I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

it is good!

very good!

The fish took the bait before I even put it on the fishing hook!

After reading it, Zhu Houcong immediately beamed with joy.

It turned out that just five days earlier, a caravan carrying gifts for the Crown Prince had passed through Fuzhou and was robbed by the Jiangzuo Alliance.

They happened to encounter Cai Quan's campaign against the Jiangzuo Alliance, which saved the caravan.

Upon closer investigation, it was discovered that the gift-giver was none other than the Prefect of Yuezhou, along with Marquis Guiyi Gu Xichao and his entourage.

The gifts given this time were quite substantial, totaling 100,000 taels of silver.

At this moment, Cao Zhichun tentatively asked, "Master, what should this servant do next?"

Zhu Houcong remained silent after hearing this.

He was still Xiao Jinghuan's father in name only. If the Eastern Depot directly dealt with the Crown Prince, it would inevitably give others grounds for criticism.

Everyone in the court and among the common people knew that the Eastern Depot was the emperor's henchman.

If the Eastern Depot were to expose the Crown Prince's corruption, wouldn't that be tantamount to the Emperor personally punishing his own son?

If this gets out, it will really damage the dignity of the imperial family.

Suddenly, Zhu Houcong had an idea.

Isn't the current cabinet chairman Qi Min, the Minister of Personnel?

Qi Min and Crown Prince Xiao Jinghuan were not on good terms.

If we're talking about who in the Great Liang Dynasty least wants the Crown Prince to ascend the throne, he would definitely be in the top three.

After all, the two had betrayed each other in the past.

Once Cai Quan's memorial reaches the cabinet, Qi Min will definitely add fuel to the fire; he'd love to kill Xiao Jinghuan.

Thinking of this, Zhu Houcong showed a look of reluctance.

"Jinghuan is, after all, my son. How could I bear to punish him? You can keep an eye on this matter in secret, but don't interfere anymore."

"This servant understands."

Cao Zhichun was taken aback and quickly bowed and retreated.

Soon, Cai Quan's memorial was submitted to the cabinet.

Qi Min was completely thrilled after reading it.

They rushed out of the Wenhua Hall, intending to go before the Emperor to denounce the Crown Prince.

However, the moment he stepped out of the palace gate, he suddenly froze in place.

wrong!

This cannot be done.

Qi Min suddenly felt something was wrong.

He used to be Xiao Jinghuan's confidant and knew all about Xiao Jinghuan's dealings.

Emperor Liang had known about Xiao Jinghuan and Xiao Jingxuan's corruption for so many years, but he simply turned a blind eye.

Even if we report it this time, I'm afraid His Majesty will still let it go leniently.

Thinking of this, Qi Min slowly raised her front foot and retreated back into the hall.

We need to think of another way!

He squinted, and a bold plan gradually took shape in his mind.

Besides imperial power, the Great Liang also had the support of the people and their opinions.

Since we can't report it directly, we might as well make this a big deal out of it.

Qi Min immediately arranged for her trusted confidants to go to Yuezhou, the area most severely affected by the disaster.

After the massacre of Yuezhou last year, the people already harbored resentment towards the imperial court.

If this scandal spreads throughout the streets and alleys of Yuezhou City, then there will be quite a show to watch.

Ten thousand taels of silver is nothing to an emperor who reigns supreme.

However, for starving people who are struggling to find enough to eat, it's not so easy to accept.

Once public sentiment and grievances reach a boiling point, they will inevitably reach the emperor.

If this were to provoke a riot, the crown prince would be beyond redemption, even if he were to die a hundred times over.

In the past, the Crown Prince's most common method for dealing with riots after disaster relief was to first suppress them with all his might, and then accuse the common people of being too greedy and failing to live up to the imperial court's grace.

However, this time, the disaster relief funds are still in the Ministry of Revenue and have not yet been released from the treasury.

If the people of Yuezhou were to rebel at this time, Prince Yu would not be able to use the excuse that the people were too greedy.

The emperor values ​​the reputation of the court most, so even if he favors the crown prince, he won't allow him to hinder the stability of the overall situation.

A few more days passed.

Qi Min's secret scheme worked as expected.

Inside Yuezhou City, the angry disaster victims finally erupted.

They not only smashed open the government granary, but also organized men to storm the government office.

The entire city of Yuezhou was plunged into chaos, with flames of war rising everywhere.

When the news reached Nanjing, the entire court was in an uproar.

Chapter 186 Big Rat Big Rat

Inside the Wanshou Palace, Zhu Houcong's face was ashen.

He coldly glanced at Xiao Jinghuan kneeling in the hall, his voice icy.

"The prefectural government ordered a manhunt, but even the constables refused to obey. The people gathered in front of the government office to cry out for justice, and petitions from thousands of people were submitted to my desk."

"Now it's not just Yuezhou, but also a large area around it, and even the capital is in an uproar, with all the blame pointing at you."

"You really make me proud."

Xiao Jinghuan knelt on the ground and immediately protested, "Your subject is innocent! Your subject did not know why the prefect of Yuezhou wanted to send you gifts. He has never sent gifts in previous years."

"Ha!" Qi Min suddenly sneered from the side.

He held his right hand with his left hand, letting it hang down in front of his ox.

He mocked arrogantly.

"I don't understand. I remember that this prefect of Yuezhou seems to be the former prefect of Mizhou!"

"According to Your Highness, in previous years when the weather was good and the harvest was plentiful, this prefect never sent gifts to the capital. But now, in this year of great disaster, he has suddenly remembered this matter?"

At this point, Qi Min looked at Xiao Jinghuan as if he were a fool.

What a load of bull, what a mere prince! He's nothing special.

What was I thinking back then, to actually become a dog for such an idiot?

This time, he's going to pay it all back.

"If that's true, he's incredibly muddle-headed. I don't know how he even became the local official in the first place."

Zhu Houcong was overjoyed to see Qi Min looking like she was going to kill Xiao Jinghuan.

Qi Min has really improved a lot.

My encouragement was not in vain!

After Qi Min finished speaking, Zhu Houcong coldly took over the conversation.

“In previous years, I didn’t interfere with the acceptance of some customary gifts, as long as they weren’t excessive.”

"But what's the state of Yuezhou this year? Why can't they restrain themselves a little?"

Xiao Jinghuan also followed the principle of "resistance is punished severely, going home for the New Year is punished leniently, confession is punished leniently, and imprisonment is punished for life."

He stubbornly refused to admit that the gift money was given to him.

"Father, there are so many princes in the capital. How can you insist that this gift money is for your son based solely on the words of these few robbers?"

"Your subject is truly not convinced!"

At this moment, Qi Min started to deliver the final blow from the side.

"Your Majesty, after Lord Cai Quan's memorial was submitted to the Cabinet, I was also afraid that there might be some inaccuracies in the rumors circulating outside, which would have wronged Your Highness."

"Therefore, he ordered the Ministry of Personnel to immediately issue an urgent report and rush to Yuezhou to investigate."

"This is the report that has been submitted. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

As he spoke, he pulled out a report and accompanying evidence.

Among the evidence are the old gift lists and greeting letters kept by the prefect of Yuezhou.

Yan Song quickly took the report from Qi Min and presented it to Zhu Houcong.

Zhu Houcong unfolded the document and examined it closely. His face grew increasingly grim, eventually turning as black as the bottom of a pot.

"Father..."

Xiao Jinghuan wanted to argue, but was interrupted by Zhu Houcong's angry roar.

"shut up!"

Zhu Houcong suddenly stood up, fists on his hips, his anger rising.

"Didn't you always want to be the crown prince? Fine, I've handed the position to you. What have you done?"

He threw the report at Xiao Jinghuan's face.

"Look what you've done."

Xiao Jinghuan remained kneeling on the ground, stubbornly refusing to admit his mistake.

"Go and issue an edict of self-reproach!"

"I can't write it." Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinghuan suddenly looked up, his eyes full of resistance.

He knew perfectly well that once he issued the edict of self-reproach, it would be tantamount to admitting his crimes to the whole world.

Then he, the crown prince, would truly become a despised and immoral heir apparent.

With the support of the people, how can an immoral crown prince possibly hold onto his position?

"I don't need you to write it, how could I dare trouble Your Highness, the Crown Prince!"

Zhu Houcong said through gritted teeth.

"I, this poor old man, wrote it myself. All the mistakes are my fault. I shouldn't have supported you idiots."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinghuan felt as if the sky had fallen, and he collapsed to the ground.

Qi Min stood aside and saw the emperor's fury, a hint of triumphant pleasure flashing in her eyes.

Then he heard Zhu Houcong continue, "You go back to the palace and reflect on your mistakes. Without my order, you are not allowed to step out of the Eastern Palace."

Upon hearing this, Qi Min stood frozen in place.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

After causing such a huge mess, the Crown Prince only needs to write a self-reproaching edict and reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors?

This punishment is far too lenient.

Qi Min was secretly anxious, so she quickly stepped forward, cupped her hands, and called out loudly.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's crime of colluding with the Prefect of Yuezhou and the General of Xuanwei to embezzle disaster relief funds, causing widespread public resentment and riots, is too lenient to be accepted by the people!"

"Your Majesty, I beg you to investigate this matter thoroughly. This is no ordinary mistake, but a grave crime that threatens the very foundation of the nation."

"If they are not severely punished, how can the court be rectified? How can the people's anger be appeased?"