Chapter 186 Suspicions are rising
The emperor had already been stunned by the minister's words. He looked at the ministers kneeling on the ground and didn't know how to react.
When Xie Zihan came to ask for the imperial decree from the concubine, it was he who personally agreed to his request after he explained the reason.
But the emperor never expected that the woman Xie Zihan was talking about was actually the concubine's maid.
Everything the ministers said was different from what he had heard.
But Prime Minister Lu Zhong's words still reminded the emperor that the position of crown prince is indeed the foundation of the country and cannot be easily abolished.
More importantly, although what Xie Zihan did was disgraceful to the royal family, it was not a serious offense. Since it was not a serious offense, how could the prince be deposed?
Seeing that the emperor seemed to be hesitating, Lu Zhong continued to persuade him: "Your Majesty, although the prince has made mistakes in moral conduct, he has not made any mistakes in major matters."
"Since this is a matter of the harem, let him handle the affairs of the mansion on his own, or he can be punished to go back to the mansion to reflect on his mistakes and learn the rules again."
As long as Xie Zihan's position as crown prince is not abolished, even if he is punished, it will not have any impact. Over time, everyone will slowly forget about it.
Lu Zhong knelt on the ground, trying his best to persuade the emperor, but the emperor's expression became increasingly uglier because of his words.
The emperor sneered, "It's hard for the prime minister to think so much about the prince and even think of the punishment for him."
As the prince's father, he had been thinking about how to resolve this matter since the ministers started to report it.
But Prime Minister Lu Zhong really surprised him. Even he hadn't thought it through, but Lu Zhong had made all the arrangements.
"Your Majesty, I am also concerned about the Crown Prince and want to share your worries."
Haha, Xie Lingxiao sneered in his heart. Although the words sounded high-sounding, only those who knew the inside story could understand Lu Zhong’s true thoughts.
Xie Lingxiao sneered: "The Prime Minister really cares about Beiling Country and the Emperor."
"Your Highness, this is what I should do," Lu Zhong said.
At this moment, Lu Zhong felt inexplicably panicked. Thinking of the ministers' discussions outside the palace just now, he couldn't help but break out in a thin layer of sweat on his back.
Lu Zhong hoped that what Xie Lingxiao said in the morning court today had nothing to do with this matter, otherwise he would be implicated and it would be difficult for him to get away with it unscathed.
Xie Lingxiao looked at the guilty Lu Zhong and did not embarrass him. Instead, he praised him: "You are worthy of being the prime minister of Beiling Kingdom. Not only do you have to share the worries of national affairs, but you also have to share the affairs of the crown prince."
"Now it seems that the Prime Minister cares more about the Crown Prince than the Emperor does. If someone doesn't know the truth, they will definitely think that the Crown Prince is the Prime Minister's child."
He does not mean that.
When the emperor heard what Xie Lingxiao said, he felt extremely uncomfortable.
He was the emperor, with many princes and princesses, but people said that he, the father, was not as good as an outsider. The emperor felt more and more uncomfortable.
Thinking of Xie Lingxiao saying that the prince was more like the prime minister's child, the emperor glared at Xie Lingxiao and asked, "Why did my brother say that?"
"Your Majesty, I was just speaking casually." Xie Lingxiao said perfunctorily.
The emperor looked at Xie Lingxiao's hesitant look and his suspicion grew deeper and deeper.
Thinking that the emperor and Lu Zhong were siblings, he quickly dismissed his previous idea.
Xie Lingxiao hesitated for a moment: "But does Your Majesty feel that the prince is more like the prime minister in terms of his behavior, work style, or appearance compared to Your Majesty?"
Like thunder from the sky, Xie Lingxiao's words instantly struck the hearts of the emperor and all the civil and military officials in the court.
The emperor was shocked by Xie Lingxiao's words. He stared at him intently and couldn't say a word for a long time.
All the civil and military officials in the court stared at each other, as if to confirm whether what they heard was true.
Lu Zhong looked at the people in the hall in panic, feeling timid, but he tried hard not to be discovered.
The emperor turned and glared at Lu Zhong: "The Prime Minister also thinks that the prince is more like you?"
Xie Zihan is of royal blood, how can he be said to be like a minister? Even if that minister is his uncle, it is not allowed by the royal family.
"Your Majesty, I don't think so. I think the prince is more like Your Majesty." Lu Zhong lowered his head, not daring to look at the emperor's expression.
Like him? The emperor's already bad expression suddenly turned gloomy.
As an emperor, when has he ever done anything like favoring his concubine and killing his wife? He wants to treat everyone equally.
When did he, the emperor, do something like favoring concubines and maids? He even looked down on them.
As the emperor, when had he ever done anything like having an affair with someone without a matchmaker or betrothal? He wanted Jin to abide by the rules and take the royal family's reputation into consideration.
The emperor looked at Lu Zhong with red eyes: "How dare you! When has the prince ever been like me? When have I ever done anything against the rules?"
All the civil and military officials in the court knelt and prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling with fear, their official uniforms almost soaked with sweat.
Xie Lingxiao looked at the emperor and Lu Zhong as if nothing had happened, as if everything that happened had nothing to do with him.
Lu Zhong lay on the ground in fear. He didn't want the emperor to think that the prince was like him and feel alienated from him.
For a moment, he forgot about the stupid things the prince had done.
If he said now that he was not like the emperor, the emperor would surely be furious.
"Your Majesty..." Lu Zhong hesitated for a long time, not knowing how to explain himself, so he just called out "Your Majesty" with difficulty.
The emperor said angrily, "Shut up and go back to the Prime Minister's Mansion to reflect on your mistakes. If you still can't figure it out, you don't have to attend court anymore."
The emperor was so angry that he forgot to consider the Prime Minister's Mansion and only wanted to vent his anger.
"Your Majesty..." Xie Lingxiao looked at the emperor hesitantly.
The emperor looked unhappy, but he could not be as angry as he was with Lu Zhong. He could only suppress his anger and asked, "Royal brother, is there anything else?"
Looking at Xie Lingxiao at this moment, it was so annoying.
In the past, no matter what the matter was, he would not attend the morning court, but every time he attended the morning court, it was always related to something important.
Now that Xie Lingxiao called the emperor again, the emperor was even more worried, fearing that Xie Lingxiao might have said other things.
Xie Lingxiao hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I have nothing else to report."
After he finished speaking, Xie Lingxiao glanced at the emperor from time to time, making him feel uncomfortable as if he was sitting on pins and needles.
Thinking of how Xie Lingxiao seemed to be hesitant to speak since he just mentioned that the prince was not like him, the emperor looked at Lu Zhong suspiciously.
He stared at Lu Zhong for a long time. The more he looked, the more it seemed to be the same as what Xie Lingxiao said, and his doubts grew stronger and stronger.
Could it be that the prince is really the child of the prime minister and the queen?
As soon as the idea came to his mind, the emperor broke out in a cold sweat.
If this is true, then wouldn't the kingdom he has fought so hard to defend have to be renamed Lu?
When Eunuch Deng saw that the emperor had called for the court to be adjourned but did not move, he just stared at Lu Zhong.
He reminded the emperor: "Your Majesty, it's time to leave the court."
The emperor suddenly came to his senses after being reminded by Eunuch Deng.
Thinking of his own thoughts just now, his dissatisfaction with Lu Zhong deepened a little.
Although he did not believe that brother and sister had conceived a prince, the emperor's disgust for the Prime Minister's Mansion grew deeper and deeper.
The emperor, who is already suspicious, has taken this matter even more seriously. I believe he will send someone to investigate after retiring from court.
Xie Lingxiao said nothing more, but the corners of his lips were raised high.
The seed of doubt has been planted, and how it will take root and sprout in the future is not something he can control.
He has done everything he can. Whether his good brother believes it or not is not something he can control.
It was noon, when the wind and rain were chasing after him. After the emperor left, Xie Lingxiao turned around and left the council hall, followed closely by all the civil and military officials in the court.
The rain continued to fall, and Xie Lingxiao strolled in the rain and walked out of the palace.
Xie Zihan, who was coming towards him, saw Xie Lingxiao bowing and saluted: "Uncle."
Xie Zihan was puzzled as to why his father urged him to enter the palace right after the morning court session ended.
But he unexpectedly met someone he never wanted to see in his life.