klisemfg Chapter 667: Dethroning the Prince from All Titles and Nobles
Chapter 667: Dethroning the Prince from All Titles and Nobles
Fortunately, Gu Sinian had a musket in his hand, and he fired a few shots at the killer, barely forcing him to retreat.
They fought and retreated like this, and finally reached the palace.
Along the way, Gu Sinian suffered many injuries, including several knife cuts and many sword cuts.
Several of the guards fell, and the rest were injured. They were gasping for breath and their faces were pale.
Fifteen was lying on the bed, gasping in pain, half of his body wrapped tightly in bandages.
He bared his teeth and said:
"Master, this time I really...hiss...I really managed to pull my life back from the gates of hell.
The knives in those grandsons' hands were very sharp. If it weren't for your musket firing in time..."
Gu Sinian leaned over and glanced at the blood oozing from the bandage, frowning even tighter: "Shut up, stop talking, the wound has just been treated, why are you moving around?"
Fifteen wanted to mutter a few words, but when he saw the dark look in Gu Sinian's eyes, he swallowed the words back.
Gu Sinian tucked the corner of his quilt and said, "Lie down well and take your medicine on time. Don't worry about the rest."
Fifteen groaned and closed his eyes in pain.
Gu Sinian, still feeling cold, led the imperial guards straight into the smoky opium den.
The lighting in the hall was dim, and the air was filled with the sweet and pungent smell of cigarettes.
The tenth prince was half lying on a soft couch covered with brocade mattress, his pipe slanted between his lips, his face abnormally flushed.
Several of his close associates were staggering around him, some hugging beautiful women, while others were whispering in each other's ears with the handsome young men beside them.
His unruly appearance made the ministers in the court blush.
The tenth prince was holding a boy in his teens in his arms.
"Catch him." Gu Sinian shouted loudly.
When the Royal Guards rushed in, the opium den was thrown into chaos.
The tenth prince was still dazed when he was pulled off the couch, muttering: "Who dares to touch me?"
It was not until the iron chain was locked around his wrist that he shuddered in shock and sobered up instantly.
The atmosphere in the Hall of Supreme Harmony was solemn. At Gu Sinian's command, two guards dragged the Tenth Prince forward and threw him heavily to the ground.
The tenth prince's clothes were disheveled, his hair was messy, and the iron chain on his wrist scraped against the ground, making a harsh sound.
"Gu Sinian! How dare you!" The Tenth Prince was shocked and angry. He struggled to look up, but was held down by the guards.
The court officials were in an uproar, and several officials who were on good terms with the Tenth Prince immediately stepped forward:
"Eighteenth Prince! What do you mean?
The Tenth Prince is His Majesty's own son, yet you actually tied him up and brought him before the Emperor. This is simply insubordination!"
"Even if they are brothers, there is no reason to treat your elder brother like this. The Eighteenth Prince is too presumptuous!"
Gu Sinian stood in the hall and shouted, "Treason? Then we must ask, who is running these opium dens in Bianjing that are causing harm to the country and the people?"
He glanced at the officials who jumped the most violently:
"Five of the six opium dens in the city are under the name of the Tenth Prince!
And those filthy Nanfeng Pavilions, he opened six of them in one go, and that doesn't even include his businesses outside of Bianjing!"
"The harm of opium is so severe that it corrodes the bones and rots the heart. The imperial court has long since issued a clear ban. Have you all forgotten?"
Gu Sinian looked at the officials who had just spoken out in rebuttal:
"Come to think of it, the sons of several masters were also in that opium den last night, right?
Could it be that you want to watch your son being drained of his body by opium?
Are you willing to watch the children of Da Qi become walking corpses one by one?"
These words were like a slap in the face to the officials. Their faces immediately turned red and they dared not say anything more.
Gu Sinian turned to the emperor sitting on the dragon throne and spoke in a resounding voice:
"The Great Qi State tolerated the comings and goings of merchants, indulged in sensual pleasures, and even tolerated harmless leisure and enjoyment.
But opium is the only thing that cannot be tolerated! Once it becomes rampant, it will drain the people's blood and deplete the national treasury.
The soldiers were unable to lift their swords and guns, and the court was filled with decadence.
Keeping such a thing that will destroy a country is like raising a tiger to cause trouble!"
Qi Guangheng sat on the dragon throne and said coldly, "I thought you were just a playboy indulging in pleasure, but I never expected you to do such a thing that would bring disaster to the country and the people."
The tenth prince roared loudly, "No! I didn't do that! It was Gu Sinian who framed me! He wanted to take this opportunity to get rid of me!"
An old minister with white hair and beard stepped out tremblingly, holding a file high in his hand:
"Your Majesty, I have proof! In order to monopolize the opium trade, the Tenth Prince has secretly eliminated many of his colleagues who were in the way over the years.
Mr. Zhou, the former head of the Ministry of Revenue, and Mr. Li, the Jiangnan Salt Commissioner...
It was because we discovered the shady dealings of his opium den that he was murdered!"
The old minister held the file high above his head:
"I have compiled the evidence of his hiring a killer and smuggling opium, and I wish to submit it all to Your Majesty.
I only ask for justice for the victims who died unjustly, and for Da Qi to have a clear conscience!"
Several officials followed suit, presenting letters and account books. "I have evidence here too. The Tenth Prince's opium den is secretly colluding with foreign nations to smuggle opium into the country!"
Rolls of evidence were presented before the emperor, and the eunuchs stepped forward quickly holding the files.
Qi Guangheng casually opened a book, which contained densely packed records of the income and expenditure of the opium den, and clearly listed the records of collusion with officials in the court.
There were even a few pages of confessions stained with dark red blood, with distorted handwriting, which were obviously the last words written before death.
The Tenth Prince was as pale as paper, and his shouting stopped abruptly, leaving only the sound of his teeth chattering.
The eunuch chief, Sun Quan, lowered his voice and reported, "Your Majesty, the Empress is requesting an audience outside the palace. She says she has something important to report... What do you think?"
"Why let her in? Are you letting her in to help this evil creature make excuses?"
He glanced at the Tenth Prince who was lying limp on the ground and said:
"Look at the good son she raised! He colluded with treacherous officials, smuggled opium, and took human lives with disregard.
He is simply a beast who has brought disgrace upon the royal family!"
Sun Quan shuddered with fear and quickly lowered his head: "I will go and reply right away..."
Qi Guangheng waved his hand, took a deep breath and said:
"No need for that. Pass on my decree to strip the Tenth Prince of all his titles and noble positions, strip him of his princely status, and demote him to a commoner!
From now on, you will be imprisoned in a fiefdom outside the city and will not be allowed to set foot in Bianjing for the rest of your life!
All the tobacco shops and Nanfeng restaurants under his name will be sealed and confiscated, and all those involved in the case, regardless of their identities, will be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for investigation!"
"Your Majesty!" Su Daji's shrill cry suddenly came from the stairs.
She had rushed in without knowing when, her hair disheveled and her dress stained with dust. She knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, please have mercy! The Tenth Prince has realized his mistakes. Please, for the sake of him being your biological son..."
Qi Guangheng sneered and pointed at the Tenth Prince lying on the ground: "I don't have a son like him! Take him away! Anyone who dares to plead for him again will go to his fiefdom with him."
Su Daji looked at Gu Sinian with resentment and said, "The Eighteenth Prince is really capable. He has played such a big game..."