AWB Chapter 206: Going to court, the powerful officials are pressing!
Chapter 206: Going to court, the powerful officials are pressing!
Cheng'en quickly brought the memorial to Ye Chen.
Ye Chen opened the bamboo slips, looked at them carefully, and then narrowed his eyes.
"This Liu Cheng insists that this matter is only related to a few assistant ministers of the Ministry of War. He hasn't said a word about the Minister of War?"
Ye Chen snorted lightly. He was not sure whether Liu Cheng really didn't know, but he knew that this matter was definitely related to the Minister of War.
Just kidding.
He wanted to tamper with the food for the war horses prepared by Ye Chen, but he was just an assistant minister of the Ministry of War. Even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to do that!
"Cheng'en, get ready. I need to go to the death row first."
Ye Chen felt that he should personally interrogate Liu Cheng to see if Liu Cheng was telling the truth.
However, he didn't have much time. As soon as he finished interrogating Liu Cheng, he had to rush to the Yangxin Palace immediately.
Because today is the day of the Imperial Guards competition.
If he didn't go, Yang Dechang would definitely think that he was afraid. Then, even Su Mengjiao would be implicated by him and become the target of public criticism.
"Yes."
Cheng'en immediately went down to make arrangements.
After leaving the Yangxin Palace, Ye Chen got into the sedan chair.
After he arrived at the palace's death cell in a sedan chair, he immediately had Liu Cheng brought out.
And when he saw Liu Cheng.
Ye Chen was a little surprised. There was not a single scar on Liu Cheng's body. It looked as if he had never been tortured.
"Your Majesty, I bow to you."
Liu Cheng knelt down tremblingly.
At this moment, Shen Qiu stepped forward and whispered to Ye Chen, "Your Majesty, the torture I used on Minister Liu only caused internal injuries, which are not visible on the outside."
"Oh."
Ye Chen nodded approvingly.
This method of execution that leaves no scars will not give rise to any criticism.
"Liu Cheng, do you admit your guilt?"
Ye Chen said directly.
After hearing Ye Chen's words, Liu Cheng quickly raised his head.
"Your Majesty, I have confessed my guilt."
"I have read your confession, but I still have some questions for you!"
Ye Chen waved his hand, his tone was steady, his face was as stern as the abyss.
"Your Majesty, please."
"Didn't the Minister of War, Huangfu Guang, participate in this matter? Tell me, and I will give you a lighter sentence."
Ye Chen asked.
"Your Majesty, I, your servant, truly do not know. I was merely ordered to do this. Your Majesty, I am only a humble minister of the Ministry of War. The other ministers of the Ministry of War coerced me, and even though I was unwilling, I had no choice but to submit!"
Liu Cheng said helplessly and aggrievedly.
"Bullshit! You are also a minister, and so are the others. They hold the same official position as you. How can others force you?"
Ye Chen slammed the table and said in a deep voice.
Liu Cheng obviously portrayed himself as a victim, so Ye Chen naturally wouldn't believe him.
Upon hearing this, Liu Cheng's face turned bitter. He bowed to Ye Chen and said, "Your Majesty, you may not know that many people in the Ministry of War have powerful families behind them, while the family behind me is not strong. If I offend them, my family will also be suppressed."
Hearing this, Ye Chen pondered for a moment.
"Liu Cheng, I hope you didn't lie to me. I'll arrange for you to go to Taiqian Palace later. Remember, once you get there, point out those who ordered you to do this. This is your only chance to save your family!"
Ye Chen stood up and walked towards the gate of the death row.
When Liu Cheng heard this, his eyes immediately lit up.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I understand!"
Liu Cheng knew at this point that he was finished.
But if you can save your family.
He didn't suggest dragging a few more people down with him.
Who knows, if Ye Chen is happy, he might be able to save his life.
By the time Ye Chen was released from the death row and got into the sedan chair heading to Taiqian Palace, all the civil and military officials had already arrived at the palace.
"Empress Dowager, today is the day of the Imperial Guards Competition. May I ask where His Majesty is now?"
Yang Dechang looked at the empty wheelchair, stood up and bowed.
"The Emperor has some personal matters to attend to. Prime Minister, please be patient."
"Empress Dowager, what could possibly compare to a competition among the Imperial Guards? Your Majesty, by acting in this way, is it not possible to distinguish between public and private matters?"
Yang Dechang smiled coldly and asked.
"Prime Minister Yang, His Majesty doesn't need to report to you about what he wants to do, right?"
Su Mengjiao spoke calmly, she knew where Ye Chen had gone.
She also knew that Ye Chen would be back soon.
So when facing Yang Dechang's questioning, Su Mengjiao was full of confidence and was able to respond calmly.
"Empress Dowager, regardless of whether His Majesty attends court today, the Imperial Guards competition must proceed. Those one hundred people from the Marquis of Jing'an's residence have been staying in the Forbidden Palace for far too long. This is inappropriate."
Yang Dechang said again.
Regardless of whether Ye Chen is there or not, the Imperial Guards competition must go on no matter what.
Moreover, Yang Dechang felt that Ye Chen was deliberately delaying time.
The people from the Jing'an Marquis Mansion are definitely no match for the imperial guards.
This is the best opportunity to weaken Ye Chen's prestige and power, so Yang Dechang will naturally not let it go.
"Prime Minister Yang, the Imperial Guards competition will be presided over by the Emperor himself when he returns."
"Then Queen Mother, if His Majesty never returns, do we have to keep waiting like this?"
Yang Dechang snorted coldly and said in a deep voice, "And Empress Dowager, we also have official documents to deal with. How can we keep delaying like this? Please, Empress Dowager, take the Emperor's place and preside over the Imperial Guards competition!"
Hearing this, Su Mengjiao didn't have time to speak.
A loud voice suddenly came from outside Taiqian Palace.
Like thunder, it exploded in the ears of all the ministers.
"Prime Minister Yang, why are you in such a hurry?"
"Could it be that someone in the family has died, and they're waiting to go to the funeral after the court session?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Dechang's face darkened and he turned around suddenly.
Ye Chen was seen striding towards him with his dragon robe fluttering.