noffsinger Chapter 443 Public Trial
Chapter 443 Public Trial
Ever since Ruan Xinglin and Fu Jinyuan were imprisoned in the Dali Temple, there have been endless quarrels at the morning court every day.
The Second Prince's party had been suppressed to the point of being unable to breathe, but they became more powerful again because of Ruan Xinglin and the Queen's selling of official positions and titles.
The ministers, represented by the crown prince, argued that the evidence presented by the Censorate was insufficient and that if Prime Minister Ruan and Prince Chen were detained in the Dali Temple, they would be tortured into confessing.
Emperor Fu originally wanted to make a quick decision, convict Ruan Xinglin, and transfer Fu Jinyuan out of the royal capital, but now things are getting worse and worse.
There was even the private sale of weapons to the Western Regions.
This is a serious crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of the clan.
Before Emperor Fu made a decision, hundreds of people from Jiangbei came to the royal capital and beat the drum to report their crimes.
Du Youchuan, Fu Qian'an and other children of aristocratic families also took the lead in protesting against injustice in front of the Dali Temple.
They did not make any noise or quarrel, but wrote in large letters on a white cloth: "The Commander is Wronged" and spread it across the street.
People can see clearly everything they do when they come in and out.
The Prince of Chen just wiped out the Thirteen Villages not long ago. He was clearly a hero, so why was he suddenly arrested?
The people began to talk about it.
The storyteller even recounted all the things that the Queen and Ruan Xinglin had done for the people over the years.
In particular, when Prince Chen and the Crown Prince were assassinated in the hunting ground, the assassins captured were all the secret guards of the Second Prince Fu Yuxuan.
The Emperor was reluctant to punish the Second Prince because he had brought trouble upon himself, but now he wants to punish the innocent Prince Chen.
This is too much bias.
Not only in the royal capital, but students from nearby academies also began to plead for the Queen and Prince Chen.
This case of selling official positions and titles is no longer something that the Dali Temple can resolve.
Censor Hong did not expect this result.
Emperor Fu frowned and looked at Cheng Hongyan and Censor Hong: "How much have you found? Do you have any evidence to convict the Queen and Ruan Xinglin?"
Cheng Hongyan was unwilling to produce unconfirmed evidence. "Your Majesty, I am still investigating the evidence of Prime Minister Ruan's guilt."
"The evidence is right in front of you, what else do you want to investigate?" Emperor Fu threw a memorial in front of Cheng Hongyan.
It was the evidence of crime that Mrs. Chen, the second wife of Ruan, sent to the Dali Temple.
There was a flash of surprise in Cheng Hongyan's eyes. He turned around and looked at King Heng, who had been silent and seemed like a transparent man.
Needless to say, this evidence must have been presented to the emperor by Prince Heng.
Alas, Cheng Hongyan sighed in his heart.
"Your Majesty, the evidence presented by Chen is incredible. I think we should investigate it carefully and not wrongly accuse anyone."
He absolutely did not believe that Ruan Xiuyuan would collude with the Western Regions.
Even if the evidence is true, it is most likely that Ruan Xiuyuan was betrayed and framed by people around him.
Ruan Xiuyuan's legs were injured in the war with the Western Regions. To say that he colluded with the Western Regions is simply a heart-breaking statement.
Emperor Fu looked at King Heng, "King Heng, do you think so too?"
"Your Majesty, I feel that it is unlikely for Ruan Xinglin to confess, and it is impossible for Prince Chen to identify Ruan Xinglin. Now we have the account books and the list, as well as Chen's evidence. If they match, I think it is sufficient to convict him." Prince Heng said in a deep voice.
Cheng Hongyan looked at King Heng in surprise.
When at the Dali Temple, Prince Heng was extremely respectful and polite to Prince Chen, and Cheng Hongyan even thought that Prince Heng was going to help Prince Chen.
Now it seems that Prince Heng is clearly the emperor's man.
The intention was to put Ruan Xinglin to death.
Emperor Fu did not follow King Heng's words and directly convict him. He sighed.
"Rumors are spreading all over the capital now. If I convict him like this, people all over the world will inevitably be dissatisfied." He didn't want to leave a bad name in history books.
King Heng heard the message and said, "Then let's open the case to the public and let all the people hear the evidence for themselves."
Emperor Fu's eyes lit up, "This method is very good."
Cheng Hongyan's lips moved, and struggle and hesitation flashed in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, a public trial may lead to..."
Emperor Fu snorted unhappily, "Since they dare to do such a thing, they must have thought that one day they will be ruined."
"This case is presided over by King Heng. Cheng Hongyan, you don't have to interfere."
Cheng Hongyan smiled bitterly in his heart and agreed reluctantly.
……
Soon the news reached Fu Yuxuan's ears.
"Hahaha..." Fu Yuxuan laughed a little crazily.
The excessive ecstasy made his handsome face look ferocious.
He thought he had no hope, but he didn't expect He Zhiyuan to leave him so many pawns to deal with Queen Ruan and the Ruan family.
"Your Highness, during the next public trial, you must come out and plead for Prince Chen." Liao Hai said in a low voice.
Fu Yuxuan frowned. He wished that Prince Chen would die, so why would he be willing to plead for him?
Liao Hai sighed in his heart. Prime Minister He taught the Second Prince personally. He used to think that the Second Prince was talented and healthy, and must be more suitable to follow than the Crown Prince.
Ever since the Second Prince’s stupid behavior in the hunting ground, he has become depressed and has no fighting spirit. He has become irritable and violent, no longer as gentle and elegant as before?
Only then did Liao Hai realize that this gifted boy could not stand any setbacks or blows.
Is this kind of mentality really bad?
Sometimes he couldn't help but wonder, if Prince Chen had been able to trace his ancestral roots a few years earlier, the current situation would definitely not be like this?
Maybe he won't choose the second prince?
"Your Highness, people outside are now talking about your assassination of Prince Chen and the Crown Prince. If you plead for Prince Chen, you can dispel the rumors and restore your reputation." Liao Hai said.
Fu Yuxuan kept a sullen face and said nothing. He was a high and mighty prince, and those common people were not that important in his eyes.
What they thought was of no importance to him.
But students all over the world value reputation.
For the sake of his future, he had to hold his nose and plead for mercy on behalf of Prince Chen.
"I understand." Fu Yuxuan said coldly.
Then he asked, "It's been so many days, and there's still no news from Prime Minister He?"
He was really used to not having He Zhiyuan around.
Liao Hai's expression was slightly tense. "I have sent more people to the palace. I hope we can find him before the imperial guards. But it has taken so long. I am afraid it will be very dangerous."
Fu Yuxuan recalled the situation at that time. Prince Chen had no intention of killing He Zhiyuan. Could it be that He Zhiyuan was captured by Fu Jinyuan?
"If you keep looking, I'll find him alive or dead!"
Liao Hai wants to find He Zhiyuan more than anyone else.
"I will send more people to continue the search."
"No news about He Jingyao either." Fu Yuxuan asked?
Liao Hai shook his head slightly. When they tracked him to the northern border of Yong Dynasty, Prince He disappeared.
He hoped that Prince He could escape by himself and secretly return to the capital.
Soon, the news that Ruan Xinglin and the Queen were selling official positions and titles, Ruan Xiuyuan was colluding with the Western Regions, and Prince Chen knew about it but did not report it and the case would be publicly tried in the Meridian Gate spread throughout the entire royal capital.
Naturally, this also reached the ears of Queen Ruan.
Since being confined to her room, Queen Ruan has not panicked or gotten angry. She seemed to have lost all her abilities and was waiting for Emperor Fu's verdict.
It was not until today when she heard the news that Queen Ruan finally smiled faintly.
It's finally almost over.