Catching Monsters

Chapter 582 Let Xiao Jingqing Know

Xiao Jingzhi knelt on the ground, took a deep breath, and then reached out to pick up the oral supplies. After reading them, he felt as if the world was spinning.

These bastards, if you're going to confess, then confess! Why did you have to drag me into this too?

What does your plot to rebel have to do with me?

I didn't know anything about it, but I was dragged into this mess.

Sweat beaded on Xiao Jingzhi's forehead, but he was indeed innocent...

Knowing the seriousness of the matter, he knelt on the ground and hurriedly said, "Father, I really didn't know about this. As you know, I am the eldest son of the legitimate wife, and most of these officials are from Confucian academies, so they also want me to become the crown prince."

"They did all of this behind my back."

"If I were involved, how could I possibly agree to this?"

"I beg Your Majesty to make a wise judgment."

After he finished speaking, Xiao Jingzhi kept kowtowing to show his innocence.

At this moment, Feng Yu also spoke up, saying, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is a loyal and filial man. In my opinion, he should have nothing to do with this matter."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuzheng's expression darkened, and his gaze fell on Xiao Jingzhi. Finally, he said, "Send the eldest prince back to the prince's residence. Without my order, he is not to leave the palace."

"Yes." Upon hearing this, Feng Yu nodded quickly.

Xiao Jingzhi's heart sank. It was clear that Xiao Yuzheng had not budged. If he really believed that Xiao Jingzhi was not involved in this matter, he would not have put him under house arrest like this.

Feng Yu personally led Xiao Jingzhi away.

Then Jiang Yun asked, "Your Majesty, in this confession, this group of people also implicated more than fifty others, all of whom are suspected of embezzlement. Do you think we, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, should continue the investigation?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuzheng closed his eyes and said, "Let's deal with these eighteen people for now. The masterminds, Miao Yuanxing and Tang Yizhi, will be executed along with their entire families. The other accomplices will be executed along with their entire families."

Hearing this result, Jiang Yun was not surprised at all.

However, Xiao Yuzheng added at the end: "In addition, Jiang Yun, you should return to the Eastern Garrison immediately and interrogate these people to find out if Xiao Jingzhi is involved in this case and whether Xiao Jingzhi knew about it beforehand."

"Yes." Jiang Yun nodded heavily upon hearing this.

Jiang Yun rushed back to the Eastern Garrison Command and personally went to the imperial prison.

At this time, the imperial prison was overcrowded. More than ten people were locked in a narrow cell, and some of the crowded cells were so crowded that there was no room to sit down.

Of course, there were many cries and sobs, as well as many complaints about their masters and fathers being involved in this major treason case.

After all, most of them were previously high-ranking officials' families, with very high status. But now, they have become prisoners, and it will probably not be long before they are taken to the execution ground and beheaded.

Such a disparity is naturally unacceptable to the vast majority of people.

Qi Da was personally overseeing things inside the prison. When he saw Jiang Yun arrive, he quickly stood up and said, "Lord Jiang."

"Go and drag Miao Yuanxing, Tang Yizhi and the others out."

Zidane nodded and quickly led the two men out of the cell.

After all, they were the masterminds behind the case, and both were placed in separate cells.

The two men's injuries were not serious, after all, they couldn't withstand the torture as soon as it started.

Both men were wearing white prison uniforms and appeared to be in poor spirits.

After being brought out, Jiang Yun had two wooden chairs brought over and asked the two to sit down.

"I have some questions I'd like to ask you two," Jiang Yun said, then asked, "Does Crown Prince Xiao Jingzhi know about your plot to rebel?"

Miao Yuanxing and Tang Yizhi exchanged a glance and both answered without hesitation, "We don't know."

Miao Yuanxing added, "His Highness the Crown Prince is a paragon of benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, and filial piety. He has studied the classics since childhood. How could he collude with us to commit such a patricide?"

"Write it down," Jiang Yun said, turning to Qi Da beside him. Qi Da quickly grabbed paper and pen and wrote down everything the two had said.

“It’s finished, sir,” Zidane said, handing over the paper with the notes in his hand.

After taking it and examining it carefully, Jiang Yun nodded slightly and said, "Very good."

Just as Jiang Yun was about to leave, Miao Yuanxing quickly asked, "Lord Jiang, this matter is indeed unrelated to the Crown Prince. If given the opportunity, I am willing to personally go to the palace to explain on behalf of the Crown Prince."

"This is none of Lord Miao's business." Jiang Yun put away his statement and then left again.

"Sigh." Seeing this, Miao Yuanxing sighed slightly and said helplessly, "It seems that the First Prince will also be implicated in this matter."

Tang Yizhi, standing to the side, said, "At a time like this, Lord Miao still has the mind to worry about this matter?"

Miao Yuanxing closed his eyes, and only a sigh remained.

This matter was of great importance, so Jiang Yun rushed to the palace again and returned to the imperial study to hand the confession to Xiao Yuzheng.

After reviewing the document repeatedly, Xiao Yuzheng instructed Feng Yu, "Feng Yu, issue an imperial decree ordering Xiao Jingzhi to leave the capital and reside temporarily in the northern border region."

"Another imperial edict was drafted to appoint the Eighth Prince, Xiao Jingqing, as Crown Prince."

"This..." Upon hearing this, Feng Yu's heart trembled slightly, and he understood Xiao Yuzheng's meaning: "This servant understands."

Xiao Yuzheng's words almost completely disqualified Xiao Jingzhi from inheriting the throne.

He already preferred the Eighth Prince, Xiao Jingqing, especially after what has just happened.

Even if Xiao Jingzhi had no connection with these rebellious ministers, it didn't matter. What mattered was that this incident gave Xiao Yuzheng the determination to appoint the Eighth Prince as Crown Prince.

The two imperial edicts were issued from the palace almost simultaneously, and perhaps because of Xiao Yuzheng's intention, the news quickly spread throughout the capital.

This was something that no one expected.

In the capital, those who support Xiao Jingqing now are actually only a small number of military generals and nobles.

The entire civil service group supported Xiao Jingzhi.

Everyone believes that the struggle between the two princes is unlikely to end anytime soon.

Soon, Feng Yu personally arrived at the First Prince's residence with the imperial edict.

Xiao Jingzhi, dressed in casual clothes, sat in the living room. When he heard that Eunuch Feng had arrived with an imperial edict, Xiao Jingzhi's heart skipped a beat, knowing that it probably wasn't anything good.

Feng Yu then announced the imperial edict, ordering Xiao Jingzhi to go to the northern border and choose a city to settle in. Without His Majesty's decree, he was not allowed to return to the capital at will.

After hearing the contents of the imperial edict, Xiao Jingzhi clenched his teeth slightly, but still respectfully kowtowed: "Your subject accepts the edict."

After speaking, he raised his hands and accepted the imperial edict.

After handing over the imperial edict, Feng Yu sighed and slowly said, "Your Highness, although you are innocent, the fact that these rebels were so close to you before... Your Majesty still harbors some anger."

"After some time, His Majesty's anger will subside, and he may miss you. Perhaps he will issue an edict to summon you back."

Xiao Jingzhi knew perfectly well what was going on, and said helplessly, "I hope so."

Feng Yu bowed again before turning and leaving.

Xiao Jingzhi thought of Miao Yuanxing and the others, who were more trouble than they were worth, and he was so angry he wanted to grind his teeth.

He took a deep breath and ordered everyone in the First Prince's residence to pack their things immediately and prepare to go to the Northern Border to live.

Before leaving, however, he thought about it and decided to go to the Jiang residence to see Jiang Yun.

Before leaving, he summoned the steward of the First Prince's residence and whispered, "I'm going to see Jiang Yun now and find a way to spread this news, especially to let Xiao Jingqing know."

(End of this chapter)