kvmb Chapter 832 What crime have I committed?
Chapter 832 What crime have I committed?
The so-called military is expensive and quick.
Yesterday, when the Third Prince went to the Dali Temple, Lu Yangyang loudly proclaimed it, and everyone assumed that the Third Prince went there for the Tenth Prince's case, and that Consort Xiao was only involved in the Tenth Prince's case.
Even the Duke of Xiao, who was running around with his heir yesterday, was trying to resolve the connection between Consort Xiao and the Tenth Prince's case.
No matter how convincing the testimony of a long-time servant may be, it cannot shake Consort Xiao's position.
Therefore, as long as Duke Xiao and his group do their best to distance themselves from Consort Xiao, the matter will eventually be forgotten.
But to their utter surprise, first came Consort Duan, and then came Lu Yangyang.
The plot to murder Consort Duan could be considered a matter of jealousy and rivalry. If the affairs of the Emperor's harem were placed in the court, no matter how the officials discussed them, the Emperor would ultimately make the decision, and there would still be room for reversal.
But murdering the late empress is different.
This is a capital crime.
Even if His Majesty wanted to protect Consort Xiao at this point, the court officials would not let her go.
Duke Xiao could no longer remain calm and immediately rebuked, "This is utterly absurd!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty investigated the Empress's death thoroughly back then. The claim that she died of poisoning is pure nonsense," Duke Xiao said sharply, pointing at Lu Yangyang with an unfriendly expression. "Ignorant brat, you've only learned a little medicine, yet you dare to spout such nonsense! What are you up to? His Majesty was deeply devoted to the Empress. He suspended court for three months in response to her death and thoroughly investigated the entire harem. Now you dare to implicate the current Imperial Concubine with the testimony of a wicked servant. Are you questioning His Majesty or framing the Imperial Concubine? Do you have ulterior motives?"
Lu Yangyang's testimony, with both witnesses and physical evidence, stunned the court officials so much that they were unable to react.
Duke Xiao's series of rebukes brought many people back to their senses.
"Yes, when the late Empress passed away, His Majesty refused to believe it and ordered people to investigate for several months, but they found nothing. Even the imperial physicians were almost implicated. We still remember this incident vividly. Now, it is said that the late Empress died of poisoning, and that it was done by Consort Xiao. Isn't it a bit too coincidental at this critical juncture?"
"What Duke Xiao said makes sense. Could it be that Consort Duan and Princess Changyang conspired to frame Consort Xiao?"
“Father, since entering the palace, Consort Xiao has always respected the late Empress the most. She would never have done anything to harm the late Empress. Father cannot convict Consort Xiao based on this unfounded evidence!” The Third Prince also hurriedly stood up to defend Consort Xiao.
Lu Yangyang was waiting for him to say "fabricated charges".
"Your Highness, the Dali Temple has presented both witnesses and physical evidence. How can it be dismissed as mere fabrication in your words? Does the Dali Temple disregard the case simply because Your Highness calls it fabrication?" Lu Yangyang questioned righteously, "May I ask Your Majesty and all the officials, when the Great Zhao was founded, our ancestral emperor clearly stated that Great Zhao would govern the country according to law. Your Highness's blatant disregard for the law and regulations suggests dissatisfaction with our ancestral emperor and Your Majesty's policies of governance?"
The Third Prince's mind went blank for a moment, and he knelt on the ground with a thud, "Your subject dares not!"
Facing Lu Yangyang's mocking gaze from above, the Third Prince felt his blood boil: "Father, I have no such intention! This woman is simply being unreasonable!"
The Emperor's face darkened, and he even gave a cold laugh. "Zongchen, I'm still sitting here!"
The Third Prince felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground to confess his sins: "Your subject spoke without thinking, please punish me, Father Emperor!"
Lu Yangyang coldly observed this scene. Back then, the case of Duke Rong was the talk of the town, with the entire capital saying that the charge of treason was fabricated, yet Duke Rong was still executed and his entire family wiped out. The three words His Majesty hated most in his life were probably these fabricated charges. Since the Third Prince dared to speak so boldly, then she wouldn't hold back!
Duke Xiao's reprimand had initially swayed the court officials to suppress the case, but the Third Prince's plea and open questioning of the Court of Judicial Review have made the officials hesitant to discuss the case anytime soon, awaiting His Majesty's decision.
Seeing that the court officials had quieted down, the Emperor pondered for a moment and said to Ying Xun, "Regarding the matter of Consort Duan being poisoned and the questioning of the late Empress's poisoning, compile a new file and submit it to me."
"Yes," Ying Xun replied.
The Third Prince broke out in a cold sweat, realizing that Lu Yangyang had been setting a trap for him.
Since this involves the late Empress, no matter how conclusive the evidence appears for Lu Yangyang, the case cannot be closed in court today. According to procedure, the Dali Temple needs to reorganize the case file and submit it, and then the Emperor and several ministers will discuss how to handle it.
Today, the only case the Emperor has to deal with is the Tenth Prince's case.
It's laughable that he was so easily swayed by Lu Yangyang; that woman is truly cunning!
As expected, after the Emperor finished speaking, even Duke Xiao fell silent.
The Emperor glanced coldly at the Third Prince kneeling on the ground, then said to Lu Yangyang, "You have made a great contribution to the Tenth Prince's case. The Crown Prince is my beloved son, and I am deeply saddened by his death. You are the Princess Changyang, whom I personally bestowed upon you, and also my daughter-in-law. It is my duty to take good care of you on behalf of the Crown Prince. I will still keep your princess residence for you, and I will grant you a palace pass. If you ever need anything in the future, just come to the palace to find me, and I will take care of you!"
Lu Yangyang quickly expressed her gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Grand Eunuch Feng handed the palace waist token to Lu Yangyang, who accepted it.
Everyone knows that Lu Yangyang was the deposed Crown Prince's wife. The Emperor issued an edict to depose the Crown Prince, and the deposed Crown Prince's wife was implicated and exiled as well. Now, however, the Emperor has pardoned the deposed Crown Prince's wife and still refers to the deposed Crown Prince as the Crown Prince when he mentions him.
This immediately made the court officials sense an unusual signal.
Duke Xiao gave a wink to the courtier beside him, and someone immediately stepped forward, "Your Majesty, a country has its laws, and a family has its rules. Lady Lu is the deposed Crown Prince's principal wife. How can she be easily pardoned? If this is the case, wouldn't it be that if the main culprit dies, the family members of any criminals in the future can be pardoned?"
Lu Wei, who had already taken one foot out, silently pulled it back.
As expected, upon hearing this, Lu Yangyang immediately turned around and asked, "Why not?"
The official, whose question was posed, widened his eyes: "What did you say?"
Lu Yangyang said, "I'm asking you, what's wrong with that? The matter of deposing the crown prince is a matter of state, and I, a mere woman, have no right to comment. But may I ask this sir, what crime have I committed?"
“You…you are the deposed crown prince’s principal wife, so naturally you are guilty!” the official retorted.
“I just said that deposing the crown prince is a matter of state. Since it is a matter of state, how can I interfere? Since I have never interfered, why should I be punished? My lord, let me ask you again, if you are punished for doing something wrong, what does this have to do with your wife and children? Are they also to be implicated and punished because of you? Do you think that's fair? Are you willing to accept that?” After questioning him, Lu Yangyang turned and knelt down.
"Your Majesty, the Great Zhao governs the country by law. For serious crimes, one's relatives and clansmen are always implicated. I believe that this practice does not reflect the strictness and fairness of the law. The law should be people-oriented. As the saying goes, one should bear the consequences of one's actions. The words may be crude, but the principle is sound. Those who are guilty should be punished, but why should the innocent be implicated? I dare to ask Your Majesty to abolish the law of collective punishment and restore the fairness and strictness of the Great Zhao's law."