Chapter 289: Gong Xi Prince Falls Into the Trap
Xie Shi'an stepped forward.
He held a paper package in both hands and presented it to Gong Xi Prince.
The guard standing behind the prince stepped forward, took the package, and carefully unwrapped it. Inside was another layer of oiled paper, faintly revealing traces of red blood.
The guard's expression turned grave as he unwrapped it further, exposing a bloody ear.
"This is but a humble token of my loyalty."
Xie Shi'an kept his head bowed, maintaining an extremely humble posture.
Gong Xi Prince knew this was the sixth prince's ear.
Among imperial descendants, any who became injured or maimed would forever lose eligibility for the throne.
Xie Shi'an was not only declaring his loyalty but also demonstrating his capabilities.
Though merely a commoner, he had managed to sever an imperial descendant's ear. With proper support, he would undoubtedly become a powerful ally in time.
"Bold and resourceful—truly counselor material," Gong Xi Prince declared. "Starting tomorrow, report to the royal mansion. Someone will assign you duties."
Xie Shi'an was overjoyed: "Yes, Your Highness."
He immediately went to the market to outfit himself with proper attire. From tomorrow onward, he would be a counselor at the Gongxi Royal Mansion. Everything that should come with that position would eventually be his.
Meanwhile, Yun Chu leisurely sipped her tea.
She saw Chu Yi enter through the doorway and asked, "Was it as I said?"
Chu Yi nodded: "The Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review interrogated the sixth prince's guards. The incident unfolded roughly like this: the sixth prince was returning to his residence after drinking when his horse suddenly panicked and bolted in different directions. The streets were crowded and lively at that time, causing the master and servants to become separated. When the guards finally found the sixth prince, he was lying in an alley covered in blood, missing an ear. The Court discovered black beans at the scene, speculating the horse had gone wild after smelling them. Chu'er, who exactly committed this deed?"
"The perpetrator was Xie Shi'an from the Xie family," Yun Chu lifted her eyes. "He did this both to vent his hatred and to pledge allegiance to Gong Xi Prince. If exposed, he could also shift blame to Concubine Jiang. This is a scheme devised by a mere thirteen-year-old child."
Chu Yi sat down beside her: "But he never imagined that all his actions would escape your notice. What does Chu'er think we should do next?"
"Then let's see how much value Gong Xi Prince truly places in Xie Shi'an," Yun Chu smiled. "If the prince abandons him, we need not take further action. But if the prince protects him, all the better—I'd like to confront him directly."
She had never dealt Xie Shi'an a fatal blow because he remained a child, and the events of her previous life had not yet come to pass.
Now that Xie Shi'an had officially become Gong Xi Prince's counselor while she was the Princess Consort of the Pacifying West, they stood on opposing sides. Whatever actions they took would be open and honorable confrontations.
"Leave this matter to your husband."
Chu Yi's voice suddenly grew hoarse as his large hand embraced Yun Chu's shoulder.
Yun Chu had been pondering serious matters, but his touch instantly scattered her thoughts.
"Chu'er, night has fallen."
Without another word, the man lifted her and placed her on the bed.
Three days passed in a flash. Yin Fei finally returned the two children to the mansion, and Chu Yi officially resumed court attendance.
After all official matters had been reported, Chu Yi stepped forward from among the officials and bowed: "Father Emperor, your son has important matters to report."
The Emperor waved his hand: "Permission granted."Chu Yi reported, "During these three days of my leave at home, instead of indulging in the joys of my new marriage, I went incognito to investigate the case of the sixth brother and finally uncovered a clue."
Prince Gongxi's fingers paused briefly, but he showed little concern.
He had already asked Xie Shi'an: the black beans were obtained from a household on the outskirts of the capital, and the people who assaulted the sixth brother were drifters who had been sent away overnight, leaving no trace of evidence.
If the Court of Judicial Review followed the trail of black beans, any evidence they found would only lead to that suburban household, with no possibility of connecting it to the Gongxi Royal Mansion.
Then Chu Yi continued, "A commoner heard cries for help from an alley and witnessed the assailants fleeing into the Gongxi Royal Mansion... Given the gravity of the matter, the witness refuses to come forward openly, fearing retaliation. If Your Majesty doubts this, you may summon the witness privately and in secret."
"You—you're speaking utter nonsense!"
Prince Gongxi's eyes widened in disbelief.
The men who had beaten the sixth brother were drifters, paid off by Xie Shi'an and sent away that very day—they had never set foot in the Gongxi Royal Mansion.
This damned third brother was openly fabricating a witness to frame him.
"Your Majesty!" Prince Gongxi clasped his hands and looked toward the throne. "The sixth brother and I share a deep fraternal bond; I would never commit such a vicious act against him. I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
The Chief of the Court of Judicial Review stepped forward: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I discovered leftover black beans by the rear wall of the Gongxi Royal Mansion. Your Majesty may not know, but horses are particularly fond of black beans and will recklessly seek them out once they catch the scent. This is what caused the sixth prince's horse to lose control. Initially, without a witness, I dared not report hastily. Now that Prince Pingxi has provided a witness, combined with the physical evidence I possess, it can be confirmed that this incident was indeed orchestrated by Prince Gongxi."
Prince Gongxi clenched his fingers tightly.
He never dreamed that the Chief of the Court of Judicial Review was in the third brother's camp, assisting him in fabricating evidence about the black beans.
A basin of filthy water had been dumped on him.
It had absolutely nothing to do with him.
"Your Majesty..."
As Prince Gongxi prepared to defend himself,
he saw the Emperor's face darken instantly: "Last time, you killed Yi'er's beloved, and I merely punished you with house arrest for reflection. It seems the punishment was too lenient."
"Your Majesty!" Prince Gongxi dropped to his knees. "I swear to heaven, this matter has no connection to me. If I speak even half a lie, may I be struck by lightning and die a wretched death!"
Grand Astrologer Ding Yiyuan, standing at the forefront, remarked quietly, "Heaven is far too busy to heed the oaths of mortals."
Prince Gongxi: "..."
The Grand Astrologer must also be aligned with the third brother!
The Emperor spoke coldly: "Guards, take the Chief Guard, the Chief Steward, and the Head Matron of the Gongxi Royal Mansion to the Court of Judicial Review for interrogation!"
Prince Gongxi's heart turned cold.
Once in the Court of Judicial Review, even if they didn't die, they would be stripped of a layer of skin—many would confess under torture.
That meant the blame would ultimately fall on him.
He took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, I vaguely recall that on the night of Third Brother's wedding, I had too much to drink and, in a foul mood, kicked and injured a guard. I wonder if that guard, bearing a grudge, intentionally assaulted the sixth brother to frame me..."
In the end, the case of the sixth prince, Cheng Wang, was determined to be the work of a guard from the Gongxi Royal Mansion, who was sentenced to immediate execution.
Exhausted and drained, Prince Gongxi returned to his mansion and immediately summoned Xie Shi'an.
Xie Shi'an had already received the news.His face was full of concern, but inwardly he wore a mocking smile.
As noble as the Gong Xi Prince was, he was still being led around by the nose by him.
The black beans behind the prince's residence wall were tossed there by him under the cover of night.
Only by plunging the Gong Xi Prince into dire straits could he prove his own worth, wasn't that right?
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