GBP Chapter 381 Wang Huan's Sophistry
Chapter 381 Wang Huan's Sophistry
Below the steps, Wang Huan, the former Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, Lin Yongnan, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, as well as Prime Minister Cui Zhe, Chancellor Lin Zhengyuan, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Pei Xuan, Minister of War Zhao Xun, and others all stood with their hands at their sides, not daring to utter a sound.
The brief moment of tenderness between the Crown Prince and Crown Princess was more like the calm before the storm, making the pressure on their hearts even heavier.
Shen Yuxi's gaze lingered briefly on Lin Yongnan's face, and he nodded slightly, which was considered an affirmation of his merit in suppressing the rebellion.
Lin Yongnan felt a slight sense of relief, but dared not show it in the slightest.
Then, that gaze turned to Wang Huan again, icy cold.
Shen Yuxi's voice was not loud, but it carried a chilling pressure as it slowly echoed in the study: "Wang Huan, I ask you, what exactly is your collusion with the Yan Yue Kingdom?"
With a "thump," Wang Huan's legs went weak, and he knelt down on the ground.
His obese body trembled violently with fear, his head pressed tightly against the cold ground, his voice hoarse and choked with sobs as he cried out, "Your Majesty! Your Highness! I am innocent! My loyalty to Cang Ling is as clear as the sun and moon. How could I dare to collude with a barbarian country like Yan Yue? Your Majesty, please see the truth! I have been framed!"
His cries sounded particularly jarring in the quiet imperial study.
Shen Yuxi's lips curled into a cold smile, full of mockery and disdain.
"Utterly loyal? As clear as the sun and moon?"
He sneered, then suddenly raised his hand and hurled a stack of files at Wang Huan's feet.
The case file was scattered, and several sheets of paper slid to the ground, the writing on them clearly visible.
"Look for yourself! What is this!"
Shen Yuxi's voice suddenly rose, filled with thunderous rage.
"The correspondence between the Dali Temple and the secret envoy of Yan Yue Kingdom was found when they searched the residence of your trusted steward!"
"It clearly states how you relayed information about my capital's defenses to them and how you coordinated with their surprise attack! The evidence is irrefutable, how dare you still try to deny it!"
Wang Huan trembled all over. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the familiar writing and wax mark on the ground, which terrified him.
But he knew he absolutely could not admit to it!
The Wang family is a centuries-old clan with deep roots and complex relationships. His Majesty has always been wary of the power of aristocratic families, but he is also hesitant to take action against the entire Wang family.
But if Wang Huan is found guilty of treason and collusion with the enemy, he will face certain death, and may even implicate his clan's collateral branches!
He clenched his teeth, buried his head even lower, almost into the ground, and cried out repeatedly, "Injustice! Your Majesty! This is all a forgery!"
"Someone is trying to frame this old minister and my royal family! Your Highness, please investigate!"
He absolutely refused to look at the file, let alone admit it.
Shen Yuxi's anger intensified as she looked at his nonchalant attitude.
He slammed his hand on the table, the large sandalwood table making a dull thud that caused the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on it to tremble slightly.
"Clear?"
Shen Yuxi questioned angrily, his gaze sweeping over the Prime Minister Cui Zhe, the Minister of Justice Pei Xuan, and the Minister of War Zhao Xun, all of whom were pale-faced.
"Then I'd like to ask you all a question!"
His voice was like thunder, exploding in everyone's ears: "Cui Zhe! As the current prime minister, you assist the government and harmonize the yin and yang, yet you turn a blind eye to the collusion between powerful clans and foreign enemies, neglecting your duties. What is your punishment?"
Cui Zhe froze, then immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, I am guilty, please punish me."
"Pei Xuan!"
Shen Yuxi turned his gaze to the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, "You are in charge of the Court of Judicial Review, responsible for criminal justice, and it is your duty to investigate traitors! Such important evidence of treason, if it weren't for this incident, you would have been completely unaware!"
"Where has your usual investigative ability gone? Are you just a figurehead as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review? What is your punishment?"
Pei Xuan, covered in cold sweat, prostrated himself on the ground, crying out, "I have failed in my duty! I deserve to die!"
"And you, Zhao Xun!"
Shen Yuxi finally looked at the Minister of War, his tone even more stern.
"The Ministry of War is in charge of all the troops in the country and is responsible for border defense! Spies from Yan Yue Kingdom have infiltrated the country and even colluded with court officials to plan surprise attacks, yet your subordinates were completely unaware!"
"If I hadn't been prepared, the consequences would have been unimaginable! You, Minister of War, are utterly responsible! What should your punishment be!"
Zhao Xun's face was ashen, and he kowtowed heavily: "Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty to discipline the army and have been negligent in defense. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"
The atmosphere inside the Imperial Study was extremely oppressive.
Wang Huan's cries had long since ceased, leaving only the fearful apologies of several high-ranking officials and Shen Yuxi's questioning, filled with boundless anger and authority, echoing in the empty study.
As the sunlight gradually rose higher, it illuminated the dust particles dancing in the air through the window lattice, but it couldn't penetrate the gloom and storm filling the room.
Looking at the ministers below him, some terrified, some sophistry, and some shirking responsibility, Shen Yuxi felt a surge of disgust and anger towards those deeply entrenched aristocratic families who disregarded imperial power, like molten lava boiling over.
Today, he intends to use this incident to make an example of them, to show these people that Cangling's empire ultimately belongs to the Shen family!
Shen Yuxi sat upright on the dragon throne, the twelve symbols on his black dragon robe shimmering with a dark golden light under the candlelight, which only made his expression appear even colder.
His gaze passed over the trembling officials below the steps and landed on the young man standing to the side—his crown prince, Shen Yanzhou.
The boy was still wearing a moon-white brocade robe, but the cloud pattern on the collar, which was not yet fully embroidered, was stained dark red with bloodstains from last night. Although it had been cleaned, one could still see a hint of horror in it.
Shen Yanzhou stood upright, showing no sign of fear, but his slightly pale lips and lingering weariness in his eyes betrayed the terrifying moment he had experienced the previous night.
Those clear eyes almost lost their luster forever last night.
Shen Yuxi's knuckles clenched tightly around the armrest of the dragon throne. The cold ivory carvings hurt his palms, but he couldn't suppress the surging anger in his heart.
That was his most beloved son, the crown prince of Cangling. He was intelligent and composed from a young age and never caused him any worry.
Just last night, a group of assassins under the orders of Yan Yue Kingdom managed to get close to the Crown Prince. If it weren't for the secret guards around Shen Yanzhou risking their lives to protect him, the future of the Shen family would be lying in the coffin right now.
He kept these officials to assist the monarch and protect the country, not to collude with foreign enemies and assassinate the crown prince!
"Wang Huan."
Shen Yuxi's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a block of ice thrown into boiling oil, instantly shattering the already tense atmosphere.
Wang Huan, the Prefect of Jingzhao, who was kneeling at the front, suddenly shuddered, his obese body trembling like a sieve.
He knew he couldn't escape it, but still clung to the last shred of hope, crawling a few steps on his knees to try and speak, only to have his throat tighten from the coldness in Shen Yuxi's eyes.
“You think,” Shen Yuxi slowly stood up, the sound of his dragon robe trailing on the ground was particularly clear in the hall.
"Just because you have the Wang family of Taiyuan backing you, does that mean I wouldn't dare to touch you?"
Wang Huan's face turned deathly pale. His forehead pressed against the cold gold brick, and his voice trembled violently: "Your Majesty, spare me! I...I really didn't know! It was the servants below who were confused; it had nothing to do with me! The Wang family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, and we would never dare to betray Your Majesty!"
"Loyal and virtuous?"