Jiuxi

Chapter 613 [Life-saving Straw]

There are actually big loopholes in Li Shizhi's analysis.

It doesn’t matter whether the two groups of assassins have colluded with each other in advance, Li Zongjian is fully capable of making arrangements in advance.

He could let Wen Changbao take action directly, and then tell the two craftsmen to attack immediately when the situation became chaotic. There was no need for these three to know each other's identities, so as to ensure the secrecy of the action.

However, no other important ministers pointed out any loopholes in Li Shizhi's analysis. Li Zongben even felt a little happy because Li Shizhi provided him with some room for maneuver.

According to Li Shizhi, Wen Changbao was instructed by Li Zongjian. Considering that this eunuch had no martial arts skills and only brute force, as long as he had no connection with the two assassins, Li Zongjian's action was more like venting his anger, and how to convict him is questionable.

Logically, he should be executed, but considering the existence of Empress Dowager Xu, it was understandable that Li Zongben made some concessions.

All in all, Li Shizhi's seemingly flawed views were only to facilitate the emperor's decision.

The other important ministers knew everything clearly. The reason they did not speak out was simply because they did not want to make things too difficult for the young emperor.

Lu Chen naturally understood this, but he also said nothing, apparently because he was considering the emperor's situation.

The atmosphere in the hall gradually returned to normal, and Li Zongben discussed several political affairs with the two prime ministers.

Until Yuan Yuji entered the palace and reported: "Your Majesty, the Lieutenant Fengguo has been brought outside the palace."

Li Zongben looked solemn and said slowly, "Announce."

Soon, two tall and strong eunuchs were seen standing on the left and right, sandwiching Li Zongjian in the middle. Yuan Yuji led the way and stepped into the hall step by step.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty, I, Li Zongjian, pay my respects to you."

The once arrogant and overbearing Third Prince knelt on the ground and bowed his head, paying homage.

Li Zongben did not call him to stop like he did to the others. He looked at him indifferently. After he finished his salute, he said word by word: "Lieutenant Fengguo, do you admit your guilt?"

Li Zongjian lowered his head and said in a low voice, "I, the guilty minister, do not know."

Li Zongben turned to look at Lu Chen, implying that you are the investigator of this case. Now that the mastermind behind the scenes is right in front of you, of course you have to interrogate him.

Lu Chen cleared his throat and asked slowly, "Lieutenant Fengguo, do you know an eighth-rank official named Wen Changbao in the Ministry of Internal Affairs?"

Li Zongjian did not answer immediately, a bitter anger welling up in his heart.

In fact, he witnessed a major assassination attempt in front of the imperial mausoleum that day. When he saw the appearance of the eunuch who first attempted the assassination, he realized that this was a conspiracy against him.

Although Wen Changbao had only stayed in Prince Jian's Palace for two months, Li Zongjian had a deep impression of him, because he hated this pretentious eunuch. However, since the other party was a person given by the previous emperor, he could not treat him harshly. In the end, he found an excuse to send him back to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Li Zongjian has been immersed in conspiracies and intrigues all his life. For him, this kind of thing is as easy as eating and drinking. How could he not see the strangeness in it?
How could there be no trick here when a eunuch who had no martial arts skills but only brute force and had worked in Prince Jian's palace suddenly stabbed the emperor as if he had gone mad?

Li Zongjian had been trapped in Qiushan Lane these past few days, and had figured out the whole story clearly. The current emperor was still worried about him, so he framed him with such despicable means.

The problem is that he is already a fish on the chopping board, so why should the second brother be so aggressive?

Thinking of this, Li Zongjian raised his head and looked at Lu Chen, and said in a deep voice: "I don't know him."

Lu Chen said calmly: "Don't know him? Five years ago, Wen Changbao was sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to serve you in Prince Jian's Palace. Don't you have any impression of him at all?"

Li Zongjian shook his head firmly and said, "I have no impression."

Lu Chen looked around, taking in the reactions of the emperor and other important officials, and then said to Li Zongjian: "But according to Wen Changbao's confession, he was instructed by you to assassinate the emperor in front of the imperial mausoleum. He said that you promised him a lifetime of grace and honor, and as long as he succeeded in assassinating the emperor, you would become the emperor of Da Qi, and then secretly release him so that he can reunite with his family, change his surname and name and enjoy wealth and glory."

Li Zongjian said without hesitation: "This is a frame-up! I have never seen this person, nor have I had any contact with him. You may as well ask him when and who I sent to contact him. There must be a flaw in it."

Lu Chen said slowly, "That being said, Wen Changbao doesn't have any other connections. He did stay in Prince Jian's Mansion, although not for a long time, but with your scheming, it's not difficult to lay this foreshadowing in advance. Besides, he stayed in Prince Jian's Mansion for two months, and being sent back to the palace for no reason is suspicious. If he made a mistake, how could you sit back and watch? If he didn't make a mistake, how could you send him away? You have to know that he was sent by the late emperor to serve you."

Li Zongjian's eyes were gloomy and his lips were tightly pursed.

He had guessed the truth of the matter, but he couldn't say it out loud at the moment.

Being suspected of assassinating the emperor is already a capital crime. If he reveals the truth in front of many important ministers and points out that it was a trick concocted by the emperor, no matter how these important ministers will view the emperor afterwards, at least he cannot escape this disaster.

If you don't say it, there is still a glimmer of hope. If you say it, you will definitely die.

Lu Chen asked again: "Then do you know Wan Yingqian and Yang Shunzhi?"

Li Zongjian naturally didn't know them, but his brain worked quickly and he immediately realized that these two people were assassins who mixed in with the craftsmen. So he shook his head and said, "I've never heard of them."

Lu Chen said slowly: "You don't know him? However, according to the confessions of these two people, they were also instructed by you to assassinate the king."

Li Zongjian's eyes turned red, and he gritted his teeth and said, "You are slandering me!"

Lu Chen brushed his sleeves lightly and said, "Li Zongjian, the evidence is irrefutable. It's useless even if you are eloquent. The facts are clear now. You were unwilling to be imprisoned and you were obsessed with the idea of ​​inheriting the throne, so you used the ambush you had arranged in your early years to assassinate the current emperor at the funeral of the previous emperor. Before that, you had secretly informed the Queen Mother Xu to force His Majesty to release you from Qiushan Lane. As long as your people succeed in front of the imperial mausoleum, you, as the blood of the previous emperor, will naturally be able to take charge of the situation." "You can always find a pretext to accuse someone of a crime?!"

Li Zongjian was trembling all over, staring at Lu Chen angrily and said, "I don't believe the evidence you said. You are using the public authority to take revenge on me and use the organization to frame me!"

Without waiting for Lu Chen to speak, he turned to the imperial desk and said, "Your Majesty, I am innocent. This is all fabricated evidence by Lu Chen, who wants to put me to death. I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"

Li Zongben narrowed his eyes slightly, his mind filled with thoughts.

The crime was too serious and Li Zongjian certainly would not dare to admit it, but he was also very smart and did not make random accusations, at least he did not point the finger at him, the emperor, and only said that it was Lu Chen's personal vendetta.

As for the grudge between the two, everyone in the hall knew it well.

Li Zongben knew that his goal could no longer be achieved. He could either execute Li Zongjian regardless of the crime, or let him go for the time being.

But if I pardon him, wouldn’t that mean Lu Chen framed me?

Lu Chen said without hesitation: "Li Zongjian, when it comes to framing others, plotting persecution, committing all kinds of evil, and being ruthless, who in this world is better than you? If someone else was accused of this, even if the evidence was irrefutable, I believe that His Majesty and the others would be extremely cautious and repeatedly check, but if the suspicion lies with you...why don't you go to the streets of the capital and ask anyone, Li Zongjian, if he dares to do such a thing?"

Li Zongjian turned his head and saw a hint of cold sarcasm on the other person's face.

At this moment he finally confirmed that Lu Chen had never forgotten the assassination on Qingfeng Street.

At that time, Lu Chen punched him in front of Prince Jian’s mansion, but that punch obviously could not completely vent his anger and hatred. It was only because of the existence of the late emperor that Lu Chen suppressed that emotion deep in his heart.

Even so, Li Zongjian still said stubbornly: "I didn't do it, why should I admit it? Even if you fabricate a hundred or a thousand kinds of evidence and charges, I will never admit my guilt until I die!"

"It doesn't matter whether you admit it or not. The court handles cases based on evidence, and that evidence is enough to convict you."

Lu Chen looked indifferent, then turned to look at the emperor, bowed his head and said: "Your Majesty, Li Zongjian attempted to assassinate the emperor, the evidence is indisputable, please order him to be executed!"

Li Zongjian turned his head in disbelief and looked behind the imperial desk.

Li Zongben said in a deep voice: "Li Zongjian, I imprisoned you in Qiushan Lane in accordance with the will of the late emperor, but I did not treat you harshly. Who knew that you would not repent and act like this? How could I sit idly by? I——"

At this moment he was still a little hesitant.

Lu Chen looked at him quietly.

All the important officials looked solemn.

A look of despair appeared on Li Zongjian's face and fear spread throughout his body.

Just then, an eunuch walked into the hall in a somewhat panicked manner.

Li Zongben took the opportunity to look over and asked angrily, "What's the matter?"

The eunuch knelt on the ground with a plop and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother's carriage has arrived outside the palace!"

Li Zongben's face changed slightly, and everyone in the hall frowned.

Lu Chen looked coldly at Li Zongjian, who was almost paralyzed, with a fierce murderous aura on his face.

Li Zongjian seemed to come back to life in an instant. He still didn't dare to do anything out of line, but his trembling body showed how excited he was.

If there is anyone in this world who is willing to save him and can save him, it can only be the Empress Dowager Cihe, Xu, who was the empress when the late emperor was alive and also Li Zongjian's biological mother.

Queen Mother Xu did not have the right to interfere in state affairs, nor did she have the ability to do so, but the Great Qi was founded on the principles of loyalty and filial piety, and even someone as noble as the emperor did not dare to overstep the mark.

At least on the surface.

If even the dignity of the Queen Mother can be ignored, then the face of the imperial court will no longer exist.

Li Zongben could have ignored Empress Dowager Xu in his heart and not given her any chance to interfere in politics, but he had to maintain enough respect for her in public.

"The Queen Mother is here!"

The eunuch's voice sounded in the outer hall, and then a noble in palace dress was seen walking tremblingly into the inner hall, supported by a female official.

Li Zongben glanced at Li Zongjian coldly, a murderous look flashed across his face, and then he stood up to greet him.

The ministers gave way.

Lu Chen quietly stepped aside, looking at the most noble mother and son in Da Qi, with a sense of unknown joy in his heart.

(End of this chapter)