Jackie Chan's Son-in-Law

Chapter 152 The crime of deceiving the emperor
"Bang bang bang!"

The next morning, the gate to the courtyard where Chen Huan rented was rudely knocked on.

After a while, Chen Cheng, the second young master of the Chen family, jogged to the courtyard gate. However, he didn't rush to open the gate but tentatively asked, "Who is it?"

A gruff voice came from outside the door: "The imperial court is looking for Lord Chen Huan."

Hearing this voice, Chen Cheng felt a little scared, but he still gritted his teeth and said, "My father went out drinking yesterday and caught a cold. He is now bedridden."

"What do you need me to do? I will pass it on to my father!"

The voice outside the door didn't answer Chen Cheng's question, but only said two words.

"Step aside."

Chen Cheng was only good at studying and had a somewhat soft personality. Upon hearing this, he subconsciously took a step back. The next moment, the latch on the courtyard gate broke, and the gate was kicked open violently.

Outside the courtyard gate stood seven or eight burly men, each with an imposing and intimidating build.

Leading the group was none other than the Garrison Commander Tang Can. This Garrison Commander Tang walked in with his hands behind his back and expressionlessly showed off the plaque in his hand.

"The Zhenfu Division is handling the case by imperial decree."

He looked at Chen Cheng and asked.

Where is Chen Huan?

Young Master Chen was also terrified, his face turning as white as a sheet. He stammered, "Sir...sir, my father is really...really sick..."

Tang Zhenfu said coldly, "Enough nonsense, take me to see Chen Huan."

Having no other option, Chen Cheng shouted into the inner room, "Father, the envoy from the Zhenfu Division is looking for you!"

As soon as he shouted, a noise came from inside the room, as if someone had fallen off the bed and onto the floor.

Immediately afterwards, Madam Li stumbled out of the house, a forced smile on her face: "Gentlemen, what brings you to my master..."

Tang Zhenfu ignored her and started to walk into the house. When he reached the door, Chen Huan, who was only wearing an undergarment and had a pale face, stumbled out and knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"Chen Huan... greets the superior."

Tang Zhenfu looked at Chen Huan's expression and frowned, asking, "Is Lord Chen truly ill?"

Chen Huan coughed violently and lowered his head, saying, "This humble official is ill, but... even if I'm ill, I can't escape it."

He gritted his teeth and stretched out both hands: "Please send officers to arrest him."

Tang Can glanced at him and sneered, "You're quite sensible!"

"Go change your clothes."

Chen Huan looked miserable, turned around and went back into the house, changed into ordinary clothes, and then walked back to Tang Can.

Tang Can turned around and gave a wink to several subordinates behind him. Several subordinates from the Zhenfu Division immediately stepped forward, grabbed Chen Huan, and walked him out.

A carriage was already waiting at the entrance. Chen Huan was led into the carriage, his heart filled with despair.

He knew that once he entered the imperial prison, it would be difficult to get out alive.

Moreover, he also filed a complaint against the centurion of the Zhenfu Division in the imperial court, which made it even more difficult for the Zhenfu Division to let him off the hook.

As the carriage moved slowly forward, Chen Huan's heart grew heavier and heavier. It wasn't until the carriage passed Zhengyang Gate without stopping that Chen Huan looked up at Tang Zhenfu, who was riding with him, and murmured, "Sir, aren't we going to the Zhenfu Division prison?"

Tang Can ignored him and simply said, "Shut up, who told you we were going to the Zhenfu Division prison?"

At this point, Commander Tang grunted, "Since I became the Commander, Lord Chen is the lowest-ranking official I've ever met."

"Stay put, don't ask any questions, and don't say anything."

Tang Can closed his eyes.

"You'll know where to go in a little while."

…………

Meanwhile, at Chen Qing's residence.

Commander Yan Hu of the Zhenfu Division also came personally to arrest him. This Commander Yan, with an imposing manner, led Chen Qing into the carriage.

After the carriage started moving, Commander Yan patted non-existent dust off Chen Qing and said with a smile, "The Marquis ordered me to be a little fierce when I invited you today. Zizheng, please don't take offense."

Chen Qing smiled and asked, "Lord Yan, where are we going?"

"Go into the palace."

Yan Hu answered decisively, but lowered his voice considerably. He looked at Chen Qing, coughed lightly, and said, "Commander Tang has gone to take Chen Huan to the palace. He asked me to bring you, Zizheng, to the palace. I guess His Majesty wants to see you and your son."

Chen Qing blinked and asked, "At the same time?"

"I do not know then."

Commander Yan said helplessly, "Yesterday, it was Commander Tang who went to the palace to receive the imperial decree, and I did not go with him."

Chen Qing nodded, his mind racing, and he roughly guessed what was going on.

Yan Hu looked at him and sighed softly: "Zizheng, you really know how to cause trouble. You can even create such a big storm at home."

"Yesterday, I heard about your deeds at the Garrison Command." "What deeds have I done?"

Chen Qing looked completely innocent: "Lord Yan, please don't speak nonsense."

Yan Hu smiled and said, "Alright, alright, I won't say anything."

He looked at Chen Qing, hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice, "When you see His Majesty later, just say what he says, and don't try to be clever with your words again."

Chen Qing nodded slightly: "Don't worry, Lord Yan, I understand."

He said with a smile, "I have already resigned from my post and have not committed any crime, so I should not have angered His Majesty."

The two chatted and laughed in the carriage, and soon the carriage arrived at the gate of the imperial city. Yan Hu led Chen Qing out of the carriage, and after showing their waist tokens, they quickly entered the imperial city without any hindrance.

Upon arriving at the palace gate, two eunuchs were already waiting there. These two eunuchs, who looked to be in their early twenties, led Chen Qing and Yan Hu to wait outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation. After arriving outside the hall, the two young eunuchs bowed to Chen Qing and Yan Hu.

"Please wait a moment, Your Majesty is inside meeting with other people. I will lead you in shortly."

Chen Qing and Yan Hu both nodded obediently and agreed.

At the same time, in the Imperial Study of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Chen Huan was kneeling prostrate before His Majesty the Emperor. The Emperor looked at Chen Huan kneeling before him with his hands behind his back and said coldly, "Chen Qing has made great contributions in the Zhenfu Division and was just about to do something for me. As his father, you wrote a letter to accuse him!"

"Tell me, who ordered you to do this?"

Chen Huan was completely bewildered. He knelt on the ground, trembling, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

"My lord, my lord..."

Chen Huan's mind went blank, and he could only stammer and fail to speak.

The emperor narrowed his eyes and sneered, "I'm afraid your accusation against Chen Qing for disobedience is also fabricated out of thin air. You falsely accused my personal guards in court; do you know what crime that is?"

"This is a heinous crime of deceiving the emperor!"

Chen Huan, his forehead pressed to the ground, trembled with fear: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty deserves death!"

The emperor stepped forward, expressionless, and said, "You still haven't answered my questions? Who ordered you to do this? And what is your purpose?"

"If you dare to spout nonsense in front of the Emperor, I will never forgive you!"

Chen Huan took a deep breath and bowed his head, saying, "Your Majesty, everything I wrote in my memorial is true. I did not deceive you in the slightest. Chen Qing did indeed contradict me when he was in Huzhou..."

"What I have concealed is that I had some conflicts with Chen Qing beforehand over other matters."

Chen Huan, with tears streaming down his face, said, "All the mistakes are my fault. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

Upon hearing this, the emperor put his hands behind his back, his heart filled with coldness.

Even at this point, Chen Huan still refused to budge and continued to defend Xie Xiangong, demonstrating just how deeply entrenched the power of the civil officials was!
However, Chen Huan cannot be blamed for this.

That's how officialdom is. He's already Xie Xiangong's man, so he can only grit his teeth and follow him to the end. Otherwise, even if he gets through this hurdle, no one will dare to use him again.

Both had their futures ruined.

The emperor said expressionlessly, "Chen Huan, listen carefully. I am personally questioning you. If you still do not answer truthfully, I will definitely convict you of the crime of deceiving the emperor! There is no need to go through the Three Judicial Offices or the Imperial Prison of the Garrison Command. I can take you to the execution ground in three days and behead you!"

"You should answer truthfully."

The emperor said coldly, "Today's conversation between us, the emperor and his subject, will remain between us. I will not make it public, nor will I pursue your crime."

"It won't even affect your selection by the Ministry of Personnel this year."

Chen Huan then abruptly looked up at the emperor, before bowing his head deeply again: "Your Majesty..."

"I ask you, did you frame Chen Qing?"

Chen Huan gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty did exaggerate."

The emperor nodded in satisfaction. He took a few steps with his hands behind his back and then asked, "Who instructed you?"

Chen Huan wiped the sweat from his brow and bowed his head, saying, "It is thanks to you, Master Xie..."

The emperor remained expressionless: "Xie Guan instructed you to frame your own son. What was your purpose? Was it to make me suspicious of Prime Minister Yang?"

Chen Huan, trembling with fear, finally lowered his head and said "Yes" in a very low voice.

The emperor finally smiled and said, "You and Xie Guan, write down everything in detail in my study today, about how you planned it, how you carried it out, and what your purpose was."

"As long as you write it down, I will guarantee your safety."

The emperor said calmly, "If you dare to deceive the emperor again, forget about your future; your head will not be yours either."

"Someone, bring him pen and ink."

Soon, the eunuch placed the writing brush and ink on the ground in front of Chen Huan.

In the imperial study, he could only kneel and write down this evidence.

Half an hour later, a detailed confession was finally completed.

The emperor squatted down, glanced at it, and then coldly uttered four words.

"Sign and stamp."

(End of this chapter)