Unexpectedly, Duanmu Qingchen was not angry, but quickly put on his clothes by himself. He did not look like a mentally retarded child of the royal family who had everything handed to him. His movements were quite skillful. The noble prince was actually very independent.
When Duanmu Qingchen had almost finished washing up, Eunuch Zhang arrived.
"Eunuch Zhang!" Little Youzi knelt down hurriedly, thinking that it was all over, the tutor must have arrived and they were going to be beaten again.
Eunuch Zhang smiled at Duanmu Qingchen who was washing her face with a towel and said, "Your Highness, the Emperor wants you to go to the Imperial Study."
Duanmu Qingchen's face tensed. Although he looked serious on weekdays, he was still afraid of his father, Emperor Cheng.
"Your Highness will go to the Shangshufang right away and will not be late." Duanmu Qingchen grinned with full sincerity.
Eunuch Zhang looked at him with a smile and said, "Your Highness, you don't need to go to the Shangshufang today. The Emperor asked you to go to the Imperial Study to discuss matters. Fu Zuoxiang and Yao Guangfa are all here. You followed Fu Mingrui for a day yesterday. What we are talking about today is your public trial."
After hearing this, Duanmu Qingchen immediately became excited: "Okay! I'll go right away!" Duanmu Qingchen got to know Yu Sanniang and Lian Youyou yesterday, and he was still not satisfied. He just wanted to continue following them today and enjoy the beauty of having beauties by his side.
At this time, Emperor Cheng was sitting in the imperial study, looking at Yao Guang with a little curiosity: "Yao Guang, tell me the whole story. How did Ma Yun turn into a butterfly? Remember, you have to say it in a way that people can understand." When he said the last sentence, Emperor Cheng's eyes darkened, which obviously had another meaning.
Fu Kun looked at Emperor Cheng's expression and became suspicious of his last words. It was obvious that Emperor Cheng was hinting something to Yao Guang.
These nine sects were directly under Emperor Cheng, and it was unknown whether they really did what was rumored. Anyway, Fu Kun did not believe in any demons or ghosts. Therefore, in Fu Kun's eyes, these nine sects were just a group of charlatans.
Yao Guang narrowed his eyes and smiled slightly, knowing what Emperor Cheng meant. This world was separated from the world they were in contact with by a thin veil. It was this thin veil that made the other world vaguely visible, and the common people were curious and spread many legends.
But if you lift this veil, ordinary people will be horrified, and horror will lead to fear, and fear will lead to inner denial. Then, the truth becomes a falsehood, and the person who lifts the veil becomes a liar and a charlatan.
If the gauze becomes a white wall and completely blocks the way, the common people will think that the court is deliberately concealing the truth, and they will be angry. Conspiracy theories will arise everywhere, and the falsehood will become the truth. If it is used by someone with ulterior motives, it will inevitably cause greater turmoil.
Therefore, the combination of truth and falsehood is just right.
The story of the son of the Minister of Revenue turning into a butterfly has long been spread throughout the capital because of its strangeness. Some say it was done by a demon, while others say it was haunted. In short, you, Yao Guang, must come up with a reasonable "truth" that can be explained and convinced by the people.
Fu Kun also looked at Yao Guang, because Fu Mingrui would not talk to him when he was investigating a case. So he didn't know how much Fu Mingrui had found out about this case.
Moreover, he sent people to the Nine Gates last night. His upright son must be even more angry at this moment for meddling in other people's business.
Yao Guangyi bowed his hands and said, "Your Majesty, Ma Yun's son died of poisoning..."
"Well..." Emperor Cheng was very satisfied. This poisoning was much more credible than the butterfly transformation, and the common people could accept it. But the butterfly transformation still needed an explanation.
"Wait a minute and talk later—" Suddenly, Duanmu Qingchen's urgent voice came from outside. He ran into the imperial study panting, holding his knees and gasping for breath, "Wait, wait until I come down, then we can talk. Where were we talking about?" He hurriedly looked at Yao Guang.
Yao Guang smiled and said, "That's the point."
"Good! Just in time! Hahaha—" Duanmu Qingchen sat aside, ready to listen to the opera.
His father Emperor Cheng was already furious when he came in. This idiot son came in and didn't even greet his father, but just sat down. How rude!
"Did I let you sit?!" Emperor Cheng was immediately angry.
Duanmu Qingchen's buttocks tightened, and he quickly stood up and saluted Emperor Cheng: "Morning, Dad."
"Call me father!" Emperor Cheng yelled in anger. With this prince, he would have to live ten years less. He thought the prince did it on purpose, so that he could anger him to death as soon as possible and then sit on the throne.
Duanmu Qingchen pursed his lips: "Yes, father." He secretly looked at Emperor Cheng, wanting to sit but not daring to.
Emperor Cheng looked at him coldly, then continued to look at Yao Guang: "Go on." Emperor Cheng did not let Duanmu Qingchen sit down.
Yao Guang continued, "The story of the transformation into a butterfly is nothing more than a means for the murderer to confuse the people and deliberately let them fantasize about the devil. Therefore, the murderer is deliberately making a mystery and trying to cover up his crime. I suggest that this case be tried in public and the people can attend as audience. When the mystery is revealed and the people are convinced, all these rumors will naturally fall apart. Zuo Xiang, what do you think?" Yao Guang looked at Zuo Xiang and winked at him, suggesting that your son's chance to show off had come.
Fu Kun received the signal, and although he was unhappy, he also supported the public trial in his heart. It would be a great opportunity for Rui'er to show his skills and establish himself and become famous. This would be a great benefit to his Rui'er.
So, he no longer hesitated and agreed: "I agree with Lord Yao's suggestion. The people will be convinced by the three courts' trial!"
Emperor Cheng also nodded, with a determined look in his eyes: "Okay! Prince."
"My son is here!" Duanmu Qingchen was extremely excited at this time.
Emperor Cheng doted on him, but he also disliked him: "Seven days later, the trial will be held in the three halls of the Eight Gates. You will be the chief judge, and the Left Prime Minister and Lord Yao will join you in the trial. You must conduct a good trial for me..." Emperor Cheng's voice was already low and majestic, "Don't lose face for our royal family!" Emperor Cheng said almost through gritted teeth.
Duanmu Qingchen smiled widely and bowed immediately: "Your son obeys your command. I will go to Fu Mingrui and supervise him in handling the case!" After Duanmu Qingchen said this, he immediately turned around and jumped for the door.
Suddenly, Emperor Cheng grabbed a memorial on the table and threw it directly at Duanmu Qingchen: "Come back here!"
"Crash!" The memorial hit Duanmu Qingchen on the back of the head, and the emperor was furious. Fu Kun and Yao Guang immediately stepped aside, staying away from the troublesome prince.
Duanmu Qingchen touched the back of his head aggrievedly and turned around: "Father, it hurts~~"
Emperor Cheng's face was extremely gloomy: "Yesterday you followed Fu Mingrui for a whole day and hindered his investigation. Do you think I don't know?" Emperor Cheng's angry roar was deafening.
Duanmu Qingchen lowered his head and dared not speak.
"From today until the day of the public trial, you will stay in the palace and copy the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as the Hundred Schools of Thought! If you dare to leave the Crown Prince's Palace, I will order someone to break Xiao Youzi's legs!"
Duanmu Qingchen was very depressed. He originally thought that he had taken a good job where he could go out and have fun every day and be surrounded by beautiful women, but in the end, he was punished to copy textbooks for seven days. It was a good show that was exciting to watch, but in the end, it was abruptly interrupted by his father. It was really a misstep. Wouldn't this make him feel itchy for seven days? (To be continued)