Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite-Chapter 354 Lin Xiang’s Choice

"Just relying on some life-saving grace your father showed the late Emperor back then, you dare to act so recklessly, gathering the Earth Dragon Qi that our founding Emperor of this dynasty had dispersed! How dare you make such brazen remarks in the grand hall? Today, you must understand that this Da Wei belongs to the Imperial Family, it is my Da Wei, not your Prince Zhan Mansion’s Da Wei."

With a single command from the Emperor, all the charges against Prince Zhan leveled yesterday were cemented.

In fact, with these charges of embezzling ninety million taels and unlawfully gathering Earth Dragon Qi, attempting to alter Da Wei’s foundations, Prince Zhan was already as good as dead.

Now, adding more charges was merely to ensure all the involved court officials were also apprehended.

Thus, the Emperor spoke again.

"Let the conspiracy case against Prince Zhan be handled by Fourth Prince Uncle. Within ten days, I want to know all the results!"

"Yes, I will obey the decree!"

Just a single accusation of treason blocked all paths of survival for Prince Zhan.

Now it’s just about piling on the charges, to see what it will ultimately result in.

Thinking of this, Prince Zhan didn’t even have the strength to cry.

Looking up at the Emperor again, there was suddenly a trace of cunning.

"You cannot kill me!"

"Ridiculous, is there anyone in this Da Wei whom I cannot kill?"

"Yes! Back in the day, my father was severely injured to save the late Emperor, and the late Emperor personally promised that even if my Prince Zhan Mansion committed a great crime in the future, one son and one grandson would be spared!"

He then looked towards Prime Minister Lin, speaking with hope in his eyes.

"Prime Minister Lin, Lan University Scholar were all witnesses, were they not, were they not!"

The Emperor had never heard of this matter, moreover, the Lan University Scholar’s family had long been eradicated.

If Prime Minister Lin were to confirm it at this moment, it could save two lives from Prince Zhan Mansion.

But if not, it might be a different story altogether.

Therefore, everyone focused intently on Prime Minister Lin.

Watching whether he would speak for his wife’s family or stand on the Emperor’s side.

Prime Minister Lin knew he couldn’t evade, so he stepped forward.

Bowing and cupping his hands, he said.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this statement is indeed true. I am willing to stake the life of my entire Lin Family as a guarantee that the late Emperor said this."

Prime Minister Lin’s words caused Prince Zhan to laugh heartily immediately.

While the next to Princess Consort Zhan was itching to draw her sword and stab the two of them to death.

Such collusion, is the will of heaven truly so unjust?

The Emperor’s expression also darkened considerably.

If it were the late Emperor’s words, he couldn’t ignore them.

However, thinking about it, sparing two lives from Prince Zhan Mansion even under such serious charges seemed hardly worthwhile.

Just as he was contemplating how to deal with it, he heard Prime Minister Lin speak once more.

"To report to Your Majesty, there have been matters weighing down my heart for many years. Initially, it was for the sake of the family’s descendants not to speak, but today, if I still selfishly keep the secrets forever, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to account to the late Emperor upon reaching the other side, so I must speak."

Is there a turning point?

The moment these words left Prime Minister Lin’s mouth, the Emperor turned his gaze towards him.

"What is it?"

"The matter of Old Prince Zhan saving the late Emperor was deliberately orchestrated to gain the late Emperor’s trust and earn the honor of Prince Zhan Mansion!"

As soon as he said this, all the officials present were shocked.

It was known that the late Emperor, while out hunting one year, encountered a frenzied wolf.

It had already chased and bitten his horse and had knocked the late Emperor off his mount. Seeing it was about to bite his neck, Old Prince Zhan appeared.

He directly offered his arm into the wolf’s mouth.

Then, he plunged a knife under the ribs into the heart of the mad wolf.

Only then did it die completely.

The wolf’s head bit down on Old Prince Zhan’s arm, almost unable to be removed.

It wasn’t until the Imperial Physicians and accompanying imperial guards arrived that they managed to jointly remove the mad wolf’s teeth from Old Prince Zhan’s arm.

Ever since, Old Prince Zhan’s right arm was almost entirely useless, and whenever it was overcast and rainy, he would experience fever and excruciating bone pain throughout his body.

All this resulted from saving the late Emperor.

Thus, the late Emperor made that promise.

It was considered a repayment for Old Prince Zhan’s grace.

Now to say it was a longtime prepared scheme, who wouldn’t be enraged upon hearing it!

"Prime Minister Lin, must you take responsibility for your words? Is this true?"

"Naturally true! I’m willing to assure it with the life of my entire clan! Prince Zhan is aware of this matter, isn’t he?"

Suddenly mentioned, Prince Zhan stammered immediately.

Whether it was the Emperor’s intimidating gaze or Prime Minister Lin’s earnest words, he was unsure.

Hence, he forgot how to retort.

Such an attitude, in front of everyone, was tantamount to an admission.

Soon after, before Prince Zhan could explain, Prime Minister Lin continued.

"When I learned of this matter, it was many years after Old Prince Zhan’s passing, one day I happened to return to the mansion and encountered Prince Zhan visiting Princess Rong Kang. Though their voices were low, my hearing was still good. I was greatly shocked upon hearing it, but with children and grandchildren, I couldn’t ignore the lives of the entire Lin family, even if disregarding those two."

"Therefore, after that, I petitioned the Emperor to send me away for many years. I did not want to be complicit with those siblings any longer!"

Upon Prime Minister Lin’s mentioning, the Emperor seemed to recall.

Indeed, after gaining a foothold in the court for a few years, Prime Minister Lin sought a foreign posting.

Originally, being a prime minister, he was expected to assist more in the court, yet he sought only external positions.

The Emperor initially thought that Prime Minister Lin was retiring while things were still going well.

Knowing that once he assumed personal rule, there would inevitably be conflicts with senior ministers.

So, avoiding it deliberately.

Unexpectedly, there was such a situation behind it.

"Not only that, after Princess Rong Kang broke off her engagement, she originally had a bright future and could remarry into a noble house, but because she happened to meet me bringing my wife and son to the capital on the way, she forced my ailing wife to her death, becoming my second wife!"

"Over the decades, whenever I treated my eldest son and the first family somewhat better, Princess Rong Kang would act behind my back. To protect my son’s life, for decades, I pretended not to care, and even grandchildren suffered much hardship along."

"Fortunately, I found an excuse earlier that finally made the eldest family move out of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, and life became satisfactory."

He then looked at Lin Xingzhi standing beside the Emperor, his eyes truly overflowing with ’affection.’

However, Lin Xingzhi was unmoved.

"In the past, fearing the power of Prince Zhan Mansion, and out of consideration for the clan’s relatives, I couldn’t publicly reveal these secrets. It was my selfishness. Therefore, today I voluntarily request to resign from the position of prime minister, return to the countryside, and become a teacher. I ask the Emperor to grant this!"

There’s no denying it, with Prime Minister Lin’s kneeling and bowing.

All the court officials also fell silent.

Having worked in the court for decades, Prime Minister Lin had always been known as a smooth and accommodating person.