Free Web NovelChapter 569: Chapter 569: Execution in Three Days
Prince Zhuang knew well that losing his position as Crown Prince was not only because he attacked Huangfu Jingchen.
It was because Prince Liang took advantage of the Emperor’s thorough investigation to expose his plot against the Crown Prince to the Emperor. These accumulated incidents led to the Emperor deposing him as Crown Prince.
Prince Liang naturally did not possess such cunning. The one with the cunning must be his son, Huangfu Yuxuan.
This Huangfu Yuxuan had previously been advising Prince Li, making him highly relied upon by Prince Li.
Now, having pulled him down from the position of Crown Prince, he must have conspired with Prince Li.
However, even if Huangfu Yuxuan had some talent, some skill, some cunning, and some strategy that could not be underestimated, so what? His true threat was from those who divided his destiny, not from that newly matured Huangfu Yuxuan!
Prince Zhuang’s outrage cast a gloomy atmosphere over the entire Prince Zhuang Mansion, and the servants were silent as the grave.
In contrast, Cheng Prince Mansion became lively.
After all, Prince Cheng’s Heir narrowly escaped death, so people came to bring gifts and offer congratulations, even if just for appearances. They brought some supplements or similar things to express their goodwill.
Additionally, those who had previously planted spies in Cheng Prince Mansion took the opportunity of delivering gifts to check the situation since they hadn’t received any reports for some time.
For a moment, the Cheng Prince Mansion was bustling with visitors.
However, not everyone could see Huangfu Jingchen. Though, they saw the Imperial Physician frequently coming and going in the mansion, and the entire mansion was enveloped by the fragrance of medicine.
Some even saw Huangfu Jingchen in person. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
This previously peerlessly elegant and graceful noble young master lay on the bed, pale-faced and thinner, unconscious, at times unable to take any medicine.
Looking at such a frail state, although he was found and alive for the moment, how long he could live was truly uncertain.
The Emperor also bestowed many medicinal supplements.
This matter was indeed a significant event in the Capital City.
Meanwhile, Xia Wenjin was busy concerning the matter of Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin.
The Duke of England’s sole grandson had died and repeatedly petitioned to the Emperor. The deadline set by the Emperor for resolving the case was approaching. Since the case was initially handled by Junior Minister Sun Liangcai of the Ministry of Justice and Vice Commander Song Chang of the Capital Guard, they were the main investigators and could report the results directly to the Emperor.
Now, the results were out.
Originally attacked on the streets by Zhan Baoqing, Gan Jinming, who was avenging his sister, showed righteousness by voluntarily revealing the truth. He testified that after being rescued by Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin, upon hearing of his sister’s forced death, the two were furious. However, when told that it was the Duke of England’s grandson, they exchanged a glance and said, "This is the person our elder brother wants dead!" and pursued to kill him.
Gan Jinming, with a death-defying demeanor, expressed immense gratitude and respect in his voice for Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin, even more so for their so-called elder brother.
He declared that even in the next life, he would repay their kindness by working as a beast of burden. He even proposed to sacrifice his life in exchange, as long as his benefactors were unharmed!
But when Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin heard this, they were almost exploding with anger, as none of it was true; Gan Jinming was fabricating it.
They had never done such things and would absolutely not take the fall!
Yet no one believed their words.
Since even the victim Gan Jinming confessed voluntarily, Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin’s claims were seen as mere excuses to evade responsibility.
Gan Jinming’s statement contained a crucial message: "This is the person our elder brother wants dead," suggesting there indeed was a mastermind, and that mastermind was Xia Wanqing, elder brother to Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin!
Consequently, Xia Wanqing, who was originally confined alone in a clean cell, suddenly became a major criminal, constantly being moved out of that cell, even shackled with chains!
Although Gan Jinming’s testimony was only one person’s word and insufficient to establish the truth, more witnesses emerged, having seen Gu Hongxin committing the crime, and not just one. From various angles, they testified: someone saw the abduction, someone saw the pursuit, and someone saw Gu Hongxin with a blood-stained knife... Through examination, Gu Hongxin and Hua Yuanming’s murder had become undeniable.
More significantly, a blood-stained sword was found at Gu Hongxin’s residence, exactly the sword he usually carried at his waist.
With both witnesses and material evidence, there was no longer room for argument. The principal criminal Gu Hongxin, the accomplice Hua Yuanming, the mastermind Xia Wanqing, and the accessory Gan Jinming were all charged! Sun Liangcai and Song Chang’s report was submitted and the Emperor personally decreed that the principal, accomplice, and mastermind would be executed after three days; the accessory would be imprisoned for life!
Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin had not committed the crime, yet all evidence pointed towards them. They were deeply wronged but had no way to help themselves, shackled and emaciated, no longer the once high-spirited Jianghu heroes.
They were wronged, and Xia Wanqing was even more wronged! Xia Wanqing was completely confused, having neither participated nor known any details, never even having met Zhan Baoqing or Gan Jinming.
Yet he became the so-called mastermind, a stately Jianghu hero, a leader of a faction, the Village Chief of Haotian Village, inexplicably imprisoned, convicted, and condemned to public execution!
While investigating the truth, Xia Wenjin sensed an invisible hand manipulating everything. This case was not sophisticated; it began with Gan Jinming being beaten on the street, attracting Uncle Hua and Uncle Gu to intervene when they saw injustice. When Uncle Hua and Uncle Gu struggled against the guard and faced life-threatening danger, with their nature, they would indeed capture the "king" first, seizing Zhan Baoqing. Even Xia Wenjin would have done the same.
Yet such action perfectly fell into the opponent’s trap. After all, by taking someone away, followers would certainly not be allowed. With Uncle Hua and Uncle Gu’s skills, even if they couldn’t defeat the expert guard, the guard following them wouldn’t go unnoticed.
Once Zhan Baoqing was taken away, Uncle Hua and Uncle Gu would release him if safe, but by then, they would have traveled some distance, leaving a period when Zhan Baoqing was alone.
During this distance, Zhan Baoqing was alone, traveling through alleyways, which were confusing with interconnected routes. A playboy drained by excess, even an average adult man could kill him.
Although various corroborations from different aspects completed a comprehensive chain of evidence, Gan Jinming’s testimony was the straw that broke the camel’s back!
Later, Xia Wenjin personally met Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin. If Uncle Hua and Uncle Gu had truly killed Zhan Baoqing, she would have noticed!
She was certain they had not done it!
