bayedsolid Chapter 433: Has the prince come to his senses?
Chapter 433: Has the prince come to his senses?
"Old Eight, it's actually him!"
When the prince heard Wen Kaicheng reveal the mastermind behind the scenes, a cruel look appeared on his face.
"First, you used me to sow discord among the brothers, and then you formed a clique to sabotage the imperial examination. Your crimes are unforgivable!"
The prince gnashed his teeth and said fiercely: "I will go find my father right now!"
After saying this, the prince reached out to the legal advisor beside him, ready to take the confession and have Wen Kaicheng sign it.
As long as we have Wen Kaicheng's confession, we can go to the emperor and report the Eighth Prince.
The evidence is conclusive. If the Eighth Prince doesn't die this time, he will be skinned alive!
"Come on, sign and seal it!" The prince handed the confession in his hand to Wen Kaicheng.
Wen Kaicheng, who had already failed, knew he had no choice but to take the confession and brush, sign his name, and then press his fingerprints.
But just as Wen Kaicheng was about to hand the confession to the prince, a pair of hands stopped him.
Wen Kaicheng was stunned, and when he looked up, it was Chu Ning.
The prince frowned.
Is this kid Chu Ning trying to steal the credit from me?
"Eighteenth brother, what do you mean?" the prince asked with a cold face.
Chu Ning shook his head and smiled, "Brother Crown Prince, do you want to make a contribution?"
The prince was stunned: "What do you mean, Eighteenth Brother?"
Chu Ning smiled and explained, "Wen Kaicheng was transferred from Bingzhou after all, so I should report this matter to my father in person.
However, during this period, if the starling receives the news, it may prepare countermeasures in advance.
I think it would be best for you, Prince, to take people to the Mynah Bird’s mansion and control the Mynah Bird first.
Once the emperor gives the order, I will immediately go to the mansion of Bage with the order and join forces to take Bage down!"
The meaning was clear. There was no need to bother the prince with the tip-off. Chu Ning would go to the palace in person.
As long as we can control the Eighth Prince's mansion at this moment and prevent the prince from escaping, it will be a great achievement.
The prince couldn't help but frown upon hearing this.
Would Chu Ning be so kind as to give the credit to himself?
But no matter what, the Eighth Prince should be controlled now.
After thinking about it, the prince couldn't figure out how this plan would be disadvantageous to him.
After pondering for a moment, the prince glanced at the Minister of Justice Ling Haoran.
Seeing that the other party had no intention of speaking, he nodded and agreed: "Okay, since Eighteenth Brother has spoken, I will give you a favor!"
"Lord Ling, bring the criminals from the Ministry of Justice and immediately follow me to surround the Eighth Prince's residence!"
"Yes!" Ling Haoran responded, and immediately took his men to follow the prince.
At this moment, Chu Ning took a look at Wen Kaicheng's confession and shook his head, saying, "You chose your own path, and you should be responsible for your choice."
Wen Kaicheng suddenly fell to his knees, kowtowed, and begged, "Your Highness, please spare my family for the sake of my past as a follower of yours."
Yun Jianye, who was standing by, seemed a little reluctant, and hurriedly stepped forward and saluted: "Your Highness, as the saying goes, disaster should not affect family members, please show mercy."
Chu Ning frowned and remained silent.
Wen Kaicheng knew Chu Ning's character very well. If he didn't speak, it meant he was hesitating, and hesitation meant there was an opportunity!
He said quickly: "Your Highness, I am willing to identify the Eighth Prince. Please allow my family to leave the State of Chu!"
Everyone knows the principle of cutting the grass without removing the roots, so Wen Kaicheng wants to keep his family away from the State of Chu.
In this way, Chu Ning will have no worries.
Chu Ning glanced at Wen Kaicheng, thinking of how much help he had given the Ministry of Revenue during this period, and nodded slightly:
"I can spare their lives, but if they enter Da Chu in the future, I will never show mercy!"
"Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Your Highness!" Wen Kaicheng was filled with gratitude and kowtowed quickly to express his gratitude.
Chu Ning waved his hand: "Come here, take him to jail!"
At the command, Wen Kaicheng was taken to prison.
Afterwards, Chu Ning sent someone to escort Yun Jianye to the examination room to mark the papers, while he himself went straight to the palace under the escort of Ran Ming.
But on the way, Ran Ming couldn't help but ask: "Your Highness, why did you let Wen Kaicheng's family go?"
Chu Ning raised his lips slightly and said calmly: "What I want is the hearts of the people, not intimidation. More and more people are following me, and I can't just rely on power to intimidate them."
Ran Ming grinned: "I...I don't understand."
Chu Ning rolled his eyes: "I don't understand what you are asking? Forget it, it's useless to tell you."
Afterwards, Chu Ning rode his horse at full speed and headed straight for the palace.
Imperial Palace, Yingwu Hall.
Under the night sky, the candlelight flickered, illuminating the stern face on the table.
The emperor had not yet rested and was looking at the mausoleum drawings submitted by the Ministry of Works.
After several months, the Ministry of Works finally drew up the mausoleum plan and construction could begin only after it was confirmed.
Looking at the spacious and grand mausoleum, the emperor showed a look of satisfaction on his face.
At this moment, Zhao Ming's voice came from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the King of Chu requests an audience."
The emperor frowned at being interrupted: "What time is it now? You're still coming to the palace to see me?"
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu said that the person who leaked the exam questions has been found."
The emperor narrowed his eyes, a hint of surprise flashed across his face: "Found it so quickly? Let him in!"
This imperial examination is related to whether the court can check and balance the aristocratic families in the future. As for the leaker, the emperor would like to cut him into pieces!
Soon, Chu Ning came in from outside the palace: "Your son pays respect to the emperor!"
"I heard that you found the person who leaked the test questions. Who is that person?"
"Father, here is the confession. Please take a look at it!" Chu Ning handed over the confession with a respectful look on his face.
"Send it up!"
Zhao Ming immediately took the confession and handed it to the emperor.
The emperor read the confession carefully and his face suddenly became a little ugly.
"It's actually him!"
The emperor narrowed his eyes and a cold look flashed across his face: "You transferred Wen Kaicheng from Bingzhou. I didn't expect that he would betray you. Chu Ning, you are not strict with your subordinates!"
Chu Ning smiled bitterly and said, "Father is right. I never thought that this person would do such a thing.
However, Wen Kaicheng was also instigated by the starling, so he dared to act this way. I ask the emperor to immediately order the capture of the starling to rectify the government!"
The emperor reacted.
It turns out that the reason this kid came to see me was because of Old Eight!
However, this kid has just finished taking charge of the imperial examinations and his reputation is too high. If he is allowed to take down the Eighth Brother, the ministers in the court might even join him.
Thinking of this, the emperor raised his eyebrows and said, "That makes sense. How about this? Let the prince take someone to the Eighth Elder's residence to arrest him and hand him over to the clan officials for interrogation!"
Let the prince go, and the credit will naturally belong to him.
Unexpectedly, Chu Ning smiled and said, "Brother Crown Prince has already brought the criminals from the Ministry of Justice and the guards from the Eastern Palace to visit Bage's residence. Since my father has given the order, why not let me take the imperial guards to help."
The emperor was stunned.
Has the prince finally come to his senses this time?
Know how to seize the opportunity?
"Since the prince has already gone, you should take the imperial guards and go there to help!" The emperor waved his hand to signal Chu Ning to do it immediately.
Chu Ning showed a playful look at the corner of his mouth: "Your son obeys your command!"