Chapter 314 Settling Accounts

Chapter 314: Settling Accounts

Forging an imperial edict and plotting to murder the Crown Prince.

Zhu Xiang was directly charged with the most heinous crime of the Ten Abominations: treason.

Zhu Xiang was sentenced to death by lingering execution on a designated day; his parents, wife, children, and siblings were all to be beheaded; other relatives were to be exiled or enslaved.

Zhu Xiang passed out on the spot and was dragged away.

The great hall was deathly silent. The officials involuntarily held their breath at Zhu Xiang's fate. Even those who had previously been at odds with Zhu Xiang could not help but feel their hearts pound, as if a heavy weight pressed on their hearts.

This was not out of sympathy for Zhu Xiang, but the instinctive fear of the bloody end of a fellow court official. Such was the fate of a failed rebellion. No matter how merciful an emperor might be, he wouldn't show leniency.

Prince Fu stood among the officials, his face pale and stern, appearing much like the others. But the slight trembling of his fingertips betrayed the immense terror within him.

Failure meant total ruin. Now it was Zhu Xiang—who would be next?

Could this nephew of his, known for his gentle and magnanimous nature, really have no suspicions about him?

It was impossible not to have some suspicion.

Even if there were none, he wouldn't dare take that risk.

The new emperor did not spare Prince Fu much of a glance, but instead exchanged a look with Xue Han and summoned Xue Quan into the hall.

Xue Quan knelt at once, his face ashen.

"Xue Quan, you recommended the Evil Taoist Miaoqing to the late emperor. Do you know your crime?" the new emperor asked coldly.

"This servant... knows his guilt."

In such a formal setting, it was no longer appropriate to refer to oneself as 'slave.'

The officials looked at this once-glorious chief eunuch as if he were a dead man.

"Then explain yourself in detail."

Xue Quan lowered his head: "This servant should not have been so mistaken about that man's character. When the late emperor asked about the Evil Taoist Miaoqing, this servant recommended him."

The new emperor frowned, his tone even colder: "Xue Quan, your greatest fault was not stopping the late emperor from taking the so-called elixir refined by the Evil Taoist."

"This servant is wronged!"

The new emperor raised an eyebrow: "Oh? How are you wronged?"

"This servant had Imperial Physician Wang examine it. It was Imperial Physician Wang who said the elixir was safe..."

The new emperor angrily interrupted Xue Quan's words: "Imperial Physician Wang is dead. How can you prove that you had him examine it?"

"This—" Xue Quan was speechless.

Xue Han suddenly dropped to his knees: "Your Majesty, this servant has something to report."

The new emperor's tone turned gentle: "What does Xue Qing have to say?"

Such an intimate form of address gave many officials mixed feelings.

The new emperor trusted Imperial City Commissioner Xue Han so much. How would he deal with Xue Han's adoptive father, Xue Quan?

"To answer Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Wang fell into Qinglian Lake, and his body was never found. This servant sent people to search along the downstream river that connects to Qinglian Lake. Recently, news came that a man appeared near Xiaohe Village on the outskirts of the capital. According to villagers who saw him, the man looks very much like Imperial Physician Wang..."

What? Imperial Physician Wang is still alive?

The officials looked shocked.

Prince Fu kept his eyes half-closed. Beneath his calm exterior, a storm raged inside.

He unconsciously twisted the agarwood beads on his wrist to ease his extreme shock.

Imperial Physician Wang didn't die?

If he is found—

The new emperor cast a subtle sidelong glance at Prince Fu, while his face showed just the right amount of surprise: "You mean Imperial Physician Wang is still alive? Then why hasn't he come home?"

"Your servant's men asked the villagers who had seen the man. They said the man who resembled Imperial Physician Wang seemed a bit confused."

The new emperor immediately asked: "Where is he now?"

Xue Han replied: "The man didn't answer the villagers' questions and left on his own. This servant has arranged for people to search for him."

"Be sure to find him."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. This servant will increase the search efforts."

"Mm." The new emperor nodded and turned his gaze to the kneeling Xue Quan. "Xue Quan, since Imperial Physician Wang might still be alive, we'll wait until we find the man who resembles him and verify the facts before punishing you."

Xue Quan looked as if he was moved to tears: "Thank you for Your Majesty's mercy."

Among the officials, many of the more perceptive officials had subtle expressions.

The new emperor said that if the man resembling Imperial Physician Wang were found, he would interrogate Xue Quan. But if he were never found, wouldn't that mean no punishment would ever be imposed?

Tsk. Xue Quan raised a good son. Perhaps there wasn't even any such man resembling Imperial Physician Wang. The new emperor simply spared Xue Quan for Xue Han's sake, while needing to account to the late emperor, so he used that excuse.

Xue Han let those gazes fall on him and stood quietly.

"Heir of Prince Kang, Ling Yun."

"Your servant is here."

The new emperor looked at his cousin, several years younger, with an expression of obscure meaning: "You failed to recognize the man's true nature and acknowledged the Evil Taoist as your teacher. Considering you were unaware and have no prior misdeeds, you are stripped of your title as heir. May you be cautious in your words and actions from now on."

Ling Yun pressed his forehead to the ground: "Thank you for Your Majesty's mercy."

The new emperor silently regarded Ling Yun for a moment, then said calmly: "All may withdraw."

Prince Kang and Ling Yun returned together to the Prince's mansion.

Princess Kang had been waiting anxiously. As soon as she saw the father and son, she asked about the situation.

Prince Kang glanced at his son and sighed: "His Majesty stripped Yun'er of his title as heir."

"What?" The blood drained from Princess Kang's face, and her body swayed violently.

County Princess Jiayi, who was waiting with Princess Kang for her father and brother, supported her arm: "Mother, be careful."

Princess Kang's tears streamed down: "Has His Majesty truly revoked Yun'er's title as heir? What will Yun'er do now?"

Compared to Princess Kang, who couldn't accept it, Prince Kang, though pained, was much stronger.

“Your Highness, take it easy. The new emperor only stripped Yun’er of his heir title; he didn’t take away my princely title. That is already an act of grace.”

He naturally had more sons than just Ling Yun; as long as the princely title remained, it could be passed on.

Princess Kang was not comforted: “But Yun’er cannot be the heir anymore…”

The title can be passed on, but not to my son!

“Mother, I have been an unfilial son, letting you down.” Ling Yun took Princess Kang’s hand.

“Yun’er—” Princess Kang’s lips quivered, not knowing what to say.

In her heart, her son was the best, incomparable. She had never imagined that her proud son, at over twenty, would suddenly take a wrong path.

“I have been frail since childhood. After this ordeal, I feel even more that peace and health are most important. From now on, I will stay with Mother.”

Princess Kang smiled bitterly and nodded: “Alright.”

At Prince Kang's mansion, the atmosphere was bleak and rainy; in a study in Prince Fu's mansion, dark clouds gathered.

“Imperial Physician Wang might still be alive.” Prince Fu clenched his teacup tightly, as if he wanted to crush that person to pieces.

Unlike the Imperial Messenger, who didn't know that Prince Fu was behind Zhu Xiang, Prince Fu had been trying to win over Imperial Physician Wang for years.

After the deed was done, he had intended to silence him, but he feared acting too quickly would alert Xue Quan. Before he could make a move, Imperial Physician Wang accidentally drowned and died.

When he heard this news, he thought it saved him trouble; now he is filled with regret.

The advisor whispered, “At such a critical moment, Your Highness must remain calm. Imperial Physician Wang might still be alive; perhaps it is a false message spread by Xue Han to delay the punishment of his foster father Xue Quan.”

“But I dare not gamble, and I cannot gamble!” Prince Fu slammed the teacup heavily onto the desk. The loud noise masked the faint, rapid breathing behind the screen.