klisemfg Chapter 112 The Storm is Coming (5)
Chapter 112 The Storm is Coming (5)
The First Emperor sat before his desk, his gaze solemn as he picked up the confession and carefully read every word. As time went by, his eyes grew colder and sharper, his brow furrowed tightly, as if he were pondering something important.
At the same time, his left hand subconsciously fumbled with the pass token, as if trying to find some clues or answers from it.
"How could this be true..." the First Emperor muttered to himself, his voice low and serious. His gaze fell on a detail in the confession, then on Meng Yi's name.
Then he raised his head and looked at the people in front of him, with a hint of confusion and puzzlement on his face.
Wei Liao, noticing the First Emperor lost in thought, stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, this matter requires further investigation. This confession alone may not be enough to prove anything."
The First Emperor nodded slightly, indicating his agreement with Wei Liao's opinion. He was silent for a moment, then asked, "Wei Gong, what do you think about this matter?"
Wei Liao took a deep breath and replied firmly, "Your Majesty, although Lieutenant Meng and I are not familiar with each other, we have crossed paths several times while handling cases. He is a man of great vision, both wise and courageous, and a brilliant writer. He would never collude with assassins."
After hearing Wei Liao's words, the First Emperor's expression softened slightly, but he still looked worried. He sighed softly and said, "You are absolutely right, Lord Wei. Meng Yi has always been loyal and devoted, and I do not want to believe that he would do such a treasonous act. However, this matter is of great importance and must be investigated and dealt with strictly."
Feng Jie thought to himself, "It seems that His Majesty really favors Meng Yi! I'm afraid Zhao Gao's wishful thinking this time will fail, I have to be careful." He knew in his heart that the situation has changed now, and if he doesn't deal with it carefully, he may get into trouble.
After a while, the First Emperor finally asked slowly, "Mr. Feng, what do you think about this matter?" His eyes fell on Feng Jie, waiting for his answer.
Feng Jie quickly bowed and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, the Meng family has been loyal for generations and would never betray Your Majesty. They are loyal to the Qin Dynasty and would never do such a treasonous act. Please understand, Your Majesty!"
After a pause, Feng Jie continued, "However, the evidence is now conclusive and we should deal with it strictly according to the law."
The First Emperor looked at Feng Jie expressionlessly, but he was pondering his words in his heart. He was certainly aware of the Meng family's loyalty, but now that the evidence was before him, he couldn't just ignore it.
"I naturally believe in the loyalty of the Meng family, but this matter must be thoroughly investigated." The First Emperor said, "Send someone to convey my decree. Order Meng Yi to come to the palace immediately. I want to interrogate him personally."
Soon, a guard left the palace and went to convey the Emperor's order.
Meanwhile, the First Emperor fell into deep thought. He knew that the Meng family had always been a key pillar of the Qin Dynasty, and their loyalty to the court was unquestionable. However, this incident involved assassination, and if it wasn't thoroughly investigated, the consequences would be disastrous.
Not long after, Meng Yi hurried over. He looked at everyone in the room with suspicion, not knowing what had happened. He came before the First Emperor and bowed respectfully.
Meng Yi stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty."
The First Emperor nodded slightly, signaled the eunuch to hand the confession and evidence to Meng Yi, and then said sternly: "Look at what this is!"
Meng Yi took the confession and the physical evidence and read them carefully. When he saw the contents of the confession, his face turned pale and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Your Majesty, I have absolutely no such intention! There must be a trick here, please Your Majesty, please look carefully!" Meng Yi knelt on the ground in fear.
The First Emperor gazed at Meng Yi, pondering inwardly. He knew Meng Yi's loyalty, but the confession before him left him with doubts. After all, it came from a man about to be executed, so its authenticity was questionable.
"Do you have a lieutenant named Han under your command?" asked the First Emperor.
Meng Yi raised his head, thought for a moment, and then replied, "Your Majesty, I do have a lieutenant named Han under my command. He has always been loyal and reliable, and has never behaved in an unusual manner."
Meng Yi bowed and continued, "Your Majesty, but Han Xin was very diligent and careful with his guards during his eastern tour. Someone must have framed him."
The First Emperor's voice was deep and majestic, as if it came from the abyss. "I can believe that you were framed, but can you guarantee the loyalty of your subordinates?"
Meng Yi's face changed drastically, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to guarantee with my life that Han Xin will never betray Your Majesty and participate in the assassination." His eyes were firm and sincere, hoping to dispel the First Emperor's doubts.
The First Emperor remained silent, a hint of doubt in his eyes, as if he was considering whether Meng Yi's words were credible. His fingers tapped lightly on the armrests of the dragon throne, making a crisp sound.
Seeing this, Meng Yi became extremely anxious. He knew that once Han Xin was suspected, he would be in danger.
So he knelt down and kowtowed without hesitation and said: "Your Majesty, whether this matter is true or false, it was my fault for not governing my subordinates strictly, which led to the loss of the token. I am willing to pray and only ask Your Majesty to spare Han Xin." There was a hint of earnestness and anxiety in his voice.
The First Emperor stared at Meng Yi for a long time, and then he slowly said, "Forget it, get up. I don't doubt your loyalty, but this matter is of great importance and I have to investigate it further. Meng Yi, you go down first! As for Han Xin, suspend him from his post and keep him under custody." There was a hint of helplessness and fatigue in his tone.
Meng Yi kowtowed in thanks: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trust. I will fulfill my mission." His voice was filled with a hint of determination and gratitude. Meng Yi kowtowed in thanks, but his heart was filled with mixed emotions. He knew that although he had temporarily saved Han Xin, the matter was not completely resolved.
The First Emperor waved his hand, allowing Meng Yi to leave. His eyes revealed a hint of fatigue and worry, as if he felt helpless and disappointed with everything. He sighed softly and fell into deep thought.
After Meng Yi left, the First Emperor looked at Wei Liao and Feng Jie and said, "Let's leave it at that for now. You two may leave first!"
Wei Liao and Feng Jie exchanged a glance, bowed, and left the palace together. They both understood the complexity and seriousness of the matter, and the First Emperor needed time to think about how to deal with it.
Wei Liao and Feng Jie agreed in unison.
The First Emperor stood up, feeling very upset. He hoped that this was all just a misunderstanding, but his intuition told him that things were not that simple.
"Pass the order down, strengthen the palace security, and don't let any disturbance go unnoticed." The First Emperor gave the order, with a gleam of determination in his eyes.
Outside the palace, Meng Yi's face was solemn, and his steps were hurried, each step carrying a heavy burden. His eyes revealed deep worry and uneasiness, as if he was carrying the weight of the world.
"Lieutenant Meng, this matter is of no trivial importance. You must be careful in the future!" Wei Liao caught up with Meng Yi and whispered, his tone full of concern and worry.
Meng Yi stopped, turned around, faced Wei Liao, and bowed to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Lord Wei, for pleading for me." His voice was low and firm, but he still couldn't hide his inner anxiety.
Wei Liao looked at Meng Yi, a trace of helplessness and worry flashing in his eyes. He said softly, "Lieutenant Meng, I know you are loyal to His Majesty, but this matter is too dangerous. You must handle it with caution."
Meng Yi nodded, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. He knew Wei Liao was genuinely concerned for his safety. However, his worries didn't lessen in the slightest, as he knew full well how dire the situation he faced was.
Wei Liao patted Meng Yi on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Remember not to act on impulse, and always put the overall situation first."
Meng Yi took a deep breath, bowed to Wei Liao again in thanks, and then turned to leave. His steps were still hurried, but with a sense of calmness and determination.