Chapter 86
“Not a single one left, what a fine ‘not a single one left’!” Emperor Changde laughed in fury after hearing Gan Yongfu’s report.
He never expected that when he said “not a single one left,” the Wei family would take it as an order to kill every last one of his men!
Emperor Changde was truly enraged. “Summon Wei Yunzhao and Jiang Lin!”
With an air of imperial majesty, he strode toward the court assembly hall.
Wei Yunzhao and Jiang Lin remained calm, showing no resentment despite standing outside for hours. In contrast, Emperor Changde’s anger was palpable. When the two knelt in salute, the emperor deliberately left them waiting.
He then sharply questioned Jiang Lin, “Jiang Lin, do you admit your guilt?”
Jiang Lin wore a look of utter confusion. “Your Majesty, I don’t understand what you mean.” As an officially titled heir, he now addressed himself as “subject” (臣, chen).
“Is it that you don’t understand, or that you refuse to repent? Jiang Lin, you have some nerve!” Emperor Changde slammed the table, intensifying his interrogation.
“Ah? Your Majesty, this subject is dull-witted. I truly don’t know what you’re referring to. Could you enlighten me?” Jiang Lin feigned even greater bewilderment, even blinking at Gan Yongfu as if seeking a hint.
Emperor Changde laughed in fury. “Good Jiang Lin! Since you’re so skilled at playing the fool, I’ll let you play it to the end. Guards! Drag him out and beat him until he confesses!”
Jiang Lin straightened up hastily to defend himself. “Your Majesty, I genuinely don’t know what crime I’ve committed. If you don’t specify, even beating me to death won’t make me admit to a false charge. Surely, Your Majesty wouldn’t dislike me so much that you’d seize this chance to have me killed? You are a wise ruler, you wouldn’t do such a thing, would you?”
He blinked innocently, gazing expectantly at the emperor.
In truth, Emperor Changde did want Jiang Lin dead, not just beaten, but personally cut down with his own blade.
Yet some things were better left unsaid. If he openly admitted it now, punishing Jiang Lin would tarnish his image as a wise ruler.
Though Emperor Changde had committed countless underhanded deeds, whenever someone invoked his reputation as a “wise ruler” to negotiate, he hesitated, even compromised.
Hearing Jiang Lin’s words, the emperor faltered momentarily. But the imperial guards moved swiftly, entering before he could reconsider. Realizing Jiang Lin had trapped him, Emperor Changde’s fury reignited. “How dare you deceive me? Drag him out and beat him!”
Jiang Lin thought the old man was truly unhinged. What deception had he even committed?
As the guards seized him, Wei Yunzhao stepped in. “Your Majesty, please clarify what crime my husband has committed to warrant such punishment.”
“Exactly! Even if you’re forcing a false confession, at least give me a hint of what I’m supposed to confess. Beating me without explanation seems rather unreasonable, doesn’t it?” Jiang Lin resisted the guards, making it impossible for them to move him.
“Jiang Lin, are you instructing me on how to rule?” Emperor Changde’s gaze turned dangerous.
“This subject wouldn’t dare,” Jiang Lin lowered his head in a perfunctory bow. “I merely wish to understand my alleged crime.”
Wei Yunzhao added, “Your Majesty, you summoned us to discuss important matters. Is this the ‘important matter’ you had in mind?”
The emperor glared at them, his eyes sharp as blades, as if wishing to slice them to pieces with his gaze alone.
“Fine, since you insist on defying me today. Guards, drag them both out and beat them until I say stop!”
In short, he wanted them dead. Any excuse would do, as long as it wasn’t too conspicuous. Emperor Changde’s expression was one of righteous indignation, as if the two were heinous criminals refusing to repent.
“I’m afraid I can’t oblige, Your Majesty. Unless I know what crime I’m being punished for, I won’t submit to this beating, even if you punish me further for defying you.”
Jiang Lin shook off the guards, refusing to cooperate.
To Emperor Changde, this was sheer insolence. Stubbornly, he refused to give a reason, insisting the guards drag Jiang Lin away.
Gan Yongfu, sensing the emperor’s rage had clouded his judgment, stepped forward. “Your Majesty, why not accuse him of assaulting the Fourth Prince? Injuring a royal is a capital offense.”
Seizing the suggestion, Emperor Changde thundered, “Jiang Lin! For assaulting a prince, you deserve death! Guards, drag him out and execute him!”
The punishment had escalated from a beating to execution.
Even the guards were startled, but they obeyed, gripping Jiang Lin’s arms.
Instead of resisting, Jiang Lin asked, “Which prince did I allegedly assault? The Crown Prince or the Sixth Prince?”
Now it was Jiang Lin dragging out the exchange. He mused that every moment he provoked the emperor likely shortened the old man’s lifespan, a delightful thought.
As Emperor Changde’s face darkened like a thunderstorm, Jiang Lin continued his defense, claiming he’d been too busy to encounter any princes lately. He even suggested summoning the Crown Prince and Sixth Prince for a confrontation.
Finally, Gan Yongfu took pity on the emperor’s near-apoplectic state and whispered, “Heir Jiang, it was the Fourth Prince.”
“Ah, why didn’t you say so earlier?” Jiang Lin feigned sudden recollection. “But regarding the Fourth Prince, I did nothing wrong. He exploited refugees to incite chaos in Shengjing, even plotted rebellion, and ordered them to raid the Wei mansion. I merely taught him a lesson. Unless… his actions were under Your Majesty’s orders? If so, then I’ll gladly accept punishment.”
His tone made it clear he had no intention of submitting.
Emperor Changde hadn’t expected Jiang Lin to turn the tables, implicating him instead. In decades of rule, no one had ever dared treat him with such contempt.
“Execute him!” the emperor roared.
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