Chapter 193: The turmoil of meeting the Emperor

At the same time, Lin Qingyue and Dongfang Qi were in the Imperial Palace meeting the Emperor.

After coming out of the Honglu Temple earlier, the two went to the Imperial Palace—such a major event had to be reported to Emperor Qi Zhaodi immediately.

Before meeting the Emperor, Lin Qingyue said to Dongfang Qi: "Regarding Dongfang Yan's matter, I'm afraid you'll have to think of a better explanation, otherwise it won't be easy to get past your father. How about this, you think about what to say outside first. I'll go in first and report the case of the Flying Corpse Silkworm, which can be considered laying a foundation."

Dongfang Qi readily agreed and organized the evidence he had obtained during this period regarding Dongfang Yan's collusion with court officials and his plotting. When Emperor Qi Zhaodi asked later, he would be prepared.

After Lin Qingyue had been inside for more than half an hour, Emperor Qi Zhaodi summoned Dongfang Qi in.

Lin Qingyue had clearly finished reporting the situation and was standing to one side, looking at the sky with a slouching, devil-may-care attitude.

"How exactly did Dongfang Yan die?"

Facing Emperor Qi Zhaodi's inquiry, Dongfang Qi answered without changing his expression: "Lin Ruzhen, the secondary consort of Prince Jin, colluded with the evil woman Yan Qiu'er of the Guiyuan Sect and was planted with the Flying Corpse Silkworm. Lin Ruzhen, under her bewitchment, murdered Prince Jin."

"Is this true?"

"Absolutely true!"

Emperor Qi Zhaodi stared coldly at Dongfang Qi, remained silent for a moment, and then snorted coldly: "I didn't know when my son started to be so bold as to dare to deceive the Emperor!"

"Father!"

"Stop quibbling!" Emperor Qi Zhaodi was furious, "Do you really think I am old and dim-sighted, and know nothing?"

"Prince Jin's fatal wound was on the front, a single blow. Yan'er has practiced martial arts since he was a child and had so many guards by his side. Lin Ruzhen, a mere weak woman, how could she kill all his guards in a short time and make Prince Jin have no resistance, being hit in a vital spot on the front and dying?"

Lin Qingyue was about to speak, but Dongfang Qi hurriedly gave her a look, telling her not to act rashly.

He knelt down and kowtowed, speaking neither humble nor arrogant: "Father is wise, everything was done by this son. Prince Jin's guards were killed by me, and Dongfang Yan also died under my sword."

"You!" Emperor Qi Zhaodi was trembling with anger, "Did I tell you that Dongfang Yan was the only legitimate son of your Imperial Uncle? Even if he committed a crime, he could be dismissed from office or placed under house arrest, why did you have to take his life?"

"Dismissed from office? House arrest? Father, what is the difference between this and killing him? It would only leave a stain on the 'Prince Jin' title left by Imperial Uncle."

"Father, if not necessary, this son wouldn't want to kill him either. But Dongfang Yan had wolfish ambitions and repeatedly tried to put this son to death! Even when this son was in a coma, he didn't forget to take the opportunity to plant eyes in the Eastern Palace."

"Later, when he heard that this son had left the Eastern Palace, he leaked the news to Prince Li. That led to the ambush at Yixian Canyon. Later, when this son wasn't killed, he stood out hypocritically in the name of saving the Emperor to point out Prince Li!"

"After this son returned to the capital smoothly, Father, you ordered the vassal kings to return to their respective fiefs within two months. The other vassal kings had left the capital one after another, only Dongfang Yan, relying on your favor, delayed leaving."

"In the past few months, he has constantly wandered among the major aristocratic families. Previously, at the Duke Li mansion, he even intended to kick me while I was down and wanted to frame me."

"This time, he got involved with the Flying Corpse Silkworm again. Although he was not the mastermind, this person had ill intentions; if I didn't kill him, he would surely become a disaster!"

"All of the above, every single item has actual evidence!"

After speaking, Dongfang Qi presented a stack of memorials from his sleeve: "In here, all are the evidence this son has collected recently. In addition, the spies rooted out from the Eastern Palace have also personally admitted that they were instructed by Dongfang Yan."

Emperor Qi Zhaodi flipped through the evidence, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

He remembered the handwritten letter from the old Prince Jin before he passed away, entrusting him to take good care of Yan'er.

He also remembered the time when the two brothers held their children and chatted.

But in just a few years, things had changed.

He had, after all, failed the trust of his brother!

Dongfang Qi saw the emotion in Emperor Qi Zhaodi's eyes and continued:

"Father, with Dongfang Yan's personality, he would certainly not be willing to be just a prince. If this son didn't kill him today, there would only be two consequences in the future. Either he kills this son, or his rebellion fails and he is caught. If it's the latter, committing the crime of treason and implicating the whole family, Imperial Uncle's spirit in heaven would also lose incense offerings."

"Although this son killed Dongfang Yan, this son does not regret it. If Father blames me, this son is willing to bear it all, willing to pay with my life, and go to the underworld to apologize to Imperial Uncle!"

Emperor Qi Zhaodi said: "Stop talking nonsense! You are the Crown Prince, the future monarch of the country, holding the power of the world, your life is more precious than anyone else's! How can you say such things about paying with your life?"

"Yan'er..." Emperor Qi Zhaodi sighed faintly, "Even if I have to give an account to your Imperial Uncle, that should be after I have lived for a hundred years, and I will go to your Imperial Uncle to explain everything myself."

Saying this, he glared at Dongfang Qi again: "You are just relying on my support to dare to act like this!"

But he really couldn't do anything about Dongfang Qi.

For one thing, Dongfang Yan's various actions did indeed violate the taboos of the royal family.

For another, the Emperor only had this one son as the Crown Prince, so he couldn't just abolish his position as the heir because of this, right?

The Crown Prince is his own son, he has no choice.

So he turned his gaze to Lin Qingyue: "Does Prince Chaolan know about this?"

Dongfang Qi was afraid that Lin Qingyue would be implicated, so he hurriedly said: "The matter was done by this son alone, and it has nothing to do with Prince Chaolan!"

"Shut your mouth! I haven't said anything yet, and you are in such a hurry to protect her? You useless thing!"

Lin Qingyue said unhurriedly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I was also present at the time."

With Emperor Qi Zhaodi's shrewdness, these things couldn't be hidden.

Sure enough, he heard Emperor Qi Zhaodi say: "You are honest! The Crown Prince has always been gentle in his actions, but since he met you, his behavior has become somewhat extreme. First, there was the Duke Li mansion matter, and then he killed Prince Jin. Among these, was there your instigation?"

Lin Qingyue smiled slightly: "If Your Majesty thinks it was me instigating behind the scenes, then so be it."

Emperor Qi Zhaodi was furious: "What kind of attitude is this? Relying on the Crown Prince's support, you don't even put me in your eyes?"

Dongfang Qi hurriedly said to Lin Qingyue: "My father always eats soft and not hard, don't be hard on him."

But today, Lin Qingyue didn't know what kind of gunpowder she had eaten, her temper was very high.

"Your Majesty, you say the Crown Prince has always been gentle. But do you really think a hesitant, soft-hearted Crown Prince is good? Now that you are still on the throne, all parties are wary, and he has repeatedly encountered secret calculations. If you are not here in the future, those old officials will bully him for his soft nature, and how will you face him in the underworld?"

"If you just want to cultivate an obedient and gentle son, then don't let him be the Crown Prince. Giving him such a high position, even if he was originally a sheep, he must become a beast to be able to hold the world!" ===== CHAPTER 194 =====