Outsiders didn't know what happened in the princess palace, but what happened to the prince was spread throughout the city. The common people who had breakfast heard about it, and everyone was talking about the emperor and his son sleeping with a woman.
When the patrolmen from the Military and Horse Division saw someone criticizing the royal family, they came to reprimand him, "Criticizing the Tian family is a serious crime. Do you want to go to jail?"
The people hurriedly shut up, but they didn't dare to say it openly. Behind closed doors, it became even more lively, and even more fragrant rumors spread. The emperor's harem is equal to the prince's inner palace, and he will sleep with whomever he likes.
.
Rumors, the more you try to stop them, the more curious they become, and the more they spread. This time, the royal family was completely embarrassed, and the courtiers were completely disappointed in the prince.
Even Hu Shangshu feels powerless. How to break this situation?
Entering the palace early to discuss matters, and seeing Prince Cheng there, the old fox suddenly thought of a possibility. The more he looked at Prince Cheng, the more suspicious he became. Could it be that he was the prince he framed?
King Cheng felt weak after seeing him, his feet were weak and he was sweating coldly. Bai Jinyu was really right. The old fox was doubting himself.
Yi Zaifu, Lord Zhao of Dali Temple, Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice and others were all there. King Cheng trembled and looked at each other, just as Hu Shangshu thought.
King Cheng, who was still taking chances at first, was completely panicked and explained first: "Sir, please don't look at me like this. I swear, I really don't know anything about eldest brother.
Mr. Zhao, I beg you, investigate this matter thoroughly, I will fully cooperate, I just ask you to clear my name."
Yi Zaifu said: "His Royal Highness, there is no need to be nervous. No one doubts you. You don't need to worry too much. How can we slander people without any basis? We are all such old people. We must speak responsibly."
.”
King Cheng wants to cry, you didn’t say it with your mouth, but that’s what you were thinking in your heart!
Zhao Siqing said: "Your Highness, Prince Cheng, don't say that. It is a matter within my duties. Today we will investigate the case thoroughly."
Hu Shangshu said: "I heard that there was a big banquet at Prince Cheng's Mansion last night. It seems that His Highness Prince Cheng is in a very good mood."
One sentence made King Cheng's heart sink, and everyone's expressions changed. It might be true that he did not harm the prince, but it was also true that he was gloating about his misfortune.
The emperor is still seriously ill, and the prince has been involved in a scandal. As a prince, he only thinks about his own petty thoughts and has no overall perspective. How can he be the king of a country?
A flash of disappointment flashed in Yi Zaifu's eyes, and King Cheng was about to cry but had no tears. These old guys were so powerful that he couldn't defend himself with just one sentence.
"It's my fault. I will apologize to my mother later."
King Cheng has said this, and no one will hold on to it. The most important thing now is to find out why the prince favors Ling Zhaoyi.
When the queen arrived, the prince also woke up and followed the queen with his head drooped. He was so prosperous before, but now he is so decadent.
"Everyone, gentlemen, are here. This year has been really eventful. I can't sleep all night long. Why have I been so unlucky lately?"
Yi Zaifu comforted the queen: "My queen, please take care of your health. The palace is entirely dependent on your care. If the queen feels unlucky, she can do a ritual to pray for the emperor and change her mood. Maybe she will have good luck."
Is that good?"
"Lord Zaifu is right, I think it is feasible."
Zhao Siqing stood up and said: "Empress, I would like to ask the prince to tell you what happened last night, and the servants who were present at the time must be interrogated clearly, especially the eunuch who came to report the news. I think that this
People are extremely suspicious."
The prince said: "I drank too much last night and was resting in the side hall. I was going to sleep for a while, but the girl who was leading the dance came in to wait on me. I couldn't control myself for a while, so I favored her.
But I don't know why that woman turned into Ling Zhaoyi. I swear that I never have any thoughts about Ling Zhaoyi. I haven't even met her a few times. How could she do such a ridiculous thing?
?”
In fact, you have already done it, no matter how much you explain, it is useless.
Zhao Siqing asked: "Where is that dancer? Has anyone protected her?"
If, like Ling Zhaoyi, you die without any evidence, why should you investigate?
"Yes, I have asked the Jiaofang Si to control her, but everyone in the Jiaofang Si said that she did not leave last night and was always with the dancers."
Zhao Siqing frowned: "Not for a while?"
"No, these dancers have been taught strictly. They don't even dare to go to the clean room. They stay with everyone all the time."
If it wasn't the prince she had induced, who was it?
At this moment, the eunuch came in and reported, "Mother, my lords, something bad has happened. Xiao Qinzi committed suicide out of fear of sin."
Zhao Siqing's face was as dark as water. Xiao Qinzi was the eunuch who first discovered the prince. Another clue was broken.
"Why did he commit suicide? What do you do for food? Can't you watch anyone?"
The queen was furious. These servants also made mistakes when doing things, as if nothing ever went as they wished.
"My servant deserves to die. My servant locked him up last night and sent people to guard him. Maybe he knew he was wrong, so he hung him from the bed frame with his belt at night. The guards were so frightened when they woke up."
Zhao Siqing said: "The guard will ask questions later, the Queen. I want to ask Zhu Zuo and a few assistants to help. I also ask for your permission."
"That's right."
Yi Zaifu glanced at the prince, sighed in his heart, and said: "Empress, although the old minister also believes that the prince is innocent, the news about this happened has spread among the people, and the prince cannot continue to supervise the country."
"What? I was framed by someone, don't you believe me?"
He didn't know the seriousness of the matter yet, and thought it would be fine once he found out.
The queen felt tired and said, "Shut up, my lord, it is a troubled time in the country. The emperor's condition is not very good. The prince can go to take care of the illness, but the country cannot be without the emperor for a day. Who will supervise the country?"
Everyone subconsciously looked at King Cheng, he was the most suitable.
King Cheng would have been ecstatic last night, but last night he was analyzed by Bai Jinyu, and Jianguo was now a hot potato and could not be accepted!
"Don't look at me. I have never thought about supervising the country. I don't want it."
The prince's eyes darkened and anger surged up. He thought he had seen the truth, so he came over and said, "Fourth, are you harming me?"
Having said this, the more I thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and said: "You have been arguing with me before, but now that something has happened to me, you can legitimately supervise the country. You have made a good calculation!
You must have taken the opportunity to frame me in order to supervise the country. I never saw it before, how insidious you are!"
"No, I haven't done it. Brother, don't shirk all the responsibilities on others. In a serious occasion like a palace banquet, you still have the mood to favor a woman. If you don't have that thought and keep yourself clean, no one will be able to harm you.
Take action!
After all, you have misbehaved, so who are you qualified to accuse me of?"