Chapter 172: Reinvestigation

Chapter 172: Reinvestigation

In the split second after the Crown Prince made his stand clear, it was as if the wind blew through a field of wheat. The rest of the court officials who had decided to wait and see immediately bowed down one after another in succession, clamoring the two words, I second. After a while, even the timidly cowering Prince Xu and Prince Huai ventured to mumble something very softly as they joined those assembled in protest at the steps. By now, the entire hall was assembled in protest, except the one guest official, who observed all these proceedings with eyes that were clear and cold as ice.

If it had been just an assembly of court officials causing a commotion, the Liang Emperor was confident of suppressing them, but confronted in that moment with Xiao Jingyans fiercely intense gaze, he began to feel a little flustered.

Because he understood this sons feelings towards Prince Qi and the Lin clan. Back then, although he was severely disadvantaged, he totally disregarded the consequences and argued fiercely for them. Now that irrefutable evidence had emerged, Xiao Jingyan would naturally not let it go.

If he didnt restrain this son, he wouldnt be able to keep the presently tumultuous situation in court under control. But after some consideration, he suddenly realized that he no longer had any real power in his hands now, to control and suppress a Crown Prince who had been supervising the country with outstanding achievements.

For the cold-blooded Emperor, the knowledge that Xiao Jingyan had grown beyond his expectations was far more shocking and unacceptable compared to the facts that Grand Princess Liyang had just revealed, so he gritted his teeth as he walked around the palace hall, looking for support.

Old court officials, new court officials, the imperial family, the harem.he couldnt find what he was looking for in any one of their faces. Not even the gentle and sweet-tempered Consort Jing, whose eyes were presently so bright he couldnt bear to look at them.

In all his decades as the supreme ruler and absolute monarch, the Liang Emperor had never felt truly alone and helpless until that moment. Whats even more important, he could no longer override all objections with force and cruelty as he did back then.

After a period of uproar, the hall gradually quietened, but the quiet carried with it a sort of silent power that made the Emperor feel even more pressured compared to the earlier chaos. Because all present were no longer behaving impulsively or simply following the crowd, but were now calm-headed. They all continued to stand in place, showing no sign of retreating.

The Liang Emperor knew that now that matters have come to this, it didnt matter how long they remained in stalemate, there could only be one outcome.

I.allow the ministers to present a memorial.

The old Emperor spat these few words out weakly. Xiao Jingyan suddenly felt his heart surge, but he immediately suppressed it and didnt reveal anything. Instead, he gave Cai Quan a quick glance.

Since Your Majesty has approved the reinvestigation of the Chiyan case, would Your Majesty also like to appoint someone to preside over the reinvestigation? asked the shangshu of the Ministry of Justice as he bowed respectfully.

I wont discuss matters of the court now, declined the Liang Emperor softly, .the presiding judge will be decided another day.

Your Majesty, this is a serious matter and should not be delayed. Since matters have already come to a head, why postpone it? said the Zhongshu Ling Liu Cheng in response, This old minister thought it over. Selecting the presiding judge is no small matter. He must be a person of good moral standing and reputation, loyal, upright and impartial. He must also be astute and meticulous. Im afraid it would be difficult to find all these qualities in one person, so perhaps it would be best to appoint a few presiding judges to conduct a joint reinvestigation.

Liu daren is right, said Shen Zhui immediately. Your servant proposes Prince Ji.

Your servant proposes Marquis Yan! said Mu Qing loudly as before.

Faced with all these proposals, the Liang Emperor squeezed his eyes shut. Actually, it no longer mattered who would be presiding judge. As long as Xiao Jingyan remained, the outcome of the reinvestigation of the Chiyan case was clear. Even if he himself was the imperial throne, he no longer had the power to prevent this. Prince Ji, Marquis Yan and the Senior Official of the Imperial Court of Justice, Ye Shizhen received the most votes for the role of presiding judge. Feeling the fatigue suddenly surge in his heart, the Liang Emperor gave in and approved all of their requests. When the three men appointed to bear that great responsibility bowed to receive the imperial decree, Xiao Jingyan, who had been doing all he could to hold it in, suddenly felt a burning sensation in his throat and involuntarily turned to look at Mei Changsu.

Mei Changsu remained as silent as before. Although beneath the surface, he was like a pot of water brought to a rolling boil, he was so quiet it didnt seem like he was there at all. But anyone observing carefully would notice the deep anger in his dark, bottomless eyes as he stared with scorching eyes at the old emperor seated on the throne, as if he wanted to pierce through that decaying and weak exterior to stab at his fierce, vicious and self-centred past self..

But the Liang Emperor did not perceive this guest officials gaze. He got up to get away from the hall where he could no longer breathe, his entire body swaying, his white hair and beard trembling in disarray. As before, the Crown Prince and all present still proceeded to kowtow deferentially as he took his leave. Looking down at them in that moment, however, what he felt in his heart was already entirely different from what it used to feel like in the past. This difference was in the bones, so deep that no words could describe it.

Whether it was the effect of the medicine, or because the Liang Emperor was too old to endure such turmoil, it wasnt long before he fell asleep. Gao Zhan kept watch by the foot of the bed for a while, and when he was sure that the Emperor was sound asleep, he silently got up, looked at the bed for a while, then quietly retreated backwards in a crouch, one step at a time until he reached the side door where he slipped out without a sound.

Just outside the side door was the long and winding Yunding corridor. Consort Jing was still waiting patiently along the corridor, the sleeves of her robes fluttering, her gown billowing in the wind. Her gaze was clear and calm, and bore no particular expression. Gao Zhan stopped about ten zhang* away from where she stood, gazing attentively at this imperial consort who had risen steadily to the top without getting embroiled in a fight for the crown. This steward of the inner palace had always kept his gaze downcast and vaguely submissive, but for the first time now, his face revealed an expression, an expression of secret determination.

*ten x 3.3m (1 zhang is 10 Chinese feet i.e. 3.3m)

Gao Zhan knew that it was finally time for him to take a stand.

Reporting to niang niang, it was Zuo Zhongcheng, the Eastern Lord. Approaching Consort Jing, he simply said these few words, after which he curled forward and waited unmovingly for a response.

Consort Jings pupils shifted faintly, and she merely gave a quiet Ng, but the tension in Gao Zhans face relaxed visibly. After bowing deeply at the waist in salutation, he retraced his steps back to the Emperors bedroom.

The Liang Emperor remained in the same position as before on the bed, but his breathing had become increasingly irregular, and after a short while, he began to stir agitatedly, his head tossing side to side on the pillow, his forehead breaking out in cold sweat, his hands stretched out, grasping the air, his mouth muttering incoherently.

Wake His Majesty up. Hes having another nightmare, Consort Jing gently instructed, seeming to have suddenly appeared.

Gao Zhan hurriedly responded. Getting up, he leaned over the bed and gently shook the Liang Emperors arm.

Your Majesty.Your Majesty!! After calling out to the Liang Emperor a few times, he suddenly sat up as if something had jolted him awake, staring dully ahead, his head dripping with perspiration. What did Your Majesty dream about? Consort Jing wiped away the old Emperors perspiration with a plain handkerchief and said softly, Its probably not only Concubine Chen. Was there anyone else?

Trembling all over, the Liang Emperor shook her hand away, saying angrily, You still have the audacity to appear before me? All my generosity towards you mother and son has been in vain, for you to harbour such evil intentions and deliberately scheme to overturn the Chiyan case! I have been really blind, to have trusted such disloyal and unfilial persons!

Even if we had deliberately schemed, said Consort Jing calmly, There is something Your Majesty must understand. In addition to long-standing feelings and long-standing planning, there is another more important reason for overturning the Chiyan case.

What, what other reason?

The truth. The truth of the matter. Consort Jings gaze pierced right into the heart of the Liang Emperor. Your Majesty is the Honorable Son of Heaven. As long as you refuse to admit to the facts revealed today, of course nobody could force you to. But even though you are the Son of Heaven, there are some things you cannot do, for example influencing the conscience and convictions of the people, modifying the opinions of future generations, nor can you prevent the people of the past from appearing in your dreams..

Stop talking! The Liang Emperors face was pallid and he was shaking all over, both his hands clasping his forehead as he fell backward with a loud cry, convulsing and gasping for breath against the pillow.

Consort Jing extended a cool hand and gently massaged the area between his eyebrows, saying softly, Your Majesty, if you speak of loyalty and filial piety, one cant say that Commander Lin was disloyal, or that Prince Qi was unfilial. They had always been Jingyans role models. What they did not do, neither would Jingyan. Your Majesty, please dont worry yourself unnecessarily.

The Liang Emperor slowly relaxed the hands covering his face and looked fixedly at Consort Jing, Can you guarantee it?

If Your Majesty truly understood Jingyan, you wouldnt ask your consort to guarantee it. Consort Jing kept the corners of her lips lifted in a slight smile, but her eyelashes hung low, concealing the expression in her eyes. What Jingyan is requesting is for nothing more than truth and justice. If Your Majesty is able to give him this, then why harbour other suspicions?

The Liang Emperor was expressionless as he contemplated, his gaze pinned fixedly on Consort Jings gentle face for a long while before he finally heaved a long sigh and murmured, .things have already reached this point.just do as you will.Ill not say more.