frightfiction Chapter 1461 There's a Traitor (Bonus Chapter for 204 Million Donation Points)
Chapter 1461 There's a Traitor (Bonus Chapter for 204 Million Donation Points)
The man did not produce any account books or blood oaths, but lowered his eyes and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, if the Prince of Jin only embezzled and broke the law in his fiefdom, it could be called a common misdeed of a vassal king."
"However, the Prince of Jin's true treason lies in forming cliques for personal gain and coveting the throne!"
Upon hearing this, the entire hall erupted in astonishment: "What?!"
"How dare the Prince of Jin have such audacity?!"
"Is this true?!"
"..."
The Left Vice Censor-in-Chief continued, "According to investigations, the Prince of Jin has been secretly maintaining close contact with many officials in the court, exchanging letters frequently."
"Furthermore, he secretly cultivated strategists and assassins. His chief secretary, military officer, and other subordinate officials frequently held secret meetings with certain military generals and civil officials."
"What the Prince of Jin intends is self-evident!"
At this point, he turned slightly to the side, his gaze sweeping over several officials in the queue whose faces had turned deathly pale in an instant: "Should I read out the names of those who have been secretly colluding with the Prince of Jin?"
The officials whose eyes were swept over by the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief all felt their legs go weak and almost collapsed on the spot.
The entire imperial palace fell into absolute silence; you could hear a pin drop…
All eyes were focused on the emperor who remained silent on the dragon throne.
From the economy to people's livelihood, from officialdom to treason, the evidence against the Prince of Jin was irrefutable and relentless.
"good very good!"
The emperor's voice was calm, yet carried an imposing aura of impending doom: "My eighth brother... is truly excellent!"
He gave the Prince of Jin no chance to argue, nor did he summon him to the palace for a confrontation. He simply said, "Issue my decree—"
“Prince Nangong Xuanche of Jin has failed to govern his subordinates strictly, allowing them to embezzle national taxes. Furthermore, he has been associating with court officials and has behaved improperly, failing to live up to the Emperor’s grace!”
"Effective immediately, he is to be confined to the Imperial Clan Court and await further orders!"
This is not over yet.
Nangong Xuanyu coldly looked at the officials on the list: "All officials involved will be suspended from their duties and investigated. They will be handed over to the three judicial departments for joint trial and will be severely punished!"
Immediately following, the emperor issued another decree: "The Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue shall immediately select capable officials to go to Bingzhou to take over all government affairs and taxation in the fiefdom of the Prince of Jin, and to audit all accounts and granaries. The garrison commanders of Bingzhou shall be temporarily under the direct command and dispatch of the Ministry of War!"
The series of decrees came down like a thunderstorm, showing no mercy.
The trusted minister chosen by the emperor immediately stepped forward: "Your humble servant obeys the decree!"
Everyone understands that this is not just a punishment, but also a complete severing of the Jin Prince's foundation and source of wealth in Bingzhou, uprooting his last hope for a comeback!
His Majesty intends to completely annihilate that once powerful prince.
……
The vermilion gates of the Prince's mansion were smashed open with a loud thud!
A group of imperial guards clad in black iron armor, with sharp eyes and a chilling aura, instantly sealed off all the exits of the Prince's mansion.
Li Changde walked at the front, holding a roll of bright yellow silk, his expression solemn, his eyes devoid of any warmth.
Seeing this, Prince Jin's heart sank: "What is Eunuch Li doing?!"
Li Changde's gaze swept over the Prince of Jin, whose expression had changed slightly. Without exchanging pleasantries, he directly unfolded the imperial edict in his hand, and his shrill voice echoed in the courtyard: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Prince of Jin, Nangong Xuanche, was appointed to guard the borders, but instead of appreciating the Emperor's favor, he harbors rebellious intentions."
"Although he committed the offenses of embezzlement and forming cliques for personal gain, I have considered our bloodline and have given him a lenient punishment as a warning. However, he has shown no remorse and recently, concrete evidence has been found that he has been associating with foreign officials and coveting the throne. His wolfish ambitions are blatantly obvious!"
Upon reading this, Li Changde's voice was filled with thunderous rage: "How can such disloyal and unjust people, who have no respect for their sovereign and father, be allowed to further tarnish the imperial family's reputation and disrupt the court?"
"Immediately lock him up and take him inside the high walls of the Imperial Clan Court, where he will be kept under strict guard and await final judgment. So be it!"
Prince Jin swayed slightly, his face turning deathly pale.
Even with his deep cunning, he was still shaken to his core by this merciless decree.
This isn't just a house arrest; it's a condemnation to eternal damnation!
The Prince of Jin was utterly astonished.
He did those things so discreetly!
Bingzhou was far from the emperor's reach, so the accounts were kept perfectly stable, and all correspondence was burned immediately after reading, leaving no trace.
Even if my elder brother became suspicious and sent people to investigate, it would take at least three to five years to uncover those shady dealings hidden under layers of cover so thoroughly!
How could it be that all the problems, as if they had planned it, suddenly exploded in such a short period of time?
Prince Jin was no fool; in a flash, he understood what was going on—
There's a mole!
Among his confidants, there must have been someone who had already betrayed him and sold out his secrets!
who is it? !
Is it that smiling aide who manages the finances and provisions?
Is it still that chief secretary who is responsible for secretly communicating with ministers and acts with the utmost caution?
Or perhaps...
Countless faces flashed through the mind of the Prince of Jin.
Each of them had sworn allegiance to him, but now they all seemed suspicious.
Ignoring the changing expressions of the Prince of Jin, Li Changde closed the imperial edict and coldly waved his hand: "Take him down!"
Two burly guards immediately stepped forward and roughly twisted Prince Jin's arms behind his back. The force was so great that he groaned and the veins on his forehead bulged.
He tried to struggle, but found that the guards had skillfully restrained all the vital points on his body, and all his strength seemed to have been drained away.
The entire Prince's mansion was like an anthill that had been smashed open, with cries, shouts, and chaotic footsteps all mixed together.
The servants ran in panic, and the exquisite porcelain was knocked off the shelves with a piercing cracking sound.
Amidst the chaos, a slender figure, supported by a maid, staggered through the throng and appeared at the entrance to the front hall.
It was Consort Qi.
Her face was deathly pale, and her large dress hung loosely on her body, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.
Consort Qi seemed to have used all her strength to get here; she was breathing rapidly, and cold sweat was seeping from her forehead.
She leaned against the door frame, raised her eyes, which had lost their former luster, and looked at the Prince of Jin, who was being escorted by the Imperial Guards.
The Prince of Jin saw a glimmer of light in the boundless darkness.
His years of planning, his extensive network of spies throughout the court and the country, his hidden businesses in various places, and his unknown influence... How could such a vast foundation be completely overturned by a single decree from his elder brother?
This is just a temporary setback!
Consort Qi has always been his most capable right-hand woman; she is meticulous and resourceful.
Many matters that even he couldn't directly handle were secretly managed by her, with intricate and complex details.
The secrets and resources she possesses are far beyond what ordinary people can imagine.
More importantly, although Consort Qi's maternal family was not a top-tier noble family, it had considerable influence in the Ministry of Personnel and local areas, making it a force to be reckoned with.
She must have a way!