vstars Chapter 402: Turning the tables, getting angry
Chapter 402: Turning the tables, getting angry
"What? The betrothal gifts were robbed?"
Inside the Yingwu Hall.
The emperor looked at Zhao Tianling and Chu Ming in front of him, a look of surprise appeared on his face.
But then, anger came over me.
"Who is so bold as to rob Zhao's betrothal gifts outside of Kyoto?"
The emperor was furious: "Come here, notify the Ministry of Justice immediately and investigate this matter with all your strength!"
But at this time, the second prince hurriedly stopped him: "Father, this matter cannot be publicized, otherwise tomorrow's marriage will be in trouble."
The emperor narrowed his eyes and came to his senses.
Although it was Chu that initiated the marriage this time, if Zhao did not bring a betrothal gift, how could it marry the person off?
Once the news gets out, both the common people and the civil and military officials in the city will definitely oppose it.
It's a matter of national dignity. Even if many ministers do not oppose the marriage, they will not let Zhao Tianling take Feng Mulan away without a betrothal gift.
Thinking of this, the emperor nodded slightly: "That makes sense. As for the investigation, we can only make a decision after the marriage tomorrow."
The second prince breathed a sigh of relief: "Father is wise, but this matter cannot be ignored. According to the situation at the time, there are only a few people in the city who have the ability to snatch the betrothal gifts.
"The Eighteenth Brother has always been against marriages, maybe this was instigated by the Eighteenth Brother!"
He stopped pretending and pointed the finger directly at Chu Ning.
Zhao Tianling also said with hatred: "I only have a grudge against Chu Ning here. No one else is so bold as to snatch our betrothal gifts. Only Chu Ning has the motive!"
The emperor's face was gloomy.
Chu Ning opposed the marriage and had a grudge against Zhao Tianling. In addition, there were many soldiers in the palace. He had both motives and strength, so he was indeed the perfect candidate to be suspected.
But without any evidence, how can we make Chu Ning confess his guilt?
"I understand that you doubt Chu Ning."
The emperor frowned and said, "But if there is no evidence, I can't do anything to him."
The second prince laughed awkwardly, "Father, you only need to call him in for questioning and put him under house arrest for this matter. Once tomorrow, when the dust settles, my eighteenth brother will not be able to disrupt the marriage."
The emperor realized that he wanted to delay Chu Ning and prevent him from causing trouble tomorrow.
"Alright!"
The emperor made a prompt decision: "Zhao Ming, go to the Prince of Chu's mansion in person and call Chu Ning over."
"Yes!"
Half an hour later, Chu Ning, with a lazy look on his face, came into the hall.
"Your son pays homage to His Majesty!" Chu Ning ignored Zhao Tianling and the Second Prince, and bowed to the emperor.
The emperor remained silent, just staring at Chu Ning and not letting him get up.
The atmosphere became solemn at this moment.
Chu Ning stood there bent over for a whole cup of tea.
This scene made the second prince sneer.
Chu Ning, ah Chu Ning, you have come to this day!
You are so bold to dare to oppose the marriage between my father and the State of Zhao. Just wait and see how my father will deal with you today!
After a long moment of contemplation, the emperor finally spoke.
"Do you know why I asked you to come here?" the emperor asked indifferently.
Chu Ning stood up straight, with a puzzled look on his face: "I don't know."
"I don't know?"
The emperor sneered: "I think you are pretending to be ignorant. Tell me, why did you send people to rob Zhao's betrothal gifts?"
Chu Ning was stunned: "The Zhao Kingdom's betrothal gifts were robbed? When did it happen? How come I don't know about it?"
The three questions in a row confused the three people present.
If I didn't know your character, Chu Ning, I would have really been deceived by this kid.
The emperor's mouth twitched: "Don't pretend in front of me. If you tell the truth now and hand over the betrothal gift, I will forgive you for what happened!"
The second prince also echoed: "Eighteenth brother, this matter is not a joke. If it was really you who sent people to rob it, return the things as soon as possible."
Chu Ning frowned: "My father and my second brother both said so, it seems that Zhao's betrothal gifts were really stolen.
But, I really didn’t do this. If you have evidence to prove that I did it, please show it to me.
As long as there is evidence, I will plead guilty!"
Pretend, keep pretending!
Zhao Tianling stared at Chu Ning, his face cold: "Aren't you just relying on the fact that we have no evidence that you dare to be so presumptuous?"
"No evidence?"
Chu Ning suddenly realized: "So you have no evidence, you just guessed out of thin air and thought that I was the one who snatched the betrothal gift!"
"you……"
"What are you!"
Chu Ning turned around and stared at Zhao Tianling fiercely: "Just because I am against the marriage, are you going to put the blame on me for snatching the betrothal gifts?
If this is the case, then I may also suspect that the two of you colluded with each other and deliberately hid the betrothal gifts to frame me!
After you have dealt with me, you, the Crown Prince of Zhao, can marry Princess Mingyue without any betrothal gifts. You can even give those betrothal gifts to your second brother as a favor. "
Who can't confuse right and wrong?
The second prince became anxious when he heard this: "Chu Ning, don't talk nonsense in front of your father!"
"Humph, you're the one talking nonsense!"
Chu Ning's eyes turned cold, and a hint of cruelty flashed across them: "You are the prince of Chu, but you are so close to the prince of Zhao. Now you are teaming up with the prince of Zhao to frame me. What is your intention?
I can't help but ask, are you the prince of my Chu State, or are you his Zhao State's internal supporter?"
As soon as these words came out, the Second Prince was furious: "Now we are talking about you snatching the betrothal gifts, don't drag me into this."
After saying this, he bowed to the emperor and said, "Father, my eighteenth brother is making such unreasonable demands. It is obvious that he is trying to confuse the public. I ask your majesty to make a wise judgment and not to listen to my eighteenth brother's words."
Chu Ning shrugged and bowed to the emperor. "Father, my second brother has accused me without any evidence. He deserves death. Please arrest him and see if he is secretly colluding with the Crown Prince of Zhao!"
The two men exchanged heated words and neither gave in.
The emperor looked at the two people arguing with a gloomy face, and slammed the table in anger. "Enough, enough, shut up!"
The two of them snorted coldly and glared at each other.
The emperor glanced at Chu Ning and said in a cold voice: "There are not many people in Kyoto who have the courage to snatch the betrothal gifts from the State of Zhao, and you, Chu Ning, are one of them!
Although there is no evidence now, I have no choice but to do it. How about this, until the matter is investigated clearly, you stay in the palace, and your soldiers are not allowed to go out!"
Chu Ning frowned: "Father, are you going to put me under house arrest?"
The second prince sneered: "Isn't this obvious?"
Chu Ning was like a deflated ball, and all his momentum was gone instantly.
"Since Father is so determined, I have nothing to say."
Chu Ning sighed, "However, the refined salt from the Eastern Palace has arrived today. In the past, people from my son's house would personally deliver it to the Eastern Palace. But now that my father has placed me and the soldiers under house arrest, the refined salt cannot be delivered.
Please allow me to go to the East Palace before I return and explain this to my brother, the Crown Prince."
The emperor snorted coldly and waved his hand, "Go ahead!"
As long as the marriage is successful after tomorrow, even if Chu Ning has extraordinary abilities, he will not be able to destroy this marriage!
As for Chu Ning going to the East Palace?
Just go. Chu Ning doesn’t have a good relationship with the prince anyway. What can he do by going to see the prince?