Chapter 282

Three days later, Prince Rui was escorted into the borders of Suzhou.

When he was brought to face the emperor, he had thought there would be a hall full of court ministers to judge him together,

But ultimately, he only saw Xiao Jingheng dismissing his subordinates and being alone with him.

At that time, Xiao Jingheng was sitting at the head position, his face gloomy.

Prince Rui knelt down in the hall and greeted him,

"Younger brother pays respect to Eldest Brother Emperor."

Xiao Jingheng said nothing, only after a brief silence threw the evidence of crimes collected by the Ministry of Justice on the table towards Prince Rui,

"Give this emperor an explanation."

Prince Rui was completely calm, didn't even glance at the evidence on the ground, indifferently said:

"Since Eldest Brother Emperor has already investigated clearly, younger brother has nothing to say."

Xiao Jingheng frowned, hating his lack of argument: "Why did you do this?"

Prince Rui bowed down and answered in a low voice, "Younger brother did this to help Eldest Brother Emperor clear his court! Even if the Ning family is not disobedient now, how can Eldest Brother Emperor guarantee that they won't turn their backs in the future? Moreover, over the years, the Ning family has embezzled at least a million taels, compared to Suzhou's annual income from farmers, workers and merchants, it is negligible."

Xiao Jingheng couldn't conceal his anger and scolded loudly: "He was corrupt and perverted the law, there are ways to deal with corruption and perversion of the law. His merits and demerits can offset each other, his crimes do not warrant capital punishment! But you fabricated so much false evidence to force them onto the path of death! The Ning family were heroes who quelled the Qi Dynasty rebellion. By doing this, are you not going to condemn this emperor to injustice?"

Prince Rui was silent for a while, but suddenly raised his head, his eyes were blazing looking straight at Xiao Jingheng,

"In fact, Eldest Brother Emperor doesn't need to investigate this matter. The Ning family is very accomplished, is Eldest Brother Emperor never worried about them even a little? Younger brother was just helping Eldest Brother Emperor do something that he wanted to do but was inconvenient."

"Insolent!"

Xiao Jingheng slapped the table hard, extremely angry and shouted: "Now you want to rule on behalf of this emperor?"

"Younger brother doesn't dare." "You don't dare? Do you think I don't know what you're thinking in your heart?"

Xiao Jingheng pushed up his sleeve, strode to Prince Rui, looking down at him from above,

"You resent Noble Consort Guan for cutting down the peach blossom tree in the imperial garden that the late emperor had planted for Consort Yu, causing the death of Consort Yu. So for the sake of your birth mother, you resent the Ning family, right?"

When Consort Yu was mentioned, Prince Rui's anger in his eyes was clearly aroused, roaring furiously:

"A life for a life is the law of heaven! Although Noble Consort Guan didn't murder my mother with her own hands, my mother did die because of her! The enmity of matricide cannot coexist under the heaven, how can I not hate her?"

"Absurd! You are truly absurd!" Xiao Jingheng scolded angrily: "I ordered Empress to do this. The Empress then arranged for Noble Consort Guan to carry it out. Everything originated from me, why don't you hate me?"

Prince Rui was speechless for a moment, "Younger brother..."

Xiao Jingheng became even more emotional:

"That day, it was Consort Yu who sent my birth mother to her death after she was deposed by the late emperor. According to your logic, Consort Yu was the murderer of my mother, but did I ever resent her or you and your mother?

Over the years, I have always cared for Consort Yu with filial piety and never mistreated you. But for your own selfish desires, you brought chaos to court politics and made me bear the reputation of inhumanity and injustice! You are my brother, by doing such a thing, you have made my heart go cold..."

As Xiao Jingheng mentioned past events, childhood memories were also evoked for Prince Rui.

He remembered that when he was young, due to Xiao Jingheng’s birth mother being tired of by the late emperor and ordered to death, back then there were rumors flying all over the palace. As a young and ignorant child, he had also bullied Xiao Jingheng a lot.

Later when Xiao Jingheng ascended the throne, Consort Yu was terrified, fearing Xiao Jingheng would take revenge on her and her son.

But Xiao Jingheng did not hold any past grudges, and showed great tolerance as a wise ruler. He not only did not dwell on the past, but was also especially gracious towards her and her son.

At this moment, listening to Xiao Jingheng’s heartfelt reprimands, Prince Rui also felt regretful,

"Eldest Brother Emperor... younger brother did not intend for Eldest Brother Emperor to bear notoriety..."

Seeing that his eyes had reddened, Xiao Jingheng helped him up from the icy floor, patted his shoulder meaningfully, and said helplessly:

"Do you know why I didn't imprison you in the dungeon, but had you escorted to see me in Suzhou? Also why today, not a single important minister is here?"

Prince Rui pondered in his heart, but remained silent.

Xiao Jingheng looked straight into his eyes with reddened eyes, and said sincerely:

"Because you are my brother! If this matter was brought to court, those veteran officials could drown you in their spit! It wouldn't just be you, your wife, your children, none of them would survive!"

"Eldest Brother Emperor..."

"I know you just had a moment of poor judgement. Although my heart has gone cold, I have also racked my brains to protect you. Over the years, only you and Jingyan have been the closest brothers to me. Although Prince Qi is the late emperor’s adopted son, after all, he can't compare to the brotherhood between us tied by blood."

Hearing this, Prince Rui was deeply moved. His eyes flickered and he dared not look Xiao Jingheng in the eye, "Eldest Brother Emperor... it was younger brother who put you in a difficult position." Xiao Jingheng sighed, "If you had told me earlier, perhaps I could have helped you bear this without making a big deal out of it. But now the Ministry of Justice has investigated the matter, the former dynasty will definitely make a great fuss about it. If I let you off, I would only be pushing you into an abyss of eternal damnation."

He was silent for a long time, as if making an extremely difficult decision. His voice trembling, he said:

"I have decided to put you under house arrest in the Imperial Clan Court. You will not be allowed to leave alive or dead. I will also order your mansion to be confiscated immediately, to stop the common people's gossiping mouths. As for your wives, children and concubines, I will properly arrange them, not letting anyone know their whereabouts, so as to prevent them from being avenged upon."

When Prince Rui came, he was already prepared to die.

After all, framing the innocent was an unforgivable crime no matter who it was.

He had thought to end his life to atone, in exchange for a way out for his wife and children.

But he didn't expect Xiao Jingheng to consider him so thoroughly, not only sparing his life, but also willing to properly arrange his family.

As a dignified seven foot tall man, at this moment he couldn’t help but shed tears in front of Xiao Jingheng. He kneeled down and kowtowed three times, choking back sobs loudly:

"Younger brother, thanks Eldest Brother Emperor for his saintly grace!"

Xiao Jingheng placed his hand on his shoulder, unable to look him in the eye any longer,

"You can go now."

Soon, guards came in to escort Prince Rui back to the capital.

Jiang Deshun also glanced at Xiao Jingheng for instructions, "Your Majesty, how should we arrange Prince Rui’s family?"

Xiao Jingheng's face, which was full of melancholy just a moment ago, suddenly turned as cold as the frost of midwinter. He said lightly:

"Take them out of the capital, find a quiet place, send them to accompany the late emperor, to enjoy his company."

Jiang Deshun was shocked for a moment, but still responded without showing any emotions on his face, "Your servant understands."

The noisy hall completely quieted down.

Xiao Jingheng returned alone to the head seat and sat steadily.

He rubbed the black jade ring worn on his thumb, and in his mind he kept recalling Prince Rui's tearful and grateful appearance just now, endless pleasure in his heart.

Prince Rui was not sentenced to death, only imprisoned. His family was also safe.

The people of the world would say Xiao Jingheng rules the country with benevolence. But who would know that the secretly protected family members of Prince Rui who were sent away, were actually sent on their way to the underworld?

Xiao Jingheng naturally wanted to kill all of Prince Rui’s widows and orphans.

If he let them live, wouldn’t he be waiting for them to avenge their father in the future?