"Your sister!"
Cai Jing's heart was filled with curses. This old fellow was clearly kicking him while he was down.
But did this fellow think it would be so easy to snatch the meat from his mouth? Had he underestimated the situation?
Zhao Ji's pupils contracted. He glanced at Yu Shen but remained silent.
He picked up the memorial from the Crown Prince and the Prince of Xin, and began to read them carefully.
As he read through the more than ten memorials, his expression grew increasingly grim. The matter had initially involved only tens of thousands of people.
However, due to the inaction of the court officials, these disaster victims had gathered outside Bianliang City.
He knew his son, Zhao Zhen, to a certain extent. Zhao Zhen was stubborn. While he might not be very likable, this trait was ingrained from birth.
He had never lied since he was young, so his words should be trustworthy.
If everything he said was true, then why had he received no news about it before? Someone in the Imperial City Department dared to conceal information from him now. This was something he found utterly unbearable.
"Yuan Chang, what do you think of this matter?"
After a long while, the Emperor, with a somber expression, looked at Cai Jing again.
"Your Majesty, this humble servant believes it is not appropriate for us to interfere. The Tongjin Yintai Bureau is the avenue for speech. Your Majesty should select shrewd and capable individuals from the imperial clan to thoroughly investigate the mastermind behind this affair!"
Cai Jing cast a meaningful glance at Yu Shen before speaking resolutely.
Yu Shen's lips twitched, but he ultimately said nothing. Fine, he had tried to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice.
Not only did he gain nothing, but he had also gratuitously offended Cai Jing.
Originally, he had intended to use this opportunity to eliminate Cai Jing's influence and also to place one of his own hidden pieces.
After all, this position was too important. If there were any slightest disturbance, being able to receive news before others could determine many things.
However, he had not expected Cai Jing to be so ruthless.
He would rather break his own arm than give Yu Shen any chance to benefit.
"This statement has merit!"
At least, the Emperor was quite satisfied with Cai Jing's attitude. If Cai Jing had still been protecting those people at this moment, he would not have hesitated to strike him down mercilessly!
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Ma Weizhong, the guard of Xuande Gate, has hanged himself. This is the confession he left behind!"
Just then, Tong Guan also returned.
And, without any originality, he presented an insipid Xuande Gate guard.
At this, Cai Jing's heart began to sink again. Dammit, his worst fears were coming true today.
He truly believed that he was destined to suffer this loss in silence!
It was indeed true that when a person is down on their luck, even drinking cold water can get stuck in their throat.
"Today's matters are truly interesting. First, all the officials submit memorials, then four clerks dare to withhold memorials meant for me from two princes, and a Xuande Gate guard dares to block the current Crown Prince outside the Imperial City! Do you all truly take me for a fool?" Zhao Ji said with a cold laugh, directly throwing the remaining few memorials on the table in front of the Prime Ministers.
This time, he was truly angry!
"Your Majesty, although His Highness the Crown Prince acted out of filial piety, the matter of falsely proclaiming an imperial decree is also true. The officials submitting memorials afterwards have no relation to this matter!"
Cai Jing had no choice but to stand up and face the enraged Emperor alone.
Looking at Cai Jing, whose back was straight before him, Zhao Ji's anger somewhat subsided.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Lord Taizai speaks correctly. The officials were merely performing their duties and fulfilling their obligations as subjects! I implore Your Majesty to discern this!"
Cai You took a deep breath and stood directly behind his father.
He now wanted to protect the remnants of his influence.
"Well said, fulfilling their obligations as subjects! What heinous crime has the Crown Prince committed to warrant so many civil and military officials in the capital impeaching him!"
The Emperor became completely enraged when he spoke.
Cai Jing let out a bitter smile. His eldest son still lacked the courage to sever his ties at this point.
This time, he had thoroughly implicated himself.
However, with things having reached this stage, no matter how much he regretted it, it was useless.
"The officials have their reasons for impeaching him! Since His Highness has explained that the false imperial decree was out of filial piety, I think it would be better for His Highness to explain the remaining matters as well!"
Liang Shicheng said with a forced smile, adding another jab. After hearing his words, Cai Jing's eyelids couldn't help but twitch.
Could this chain of schemes not be over yet?
"Very well! Then I shall see what the Crown Prince has done!"
Upon hearing the Emperor's words, the eunuchs attending him quickly stepped forward and, according to the colors of their covers, re-sorted the scattered memorials on the ground and placed them in front of the Emperor.
After they had finished organizing, the Emperor directly opened the memorials before him, setting aside all those related to disaster relief and false imperial decrees.
"These remaining memorials speak of two matters. First, as the Crown Prince, he frequented places of ill repute, engaged in love rivalries, and disgraced the imperial dignity! Second, the Crown Prince arbitrarily dispatched people into the Kaifeng Prefecture prison and forbade anyone from approaching, visiting, or interrogating the imprisoned criminals! Crown Prince, explain yourself!"
Zhao Ji said with a cold laugh, looking at Cai Jing beside him.
"Reporting to Father Emperor, can this matter be reported to you privately?"
Zhao Huan stood up with a troubled expression, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, this matter is of great importance. If there is no special reason, please state it here!"
Before Cai Jing could speak, Cai You couldn't help but say.
He was now like a gambler who had lost all his money, holding his last chip, determined to win it back.
Seeing that the situation was about to end in a stalemate, how could he possibly let the Crown Prince easily gloss over this matter?
Looking at his son's aggressive demeanor, Cai Jing let out a bitter smile. He was afraid that Cai You would face another great pitfall.
His temper was too stubborn, and his inherent madness was truly unsuitable for court struggles.
If he had known this would happen, why had he sent him into officialdom in the first place?
"Your Highness, since Scholar Cai wishes to hear, you might as well speak here! After all, those present are all important officials of the court. If there are indeed any unavoidable difficulties, I believe the Grand Secretaries can understand!"
Just as Cai Jing was about to object, Liang Shicheng smilingly stepped forward to add fuel to the fire.