Marquis Jinyang hurriedly cried out his grievance, his voice desolate, "Your Majesty, this is sheer slander. As a subject of Linyuan, my heart is tied to Linyuan's prosperity. How could I do something so insane? Furthermore, I have no enmity with Lord Zou, nor any grievance with Fengluan. Why would I harm Lord Zou to frame him?"
"This must be a method concocted by certain individuals to escape punishment. I have merely become a scapegoat. I implore Your Majesty to see the truth and grant me justice."
Blood trickled down his forehead, smearing past his eyes like trails of tears. Coupled with his indignant voice, it did make people believe him by a third. The matter of the letter was temporarily set aside. Regarding his alleged murder of Lord Zou to frame Fengluan, everyone disbelieved it by a hundredfold, no, a thousandfold.
This method of framing was too crude, too blatant!
Ji Jinmo's fingers fiddled with the hem of his robe, his indifferent eyes gazing at Marquis Jinyang as if at a corpse. Nan Shiying's lips curved into a faint smile, showing no awareness of being involved in the situation. She looked as if she were listening to a storyteller in a teahouse, her expression suggesting she was still eager for more.
Ji Hong maintained his deathly pallor, his brows furrowed so tightly they could have trapped a fly.
Ji Jinmo and Nan Shiying remained silent, offering no defense. Qin Mang, however, let out two cold sneers. "No reason? Is the Regent being poisoned and needing Fengluan's life-saving assistance not a reason?"
"What?"
"Ji Jinmo was poisoned?"
"So that's why he attacked the Ministry of Justice on Fengluan's behalf?"
"So that's how it is, so Marquis Jinyang is therefore..."
Upon hearing that Ji Jinmo had been poisoned, the murmurs erupted. If Qin Mang's statement was true, then Marquis Jinyang had a reason to frame Fengluan.
But if this were the case, then His Majesty...?
If Marquis Jinyang was trying to drag Ji Jinmo down to his death, how could His Majesty be unaware of this? If he was aware, how was the current scene to be explained?
Could it be... His Majesty intended to pull the rug out from under them? To pin the murder of Lord Zou squarely on Marquis Jinyang, using the lives of Marquis Jinyang and his hundred-odd family members to cover up the scandal of His Majesty, the Emperor of Linyuan, using the lives of court officials to frame Fengluan?
Marquis Jinyang's eyes widened in shock at Qin Mang's words. What? Ji Jinmo was poisoned and depended on Fengluan to save his life? But Ji Jinmo didn't look like he was suffering from a severe poison!
"You are spouting nonsense! How does the Regent look like he is suffering from a severe poison?"
"That is because Fengluan has already detoxified the Prince," Qin Mang replied.
"You're full of it!"
"Everything is what you say. Where is the evidence?"
"This commoner has evidence." Qin Mang produced a letter from his bosom.
Marquis Jinyang laughed heartily, "Is it another letter you forged in my handwriting?"
Qin Mang, as if he had anticipated this, stretched his lips into a sarcastic curve. "Naturally not."
"Your Majesty, these are the names of the 'assassins' who participated in the assassination of Lord Zou that day. If these individuals are apprehended, it will prove that what this commoner says is true."
"Furthermore, while the previous letters were in my imitation of your handwriting, this one is a personal letter from Marquis Jinyang's legitimate son, Qin Qianyu."
Along with the list, Qin Qianyu's letter to Marquis Jinyang was also presented.
Ji Hong's expression did not change greatly, but the slight tremor in his pupils revealed his initial shock upon hearing this news. Was His Majesty truly unaware? Everyone was truly bewildered for a moment.
Ji Hong accepted the list and the letter presented by the eunuch. After a cursory glance at the list, he searched for Nan Chaoyin in the crowd. Seeing the old scoundrel standing among the crowd without making a sound, Ji Hong's eyes turned cold. His voice, amplified over everyone, addressed Nan Chaoyin, "Prime Minister, I entrust this matter to you."
Saying this, he returned the list to the chief eunuch. The eunuch, understanding, carried the list through the crowd and approached Nan Chaoyin, presenting the list with both hands.
Nan Chaoyin accepted the list and knelt to receive the imperial decree, "Your subject accepts the decree."
"Immediately find Lin Yuyin."
"Yes!"
Nan Chaoyin rose, casting a concerned glance at Ji Hong. He was truly worried about the current situation. However, speed was paramount in military matters. If even a moment's delay caused the assassins to hear wind and escape, it would be his failure. Thus, he could only say, "I hope Your Majesty will take care of your dragon body. This subject will do his utmost to complete the mission as quickly as possible!"