Wuji Hall
The Emperor had no intention of letting this matter end.
The existence of Duke Yong’s family, especially the two hundred thousand soldiers stationed on the northern border, had always been a thorn in his side.
It could be said that from the very day he sat on the dragon throne, he had been planning to get rid of Lin Zhengbei.
In his eyes, everything under heaven belonged to the Emperor.
Those two hundred thousand Northern Border troops should belong only to the imperial court.
And the position of Supreme Commander of the northern frontier did not have to belong to Duke Yong.
For many years, he had been waiting and planning.
At last, Chen Yuanqing’s decision to join his side had given him the opportunity he had been waiting for.
How could he willingly let all his efforts go to waste?
“Chen Yuanqing, are you certain… that everything you said before is true?”
Many of the officials present had just begun to feel relieved for Duke Yong’s family.
The moment the Emperor asked that question, they all cried out in their hearts.
It’s over…
The Emperor had clearly made up his mind.
He intended to twist the truth and destroy Duke Yong’s family.
Unlike the others, Chen Yuanqing immediately understood what the Emperor meant.
“Your Majesty, I am willing to use the entire Duke Chen’s household as my guarantee. Every word I said is true.”
“You unfilial son! You disgraceful son!”
Duke Chen pointed at Chen Yuanqing.
His body shook so violently that it looked as if he would collapse at any moment.
Yet he stubbornly remained standing.
“You foolish son… If you want to make a guarantee, why not use your own life? Why must you drag the entire Duke Chen’s family down with you?”
“Father, my life alone is not enough to bring down Duke Yong.”
This time, Chen Yuanqing did answer his father.
But his words were like stabbing a knife into the old duke’s heart.
Duke Chen rolled his eyes back and fainted from anger once again.
“There are still many unanswered questions regarding Duke Yong’s alleged treason…”
The Emperor glared fiercely at the Crown Prince, who wanted to speak in Duke Yong’s defense.
“And whether Chen Yuanqing made a false accusation is also still uncertain, Minister Wen.”
“I am here, Your Majesty.”
Wen Qinghe, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, stepped forward and bowed.
“These two men shall be temporarily imprisoned in the Court of Judicial Review’s prison. Once the truth is discovered, the innocent party will naturally be released.”
“This humble servant obeys Your Majesty’s command.”
Wen Qinghe accepted the order without hesitation.
“Your Majesty… I…”
Chen Yuanqing, still sitting weakly on the floor, looked pleadingly at the Emperor, his powerful ally.
Lin Zhengbei’s kicks had obviously left him with serious internal injuries.
If he were sent to the prison of the Court of Judicial Review…
Where there were few doctors and little medicine…
Even a minor injury could become life-threatening.
But was the Emperor the kind of man who thought everything through carefully?
Obviously not.
Right now, he had only one goal.
No matter what it took, he wanted Lin Zhengbei locked inside that prison.
Once Lin Zhengbei went in…
He would never be allowed to come out alive.
Unfortunately…
The Emperor had overlooked one thing.
From beginning to end, only he and Chen Yuanqing had been talking.
Ever since Shi Yue returned…
Lin Zhengbei had not said a single word in his own defense.
Nor had he loudly protested his innocence, as everyone expected.
“Duke Yong, this way, please.”
Wen Qinghe treated Lin Zhengbei with great respect.
As Lin Zhengbei prepared to leave, he looked up at the Emperor sitting high upon the dragon throne.
The Emperor did not even look back.
His face remained completely expressionless.
Seeing that the Emperor showed no emotion at all…
Lin Zhengbei said nothing more and quietly followed Wen Qinghe out.
No one knew what he was truly feeling.
Everything that had happened today…
Had been exactly as Lin Suisui predicted.
Next…
The Emperor would secretly send someone to kill him in prison.
Then he would announce to the public that Lin Zhengbei had died of illness while imprisoned.
What a perfect excuse.
Unfortunately…
In this life, Lin Zhengbei was no longer the helpless man who could only wait to be slaughtered.
Who would be the final winner…
No one could say.
…
As for Wen Qinghe…
In front of the Emperor, he only took Lin Zhengbei away.
As for Chen Yuanqing…
A man who was both disloyal and dishonorable, someone who would even frame his own father-in-law, was not worth another glance.
After Wen Qinghe left with Lin Zhengbei, the ceremonial eunuch announced the end of court.
Normally, the officials would leave in small groups, chatting as they walked.
This time, however, no one was in the mood to speak.
Everyone lowered their heads and silently walked away.
It seemed they could all feel that a great storm was about to arrive.
“You two, come with me to the Imperial Study.”
As the Emperor left, he ordered his two sons to follow him.
…
The Imperial Study
The moment the Emperor entered the Imperial Study, he suddenly exploded with rage.
He overturned the tea table.
Then he smashed his favorite brush washer that had been sitting on his desk.
“Lin Zhengbei… that traitor deserves to die! He deserves to die!”
He shouted almost hysterically.
“Father…”
The Second Prince was so frightened that he dared not speak.
Only Song Jingmu finally called out.
“You still have the nerve to call me Father?”
The Emperor completely lost control.
“Have you lost your mind? You actually spoke for that rebellious traitor Lin Zhengbei! Do you know he wants to overthrow the Great Yong Dynasty?”
Compared to the Emperor’s madness, Song Jingmu remained calm.
“Father, today’s events… I believe you have been planning them for a long time.”
“So what if I have? So what if I haven’t?”
The Emperor roared, his eyes bloodshot.
Song Jingmu was his eldest legitimate son.
When the Emperor first ascended the throne, he had immediately named him Crown Prince.
Unfortunately, after the Empress died, the Crown Prince lost his greatest support.
For more than a year, Noble Consort Cui had been constantly stirring up trouble.
She repeatedly encouraged Dowager Consort Shen of Anhe Palace to speak badly about the Crown Prince before the Emperor.
Her goal was obvious.
She wanted Song Jingxiu to replace the Crown Prince and eventually inherit the throne.
The Emperor was a traditional ruler.
He had never considered appointing a new Empress.
Nor had he ever planned to replace the Crown Prince.
However…
The Crown Prince’s actions in court today had made him furious.
“Father, you acted too hastily.”
To the Emperor’s surprise, Song Jingmu openly criticized him.
“The court officials are not fools. After everything Chen Yuanqing did today, anyone with eyes could see that the person behind him was you, Father.”
“So what if they know? As long as Lin Zhengbei remains alive, the Great Yong Dynasty will never know peace.”
The Emperor felt no guilt whatsoever.
In his mind, he was protecting the Song family’s empire.
He believed he had done nothing wrong.
Anyone who wished to overthrow the Great Yong Dynasty deserved to die.
“Father, Lin Zhengbei has spent many years defending the northern border and has earned great merit. Treating him this way will only disappoint the officials.”
The Emperor looked at the Crown Prince before him.
After the New Year, Song Jingmu had already turned seventeen.
The youthful innocence had not yet completely disappeared from his face.
Yet the determination in his eyes made even the Emperor feel a tightness in his chest.
“Don’t you understand the danger of raising a tiger that may one day turn on you?”
The Emperor tried to make both of his sons understand his reasoning.
“Duke Yong commands a powerful army on the northern border. He has become a serious threat to the Great Yong Dynasty. Father has done nothing wrong.”
Song Jingxiu, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
“Jingxiu is right.”
The Emperor nodded.
“If one day those two hundred thousand soldiers march toward the capital, the Great Yong Dynasty will be in grave danger.”
At that moment, the Emperor made up his mind.
He would never rest until the command of that two hundred thousand strong army was completely under his control.