Qin Yining was expressionless, but she sneered in her heart. She took a step forward and saluted, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I …"
Before she could finish, she was interrupted by a high-pitched male voice full of anger.
A middle-aged imperial censor angrily came forward and saluted, "Your Majesty, I have something to say!"
Li Qitian seemed to be very surprised and frowned unhappily, "Minister Gu, I am asking a question. Isn't it inappropriate for you to suddenly interrupt the Prince Zhongshun?"
"Your Majesty, I know it is rude of me to do so, but I am a straightforward person. It's just that this subject is a straightforward person. Seeing someone trying to bewitch His Majesty with flowery words and yet still trying to put on a virtuous and virtuous face, this subject had no choice but to speak up. "
Imperial Censor Gu saluted and continued, "Your Majesty, please listen to me. If what I said is wrong and not true, I will accept Your Majesty's punishment!"
Li Qitian frowned as if he was caught in a dilemma. Seeing Imperial Censor Gu's sincerity, he could only smile and say, "Fine, you can speak first."
"Yes!" Imperial Censor Gu saluted excitedly and said with righteous indignation, "Your Majesty, as an imperial censor, I have to report the ten major crimes of the Prince Zhongshun!
"Indiscriminately killing the innocent and without mercy, the first crime is;
"Being arrogant and humiliating the old officials of Northern Ji, the second crime is;
"Being greedy and causing a misunderstanding between you and your subjects, the third crime is;
"Forcefully seizing a woman and ignoring Your Majesty's wishes, the fourth crime is;
"Leaving the capital without an imperial decree, intending to take the treasure for yourself, the fifth crime is;
"Being corrupt and disregarding the lives of the common people, the sixth crime is;
"Being greedy for power, being jealous of the talents of your colleagues, the seventh crime is;
"Forming a clique for personal gain, privately raising soldiers, and having evil intentions, the eighth crime is;
"Being unfilial and unfaithful, disrespecting your official mother, and being a son in vain, the ninth crime is;
"Disobeying the imperial decree, disrespecting Your Majesty, and defecting from another country, the most heinous crime is!
"Such an arrogant, rebellious, unfilial, disloyal, and unrighteous person. His crimes are too numerous to be recorded! I beseech Your Majesty to punish him severely! "
"This subject agrees!"
"Replying to Your Majesty, this subject also agrees!"
"Prince Zhongshun is a vassal in vain. Your Majesty, please punish him severely and uphold the imperial court's discipline!"
…
As soon as Imperial Censor Gu's voice fell, more than ten people immediately stood up and echoed loudly. With the crowd's excitement, it was possible to believe that Pang Xiao was a bandit who committed all sorts of crimes, such as burning, killing, and looting.
Li Qitian sat at the head of the table. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed, as if he couldn't bear the blow but was forcing himself to remain calm.
However, Pang Xiao, Qin Yining, Qin Huaiyuan and Qin Xiuyuan didn't say a word. They didn't defend themselves at all.
On the other hand, many of the nobles saw through the trick. They guessed that the greatest reason Your Majesty had arranged for today's meeting was that Pang Xiao's achievements were too great to overshadow Your Majesty. They were the same as Pang Xiao. They had followed Li Qitian to conquer the world in exchange for their current achievements. Pang Xiao was their benchmark. If he fell, they would probably be next.
Thus, many of the nobles stood up and argued for Pang Xiao on the spot. These people also had officials they were close to, as well as colleagues in the same faction. They also took advantage of the situation and stood up to argue with the imperial censors.
Seeing the nobles enter the fray, Li Qitian's subordinates also joined in.
Seeing the other side gradually grow stronger, some of Pang Xiao's acquaintances stepped forward to intervene.
For a moment, the scene was as chaotic as a vegetable market. When these officials quarreled, they were even more valiant than those in the marketplace. Quoting classics was even more offensive and persuasive than cursing.
Li Qitian's brows furrowed tighter and tighter. He never would have thought that at this juncture, there would be so many people willing to speak up for Pang Xiao. It seemed that Pang Xiao's position in the hearts of the court officials and common people was no longer what he had thought it was.
Li Qitian couldn't help but secretly rejoice that he had acted early. If he had given Pang Xiao more time to grow stronger, he would have taken root even more firmly. It would have been even more difficult to shake his foundation.
The two sides argued in full swing. Both sides argued for what was right. This was the first time a debate of this scale had occurred in a court assembly since the founding of Da Zhou.
Qin Yining listened with his head bowed. He couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.
Imperial Censor Gu had stepped forward today. He must have been acting on Li Qitian's orders. He believed that Li Qitian must have a backup plan.
Although Pang Xiao was now a scholar of Wuying Palace, he was born a general and had accumulated great power in the military. Even among the common people, most of them knew of the reputation of "War God Wang Ye." Thus, how could Li Qitian not arrange troops to deal with Pang Xiao?
Currently, the Jingji Guard, the Divine Strategy Battalion, and the Three Thousand Battalion were stationed near the capital. The other force worth mentioning was the Tiger Army stationed in the fields on the outskirts of the capital.
Qin Yining's heart suddenly skipped a beat. He couldn't help but size up the officials who had come to the Political Harmony Palace Hall out of the corner of his eye. During the court assembly, all officials of the fourth rank and above were allowed to participate.
However, Ji Zeyu wasn't among these people!
Qin Yining's pupils constricted, but his expression remained calm. He reminded himself not to panic and not to be caught red-handed. When he looked carefully, he discovered that Ji Zeyu really wasn't here today.
Qin Yining's heart sank.
If Ji Zeyu commanded the Tiger Army and worked with the Jingji Guard, the Three Thousand Battalion, and the Divine Strategy Battalion to encircle Pang Xiao, it was impossible for him to win with just the fifty or so Jinghu Wei in Pang Xiao's hands.
As for the City Defense Army of the Five Cities Warden's Office, when he entered the city today, he discovered that these people were moving around more frequently than before.
It seemed that Li Qitian had made thorough preparations today and planned to take down Pang Xiao in one fell swoop. As for those related to Pang Xiao …
Thinking of this, Qin Yining suddenly took a deep breath and forced herself to stop thinking about it.
First of all, Pang Xiao wasn't a brainless and rash person. Since he dared to bring her to this "Feast at Hongmen" today, he must have made sufficient preparations. He wasn't the kind of person who would get slapped on the left side of his face and get slapped on the right side. Moreover, he wasn't the kind of person who would disregard his family.
Secondly, if Li Qitian wanted to succeed today, he would probably have to go through the public's opinion. As long as he grasped the situation well, there was still room for maneuvering.
Pang Xiao was actually very worried about Qin Yining's condition. He was afraid that her panic would affect the baby. However, after observing her performance, he saw that her expression was normal and that she wasn't pretending to be calm. Instead, she was panicking for a moment before slowly coming to terms with the situation. He praised her in his heart. It was truly his fortune to have such a sensible wife.
At this time, the debate between the two branches had reached a climax. Suddenly, many of the neutral officials noticed that Your Majesty's Chief Eunuch, Li Guanwen, had hurriedly walked over to Li Qitian's side with his head lowered and whispered a few words in his ear.
Everyone couldn't help but be curious. Li Guanwen hadn't appeared in court today. What had happened when he suddenly appeared now?
Li Qitian took advantage of the heated argument below to ask Li Guanwen in a low voice: "Why hasn't Ji Lan brought anyone here yet?"
Li Guanwen's face was almost wrinkled into a bitter gourd. He had a constipated expression on his face as he stammered in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Prince Consort Ji said, said, there are strange movements in the Tiger Army's barracks. He can't leave and has to stay in the barracks to oversee it."
When Li Qitian heard this, he exerted force in his hand and almost broke the string of yellow jade beads he was playing with.
He didn't show any signs of abnormality and reprimanded in a low voice: "What's going on! Didn't you see the Tiger Army's situation last time? Ji Zeyu's control of the Tiger Army doesn't lose to Pang Xiao's. Why would there be strange movements at such a crucial moment? Is there really something strange going on, or is he unwilling to come and help us? "
Li Guanwen was so scared that he didn't dare to say a word. At this time, the more he said, the more mistakes he would make.
Li Qitian glanced at the people in court and found that many people had begun to look in his direction. He hurriedly restrained his expression and put on his original expression of worrying about court matters. He gritted his teeth and said: "The current situation can turn chaotic at any time. What if it's really safe? Stay in the barracks. We need him to protect us. If he doesn't come, who is he staying in the barracks for?! "
Li Guanwen was scolded like a quail. He wanted to quickly retreat to the side and pretend to be invisible, but he couldn't not pass on Ji Zeyu's words. He could only say: "Prince Consort Ji said, if something happens, Prince Consort Ji must protect Your Majesty's safety even if he has to risk his life."
"My life?" Li Qitian almost cursed.
If he waited for Ji Zeyu to sacrifice his life, he might have already been killed by that traitor Pang Xiao.
Li Qitian was very angry. The deployed imperial censor participated in the Pang Xiao, but there was a problem with the military generals. It should be known that Pang Xiao had a deep foundation among the people and had a very high status in the hearts of the people. If they couldn't attack him from both inside and outside, it was almost impossible to succeed this time.
If they couldn't kill him with one blow this time and gave him a chance to breathe, things would become more and more difficult and dangerous in the future.
Li Qitian fiercely ordered Li Guanwen in a low voice: "Go and urge him again for us!"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Li Guanwen wiped the sweat off his face, but he didn't dare to show it. He hurriedly retreated.
At this time, the debate among the court officials became more and more chaotic. It was still the debate between those who wanted to impeach Pang Xiao and those who wanted to explain Pang Xiao's actions. The two sides even began to attack each other. Many people's hidden secrets were about to be revealed.
Li Qitian originally only pretended to be worried, but he was actually very appreciative of these people's attacks on Pang Xiao. He felt that these people's words hit the bottom of his heart, making him feel very comfortable.
But now, Li Qitian was really worried.
If Pang Xiao really rebelled in a moment of desperation, with his martial arts, perhaps only Ji Zeyu in the entire capital could match him. Pang Xiao's attacks were fast and ruthless. If he finally shed all pretense of cordiality and got close to him, Li Qitian was afraid that he would die before Ji Zeyu came to save him.
At this time, a young man wearing the uniform of a small eunuch walked up from the side.
Li Qitian's pupils contracted. He had a bad premonition in his heart.
This young man was not an ordinary eunuch. He was a secret agent that he raised. He specialized in spying and assassinating for him. Usually, they communicated in secret. But today, in an occasion like this court meeting, he changed into a eunuch's uniform and came out in the open. Li Qitian couldn't help but wonder if something had happened outside.
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