Chapter 690: Victory and Defeat! I (1/2)
Chapter 690: Victory and Defeat! (I)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
It was clear that the Third Prince was only so pale because he had also understood the implications of the forgery.
”Master Xu?”
The Sage Emperor's voice echoed through the hall.
Xu Shao lowered his head and earnestly said, ”Yes, Your Majesty, this lowly subject truly did bring up the Directors of the Palace Library with the Fifth Prince several days ago.”
”Grand Tutor?”
Grand Tutor Chen Yong thought for a few moments before earnestly replying, ”Indeed, Your Majesty, of the twenty-four Directors of the Palace Library, there truly is no one called Chen Wenxiao.”
In terms of erudition, no one could surpass the Grand Tutor, and in terms of understanding of the court officials and the bureaucracy, still no one could surpass the Grand Tutor. If even he said that there was no one called Chen Wenxiao among the Directors of the Palace Library, then there truly wasn't.
It was precisely because he understood this that Third Prince Li Ju's complexion turned even paler.
”Third Brother!”
First Prince Li Ying and Second Prince Li Yao both turned to Li Ju and grimaced.
The Grand Tutor's words were fatal to Li Ju.
”Imperial Father, if even a name of an official on an important list like this was fake, with the person in question not even existing, how could one believe that this list was real? And if this really was written by your son, how could such a mistake be made?”
Li Heng got up, his eyes blazing and his expression relaxed.
”So, Heng-er, your meaning is that all of this was forged?”
The Sage Emperor's voice had clearly grown much warmer.
”Yes! Although this handwriting truly is very similar to your son's, with the forger truly being diligent, there is still a noticeable difference in the writing. In this aspect, one only needs to look at any of your son's calligraphy copybooks. Both Master Xu and Grand Tutor should have them,” Li Heng sternly said.
The hall was quiet, and people began to turn toward Li Heng's teacher.
”Yes, Your Majesty, this lowly subject truly does have a significant number of copybooks from the Fifth Prince. These can be taken from my study. Whether the statement is true or false can naturally be easily determined.”
Xu Shao lowered his head and gave a deferential bow.
Golden-armored guards were quickly dispatched, and only five minutes later, a thick stack of copybooks was brought into the hall.
The teachers gathered and began to compare the copybooks to the writing on the list of names.
After a long time, Grand Tutor Chen Yong finally raised his head from the stack of copybooks and gave his judgment. ”Your Majesty, this writing truly is very similar to the Fifth Prince's, but there's still a rather large difference in style. In other words, these letters and list truly are fake.”
”Your Majesty, this subject agrees! This really is not His Fifth Highness's writing,” Grand Preceptor Pei Guangting added.
”That means that the letter to the general and Heng-er's reply were both fake as well?”
The Sage Emperor's dignified voice rang out through the hall.
”Precisely!”
Grand Tutor Chen Yong and Grand Preceptor Pei Guangting answered as one.
In an instant, everyone in the hall turned to Third Prince Li Ju. And when those divine and dignified eyes looked toward Li Ju, the ashen-faced Li Ju went limp. Trembling in fear, he got down on both knees and bowed.
……
”Your Highness, how did it go?”