Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 471 - 375: Deposed Crown Prince (Two-in-One - )_4

Chapter 471: Chapter 375: Deposed Crown Prince (Two-in-One Chapter)_4

"I am also willing to vouch!"

As Li Xuan’s words fell, a man walked out from the back of the hall, kneeling in front of the throne with a solemn expression: "During my service in Shandong for three years, I have investigated and found twenty-seven cases related to the Confucius family in Qufu. However, due to obstruction by officials of the Inspectorate, the culprits have not been given their due punishment."

Everyone turned their eyes and found that it was indeed the Xunan Yushi of Shandong.

Behind Chen Xun, Gao Gu, Deputy Auxiliary of the Cabinet, couldn’t help but look a little tense. This Shandong Xunan Yushi was his student and also his close aide.

With this Shandong Xunan Yushi stepping forward, twenty-six other officials, clad in scarlet or green robes, knelt down in the hall.

"We are also willing to risk our official positions, and even our lives to guarantee that all the matters reported by Earl Jingan are undeniable!"

At this moment, all the court officials couldn’t help but look at each other, seeing a sense of astonishment in the eyes of their colleagues and also feeling the chill emanating from Earl Jingan.

"I do not know if everything Li Xuan said is true. But when my good friend Li Guotai served as a Zhifu in Jining, he had dealt with three cases related to Qufu."

At this time, a middle-aged man dressed in red robe also stepped out from the crowd of officials

As Li Xuan turned his gaze, he found that this man was none other than the current Shaobao, Minister of War, Yu Jie. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, as he had made no attempt to contact this Minister of War through Peng Fulai and Zhang Yue before this matter.

Yu Jie, holding a jade scepter, spoke forcefully: "Because Li Guotai dealt with cases impartially and offended the Confucius clan, he was exiled to Hainan and died of fever within two years! This family is virtually covering the sky with one hand in Shandong!"

The Jingtai Emperor was listening while flipping through Li Xuan’s report. At first, he was enthusiastic, but as he read page after page, his expression became gradually colder.

The Emperor turned his cold gaze to Duke Yansheng, Kong Xiude.

"Duke Yansheng, do you have anything to say?"

Kong Xiude was emotionally torn at this moment and could not contain his internal injuries. A trace of black blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his voice trembled: "This is a slander! Your Majesty, Li Xuan and his party have wrongly accused me--"

"I have another matter to report!" The Shandong Xunan Yushi cut him off and raised his voice: "When I paid tribute to the saint’s temple in Qufu, I saw that the title of the saint worshiped by the Confucius family was ’The Great Sage King Wenxuan’! And more than once, I heard the Confucius family criticizing the Great Ancestor and Emperor Taizong of our dynasty, accusing our government of being harsh."

There was an instant hum among the officials in the hall.

Almost everyone gathered there caught a chilling intent to kill from the Shandong Xunan Yushi’s words.

The Jin Dynasty’s conferment title for the Saint was ’The Sage King Wenxuan’, and ’The Great Sage King Wenxuan’ was the conferment title during the former Yuan period.

The face of the Jingtai Emperor turned even paler: "Is this true? Are there any other witnesses?"

"Absolutely true!" The Shandong Xunan Yushi bowed: "I am certainly not the only one who has visited the Saint’s temple in Qufu."

At this moment, dozens of officials of all ranks in the hall stepped forward, each of them raised their robes, kneeling silently in the center of the hall.

"Nonsense!" The Jingtai Emperor’s eyes widened in anger, revealing a trace of murderous intent: "Why did none of the officials in Shandong report this?"

"They probably wanted to shield the Saint from disgrace, but they didn’t realize that they were nurturing a snake."

Li Xuan bowed deeply: "Your Majesty, as a protector of Neo-Confucianism, I cannot endure these heartless beasts and robed beasts tarnishing the saint’s good name. Especially this Kong Xiude, he is a pseudo-Confucianist, yet he also manages to seize the position of Duke Yansheng, causing the reputation of Confucianism to decline! Unthinkable!"

By the time he said this, he had unexpectedly resorted to using the Grand Air Thunder Sound and his voice echoed loudly, resonating throughout the palace.

A mouthful of black blood spurted abruptly from Kong Xiude’s mouth. But what made him even more frantic was that at this point, he could no longer control his Shenpo, and a grayish-black aura suddenly surged from his body.

At this moment, the officials in the court were first startled, then shocked.

"He really is a pseudo-confucianist."

"He is clearly using demonic techniques to impersonate Hao Qi."

"Isn’t it laughable, the grand Duke Yansheng, the official dedicated to the saint, turns out to be a pseudo-Confucianist?"

Li Xuan continued without giving a damn: "I beg Your Majesty to dismiss the position of Duke Yansheng and Zhixian of Qufu, and let me choose another worthy person among the descendants of Confucius to inherit the saint’s line!"

"What Earl Jingan said resonates strongly with me! Duke Kong Xiude is hereby dismissed and sent to the Zhao Prison for trial. The cases submitted by Earl Jingan shall be thoroughly investigated by the three law divisions, along with Xiuyiwei and the agents of the inner Jishi Bureau. If these cases are true, they should be heavily punished!"

At this moment, even a hint of satisfaction could be seen on the face of the Jingtai Emperor.

In the past, even though he knew about Duke Yansheng, Kong Xiude and the malpractices of the Confucius family in Qufu, he could only turn a blind eye to it, he couldn’t even speak a harsh word. It was because he feared offending the literati and causing waves in the succession.

Only this person, with his prestige and virtue, could ignore the influence of ’Duke Yansheng’ among the literati.

The Jingtai Emperor hesitated for a while before speaking: "The new Duke Yansheng can be chosen by the cabinet, with Li Xuan, the protector of Neo-Confucianism, making the final decision."

A smile tugged at the corner of Li Xuan’s mouth, and he turned his gaze towards Crown Prince Yu Jianshen. When their eyes met, Li Xuan noticed a hint of regret and helplessness in the eyes of the Crown Prince.

However, Li Xuan remained unmoved. At this point, there was no way he could back down.

As his robe fluttered with his gesture, one of the officials in crimson robes among the kneeling crowd stood up; it was Liang De, the Zheng from Dali Temple, "I am here to accuse the Crown Prince!"

His voice was high and clear, but a trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes: "Last year, I reviewed the case of Kong Xiuming, a member of the Confucius family in Qufu, who was accused of raping and killing a civilian girl. The case was clear, and Kong Xiuming’s guilt was undeniable. However, at that time, the left deputy Zuodu Yushi, and Xi Ying, the head of the Zhanshi Government following the orders of the Crown Prince, interfered in the case. They tampered with key evidence and changed testimonies with the intervention of Qing of Dali Temple, Wang Long."

At this moment, from everyone including the Jingtai Emperor to all the people present, there was a chill in their hearts. Everyone knew that Earl Jingan had laid all his cards on the table.

Crown Prince Yu Jianshen sighed lightly when he heard this. He didn’t know anything about this. But Xi Ying, who had been the left deputy Zuodu Yushi at the time, was indeed a member of the East Palace, and he couldn’t defend himself against these accusations at this point.

He took off his good deeds cap and knelt down in front of the steps: "Your Majesty! I have often felt recently that I did not possess the virtues and conduct befitting my position as Crown Prince, and I am willing to relinquish my position to someone more worthy!"

Seeing Yu Jianshen’s action, a different light flashed in Li Xuan’s eyes, while a smile showed on Jingtai Emperor’s face.