Emperor Guangwu had considered Empress Ma, and with the case of the Lan family being brought up again and again, if he forcibly overruled it regardless of public sentiment, it would be the act of a fatuous king.
So he surprisingly agreed to a retrial.
At most, he would just make sure the Lan family was found guilty again and sent back to Hainan.
However, Caiyu had a conflict with Song Chengyuan on the spot!
Emperor Guangwu was used to being partial. Although he had been disappointed with Song Chengyuan recently, he couldn't bear to see others scolding him.
Just like the saying goes, you can scold your own child at home, but you won't allow others to do so.
Moreover, Caiyu was just a maid at this time. How could a maid rebuke the current crown prince?
Emperor Guangwu's face darkened with anger. Since it was a commendation banquet today, he reluctantly gritted his teeth and asked, "Jinshu, why do you say so? What heinous crime has His Highness the Crown Prince committed?"
"Your Majesty! This plague was man - made! The cause of this plague was His Highness the Crown Prince!" Caiyu finally blurted out angrily!
Whether for justice or for her younger brother's life.
Caiyu ignored everything and revealed the fact that Song Chengyuan had created the plague!
"Lan Caiyu!"
"Shuer!"
Song Yinghuai and Sheng Jiangli were both shocked when Caiyu spoke and shouted in unison!
A look of surprise and panic flashed across the faces of the two men.
They had been on guard, but they never expected that what Caiyu was going to say was the matter between the crown prince and the plague that they had tried every means to stop!
Song Yinghuai only felt his head buzzing.
Others might not know, but as Emperor Guangwu's son, he could guess a thing or two about his father's plans.
Emperor Guangwu's agreement to a retrial was already an explanation to the world.
As for the result of the retrial, it was easy to guess that it would still be treason.
But this was just going in circles and didn't really matter. Moreover, Caiyu revealing her identity in advance because of this was actually a good thing.
But Caiyu was going to expose Song Chengyuan...
If Song Chengyuan could be brought down because of this, Song Yinghuai would have done it long ago. He didn't need to wait for Caiyu.
"Don't talk nonsense!" Song Yinghuai took a deep breath, hoping to stop Caiyu from saying more. "The crown prince is the current heir apparent. Without solid evidence, falsely accusing him is a capital crime. I can't protect you!"
Caiyu bit her lip. She knew that Song Yinghuai was telling the truth, but the current situation didn't allow her to take back her words.
Because Emperor Guangwu had already spoken with a stiff face. "Lan Jinshu, do you know that to accuse someone, you need evidence. It's not just an empty - handed accusation that can make someone admit guilt! Especially when the person you're accusing is the crown prince!"
Emperor Guangwu knew in his heart that Caiyu was telling the truth.
Because Song Chengyuan's letter of apology had flown into the palace just yesterday, earnestly asking for his forgiveness.
The crown prince had rushed into the palace at night to apologize after arriving in Shangjing and was severely scolded by him all night.
However, Song Chengyuan had confirmed that all the people who had poisoned were dead, and there were no witnesses.
Emperor Guangwu naturally wanted to suppress this royal scandal.
But Caiyu didn't know the depth of the royal family's affairs and had revealed it in front of all the civil and military officials.
Even if Emperor Guangwu wanted to suppress it, he couldn't. How could his face look good?
Song Yinghuai said preemptively, "Father, Caiyu is young and inexperienced. She has an impulsive personality and is eager to save her family. She probably said something disrespectful to the crown prince because His Highness the Crown Prince stopped Your Majesty from approving the retrial of the Lan family just now. Please don't take it to heart."
"Yes. During this plague - fighting, the general and His Highness the Prince of Yan have been guarding Qixia Mountain all the time. Everything has developed according to normal procedures. Where is there any man - made... Third Miss, don't be angry. His Highness the Crown Prince just opposed the retrial. Your Majesty has already agreed. The emperor's words are like gold. You don't have to worry about the crown prince's opposition. Don't be in a hurry..." Sheng Jiangli surprisingly echoed Song Yinghuai.
Unfortunately, Emperor Guangwu was not willing to let it go.
His eyes were shrewd, and he quickly thought while sitting on the dragon throne.
A little girl dared to falsely accuse the current crown prince. She couldn't have no evidence.
Did Caiyu really hold evidence against the crown prince, so she dared to publicly accuse him?
Neither the witnesses nor the evidence could be left!
Thinking of this, Emperor Guangwu tried to relax his face as much as possible and said in a steady and powerful voice, "Fourth son, General Sheng, I'm not asking you! I'm asking Lan Jinshu!"
When Emperor Guangwu said this, Song Yinghuai and Sheng Jiangli were both at a loss. They could only watch helplessly as Emperor Guangwu pressed Caiyu for evidence.
At this time, as soon as Caiyu accused the crown prince, there was an uproar in the imperial garden.
The accusation was so incredible that the ministers buzzed and discussed without caring that Emperor Guangwu and the crown prince were on the scene.
"Nonsense! How could the crown prince do such a thing!" The wine on Wen Zilong's face had already dried. He twisted his face and said fiercely, "This woman is crazy! Crazy!"
"Your Majesty, she is a crazy woman. I suspect that she is not Lan Jinshu at all. She is a liar. Her words are not credible. Regarding the retrial of the Lan family, I don't think we should agree just because of her words!"
Speaking of which, Wen Zilong was more panicked than Song Chengyuan about the retrial of the Lan family.
Last time, Wen Zilong had to stay at home for self - reflection and couldn't go to court. Later, he learned that he had been set up and was almost pulled down.
He was so frightened that he almost fainted and was in a daze for a long time before he recovered.
Unexpectedly, just a few days after he returned to court, Caiyu brought up the case of the Lan family again.
How could Wen Zilong not be panicked?
Song Chengyuan had the most powerful father in the world as his backer. What did he have?
Once caught by Xiao Rencheng and Xu Ziyi, Song Chengyuan and Emperor Guangwu would surely sacrifice the pawn to save the king and push him out as a scapegoat.
Wen Zilong shouted hoarsely, "Your Majesty! Don't believe the words of this woman of unknown origin!"
Xiao Rencheng frowned and said, "My lord Wen, the current Third Miss Lan looks somewhat similar to the old Marquis Lan and also to the eldest Miss Lan... Moreover, who would admit that they are a wanted criminal? If my lord Wen really wants a witness, I'm willing to invite the eldest Miss Lan into the palace so that the two sisters can recognize each other."
Wen Zilong was at a loss for words. After a pause, he shouted again, "Even if what my lord Xiao said is right, but Miss Lan has been on the run for so many years. Her mind is already abnormal! Her crazy accusation of the heir apparent. Even His Highness the Prince of Yan and General Sheng didn't want her to say more. It shows that her words are not credible at all. Your Majesty, don't believe her words!"
The ministers of the crown prince's party took the opportunity to kneel down and plead one after another: "Your Majesty, don't believe the words of a crazy woman!"
"Your Majesty, please make a clear judgment! The crown prince is the current heir apparent and cannot be slandered!"
"Your Majesty..."
This situation was like putting someone on the fire. Caiyu couldn't take back her words.
Song Yinghuai and Sheng Jiangli, who had been ordered by Emperor Guangwu not to speak, closed their eyes tightly.
The situation was out of control!
Under the successive accusations of the ministers, Caiyu raised her eyes and said loudly, "I have a witness! The crown prince instructed a close relative of the steward in his mansion to poison Qixia Mountain. I saved one of them, and this person has confessed. First, the crown prince had people bring back rats from the plague - stricken area in Yuzhou and secretly put them in the water source of Qixia Mountain, causing the plague to break out in Qixia Mountain. Later, I discovered it, and the plague - infected rats were burned clean, and the plague was eliminated. Who would have thought that the crown prince came up with another plan and actually instructed people to poison the water source again, trying to make the plague worse!"
"The crown prince is so reckless and lawless, like a jackal in power. He regards the lives of the common people as nothing and acts willfully. For his own selfish interests, he has made thousands of common people homeless and in great distress!"
"There is a children's rhyme in the folk saying: When the crown prince smiles, the people shed tears; when the crown prince is angry, blood flows like a river! This is not false. It is really the will of the people!"
Caiyu knelt down heavily and kowtowed. "I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice and bring clarity to the world!"
This prosecution was like a sharp ice and snow that instantly pierced through the flying snow mist, making almost all the royal nobles shiver at the same time!