Wen Yuanting and the other two kept their mouths shut. The Crown Prince’s son died unjustly?

Was it really an unjust death? The clues they had found were more than just that, and it wasn’t merely by chance that the Dragon Nest Clan Leader’s daughter acted against Huangfu Jingchen. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

They were ninety percent sure it was arranged by the Crown Prince.

They just hadn’t figured out why the Crown Prince would act against Prince Cheng’s Heir. Without this motive, they were reluctant to conclude definitively.

And then there was the Antong Three Ghosts. Although the Crown Prince swore he only sent the Antong Three Ghosts, and that when they arrived, Prince Cheng’s Heir was already ambushed and barely alive.

However, when they captured the Antong Three Ghosts and interrogated them, their statements contradicted the Crown Prince’s. Among the corpses on the ground, besides a few guards and coachmen of Prince Cheng’s Heir, the rest were sent by the Crown Prince. It was only that the dead couldn’t testify.

All the evidence and doubts had already been presented in memorials for the Emperor to review.

That the Emperor hadn’t mentioned this matter suggested he wanted to keep it under wraps, so the three of them, as insiders, naturally had to keep their silence.

The Emperor looked at King Kang.

King Kang, feeling helpless, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, it has been a hundred years in the history of Nanxia. Today, the people live peacefully and are at ease because successive generations of monarchs have worked tirelessly and ministers have been devoted to their duties. A Crown Prince with mediocre talent might still be a stable ruler, but if his character were found wanting, it would spell endless disaster!"

With righteousness radiating from his square face, Grand Tutor Zhao spoke before the Emperor could ask, "Your Majesty, I believe that for the Crown Prince to have done this, he no longer possesses the virtue to match his position!"

Duke Jiang Xin attempted to mediate, saying, "Your Majesty, this matter should be considered carefully. The Crown Prince indeed has faults, but when Prince Li and Prince Lu’s son died unexpectedly a year ago, there was no evidence it was the Crown Prince’s doing. As for the plot against Prince Liang, and planting spies, this is merely a stratagem. Prince Liang was ensnared, partly due to his own susceptibility to the spies, but he, too, lacked the virtue to match his position. While seemingly unfair, it isn’t truly so. After all, if one is upright, how could one be misled into foolish acts? Craving the position of a Crown Prince is only natural for a Prince, and the Crown Prince, with courage and strategy, has handled the affairs of governance outstandingly, far exceeding Prince Liang in talent. Your Majesty should think thrice!"

Grand Tutor Zhao retorted, "What use is talent without the virtue to match it?"

Duke Jiang smiled and said, "Mr. Zhao, a mediocre ruler is not necessarily competent; do you not know that there’s only a word of difference between mediocrity and incompetence? Meanwhile, a shrewd and talented ruler, even if slightly lacking in virtue, can at least ensure the strength of Nanxia, deterring foreign incursions!"

The Right Minister, Xia Shi’en, feeling the Emperor’s gaze upon him, could no longer play dumb and said, "If there is no evidence of the Crown Prince’s actions, it would be unwise to act rashly. But if the evidence is conclusive, a Prince who breaks the law must be punished just like a commoner! This is a fundamental tenet of the Nanxia Law Code!"

The Left Minister, Jiao Liyun, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, as it stands, apart from the Crown Prince’s admission of sending people against Prince Cheng’s Heir, there seems to be no concrete evidence. Regarding the actions against Prince Liang, I believe what Duke Jiang said is reasonable!"

The group was divided into two factions.

One faction believed that during his many years as Crown Prince, he had proposed insightful policies, acted decisively, and displayed the qualities befitting a Crown Prince. No one is perfect, and while sending assassins against Prince Cheng’s Heir was indeed excessive, empathetically speaking, his eldest son, Huangfu Jing, was indeed poisoned to death by drinking the poisoned wine intended for Huangfu Jingchen by the Dragon Nest Clan Leader’s daughter. As a grieving father, he might have misplaced his anger momentarily; while it was inappropriate, it was understandable.

The other faction felt that since Prince Liang had been punished for lacking virtue, it would be unfair not to punish the Crown Prince for his misdeeds, thereby risking accusations of favoritism and injustice.

Both sides continued to debate fiercely. Although Huangfu Jing had drunk the poisoned wine meant to harm Huangfu Jingchen, Huangfu Jingchen was innocent and aware of nothing. Moreover, it wasn’t Huangfu Jingchen who served the poisoned wine to Huangfu Jing. Does this mean that the Crown Prince’s misplaced anger might now extend to Huangfu Jinxuan as well?

As a Crown Prince, lacking the capacity to tolerate, able to act against his own nephew, such a person—could he be expected to be a benevolent ruler?

The opposing side argued insistently that the Crown Prince was merely confused temporarily, and every task assigned by the Emperor was executed flawlessly. Unlike Prince Liang, who in the position of Crown Prince, handled everything chaotically. This demonstrates that his capability surpasses Prince Liang a hundredfold, and his faults are not even a tenth as grave as those Prince Liang once committed.

The debate grew more heated, faces turning red and necks straining, almost escalating to a point where fists might be brandished.

Yet, the Emperor sat behind his desk, coldly observing the senior officials in the court quarreling hotly.

Suddenly, King Kang, who had remained silent, quietly raised a point, "If the Crown Prince out of anger for his son Huangfu Jing’s death, assassinated Prince Cheng’s Heir, what would be Prince Cheng’s reaction upon learning this?"

The assembly was taken aback.

Subsequently, Jiang Xin said, "Prince Cheng is far away in Yunzhou; this news should be suppressed for now. Besides, even if the news reaches Yunzhou, Prince Cheng, as a Vassal King, cannot enter the Capital without an imperial decree. Does he think he can come to hold the Crown Prince accountable?"

The Emperor’s expression darkened.

Everyone cast a peculiar glance at Jiang Xin. Prince Cheng’s Heir had been killed five days ago; what is there to suppress? The necessary information had long since spread.

As for Prince Cheng’s temperament...

Remembering an event from twenty years ago, words escaped them.

This Prince Cheng, if he leads a troop to seek vengeance for Prince Cheng’s Heir, it wouldn’t be surprising at all.

They were too focused on what should be done about the Crown Prince, neglecting how Prince Cheng might react.

Jiang Xin grunted and continued, "What if Prince Cheng gets wind of this? You mustn’t forget, he is a Prince, a Vassal King, a subject of the realm. Would a mere subject dare storm the Capital to demand justice?"

Silence reigned, but the look towards Jiang Xin conveyed mild detachment. Clearly, since it wasn’t his son who died, he could speak without feeling the burden.

What kind of temperament did Prince Cheng possess? If it were as simple as Jiang Xin suggested, would there be need for concern?

If the Crown Prince were not punished, getting past Prince Cheng’s hurdle would be difficult.

No one knew the chaos Prince Cheng might unleash on the Capital.

Who would bear the burden of his wrath?

Moreover, for the Crown Prince to commit such acts and remain unpunished, or lightly punished, would fail to convince anyone.

Closing his eyes, the Emperor, upon reopening them, seemed suddenly older, and said, "Lord Wen, those present are not fully aware of the incident’s intricacies. Provide a detailed account of the findings from the three departments!"

Wen Yuanting’s expression subtly changed. It was clear that initially, the Emperor wanted to protect the Crown Prince by not asking them, but now, by requesting a detailed account, had his resolve shifted?