latelenovela Chapter 236 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (136)
Chapter 236 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (136)
The old doctor glanced at the Third Prince's expression, only to find that his face was expressionless, cold and calm, as if his words had no meaning.
He had actually told the Third Prince long ago that the Emperor was now beyond any hope of redemption, and that every day he continued to live would be another day of torment.
The third prince nodded without saying anything, and the old doctor never brought it up again.
The old doctor thought to himself that he had absolutely no way of knowing what the prince was thinking.
After several back-and-forths with Ji Shumin, the old doctor, who considered himself indeed cunning and shrewd, could no longer entertain the idea of deceiving or fooling people. After all, he was seen through every time, and if it happened too often, he would only be asking for trouble.
But this time, the old doctor understood what he meant.
Let him enter the palace again to see the emperor off.
As the old doctor left, the cold wind swirled up the fallen leaves, making a rustling sound as they rubbed together, making the night seem even more desolate and bleak.
As he reached the door, he couldn't help but turn back.
A dim, yellowish light shone through the window; it was not warm, but rather dim and unpredictable.
Ji Shumin sat there for a while, then picked up his pen to write something to calm his mind, but he didn't write a single word until the ink dripped from the tip of the pen and soaked the soft paper.
I had no choice but to put down my pen again, my fingertips pressed against my forehead, trying to calm the throbbing, restless pain.
He propped himself up; his legs had been standing for too long today, and the joints were so tight with his movements that you could almost hear the muscles tearing and rubbing together.
He slowly took steps forward, and although it was painful and difficult, it slightly calmed the emotions that Ji Shumin was surging with, emotions that he himself could not explain.
As he stood and walked, Ji Shumin could feel a sense of control over his body...
Even with unparalleled foresight, we are still being pushed forward.
Everything that Ji Shumin wanted to happen, and everything that he didn't want to happen, happened. Everyone was like a leaf being tossed and turned by the waves.
The stage was set, and whether they wanted to or not, everyone had to take the stage, including himself. Only the pain in his legs and the peaceful sleep of Lu Liruan were his anchors, allowing him to let go of everything and savor the moment.
Under the cover of night, he leaned against the wall and slowly, step by step, made his way back to his bedroom.
When he lay down, the person next to him, who was already fast asleep, habitually turned over and rested their head on his shoulder, so peaceful that he couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
After leaving that day, Ji Shuqin never came back.
Ji Shumin acted as if nothing had happened, continuing his daily life as usual. However, the tense atmosphere outside still occasionally reached his residence.
The eldest prince, who was acting as regent in the court, seemed to have become a completely different person.
His Highness the Crown Prince was once so gentle that he was somewhat indecisive, which was one of the reasons why some court officials did not recognize him as the heir apparent.
An emperor can govern with benevolence, but he cannot be weak. If a weak-willed person is the ruler, he may be manipulated by those with ulterior motives. Without decisive measures, it may be difficult to establish imperial authority!
But for some reason, the eldest prince suddenly seemed like a completely different person!
He was not willful or stubborn, but he insisted on his own opinions. He not only refused to be manipulated by others, but also had his own style of doing things, which was different from his father's. However, he did not inspire contempt. Everyone unconsciously became more cautious and respectful in their daily work.
Because the Crown Prince has begun a thorough investigation into past cases of bribery and embezzlement!
Everyone then recalled that when the First Prince returned to the palace for court, he was investigating the robbery of official silver by the side of He Diao, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Now, he had secretly dispatched the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and officials from the Ministry of Justice to the south to secretly investigate the case files reported by the supervisory authorities.
The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review sent down was surnamed He, and his temperament and personality were just like He Diaoyu's.
Some who couldn't stand it secretly gossiped: "This guy surnamed He, I think he shouldn't be surnamed He, he should be surnamed He. Look at him, how is he any different from a father and son?"
These words are harsh, but they are nothing but nonsense.
He Shaoqing was only thirteen or fourteen years younger than He Diaoyu, so they were obviously not father and son.
However, while their styles of doing things are somewhat similar, they are not entirely the same. He Diaoyu is someone who, regardless of status or position, once someone falls into his hands, has to tell the truth!
He Shaoqing was more gentle, but also more cunning. He was extremely good at covert investigations and could report information without anyone knowing, making him very difficult to fathom.
His secret trip south was completely unexpected. No one expected that the prince would quietly cause such a big incident, catching them all off guard!
In the south, the buying and selling of official positions was rampant, coupled with the fact that officials formed cliques and colluded to embezzle, giving rise to the appearance of official factions. This gradually formed after the emperor grew old.
The case reported by the supervisory commission this time was suspicious. Ji Shuqin sent people to investigate secretly, which led to the discovery of a major case of buying official positions!
Actually, it could be a big deal or a small deal. By pushing out a few scapegoats and sacrificing the pawns to save the king, they might still be able to escape unscathed. They had used this tactic to deceive everyone in the past, and because it was effective, it emboldened them. After hearing that the emperor was seriously ill and the eldest prince was acting as regent, aside from their initial dissatisfaction, these aristocratic families gradually began to realize that it was somewhat beneficial...
It's just a regent position, not an enthronement. Without the emperor's edict, regardless of whether it's the eldest prince or the second prince, anyone can be labeled as having an illegitimate title if they want.
Now that the eldest prince is in power, they can be even more unrestrained, after all, the eldest prince is... they think he's easy to fool.
Moreover, the eldest prince's regency, in a sense, can help them keep the second prince in check.
Judging from the current situation, the new ruler will be one of the two of them.
They chose to support the Second Prince. Now that the First Prince is in power, the Second Prince will have to back them up in order to continue to get their support. As long as the First Prince is in power, the Second Prince will have to rely on them. They can also gain a lot of benefits from this opportunity.
So they became complacent and arrogant, their years of smooth sailing making them lose most of their vigilance. Now, the First Prince has poured cold water on their ambitions, leaving them utterly disheartened...
This time, someone has died.
Although they considered human life worthless, this time, the one who died unjustly was a promising young scholar who was born into poverty and had no powerful connections. The reason for his death was that his exam results were stolen, causing him to fail the exam.
He was unwilling to give up and repeatedly relayed the message, but the person who took his place was the youngest son of a local tycoon, who protected him from all sides. Each time, he suffered physical pain and returned empty-handed.
But this was not the last straw that broke the camel's back. The son of the local gentry was used to being arrogant and domineering. His father had long planned for him to get a good academic record and become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) so that he could be given a leisurely and lucrative official position.
They had everything planned out, but who knew that this young man, spoiled by his family, was so arrogant and ignorant of the world. When he heard that the scholar actually dared to report to the authorities and seek justice, he went to find him.
After having the scholar beaten up, they still felt unsatisfied.
Later, he suddenly discovered that there was an older sister in his family who was two years older than him. Although she was plain-looking and dressed in linen clothes, she was clearly pretty. He then had evil intentions.
He didn't actually like the girl; he only kidnapped her to teach the scholar a lesson. He deliberately tormented her and even arranged for her to meet the scholar. If she didn't tell the scholar how miserable her life was, she would be severely beaten when she returned.
The scholar's sister, like her brother, was also a tough nut to crack. She never tried to persuade her brother, but instead repeatedly told him that they must appeal to the authorities until the truth was revealed!
The scholar had grown up with his older sister since childhood. Seeing her like this, he felt as if his heart was on fire and he could not bear the pain. His elderly mother at home fell ill and passed away not long after.
Upon hearing the news, the older sister was devastated, while the thug who had kidnapped her was overjoyed: "Good riddance! You two have learned your lesson, knowing that here, no one can control me! I can do whatever I want! Want to seek justice? What justice do you have? This is my reward to you! Hahahaha!" He laughed and strode away.
My sister was so angry that she cried all her tears.
When she saw her younger brother again, and learned that he had stopped complaining and seeking justice because of her, a resolute look flashed in the sister's eyes.
After returning home, he found a time when no one was watching him and hanged himself with his clothes!
After the young master returned home drunk, he wanted to take advantage of his drunkenness to humiliate and beat the village girl who refused to obey him. But as soon as he entered the room, he saw the female corpse hanging from the roof beam, her face pale and her tongue sticking out, her eyes bloodshot as she stared at him!
He was so scared that he immediately wet his pants! He was delirious for half the night and was still talking nonsense due to the fever, which attracted his parents!
When his mother saw him like this, she called him her precious darling and blamed the scholar's sister for frightening him. She then invited a master to perform a ritual to calm her youngest son's spirit and call back his soul.
To show off his skills and to appease his master, the charlatan took a whip and lashed the already stiff corpse forty-nine times, leaving it covered in bruises. He then ordered his men to bring the woman's closest relative, the scholar, to watch as he inserted long needles into the corpse's seven orifices and threw it into the fire to burn it to ashes...
This goes beyond simply being outrageous.
In just over a month, the scholar's family was destroyed and he died!
The scholar didn't even get the ashes from his sister's cremated body before being driven out.
A few days later, he ended his life in the same way. Under the cover of night, he hanged himself on the beam of the gate of the academy where he had once studied.
Beside him lay a blood-written petition, penned with a cut finger, each word a poignant testament to his injustice. The words were too painful to read. He came from a poor family; his elderly mother and sister had worked tirelessly to support his education here. He was the most promising student here, but who would have thought… he would end up like this?
The people in the academy could no longer ignore it. They knew how dark this place was. For the sake of their future and the safety of their families, they originally dared not say anything, but it was truly... truly...
Some bold individuals hid the blood-written letter, and the others pretended not to see it, remaining silent.
How this blood sample was painstakingly delivered to the inspectors and sent back to the capital remains unknown to most.
The Dali Temple delivered the item directly to Ji Shuqin. The bloodstains had long since dried, but it still looked incredibly terrifying, as if resentment and anger were about to leap out from the paper!
Ji Shuqin stared at the paper for a long time, his expression extremely cold.
The Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice were immediately dispatched to investigate, and they were granted special privileges. Anyone who dared to obstruct them would be arrested and punished!
When the news reached the capital, everyone realized that the claim of a weak and easily manipulated personality was just a facade; when this eldest prince was about to act, he was ruthless and didn't even consult the court.
They caught many of them off guard.
After the truth came to light, Ji Shuqin personally ordered that the wicked young man who had murdered three people and committed numerous evil deeds be beheaded immediately, without waiting for the autumn harvest!
The evil he had committed had backfired on him. He found it amusing and pleasurable to harm others, but when it happened to him, and he heard that the Crown Prince had sentenced him to beheading, he not only wet his pants, but he immediately fainted! He had caused the deaths of several others, leaving them without a trace, but when it came to himself, he didn't want to die!
"Father—Mother—save your child! Your child doesn't want to die! Father! Save me!" He screamed pitifully before his eyes rolled back and he lost consciousness.
From childhood to adulthood, there was nothing his parents couldn't do!
But to his surprise, when he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in his own luxurious mansion, but in a dark and gloomy prison...
No matter how loudly he shouted, no one paid any attention to him anymore.
Just as he was getting hungry and half-asleep that night, still thinking about when his parents would come to rescue him, several people suddenly entered the prison...
He initially thought they were there to rescue him, but upon closer inspection, he saw that the faces of those dressed as scholars were filled with hatred, and the leader was even holding a whip!
The jailer opened the door, and the men walked toward him.
"What...what are you trying to do!" He fled in a panic to a corner.
"You drew 49 strokes from Wang Sheng's elder sister's corpse to call back her soul and calm her nerves. Today, we will also draw 49 strokes from you to comfort the wronged souls of Wang Sheng's family of three!"
They were already furious, but they had been oppressed and dared not resist. If they had resisted, they would have suffered the same fate as Wang Sheng. Who wouldn't want to live? Only by living could they possibly escape...
But now!
Someone has stood up for them! The sages they read about upholding justice and clearing their names have truly arrived!
Not only them, but countless scholars throughout the land were filled with emotion upon hearing the news. They formed groups and faced the direction of the capital, kowtowing deeply.
Before they even set foot in the capital and entered officialdom, a seed had already been planted in their hearts.
"Don't let them come any closer! Don't let them come any closer—"
The jailer looked at him with disdain, ignoring his words. He was filled with hatred for the scholar's actions! Now, the upright and just official had arrived to uphold justice!
They turned a blind eye, which was considered a way of venting the anger of the scholar.
Although most of these scholars weren't particularly strong, each of them whipped him until he was covered in blood...
Less than ten days later, he was taken to the execution ground. On the way, he was hit on the head with all sorts of things in the prison cart, leaving him bleeding profusely!