Shen Chen's eyes paused, "To the people, Taizu was a wise king. He didn't see me at that time, probably... because he was afraid that his injury would be leaked... and affect the government and the public. Besides... he had too many government affairs at the time, and... We want to secretly investigate the fifth prince..."

"Really?" Lin Xi didn't quite believe it, "But how did I hear that Taizu valued you very much, raised you as his own son, and even cared about your marriage? If that's the case, how could he not see you? He's so busy. Can’t you even spare some time?”

Shen Chen closed his eyes, "I'm just a minister, and those things... are more important than me. Only by appeasing the government, the public, and the people can the country be stable."

When Lin Xi heard what he said, she felt inexplicably uncomfortable.

"Then you have never seen Taizu?"

"Saw it."

"When?" Lin Xi asked nervously, as if she was the protagonist, "Has Taizu seen the evidence you brought back? Does he believe you?"

Shen Chen calmly retracted his hand and covered his clenched hand with his sleeve. He said calmly: "No."

Lin Xi: “Ah??”

Shen Chen said calmly: "But I knew that Taizu was seriously ill before the court officials."

"It was a very ordinary night. I was in the sky prison, counting the stars in the night sky that could be seen outside through the high windows on the wall. Then Taizu came. He came very low-key, with only one person following him. Several secret guards and all the guards in the sky prison were also transferred in advance, so no one can know that Taizu has been here."

To this day, Shen Chen has actually forgotten how he felt when he saw Taizu.

But he remembered that when he was about to tell Taizu where he had hidden the evidence that he finally found, Taizu directly interrupted him and said it was not important, he was stunned.

Then Taizu said that no matter what the truth was, he would admit this crime.

He asked why.

Taizu then told the story about the fifth prince roping in the officials to plot rebellion.

Taizu said: "Now you can no longer help the prince. If the five princes force the palace, the prince will be defeated. The prince needs new help."

In order to return to Beijing in time, to seek justice for the tens of thousands of soldiers who died, and to protect the evidence, Shen Chen not only suffered from wounds on his body, but also encountered numerous assassinations on the road. The old wounds were not healed, and new ones were added. .

It can be said that he forcibly carved a way out of the bloody storm and finally returned to Beijing after going through hardships and dangers.

Then, he dragged his body riddled with holes and endured one trial after another before finally meeting the Taizu who could uphold justice for him.

Before that, Shen Chen didn't care about his injuries. According to the past, no matter how serious his injuries were, Taizu would let them die miserably.

Because he never doubted Taizu's favor and trust in him, he firmly believed that his soldiers and brothers would all get justice. No matter how difficult it was, he would return to the capital alive.

But he never expected that Taizu would say it wasn't important.

After hearing this, Shen Chen suddenly lost the strength to stand up.

He listened in silence to Taizu talking about their importance to the prince, as if they were meeting Taizu for the first time. After Taizu finished speaking, Shen Chen only asked one sentence - after solving the fifth prince, can he still reverse the case.

Taizu stopped talking.

Shen Chen is so smart. He already understood before Taizu started telling everything that as long as he confessed, it would never be possible to reverse the case.

Because collaborating with the enemy and treason was too great, too many generals died, were displaced, and too many people complained. The Shaoqing of Dali Temple and the Minister of War could not bear the consequences of being exposed, so they simply pinned the crime on Shen Chen and then supported him. The fifth prince came to power, cutting off the possibility of Taizu and the prince to find out the truth of the case and tell the world.

In the same way, if you want them to switch sides, you must ensure that they will never bear the risks and consequences of the truth of the case being revealed, so that they can rest easy.

But this is not something that can be openly traded.

Once the two sides pierce the window paper, Taizu and the prince will have a handle on them, and they can destroy the bridge at any time to punish them. How can they be willing to switch sides and support the prince?

The best way is for Shen Chen to plead guilty and the Yanmenguan case to be closed.

Everyone knows that Taizu attaches great importance to the general. If the general pleads guilty but Taizu does not care, it means that Taizu has given up on the general. They can rest assured that this invisible deal can be completed.

After Shen Chen finished speaking, Lin Xi couldn't help but slapped the table again, harder than the last time, and the palms of her hands hurt.

"No matter what happens, if the fifth prince succeeds in ascending to the throne, you will have to bear the blame; if the prince succeeds, you will still have to bear the crime. Only Taizu can help you, but he gave up on you??"

Shen Chen hummed lightly.

Lin Xi gritted his teeth and said: "Then you really agreed? If it were me, I would rather die together than anyone else! Why should I be sacrificed in the dispute between the royal family? It's useless when it concerns the people. I'm just selfish. I just don’t want to be wronged!”

Shen Chen waited for a while before saying: "That night, I saw Taizu vomiting blood in front of me."

Lin Xi: “??”

"At that time, Taizu's body was already beyond recovery. He told me that he wouldn't live for long. But he had to do something at least before he died, so as not to leave the prince in a complete mess. Then, Taizu asked me Help the prince one last time." Shen Chen said.

Speaking of this, Shen Chen felt a little dazed and his voice was hoarse.

"Taizu treated me with nurturing and kindness."

Without Taizu, there would be no Shen Zhonghan as a general.

"Prince, we were once close friends, and we were no different than brothers."

At that time, they even agreed that when he ascended the throne in the future, he, Shen Zhonghan, would guard all directions for him, expand his territory, and help him realize his vision of unifying the world, making mountains clear and seas peaceful.

But in the end, they all gave up on him.

But that night, Taizu actually didn't insist on it. Shen Chen nodded immediately and left. Not long after, the prince came again.

The prince didn't say anything after he came. He just opened a few bottles of wine he brought and drank with him all night.

That wine was a celebration wine prepared in advance for him before he went on the expedition. Taizu was sure that he would return victoriously.

It was also brewed by Taizu himself a few years ago and buried under the plum tree in his general's mansion. He joked that he would only dig it out and drink it when he was happy in life.

A great victory after becoming a general is considered a great joy.

But I didn't expect that I would end up in prison and it would be too painful to swallow.

The prince said nothing, and neither did Shen Chen.

The two of them faced each other and drank all night. Until dawn, Shen Chen could not find a reason to refuse.

Confession is good for Taizu, the prince, the people, and the Qin Dynasty.

It's just not good for him.

So after the prince left, Shen Chen lowered his head, confessed his crime, and quietly waited for his death in prison.
Chapter completed!