I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

"What I want is the truth, not your random speculations."

Upon hearing this, Qi Min finally felt relieved and quickly replied, "Your subject will certainly investigate the truth."

Qi Min staggered out of the study. The moment the hall door slammed shut behind him, he could no longer hold on and leaned on the white marble railing, panting heavily.

The cold wind of early spring blew into his official robes, and he was surprised to find that his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

so close…

The next second, a ruthless glint suddenly appeared in his eyes.

It's all that treacherous confidant's fault. If it weren't for his unauthorized actions, I wouldn't have ended up like this.

"Prepare the sedan chair; we're returning to the Ministry of Justice!"

Moments later, deep within the Ministry of Justice's prison, torches illuminated the passageway, making it resemble a blood-soaked inferno.

"ah!!!"

The piercing screams continued to pierce through the stone wall.

Qi Min sat upright in the armchair, staring coldly ahead.

On the rack in front of him, his former confidant had been beaten beyond recognition.

"I have treated you well in the past, is this how you repay me?"

"I'll ask you one more time, who ordered you to do this?"

The man opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

"Put on the shackles!"

Qi Min gave the order, and her chilling voice echoed in the stone chamber.

The jailers immediately pinned the confidant to the torture bench, stripped off his shirt, and brushed layers of scalding hot fish glue onto his back.

Wait until the glue has slightly hardened, then tear it off quickly.

"ah!!!"

A piercing scream echoed throughout the prison cell.

The trusted aide was convulsing all over, his back a bloody mess, with the white bones faintly visible.

"This is just the beginning."

Qi Min toyed with a handful of steel needles, then threw them in front of the man: "Pierce them into his ten fingers."

Upon hearing this, the jailer grinned maliciously and drove steel needles into his ten fingers one by one.

With each nail driven in, a heart-wrenching scream rang out.

"Sir... have mercy on me..."

The prisoner no longer cared about his family and children being in Prince Yu's hands; all he wanted now was to stop this excruciating torture.

Qi Min leaned down and whispered in his ear, "If you don't want to suffer, then tell me everything."

"I'll tell you, I'll tell you everything. It was Master Ji from Prince Yu's mansion... Master Ji told me to do it."

Upon hearing this, Qi Min finally smiled with satisfaction and pressed her bloody handprint heavily onto the confession.

"Guards! Go to Prince Yu's residence and arrest them!"

Chapter 116 I Have Three Virtues

Inside the Prince Yu's mansion, Xiao Jinghuan watched helplessly as Qi Min, accompanied by constables from the Ministry of Justice, dragged Master Ji out of the mansion like wolves and tigers.

Master Ji's wails still echoed in the courtyard, but he was helpless.

After this incident, the dignity of the Prince's Mansion was completely ruined by the servants.

Xiao Jinghuan stared fiercely at the constables, wondering when Qi Min, that old dog, had gained such courage!

By forcibly breaking into the Prince's residence to arrest him, they were threatening to completely sever ties with Prince Yu.

Thinking of this, he hurriedly went to the Su residence to ask Mei Changsu for advice on how to deal with the situation.

Inside the warm pavilion of the Su residence, Mei Changsu was gazing intently at the flickering flames in the brazier when he suddenly heard that Prince Yu had arrived, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Your Highness, is there something important you wish to discuss?"

Mei Changsu coughed twice, signaling Li Gang to add more tea.

Xiao Jinghuan then recounted how Qi Min had forcibly broken into the Prince's mansion and arrested people. Upon hearing this, Mei Changsu's fingertips trembled slightly, and his expression became increasingly solemn.

He glanced at the fireplace without making a sound.

The two wooden plaques that once symbolized the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Personnel, lying there, have now turned to ashes.

He originally thought that Qi Min would follow Prince Yu's orders and join forces with He Jingzhong to save He Wenxin.

In this way, both He Jingzhong and Qi Min will be brought down.

Unexpectedly, Qi Min failed to fall into the trap.

Miscalculation!

Mei Changsu's expression shifted several times before he slowly withdrew his gaze and said gently, "Your Highness is blinded by your own involvement. Qi Min dares to act in this way because he is acting on His Majesty's orders."

"After all, he can't escape responsibility for this matter to some extent, and in order to keep his job, he will naturally do his best to investigate."

"Yes!"

Prince Yu said regretfully, "It was my carelessness. How can I make amends now?"

"Qi Min is relentlessly pursuing you, and it's impossible for Your Highness to escape unscathed. I suggest Your Highness go to the palace immediately."

Mei Changsu said calmly, "If all the blame is placed on Master Ji, then His Highness is simply a poor judge of character."

"Given His Majesty's affection for you, at most he will give you a minor punishment as a warning, which will not cause any serious harm."

Prince Yu pondered for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh.

"That's the only way."

Mei Changsu stood under the corridor, watching Prince Yu's sedan chair disappear, his brows furrowed and his fingers unconsciously clenched his sleeves.

Qi Min's audacity to betray Prince Yu was beyond his expectations.

"Brother Su..."

Fei Liu handed over a cup of hot tea with concern.

Mei Changsu took the teacup, but had no desire to drink it.

At this moment, the situation within the palace walls was changing rapidly, and he felt like a blind man touching an elephant.

Meng Zhi has passed away, and Yan Que died.

The current situation is far too passive; there isn't even anyone in the court to deliver messages.

What should we do next?!

Prince Yu received the same treatment as Qi Min, kneeling outside the mansion.

An hour passed, and his knees had long since lost all feeling, but he dared not move an inch.

When Qi Min hurriedly entered the hall with the memorial in her hand, a sinister glint flashed in Xiao Jinghuan's eyes.

The Vice Minister of Justice, who had been bowing and scraping to him just a few days ago, now walked past him with his head held high.

"Announcing that Prince Xuanyu has entered the palace."

Yan Song's shrill voice finally rang out.

Xiao Jinghuan endured the pain and got up to enter the palace.

At this time, the four Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet stood on the left, while Yan Song, Cao Zhichun, Chen Chun, and others from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs stood on the right.

The fifth Grand Secretary, He Jingzhong, who should have been present, is currently in prison.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty," Xiao Jinghuan said, bowing.

Zhu Houcong didn't even look up, staring at the memorial presented by Qi Min.

"Jing Huan, what brings you to this audience?"

Xiao Jinghuan took a deep breath and kowtowed heavily.

"Your Majesty, I must denounce Master Ji of the household. This man is incredibly audacious, daring to use my name to collude with He Jingzhong in exchanging prisoners. I implore Your Majesty to punish him severely!"

"Oh?"

Zhu Houcong casually picked up the wooden mallet used to strike the bronze chime and looked at Prince Yu with a half-smile.

"So, you knew about this all along?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Min suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

His Majesty's words were clearly meant to give Prince Yu a way out!

"Your subject only just learned of this!"

Xiao Jinghuan quickly offered his explanation.

"A prince of the seventh rank who has established his own government office can't even control his own retainers and has even committed such a disgraceful act as exchanging prisoners. You dare to be the first in the world to do this!"

As he spoke, Zhu Houcong raised the wooden mallet, leaned back on the dragon throne, and said calmly, "I possess three virtues: compassion, frugality, and not daring to be the first in the world."

Prince Yu trembled, realizing that Zhu Houcong was implying that he had acted recklessly, and kowtowed again.

"Your subject acknowledges his guilt!"

"It's good that you admit your guilt. With your current temperament, it's too early for you to shoulder the heavy responsibility of a seven-bead prince."

Zhu Houcong said coldly, "Go down and reflect on your actions."

Then he changed the subject: "Qi Qing, you are in charge of this case. In your opinion, how should Prince Yu's actions be dealt with?"

"this…"

Qi Min felt like a million curses were stampeding through her mind.

You already said the punishment was related to the princely title, and you still asked me, are you trying to make me play the villain to the very end?

But that's fine, might as well go all the way!

If we don't sever all ties today, the first person this prince will deal with when he recovers in the future is Qi Min!

He gritted his teeth and declared loudly, "In my opinion, His Highness Prince Yu is unable to judge character and cannot distinguish right from wrong; he is no longer fit to bear the responsibilities of a prince. He should be demoted to a county prince as a warning to others!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the entire hall erupted in uproar.

Lian Louzhi and the others were so surprised that they looked up.

Qi Min is clearly trying to kill Prince Yu!

???

Zhu Houcong was stunned when Qi Min finished speaking.

Good lad, you're ruthless!

I originally only wanted to demote Prince Yu by one rank and make him a Prince of the Fifth Rank, but you actually made him unable to even become a Prince.

Okay, I'll do as you say!

He glanced at the cabinet ministers out of the corner of his eye and saw that Zhao Mengjing and others were looking down at their noses and minds, like meditating monks.

This is an attempt to remain indifferent and not concern oneself.

Then he turned to look at Prince Yu, whose face was deathly pale.

"Since Minister Qi has already stated the punishment, I cannot show favoritism."

"Effective immediately, Xiao Jinghuan's princely rank is revoked, and he is demoted to a county prince."

Every word Zhu Houcong uttered was like an icicle piercing Prince Yu's heart.

After ten years of painstaking efforts, from a prince to a five-bead prince, and then to a seven-bead prince, he has now been reduced to his original state overnight.

"Your subject... obeys the decree."