SFS Chapter 462 Mutual Performance
Chapter 462 Mutual Performance
The Northern Qi emperor looked at Zhao Yi in surprise. He had actually sent the virtuous prince to investigate the case.
Not to mention the tense relationship between the Prince Xian and Zhao Yi, the Prince Xian would not wholeheartedly serve Zhao Yi.
If the secret guards were his men, the wise king would not be able to find the real culprit; he would only find a scapegoat and hastily close the case.
Zhao Yi couldn't possibly be unaware of this.
If that's the case, why is Zhao Yi forcing him to investigate the case?
Suddenly, a thought popped into the mind of the Northern Qi emperor—Zhao Yi wanted to kill the virtuous king.
Yongqing County is now under the control of Zhao Yi's forces, and the wise prince may never return.
After all, he didn't have many children, only three sons, and the Prince of Qi had withdrawn from the struggle for the throne, leaving only his two sons, Zhao Yi and the Prince of Xian, to fight for it. With the Prince of Xian dead, the throne would fall to Zhao Yi.
However, given Zhao Yi's cunning and shrewdness, he wouldn't openly kill the Prince Xian if he wanted to.
Could it be... that there's some conspiracy he's unaware of?
For a moment, several thoughts flashed through the Northern Qi Emperor's mind, and he was somewhat unable to figure out Zhao Yi's intentions.
The Northern Qi emperor's gaze darkened: "You said you wanted to send Prince Xian to investigate the case?"
Zhao Yi replied, "No one is more suitable than the Wise King."
“The Prince Xian had just returned from his fiefdom when you were assassinated on your way back to the capital. That’s bad enough, but you even personally asked the Prince Xian to investigate the case.”
Although the Northern Qi emperor could not fathom Zhao Yi's thoughts, he was more inclined to believe that Zhao Yi wanted to eliminate the virtuous prince, so he directly warned him.
"The Northern Qi is currently in a turbulent period, and we do not yet know who the assassin is. If something were to happen to the Prince Xian during the investigation, the court officials might suspect that you orchestrated the assassination to lure the Prince Xian to Yongqing County and kill him."
"His Majesty has always valued blood ties and family ties, which is why he sent people to the Great Zhou to bring me back for a reunion when he learned of my background. After the last incident involving Prince Qi, your health has deteriorated significantly. If Prince Xian were to have another incident, you might not be able to withstand the blow."
Zhao Yi seemed not to understand the meaning behind the Northern Qi Emperor's words. He picked up a small cloth bag beside him and handed it to Eunuch Liu. His words were full of concern for the Northern Qi Emperor and Prince Xian: "Feng Zhihuan and Consort Shu are cousins. Most of the money he obtained by exploiting the people was given to Prince Xian."
“If other ministers are sent to investigate my assassination, they will probably find Feng Zhihuan. After all, Feng Zhihuan is the most motiveful and the most suspicious person. He has the ability to forge the royal guards’ tokens because of his relationship with Consort Shu. Killing me and destroying the evidence may reduce his crime and prevent his family from being implicated.”
"The Prince Xian has a deep entanglement with Feng Zhihuan. Once the investigation reaches Feng Zhihuan, it will inevitably implicate the Prince Xian and bring all these cases to light. At that time, even if you protect the Prince Xian, he will lose the support of the people."
The Northern Qi emperor pretended not to know who the assassin was who killed Zhao Yi.
Zhao Yi also pretended not to know.
Even if he exposed the murderer as the Emperor of Northern Qi, it would be of no use. Instead, it would cause the two of them to openly break off relations, which would not benefit him at all.
It would be better to give the Northern Qi emperor a way out and conveniently shift the blame onto Feng Zhihuan.
The Northern Qi emperor suddenly realized that everything before was just a prelude, and Zhao Yi's ultimate goal was to make a wise king.
At this moment, Eunuch Liu opened the small cloth bag, took out several booklets, and handed them to him: "Your Majesty, please take a look."
The Northern Qi emperor quickly flipped through the booklet, which detailed the financial transactions between Feng Zhihuan and the Prince Xian, as well as some cases they had conspired against each other, each one enough to warrant the death penalty.
If Zhao Yi exposes the crimes committed by the Prince Xian, even if he manages to protect the Prince Xian, it will be difficult for him to be appointed as the Crown Prince, otherwise it will cause dissatisfaction among the people.
If the previous dynasty had used this opportunity to create momentum and incite uprisings among the people in various regions, its rule would likely have been unstable.
Zhao Yi stared at the imperial edict spread out on the dragon table and continued, "Since childhood, I have learned the way of a subject: to serve the emperor above and share the emperor's burdens, and to bring peace to the people below and ensure that they have enough to eat and wear. I have not failed you or let down the people in my official duties. Even if my actions are criticized by the officials, it does not matter."
His words were so righteous and awe-inspiring that it made the Northern Qi emperor seem to be judging a gentleman by the standards of a petty person.
Unfortunately, the Northern Qi emperor couldn't find fault with him and had to severely punish the virtuous prince to silence Zhao Yi.
"This wretched child dares to embezzle and break the law, upholding righteousness and harming the people." The Emperor of Northern Qi was furious and ordered Eunuch Liu: "Go and bring the virtuous prince into the palace."
Eunuch Liu received the order and left the palace to invite Prince Xian to the palace.
Seeing that Eunuch Liu's expression was solemn, the wise king wanted to probe for his opinion.
However, Eunuch Liu looked down on him and would never reveal anything, no matter how he tried to get information from him.
Suddenly, the wise prince remembered that on the day he returned to the capital, the Northern Qi emperor had vaguely hinted that he would make him the crown prince.
Could it be that the Emperor sent someone to invite him to the palace today to discuss the matter of establishing a crown prince?
Thinking of this, the wise prince specially changed into a python robe and entered the palace with a beaming smile.