jdhmnovel Chapter 116: Your Majesty, Please Give Me the Punishment
Chapter 116: Your Majesty, Please Give Me the Punishment
He became more and more disappointed with Ming Qing. Even if Ming Qing told him that it was his eunuch Lin Yu who poisoned him, he might still suspect Lin Yu to some extent, but Ming Qing insisted that it was the case.
Yiran was his study partner and had grown up with him. When his ungrateful second uncle came to power, he transferred Yiran to be a study partner with his third cousin, but Yiran still refused. Yiran had always been by his side when he was in the most difficult times. He was unwilling and would not believe that Yiran would harm him.
He knew that Yan Yiran had wronged Mingqing, but Mingqing could not slander Yiran on such a matter. Forget it, he had already given Mingqing a chance. If Mingqing could not prove his innocence within three days, he would lock him up and never see the light of day again. Even if he died, he would be buried with him. This was the price Mingqing paid for provoking and abandoning him!
Xuanshi Hall.
"His Majesty!"
Mo Ling looked up and saw Yan Yiran walking in from the door. He bowed to him and said, "Your Majesty, the matter you asked me to investigate a few days ago has a result."
Mo Ling narrowed his eyes and said, "Just say it directly."
Yan Yiran lowered his eyes and said, "Yes, Your Majesty. After many investigations by Yinlong Wenwei, Your Majesty is undoubtedly the Queen Mother's biological son. The midwife and the imperial physician were waiting outside, and Your Majesty can summon them at any time."
"Put it in!"
"Yes!"
Soon, several people were brought into the hall. After they saluted Mo Ling, Mo Ling raised his eyes and looked at them. His fierce aura made them breathless.
"Tell me the whole story of how the Queen Mother gave birth to me. If you tell me even a single lie, I will punish you for deceiving the emperor!"
Those people turned pale with fear. Mo Ling said calmly, "Speak!"
A midwife lowered her head and spoke in a trembling voice, "When the Empress Dowager was still a concubine, she had severe morning sickness when she was pregnant with Your Majesty, and was allowed by the late Emperor to recuperate in another palace. When Your Majesty was born, the Empress Dowager had a difficult labor, and it took her three days of pain before she gave birth to Your Majesty, weighing a full six and a half pounds."
Another said, "Yes, I have never seen a baby as beautiful as your Majesty's. His skin is white and rosy, very cute."
The imperial physician also lowered his head and said, "The Empress had a difficult labor and it was thanks to the thousand-year-old ginseng in the other palace's storehouse that she was able to give birth to His Majesty."
"I personally witnessed the birth of His Majesty. He is definitely Your Majesty's biological son. No princes or princesses were born in the palace within a month before and after Your Majesty was born."
"But the former Imperial Concubine gave birth to a stillborn baby a month and a half ago."
Everyone talked about how painful it was for Concubine Shu to give birth to Mo Ling, how Mo Ling was bigger than other babies when he was born and caused Concubine Shu to have a difficult delivery, and how good he looked when he was born.
Mo Ling listened quietly, and after those people finished speaking, he said softly, "Yes, send them back, and I will reward them with 100 taels each."
The few people who had come here with a depressed look suddenly had their eyes light up, and they kowtowed with a smile on their faces and said in unison: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Mo Ling waved his hand, and only after everyone left did he let out a long sigh. In this way, he was indeed the Queen Mother's biological son, and he was born in another palace, so there was no chance for him to be exchanged with other concubines' children. Moreover, when he was born, there were no other children born in the same month as him.
Although he got the answer, he was not happy at all. His mother had disliked him since he was a child, perhaps because he was raised by the queen shortly after he was born. The queen at that time was the elder sister of Concubine Shu, who had no children. Therefore, the clan sent Concubine Shu into the palace, hoping that Concubine Shu could give birth to a prince to be adopted by the queen.
Although he was the eldest son, his father did not make him the eldest prince because several of his elder brothers died young. Instead, he was ranked with the princesses, so he was always called the fifth prince. He was named the crown prince when he was two years old, but his father usually did not call him the crown prince, but called him Wu Lang.
Although Concubine Shu didn't like him, the Queen treated him very well and always treated him as her own son, raising him carefully. Unfortunately, when Prince Jing seized the throne, his mother committed suicide to follow his father. Since then, he no longer has a mother. As for the Queen Mother, she is Prince Rui's mother, not his.
His expectations never came true, and his biological mother was still the same person after all.
Mo Ling pinched his brows. Just at this moment, a young eunuch hurried into the Xuanshi Hall: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Lu and several others want to see you."
"Xuan."
Prime Minister Lu, looking pale, entered the Xuanshi Hall with several court officials. As soon as he entered, he knelt on the ground and shouted, "Your Majesty, I am guilty!"
Mo Ling glanced at Prime Minister Lu and said calmly, "Prime Minister Lu, please stand up. What has made Prime Minister Lu so flustered?"
Prime Minister Lu kowtowed and said, "I dare not stand up. I am guilty. I did not teach Lu Qi well, so he dared to commit the crime of regicide. Your Majesty, please punish him! Although he is the son of an old minister, he dared to commit such a heinous crime. I ask Your Majesty to punish him according to the law!"
The court officials followed suit and said, "Your Majesty, please punish him according to the law!"
Mo Ling glanced at a few people expressionlessly. What just happened spread so quickly. These people have really long hands. But no matter what Ming Qing did, Ming Qing was his man. This matter was also the harem's business. It was not the turn of these former officials to intervene.
Mo Ling said calmly, "Everyone, get up."
Prime Minister Lu still knelt on the ground: "I heard that Your Majesty has not punished Lu Qi yet. Under the national law, the prince is guilty of the same crime as the common people. Please punish this daring person according to the law to rectify the national law! I know that I have not disciplined him strictly, please punish me!"
Mo Ling's eyes darkened a little: "Lu Xiang and Ming Qing have already severed their relationship, so how can he be blamed? The adults, please stand up. The case has not been fully investigated yet, so the adults should not accuse innocent people casually!"
Prime Minister Lu refused to stand up: "If that's the case, Your Majesty, why don't you hand Lu Qi over to the Dali Temple for trial? If he is not guilty, I'm sure the Dali Temple will clear his name."
Mo Ling's face darkened, and his voice was chilled. "He is my noble lord. If you hand him over to the Dali Temple before he is convicted, where will my dignity be? You gentlemen don't have to worry. I have arranged for someone to investigate. If he is guilty, I will order him to be punished."
"But this is his second attempt to kill the king. Your Majesty, are you trying to protect this criminal? Your Majesty is the foundation of the country. If there is any damage, it will be an immeasurable loss to Dai Viet! I ask Your Majesty to hand him over to the Dali Temple for a fair and strict trial to reassure the people of the country."
The coldness in Mo Ling's eyes grew even colder: "Prince Wei, are you saying that I am partial to someone?"
"I dare not. But Your Majesty, if your close ones commit the crime of regicide and are not punished, how will the national law be established in Dai Viet in the future? How will the officials in the court and the people of the world view Your Majesty?" Prince Wei kowtowed.
Mo Ling glanced at the ministers who were putting pressure on him, and finally set his eyes on Prime Minister Lu: "Prime Minister Lu also thinks that I should punish you?"
Prime Minister Lu's eyes were firm, without any hesitation: "Yes!"