Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 145 - 144: Beating the Drum_1
Chapter 145: Chapter 144: Beating the Drum_1
The people of the kingdom would only think of him, the Emperor, as incompetent. They would merely believe him to be easily deceived!
The Emperor was filled with raging anger, unable to contain his fury.
“Your Majesty, King Liang has arrived. He is just outside the door…” Gao Demao whispered in the Emperor’s ear.
“Bring that beast in here!”
Gao Demao turned to let a young eunuch go out and call King Liang inside. The pale-faced King Liang entered with a bowed back and a look of trepidation. Seeing the Emperor’s grim expression, his legs nearly buckled, and he fell to his knees at the door, needing the young eunuch’s support to kneel at the center.
He timidly glanced at the Eldest Princess and Bai Qingyan before speaking, “Son… Son greets Father Emperor.”
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The Emperor looked at his timid and submissive son, then his eyes fell on the letters before him… Could it be that King Liang, with his cowardly disposition, truly committed such an act… mimicking someone’s handwriting to frame the Duke’s residence for treason?
The Emperor’s gaze involuntarily fell upon Bai Qingyan, who stood in silent contemplation. But if this was a plot set by her, what was her motive?
Could it be that after all the men of the Bai family had died, she now wanted his sons to die as well?
His temples throbbed. First, it was King Xin, and now it was King Liang…
“Peace?! How can I have any peace?!” The Emperor’s tone was somber. “Beast! Explain why you had your personal servant bribe the maidservant of the Duke’s residence to plant these letters in King of Zhen’s study?!”
King Liang shivered and kowtowed heavily, seemingly terrified and hastily admitting, “Father Emperor, please quell your anger. Your son… Your son was simply too infatuated with Miss Bai. But Miss Bai greatly detested me, so I made this foolish decision! Please forgive me, Father Emperor!”
The Emperor squinted his eyes, tapping the letters on the desk. “Infatuated with Miss Bai, so… you forged a letter in King of Zhen’s handwriting accusing him of treason to place in his study?!”
King Liang’s eyes widened, his face as white as a sheet. “Why would Father Emperor say such a thing?! I only wrote love letters to Miss Bai! I merely wanted to use King of Zhen’s name to force… force her to marry me!”
“Your Majesty, these letters… were delivered to our residence’s side door by King Liang’s personal servant. The servant was apprehended in plain view just after handing the letters to one of our maids. The letters were read aloud in front of witnesses. If Your Majesty doubts, you can summon King Liang’s servant and that maid for questioning!” The Eldest Princess tearfully spoke to the Emperor.
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“Yes… It was I who sent Tongji! But I gave him love letters!” King Liang seemed panicked, unsure of how to prove himself innocent, crying as he crawled forward on his knees. “Father Emperor, if you don’t believe me, you can ask Tongji! Even if I had the guts, I wouldn’t dare do such a thing!”
The Emperor narrowed his eyes. “Bring them in.”
Soon, Tongji and Chun Yan were brought in, tightly bound.
Tongji, having been with King Liang from a young age, was somewhat composed, but Chun Yan was mortified, fearing that a single word from the Emperor could cost her life. She trembled like a quail, too scared to even cry.
“Tongji… explain to Father Emperor what kind of letters I gave you! How did they turn into letters imitating King of Zhen’s handwriting?!”
“Your Highness, I have no idea!” Tongji cried, just as scared as King Liang. “I don’t know why the love letters turned into the ones Miss Bai read!”
Bai Qingyan spoke slowly, “After His Highness gave you the letters, did you ever leave his side or encounter anyone… or inform others that His Highness asked you to deliver love letters to the maidservant of the Duke’s residence? If His Highness is innocent, only by telling the truth can the real culprit be found.”
Tongji, eager to clear King Liang’s name, hurriedly said, “No, no! I swear I didn’t! Once His Highness gave me the letters, they never left my side! Nor did I tell anyone! I spent the entire night sleepless, holding these letters because of the injustice done to His Highness! Oh… Gao Sheng knows about this! These letters were handed to me in His Highness’s presence by Gao Sheng!”
Thinking of Gao Sheng, Tongji suddenly turned to King Liang.
“Your Highness! Didn’t you previously send Gao Sheng to find Chun Yan? The nanny at the Duke’s residence said… one of our cold-faced guards went looking for Chun Yan, but she didn’t come out to meet him! Gao Sheng’s skills are exceptional… no one could have changed the letters in his hands! It must be Gao Sheng trying to frame you!” Tongji’s face turned whiter, almost certain that Gao Sheng intended to harm King Liang, he cried out, “After Gao Sheng handed me the letters… he never returned to the residence! I always said Gao Sheng shouldn’t stay by your side; he surely escaped…”
King Liang’s heart sank. He hadn’t expected Tongji to bring up Gao Sheng!
Bai Qingyan’s eyebrow twitched; Tongji mentioning Gao Sheng was a pleasant surprise for her.
Gao Sheng was formerly affiliated with the late Second Prince. Years ago, the Second Prince attempted to raise an army to coerce the palace in order to save his mother’s family, and was shot dead by the Emperor within Wude Gate. The surviving followers sought refuge with King Liang. What would the Emperor think of King Liang harboring the Second Prince’s old subordinates?!
“If so, then please summon King Liang’s guard Gao Sheng, to uncover the truth! Let’s see if this is someone trying to create discord between King Liang and my Bai family, or if King Liang truly wishes to bring death to the Bai family!” Bai Qingyan respectfully said to the Emperor after bowing.
Before the Emperor could speak, the familiar sound of loud “dong dong dong…” drums echoed from afar.
The Drums of Inquiry by Wude Gate had stood for nearly a century, always symbolic, never actually struck by anyone until this year. It was the second time before the New Year had even passed. How could this continue?
The Emperor, now extremely vexed, raised his voice angrily, “Who is striking the drums this time?!”
“Your Majesty, please calm down. I have sent someone to inquire. Someone will report soon!” Gao Demao’s back was covered in a cold sweat.
The Emperor bit his lip in frustration. “Send someone to King Liang’s residence to bring Gao Sheng! If he’s not there… have the Ministry of Justice capture him!”
Lowering his gaze in contemplation, King Liang assumed Gao Sheng knew he had been summoned to the palace, so he had someone bring Liu Huanzhang to strike the inquiry drums, accusing King of Zhen of treason. Although it wasn’t entirely according to plan, it could work!
This would completely absolve him and Tongji of all involvement.
Seeing King Liang quietly breathe a sigh of relief, Bai Qingyan subtly tightened her hands resting on her abdomen, hoping everything would turn out smoothly.
