Chapter 708: Zhao Zhuang Chen Questioning The Emperor
The Imperial Court's silence indicated just how grave of a revelation, the old physician had made just now.
However, the only relaxed person inside the Imperial Court was Zhao Wang Lei. The old physician had only seen the shadow guards burying Noble Consort Shu in Qin Wenya's garden. He didn't know anything about whoever had asked them to do so.
Zhao Wang Lei sighed in relief silently.
On the other hand, Zhao Zhuang Chen who was facing a great difficult n containing his anger anymore immediately stood up and started to shout loudly.
"Lies! All these are lies. Someone is trying to scheme against Empress Mother."
Saying this, he stepped down from the stairs and walked toward the old physician as he took out his sword. The old physician closed his eyes when he heard the sound.
However, even before his sword could touch the old physician, Xi Ying covered his body and looked at Zhao Zhuang Chen coldly.
Zhao Zhuang Chen held the sword tightly as he breathed heavily in anger.
"Prime Minister Xi, Benwang suggests you to move out of the way. Benwang will find out from this old man who had asked him to speak all this rubbish."
Xi Ying didn't say anything to Zhao Zhuang Chen. He merely looked at the Emperor with an emotionless face.
"The first prince is ordered to leave the Imperial Court right now."
Zhao Wang Lei's deep and cold voice sounded in the Imperial Court.
Zhao Zhuang Chen no longer seemed to be surprised on hearing these words. He turned around and his eyes unconsciously fell on Zhao Zhang Wei who was sitting calmly on his seat and the anger inside his heart increased only.
The old Emperor favored his other son and wants to remove him and his mother from the path of the throne. However, he will not let this happen.
"Your Majesty, this Subject Son won't leave the court."
Zhao Wang Lei's eyes narrowed when he heard Zhao Zhuang Chen's words.
'Did he no longer want the throne?' He wondered silently as he looked at his Eunuch. However, before Eunuch Wang could sign the Imperial Guards to take Zhao Zhuang Chen out of the Imperial Court, Zhao Zhuang Chen started to speak
"Empress Mother is locked inside her chambers. She doesn't even know that someone is saying all these rubbish things against her. Can't this Subject Son even stay here and take a stand for her, Your Majesty?"
Eunuch Wang paused amidst whatever he was about to do and looked at the ministers who seemed to be approving Zhao Zhuang Chen's words.
He looked at his master again who shook his head though there was anger in his eyes.
Zhao Wang Lei has never liked when someone tried to go against his order regardless of who it was.
"The first Prince can stay but he should be known to the decorum of staying silent when one side is speaking."
Zhao Zhuang Chen breathed deeply. He nodded his head and apologized
"The subject Son apologizes, Your Majesty."
But soon, he turned around and looked at Xi Ying with a polite smile and asked him
"Prime Minister Xi, does your witness have something else to say?"
He, in fact, wanted to hear what Zhao Zhuang Chen would say. Perhaps it would help him in aggravating the situation.
Xi Ying shook his head calmly and Zhao Zhuang Chen turned around again and said
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Xi is finished. Can this subject son speak for Empress Mother now?"
Zhao Wang Lei had no choice other than to raise his hand and allow him.
Zhao Zhuang Chen smiled in victory and started to speak
"Your Majesty, it is very clear that this person is lying. That time when Noble Consort Shu had died, had Your Majesty not announced her death in the early morning? In fact, from what this subject son remembers Your Majesty had buried Noble Consort Shu himself without anyone else being present there because Your Majesty didn't want anyone to see her. Should this subject son believe this old man after knowing this? Because, if this subject son believes this person then it only means that Your Majesty had lied to everyone years ago when Noble Consort Shu had died."
The Imperial Court went silent.
Zhao Wang Lei was stiff while Xi Ying couldn't help but praise Zhao Zhuang Chen for once.
His eyes flickered when Zhao Wang Lei's body emitted a desolate aura suddenly….as if he was the only person in this world who was filled with so much despair.
And then he announced in a somewhat hoarse voice that made everyone feel that he was about to cry.
"The Imperial Court is dismissed for half a shichen."
Noe one dared to speak. They were already surprised on hearing the hoarse voice of the Emperor.
Zhao Zhuang Chen didn't want this.
However, he knew that he would only attract the disliking of others he spoke to and tried to be stubborn in this situation.
Hence, everyone kneeled down as Zhao Wang Lei exited the Imperial Court followed by Eunuch Wang.
At the same time, they wondered what exactly the answer to the question that Zhao Zhuang Chen asked would be.
The Emperor could have dismissed this case on the first day itself by claiming that he had buried Noble Consort Shu himself. However, he didn't.
Was there some sort of secret behind the death of Noble Consort Shu?
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.
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Xi Ying left the Imperial Court with the old physician.
He didn't give any chance to Zhao Zhuang Chen to talk to the old physician alone though the prince asked him desperately.
He was not surprised when a servant secretly gave him a letter that asked him to go to the Imperial Study room.
It was clear that Zhao Wang Lei needed his help but if someone came to know that he had gone to see him, then perhaps they would doubt him.
Zhao Wang Lei's mind was very fast in thinking about all this whenever it came to protecting his reputation. Xi Ying thought mockingly.
However, Xi Ying had a problem.
He couldn't take the old physician with him to the Imperial Study room and he couldn't leave him alone here as well.
Just when he was thinking of a solution to this problem, he heard a voice from his behind.
"Does Prime Minister Xi need some help?"
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