The emperor began to suspect courtiers because of the words of Gong Qianyu!
A gloom flashed through Gong Qianze’s eyes, but disappeared in an instant. Looking at the emperor blandly, Gong Qianze said, “Father, courtiers relatively keep their place and neither of them has both military and political power. So it was unlikely for them to usurp the power.”
“They have been in the court for many years and they know how to hide their strength,” Gong Qianyu interrupted him.
Gong Qianze looked at Gong Qianyu coldly. Born in the royal family, the two of them were destined to be enemies in the struggle for the throne. Gong Qianze set Gong Qianyu up but eventually failed so that Gong Qianyu took precautions against him and declared war on him. However, Gong Qianze didn’t fear at all and was ready to fight to the finish. “Neither I nor Father suspects any of them. Do you have anyone in mind?” Gong Qianze said.
Gong Qianyu shook his head. “No, but if the five generals took refuge in that person, their families will probably have contact with that person. Check their families. Maybe we will find some clues.”
Gong Qianze shot a piercing gaze at Gong Qianyu. Gong Qianze was the one who the five generals took refuge in. The families of five generals naturally were loyal to him. Now Gong Qianyu asked his father to investigate the families. So did Gong Qianyu intend to frame him for usurping the throne?
Upon hearing what Gong Qianyu said, the emperor pondered for a moment and nodded. “He’s got a point,” said the emperor. “Listen, investigate the residences and family members of these five generals. If there are any abnormalities, report to me immediately.”
“Yes,” the guards replied. They flew away and were gone in the blink of an eye. It was too late for Gong Qianze to stop them.
“Return to the palace!” the emperor ordered. Because the news that Gong Qianyu brought back was too shocking, the emperor was so worried that he lost the interest to continue his incognito visit.
Upon hearing the order, both Gong Qianze and Gong Qianyu bowed and sent their father off with respect.
After the emperor got into the carriage, Gong Qianze said to his brother, “You not only get away with punishment but also made Father suspicious of five loyal generals by a series of lies. In order to get what you want, you really are capable of anything.”
Gong Qianyu glanced at him without say anything and then went past him and strode out of the room proudly.
Watching the receding figure of Gong Qianyu, Gong Qianze turned grim. It was really annoying to see such a defiant person as Gong Qianyu.
A guard stepped forward and lowered his voice, “Your Highness, the families of five generals have contact with us. His Majesty will find out the relation if he investigates it thoroughly. Do you want me to…” The guard made a throat-cutting gesture as he said the last word.
“No,” Gong Qianze shook his head, his gaze as deep as a pond, “Father’s guards have already sneaked into their houses. If we kill them now, it will be easy to be spotted by the guards. By then, Father will definitely suspect that I am the one trying to usurp the throne.”
Gong Qianze had also thought about usurping the throne, but currently he was far beneath the emperor in power. Gong Qianze couldn’t act rashly for the time being so as not to be charged of patricide for usurpation.
“But if the guards are allowed to investigate this matter, the relation between those five families and Lord Rui’s Mansion will be found out,” the guard whispered, his eyes flashing with solemnity.
“It doesn’t matter. All the officers and officials in the capital have contact with one another. Apart from us, those five families must also have close contact with other officials. It cannot prove anything even if the guards find the relation between Lord Rui Mansion and the five families,” Gong Qianze said blandly with a piercing gaze.
Since those five families were targeted by the guards, Gong Qianze could no longer have any contact with them.
It was a pity for Gong Qianze to lose the support of them. All of this was caused by Gong Qianyu. Without Gong Qianyu’s private return, those five families would not have been suspected by the emperor.
And if not so, the butler of the Prince’s Mansion would not be arrested, and the emperor would witness how arrogant and lawless the butler was. In this case, Gong Qianyu, master of the butler, would be detested by the emperor.
But Gong Qianyu suddenly returned to the capital and talked himself out of trouble. He ruined Gong Qianze’s plan and even wrecked one of his troops.
As the eldest son of Nanjiang Emperor, Gong Qianze was the one who should succeed to the throne. He was determined not to let Gong Qianyu have his way.
Soon after the notice issued by the Shuntian Mansion was posted, people from home and abroad gathered around and surrounded the mansion completely.
Inside the court, people who had once been wronged miserably sobbed out their sufferings on their knees.
Minister He of the Shuntian Mansion, a righteous man, immediately ordered guards to search in the butler’s house. Inside the house, the guards found birds’ nests, abalones, jewelry, silk and other expensive things and transported. People were stunned upon seeing trucks of those things.
They were awarded to the crown prince by the emperor. Particularly, the gold Buddha figure and jewelry with royal marks were specially granted for the opening ceremony of the Prince’s Mansion. However, the butler was so audacious to have sneaked all those back home.
On the last truck was a dozen of pretty young ladies, who were found in the basement. The youngest one was only 12. It was said that the butler searched for pretty ladies everywhere and caught those who he fancied under the banner of the crown prince. Thus, the ladies’ families hated Gong Qianyu to the core.
“He stole things from his master and did all evil deeds in the name of his master. That bastard should be sentenced to death with the most severe punishment!”
“Can’t agree more. The one who did the evil deeds was the butler, but he pinned the blame on His Highness. It’s so unfair for His Highness.”
“Exactly. His Highness entrusted the butler to the mansion. But the butler did all these to reward His Highness. Shame on the inglorious butler! I won’t even feel sorry if he gets killed a hundred times.”
“Cut him thousands of times. Tear his body limb from limb by horses.”
“Right! Sever punishment must be executed on this vicious villain.”
People defended the crown price against injustice. Upon hearing the severe punishment, the butler turned deathly pale and couldn’t help shaking his chubby body.
Minister He stood up, pounded the gavel and announced loudly, “The despicable butler committed countless crimes and oppressed people. According to the laws of Nanjiang, the butler should be sentenced to death by flogging. Execution begins now.”
“Yes,” two guards responded. They came up and pulled the butler to the center of the court. They tied the butler to the bench and then beat him harshly without mercy.
