sbdcsierra Chapter 1643 The Heinous Crime of Exterminating Nine Clans (Bonus Chapter for 263 Million Reward Poi
Chapter 1643 The Heinous Crime of Exterminating Nine Clans (Bonus Chapter for 263 Million Reward Poi
The Master Xingchen mentioned by Chu Shuxian and Feng Guiren is completely different from the impression people have of him.
He is adept at understanding people's weaknesses.
Skilled at using sweet words to seduce.
Furthermore, he was exceptionally familiar with matters concerning the imperial harem.
Master Xingchen approached young women who were about to enter the palace and were filled with longing or anxiety, under the guise of Buddhist affinity.
He used carefully planned encounters, subtly flirtatious words, and tailor-made tactics to gradually break down their defenses and lure them into a carefully woven web of love.
Even more appalling, according to the testimonies of Chu Shuxian and Consort Feng, Li Changde discovered that Xingchen had an extraordinary understanding of the imperial concubine selection and examination process, as well as the temperament and background of some concubines.
He chose targets whose families were not top-tier or prominent, who lacked affection, or who had weaknesses in their personalities.
Chu Shuxian is lively and longs for a kindred spirit.
Consort Feng is refined and elegant, but she harbors a hidden unease about the talent show.
These all became loopholes for Master Xingchen to exploit.
He arranged for them to pass the physical examination and enter the palace smoothly, which was also due to the remaining influence of Empress Dowager Gongsu.
"...Chu Shi confessed that Xingchen once said that she had a noble destiny, and if she became pregnant after entering the palace, the child in her womb would be favored by Heaven and would surely have great fortune in the future!"
"Consort Feng instructed Xingchen to reassure her not to fear the infighting within the harem, saying that the Buddha's teachings are boundless and will naturally protect her. She also hinted that when the time is right, she will be granted honor and privilege!"
The more Nangong Xuanyu listened, the colder his expression became!
A monk making such a promise to a palace concubine—his heart is despicable!
Xingchen's ambitions are probably not just about lewd pleasure, but something deeper and more terrifying.
To confuse the royal bloodline and steal the national treasures!
Anger burned in the emperor's chest!
But the angrier he became, the calmer Nangong Xuanyu's expression became. He looked at Li Changde and asked, "Are the testimonies of Lady Chu and Consort Feng credible?"
Li Changde immediately bowed and affirmed, "Your Majesty, what the two said matches in many details. Moreover, they were emotional and their hatred was genuine, not fabricated."
"Especially the Chu family, who endured torture without uttering a single word, is now speaking fluently. It would be impossible to do this unless one's heart is completely dead and filled with hatred."
"When Feng was on the verge of collapse, he confessed to many details of his private encounters. Even... even certain hidden characteristics of Xingchen that were unknown to outsiders. Upon investigation, these characteristics did indeed match what Tao Shun had observed in secret."
"Furthermore, in the testimonies of Lady Chu and Consort Feng, they mentioned the time and excuse for their meeting before entering the palace, such as praying for the family's well-being and seeking solace from their uneasy state of mind. This corresponds to the records of their sermons and reception at Fatu Temple."
"Although Xingchen's actions are secretive, they are not entirely without clues. It's just that no one has dared to cast a suspicious glance at him in the past."
Nangong Xuanyu nodded slightly.
He trusted Li Changde's work and had no doubt about the authenticity of the confession.
"Have you found any concrete evidence with Tao Shun?"
Li Changde said, "Your Majesty, Tao Shun secretly searched Xingchen's residence, but found nothing of interest."
"This person is extremely cautious and has probably already destroyed or moved anything that could become evidence."
For Nangong Xuanyu, the confessions of Chu Shi and Consort Feng were enough to make Xingchen die ten thousand times over!
This was a royal scandal, one that the emperor never intended to make public. Therefore, whether Xingchen could find concrete evidence was no longer important.
He didn't continue the topic, and asked with a cold smile, "The Feng family, the bastard child in her womb, and the Chu family... in your opinion, how should they be dealt with?"
Li Changde sensed the murderous intent in His Majesty's words and his heart tightened. He quickly said, "Your Majesty, Consort Feng's pregnancy is extremely unstable. After this fright, she will probably pass away within the next day or two."
"At that time, we can announce to the outside world that she was unlucky. Even though she moved to Shou Kang Palace to take care of her pregnancy, she was unable to protect the imperial heir. Instead, it caused damage to the mother's body, resulting in the death of both mother and child."
"After days of interrogation, Madam Chu is physically and mentally ruined, on the verge of death, and will not last much longer. In the eyes of the world, she is already a dead person, so there is no need to worry about her."
"Although the successive deaths of two pregnant concubines may seem like a coincidence, it is understandable that Consort Feng was frail and prone to excessive worry."
"We just need to handle the beginning and the end properly, and we absolutely cannot let any part of the content of their testimonies be leaked."
Lady Chu and Consort Feng were the emperor's women, yet they had already lost their virginity before entering the palace. They dared to enter his harem with illegitimate children, brazenly attempting to secure his favor and future through their unborn offspring!
For Nangong Xuanyu, this was an utter disgrace!
As an emperor, he possessed the wealth of the world and held the power of life and death, yet he was fooled to this extent by two women and a monk!
This is a blatant trampling on imperial power and on Nangong Xuanyu's dignity as a man!
How could merely executing Lady Chu and Consort Feng possibly appease the emperor's hatred?!
However… this matter concerns the face of the imperial family and is a scandal that absolutely cannot be made public. The only way to deal with the two is to use “death from illness” as a cover-up, rather than to carry out a formal punishment.
The emperor would not allow the fathers, brothers, sons, and nephews of both families to continue speaking eloquently in court and enjoying their salaries. They were completely unaware of the utterly disgraceful and wicked deeds their daughter had committed, which would bring ruin upon their entire clan!
Nangong Xuanyu's anger needed an outlet, and his humiliation needed to be washed away with blood!
Since we cannot openly punish those two vile women, let their blood relatives bear the emperor's thunderous wrath!
The rebellious king, Nangong Xuanche, had long been executed for his treasonous plot, and his followers had been purged several times, so few people mentioned him anymore.
But a major treason case involves a wide range of people, and who can guarantee that there won't be a few who slip through the net?
Who can guarantee that some seemingly law-abiding families are not secretly colluding with the rebel king?
"Li Changde."
The emperor said coldly, "Although the matter of the Feng and Chu families was due to Xingchen's seduction, their own lack of self-discipline and the failure of their families to educate them also make them culpable!"
"Once this matter is settled, order a thorough investigation of the Chu and Feng families, including all personnel, accounts, and correspondence during the period of the rebel king's plot. It is imperative to 'verify' that they have secretly colluded with the remnants of the rebel king and transferred benefits to him!"
Li Changde suddenly looked up, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes, before he suddenly realized what was going on.
He has served His Majesty since he was a child, and he knows His Majesty's temperament and methods better than anyone else.
How long has it been since the case of the rebellion against the king?
Those who needed to be dealt with have already been dealt with, and those who needed to be terrified have already kept their tails between their legs.
The Chu and Feng families were not previously on the rebel king's list of supporters. His Majesty's sudden revisiting of this old matter, insisting on "verifying" it, is a definite no-brainer...
This isn't about investigating some old case; it's clearly about finding a plausible reason to deal with the Chu and Feng families.
Colluding with a rebellious king to plot treason is a heinous crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!
Using this charge to uproot the Chu and Feng families, who would dare utter a single word of dissent?
The art of rulership is ruthless yet meticulous.
"Slave understands!"
Li Changde bowed deeply: "The rebel king's plot to overthrow the country and bring disaster to the people! The depth of his henchmen's infiltration and the magnitude of their harm are such that we must be vigilant at all times, conduct thorough investigations, and never be negligent in the slightest."