AWB Chapter 194: 7% true and 3% false... clever arguments!
Chapter 194: 7% true and 3% false... clever arguments!
"Your Majesty, this matter has to start from the negotiations in June. That day, Richen and Prince Liyue were at the posthouse..."
Gu Jingzhi recounted the assassination attempt and the token. Emperor Xia narrowed his eyes, "Then when you learned that it was the inner guards who carried out the assassination, why didn't you tell Tianshu about it? And why didn't you report it to me?"
"Your Majesty, Naqu Feiyan was assigned by Lord Tianshu to assist me. Regarding such a matter concerning the fate of our nation, I believe Lord Tianshu would only send someone he can trust to assist me, right?"
Gu Jingzhi continued speaking in confusion.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xia felt a little relieved, but he still didn't completely believe Gu Jingzhi. He continued to ask, "Then why didn't you report it when you found out that Qu Feiyan and Jin Lehuang were connected?"
"Your Majesty, how do you report this?"
Gu Jingzhi said, "The Inner Guard is the emperor's personal army. I have no authority to supervise them! Secondly, Princess Lehuang has been raised under the command of the late Empress Wende since she was a child. She grew up in the presence of Your Majesty and the late Empress. I believe this is due to Your Majesty's trust in her, so I have no doubts!"
"Nonsense! Jin Lehuang is an orphan of the Yun Kingdom. How could I let her take charge of the inner guards?"
"Your Majesty, the Yun Kingdom no longer exists, and the princess is a woman who still needs the royal family's favor. I don't know!"
Gu Jingzhi's words were seven-tenths true and three-tenths false. He answered truthfully about what happened, but he denied anything else.
After Emperor Xia's questioning, Gu Jingzhi understood what Qu Feiyan meant. This woman wanted to rebel...
I just don't know if it's her or the prince behind this...
If she just wants to play, then this woman is simply crazy. If it is the prince... then the matter may not be simple. The prince's apparent kindness is probably all fake!
He had not chosen to disclose the fact that Jin Lehuang had interfered with the inner guards because he was unsure who was behind this. If it was just Jin Lehuang himself, it would be fine, but if it was the Crown Prince...
He really didn't want to get involved in the fight for the throne.
"Then let me ask you again, when you returned from your mission, you were first assassinated, and then Le Huang blocked your way outside the capital. Have you ever considered the connection between the two?"
"Your Majesty, what's the connection?"
Gu Jingzhi said, "I and the envoys were assassinated. Those assassins were originally heading for Zhao Zhongli. The one who led them was none other than Gu Zhuo, the son of Gu Heng!"
"How do you know it's Gu Zhu?"
"Your Majesty, I have been his brother for twenty years. Even though we haven't had much contact on a daily basis, I can still recognize his voice!"
"Then why don't you report it?"
"Your Majesty, this is no small matter! I don't have a single piece of evidence to prove it. If it weren't for Zhao Zhongli's confession, I wouldn't dare to doubt it! Besides, Zhao Zhongli and Gu Heng are both in the Inner Guards' prison now. They'll be able to find out the truth in just one trial!"
"After all, based on the letters Zhao Zhongli gave us, Gu Heng's motive for killing Zhao Zhongli is very clear!"
"..."
Emperor Xia felt helpless. Gu Jingzhi was like an egg without a crack. He had no idea where to start.
However, when Zhao Zhongli was mentioned, he suddenly thought of something and asked, "Then I ask you, Zhao Zhongli confessed so much, why didn't you report it?"
"Your Majesty, it's not that I didn't report it. Didn't I give everything to Your Majesty that day?"
Gu Jingzhi said aggrievedly: "I think this matter concerns the defense of our Great Xia border. It is not as simple as convicting Gu Heng. Gu Heng's crime is easy to deal with, but if there are other problems, our Great Xia border may be in danger!"
"After all, this matter came from Zhao Zhongli's mouth. No matter how small the matter is at the border, it is still a big deal. It's true that I hate Gu Heng, but I dare not confuse public and private matters!"
"Your Majesty, do you no longer trust me?"
Gu Jingzhi looked at Emperor Xia with grievance and said, "Your Majesty has seen everything I have done since I entered the court. If you say I have any selfish motives, it is because I just want to live a good life!"
"Alive?"
Emperor Xia sneered and said, "Is there nothing else?"
"Have!"
Gu Jingzhi hesitated and said, "The reason why I didn't report this to Your Majesty immediately was mainly because of what Zhao Zhongli said about my life experience!"
He secretly glanced at Emperor Xia and said, "Your Majesty, you know that if I am really from the Ningzhou Gu family, then the reason why Gu Heng didn't kill me is most likely because of the former general of the Yun Kingdom who guaranteed me!"
"However, it is a taboo for court officials to have close relations with border army generals. I am worried that if this is true, then I..."
Emperor Xia raised his eyebrows and said, "Do you think I am too tolerant?"
"Your Majesty is a sage monarch, so naturally, you won't hold it against me. However, I've been bullied since I was a child, and I can't help but feel anxious! Furthermore, I'm now completely incompatible with the aristocratic families. If someone were to use this as evidence, they could accuse me of colluding with the border troops..."
"Your Majesty, I am terrified!"
"..."
The corner of Xia Di's mouth twitched, damn...
If it was Gu Jingzhi's words, he really had nothing to say. After all, he had offended all the noble families in the world because of the land case, and even many officials secretly hated this kid.
If his background were exposed, he might be attacked using this as an excuse.
He thought for a moment and asked, "How do you explain Le Huang blocking the road?"
"His Majesty!"
Gu Jingzhi smiled bitterly and said, "If it was just Princess Le Huang, I would have just ordered the guards to arrest them. But the princess has the crown prince's token, and she hates Zhao Zhongli deeply. She has a motive to kill Zhao Zhongli!"
"If this matter gets out of hand, I'm afraid the previous attack on the delegation will implicate the Crown Prince!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xia narrowed his eyes slightly: "Implicate the Crown Prince? You are so loyal!"
Gu Jingzhi lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is the heir to the throne, and his position concerns the foundation of the country. Even if there are any issues, it is Your Majesty's decision. As a subject..."
"Okay, no more talk!"
Emperor Xia waved his hand and interrupted him directly.
Emperor Xia couldn't find any problem with what Gu Jingzhi said. Although he didn't choose to believe it, there was some truth in what Gu Jingzhi said.
Jin Lehuang was raised by the late queen and was close to the crown prince. In addition, she was a woman with no family background. If she was arranged to serve in the Inner Guard, no one would seem to have anything to say.
Moreover, the Internal Guard is directly under the Emperor's jurisdiction. Who would have thought that such a big problem would arise? This is also a problem of the Internal Guard.
Secondly, regarding my background...
Gu Jingzhi has offended many people by working for him. Without his trust, even Wei Xuan and others cannot protect him.
It is understandable that the ministers have some selfish motives. After all, you can't let them do things without caring about their safety, right?
Besides, he was indeed very satisfied with what Gu Jingzhi had done since he came to the court, and he had solved many problems for Daxia and him.
But he himself... has become an official of the fourth rank, but he still lives a secluded life and rarely goes out. He is so cautious that he doesn't look like a young man at all.
What's more, he was implicated and lost his job.
This matter involved imperial power. Although Emperor Xia did not believe it, he no longer had the idea of killing him. He just looked at Gu Jingzhi sharply with his eyes.
"Gu Qing, you and Le Huang have a very close relationship and have interacted with each other frequently. Now that she has gotten involved with the inner guards, she has escaped from the capital yesterday. I am in a very difficult position..."
"what?"
Gu Jing was stunned.
Jin Lehuang...ran away?