hotmtlnovel Chapter 1878 Surrounding the Prime Minister's Residence
Chapter 1878 Surrounding the Prime Minister's Residence
This time, with the help of Yin Yunting and others, they found out some people that Luo Qiu had killed in the past, so they were able to convict Luo Qiu directly.
capital offense.
After sentencing Luo Qiu to death, Lin Rong didn't give Luo Qiu much time this time and sentenced him to be beheaded on the spot.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager was so enraged that she fainted, her face turning ashen. When she awoke, she was pale and sickly.
Now that no one is on her side, her status as Empress Dowager seems fake, and she has absolutely no deterrent power.
When Prime Minister Shen learned of this, he was furious. He went to the Dali Temple to find Lin Rong, only to find that he had arrived at the scene to collect Luo Qiu's body.
Prime Minister Shen trembled as he saw Luo Qiu, who was already dead. He glared at Lin Rong, his voice filled with murderous intent, "How dare you? How dare you!"
Knowing full well that Luo Qiu was already his concubine in the Prime Minister's mansion, he still dared to do this and directly killed her.
“What the Prime Minister said makes no sense whatsoever. As an official in this position, it is my duty to ascertain the truth, investigate the case, and seek justice for the wronged.”
“Even princes are subject to the same laws as commoners, let alone a mere concubine in your household, Your Excellency the Prime Minister.”
Lin Rong handed a confession to Prime Minister Shen, his voice cold as he said, "Prime Minister Shen, you should think about how to explain this to His Highness the Crown Prince. Luo Qiu said he has a master behind him. That person is likely a heretical cultivator, and Luo Qiu also has close ties with the Empress Dowager. So, Prime Minister Shen, is there anything between you and the Empress Dowager...?"
The connection between them is hard to explain.
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Shen became even more furious.
Now, not only has Luo Qiu been killed, but he's also been framed?
"Lord Lin, please stop talking nonsense!"
If people were to find out about his secret relationship with the Empress Dowager, even if the Emperor were to wake up, he would likely find it difficult to trust him.
Thinking of this, Lin Rong felt a deep resentment towards the Empress Dowager.
After leaving Dali Temple with Luo Qiu's body, Prime Minister Shen returned to his residence and couldn't help but sweep everything off the table.
The place was instantly a mess.
"They're all idiots!"
Fearing that others might overhear, he dared not openly criticize the Empress Dowager, but only dared to do so in a subtle way.
However, the Empress Dowager was truly incredibly stupid this time!
Even though Luo Qiu had already been taken into the Prime Minister's residence and become his concubine, the Empress Dowager was still openly making a scene, demanding that Lin Rong release Luo Qiu. It was as if she really didn't want their affair to be exposed.
In fact, Prime Minister Shen also knew that the Empress Dowager was eager to see Luo Qiu at this time because she wanted Luo Qiu to contact her master and have her master come to the capital as soon as possible. Firstly, the Empress Dowager hoped that she would have someone from the Xuanmen sect by her side to protect her, which would make her feel more at ease.
Secondly, she was somewhat greedy, thinking that she could take advantage of this opportunity to have people available to join the game, and if someone could save the emperor, the credit would go to her.
The Empress Dowager naturally wanted the Emperor to continue to sit firmly on the throne, but the Emperor, out of filial piety, would outwardly still treat her with respect.
If someone else had ascended the throne, whether it was the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, or the Third Prince, none of them would have been able to help her retain her position as Empress Dowager.
Moreover, while the emperor is on the throne, she is the empress dowager; when the next generation ascends the throne, she will be the grand empress dowager. In those cases, she can simply wait to die in the deep palace.
The Empress Dowager was alarmed.
That's why they disregard everything.
But she didn't have that ability!
"Now that we've dragged the real person down with us, is she satisfied now?"
I don't know how Lin Rong interrogated Luo Qiu, or how he managed to get Luo Qiu to reveal all these things!
This puts them in a very passive position.
Prime Minister Shen also wanted to contact Luo Qiu's master, but the problem was that Luo Qiu had been wary of her before and had not told him the location of his master, so Prime Minister Shen didn't know where to find Luo Qiu's master.
He felt that neither the Crown Prince nor Zhou Shiyue would give him that time.
Sure enough, that very evening, the Crown Prince personally inquired about the relationship between the Empress Dowager and Prime Minister Shen.
At this point, the Empress Dowager was no match for the Crown Prince. Within a few exchanges, he broke down her defenses, and she became somewhat hysterical. She revealed the details of her past affair with Prime Minister Shen when they were young.
That very evening, the Crown Prince ordered his men to surround the Prime Minister's residence.
This matter caused a great sensation, but His Highness the Crown Prince did not reveal what exactly happened.
Prime Minister Shen sat in his study. Upon hearing that the Prime Minister's residence had been surrounded, he looked dejected and said nothing, remaining seated there for a long time without moving.
Until Zhou Shiyue walked in.
"Your Excellency's study is quite nice."
After Zhou Shiyue came in, he looked around leisurely, as if he were visiting an old friend's house.
His tone was also light and cheerful, and you could tell he was in a good mood.
Outside the study, Prime Minister Shen's men had swords held to their necks by Qing Lin and Qing Feng, and dared not move at all.
Several guards from the prince's residence were stationed at the door of the study, almost as if they were taking over the role of host.
Shen Xiangjun hadn't returned home yet, so she was unaware that something had happened at the Prime Minister's residence.
Prime Minister Shen sat there, looking somewhat wooden.
He slowly raised his head to look at Zhou Shiyue.
"With Your Highness's personal presence, shouldn't I feel honored?"
As he said this, he still harbored a sliver of hope. He was merely acquainted with the Empress Dowager in her youth; there shouldn't be any evidence to suggest they had an improper relationship, and what could they possibly do to him?
The current plan is probably to embarrass him and then put on a show for others. In the end, won't Prince Jin still have to lead his men to retreat?
Therefore, Prime Minister Shen remained calm at this moment.
“I don’t object to what Prime Minister Shen says. After all, my princess often praises me, saying I’m radiant.” Zhou Shiyue shamelessly admitted it, then walked to his desk, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
He was originally uninhibited, and now that he sat down in front of Prime Minister Shen, he was much more relaxed than the host. He leaned back, rested his elbows on the armrests, propped his face up, and just casually looked at Prime Minister Shen.
"Is there anything the Prime Minister would like to say?" he asked.
"I don't know what Your Highness means." Prime Minister Shen said coldly, his tone stiff. "In fact, I am shocked and aggrieved that Your Highness has brought so many people to surround the Prime Minister's residence today."
Prime Minister Shen paused for a moment, then said, "I would also like to know when Your Highness gained military power? When was it Your Highness's turn to lead troops to besiege the mansion?"
“No, no,” Zhou Shiyue shook his head. “The Prime Minister is mistaken. It was not I who brought the troops. Someone else brought the men. I just like excitement, so I came to take a look.”