Chapter 443: Reversing The Verdict In Song Hong’s Case
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Even though many years had passed, the memory of former Prime Minister Song Hong was still deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people.
Although this minister was convicted and died of illness during the current dynasty, he had made many major contributions in the previous dynasty.
The reason the people of the Great Jin State could lead better lives than before in the past few decades was all due to this person’s achievements in promoting reforms in the previous dynasty.
Many people, especially some of the older officials in the court, had some doubts about Song Hong’s conviction.
However, because of the bias of the Emperor and Empress Jia, no one dared to bring up his case.
Jia Kun’s eyes flickered, and his heart was filled with panic.
He was very clear about how Song Hong was convicted back then.
Even though it was Shen Hongyu who exposed Song Hong, Jia Kun was the one who instigated the whole matter.
Did Song Que know about all this?
He was a little uncertain.
Or rather, it could be said that Song Que probably knew…
In this case, when Song Que came looking for Jia Kun and said that he wanted to help Jia Kun achieve great things, was this matter still credible?
Of course… not.
When he thought of this, Jia Kun’s heart shuddered as he suddenly looked at Song Que.
Song Que noticed Jia Kun’s gaze but didn’t turn back.
Instead, he cupped his hands at the Emperor and told him about how the Song family was wronged.
Song Que also told him about the evidence and witnesses he found that Minister Shen used to frame the Song family.
“My two cousins, a sister and her younger brother, are the survivors of the Liu family. In their hands were some letters left behind by Lord Liu and some evidence found at that time,” Song Que said.
The reason the Liu family was implicated by the Song family was that Song Que’s maternal grandfather and uncle were searching for evidence to help redress the injustice for Song Que’s grandfather.
Unfortunately, before the evidence that had been found could be submitted, the Liu family became embroiled in trouble.
The Emperor looked at Minister Shen.
When he saw Minister Shen’s defeated expression, the Emperor had already roughly guessed the situation.
It seemed like what Song Que said was true.
Minister Shen had most likely framed the Song family and then took action against the Liu family too.
“Where are the Liu siblings now?” the Emperor asked.
Since he had already decided to redress the injustice for the Song family, there was no reason for him to hesitate.
Moreover, he had no other choice in this situation.
Song Que hurriedly bowed to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, they are currently waiting outside the Imperial Garden.”
The Emperor’s eyes flickered slightly.
It seemed like everything had been planned in advance.
Then again, if Jia Kun could stage a rebellion, what was the big deal with Marquis Xiaoyao and Song Que bringing just two people into the palace?
The Emperor didn’t fret any longer and spoke up, “Summon them here.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Song Que answered.
Then, he looked at a captain of the Palace Guards.
That person bowed to Song Que and left.
When Jia Kun saw this, the uneasiness in his heart increased.
There were actually people in the Palace Guards working for Song Que.
What about the other Palace Guards? Could they be working for Song Que too? In fact, the Palace Guards helping Jia Kun this time were all Song Que’s men… After all, Song Que was the one who had been bribing the Palace Guards, providing Jia Kun with a channel to connect with the Palace Guards.
When he thought of this, Jia Kun felt his skin going numb involuntarily.
Despite this, he could only wait and see right now.
He could only hope that the fire Song Que started would not burn him.
Everyone didn’t have to wait long before the captain of the Palace Guards brought Yun Niang and Liu Ling in.
The moment the two of them appeared, many people were shocked.
This was because many of them knew the two Liu siblings.
Who would have thought that the top courtesan of Cloud Scent Court was actually the daughter of the Liu family?
And Liu Ling, who was also very popular in the past, was actually the surviving direct male descendant of the Liu family.
After the initial shock, many people lamented ruefully inwardly.
Back then, the Liu family was considered a notable family. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to form a marriage alliance with a reputable family like the Song family.
Who would have thought that after one generation suffered a misfortune, the descendants would end up in a brothel?
At this moment, apart from the shocked civil and military officials from the Imperial Court, there was another person who was shocked.
It was Princess Xiangyang, who had been staying in the princess’s residence and did not step outside for quite a while.
At this moment, Xiangyang was both shocked and excited.
Young Master Liu… was the grandson of the late Assistant Minister Liu.
Previously, she was worried that his background would make her Empress mother and Emperor father unhappy.
Now, if the injustice suffered by the Liu and Song families could be redressed, Young Master Liu would regain his identity. Then wouldn’t Young Master Liu and her…
When she thought of this, a wave of delight swept over Princess Xiangyang’s heart.
No wonder her master had made her wait for half a month. It turned out her master was making her wait for today.
Master truly doted on her after all.
Before long, the Liu siblings had already arrived beside Song Que.
Thereafter, they bowed to the Emperor.
“Liu Yun and Liu Ling hereby pay their respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!”
At this moment, nearby, Jia Kun was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped off.
It had never, ever occurred to him that the survivors of the Liu family were Liu Ling and Yun Niang.
He glanced at Liu Ling and then at Song Que.
Jia Kun instantly hated himself.
These two faces were so similar. Why didn’t he suspect anything before?
Not surprisingly, Liu Ling noticed Jia Kun’s expression, but he pretended he didn’t see it.
He had changed his usual weak and gentle image. He was now standing confidently with a calm expression.
At this moment, Liu Ling really looked like a noble young master from an aristocratic family.
The Emperor gestured with his hand.
“You may rise,” he said.
When the two of them straightened up, the Emperor said, “Lord Song said that you two have evidence that proved that Minister Song was wronged, as well as… evidence that Minister Shen framed Minister Song.”
As he spoke, the Emperor’s gaze turned towards Minister Shen again.
At this moment, Prime Minister Shen was already very dejected. He kept his head lowered as if he had lost his soul.
Jia Kun was determined to kill him, and Song Que and Marquis Xiaoyao were fully prepared.
Today, even if the two Liu siblings could not produce any evidence, he would still be doomed.
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Liu Ling replied.
Then, he took out the evidence from his sleeve.
The Emperor glanced at the eunuch beside him.
The eunuch hurriedly went up to collect the evidence.
Soon, the eunuch brought the evidence to the Emperor.
The Emperor shot Liu Ling a glance before opening one of the letters and then began reading.
Following that, he read the second letter, and then, the third letter.
After reading all of them, the Emperor slapped the armrest of the dragon throne.
“Preposterous!” he shouted angrily.
Minister Shen’s body trembled and he almost couldn’t control himself and nearly fell to his knees on the ground.
“Minister Shen, what else do you have to say?” The Emperor bellowed angrily when he saw Minister Shen’s reaction.
At the same time, he threw all three letters down.
Minister Shen raised his head. At the same time that he looked at the Emperor, his gaze swept toward Empress Jia.
He wasn’t the main culprit for what happened back then.
His actions were instructed by Empress Jia and her older brother, Lord Jia Kun. Now that things had progressed to this point, there was no doubt that Minister Shen would not be able to escape.
However, if Empress Jia could be saved, she might be able to protect the rest of the Shen family.
And with the Emperor’s love for Empress Jia, the probability of her being saved was not small.
Empress Jia’s eyes flickered, and she nodded at Minister Shen imperceptibly.
Only then did Minister Shen step forward.
He picked up the three letters and began to read them.
After reading them, his body sank down slowly and he finally knelt down. “Your Majesty is wise and perceptive! Please investigate! Your humble official has never written these letters. Someone must have impersonated me to write these letters,” he protested loudly.
These letters alone were not enough to convict him.
Even if he knew that he was going to die, Minister Shen would not stick his neck out and wait to be executed.
The Emperor frowned.
“The handwriting on the letter isn’t yours?” he asked with displeasure.
“This is my handwriting. However, the letters were not written by me..”
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