HCB Chapter 425 Defense
Chapter 425 Defense
When Eunuch De said this, he glanced at Prince Kang and continued to report. He stepped forward and bowed,
“Your Majesty, fortunately, I brought many guards with me and found that the prince was imprisoned in a dark and damp dark room.
His body was covered in blood. According to the guard on duty, it was Prince Kang who abused his power and had the prince flogged, and did not allow the imperial physician to treat him.
After Eunuch De finished speaking angrily, he saw Emperor Kun's face change.
Prince Kang almost jumped up.
"Stop slandering me here." But no one paid any attention to him.
*
At this time,
But I heard Emperor Kun scolding Prince Kang,
"The old uncle is old and is obviously no longer capable of the position of Zongzheng. From now on, we need to replace him!"
Prince Kang, who was still feeling guilty, suddenly became ferocious upon hearing this. He stood up and said,
"Your Majesty, I am a veteran of two dynasties and a royal relative. You say I am not qualified, then who can take on the responsibility?"
Emperor Kun did not care about the unreasonableness of his uncle and said slowly,
"Don't worry about this, uncle!"
After Emperor Kun finished speaking, he no longer paid attention to Prince Kang.
Prince Kang was so anxious, angry, frightened and scared that he almost fainted.
*
Then Emperor Kun said to the prince seriously,
"Prince, do you know why I summoned you here?"
The prince held these letters in his hands, anger rising in his heart, and he closed his eyes.
I have underestimated the ruthlessness of these people. They are trying to kill me!
The prince kowtowed respectfully and said angrily,
"Replying to Your Majesty, Eunuch De has already informed me of the reason. I am innocent. The handwriting on this letter does look like mine, and I have no evidence to prove it was not written by me.
But I have never done anything to collude with the enemy or commit treason. I have never done anything to poison people in Jiangnan City or kill people.
I hope that the emperor will see clearly and clear my name."
After saying this, the prince kowtowed again.
*
Upon hearing this, Emperor Kun angrily rebuked,
"Restore your innocence? How can you be innocent if you can't prove yourself? Prince, do you know where you went wrong?"
When the prince heard his father's rebuke, he kowtowed again and said,
"I know I was wrong. I was wrong because I was framed and taken advantage of by others. I was wrong because the achievements I made for Daliang with all my heart and soul, regardless of my life and death, were trampled upon like this.
But I believe in you, my father. You are wise. I beg you to investigate this matter and clear my name."
After saying this, the prince knelt down, kowtowed, straightened his back and said no more.
The ministers felt a little upset after hearing the prince's angry and sad words, and began to question their own arbitrary decisions.
There was complete silence in the hall for a moment.
*
at this time,
Prince Kang finally had a chance to speak. He was afraid that the prince would tear up the letter, so he winked at a young eunuch, who immediately walked over to the prince and
Bowing, he said,
"Prince, please let me present these letters to the Emperor."
As he spoke, he quickly took the letter away and gave it to Eunuch De, and then after a gesture, he presented it on the dragon table of Emperor Kun.
Prince Kang, who had a petty mind, watched as the evidence was preserved.
Then he said to the prince sarcastically,
"Prince, there is a saying that words are not enough. Just because you say you didn't do it, you think you can get away with it? Those thousands of innocent people in Jiangnan City died from the epidemic.
Those people on the border whose homes were destroyed and whose lives were destitute because of the enemy's sneak attacks and plunder, can't you just wipe out all the sins by saying you didn't do it?"
He finished speaking with a wheezing sound like a bellows, then bowed to Emperor Kun and said,
"Your Majesty, since the prince cannot prove himself, the facts are irrefutable. Please depose the prince and punish him according to the law."
*
After Prince Kang finished speaking, the ministers of Prime Minister Xiao's faction and those who supported the Third and Fourth Princes were extremely excited and knelt down to petition.
"The Crown Prince has colluded with foreign enemies and disrupted the government. The evidence is irrefutable. We beg the Emperor to depose the Crown Prince."
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has committed treason and collusion with the enemy. This is a heinous crime. I, on behalf of the tens of thousands of innocent souls who died unjustly in Jiangnan City, would like to petition that the Crown Prince be deposed! Punish him according to the law!"
Another group of ministers stepped forward and said righteously,
"You are lying. The Crown Prince's character is known to all. You are actually confusing right and wrong and slandering the Crown Prince. It is really abominable! I beg the Emperor to see through this!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, we also believe in the Crown Prince. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is definitely not a traitor, and he certainly is not the one who poisoned the Jiangnan City epidemic. The Crown Prince is innocent, Your Majesty!"
*
There are many different opinions.
At this moment, a figure hurried forward, knelt down with a plop, and shouted loudly,
"Your Majesty, it's unjust, the prince is innocent! As an imperial physician, I went with the prince to Jiangnan City to provide disaster relief.
In order to prevent the spread of the epidemic, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince rushed to the front at the risk of his own life, commanded the people to be diverted, and actively sought prescriptions to save dying patients.
Let me ask you, if the prince had maliciously caused this epidemic, why would he have gone all out, regardless of his own life or death?"
When Doctor Qi said this, his voice choked up! He suppressed his anger and continued,
"Do you know? The virus was finally eradicated, but the prince unfortunately contracted a serious illness during the disaster relief and almost died! Do you know how critical and dangerous the situation was at that time?
The prince survived a near-death experience and became so thin that only skin and bones were left. He made such a great contribution to the people of Jiangnan City.
But some of you, for your own selfish reasons, are making up stories and framing the prince by confusing right and wrong!
I beg Your Majesty to look into this matter carefully and clear the Crown Prince’s name.”
After Imperial Physician Qi finished speaking, he knelt on the ground with a plop.
*
"Doctor Qi, everyone knows that you are on good terms with the Crown Prince. The evidence is right before our eyes. Yet you are still making trouble. I have even said that you are a liar who confuses right and wrong?!"
Suddenly, there was noise and chatter in the hall, and it became as chaotic as a vegetable market.
Loud voices calling for the dethronement of the crown prince and voices protesting the injustice done to the crown prince were heard outside the Golden Throne Hall.
The guards, who were grateful for the prince's kindness, clenched their fists and were filled with righteous indignation, but unfortunately they were powerless and could do nothing. They could only complain for the prince in their hearts.
Listening to various sounds,
The prince closed his eyes, and no one knew what he was thinking. When he opened his eyes again, his eyes were clear, as if it was not him who was deposed as the prince.
King Rui, who was cheering in his heart and secretly laughing, shut his mouth.
*
Eunuch De frowned and shouted,
"Quiet!"
All the ministers immediately stopped talking and shut their mouths.
Emperor Kun looked at the prince with a solemn expression and shook his head.
"Prince, I am deposing you as the Crown Prince in accordance with the will of the people. Do you have anything to say?"
The prince kowtowed again and said,
"Your Majesty, I will not admit to anything I have not done. If you ministers are indiscriminate and insist on convicting me, I will be punished.
"I am disappointed and have nothing to say. But I guarantee with my integrity that these things are purely framed and I am innocent."
**