Chapter 136: Three Horses in the Same Manger

The cheeks of the people were red and emitting hot breath when they spoke, but judging from their appearance and mental state, it was not an indication of being frozen in the snow for a long time.
Those people were immediately surprised when they saw him covered in almost fully with snow.
Lord Sun's mouth trembled, wanting to angrily reprimand Princess Yue for deliberately making things difficult and these people for neglecting their duties, but someone interrupted him.
"Oh, Lord Sun, why are you here? Princess invited you to come inside earlier, why did you just go in and come back out? Could it be that you wanted to appreciate the snow scenery of the Princess's residence? It's so cold outside, even if you love the snow, you should be concerned about your health!"
He was so angry that his blood surged back and his body trembled as he pointed at her: "You... you... I am not..."
"Lord Lu has already led people to dig the ground, do you want to go and take a look?"
Mr. Sun looked at the leader surnamed Lu with anticipation.
The leader named Lu nodded at him and said, "Just as you expected, sir."
Mr. Sun's eyes lit up, and he was about to burst into laughter, but was abruptly choked by the following words.
"The Princess Mansion is indeed beautiful and has many sights worth admiring, but it lacks what the adults desire."
Yan Jue interjected, "Oh dear, it seems there isn't any. What should we do? Should we trouble Lord Lu to personally go and dig three feet deep to see?"
孙大人正要点头，却看见以陆头领为首的一行人目露凶光，不满地看着他。
面对着几十双眼睛的虎视眈眈，他咽下了已到喉咙的话，勉强露出一个笑容。
"There is no need for that. I have always believed that Your Highness is innocent, so I will go back and report to the Emperor."
"So be it. My princess's mansion is innocent and upright, with no deceitful individuals or questionable behavior. If Mr. Sun or any other prominent person has any doubts, feel free to investigate. As long as the Emperor agrees, my princess will fully cooperate."
"If Mr. Sun wants to dig a few feet again and have some fun, my guards will definitely help just like this time and do our best."
Mr. Sun was stunned: "Help?"
At this time, the leader of the land bowed to Yan Jue: "Thanks to His Highness for sending people to help this time, otherwise, relying only on our strength, we may not be able to complete the task in two days and two nights. If someone reports it by then, it would be unimaginable."
Yan Yue chuckled and helped him up, glancing at Mr. Sun's pale face, and replied, "All of us are doing things for others, naturally there are many difficulties, mutual understanding is the best way."
Watch them leave, Housekeeper Xiu nodded with satisfaction: "The princess has grown up."
Yan Juo smiled and said, "I just suddenly realized that if we can achieve our goals without shedding blood, why not do it? They should go to the Eastern Tomb Prince's Manor next."
"Princess, is this the result of stirring up trouble?"
"Yes and no. They brought it upon themselves, and I am also very saddened by it."
.
When Sun Daren reported to the emperor, he provided a detailed account of the situation in the princess's mansion. Although no concrete evidence was found to prove Princess Jue's collaboration with the Molan royal family, Sun Daren's words portrayed it as an intentional obstruction by Princess Jue, resulting in a failure to find useful evidence. The other three mansions were just mentioned in passing.
The emperor, who had been in a high position for over a decade, naturally knew all these petty tricks, but sometimes he was too lazy to expose them, so these people thought he was truly foolish.
He put down his scarlet pen and asked casually, "Sun, are you a jinshi?"
Sun Daren was stunned and replied, "I became a jinshi in the first year of Shangjing."
In Da Yan, following the ancient system, the imperial examinations were held once every three years. In the first year of Shangjing, the new emperor ascended the throne and established the Kaien Examination, which recruited many talented individuals. After being assigned to various places for training, those with usable skills were called back to the capital and cultivated a period of loyalty and friendship with the emperor. They were then dispatched to various positions of real power in the central and local governments.
So far, most of us are in important positions, and Wen Zuoxiang is one of the outstanding ones. As for this Mr. Sun, he is just an imposter who has managed to sneak in. He may have some literary talent, but he only knows how to talk empty words and lacks interpersonal skills. He has countless political enemies and can be described as useless and incapable.
"Do you know who Yan Jue is to Us?"
"Princess Jue is Your..." he blurted out, but halfway through, he suddenly stopped, feeling a chill run down his spine.
Princess Jue is the only bloodline of the current Emperor. Despite the apparent discord in their relationship, with countless arguments and ups and downs, blood is thicker than water. Who knows if those seemingly prominent crown princes are the whetstone arranged by His Majesty for his own daughter?"
With this in mind, he hurriedly knelt down, prostrating himself on the ground, continuously kowtowing: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, spare me, I know I'm guilty! Please spare me, Your Majesty!"
"Alright, get up."
He was stiff on the ground and dare not move.
"We command you to get up!" the emperor's voice was clearly displeased.
Mr. Sun cautiously got up, still bowing low and dare not lift his head.
"The chief officer of Chuzhou was killed by an assassin last month, and there has been no suitable replacement. Go back and pack your things, we'll leave now."
"Yes."
The emperor dropped the vermilion pen in his hand and got up to leave.
Lord Sun collapsed on the ground, feeling weak and noticing that he was covered in cold sweat.
.
The emperor sent someone else to investigate this matter, and the chosen person was Xu Zhilai, the upright Minister of Justice. After the truth came to light, the courtiers, who had heard some rumors but were still in the dark, realized that their necks had just narrowly escaped the blade. The lower-ranking officials in the palace, who were not well-informed, began to burn incense in gratitude, thanking the gods and Buddhas that His Majesty had no intention of involving them. Otherwise, these people, who had somewhat flattered the officials in power, would inevitably have been implicated and become sacrifices.
Only the outcome of the matter was not peaceful, and the court was once again shaken.
"Ji Yuan, do you have anything else to say?"
Yan Ji Yuan's eyes were bloodshot: "Your Majesty, nephew is innocent! Nephew has never left the capital since the age of eight, how could he possibly be involved with foreigners from distant lands? It is instead Princess Ajue who returned from Jiezhou at the end of last year and had dealings with the Molan royal family, she is more likely to be the culprit! Your Majesty, someone must have framed nephew, I implore Uncle Huang to see the truth!"
“皇兄这话说得奇怪！”晏珏出声。
“妹妹去岁不顾凶险，领兵击退侵我国土者，怎么到了你嘴里，就成了我与漠兰勾结了？当时与我一同迎击漠兰军的，还有十数万将士，莫非我们全都同漠兰有染？我们拼死作战，还成了与漠兰军血乳交融，情谊深厚了？”
Yan Jiyan exclaimed angrily, "You are the only one in the capital who has had contact with the royal family of Molan. Without evidence, who would believe you haven't been influenced by them?"
"Didn't my imperial brother unjustly accuse me without evidence? Speaking of evidence, those letters discovered by Minister Xu in your residence are solid proof. You demand evidence from others, but have you thought about how to explain your own evidence? It's absurd to forcefully accuse me based on mere imagination. You have no right to take control of the court in the Great Yan Dynasty!"
"You — Yan Jixi, don't you have anything to say? Or are you also going to be a coward and let her have her way?"
The courtiers bowed their heads, silent and speechless, feeling that the heir of the Zhuang Wang Mansion was beyond redemption.
If you really want to turn the cards over, then take enough time to gather evidence and gather firepower for a counterattack is the right method. Although it is clear to everyone that the Emperor's unexpected move this time is unlikely to succeed, there is still a chance. If someone is trying to frame you, it is better to have the ability to frame them back.
It is a bad move to frame another crown prince in this way.
Seeing that the wife of the Crown Prince of Ding is content living in seclusion in the palace, and the heir is about to be chosen among these three individuals, looking at the current situation, if the Zhuang Palace is completely out of the game, then either the Eastern Tomb Palace or the Princess Palace will take the position. He insists on offending both, even if he narrowly escapes this time, he will have consequences in the future.