Chapter 117: Chapter One Hundred Seventeen

Seeing his confident look, Shang Xiaomin, standing at the side, had a flash of contempt in his eyes.

That second brother is still as naive as ever!

About an hour later, the men from Dali Temple returned.

"Reporting to the National Lord, nothing unusual was found in the Second Prince's Residence."

Hearing this, Shang Xiao Hui tilted his head slightly and gave Shang Xiaomin a triumphant smile.

Didn't expect that, did you?

I saw through your plan long ago!

He secretly rejoiced in his heart.

Fortunately, the guards discovered those few boxes of property of unknown origin last night; otherwise, he would have had no way to defend himself today.

Thinking of this, a hint of killing intent rose in Shang Xiao Hui's eyes.

He glanced at his seventh son, who had lost his composure and was at a loss, then swept his gaze over Ke Liang, who was trembling and sweating profusely.

"Eighty strokes of the staff, one year's salary confiscated. He was already given his fief long ago—send him back to his fief. I don't want to see him in Ducheng for the time being!"

Before the eight petty officials could even cry out their grievances, the Imperial Guard covered their mouths and dragged them out.

"How is that possible!"

"How useful indeed."

During the search just now, I was only going through the motions, not at all thorough. Could it be that he secretly defected to the Seventh Prince, and did it on purpose?

For a moment, the entire Imperial Prince's Residence erupted in an uproar.

The soldiers in front carried wooden carvings half a person's height, each requiring eight soldiers to lift together; even so, the soldiers were drenched in sweat from the effort.

"You serve in the Ministry of Justice, you should know very well—what crime is slandering a Prince?!"

"Your son truly has been wronged!"

Father Emperor... has he completely given up on me?

"This Old Minister arrived a step late, I beg the National Lord to forgive me."

Shang Xiao Hui looked at him with a cold laugh, glanced in Shang Xiaomin's direction, and spoke with hidden meaning.

Secretary Qin, kneeling at the side, felt his heart tremble, an inexplicable sense of loss washing over him.

Hearing those words, the Vice Minister of Dali Temple trembled even more violently.

"Moreover, Shang Xiao Hui hasn't returned yet, has he? Perhaps he simply found nothing."

"So attentive and careful—looks like he's not suited to stay in that position any longer!"

"Pass down the order: Vice Minister of Dali Temple Xiao Chai, dereliction of duty, ungrateful for the imperial grace—confiscate half a year's salary, demoted to Registrar effective immediately, as a warning to others!"

Only those standing close enough heard that faint 'crack'.

Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and stuck to the same story as before.

After a long while, he let out a long sigh.

Seven Princes fighting each other—even if the sky were torn apart, they are still his own sons. No matter how angry the National Lord is, what can he really do?

He can't really kill them, can he?

"Absolutely impossible!"

"How could it be fake?!"

For a moment, a feeling of sorrow at the death of a kindred spirit rose in everyone's hearts.

"Father Emperor, since my innocence has already been proven, I implore Father Emperor to severely punish those who slandered me!"

"Heavens!"

As a wooden board fell to the ground, immediately after, as if it were raining gold bars, heaps of gold bars clattered all over the floor; the same happened with the other two.

"Does this petty official Xiao have anything to say?"

"How does the Seventh Prince know there is no physical evidence?"

"As for the seventh..."

Secretary Qin pointed at him and roared in anger.

It made Secretary Qin feel inexplicably uneasy.

This counts as being stripped of everything in one go.

"Throw these eight into the death cell, execute them in eight days!"

The old National Lord swept a glance at Xiao Chai and said sternly.

In the Imperial Prince's Residence, a glittering little Mountain of gold soon appeared.

In the end, the ones who suffer are still us?

The old National Lord's brows were tightly knit, his expression unreadable.

"This Old Minister's heart is solely for the realm—I'd never stoop to such methods!"

He prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed heavily.

Hearing his words, Shang Xiao Hui was so enraged that his gray-white beard trembled three times. He forcefully shook off his hand and flung his sleeve in anger.

At the same time, his heart rose to his throat.

Having said that, he fumbled around on the wooden carving for a while, borrowed a knife from the Imperial Guard, and pried hard at a hidden seam on the Horse's belly twice.

The Seventh Prince also knelt down composedly.

……

Hearing his sinister voice, Shang Xiaomin felt an inexplicable chill surge up, instantly pouring from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. His body trembled violently, and he froze stiff on the spot.

At this command, the court officials exchanged uncertain glances.

Secretary Qin was instantly drenched in cold sweat, his forehead covered in dense, bean-sized drops. He spoke tremblingly, his words stumbling and broken.

"National Lord, please look—those eight wooden carvings, there's nothing suspicious inside them."

"However, if you're willing to say who put you up to this, this Imperial Prince can plead with Father Emperor to show you mercy and deal with you lightly."

"Father Emperor, please hear me—your son truly did not know about this!"

"Look carefully!"

Shang Xiao Hui led over a dozen soldiers and officers, taking small steps back into the hall.

"Right, why is it that we see Shang Xiao Hui?"

"Shang Xiaomin really has some nerve!"

But could it be that he could only vent his fury on those ministers of ours?

"There really is nothing!"

The old National Lord struck the armrest of the Dragon Throne heavily.

Secretary Qin suddenly raised his head, looking at me in disbelief.

I really was simply trying to offend the Seventh Prince!

"National Lord is wise—how would this minister dare speak nonsense? Every word I have said is absolutely true!"

Once that feeling came over me, I panicked even more.

"I beg Father Emperor to investigate clearly!"

Ke Liang naturally felt that point in his heart as well, but having taken one wrong step, he could only resign himself to his fate.

It felt as though something was gradually drifting away from me—I tried desperately to grab it, but there was nothing to take hold of, nowhere to exert any force.

Hearing these words, Secretary Qin's gaze drifted; he glanced at a certain spot, then gritted his teeth and, with a thud, dropped to his knees with an expression of absolute resolve.

Although he was terrified on the inside, he was very clear that this time he had thoroughly offended the Seventh Prince—if the Seventh Prince didn't fall, he was afraid he'd have no easy days ahead!

At that moment, an aged voice came from within the hall.

"This…"

Then he looked toward Secretary Qin, his tone icy, questioning him sharply.

"Father Emperor!"

"Have you investigated clearly to whom these eight wooden carvings were given?"

Shang Xiao Hui bowed slightly, then reached out and tapped one of the wooden Horses, producing a series of 'thud thud thud' sounds.

The Colonel looked at Xiao Chai with considerable sympathy.

Sigh, truly difficult!

The old National Lord did not look at him again, but turned his gaze to Shang Xiao Hui.

Demoted from Upper Seventh Rank to Upper Fourth Rank?

"What the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review just said—did he not hear it!"

"How dare you!"

"National Lord, this Old Minister wishes to impeach Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Xiao Chai for dereliction of duty!"

"Was it you who did it, yes or no?"

"With no witness and no physical evidence, you still dare to keep slandering this Prince?!"

Ke Liangyan bowed slightly.

"Reporting to the National Lord, these eight wooden carvings were found in the Seventh Prince Consort's private Kufang. These wooden carvings are not small—when they were delivered, surely many people saw it. A single inquiry will make it clear!"

The more Shang Xiao Hui thought about it, the more he felt this person was suspicious!

The color instantly drained from the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review's face, and he hurriedly dropped to his knees trembling, begging for forgiveness.

But faced with that look of frustrated disappointment, his throat caught, and a vast panic instantly swept through his entire body.

As he spoke, he glanced at the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, his aged yet still piercing gaze scrutinizing him.

His words, however, served as a reminder to everyone present.

"Who told you to frame me?!"

"This guilty minister accepts the Imperial Decree and gives thanks for the grace."

"Minister Qin!"

"National Lord sees clearly—every word this minister has spoken is absolutely true!"

"It was this minister who failed to be careful and did not discover these things. I beg the National Lord to pardon my offense."

The Seventh Prince rushed straight over and grabbed Ke Liangyan.

"Guards!"

"To answer the National Lord, the Ministry of Personnel has…"