Jiang Zining felt his throat tighten and his head hurt.
No wonder he had been specifically instructed before entering the palace today that only he was invited. It turned out that it was not to show favor, nor because he was the most considerate of the emperor's wishes, but because this was a Hongmen Banquet.
The air in the room gradually became thinner, and Jiang Zining felt it was difficult to breathe. He didn't know how to refute for a moment.
Censor Chen had finished speaking.
Shen Chen felt that he had no way to defend himself for everything he had done. He didn't even know where to start. This interconnected scheme was so ingeniously designed that one didn't know when he had fallen into the trap.
No matter what he said now, it would probably be useless in the eyes of Emperor Longqing.
So he had to use up all his life's wisdom at this moment, and suddenly knelt on the ground with great effort and kowtowed to Emperor Longqing: "Your Majesty, I... I am innocent!"
He pointed at Shen Chen, looked at Young Master Lin beside Shen Chen, then looked at Censor Chen kneeling on the ground, and suddenly accused him in front of Emperor Longqing: "They wronged me! Your Majesty! You know, Marquis Pingxi was raised by Prince Linjiang. When Prince Linjiang got into trouble, I drafted the edict under your order. And... And I didn't speak for Censor Chen at that time. I guess it was because of this that Marquis Pingxi had his eyes on me..."
He knew what the Longqing Emperor was afraid of, so he kept on holding on to this matter, as if he had grabbed the last straw: "Your Majesty, I dare not say that I have no selfish motives, nor do I dare say that my son who failed to live up to his expectations has clean hands, but I am truly loyal to you! It is clear to all the world!"
After expressing his loyalty, he knelt on the ground and refused to get up. His old body trembled constantly and he cried with tears and snot, looking extremely sad.
Shen Chen frowned and looked at Young Master Lin.
Although this trick is shameless, it works.
Jiang Zining is worthy of being someone who has followed Emperor Longqing for such a long time. He knows Emperor Longqing's weaknesses very well and can always find them accurately.
Young Master Lin glanced at him coldly, sneered and said sarcastically: "Are you mocking the emperor, old Prime Minister? Saying that the emperor is biased and misunderstood you?"
He said coldly: "But the emperor has not yet sentenced you. Isn't the emperor trying you? Are you so afraid that Censor Chen will finish what he has to say?"
Jiang Zining saw that the look in Emperor Longqing's eyes had changed. He looked at Emperor Longqing, and waves of fear surged up in his heart. Even his hands and feet felt numb. He hurriedly knelt down beside the dragon couch and grabbed the corner of Emperor Longqing's clothes, crying heartbreakingly: "Your Majesty, I didn't mean that. I am loyal to you. How could I have any hatred or curse against you?! Pingxi Hou has always been favored by you. He even bewitched the Third Young Master and used him to slander me..."
He knew that he absolutely could not admit it now, and he had to push all the responsibility onto Shen Chen. He pointed at Shen Chen with a clear mind and said, "It was him. He deliberately set up a trap to harm me in order to save King Linjiang. I am old and can't control my son, so he let him take advantage of the opportunity! Your Majesty, think about it, what kind of person is King Linjiang? He colluded with local officials and had bad intentions. How could he teach such a person to be a good son? Shen Chen has always been a matchmaker for King Linjiang in the capital. Look, even an important cabinet official like Chen Yushi who controls the mouthpiece has joined him, which shows how much he has played a role. In fact, he is basically framing me and setting a trap for me, deliberately making you disgusted with me, so that King Linjiang can turn over a new leaf and make a comeback..."
After all, he didn't commit any big crime. As long as he could get rid of the blame for colluding with Chu Jingmeng and Chu Jingqian, the other so-called framing of Censor Chen and those Du Zilings would not have any impact on him at all.
He knew what Emperor Longqing cared about most, which was the Sixth Prince.
As long as it is established that Shen Chen seduced and tempted Young Master Lin and deliberately tried to win him over, and Emperor Longqing believes that Shen Chen has ulterior motives, then everything will be fine.
Emperor Longqing hated being plotted against by others the most. If he knew that Shen Chen was trying to win over Young Master Lin in order to plot against them, it would be a big taboo for Emperor Longqing, and Shen Chen would be doomed to die.
Young Master Lin frowned, and said sarcastically, "If that's the case, then you really have done nothing wrong. Everything is someone else's fault."
He raised his eyebrows and asked Prime Minister Jiang: "Why don't you tell me, Prime Minister, which of these things is slandering you?"
Censor Chen suddenly raised his voice and said, "I swear that if I have wronged Prime Minister Jiang, I will fall into the Avici Hell and never be able to be reborn!"
Emperor Longqing stared at Jiang Zining with a sinister look on his face and asked him: "You said they wronged you, you said they framed you, then did Chu Jingmeng and Chu Jingqian listen to you and attack Censor Chen?"
Jiang Zining didn't know how to answer. He didn't know if Chu Jingmeng and the others had some secret on him that he didn't know about. If he talked nonsense and was exposed, it would be even more serious.
He could only cry out incoherently: "Your Majesty, I really don't know. Chu Jingmeng and Chu Jingqian might have had contact with my unfilial son..."
Emperor Longqing was fed up with such endless probing and speculation. He looked at Jiang Zining and said sarcastically, "You are smart and good at talking. You never say anything absolute, but you say this and that... ... but you just don't answer me. Tell me the truth. Did you collude with Chu Jingmeng and Chu Jingqian to frame Chen Yushi?!"
He stared straight at Jiang Zining, and the inquiry and malice in his eyes were truly frightening.
Jiang Zining trembled, feeling a little overwhelmed. He had been old and cunning all his life and had almost never been caught by anyone. But now he was framed by a few young men and could not do anything. He didn't even know how to make an excuse.
If he fails to pass this level, death will be waiting for him.
How long had he just enjoyed the good life? Everything he wanted was right before his eyes, and he could grab it as long as he stretched out his hand, but now, all these things were about to float away.
Not only will he fail to grasp these, he might even lose his life.
He looked at the person in front of him, moved his body uneasily, and stammered: "Your Majesty, I was plotted against by someone. It was the Marquis of Pingxi who deliberately framed me and designed me. He did it all in order to make you hate me so that he could help the King of Linjiang overturn the verdict. You can't believe them. I am really loyal to you, Your Majesty! I was really wronged..." (To be continued)