Proud Feather

Chapter 105 Package Swapping
This wasn't Chu Xiaojiu's first time at the palace, but it was the first time he'd been in such a formal setting, facing so many important figures. The Emperor, the Prime Minister, the Censor-in-Chief... As the youngest grandson of the Kang Prince's family, destined to have no chance of receiving a title, he could at most accompany his father and grandfather to pay homage from afar during major festivals.

Therefore, his voice trembled slightly: "Greetings, Your Majesty..."

Fortunately, Yang Yu helped him up, so he calmed himself down and continued, "Greetings to the Princess and the Crown Princess. Greetings to all the ministers."

"Rise," the emperor said, and then fell silent.

Chu Ling continued, "Young Master Yang, Marquis of Xinyang, bring out what you found!"

"Yes." Yang Yu took out a stack of papers and presented them, then turned to look at Chu Xiaojiu.

Chu Xiaojiu was stunned for a moment before realizing that Marquis of Xinyang was her title, and quickly handed the scroll she was holding to the eunuch.

There weren't many sheets of paper, only four or five, and even fewer scrolls, only three, but that was enough. The items were still shown to the emperor as before, and then circulated among the ministers.

"Minister Lin, have you brought the paintings and calligraphy that were found in Zhu Fan's room?"

Lin Wenyu trembled his lips and replied, "Yes." He felt a moment of confusion. Even if Zhu Fan's handwritten letter was scattered outside, how could they obtain it in such a short time? It would indeed be difficult to send clerks and officials, but young masters like Young Master Yang and Chu Xiaojiu would have to be given face by the纨绔 (wan ku, spoiled brats).

The calligraphy and paintings, confessions, and handwritten notes brought by Yang Yu and Chu Xiaojiu were laid out on the table. The scholars were summoned to conduct another handwriting examination.

In truth, the gentlemen had already examined it and formed a preliminary conclusion. The handwriting in the calligraphy and painting matched that in the confession, and they were roughly similar to handwritten notes; an untrained eye might mistake them for the work of the same person. But these gentlemen were all exceptionally learned, possessing some skill in calligraphy and painting; how could they not discern the subtle differences?
Lin Wenyu, Lin Wenyu, no matter how great your ancestors' blessings were, you can't squander them like this!
A moment later, the scholars came to report.

“Your Majesty, the handwriting in the confession is consistent with the original calligraphy and painting, but it was not written by the same person as the newly appeared poems.”

Chu Ling glanced at the emperor and continued to ask on his behalf, "So, are the handwritings of these two people correct?"

"Yes, Your Highness. The poems are one person, while the calligraphy, paintings, and confession are another."

Chu Ling nodded and turned back: "Father, these poems were obtained by Young Master Yang and Marquis Xinyang from one household to another. Anyone who handled them can testify to this, so it can be basically confirmed that they are Zhu Fan's handwritten works."

No one disagreed with this conclusion, which meant that the terrible truth had become a fact.

—Someone broke into the Ministry of Justice, killed Zhu Fan, put a confession on her, and switched the paintings and calligraphy in her room, making her take the blame for the murder of the Crown Prince!

Framing, framing, fabricating evidence, murder! Each and every one of these acts is outrageous, and what they are trying to cover up is the truth that the Crown Prince was poisoned!

How audacious! How shocking!

"Father!" The Crown Princess knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down her face. "His Highness died unjustly! Who would have so deliberately tried to kill him! We beg you to do justice for His Highness, and for our son and me. Find the real culprit and make him pay with his life!"

Chu Ling turned and knelt down, tears welling in her eyes: "Father, my elder brother was your heir, the one you painstakingly groomed, the crown prince on whom the entire nation pinned its hopes! But not only was he murdered, but the truth is being covered up! Where is the majesty of the imperial family? Where is the law of the nation? I beg you to investigate the truth and severely punish the murderer! This is not only my brother's injustice, but also justice for the world!" Gao Mian followed without hesitation: "Your Majesty, please investigate the truth and severely punish the murderer!"

Yang Yu and Chu Xiaojiu then knelt down: "Your Majesty, please investigate the truth and severely punish the murderer!"

The Imperial Censor Zhang Ji was moved and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, the fact that someone would commit murder and frame someone shows that the real culprit is utterly inhuman and must not be tolerated."

With things having come to this point, the ministers naturally could not remain seated. Finally, Prime Minister Zhang Dingyuan stepped forward: "What Vice Minister Zhang said is quite right. To be able to freely enter and exit the Ministry of Justice, commit murder, and fabricate evidence is simply unheard of! Moreover, the one who was harmed was the Crown Prince. How can the court and the public tolerate such a powerful figure covering up the truth? Please, Your Majesty, make a decision!"

After listening, the Emperor sighed softly: "How could I not know what you all have said? I originally thought Minister Lin was merely incompetent, but I never expected..."

His gaze turned cold, and he demanded, "Lin Wenyu, what else do you have to say? Why did Zhu Fan die in the Ministry of Justice? Where did the confession she was found come from? Tell the truth now!"

Lin Wenyu's face was deathly pale. He had been sweating profusely since Yang Yu and Chu Xiaojiu presented the poems and paintings, and now he was even more stiff-faced, opening his mouth several times but not knowing what to say.

"Speak now!" the emperor roared. "Do you intend to disgrace the dignity earned by our fathers and grandfathers?"

Lin Wenyu's knees buckled, and he knelt down with a thud, finally managing to utter a sound: "Your Majesty! I...I don't know either! I did everything according to procedure. The people were locked up in the torture chamber, and I had people watching them...Could they have been bribed? That's right, the manager of Xianle Tower! The painting and calligraphy being switched must have been his doing! Investigate him, investigate him first!"

Chu Ling said coldly, "Minister Lin, I gave you a chance two quarters of an hour ago. What did you say then?"

Lin Wenyu immediately begged for mercy: "Princess, I did not mean to oppose you. I was just stupid and was deceived without knowing it... In that situation, it was reasonable for me to believe that Zhu Fan had poisoned him. We had already investigated the Crown Prince's whereabouts many times and ruled out almost everyone who could have contacted him. Only Zhu Fan was an exception!"

His mind finally started working, and he continued, "Zhu Fan's murder might not have been a frame-up, but rather a cover-up! She was the one who did it, and the accomplice was afraid of being implicated, so she wanted the matter to end with her. Your Majesty, doesn't that make sense?"

After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Ji said fairly, "What Minister Lin said makes some sense."

This old man, he's still rambling on and on at a time like this.

Chu Ling sneered, "Very well, then let's continue." She turned to ask for permission, "Father, I request permission to bring the next witness, Abbot Lingxu of the Sanqing Temple, into the hall."

Master Lingxu? Everyone was a little confused. The Sanqing Temple was located on the outskirts of the capital, dozens of miles away. What did this have to do with Master Lingxu?

The only person in the hall who knew this was Gao Mian. He calmly watched the eunuch go down to deliver the message. Before long, the Taoist Master Lingxu, with his flowing sleeves and otherworldly demeanor, stepped in.

"This humble Taoist priest, Lingxu, greets Your Majesty, the Princess, and all distinguished guests."

Master Lingxu is an old acquaintance of everyone. Although he does not live in the capital, we often interact with him during the annual major and minor festivals and rituals. Several of our ministers and chess friends have played chess with him, so his credibility is self-evident.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Chu Ling had Sun Shouquan bring the letter: "Daoist Master, you brought this letter into the palace during the day, didn't you?"