In the hall, the Empress Dowager was summoning several important officials to discuss matters, and King Xiao Yi of Xiangdong, King Xiao Dalin of the South China Sea, Marquis of Wulin Xiao Zi, and several royal family princes in Beijing were also listed.

As for the emperor, because he was young, he could not participate in such a meeting, so the queen mother was present, and it was better not to be present.

The main topic is how to deal with the incident of Xiao Fan, the King of Poyang, who was attacked and killed.

Wulin Hou Xiao Zi is Xiao Fan's younger brother. As the "debtor", he strongly advocated the right to immediately punish the two murderers.

The murderer is Xiao Daqiu, King Jianping, and Xiao Dazhi, King Suijian, who is the current emperor uncle, while Xiao Dalin, the king of South China Sea, as a relative (brother), strongly advocates that the two younger brothers are innocent.

The empress dowager, who looked haggard, replaced the emperor as the "principal", made ideas and made decisions.

Several important officials and the Grand Marshal, King Xiao Yi of Xiangdong, was responsible for "judgment" and made a suggestion for conviction.

Several royal families served as auditors and witnesses.

During the murder process, many palace maids and the eunuch witnessed that after Xiao Daqiu and Xiao Dazhi committed the murder, they did not resist or tried to escape. They were taken care of by the guards and then placed under house arrest in another hall.

The two of them also made it clear that they had some evidence to prove the Lantern Festival Incident two years ago and the case of the Prince of Nanjun framed the King of Poyang last year, which was another inside story.

That is, these two incidents that caused the deaths of the three late emperors and princes, were the king of Poyang Xiao Fan.

Xiao Daqiu and Xiao Dazhi's witnesses (personal witnesses) mentioned by him have been taken away by the officers, and they have been interrogated and summarized the confessions and submitted them.

However, there is no strong physical evidence. Just based on the confessions of these few people, it can only be judged that the King of Poyang is suspected and cannot be truly convicted.

Because people can make confessions in advance, if there is no strong physical evidence to confirm with the witness (confession) of the person, this is that speaking is unfounded.

It is too forced to convict the King of Poyang and to pursue the crimes of his "companions" in this way.

Xiao Daqiu and Xiao Dazhi also admitted this, but said in unison, "I don't want to follow in the footsteps of Emperor Gao of Qi and the descendants of Emperor Wu of Qi."

The two of them took a very sensitive matter: Xiao Fan, the king of Poyang who was assisting the government, might become the second Xiao Luan, so as the two vassal kings of the late emperor and the sons, they did not want to sit still and wait for death.

As a result, things become more and more difficult.

Xiao Daqiu, is Xiao Dazhi guilty?

It depends on whether King Xiao Fan of Poyang was guilty.

If Xiao Fan cannot be convicted, then Xiao Daqiu and Xiao Dazhi will be guilty and must be sentenced to death; otherwise, it is understandable that the crime will not end in death.

If you want to convince all civil and military officials, you must clarify whether Xiao Daqiu and Xiao Dazhi's accusation against Xiao Fan is true.

The Wulin Hou Xiaozi, who was present, strongly advocated this point.

But if you want to make the sons of the late emperor and the current emperor and uncles convinced him, Xiao Daqiu and Xiao Dazhi cannot be convicted and executed immediately.

Xiao Dalin, the king of South China Sea, strongly advocated this point.

Because the previous dynasty Emperor Ming of Qi, Xiao Luan, slaughtered Emperor Gao and the descendants of Emperor Wu, was so scary.

Xiao Luan assisted in the administration as the emperor's uncle, but as a result, he successively abolished two emperors and finally usurped the throne. He raised his butcher knife to his uncle (Emperor Gao Xiao Daocheng) and his cousin (Emperor Wu of Qi Xiao Ze) and almost killed him.

The old events of the previous dynasty seemed to have happened yesterday. Xiao Daqiu and Xiao Dazhi's accusations have already been expressed to the hearts of all the emperors.

It also hit the hearts of many royal family members and princes.

In two years, King Xiao Dacheng of Guiyang, King Xiao Daya of Liuyang, and King Xiao Dalian of Nanjun Xiao Dalian of Nanjun died. Many royal families were affected and killed due to their involvement.

It’s not that the royal family suspected that these two things had other information, because Xiao Ben, who had been sentenced to death, denied planning the Lantern Festival incident.

Xiao Daqiu and Xiao Dazhi's accusations, coupled with the confessions of some people, will further aggravate the suspicion of the royal family. Even if the words are unfounded, they will inevitably become another thorn that has penetrated into the hearts of the royal family.

When things have developed to this point, there are only two options: First, the King of Poyang is guilty and his crimes are handled separately, and his followers must be investigated.

Secondly, the King of Poyang is not guilty, Xiao Daqiu and Xiao Dazhi attacked the regent vassal kings and died, and should be sentenced to death.

The so-called compromise plan (both sides are at fault, Xiao Daqiu and Xiao Dazhi are exempted from death penalty) is impossible.

Because of this compromise, no one will be satisfied: the royal family members of the Poyang King are not satisfied, and other royal families, including the imperial family, are not satisfied.

Hou Xiaozi, who entered the palace tremblingly, gradually felt that the situation was not good for him. Among the people on the scene, no one of the Empress Dowager, regardless of the others, supported him.

Including his brother-in-law Wang Bao.

Wang Bao was one of the ministers of the regent. He was born in the Wang family of Langya. He had a good relationship with Xiao Fan on weekdays and was famous for his literary reputation.

But irresponsible.

At the beginning, the late emperor was assassinated and the Crown Prince Xiao Daqi died of serious injuries. Wang Bao, as Xiao Daqi's cousin, did not show any responsibility.

There is no clear statement on whether the brothers will be born in the throne, Xiao Dalian, the adult prince of Nanjun, or the father will be succeeded by the son, or the young crown prince will be succeeded by the throne.

The Prince of Nanjun Xiao Dalian suddenly left his post in Jingzhou and led his troops to Jiankang. He was rejected. Wang Bao did not agree with Xiao Dalian's behavior, nor did he object to it.

Now, Wang Bao's brother-in-law Xiao Fan, Wang Yang, was killed in the palace, but the murderer claimed the crime was unfounded. Wang Bao did not express his opinion on this, and he said nothing in a complete way.

You, the children of the Gaojia clan, only want to protect their own status at the critical moment!

Xiao Zi cursed in his heart, but did not dare to show it.

For hundreds of years, no matter the dynasty changes, the children of aristocratic families can have a noble status in the new dynasty, so Wang Bao and Mingzhe protect themselves, but Xiao Zi could not do it.

And because he was guilty of being a thief, he argued with Xiao Dalin at this time and lacked confidence.

Because the three brothers have indeed planned a lot of things, Xiao Daqiu and Xiao Dazhi's accusations are nothing wrong.

It's nothing but no solid physical evidence.

So Xiao Zi can only insist on "no sound", but Xiao Dalin did not talk too much nonsense with Xiao Zi on the grounds that his two younger brothers also accused Xiao Zi of being an accomplice, and asked loudly:

"King Jianping, what is the fault of King Sui Jian? Could it be that if you are uncle, you will let go of your nephew and let your nephew be the noble township master!!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked, and the Empress Dowager's expression changed.

Gaoguixianggong, namely Emperor Cao Mao of Wei.

Cao Mao was a powerful minister Sima Zhao, and his power fell like a puppet. Seeing that his ancestors had no guarantee of their foundation, he took a desperate bet and led the imperial guards out of the palace and rushed to Sima Zhao's mansion.

But halfway through the way, in front of everyone, he killed Sima Zhao's subordinate Cheng Ji.

Later, in order to cover up the crime of regicide, Sima Zhao forced the empress dowager to issue an order, saying that Cao Mao was "violent in nature" and was rebellious and unfilial. He "had already asked the general (Sima Zhao) to abolish him many times" and finally deposed Cao Mao as a commoner.

Sima Zhao also led the ministers to write a letter to plead for mercy, so he buried Cao Mao with the king's rites and named him "Gaoguixiang Gong".

Cao Mao was a powerful minister but was very ruthless. He maintained his dignity as an emperor at the cost of his life.

His behavior is in sharp contrast to the behavior of the last emperors waiting for death like a lamb to be slaughtered for hundreds of years.

The Queen Mother dared not imagine that one day her son would die suddenly after abdicating like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

I couldn't imagine that my son, with a few servants, launched a moth-to-fire-like charge at the mansion of powerful ministers.

Then she died tragically on the street, and her death was terrifying, and the empress dowager had to be forced to issue an order, claiming that "the rebellious son is not as good as a monarch, and I want to depose him long ago!"

‘Is it possible that if you are uncles, you will let your nephew be the noble township master!!’

Xiao Dalin's question echoed in the empress dowager's ears, and she felt her head buzzing.

Previously, she believed that the Nanjun Prince Xiao Dalian framed King Poyang because the evidence was conclusive, but now it seems that if...

If King Jianping and King Sui Jian said it is true, it means that Xiao Dalian was killed by Xiao Fan's design, then...

But what if King Jianping and King Sui Jian have any problems?

The Empress Dowager looked at several important officials, including Wang Bao, and his expressions had changed compared to before.

There is no doubt that Xiao Dalin's questioning has the effect.

Xiao Dalin's question was not only a question by him alone, but also a question issued by all imperial royal families.

If this question is not answered satisfactorily, the consequences will be unimaginable.

If the King of Poyang is guilty, the royal family of Poyang will be in full swing. The Prince of Poyang who fought against Lingbiao in Nanzhengling is very likely to rebel. At that time, the rebellion of Lingbiao will occur again, and Jiaozhou will probably be in chaos.

But once this matter is let go and King Jianping and King Sui Jian are dealt with, then the uncles of Zhenjiang, Ying, Jing and Yong will not raise an army to "clear the king's side"?

How to make a decision?

King Xiao Yi of Xiangdong stood up and saluted the Empress Dowager: "The Empress Dowager, I think the accusations of King Jianping and King Sui Jian must be verified no matter what."

"Whether King Poyang is guilty, the officials must find out whether he has a crime."

"As for King Jianping and King Sui Jian's decision, we have to wait until the matter is clear before we can decide."

Seeing that all the ministers agreed, the Empress Dowager asked, "But the Ministry has not seized any important physical evidence."

"There must be a brave man under a heavy price." Xiao Yi replied, "I dare to ask the Empress Dowager to issue an order and offer a reward."

"If someone provides important physical evidence to prove that the Lantern Festival and the frame-up of the Nanjun King, the Poyang King is indeed related..."

"No matter what his background and what his current identity is, he will be granted a title of marquis and a lord, depending on the situation."

As soon as this statement was made, the ministers all looked at Xiao Yi, their eyes full of shock: Isn’t this encouraging villains to falsely accuse?

After hearing Xiao Yi's words, Xiao Zi felt a chill on his back and his body trembled involuntarily.

Xiao Yi also said: "However, if someone falsely accuses and forges physical evidence, once verified, the three tribes of Yi will be rusted."
Chapter completed!