On the night before the trial, Xin Zizhao summoned Wei Shuxuan and Ge Zian to the main hall of Fenghe Palace. Wei Shuxuan asked Xin Zizhao, "Do you have something to tell us?"
"Of course it's about tomorrow's trial."
"I wonder what Your Highness the Fifth Prince has in mind?" Ge Zian inquired. Although he could more or less guess, the Fifth Prince's thoughts were changeable, and even he couldn't be certain.
"It's about the Crown Prince," Xin Zizhao finally revealed his purpose, which indeed coincided with Ge Zian's guess. "I'm not very familiar with the matter of the Crown Prince, but it's always good to be prepared."
"I wonder what Your Highness the Fifth Prince's idea is?"
"Hey, wait a minute. What on earth are you two talking about? I don't understand a single word!" Wei Shuxuan, sitting on one side, was completely confused by their conversation.
"Xuan'er, it seems that besides solving cases, you don't know anything else?" Ge Zian teased.
"Ge Zian, do you know that you're looking down on me?" Wei Shuxuan said with a displeased look on her face.
Xin Zizhao raised his eyebrows as he watched their interaction. "Can you two just listen to me first?"
"… Sure, sure. Please go ahead."
Wei Shuxuan immediately shut up and let Xin Zizhao speak first.
"General Ge, in your opinion, what kind of person is Crown Prince Xin Yezheng?" Xin Zizhao looked at Ge Zian.
Ge Zian thought carefully. "The Crown Prince is actually a very filial child. He listens to the Queen very much. However, he has never been very close to His Majesty. Perhaps it's because His Majesty has rarely accompanied him. As for why he was chosen as the Crown Prince, it's because he was born to the Empress in the Eastern Palace. As the eldest legitimate son, according to convention, the prince born to the Empress in the Eastern Palace is usually made the Crown Prince."
"Ah, I thought the position of the Crown Prince would be given to the prince who is capable of governing the country. I didn't know that the prince born to the Empress in the Eastern Palace must be made the Crown Prince. This is the first time I've heard of it."
Xin Zizhao sneered at Wei Shuxuan. "I told you you're ignorant, and you really are."
A filial child to his mother... Xin Zizhao lowered his head and thought. He himself had a bold idea, but would the Crown Prince really take such a big risk?
Xin Zizhao had only met the Crown Prince once. As soon as the Crown Prince came here, he tried to intimidate him. It seemed that he was not a calm person. There was probably a 60% chance that he would do this. They still had to be prepared.
"Listen to me..." Xin Zizhao motioned for Wei Shuxuan and Ge Zian to come closer. He was going to give them some instructions...
Emperor Jinzheng looked at the Queen, who refused to lower her head. He was angry, but he was also heart - broken. Although he had many concubines, the Queen was still very important to him in his heart.
"Queen, do you really have to do this?" Emperor Jinzheng didn't want to say more, but he wanted to confirm one more time before sentencing.
"Your Majesty, this incident was entirely planned by me. Please sentence me to death as soon as possible so that I can be freed from my sins."
The Queen still insisted on her statement. Emperor Jinzheng had no choice. Once it involved the current emperor and human lives, most of the time the death penalty would be imposed.
"Regarding the recent murder cases in the palace, we finally know that the real culprit is Queen Chen Xingyu. Now I hereby announce that, considering the seriousness of the incident, Chen Xingyu is sentenced to death, to be executed at noon three days later!"
However, at this moment, there was a commotion outside the main hall. An imperial guard with a bleeding wound on his arm rushed in and knelt down with a thud. "Your Majesty, outside... outside, the Crown Prince has led 300,000 elite troops and is coming towards the main hall. He said he's here to stage a coup!"
"What? Zheng'er actually did this!" Emperor Jinzheng was very surprised. That obedient child actually staged a coup against his own father.
"Zheng'er! Didn't mother tell you to behave yourself? Why did you lead the elite troops here to stage a coup!"
The Queen, who had been calm just now facing the upcoming death penalty, now had her calm expression shattered into pieces when she heard that her child had led the elite troops here. She covered her face. "Why? Why did you do this, Zheng'er?"
However, Xin Zizhao had long anticipated that Xin Yezheng would do this. It would be more accurate to say that he had made preparations. When Xin Yezheng led 300,000 elite troops into the palace, Xin Zizhao, Ge Zian, and Wei Shuxuan each led 100,000 elite troops and attacked the main hall in three separate routes.
The three of them surrounded Xin Yezheng's 300,000 elite troops from three sides. Wei Shuxuan led her 100,000 elite troops and rushed forward quickly. She looked up and saw red smoke rising. She knew this was the signal sent by Xin Zizhao, which meant that the Crown Prince had led his troops into the palace and would soon reach the main hall.
"Hurry up! We're almost there!" Wei Shuxuan urged the elite troops to move forward quickly.
Ge Zian skillfully led his troops forward. Although it was Xin Zizhao's first time leading troops, he was no worse than Ge Zian.
In the main hall, Emperor Jinzheng looked at Xin Yezheng, who came in with a sword in his hand. "Zheng'er, are you serious?"
"Zheng'er, listen to your mother. Quickly apologize to your father and then lead your elite troops away from here!" The Queen had lost her former calmness. She was worried that her child would get into trouble.
"No, mother. Since I've made my decision, I won't regret it. I'm here to save you. You're my only mother. If I don't come to save you, how can I still be your child?" Xin Yezheng walked up to the Queen with a sword in his hand and knelt on one knee in front of her.
In fact, Xin Yezheng was a filial child, but only to the Queen. When the Queen heard Xin Yezheng's words, she couldn't help crying. She hugged her child. "Zheng'er, it's all mother's fault. Mother has implicated you!"
"Mother, please wait for Zheng'er. Zheng'er will save you soon!" Xin Yezheng stood up and looked into Emperor Jinzheng's eyes.
"Zheng'er, do you think it's worth giving up your position as the Crown Prince for your mother?" Emperor Jinzheng asked him.
"Father, please listen to your son. If mother hadn't said that she hoped your son would become a good emperor, your son wouldn't have taken the position of the Crown Prince so seriously. Since childhood, it's been mother who has accompanied your son more. If your son doesn't come to save mother, your son is unfilial!"
When people reach a certain age, they will start to recall what they have done in the past. Emperor Jinzheng was no exception. He also knew that he was indeed sorry to his Queen and Zheng'er.