kvmb Chapter 463 Purpose Achieved
Chapter 463 Purpose Achieved
Led by Eunuch Liu, the wise prince arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation without any hindrance.
Upon entering the palace, the wise king saw Zhao Yi.
Isn't Zhao Yi in Yongqing County?
Why did you suddenly return to Kyoto?
They returned unharmed.
The wise king suppressed the surprise in his eyes, his mind churning with thoughts.
The Emperor would never discuss making him Crown Prince in front of Zhao Yi. Could it be that Zhao Yi discovered his dealings with Feng Zhihuan in Yongqing County and submitted a memorial accusing him?
Thinking of this, the wise prince panicked. Before he could come up with a solution, he saw the imperial edict under the Northern Qi emperor's elbow and calmed himself down a little: "Father, do you have something important to discuss with me in the palace?"
"You worthless wretch!" The Emperor of Northern Qi grabbed several books and threw them at Prince Xian: "Look what you've done!"
The Prince Xian was startled and hurriedly caught a booklet. After only glancing at its contents, his face turned deathly pale, and he knelt on the ground, crying out, "Father, I am innocent..."
"These booklets detail your financial dealings with Feng Zhihuan, the dates of your correspondence, and the specific events you conspired to." Although the Northern Qi Emperor was incompetent and foolish, he knew that Zhao Yi dared to bring these booklets to accuse the Prince Xian, so he must have irrefutable evidence. "If you do not confess, I will hand your case over to the Three Judicial Offices, and even I will not be able to protect you then."
The wise prince understood the meaning behind the Northern Qi emperor's words: if he confessed now, he would not be severely punished. If he refused to confess, then the law would be applied.
He not only embezzled and accepted bribes, but also disregarded human life, forcibly taking women as slaves to maintain relationships with various parties.
Although his status did not warrant death, his reputation was ruined. How could he then inherit the throne in a way that won the hearts and minds of the people?
“Previously, the war between Northern Qi and Great Zhou was intense, and I heard that the national treasury was empty, causing Father Emperor to be restless day and night. I wanted to share Father Emperor’s worries, but my monthly income was just a drop in the ocean and could not solve the problem of the national treasury’s deficit at all.”
“At this time, Feng Zhihuan came to me, saying that only by protecting the country could the people live in peace. He said we were just temporarily borrowing some silver from the people, and that once the national treasury was relieved of its urgent need for silver, we would repay the people double. I was misled by Feng Zhihuan and that's why I did such a foolish thing.”
“Throughout history, the national treasury has been depleted, and then the people were taken from it. I was not wrong to do this. It’s just that Feng Zhihuan deceived me and oppressed the people by any means necessary. By the time I realized something was wrong, he had already given me leverage and forced me to make one mistake after another.”
The wise prince downplayed his faults and tearfully claimed that he was forced into this situation: "I will return all the money I embezzled and accepted as bribes to the people, and then sell the valuable items in the mansion to raise 10,000 taels of silver to help the disaster victims in Yongqing County and make up for the great mistake I made earlier."
When Zhao Yi heard that the Prince Xian only mentioned corruption and bribery, without mentioning any other crimes, he couldn't help but sneer: "Throughout history, when the national treasury was depleted, it was plundered from the people. When a popular uprising was imminent, it was plundered from the merchants. When the merchants were exploited, it was plundered from the officials. In the end, the officials rebelled, the merchants rebelled, the people rose up, and the country perished. Surely Your Majesty and the Prince Xian understand this principle?"
Although it is said that the emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners, this is not actually the case. Not to mention the emperor, even if a prince breaks the law, he will not be severely punished if the emperor wants to protect him.
Zhao Yi naturally understood this principle, so he did not believe that the Northern Qi emperor would punish the Prince Xian simply because he had obtained evidence of the Prince Xian's crimes.
The Northern Qi emperor's expression changed, as if a sore spot had been hit. He looked at Zhao Yi angrily, but saw that even though Zhao Yi was seriously injured and extremely tired, his posture was still upright and his eyes were firm and clear.
His overall demeanor even bore a resemblance to that of an imperial tutor.
It's likely that Zhao Yi, like the imperial tutor, cared deeply for the people.
Therefore, if they share the same mindset, their demeanor will also be similar.
The Northern Qi emperor had to admit that Zhao Yi was more outstanding than his other two sons and more suitable to be emperor.
Unfortunately, Zhao Yi's bloodline was not pure.
The Northern Qi emperor's silence made the wise prince beside him uneasy, and he hurriedly explained, "I...I was negligent at the time..."
"Shut up." The Emperor of Northern Qi interrupted the Prince Xian, worried that he would make more mistakes: "I taught you that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. You must always put the people first. Look at you, aiding and abetting the wicked and persecuting the people. It really breaks my heart."
"I hereby deduct a year's salary from your salary, confine you to your residence for three months, and order you to hand over all the money you embezzled. I hope that this punishment will teach you a lesson and that you will repent and start anew."
The wise king breathed a sigh of relief and kowtowed to express his gratitude: "Your subject will definitely repent and never repeat the same mistake."
Fearing that Zhao Yi would be relentless, the Northern Qi Emperor spoke first: "Yi'er, as my eldest son, I am very pleased that you have protected your brother. The case in Yongqing County involves your younger brother, so I entrust this case entirely to you." After a pause, he added: "The case of the assassination attempt on you will also be entrusted to you."
This was to prevent Zhao Yi from pursuing the privilege granted by the Prince Xian.
The punishment of Prince Xian by the Northern Qi emperor was within Zhao Yi's expectations, but his purpose was not to severely punish Prince Xian, so he did not pursue the matter further.
Zhao Yi seemed somewhat troubled: "Feng Zhihuan's case is quite complicated, and my identity is highly controversial in the capital. I'm afraid that the investigation might implicate some ministers in the court. What should we do if they don't cooperate?"
In the eyes of the Northern Qi emperor, those implicated by Feng Zhihuan were merely a few officials from Yongqing County. Even if they involved high-ranking officials of the imperial court, it would only be one or two.
Given Zhao Yi's tactful methods and upright character, he would only handle the matter impartially and would not wrongly kill any minister.
Besides, it happened right under his nose.
The Northern Qi emperor confidently took out a token and gave it to Zhao Yi: "Anyone who dares to obstruct your investigation can be beheaded in public."
"Your humble servant obeys." Zhao Yi, having received these words, no longer declined.