The strange behavior of the Assistant Minister of Justice caused the atmosphere in the hall to explode.
"What is Assistant Minister Zhou saying?"
"He's guilty?"
"What crime did he commit?"
"This, this can't be … Good heavens, does he want to die?"
…
In the Imperial Court, some people quickly realized something and looked at Zhou Zhong with astonished eyes, their faces full of shock.
There were very few fools in the Imperial Court. In the blink of an eye, countless people had guessed Zhou Zhong's motive.
Where the officials from the Ministry of Personnel were, the expressions of the three people changed. Zhou Chuan's expression also changed. Chen Jian's face was pale as he thought to himself, 'Impossible, impossible, he will die if he does this …'
At this moment, Zhou Zhong, who was kneeling on the ground, spoke again.
Zhou Zhong spoke in a deep voice, "Fourteen years ago, I was bewitched by Chen Jian, the Imperial Physician of the Ministry of Personnel, Gao Hong, and the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Xiao Yun, to frame the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Li Yi, for treason …"
Chen Jian could not allow him to continue. He strode forward and said loudly, "Zhou Zhong, what are you talking about? Do you know what the punishment is for framing an official of the Imperial Court?"
Zhou Zhong said indifferently, "So you also know that framing an official of the Imperial Court is a serious crime …"
He raised his head and said, "Everything I said is true. I am willing to accept the soul search."
A rank four official was willing to accept the soul search. This was enough to prove that what he said was true.
Zhou Zhong's words caused the Imperial Court to fall silent for a moment. Then, it became noisy again.
"Since he wants to confess, why did he wait until today?"
"You can't tell. Before today, who would have thought that the Imperial Court would reopen this case?"
"But why did he do this? Back then, he framed Li Yi, but today, he confessed …"
"Zhou Zhong didn't make a difference to what happened back then. Even without him, Li Yi's ending wouldn't have changed. In my opinion, he wanted to use this opportunity to gain the trust of the old party and enter the inner circle of the old party. It was all for today's betrayal …"
"Fourteen years. He was so patient and loyal to the old party for fourteen years, just to commit a crime for his brother?"
…
King Shou looked at Zhou Zhong and sighed, "He actually endured for 14 years. This Zhou Zhong is truly a man …"
Realizing the current situation, he covered his mouth and coughed lightly. He gritted his teeth and said, "This person is really sinister!"
Li Mu, who was standing in the crowd, was also shocked.
Zhou Zhong's actions were completely out of his expectations. He recalled what Zhou Zhong had said to him in front of the Ancestral Temple yesterday and seemed to have understood something.
It turned out that he had already made his decision at that time.
Li Mu thought that Zhou Zhong was someone who would give up everything for his political ideals. He would commit crimes for Li Yi, Li Qing's life and death, or even his own life and death, compared to some of his ideals, were not worth mentioning.
However, Zhou Zhong's actions today overturned Li Mu's understanding of him.
Behind the curtain, the Empress's voice could be heard. "Arrest Zhou Zhong and all the people involved in this case. Bring them to the Imperial Clan Temple and have them interrogate by the three provinces …"
Although Li Yi's case was not investigated, once something was found, no one would be able to cover it up in front of everyone.
During the morning assembly, two ministers and three assistant ministers were arrested. Other than that, there were also some people involved in the case who were not in the assembly. The internal guards were immediately ordered to arrest them.
No one would have thought that this matter would have such a huge turn of events.
Those people who framed Li Yi all those years ago thought that victory was in their hands, but they didn't expect that there would be a spy among them. From the beginning to the end, Zhou Zhong was not on the same side as them. He had endured for fourteen years, waiting for this day!
His counterattack caught both the old and new parties off guard.
Although 14 years had passed since they framed a Rank Four imperial court official and caused extremely serious consequences, each and every one of them would not be able to escape death according to the law.
In the Imperial Clan Temple, a few of them had their powers sealed and were sent to prison to await trial by the three provinces. This case involved a lot of people and no department had the ability to investigate it alone.
Li Mu walked into the most luxurious prison. Li Qing woke up from her meditation and asked softly, "What happened outside? Why is it so noisy?"
Li Mu opened his mouth but didn't know what to say for a moment.
After organizing his words, he said slowly, "Just now in the assembly, Zhou Zhong admitted in front of His Majesty and hundreds of officials that he was involved in framing your father. Now, the Minister of Personnel, the Minister of Works, and the Left and Right Assistant Ministers of Personnel have all been arrested …"
Li Qing said anxiously, "He did not frame Father. He did all this for their dreams. One day, he could reverse the verdict for Father …"
Li Mu nodded and said, "I know. You don't have to worry. I will report this matter to His Majesty. Although this is not enough to pardon him, he should be able to avoid death …"
Although Zhou Zhong's actions were pardonable, he could not be completely forgiven by the law just because he was pardonable.
After all, he was still considered one of the main culprits back then. Seeing that he had voluntarily confessed to the crime and confessed to being an accomplice, according to the law, he could be spared. Of course, no matter what, after this incident, he could no longer be an official.
After a while, Li Mu walked out of Li Qing's prison and came to another place.
Zhou Zhong was imprisoned here. He was imprisoned separately from the others.
Li Mu stood outside the prison and said, "I thought you would not stand up."
Zhou Zhong looked at him and said, "If you could really find out anything, why would I stand up?"
Li Mu shook his head and said, "This is not your style. If you want to achieve your dreams, you have to protect yourself. This is what you taught me."
Zhou Zhong was silent for a moment and said slowly, "But this may be his only chance. If he misses it, there will be no chance for him to regain his innocence …"
Fourteen years had passed since Li Yi's case. If the case was closed a second time, it would be impossible to overturn the case in the future.
Li Mu looked at him and asked, "So you gave up on your dreams?"
Zhou Zhong's gaze was deep as he said calmly, "The flame of dreams will never be extinguished. As long as the flame is still there, the flame will be passed on forever …"
In another prison cell.
With the assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel as the leader, the few of them had ugly expressions. Not long after, the door of the prison cell was opened and three more people were pushed in.
Chen Jian's face was pale as he said, "Marquis Zhongyong, Count Pingan, Marquis Yongding … you have all been captured too?"
The three of them were shocked when they saw the few people in the prison cell. After realizing something, they said in shock, "Could it be …"
Chen Jian gritted his teeth and said, "That damned Zhou Zhong betrayed all of us!"
After understanding the whole story, the three of them had completely gloomy expressions.
The assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Gao Hong, sighed and said, "If Zhou Zhong's soul is searched and he reveals what happened back then, the few of us will probably be sentenced to death …"
Chen Jian said, "We are all grasshoppers on the same rope. We must think of a way, or else it will be difficult for us to escape death …"
The Marquis Zhongyong shook his head and said, "Death is impossible. My family still has a death-exemption medallion bestowed by the late emperor. As long as I don't rebel, no one can punish me."
The Count Pingan also sighed, "It's a pity that the medallion passed down by my father is gone. I originally wanted to pass it down from generation to generation …"
The Marquis Yongding had a pained expression as he said, "My family's medallion probably can't be kept. That damned Zhou Zhong, if it wasn't for his bewitchment back then, the three of us wouldn't have participated in this matter …"
Chen Jian said in shock, "All of you have death-exemption medallions?"
The Marquis Yongding nodded and then looked at the three people opposite him and said, "Not only us, the late emperor also bestowed one to the Duke of Nanyang. Although Assistant Minister Gao didn't have one, Concubine Gao should also have one. She wouldn't not save her brother …"
The Minister of Personnel glanced at Zhou Chuan who was in the corner and said indifferently, "The Zhou family's two death-exemption medallions have already been used last time. I wonder if the Empress will spare Minister Zhou …"
Zhou Chuan looked at him and said indifferently, "Unfortunately, father-in-law gave that medallion to my wife before he passed away …"
Chen Jian looked at the people around him in a daze and felt that he didn't fit in with them.
Out of the seven people standing here, only he didn't have a death-exemption medallion?
The Minister of Personnel saw his worry and said, "Don't worry, the late emperor bestowed thirteen medallions and we have already used twelve of them. If I remember correctly, the last medallion should be in the hands of Prince Shou …"
Hearing Prince Shou's name, Chen Jian heaved a sigh of relief and immediately said to the jailer outside the door, "Quickly go and report that I want to see Prince Shou!"
Not long later, Prince Shou walked over slowly. Chen Jian grabbed the bars of the cell and said hurriedly, "Prince Shou, you must save me …"
A moment later, after hearing his words, Prince Shou smiled and said, "What kind of relationship do we have? Everyone is doing this for the Xiao family. Isn't it just a medallion? I will give it to you …"
Chen Jian heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you, Your Highness …"
Prince Shou touched his waist with one hand and his expression suddenly changed. He said in shock, "Where is my medallion? Where did my big medallion go?"
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