Quick Transmigration: The Mad Beauty Refuses to Be the Scapegoat!-Chapter 117 - 28: The Princess Who Refuses to Be Cannon Fodder (Part 28)
In the dead of night, when the study was most heavily guarded.
Watching Jiang Xiong walk out from inside, Luoyang used the same trick as last time to render unconscious the guards behind the study, then used her skills to fly to the rooftop and quietly slipped into Jiang Xiong’s study.
At this moment, Jiang Lai was lying on the couch in the bedroom, leisurely eating grapes, and asked unhurriedly.
"Did you get it?"
"Mm, with Jiang Ling’s help, how could she not get it."
"That’s good."
The next morning, Murong Dun, who had just arrived at the General Mansion, was about to leave.
Before leaving, he looked at Jiang Lai many times with reluctance and inexplicably asked her a question.
"Would you like to settle in Jiangnan after you recover? It’s beautiful there, with flowers blooming all year round."
Jiang Lai smiled at him sweetly and nodded.
"Sure, I’ll bring my parents along then." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
Upon hearing this, Murong Dun’s expression stiffened, and after a few perfunctory words, he was pushed onto the carriage.
"You guessed right; he really went to the Imperial Palace. Do you think Murong Dun is brainless? Why doesn’t he wonder why Luoyang let him do it? There wasn’t only one man in the original plot who liked Luoyang and secretly helped her, he knows about this."
"A complete bootlicker."
"Then let him experience what it’s like to end up with nothing after all his bootlicking."
Don’t mention it, Little Buding was quite excited about it.
In the court, after the civil and military officials had all retreated in unison, Murong Dun stayed behind under the pretense of visiting his father and entered the Imperial Study Room.
After all, being his biological son, and now disabled, even though the Emperor disliked him, he patiently listened to him finish speaking and accepted the memorial he handed over.
"On it, there’s all the evidence of the Great General colluding with court officials, taking bribes, and attempting to betray the country for glory by dealing with neighboring nations. Please take a look, Father."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor opened the thick memorial before him with a frown and carefully read each word and sentence. His initially calm expression became increasingly grim.
With a "bang," the Emperor slapped the table fiercely and looked at Murong Dun with a grave and serious gaze.
"You found all this at the General Mansion?!"
Murong Dun had anticipated the Emperor’s wrath and calmly replied.
"Yes, I discovered this item in the study when I accompanied my wife home. Although the Great General is my father-in-law, this matter not only harms the people but also endangers the nation’s safety, extremely vile. Therefore, I can only endure the pain and uphold righteousness by reporting this to you in time, Father!"
The Emperor kept a straight face, looking at him for a long while without speaking.
Murong Dun was so nervous under his stare that his back was sweating, and couldn’t help clenching his hands into fists.
"Father..."
"Have you seen the contents on it?"
"Of course, I have."
Looking at the Emperor’s expression, Murong Dun suddenly realized something was wrong. Why would the Emperor ask this? Shouldn’t the solid evidence directly lead to a raid on the General Mansion? Why ask if he had seen the contents?
After a while, the Emperor sneered coldly, throwing the memorial directly at Murong Dun’s face, angrily shouting.
"Look at what’s written on it!"
Murong Dun hurriedly opened the memorial, and upon seeing its contents, his hands holding the memorial couldn’t help but tremble.
"This... how could this... no, Father, this is different from what I saw initially!"
Where was the evidence of Jiang Xiong colluding with officials for mutual bribery, the memorial now contained detailed ledger sheets, indeed listing many officials’ names. However, behind them were not hefty bribes, just ordinary gifts, all around festivals like Mid-Autumn and New Year, appearing entirely like normal social transactions.
The time recorded even dated back several years.
In so many years, receiving these things really wasn’t much.
"Are you blind? Is this evidence of bribery? Do you want to estrange my relationship with the General?! You do know the Great General just submitted a memorial to retire not long ago! You say someone like him is plotting rebellion? He has only a few daughters; what rebellion is he plotting?!"
"Father... please listen to me, the memorial must have been swapped, the Great General is not innocent, and I suspect the incident involving the Princess and the Prince Consort back then is also related to him. Father, if you don’t believe me, you can have someone search the Great General’s study, it’s filled with rare treasures, even more exquisite than those in the Imperial Palace, I didn’t see it wrong at all!"
"You dare mention the Princess?! Look at the memorial you handed over, three thousand gold ingots! The Prince Consort sent three thousand gold ingots three years ago! Sending such valuable items to the Great General, didn’t he know the General returned them rejected? What intentions did he have back then? Do you really think I’m oblivious?! You’re defending his treasonous act! You, Old Three, are truly incredibly naïve! Beyond redemption! An incompetent fool who can’t discern loyal from traitors!"
Looking at this disabled and foolish son before him, the Emperor was utterly disappointed, and the thought that he was defending a traitorous rebel made him suspect his son’s intentions.
Disposing the General is as much as losing a right arm, showing Murong Dun’s sinister motives!
The Emperor got angrier the more he thought about it, remembering Murong Dun’s mother was previously involved in treasonous affairs, and he had shown leniency. Now they were causing turmoil in the court circle again, infuriating him enough to issue an on-the-spot order.
"Strip him of the title Prince of Pingyin, demote to commoner, ban him from stepping into the Imperial Palace ever again!!"
Murong Dun’s face turned deathly pale, as if his soul had been half-dragged away. He slumped down in his wheelchair, unable to speak for a long time.
A commoner...
It meant he was no longer associated with the Imperial Family.
The Emperor had disowned him! Even stripped him of his noble status!
The news of Prince Pingyin being deposed quickly spread throughout the Capital Circle.
It became a talking point among the royal and aristocratic circles, as losing royal status was an extremely severe punishment. What on earth had Murong Dun done to enrage the Emperor so much?
According to law, commoners are forbidden to reside within ten miles of the Capital City, may not wear silk or satin, use noble titles, hire servants, or engage in business.
Such punishment means little more than sparing a prince’s life that would otherwise be beheaded.
It seemed Murong Dun must have committed a major taboo against the Emperor; otherwise, he wouldn’t even be fit to be called a useless prince.
The noble young men who had once associated with Murong Dun avoided him as if he were a plague, fearing any involvement might implicate them as well.
No matter how unfortunate a nobleman is, he still has a title, and a title brings allowances. Even the wealthiest merchants and local officials must treat him with deference, allowing him to live comfortably without any career.
Murong Dun was now in dire straits, unable to bring servants outdoors, doomed never to leave home relying on his disabled leg.
