Dynasty for more than ten years. But if Your Majesty cares about the fact that the old ministers are former officials of the previous dynasty, then I have nothing to say."

What a brilliant move by the Left Chancellor! By saying this, he directly shifted the focus of the conflict to His Majesty's dissatisfaction with the legacy of the previous dynasty. Not only that, but he also won over a large number of allies, since a third of the court officials were former ministers of the previous dynasty.

[What a cunning old fox!]

Emperor Jingtai should have been angry, but upon hearing Jiuque's thoughts, he realized he wasn't so angry after all.

He had been emperor for quite some time and naturally knew that someone like the Left Chancellor would never admit anything unless presented with irrefutable evidence. And, as if by divine intervention, both witnesses and physical evidence were gathered within a single day. Since this old man wanted evidence, then the evidence would be laid out before him, and they'd see what he had to say then.

"The Duchess of Ningguo is one of the witnesses. Your wife suspected that she had overheard your illicit words, which is why she conspired with her sister to poison her. When the poisoning attempt failed, she even sent assassins to kill her in the street! What do you have to say about this?"

"This old minister is foolish. This matter sounds like a family affair of the Duke of Ningguo's mansion. How can it be attributed to me? In the end, it was the old Lady of Ningguo who harmed her daughter-in-law. As for whether my wife was involved, it is all Lady Ningguo's own speculation, without any substantial evidence. Please forgive this old minister for not agreeing with it."

While refuting the previous statement methodically, the Left Prime Minister subtly made a hand gesture. Upon seeing this, some officials in the crowd pursed their lips and quietly moved behind several high-ranking and respected individuals.

Hearing this rebuttal, it's clear that the Left Prime Minister didn't take Lady Ningguo's testimony seriously at all. However, Lady Ningguo wasn't the only witness.

The rags stuffed in the mouths of the assassins lying on the ground were pulled out. They had all had special pressure points punctured, and were too weak to argue or bite their tongues to commit suicide. Emperor Jingtai had already ordered them to be interrogated, but these assassins were all trained by him; in Jiu Que's words, they had been brainwashed for years and had no independent thought. Therefore, no useful evidence was extracted from them, but their very existence was evidence.

"The servant of the Duke of Ningguo's mansion has already admitted that he was ordered by the old Lady of Ningguo to go to the Left Prime Minister's residence to inform her. Shortly afterward, he personally witnessed a group of assassins leaving the Left Prime Minister's residence and heading straight for Lady Ningguo's location. What else do you have to say about this?"

The servant was naturally brought to the Golden Palace as well. He was just a servant, and what had happened today was far too much for him to bear. He was now trembling uncontrollably. Although he should protect his mistress, the matter had even involved His Majesty, and it was no longer something a lowly servant like him could decide. He immediately and obediently admitted to the matter.

The Left Prime Minister narrowed his eyes and spoke decisively.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. This old minister truly had no idea that my wife would lay a hand on my sister's daughter-in-law over such a trivial matter. This is indeed a private matter within the household, and I presume the Duchess of Ningguo herself is aware of the long-standing grudge between you and the Dowager Duchess of Ningguo. It seems my wife merely wanted to vent her anger for her sister, never expecting things to escalate like this. Women of the inner quarters are often ignorant and, fearing this matter would reach Your Majesty, panicked and sent the guards to silence her. Your Majesty, this old minister is absolutely not the kind of person to show favoritism or cover up wrongdoing. If this matter truly involves my wife, Your Majesty should uphold justice, and this old minister will have no complaints."

(End of this chapter)