Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 434 - 270 Detained in Dali Temple

"Hmph! You know very well why you did it." Guo Shi pointed at Wan Xue Nian, appearing deeply distressed.

"Guo Shi, you say Lord Wan leaked the exam questions, but Lord Wan wasn’t released until after the exam was over. As for me, how could I have been bribed? Your Majesty, please see clearly! Guo Shi is slandering me and Lord Wan."

Song Shuqing was also furious. This Guo Shi, who always caught on the slightest mistake to blame others, unexpectedly targeted them today.

Xia Qing stood at the front, hearing their argument without batting an eyelid. The other ministers remained expressionless, merely observing, and even Jiang Mingyuan and Yin Kun watched silently.

The three argued for quite a while, yet came to no conclusion. If Guo Shi didn’t produce evidence, it would be up to the Emperor’s decision.

Yin Kun suddenly thought of Gu Chengyu, wondering if Gu Chengyu would be implicated if Wan Xue Nian truly leaked the questions.

No one could say for certain whether this matter was true or false. With the Emperor’s current attitude unknown, nobody dared to intervene rashly.

Didn’t they notice the Eldest Prince and the Third Prince wore worried expressions but dared not speak?

The Eldest Prince glanced at his father, realizing it was time for him to speak out; otherwise, it would seem he was heartless.

"Guo Shi, Mr. Guo! It can’t be based on your word alone to determine the participation of the two lords in malfeasance. I, the Prince, will ask you a few questions, and you shall answer truthfully."

Guo Shi was about to present evidence but stopped upon hearing the Eldest Prince call him.

"Ask away, Eldest Prince. I shall speak without omission." Guo Shi was very calm, appearing confident.

All the ministers at court quickly pricked up their ears, as the matter now involved two Princes. Those supporting the two factions were already worried, but the Emperor’s unclear stance left them uneasy.

"How did you learn of this? You claim the two lords engaged in malfeasance; do you have evidence? If so, present it to the Emperor."

The Third Prince, seeing his elder brother speak, gathered courage.

"Mr. Guo, what evidence do you have to believe the two lords committed malfeasance? None of us have the energy to listen to your nonsense."

The Third Prince’s expression was particularly grim; after all, Wan Xue Nian was his maternal grandfather, more important than the maternal family of his elder brother’s concubine.

He couldn’t imagine his fate if he lost the support of his maternal family.

Moreover, he himself might also be implicated—damn Guo Shi, who was behind his actions?

Guo Shi suddenly gave a mysterious smile, then took out a few letters from his sleeve.

"Your Majesty, I received a few secret letters regarding the two lords. Once Your Majesty reads them, the entire matter will be clear."

Jiang Mingyuan’s eyelid twitched; this method, though clumsy, was very effective. Since Guo Shi brought out the letters, it proved he had more tricks up his sleeve.

With two Princes involved, only the Second and Fourth Princes remained, and with the Fourth Prince still ill, who would benefit the most? Naturally, it was the Second Prince.

Could it be the Second Prince? He glanced at the silent Second Prince ahead, whose posture was upright, paying no heed to this matter.

Could they all be wrong about the Second Prince’s usual benevolence being a facade?

He began to worry about Gu Chengyu, uncertain about his ranking in the imperial examination; if he ranked high, he couldn’t avoid scrutiny.

The Emperor finally opened his eyes; though his face showed some age, his gaze was still sharp.

"Bring the letters forward!"

De’an received the order and rushed to fetch the letters.

"Guo Shi, you despicable man, is framing people all you can do? Your Majesty, please don’t believe slander! We are loyal to Your Majesty; why would we do such a thing? Just for a bit of silver? Your Majesty, please see clearly!"

Wan Xue Nian and Song Shuqing lay prostrate on the ground; Wan Xue Nian, who was over sixty, usually suffered from health issues and often had knee pain. But now, he couldn’t care less.

Kneeling for two hours, the pain in his knees felt like needles, but it couldn’t compare to the fear in his heart.

The Emperor glanced at the two, startling them into silence, afraid to keep proclaiming their innocence.

The Third Prince wanted to defend them further, but upon seeing his father’s unfriendly gaze, he promptly held his tongue.

The Emperor took the letters from De’an and read them carefully, rendering the hall silent.

"Guo Aiqing, are these letters authentic? From where did they come?"

The Emperor suppressed his anger, asking seemingly calmly.

"Your Majesty, a few days ago, someone left the letters in my study. I found them unbelievable. Lord Wan and Mr. Song are loyal; how could they commit such an act?"

Guo Shi stole a glance, noticing the Emperor’s fierce gaze, immediately breaking into a cold sweat.

Now that the first step has been taken, future wealth and high positions are within reach.

Steadying himself, he continued, "Though I believe in the character of the two lords, the letters must clear their names. So, I had someone monitor their residences, and unexpectedly, I found some clues."

"Their residences frequently have suspicious visitors; at night, people carry certain boxes into their estates, quite mysteriously."

"Oh? What’s in those boxes?" The Emperor leaned forward, squinting to ask.

"This? I don’t know; the two lords were very cautious, only visiting the estates twice. My subordinates, afraid of being discovered, dared not infiltrate and investigate."

Guo Shi finished, feeling the atmosphere in the hall had stagnated.

"Are you implying those boxes contain the dirty silver bribed to Lord Wan and Mr. Song?"

The Emperor, very astute, understood Guo Shi’s implication. Guo Shi must know something, yet he refused to say.

At this moment, a little eunuch emerged from the rear of the hall, heading towards the inner palace.

"Your Majesty, I indeed do not know. It’s just..."

Sweat poured from Guo Shi’s forehead as he explained when the Emperor interrupted with more questions.

"You investigated this alone? Why did you not speak of this in court days ago? Did you not investigate the origin of these letters?"

Faced with three consecutive questions, Guo Shi turned pale.

"I feared wrongly accusing the two lords, so I had the servants investigate. As for the letters, I still haven’t found who placed them."

After listening, the Emperor suddenly fell silent, closing his eyes to rest.

Xia Qing slightly turned, glancing at the three kneeling. Her gaze lingered on Guo Shi twice before she withdrew her sight.

Yin Kun’s eyes skimmed over the letters in the Emperor’s hand—what exactly did they contain?

"Your Majesty, I am innocent!"

Instantly, the two cried out in wrongful accusation, while Guo Shi knelt, awaiting the Emperor’s decision.

Their resentful gazes seemed to want Guo Shi punished with a thousand cuts.

The Emperor finally opened his eyes. "Where is Minister Kuang Zhao Ying of the Dali Temple?"

Kuang Zhao Ying stepped out from the ministers, "I am here!"

"Temporarily detain Wan Xue Nian and Song Shuqing at the Dali Temple and have the Military Department confiscate both residences. Discuss this matter later."