The imperial examination cheating case during the Jingde period broke out so suddenly.
No one expected that something like this would happen suddenly, especially since this episode was hosted by both King Jing and King Ying. In previous years, the Crown Prince would host the event on behalf of the Emperor.
Is it really because King Jing didn't understand much and was taken advantage of, or is there some other reason
The emperor was furious that such a thing could be done under his nose, and the three judicial officials acted together. The atmosphere in the whole capital suddenly became gloomy.
People from the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple went in and out of the various prefectures from time to time to conduct inquiries. No one dared to delay, and people from the Western Prison also took action secretly. For a time, the whole court was in a state of panic, and everyone was on the alert.
Not to mention those who were somewhat related to this incident were trembling with fear, even those who seemed to have nothing to do with it before were all panicked and looked grim. Every dynasty that experienced such a thing would have been bloody.
There were even censors who submitted memorials in the court, jumping up and down and saying that this matter was related to the crown prince. Since only the crown prince knew the procedure of the spring chamber examination best, this matter must be related to the crown prince.
It is not that the court had not directly investigated the prince, but now without direct evidence, he dared to point the finger at the prince. The emperor was furious, and wanted to punish the censor in the court. Unexpectedly, after roaring for a while, the censor actually ranted and died in front of the pillar in the court.
The hall was stained with blood, and all the civil and military officials in the court were in a state of panic.
The emperor was furious and reprimanded the Censorate for its nonsense. He also reprimanded the two chief censors and asked them to go back and sort out their own offices. Although the censors were censors, they were not allowed to speak nonsense without evidence. If they slandered the emperor without any evidence, what was the use of censors
Not only did the censor who was killed in the accident not get a good reputation, but the emperor, who was furious, also wrote the word "stupid" on him.
Seeing this situation, no one dared to jump out again. The atmosphere in the whole court was very depressing, and everyone was quietly waiting for the final result.
Pei Luoan hurried to the Pepper Palace.
When the palace guarding the gate saw him coming, he stepped aside and knelt respectfully to greet him.
Pei Luoan stepped in with a grim look on his face, and a large group of eunuchs who followed him stood guard outside the door.
"Mother!" As soon as Pei Luoan entered the room, he saw the queen sitting high in the middle, with a gloomy face.
"What's going on?" The queen had no attendants around her. She had been waiting since she went to ask her son to come over. She didn't expect that she would have to wait so long.
"Mother, this matter... has something to do with me." Pei Luoan said with an unchanging expression.
"Prince, why would you get involved in such matters? Are you afraid that the Emperor won't notice you?" The Queen was shocked. Although there was no one in the palace, she still lowered her voice.
"Mother, I didn't get involved in this matter, it's just..." Pei Luoan said angrily, "I was just watching other people's actions, I didn't expect... In the end, it would end up on my side."
Pei Luoan said irritably and sat down aside.
"What's going on? Whose man is he?" When the queen heard his words, she knew there was another reason and felt a little relieved. She was afraid that Pei Luoan was the one who did it. Judging from the emperor's attitude this time, she was afraid that he would conduct a thorough investigation. The queen felt guilty and was afraid that something would be found out.
"Mother, one of the people from the Eastern Palace on my side... turned out to be Pei Yusheng's man.
Knowing that this person was Pei Yusheng's man, I had someone keep an eye on him, waiting for the right time to expose him, but I didn't expect that this incident was actually related to him." Pei Luoan gritted his teeth and said hatefully.
When this happened, his first feeling was panic, and then he went back home to investigate.
The investigations of the Ministry of Justice, the Dali Temple and the Western Prison had nothing to do with him. Pei Luoan was investigating his own residence, specifically those few people who made him particularly suspicious.
Pei Luoan has been in the Eastern Palace for so many years. Not to mention what happens in the Eastern Palace, he knows everything. However, for some suspicious people, even if he doesn't expose them on the spot, he will have people keep an eye on them.
It's just that too many things happened in Taiyuan before. One moment it was Liu Jingyu who implicated him, the next moment it was Ji Youran who implicated him, leaving him no time to deal with these people. Instead, someone took advantage of the opportunity and actually got involved with this big fraud case.
When the Queen summoned him into the palace, she was investigating this matter, which was why he was delayed for a long time before entering the palace.
"Mother, what should we do now?" Pei Luoan said irritably, frowning.
"Hand him over and bring him to your father and tell him clearly." The Queen suppressed her panic and thought for a moment. She said that she couldn't panic at this time. "Your father has many people to investigate, and this person is not yours. You will definitely be implicated in the future. It's better to hand him over directly."
"But he is just a Xima of the Eastern Palace. He doesn't have that much ability." Pei Luoan was very angry. Everyone knew that the Xima of the Eastern Palace was his man. He was part of the team he prepared to take over the throne in the future. As long as they were his people, they would definitely stand on his side. But this person was not his man, but Pei Yusheng's man.
To be honest, the position of the East Palace Groom is not low, but now he is only the crown prince, and the East Palace Groom is not as good as those important officials in the court.
"Do you have evidence to prove that he is Pei Yusheng's man?" The Queen Mother also knew that this matter was not simple. It had come to this point, and it would be the best way for the Crown Prince to take the initiative. But even if he took the initiative, there had to be evidence. Without evidence, he would be like the old censor. Even if he died there, he would not have a good reputation.
"Mother, I have no evidence... When I sent people to arrest him, he was clean and there was nothing to prove that he was Pei Yusheng's man. But I could see that he was wholeheartedly devoted to me." The prince was angry and annoyed. He never thought that his negligence would cause such a big mess.
It was also his fault that he had been paying too much attention to the affairs of the inner courtyard recently. In the chaos, he had lost some control over the affairs of the outer courtyard.
"Prince, you are too arrogant... How can we neglect such a person!" the Queen reprimanded.
"Mother, I know, but now... there are only some seemingly plausible tiny clues from the past, and these clues cannot be said to be Pei Yusheng's, they just go towards Prince Jing's Mansion." Pei Luoan only hated that he didn't catch Pei Yusheng's handle, otherwise he would have stepped on Pei Yusheng under his feet now.
"Having... is better than having nothing. Send this person and the clues to your father and let him make the decision." The queen gritted her teeth and said.
She knew that she had to push the person out at this time. If she kept it secret and it was discovered later, it would be a disaster.
"But what if the emperor suspects me?" Pei Luoan couldn't sit still anymore, so he stood up and walked around, feeling uneasy. After a few steps, he stopped in front of the queen, "Mother, the emperor wants to support that side, and he favors Pei Yusheng.
Love you so much. If it weren’t for the previous incident… I would have been almost deposed that time!”
Pei Luoan still feels scared when talking about this matter.
“Your people in the Eastern Palace…if it really comes to that, push Ji Youran out.” The Queen said coldly.
"Mother..." Pei Luoan was shocked, "Her status is not high enough, now she is just a concubine... If she was the Crown Princess, it might be possible..."
The meaning of these words was not complete, but both mother and son understood it, and their expressions changed at the same time.
"Your father has always been clear-headed. If you take the initiative to hand the person over, and there are some clues, he should no longer suspect you. But you must also be prepared. If your father really has some suspicions and asks someone to investigate, then lead them to Ji Youran." The Queen Mother warned in a low voice, glanced at her son, and asked, "Could it be that you can't bear to part with her?"
"Mother, what are you talking about? How could I be reluctant to part with Ji Youran? Even Ji Hanyue..." Pei Luoan paused here and continued the topic, "But Ji Youran knows some of my affairs. I'm afraid that if she is caught, she will reveal some secrets about me."
The matter between Ling Anbo and Ji Hanyue must never be told.
If this matter were to be made known to the public, there would be no way he could keep his position as the crown prince.
Although the fraud case was a major one, compared to killing the Crown Princess and destroying Ling Anbo, there was still room for maneuver. Pei Luoan didn't want to bring up such a thing again.
"Your father won't investigate further. We are just prepared for the worst. If they really want to investigate, they will find Ji Youran. She is the only one in the Eastern Palace who is the master of the inner court. She is the only one who can take the blame." The Queen said with a sullen face and exhaled forcefully. "If it really comes to that, I will take action and won't let her have a chance to speak."
The Queen said with a gloomy face, forcing a stiff smile that looked strange and cold, completely different from her usual dignified and generous self in front of others.
"Go to the Imperial Study and beg your father to investigate this case vigorously. Just ask your father to give you justice and prove what the old censor said. There is no smoke without fire. Someone must have found out something. And it is indeed true. Your poor health has led to the infiltration of the Eastern Palace. Even the Eastern Palace grooms are someone else's people."
"Send the person over and cry. Even if you faint, you can only do this. You are the crown prince of a country and there is a spy in your mansion. This already explains the problem." The Queen analyzed, with a ruthless look in her eyes.
The absence of evidence is sometimes also an evidence. The East Palace Xima, such an important position for Pei Luoan, is actually someone else's man. This is not something that ordinary people can do.
"Mother, I know. I'll go now." Pei Luoan nodded and turned to leave.
"Wait a moment!" The Queen called out to him.
"You have to remember that no matter what, you have to show your deep love for your first wife. It was because of Ji Hanyue's death that you were so heartbroken that you made such a big mistake. You should never regret being with your first wife... until your death. Even if people outside say a lot, you have to say so. And you have to say that your poor health is also due to this reason."
The Queen also reminded her that even after so many years, she still remembered and cared about some things...