Chapter 287 - Bai Yihaos Feast to Anger First Prince (1/2)

What happened that night shook the entire court.

The drama started in King Yan’s Manor. A concubine disappeared, King Yan was drunk on his bed, wearing b.l.o.o.d.y clothes. In front of his bed, a servant died in the strangest manner.

The drama then continued in a house of King Chu, where an a.s.sa.s.sin gravely injured King Chu.

The most unfortunate king was King Xuan, who got caught under the brothel that he frequented. The l.u.s.ty King Xuan was trapped beneath the rubble and was still in a coma when he was rescued. Good medications were sent in heaps to his manor as if they had been free of charge.

Since all three princes suffered greatly in one night, King Yan, who suffered the least loses (only a dead servant), became the most suspicious individual of them all even though he was also a victim. He suffered no injuries other than some mere bloodstains. Of course, some suspected King Chu of staging his own a.s.sa.s.sination.

After all, no one saw what happened within King Chu’s house that day. All evidence was from servants of King Chu, which might not be credible.

The most innocent prince would be King Xuan. He was always known for being promiscuous, and his visit to the brothel was unsurprising. Everyone thought that he was unlucky when the building collapsed as he was dancing with the girls. It was truly suspicious for the collapsed building as it was unprecedented. Furthermore, it was rumored that there were marks on the large pillars which indicated that they had been cut off.

That meant that someone wanted the enchanting King Xuan dead!

Only King Chu and King Yan would do that!

On the court meeting the second day, before the investigation of this matter was even discussed, a few officials were kneeling and crying in front of the imperial court about the corruption relating to the funds for disaster relief at the two lakes. They explained that peasants were left without a home, even eating their children for a living. Furthermore, they took out the pieces of evidence from the investigation.

The official seal of the court was stamped on it!

Thousands of peasants wrote in to complain about their rough living conditions. The ones still alive wrote the letter using blood, just so the Emperor could address the issue.

The entire imperial court was astonished by these discoveries. Instantly, requests came like snowflakes, all wis.h.i.+ng to be in charge of the investigations. They all wished to leave a good reputation in the historical records.

However, some officials were suddenly quiet. They were those that supported King Chu. They used to say that King Chu was the smartest and most benevolent prince of all time. However, everyone knew that the political and military leaders in the two lakes were all subordinates of King Chu. Furthermore, Consort Su’s family originated from the two lakes, which gave King Chu power in that area.

All funds to relieve the disaster at the two lakes must go through the hands of King Chu.

If such a matter was really related to King Chu, the matter would definitely not end well for him. King Yan’s men were immediately energized. A few old court officials came to court even in their old age. They kneeled by the imperial Emperor, crying their old tears, begging Emperor Zongwen to save the peasants of the two lakes and to punish the mastermind behind it.

They were referring to King Chu.

Anyone with a tinge of political sensitivity knew that the fight for the throne was about to get increasingly intense. Such a matter occurred in all dynasties. The next emperor would either be King Chu or King Yan, with officials forced to discuss quietly and choose a stance.

King Chu’s supporters were in danger.

Seating high up in the jade-white throne of the nine dragons, Emperor Zongwen watched the quarrels of his officials nonchalantly.

All the officials requesting he punish the officials of the two lakes belonged to Feng Yulei’s side. While all those that wanted him to take the slower approach were on Feng Yuxuan’s side. Some officials helped neither of the two princes, but that did not mean that they didn’t have a stance. Some were still waiting for more information, watching others fight without expressing their own.

Many officials were looking down at their boots as if flowers would grow from them.

Before the matter cleared up, those jumping up and down in excitement might not be the real winners.

The two parties argued consistently throughout the meeting as if the court were a marketplace. Some knocked their head on the floor, others kneeled down; some cried out words of pa.s.sion, while others debated with logic… Emperor Zongwen did not speak at all, choosing to merely a.n.a.lyze the situation. Finally, he slammed down a blood-red jade seal, silencing all in the room.

“Immediately send out my order to investigate matters in the two lakes.” Emperor Zongwen left these orders and left.

He immediately pushed this responsibility to the parliament. Grand Secretariat w.a.n.g had to bring the officials in and discuss in the internal court, failing to come up with a solution after half a day’s discussion. After all, this matter involved two princes with the most support. Any mistakes could mean the end of them as no one knew who the future leader of Great Qin would be.

If they supported the wrong prince now, none of them could afford to bear the consequence in the future. When the emperor raged, tens and thousands would pay their price. Furthermore, the future emperor might be suffering in their hands now, making matters even more confusing in the future. Even though Emperor Zongwen was not old, no one could guarantee what would happen in the future.

The most conservative way was to not have any stance, supporting only Emperor Zongwen. However, being an official with no party affiliates had its downsides too, as none of the future emperors would treat them as confidants. Older officials were all sly and each had their own ideas, with no one sure of their alliances.