Chapter 496: Bringing Disaster to the Country and the People
Once the matter of the graduate was out, those who had long disliked the Crown Prince began to take action.
Some entered the palace, and some filled complaints.
They were busy.
Of course, Xie Pinggang was also one of those who were being complained.
Early the next morning, Zhao Xuanjing was immediately wanted at the palace, along with Xie Pinggang.
Xie Pinggang was a low-ranking official of the sixth grade, so he was not qualified to enter the imperial court at all. It was his first time there.
He knelt in front of the imperial court and occupied the space of two people by himself. He did not cower and knelt neatly. When he bowed, he was full of energy and did not show the slightest bit of guilt.
“Your Majesty, this Xie Pinggang captured that graduate without any reason. It’s a pity that the graduate has to go to the examination alone. He has no father, mother, and brother. If it wasn’t for his talent that has impressed many, even if this person died in the criminal division, no one would stand up for him!” A minister stood out, “Your Majesty, please claim justice for Wen Lancheng! Clear his name and punish the culprit severely!”
“This graduate is the pillar of the country. How can he be humiliated like this? Your Majesty, Xie Pinggang is a bandit and is not fit to be an official. Your Majesty, please take him down and restore peace to the court!”
“The Crown Prince is the foundation of the country. How can he associate with such a vulgar and reckless person? If he allowed this person to surround and capture the graduate today, wouldn’t he shake the entire Qianyuan tomorrow? His Highness has lost his virtue. He should reflect on himself!”
“…”
Once these words were said, a large group of people below knelt.
“We agree.”
The voices were loud.
Xie Pinggang looked at this scene and was quite shocked.
Was the Crown Prince so annoying? When they said that they were going to remove him from his position, these officials did not have such a big reaction. The moment the Crown Prince was mentioned, their buttocks were lifted so high from the kneel that they were going to piece into the sky.
The Emperor’s face was gloomy and he was extremely upset.
These officials wished that they could stare at the Crown Prince all day long and question his every move!
The moment the Crown Prince showed the slightest bit of inappropriateness, they would immediately be like a swarm of bees that came out of their nest, buzzing and making a racket!
A bunch of dogs were clamoring to depose the Crown Prince again!
Saying that the Crown Prince had lost his virtue, only asking him to reflect on himself? It sounded appropriate, but once he nodded and agreed, after a few days of self-reflection, these dogs would ask to execute the next step.
The Emperor’s face was grim, “Crown Prince, what do you say?”
He, the Crown Prince, was good at everything, but he did not know how to win people’s hearts. That was why he was attacked by so many people!
He really wished that he could r-remove all of them!
Zhao Xuanjing stepped forward, his face like a spring breeze. He looked neither hurried nor slow. Seeing that, the Emperor felt much better, and his tone became gentler, “Did that Wen Lancheng say something rebellious? A little graduate dares to do this. He deserves to be flayed alive!”
The faces of the ministers twitched a few times.
They almost broke down.
Wen Lancheng did not do anything!
The Emperor could not be trying to force the crime on Wen Lancheng, right?
It was too terrifying.
In ancient times, there were vicious concubines who brought disaster to the country, but now there was the Crown Prince who brought disaster to the people!
Zhao Xuanjing took out a confession from his pocket and asked a eunuch to pass it to the Emperor’s table.
“Father, take a look. Minister Xie didn’t catch Wen Lancheng, but Huang Song. He was just a craftsman who made paper art,” the Crown Prince said warmly.
“Impossible. Many people saw him. It was Wen Lancheng himself!” The people on the Fourth Prince’s side were triggered.
However, he was still young and was still studying. He could not see the loyalty of his people at all.
Xie Pinggang said bluntly, “The Crown Prince and I interrogated him through the night. We have investigated it clearly. This person, Huang Song, met Wen Lancheng by chance one day. The two of them looked almost identical. They were like old friends at first sight! Therefore, they had frequent interactions. However, Huang Song coveted Wen Lancheng’s property, so he tied him up and took over his property!”