Qu Hong took out the letter, and handed it over for Yuwen Yin to look over.
Yuwen Yin looked at the letter he had already seen before, and put an act by opening it once more. He then grimly said after glancing through it: “This is a consequential evidence. You will enter the Emperor’s palace with me, and quickly report this to His Majesty!”
The case of both Jiang Likai and w.a.n.g Hong’s crime of treason for colluding with the enemy the Southern Xinjiang, which were under investigation for so many days, have finally gotten a breakthrough material evidence at this time.
Of course, the two individuals in question vehemently denied this, and cried out for injustice. Claiming that the letter was fake, and that they had never seen it before.
They truly had never seen that letter before, the plague too, really had nothing to do with them. — The treasonous crime of colluding with the enemy was originally imposed on them by Yuwen Yin through subjective speculation.
The Jiang and w.a.n.g families were veteran for two dynasties as well as the Emperor’s relatives. But in order to bring down these two powerful families, just bringing to light the private sale of salt might not be sufficient enough. Only a much heavier criminal charge will make them unable to turn things over, and can also implicate the whole clan. Although, there is a rule in the law that says, a married woman will not be implicated by her natal family. But Qi w.a.n.gfei will no longer have a natal family to rely on to turn things over.
Moreover, Yuwen Yin had already thought of Southern Xinjiang as early as when he was looking over the map in Jiangzhou City. The plague outbreak started in Liujia Village alone. The other half of the Bagua Mountains to the left of Liujia Village, happened to be adjacent to the Southern Xinjiang. So it would be difficult to say that the Southern Xinjiang was not related to the plague. The Southern Xinjiang’s Gu worm, which Shen Tong caught on an infected person in Jiuliancheng City, had further confirmed his thoughts.
Both Jiang Likai and w.a.n.g Hong seemed to have aged by several years. They knelt on the ground and continued in trying to deny the accusation: “That letter is definitely fake. Imploring Your Majesty’s understanding!!”
Having read the letter as well, Wei Song seriously stated: “Even if the handwriting can be imitated, but the official seal of the Second Prince of Southern Xinjiang can never be counterfeited. The best forensic expert of Dayu Dynasty in the Ministry of Justice was called a few days ago. He was asked to thoroughly examine this handwriting and seal to examine whether it was genuine or not.”
This seal was certainly genuine, and was procured by Yuwen Yin from the Southern Xinjiang’s Fifth Prince.
The behind the scene’s mastermind of this time’s plague was the Fifth Prince.
The Second Prince ama.s.sed a lot of money by secretly cooperating with Jiang Likai in trade and commerce, and had long been a thorn in the eyes of the Fifth Prince, after having seized the upper hand for such a long time. This move of his, could be regarded as killing two birds with one stone. Not only did he earn a meritorious deed, but he had also dealt a heavy blow on the Second Prince.
Most people adept in the art of politics have their own wireless receivers. So, when ordinary people were still looking for wires on the street, they had already exchanged letters in secrecy. This was how Yuwen Yin and the Fifth Prince of Southern Xinjiang, two individuals, who seems to have no relation at all, were able to get in touch, and quietly exchanged criminal evidence against the Second Prince and Jiang Likai.
Although the two of them were the crown princes of opposing countries, and will confront each other someday. But that is one thing, and this is another. An enemy of an enemy is a friend, even a child understands this saying.
There will inevitably be a hot spell during autumn season. The air temperature in autumn was still very high. So, the temperature in the Palace’s hall would undoubtedly be very hot, but the people in the Palace’s hall felt a cold chill like in winter.
After the experts in forensic and hand writing a.n.a.lyst have verified that the letter was genuine, Emperor Qing determined their crimes, and no longer listened to any of their objections. The eight major crimes of Jiang Likai and w.a.n.g Hong were all turned into hard truths in the end, their execution was then scheduled in the late autumn.
Jin w.a.n.g personally supervised the execution. The immediate family members of the Jiang and Imperial Tutor mansions were also deemed guilty by a.s.sociation. The maids and other servants may be sentenced to exile, or were to be sold off. The rest of the officials, who were quite close to them, were also dealt with one by one. The implicated people numbered by hundreds, resulting to half of the people in the Royal Court to be replaced by new members.
Winter came as soon as the autumn season pa.s.sed. There was still no rain in the capital at the end of autumn of that year. But the frozen dew covering the blue bricks and red roof tiles, looks just like the first sign of snow at first glance.
There was a saying that when snow arrives early, then that year’s winter might really be cold. But the teahouses and taverns were still as bustling as ever, with the spittle of the chattering customers flying all around the place, while the listeners were bustling with activity. That eloquent person seated there, stroke his beard, then cleared his throat before continuing his words.
Emperor Qing was said to have suddenly become gravely ill that night. The people going in and out the Main Palace hall continued all night, and the Court Eunuch never stopped in replenishing the ceramic glazed lantern.
Emperor Qing was said to have directly died before he even had the time to write his will. The numerous ministers headed by Wei Song had completely united, and recommend Jin w.a.n.g to succeed him in succession. But Jin w.a.n.g didn’t go along with this. Through his own authority, he successfully elected a three-year-old prince, who had been living among the common folk, to ascend the throne, while he, acted as the Regent.
It’s reasonable to say, that the reason such an obvious loophole had eventually turned logical, was only because the Regent’s authority was able to overturn the imperial court and the ordinary people. So, not a single person dared to oppose this.
That man spoke so jubilantly about the legendary story of the Regent, almost as if he was lying on a big tree outside the palace and had witnessed it with his own eyes.
The listeners also took this very seriously, and only thought that this was very marvelous. But little did they know, that just on the street below the tavern of where they were located, that very powerful Regent was rushing past with the sugar coated roasted chestnuts he personally ran out to buy, so that it would still be hot when it reaches the hands of his sweetheart.
Walking shoulder to shoulder with one’s beloved on the long street in this cold winter night, buying a pack of sugar coated roasted chestnuts and peeling it for the other to eat while walking, was actually the happiest thing for the Regent.
So long as they hold hands, exchange sweet smiles, and a pack of sugar coated roasted chestnuts.
Is this enough?
Um, this is enough.
Of course, there is also the phrase that one will never tire of listening even if it’s said hundreds of times.
Love you.