nycdaug Chapter 195: Execution of the King of Qi
Chapter 195: Execution of the King of Qi
On the day of the grand court, all civil and military officials gathered in the court.
The atmosphere in the court today was strangely weird. The spacious hall was completely silent. Hundreds of officials, both big and small, stood solemnly on both sides, without even a cough.
The Shandong Road river management project silver corruption case is just an ordinary matter, and those who are worried are just those who have something to hide. But the matter of the King of Qi being arrested and imprisoned for treason, no one knows what kind of storm will sweep the court in this royal bloody storm?
The Prince of Qi, who was the prefect of Kaifeng, was in a high position and had great power. There were many officials who had personal connections or conflicts of interest with the Prince of Qi's palace. Throughout the dynasties, there were too many tragic cases where officials who were slightly involved in the heinous crime of treason were slaughtered.
Officials who were familiar with the Records of the Grand Historian would shudder when they thought about the major cases involving treason and rebellion throughout the dynasties and the number of people involved in the bloodbath.
Although the dynasty has been extremely generous and kind to its officials since Emperor Taizu founded the dynasty, the first thing most founding emperors in history did after they secured the throne was to purge the powerful officials who held great power and were too successful to be feared by the emperor. However, Emperor Taizu only used a cunning trick of releasing military power with a cup of wine to let the old brothers who followed him to conquer the world retreat unscathed.
The emperor of the Song Dynasty was a benevolent and wise ruler, and Emperor Taizu vowed to rule the world together with the literati. In recent years, the court officials of the Song Dynasty have received extremely generous salaries and will not be easily sentenced to death. It can be said that they are doing their jobs with peace of mind. However, this time the King of Qi is guilty of treason, regicide and usurpation of the throne. I wonder how the current emperor will deal with him? How many innocent officials will be implicated?
The emperor glanced majestically at his ministers and his eyes fell on the King of Qin who was standing quietly beside them.
"Prince Qin, has the trial of the Shandong Road River Management Project Bank corruption case been concluded?"
Prince Qin Zhao Defang walked out of the class train and said, "Your Majesty, the surprise interrogation over the past few days has been completed yesterday. I have brought the case files with me. Please make your decision, Your Majesty!"
Wang Jie'en came over, took the thick stack of case files and handed it to the emperor.
Several court officials who had guilty consciences were so frightened that their hearts were beating fast and cold sweat broke out on their backs.
The emperor did not look at the file carefully, but only read the case summary on the last page.
The more he looked, the gloomier his expression became. At the end, he became extremely furious!
"This is so abominable! Wang Jie'en, read the summary of this case file!"
Wang Jie'en's shrill voice was like a death warrant, floating over the hall!
The officials involved in the bribery case whose names were called walked out with pale faces and trembling legs, and knelt in the center of the court.
Luo Zhongqing, the Minister of Revenue who accepted a bribe of 60,000 taels of silver, had his heart in his throat, waiting for the moment when the boot would drop!
Wang Jie'en's shrill voice stopped, and all the court officials who had accepted bribes in this case knelt in fear in the center awaiting the emperor's decision and the verdict of their fate!
[My name is not on the list? ...The King of Qin, who was in charge of the trial, actually let me go? ]
Minister of Revenue Luo Zhongqing was pleasantly surprised! His heart, which had been in his throat, fell to the ground. He did not think that the wise and intelligent Prince Qin was incapable of finding him out. He looked at Prince Qin, who was standing at the head of the princes, with grateful eyes.
When their eyes met, King Qin Zhao Defang raised the corners of his lips and smiled slightly!
Luo Zhongqing was so grateful that his nose was sore, his eyes were red, and he almost burst into tears.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin, who has always hated official corruption and was ruthless and merciless, actually showed leniency to him. This is a huge favor!
Although he holds a high position of power and has a close and extensive network of relationships in the court, he may end up being treated lightly by the emperor.
But if his mortal enemies held him tightly and forced the emperor to decide to dismiss him, it would be like the monkeys scattering when the tree fell, and it would be difficult for him to make a comeback! The worst outcome would be to be dismissed and exiled to a wild and cold place like the left prime minister Zhao Pu, and even his children and grandchildren would suffer with him.
Why did His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin help him in this way? Could it be that because of his little daughter Ruixue who loved him so much, His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin wanted to marry into the Luo family?
Luo Zhongqing, who was given a break by His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin, was filled with gratitude and had all sorts of thoughts.
All he could hear was his subordinate, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Qin Guangnian, crying and quibbling: "It's unjust! ... Please Your Majesty, I am innocent! I only accepted a bribe of 30,000 taels, not 90,000 taels! ..."
Luo Zhongqing understood instantly that His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin was trying to pin the 60,000 taels of silver that he, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, had accepted as a bribe on the head of Qin Guangnian, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
Qin Guangnian must be captured today, and His Royal Highness the King of Qin must not let him down. Luo Zhongqing secretly signaled to several court officials who were on good terms with him and who were attached to him, and ordered that Qin Guangnian must be killed today!
Zuo Dading secretly wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, and glanced at His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin with a grateful look. When their eyes met, His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin also smiled slightly.
The two censors of the Imperial Censorate and the officials of the Ministry of Revenue were all filled with righteous indignation and asked the emperor to severely punish Qin Guangnian, a corrupt official who had accepted a huge amount of bribes. Several important officials also came out to support the proposal, saying that if Qin Guangnian was not severely punished, it would not be enough to appease the public anger!
Shen Xi stood steadily in the line of court officials, his respect and admiration for the prince in his heart was like the endless flow of the Yellow River!
Everything happened as the prince had imagined. Qin Guangnian was dismissed from his post, imprisoned, and his property was confiscated. Lu Duoxuan, the vice chancellor who accepted a bribe of 30,000 taels, was let off lightly by the emperor. After a few words of admonition, he was ordered to return the stolen money and fined for six months.
Minister of Revenue Luo Zhongqing and Vice Minister of Works Zuo Dading, who were given a break by His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin, were silently grateful in their hearts for his great kindness.
After the discussion of this case, it was quickly concluded according to the emperor's will. The next thing to discuss was the handling of the case of Qi Wang's rebellion, and the atmosphere in the hall immediately became tense.
The eldest prince Zhao Yuanzuo walked out with a sad face, fell to his knees with a plop, and lay on the ground crying bitterly!
"Father!... You and my uncle are brothers, blood is thicker than water... Please forgive my uncle for his foolish behavior this time!..."
Everyone knew that the eldest prince and the King of Qi had a deep relationship. They couldn't help but secretly praise the eldest prince for his loyalty and righteousness. Anyone who dared to come forward to plead for the King of Qi at this time would run a great risk of being angered by the emperor.
The kind-hearted eldest prince begged his father to let his uncle go, but how could the cruel and ruthless emperor let go of his own brother who dared to rebel and kill the king?
Besides, there is the hidden danger of the "Golden Casket Alliance". Unless the stumbling block of the Prince of Qi is removed, the Emperor will be unable to appoint a crown prince.
Apart from the eldest prince who cried and begged, no one in the court dared to stand up and plead for the King of Qi. If he was implicated in treason and regicide, it would be a heinous crime that would exterminate all nine generations of his clan!
King Qin Zhao Defang stood there quietly, his face sad, but he was also trying to protect himself by not saying a word.
The emperor's cold eyes swept across the King of Qin, and returned to his own son who was lying on the ground crying and begging desperately.
This rebellious son is too sentimental. With such a soft heart, even if I pass the throne to you, can you keep it?
The emperor spoke coldly: "The Prince of Qi's conspiracy to treason and regicide is a heinous crime, unforgivable!
For the sake of brotherhood and royal blood, I will spare his two young and ignorant sons and hand them over to the clan house for discipline for a few years.
Three days later, the King of Qi, Zhao Tingmei, gave him a cup of poisoned wine to save his face. The King of Qi's wife and concubines were all given a piece of white silk to save their dignity.
The case was handed over to the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice for joint trial. Other criminals who participated in treason and regicide were found guilty and their homes were confiscated and they were executed, and their entire nine clans were exterminated!
"Adjourn the court!..." After the emperor made his decision, he stood up and left the court with a sullen face.
"Father!...Father, you can't do this! Please spare my uncle's life!"
The eldest prince cried and crawled over, hugged his father's thighs, and begged bitterly!
The emperor was so angry that he kicked his ungrateful son to the ground and walked out of the hall angrily!
"Father!... You can't!...Father! Please spare my uncle's life!..." The eldest prince cried bitterly!
Qin Wang Zhao Defang walked over silently, helped him up from the ground, and ordered: "Send the eldest prince back to the East Palace."
The two imperial guards obeyed the order and stepped forward, picked up the crying eldest prince and carried him out of the hall!
Some of the civil and military officials were sad, while others secretly breathed a sigh of relief! This case was handed over to the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice for joint trial. According to the character of His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin, the Chief Justice of the Dali Temple, and Li Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice, not too many people should be implicated.
After the court session, Prince of Qin Zhao Defang did not return to the palace, but went directly to his mother's Yayan Pavilion.
Queen Song looked at her son, who looked very sad, and asked in a trembling voice, "What punishment did the King of Qi receive?"
The King of Qin looked up at his worried mother and said, "Give him a cup of poisoned wine. The execution will be carried out in three days. The two young princes will be sent to the clan house for discipline."
Queen Song sighed!
"I had expected this a long time ago. How could the Emperor, who finally caught hold of the evidence, let go of the opportunity to get rid of the Prince of Qi?
My son, the emperor's next target is you, so you must be extremely careful."
A fierce light flashed in the eyes of Qin Wang Zhao Defang!
"Please be at ease, mother. I am not a soft persimmon that can be bullied by others!"
Princess Yongqing, who was standing quietly beside Queen Song, said with a heavy heart: "Brother, please don't be careless. Discuss with the Empress's sister-in-law. The wise Empress's sister-in-law will definitely be able to help you."
When mentioning the princess, Qin Wang Zhao Defang immediately raised a happy smile, "Yongqing, I didn't expect you to have such a superb ability to judge people!
To be honest with you, Mother, Li'er is my greatest helper now!
With her miraculous ability to help me, I will be invincible!"
Queen Song asked in surprise: "Does Li'er really have the ability to help you?"
Qin Wang Zhao Defang smiled and nodded, "My princess is as good as a whole staff and a hundred thousand strong army!"