Chapter 266: Thorough Investigation of the White Family Treason Case

"Your servant, idle and with nothing to do, came to watch the excitement."

The Emperor furrowed his brow: "What's so interesting? It's just listening to them babble about useless things."

The ministers: "……"

"Emperor." Meng Hui's face paled, and he stepped forward slowly: "I have an urgent matter to report today."

"Speak!"

"I earnestly request the Emperor to thoroughly investigate the White family treason case and the Situ family mass‑slaughter tragedy."

When those words were spoken, the vast hall fell silent, even the sound of breathing seemed to halt.

The White family treason case…

For many years no one dared to mention it.

Has the Left Minister gone mad, daring to bring it up before everyone? Doesn't he fear the Emperor's wrath and losing his head?

"What did you say?" After a long pause, a low voice came from above: the Emperor.

Anyone could hear the deep anger hidden in that voice.

Meng Hui had no choice but to force himself to repeat what he had just said.

The ministers bowed their heads low, fearing the Emperor's fury might reach them.

"Audacious!" Mo Junheng furrowed his brows, his eyes full of anger, and shouted: "Left Minister, have you gone mad? The White family colluded with foreign powers, plotting rebellion and usurping the throne to install a new ruler." As he spoke, his gaze swept over Mo Junyan; everyone understood that the "new ruler" mentioned by the Crown Prince was Prince Li.

"Father the Emperor has not been unkind to the White family; he even elevated their daughter to consort, granting them supreme glory and honor for the whole clan. Yet the White family colluded with outsiders to plot rebellion, using their daughter in the harem to confuse the emperor's heart. Such disloyal, unrighteous traitors—how can you plead for them and overturn the case? Tell me! Are you being threatened by someone?"

"Swoosh."

"Ah!"

A wail was heard, and before anyone could react, they saw the Crown Prince covering his face, bright red blood streaming out between his fingers.

"Assassin! Guard the Emperor!"

Lord Li finished speaking, then heard Mo Junyan, seated in a wheelchair, whisper: "If you keep spouting nonsense, this Silver Needle won't be aimed at your face but at your throat."

The low, chilling voice carried a hint of lethal intent; the crowd looked at the dignified man in the wheelchair with both shock and fear, swallowing hard.

To act in the main hall, in front of the Emperor and all civil and military officials—does Prince Li truly have no regard for his life?

Bringing a weapon to court, yet intending to be beheaded.

"Mo Junyan, you've gone mad!" the Crown Prince shouted angrily: "How dare you bring a weapon into the palace—do you harbor rebellious intent?"

"Heh, a black‑hearted person sees everything as black. Do you think everyone is like you, wanting to become emperor?"

"Hiss…"

A series of gasps rose from around.

Is this something they can hear?

"What… what nonsense are you spouting?" Mo Junheng was stunned; he never expected Mo Junyan to lay the matter bare.

They are all princes; who among them does not wish to be emperor?

Yet none would speak of it aloud.

He hurriedly knelt, swearing earnestly: "Father, your wisdom is great; please see clearly, I have never harbored any overstepping ambition! My second brother is spewing blood!"

The Emperor's expression grew grim; from the moment Meng Hui began speaking of the White family case, everyone could clearly sense the surging murderous intent surrounding the Emperor.

"Father…"

"Second son." The Emperor turned his head to look at him, and upon seeing the expression in his eyes, he was suddenly enlightened.

No wonder this youngster came to the early court at dawn; the so‑called excitement must be this matter.

"Weapons are forbidden before the throne; didn't you know?"

"I know. If it weren't for the Crown Prince's nonsense, I wouldn't have acted." Mo Junyan chuckled lightly twice: "Father, rest assured, if I wished to kill, I would never need such trinkets; I could shatter a person's internal organs with internal force alone."

Hearing this, the others bowed their heads even lower.

Someone secretly glanced up at the Emperor.

The Emperor merely glared fiercely at Mo Junyan, saying nothing else.

At this moment the Crown Prince was still kneeling there, extremely embarrassed.

Realizing his father the Emperor bore no intention of rebuking Mo Junyan, his heart sank.

He had already been so brazen, injuring himself before so many in the court, and the Emperor offered not even a reprimand.

Isn't this plainly slapping his own face?

The Emperor turned his head to look at the kneeling Meng Hui and Mo Junheng.

"Meng Aiqing, you said you would reopen the investigation into the White family treason case—have you found any other evidence?"

As soon as the words fell, Qin Grand Tutor stepped forward: "Emperor! I have something to say."

"What is it?"

"Emperor, the White family treason has solid evidence, and after so many years it is already untraceable; why revive an old case and waste time?"

"Indeed, Father."

"Grand Tutor Qin thinks this is a waste of time?" Mo Junyan sneered: "If today the innocent victims were the entire Qin family slain, and the one who hanged herself was your Qin daughter, would you still say that?" Regardless of the sudden change in expression among the civil and military officials and Grand Tutor Qin's clenched‑tooth grimace, Mo Junyan continued: "A knife that cannot pierce one's own body does not cause pain. Grand Tutor Qin and the Crown Prince obstruct at every turn, yet because the White family's injustice is involved, does it relate to the Qin family?"

"Prince Li, be cautious with your words. The Qin family is utterly loyal to the court, with no second thoughts. Why do you, Prince Li, defame us so?"

"Defame? You claim the Qin family is loyal—where is the evidence?"

"I…"

"This Prince has unsavory evidence against the Qin family in my hand; Grand Tutor Qin, would you like to see it?"

"Enough." The Emperor cut off Mo Junyan, saying gravely: "This is the court; it cannot be like a marketplace."

"Emperor, I, the old minister, have a sincere heart, standing firm as heaven against earth; I ask you to see clearly!"

The Emperor said nothing, his gaze landing on Meng Hui: "Meng Aiqing, you handled the old White family case before; back then you spoke with certainty, and now you claim the White family has been wronged. What exactly has happened here?"

Meng Hui arched his body, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Recalling the secret letters he had long ago burned, he clenched his teeth and whispered, "This old minister only remembers that there were omissions in the events of those years; perhaps the Bai family truly was wronged."

Grand Preceptor Qin furrowed his brows, his lowered eyes filled with anger.

Has this Meng Hui gone mad?

"Emperor, although the case of the Bai family has been sealed for many years, if there truly is injustice, the innocent deaths are not limited to the Bai family; there are also the many noble houses implicated by the Bai family, and… the Situ Family, whose entire clan was slaughtered and whose murderer has yet to be identified." Meng Hui bowed his head heavily and said, "Emperor, I humbly request that you grant permission to re‑investigate the Bai family's alleged treason."

Meng Hui's voice echoed through the throne hall, while the ministers stood on either side, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Unsure of the Emperor's intentions, they naturally dared not casually echo him.

"Minister, I concur."

Xie Yuwei stepped forward and respectfully said, "I am willing to conduct a thorough investigation; I humbly ask the Emperor to grant permission."

When Xie Yuwei finished speaking, those ministers who already felt the Bai family had been wronged and had benefited from the Bai family's favor rose up one after another.

"Emperor, please re‑investigate the Bai family's alleged treason case and restore the Bai family's innocence!"