Xie Chen looked at Gu Changwei with a complex expression.
How had he never noticed Gu Changwei was so naive before?
Did he even have a brain? Perhaps it wasn't developed at all!
Gu Siya was all grown up. How could he possibly think that being "deceived" would absolve him of the grave crime of plotting against His Majesty?
Was he treating Xie Chen like an idiot, or His Majesty like one?
"Duke, you have seen the evidence. If you believe Gu Siya was deceived, then present evidence to prove his innocence. Otherwise, I can only pass judgment based on the evidence I have. Young Master Gu is an accomplice of Li An," Xie Chen stated, word by word.
"Xie Chen, you!"
"Duke, anger harms the body."
"This Duke will immediately enter the palace to see His Majesty. Before then, if my son suffers even the slightest harm, I will not spare you," Gu Changwei declared.
"Duke, please do." Xie Chen said calmly.
Go on, hurry up. If you can actually see him, that's your skill.
Let alone the fact that His Majesty was currently weak, even if he were in perfect health, did he really think His Majesty would see him?
The Gu Changwei of today was not the Gu Changwei of the past.
Back then, out of consideration for Consort An, Emperor Chongwen had shown considerable care towards the Gu family.
Now, it wasn't that Consort An's influence had waned; it had become too potent. For years, the foolish deeds of Gu Changwei and his eldest son, did Emperor Chongwen truly not know of them?
He simply couldn't be bothered to pursue them.
Of course, it was also because they couldn't cause any significant trouble.
Otherwise, would they have placed their hopes on Li An?
Gu Changwei flicked his sleeve and departed.
Xie Chen then instructed his men to detain Gu Siya.
He was the most impartial person, at least outwardly. He would never engage in personal vendettas.
Everything would be handled according to the rules, just as it should be.
Gu Siya began to feel a sense of panic. If he couldn't get out of this…
Recalling the character of Grand Scholar Du, a man who valued his reputation above all else, the fact that he had divorced Fang Fei at this juncture clearly indicated he knew something. To distance himself, he had even abandoned his pride.
"Lord Xie," Gu Siya's tone softened considerably, "what I did was not of my own volition."
Xie Chen remained impassive, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Oh? What does Young Master Gu mean by that?"
He inwardly mused that Gu Changwei's affection for Gu Siya had resulted in a viper being nurtured.
Tsk tsk.
Gu Changwei went to the palace to plead for his son, and Gu Siya immediately turned around to sell out his father.
If he had such a son, he would have beaten him to death early on.
As expected, Gu Siya's face was etched with an unspeakable difficulty. He appeared hesitant, yet he spoke without reservation, revealing why he had associated closely with Li An and the promises Li An had made to Gu Changwei, spilling everything.
In the end, he did not forget to whitewash himself.
Gu Siya's face contorted in pain. "He is my father. I could not refuse what he asked me to do. I originally thought that once Li An failed, my father would surely give up his ambitions, but I never expected… I couldn't dissuade him, that is my fault."
Xie Chen remained silent.
Because Gu Changwei had returned.
Gu Siya was facing him and naturally did not notice Gu Changwei's return.
"According to the laws of Da Feng, imperial princes who break the law are punished the same as commoners. Da Feng law prohibits substituting oneself for another without special circumstances," Gu Siya continued.
Xie Chen gestured for him to continue.
"Similarly, reporting crimes is also meritorious," Gu Siya added.
Xie Chen nodded. "Young Master Gu speaks the truth, but there is no evidence to prove that everything you did was done under duress. Are you saying the Duke forced you?"
"Lord Xie has always resented my father in his heart, hasn't he? I am willing to cooperate with Lord Xie and allow Lord Xie to vent his anger," Gu Siya said, his tone ingratiating.