I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 195 Am I the unfilial son who disobeys my father’s orders?

"Your Majesty issued an edict stating that Han law has its own system, and those who falsely accuse others will be punished."

"If the Crown Prince is truly unworthy of his position, he should be deposed and I will never protect him!"

"If the prince is framed, those who impeach and slander him shall be punished as if they were the ones who made the false accusation. They shall be executed in public to clear the prince's name. I will never tolerate it!"

"The order says yes!"

After coming to his senses, Su Wen immediately unfolded the edict and read its contents aloud in a loud voice with clear pronunciation, ensuring that everyone present could hear it clearly.

However, hearing it clearly does not mean that you understand it.

"This is……"

"What exactly does that mean?"

"Why did His Majesty issue such an edict..."

Everyone present looked suspicious upon hearing this and looked at each other, not knowing what was going on.

Even Zhao Zhou and Shi Qing, who were considered veterans in the officialdom, were completely confused.

Although during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, it was not uncommon for someone to be punished by Emperor Wu of Han or even executed for saying something they shouldn't have said during court meetings.

However, this was the first time they had ever heard of such an imperial edict.

It is easy to imagine that the moment this edict came out, the nature of the court meeting immediately changed and it became an arena of a fight to the death.

If Liu Ju cannot win the debate, he will no longer be the crown prince.

If these Confucian scholars from the Imperial Academy and the virtuous and virtuous writers cannot win the debate, then they will just die and be thrown into the streets!
From this moment on, both sides have gambled everything and must go all out, otherwise no one can afford the cost of failure.

But why did Your Majesty do this?
Are you thinking that this court meeting is not lively enough, so you want to give both sides some motivation?

"..."

The Confucian scholars of the Imperial Academy and the virtuous and talented scholars were even more worried at this moment.

Compared with the issue of whether Crown Prince Liu Ju was deposed.

Most of them care more about their own lives.

After all, whether the crown prince is deposed or not is a matter of the royal family, the Han Dynasty, and the country. If you insist on saying how much it has to do with them, it actually doesn't have much to do with them, at least not directly.

There were even many people who simply regarded the impeachment of Liu Ju and participation in this court meeting as a means of gaining fame and reputation.

They know better than anyone that although fame, wealth and power have different definitions, in fact, they have always been a relationship of you in me and me in you, and as long as the operation is proper, they can be easily converted into each other.

Therefore, possessing one of them is equivalent to possessing the other three.

But if they were asked to risk their lives for a name, most of them would not have the courage to do so. If they had known there would be such a risk, they would not even have come to attend this court meeting.

"Ugh, is this a trigger for the 'transmigration blessing' loophole, or is this the ultimate goal of reaching the maximum level of humanity?"

Among so many people, only Liu Ju did not feel the slightest bit surprised after hearing the contents of the imperial edict.

He even had some expectations in his heart. Whether it was further confirming his guess about the loophole of "time travel blessing" or becoming a full-level human in one fell swoop, it would not be a bad thing for him.

Just as I was thinking about it.

"Don't worry, everyone. Facts speak louder than words. The Crown Prince's actions are witnessed by everyone in the world. It has already been determined whether he is unworthy of his position. How can he get away with it by making a fuss?"

Someone among the Confucian scholars and virtuous scholars of the Imperial Academy said loudly,

"As long as we stop paying attention to his sophistry and stop being led by him, we can stick to our own opinions and argue with reason. The world will have its own fair judgment!"

"That's right. In fact, there is no need to refute these things. How can he deny it?"

"It seems that we have been led astray by the Crown Prince. Today's court meeting is not to debate whether the Crown Prince is guilty or not, but to debate whether the Crown Prince's crime should be deposed or enthroned!"

"Yes! This matter has nothing to do with the prince. We only need to figure out how to convict him. Why should we care about what he says..."

"..."

This imperial edict really gave these Confucian scholars and virtuous writers from the Imperial Academy enough motivation, allowing their clever IQs to immediately gain the upper hand and even directly exclude Liu Ju from the debate.

At this moment, they are the judge and jury of Liu Ju's trial...

"..."

Zhao Zhou and Shi Qing looked at Liu Ju with sympathy when they heard this.

They had also begun to wonder if Liu Che had already decided to depose Liu Ju immediately, and therefore issued such an edict when these Confucian scholars and virtuous writers from the Imperial Academy left the stage to cause trouble?
But the next moment.

Su Wen glanced coldly at the group of Confucian scholars and virtuous scholars at the Imperial Academy and continued:

"Your Majesty has ordered that in order to ensure the fairness and justice of this court meeting, to give the truth to the people of the world and to convince everyone, witnesses of the relevant events are also indispensable!"

"Call Jingzhao Yin Fan Yuan, the assassin of the Confucian scholar Lin Wei, the person who hired the murderer Zhang Li, the contact person Wang Boren, the jailers, and several witnesses to enter the palace to be questioned!"

"Witnesses related to the flood control in Puyang, Xuandong County, including General Pingbo Guo Chang, Lieutenant General Ji Ren, Court Judge Shi Duzhou, Dongjun County Magistrate Chen Guo, Qinghe County Magistrate Wang Xi, Xindu County Magistrate Kou Xuan, Bohai County Magistrate Ge Pu, Puyang County Magistrate Zhang Liang, Puyang Tian Family Master Tian Yong, Wang Family Master Wang Qing, Dongfang Family Master Dongfang Chi, Cao Family Master Cao Nai, several people from Dongjun and the other three counties where the Xinhe River flows through, and several people who recently entered Chang'an claiming to be flood victims and spread news, please come to the palace to be questioned!"

"The witnesses related to the Lu State historian's case, Prince Liu Guang of Lu, Queen Shi of Lu, Commandant Huo Guang of the Imperial Chariot, Prime Minister Cheng Yu of Lu, Magistrate Zhang Wu of Lu County, several surviving relatives of the Shi family, several servants and slaves of the Shi family, and several civilians of the county town of Lu, enter the palace to be questioned!"

"You have the right to ask any questions to the relevant witnesses. Regardless of their identities or official positions, the witnesses must respond positively to the questions and any doubts can be clarified in court."

"Announce the witnesses to enter the palace!"

As soon as these words came out.

"Wow—"

There was immediately a burst of noisy discussions in the Xuanshi Hall.

No one had ever thought that Liu Che would make such a big fuss, and summoned almost all the eyewitnesses and even the parties involved in the relevant events as witnesses.

So that these Confucian scholars and virtuous writers from the Imperial Academy could question them face to face and understand the truth of the whole incident.

"This, this, this..."

Zhao Zhou and Shi Qing's heads were buzzing again.

They had completely lost their understanding of what Liu Che meant.

Did he want to make Liu Ju's dethronement a foregone conclusion, or were there still unknown secrets behind these events that needed to be made public?

"Guo Chang?"

When he heard the name, Liu Ju immediately realized the problem.

When the dikes were destroyed and the fields were flooded, only Guo Chang knew the truth about the "Tunshi River". Now Liu Che summoned him as a witness for questioning. This means that Guo Chang was very likely to have betrayed him a long time ago, and Liu Che already knew the truth.

As for why?
What on earth made Guo Chang willing to break his oath and sell himself out...

Liu Ju could only attribute it to a loophole in the "time travel blessing".

Just as Liu Che suddenly made such a big fuss this time, his purpose should be to clarify these things in public, to clear his name, in order to completely shut up those who impeached him.

This is definitely also affected by the "time travel blessing" loophole.

After all, he had some understanding of who Liu Che was.

Let’s not talk about the other two things for now.

Previously, Liu Che had attributed the "blessing in disguise" after the "destroying the dikes and flooding the fields" to his destiny. But now he is clarifying the truth of the matter in public and giving the credit back to Liu Ju. Isn't this a slap in his own face?

Given Liu Che's temperament, would he really do such a thing if there were no unknown factors affecting him?

Liu Ju would rather die than believe it!
Liu Ju now only believed one thing, and this farce was completely over.

There is no need to think about becoming a full-level human anymore. There is nothing wrong with his previous speculation. The loophole of "time travel blessing" is real!

It's really difficult for Liu Che...

……

After these witnesses entered the hall one by one.

Crown Prince Liu Ju became an insignificant person in this "debate on deposing and enthroning the crown prince".

In order to avoid being thrown out of the public eye, the Confucian scholars of the Imperial Academy and the virtuous and talented writers questioned every witness in great detail, trying their best to find doubts and loopholes.

However, what is fake cannot be real, and what is real cannot be fake.

After a long time, they finally learned the truth in despair:

The person who hired the killer could not possibly be Liu Ju;

Liu Ju was in control of the destruction of dikes and flooding of farmland. The only fertile farmland that was flooded belonged to a few prominent families in Puyang, and these fertile farmlands were donated by those prominent families in order to eradicate the flood. As for the three counties where the Xinhe River flows, not only were very few farmlands flooded, but the people involved also received relief from Liu Ju in advance.
The death of Shi Wanjun and Shi's eldest mother had nothing to do with Liu Ju. It was the Shi family who forced them to death and even tried to deceive Liu Ju. They were completely asking for their own death. On the contrary, Liu Ju buried Shi Wanjun with great honor afterwards...

In desperation, some people were unwilling to give up and questioned these witnesses over and over again, no matter how big or small, without getting tired of it.

But it's a pity.

Fabricated lies always have unexpected loopholes, but the exact facts are so seamless that even a fly cannot catch a seamless egg.

"..."

Three hours later, the sun had already climbed up to the top of the Xuanshi Hall. Liu Ju had even taken a nap on the desk. Only then did the Xuanshi Hall gradually become quiet.

Those Confucian scholars and virtuous writers in the Imperial Academy all looked as if they had lost their parents and their faces were pale.

How could Liu Ju be unworthy of his position?
He is simply the most unlimited prince in history. They are not qualified to judge Liu Ju at all...

At this moment, the hearts of these Confucian scholars and virtuous writers of the Imperial Academy were filled with anxiety and fear. What they were more concerned about was whether His Majesty would really execute them by being thrown into the streets as the imperial edict said.

"..."

Zhao Zhou and Shi Qing looked at Liu Ju, who had just woken up, with complicated eyes. He was sleepy with saliva still hanging from the corners of his mouth and marks of the sewing of his court robes on his face.

They had secretly labeled Liu Ju with countless labels in their hearts.

But now, they found that Liu Ju was strangely terrifying, and also terrifyingly powerful!
Be it character, sophistication, wisdom, or ability... not only is he far older than them, he is also far superior to them!

Seeing that the court debate had already come to a conclusion, the Confucian scholars of the Imperial Academy and the virtuous and talented writers had nothing to say.

Su Wen, who had been watching coldly the entire time, finally spoke again:

"Your Majesty has ordered that whether or not the person who falsely accuses the Crown Prince today should be executed is decided by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince himself!"

While speaking, Su Wen did not forget to wink at Liu Ju.

This was naturally what Liu Che meant. Although these Confucian scholars and virtuous writers of the Imperial Academy were stupid and sour, they were also part of the legal basis of the Han imperial power. If Liu Ju spared their lives this time, this group of "simple and stubborn" Confucian scholars would become Liu Ju's supporters in the future.

This was a gift from Liu Che to Liu Ju, and it was also a manifestation of fatherly love.

Liu Ju should be able to see such an obvious intention, right?

Zhao Zhou and Shi Qing, who were standing by, instantly understood the intention of the oral order, and also realized how much Liu Che valued and cultivated Liu Ju.

This is the classic lift high and put down gently.

The previous imperial edict had already frightened the Confucian scholars and virtuous writers of the Imperial Academy. If Liu Ju pardoned them now, or gave them a symbolic punishment, they would surely be grateful for surviving the disaster.

Just as I was thinking about it.

But I saw Liu Ju had already stood up in a daze:
"Abandon the city. You must abandon the city."

"My father had already said that I would be executed. Am I an unfilial son who disobeyed his orders?"

The voice just fell.

"Praise!"

Suddenly, a crisp sound was heard from the back hall.

It sounded like something was not held firmly and fell to the ground and broke.

"Your Highness, please spare us. We know we are wrong!"

"Your Highness, ignorance is not a crime. We have also been deceived..."

"Your Highness has done things that show that he is a kind person. Please forgive us..."

"Your Highness..."

The group of Confucian scholars and virtuous men of letters from the Imperial Academy, who still held out a glimmer of hope, immediately lost their reserve after hearing this and immediately knelt on the ground and begged.

Seeing this, Su Wen had no choice but to come to Liu Ju and whisper in his ear:
"Your Highness, these people don't need to be abandoned..."

"But I want to abandon them."

"...This is also what His Majesty meant. This will be good for Your Highness. Please think twice."

"But my father said it's up to me to decide."

(End of this chapter)