The Prince Yan's Mansion.
"Did you get Wen Zilong's handwriting?"
As soon as Xiao Rencheng saw Song Yinghuai enter the study, he excitedly stood up and stepped forward.
Song Yinghuai had just returned from the Changchun Palace.
Wen Zilong had submitted his self - reflection letter to Emperor Guangwu and Empress Ma. After Empress Ma gave him a good scolding, she still let him go.
After all, he was an important official of Daye. They couldn't blame him too much just because of family matters. Moreover, Wen Zilong knelt in front of the couch, crying and admitting his mistakes, and voluntarily offered to give the remaining half of his family property to Lan Jinqin as compensation.
Since he had admitted his mistakes so sincerely, it was natural to just give him a few words of criticism.
As soon as Emperor Guangwu left, Song Yinghuai took the opportunity to visit and quietly slipped the self - reflection letter into his sleeve.
Song Yinghuai took out the self - reflection letter and handed it to Xiao Rencheng. "I got it. Take a look and see if it matches."
Xiao Rencheng, Xu Ziyi, and Master Guangzhi gathered together.
Xu Ziyi also laid out the letter of treason.
That night, the two highest officials in charge of criminal cases and unjust prisons in Daye stayed up all night until dawn, comparing and analyzing the handwriting one by one and making records.
When the sky in the east turned white and the rooster crowed.
Xiao Rencheng and Xu Ziyi finally looked up and showed a relieved smile.
Xiao Rencheng laughed. "It's confirmed. The evidence is conclusive. The handwriting on this letter of treason matches Wen Zilong's perfectly!"
Xu Ziyi said, "Although Lord Lan's handwriting is very similar to this letter of treason, his strokes are more forceful. It's only 98% similar!"
Master Guangzhi put his hands together. "Amitabha. I hope the three of you will achieve success today."
Song Yinghuai let out a long sigh and stood up.
The man was tall and straight. The weariness on his face had completely disappeared, and an invisible might radiated from his bones. He said to Xiao Rencheng,
"For this matter, just the two of us need to enter the palace to meet the emperor. We won't involve the Xu family."
After all, the Censorate was responsible for the retrial, but the Ministry of Justice was not.
Moreover, this self - reflection letter was obtained in an improper way. They must not drag the Xu family any deeper.
Xu Ziyi also understood the stakes involved and simply took his leave.
On this day, the sky in Shangjing was high and the clouds were broad. The nine cities were lined up in an orderly manner, bustling with activity.
The first long bell of the morning rang, its sound long and far - reaching.
The gates of the Chengde Hall slowly opened wide. Emperor Guangwu stepped up the steps between the two rows of kneeling officials, starting the court session of the day.
"Father, your son has something to report." Song Yinghuai rarely attended the court session. As soon as he did, he attracted everyone's attention.
Song Yinghuai stepped out of the line and knelt in the middle of the court. He said loudly, "Your son has recently verified that there were other secrets behind the case of the treason of Marquis Yongchang Lan Yuanyi's family four years ago. Your son and Lord Xiao of the Censorate have listed all the evidence here. Please take a look, Father!"
Song Yinghuai's words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, causing a huge stir.
What?
There were secrets behind the case of the Lan family?
For a moment, the court officials were in an uproar.
Those who had thought the Lan family was wronged back then couldn't hold back their excitement.
But those led by the Crown Prince Song Chengyuan turned pale and looked terrified.
Song Chengyuan took a panicked deep breath and shouted, "Fourth Brother! The case of the Lan family is iron - clad. What makes you say there are secrets?"
"If it's a wronged case, where is the iron - clad evidence?" Song Yinghuai's eyebrows were cold and solemn. He replied without looking sideways, "Your younger brother has naturally found the evidence to overturn the so - called iron - clad evidence. That's why I'm reporting to Father and asking Father to retrial this case and let the truth come to light!"
"You!" Song Chengyuan's face was distorted. He pointed at Song Yinghuai and scolded, "What truth? I think you're just trying to cause trouble for me!"
"Your younger brother is just avenging the Lan family. What does it have to do with you, Elder Brother?" Song Yinghuai looked coldly at Song Chengyuan. "Could it be that this unjust case is related to you, Elder Brother?"
Song Chengyuan gasped. "I..."
He looked at Emperor Guangwu helplessly. "Father! Fourth Brother is falsely accusing me!"
Emperor Guangwu, who was sitting high on the dragon throne, had been silent since Song Yinghuai's report.
His solemn face was half - hidden behind the hanging tassels of the crown, and his expression couldn't be seen clearly.
It was not until Song Chengyuan asked for help that he suppressed the surging anger in his eyes and said to Eunuch Cen, "Go and get it."
Eunuch Cen trotted down to take the memorial from Song Yinghuai's hand, then trotted back up and handed it to Emperor Guangwu.
He was closest to Emperor Guangwu and could clearly feel the surging anger radiating from the emperor. His heart tightened involuntarily.
The sky was about to change!
Emperor Guangwu slowly flipped through the memorial. The words were well - organized and the evidence was conclusive.
It told of Lan Yuanyi's friendship with Emperor Guangwu before the founding of the country, his deeds of defending the country against foreign enemies when he served as a general, and the strange letter of treason...
Especially when the handwriting of Wen Zilong's self - reflection letter appeared in front of him, Emperor Guangwu's body trembled violently.
"Fourth!" Emperor Guangwu clenched the memorial in his hand. His whole body was shaking. "You mean... Minister of War Wen Zilong fabricated the letter of treason and framed the Lan Yuanyi's family?"
After reading it, Emperor Guangwu suddenly understood.
Lan Jinqin suddenly visited the Changchun Palace before the hunting. Wen Zilong was ordered to write a self - reflection letter. Then, so coincidentally, he broke his right hand on Mulan Mountain...
When Wen Zilong submitted the self - reflection letter yesterday, he had also noticed that the handwriting was different from his usual memorials and even a bit familiar. But he had buried the memory of Lan Yuanyi, his former brother, for too long and didn't want to think about it anymore.
Unexpectedly, unexpectedly...
It turned out that all of this was just for this left - handed letter from Wen Zilong!
Emperor Guangwu looked at his fourth son kneeling upright in the middle of the court. He couldn't tell if he was sad or happy.
The sad thing was that such a talented son was not Song Chengyuan but Song Yinghuai. With such scheming and intelligence, he could even calculate everything about the emperor. Even if Song Chengyuan sat on the throne, he would eventually be manipulated by Song Yinghuai.
The happy thing was that this son was also his bloodline, the bloodline of Song Huairen...
"Your son doesn't dare to make a definite conclusion." Song Yinghuai lowered his eyes and said. "Your son just presents the doubts and hopes that Father will reopen the case of the Lan family's treason four years ago!"
"Humph!" Emperor Guangwu slapped the armrest heavily. "You've deliberately investigated the case of the Lan family, deliberately guided Lan Jinqin to the Changchun Palace, deliberately pushed Lord Wen to be punished and write a self - reflection letter, and deliberately caused Lord Wen to be injured... One thing after another, your thoughts are so meticulous that even I feel ashamed!
"The waves behind drive on those before, and the former ones die on the beach. I have such a good son like you. You've calculated everything about your father, mother, and court officials clearly... I, the emperor, am not as good as you. This throne should be yours! You should sit on it!"
Emperor Guangwu's words caused an uproar in the court.
Emperor Guangwu's words were too heavy!
Each sentence was like a mountain pressing on Prince Yan's head. Each sentence pointed to his intention of harming court officials and usurping the throne!
He could send Prince Yan to the depths of hell with just one word!
Even Song Yinghuai's face turned pale.
He suddenly looked up at Emperor Guangwu. His cold eyes were full of shock and sadness.
He knew that Emperor Guangwu never liked him and was too strict with him. He never dared to expect Emperor Guangwu to treat him fairly.
But what he was asking for today was not for himself, but for the meritorious officials and the pillars of Daye!
Why was Emperor Guangwu still so partial and biased?
Was his father so muddle - headed?
Song Yinghuai's back was stiff. His hands on his sides were tightly clenched into fists. He gritted his teeth and finally managed to say,
"Your son doesn't dare to accept Father's words just now! Your son is only for the public good and only hopes that the court will be clear. Your son definitely doesn't dare to have any second thoughts about the throne!"
"Hehe! You don't dare!" Song Chengyuan saw that Emperor Guangwu was protecting him. He couldn't hold back his arrogant look anymore and said first, "You know that I've always admired Lord Wen's talent, and Lord Wen is also grateful for my appreciation and promotion. So you've deliberately planned to bring down Lord Wen!"
"Song Yinghuai! My good fourth brother! Don't you just covet my position as the crown prince?"
The more Song Chengyuan said, the more he felt it was true. He shouted loudly,
"Father! Why don't you depose me? Let the fourth brother take my place as the crown prince!"