Free Web NovelChapter 1184: Chapter 938 Truth 17_3
Lu Zezhong was completely dumbfounded, in an instant as if his brain was deprived of oxygen, leaving him no room for self-thought.
It was precisely this rhetorical question that directly solidified his guilt.
Minister Lin was stunned, and Minister Song was even more surprised.
Involuntarily, they looked towards the Emperor, Ji Youzhi, and Ji Youze who had just entered from the Side Palace!
These three must have heard what was said just now, right!
The Emperor sat high, and Lu Zezhong was already trembling, kneeling on the ground and bowing his head, cold sweat layered on his forehead.
"I thought this matter would be very secret, but Minister Song somehow knows, fine, then Minister Song and Minister Lin need not avoid.
Let’s hear how Lu Zezhong has been planning to usurp the throne of the Great Han since twenty years ago!"
"Ah..."
Minister Lin and Minister Song couldn’t help but open their mouths wide, faces filled with horror.
"What?
Are you his accomplices?
He didn’t tell you about his intent to seize the throne?"
The Emperor smiled upon seeing the expression on Minister Lin and Minister Song’s faces.
Minister Lin hurriedly knelt to pledge allegiance, "Your Majesty, I am guilty, I have been loyal to Your Majesty over these years. If there’s any fault, it’s purely ill-judgment in my staffing.
But to say I collude with Lu Zezhong in intent to usurp, that is absolutely impossible!"
Upon hearing, the Emperor couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.
"When I first ascended to the throne and initiated the Enke Examination, I appointed the first Champion Scholar, you gauged my thoughts and kept him in the Capital City.
Within a few years, he became a key official in the Zhongshu Province, tell me, whose influence facilitated this?"
The Emperor’s face turned solemn, contrary to Minister Lin’s expectation of interrogating Lu Zezhong’s rebellion, the Emperor questioned him directly.
Whose influence elevated Li Xu’s position, this undoubtedly revealed to him that the Emperor had long been aware of all his affairs.
Officially and unofficially, connections and ways to secure positions abound, but when he saw the letters Li Xu exchanged and the chest of gold, he then realized the severity of the matter was beyond imagination.
"Your Majesty! In recommending and promoting others, I’ve never accepted bribes or formed factions, even Lu Shangshu’s intent to rebel, I was clueless!"
The Emperor observed Minister Lin kneeling beneath, elderly and frail, sighing in his heart, where was his usual grandeur within the Imperial Court?
"I am fully aware of all your affairs and have gathered evidence, I will settle accounts with you afterwards!"
"Your Majesty! I am wronged!"
The Emperor gave no chance for Minister Lin to continue!
He slapped the imperial desk, angrily.
"Whether you’re wronged or not, speak with evidence in the future, now I will interrogate Lu Zezhong’s conspiracy to usurp.
If truly uninvolved, I will restore your innocence, but if findings reveal your involvement, I will not be lenient!"
"Yes! I can withstand Your Majesty’s test!"
Minister Lin solemnly bowed his head to the Emperor.
The Emperor remained stern, not letting him rise, keeping him kneeling, then directing his gaze to Ji Youzhi!
Ji Youzhi nodded slightly and walked, arriving before Lu Zezhong and Song Yuan, looking at them, he thought, then furrowed his brows and said.
"This matter seemingly has nothing to do with Minister Song, but the words he spoke earlier clearly show he knows quite a bit!"
Minister Song felt a chill in his heart, just a moment of careless speech and he implicated himself.
What to do?
If he speaks out, it will surely incriminate Father Liu, yet if he stays silent, even if he narrowly escapes this time, he’ll lose the Emperor’s trust later on.
"I... was informed by someone, that’s how I came to know about Lu Shangshu’s affairs!"
The Emperor asked, "Who informed you?"
"Song Yuan, Song Yuan, you truly are bold beyond measure! You’ve managed to plant spies even near my Imperial Study!"
The Emperor, in a fit of rage, glanced at Ji Youze, "Note that!"
Ji Youze nodded.
They were initially uncertain about whom Father Ling was loyal to, whether he truly conveyed messages outside the Palace, they hadn’t expected...
"Your Majesty! This has nothing to do with Father Ling!
Your Majesty! I am to blame Your Majesty, Father Ling isn’t my spy, Your Majesty, I deserve punishment, I stand accountable for this, Father Ling mentioned a few words lightly, but truly, he’s loyal to Your Majesty, he isn’t my informant, I ask Your Majesty for mercy!"
Ji Youze stood aside, frowning in deep contemplation, it seemed Father Ling indeed wasn’t Minister Song’s man.
Then does he bear suspicion or not after all?
"Minister Song, you need not be in such haste, His Majesty has his own judgment, next, His Majesty will interrogate Lu Zezhong’s rebellion case, will you leave or stay to listen to the trial?"
