"Consort Xian!"
Xiao Jinheng narrowed his eyes, his expression as cold as ice. "I heard you've been sending people to look for me all these years. Now that we've met, why are you speechless?"
Consort Xian: "..."
What could she say? Did anyone who was cornered and facing death babble endlessly?
"Consort Xian, before I sentence you, I want everyone to hear about the wicked deeds you've committed!~"
With that, Xiao Jinheng ordered Kong Xingzhuo, "Go and bring the people here..."
"Yes!"
Kong Xingzhuo responded, turned, and walked out of the grand hall, also instructing Xiao Ying and Xiao Jun to escort Commander Jiang and the group of rebel officials away.
Consort Xian stood rooted to the spot, sweat beading on her forehead, her legs trembling slightly...
The ascension to the throne she had anticipated had turned into a day of judgment. Heaven truly enjoyed playing jokes on her.
The entirely innocent heavens let out a muffled clap of thunder, indicating they were in no mood for jokes.
A moment later, Shen Ducai and Prefect Gao were brought in...
Both were beaten black and blue, with no intact part of their bodies.
When Emperor Cheng learned that Prefect Gao had dared to lay hands on his concubine, he ordered the prison warden to inflict severe punishment on Prefect Gao, nearly sending him to meet the King of Hell...
"Father, will you preside over their trial, or shall I judge them on your behalf?" Xiao Jinheng asked.
Emperor Cheng yawned and waved his hand. "You judge, I'll listen from the side!~"
After all these years, it was time for his son to shine...
"Understood, Father!~" Xiao Jinheng cupped his hands and looked at Prefect Gao. "Lord Gao, you colluded with Consort Xian, acted in league with her, and engaged in illicit dealings. Furthermore, you disregarded palace rules, were infatuated with Consort Xian's beauty, and violated ethical principles. Your audacity is truly boundless. For this crime alone, executing your entire family would not suffice to quell the imperial wrath!~"
Saying this, Xiao Jinheng walked in front of Prefect Gao with his hands behind his back and asked in a deep voice, "Lord Gao, do you plead guilty?"
Prefect Gao trembled uncontrollably, enveloped by an overwhelming sense of fear...
At this point, even if he were to be beheaded, he had to find someone to take the fall with him; he couldn't just die like this.
"Your... Your Highness the Crown Prince, this minister is innocent. I implore Your Highness the Crown Prince to investigate thoroughly!~" Prefect Gao said, kneeling.
"Innocent?" Xiao Jinheng curled his lips and snorted, "You truly won't give up until you're at the Yellow River. Very well, today I shall let the ministers witness the sordid affairs you and Consort Xian were involved in..."
With that, Xiao Jinheng reached into his sleeve and pulled out a camera.
As he was not yet adept at operating it, he fiddled with it for a long time before it powered on.
Everyone, except Emperor Cheng and Kong Xingzhuo, was utterly bewildered, curious about what the Crown Prince was holding...
"It's done like this!~" Little Xi Tian walked over, helped Xiao Jinheng turn on the camera, found the lewd video, and turned the volume up to maximum.
The moment the footage played, the ministers were aghast...
Weren't those moans and panting sounds precisely Consort Xian and Prefect Gao?
They no longer cared what the camera was; they were engulfed by immense shock and horror.
Emperor Cheng walked over, covered Little Xi Tian's ears, and patted her little head. "Not suitable for children, not suitable for children..."
Little Xi Tian stifled a laugh. She was probably the first person in history to show 'films' to ministers in ancient times.
Consort Xian knelt on the ground, covering her face, feeling utterly disgraced.
After the video finished playing, Xiao Jinheng put the camera away and looked coldly at Prefect Gao. "Lord Gao, the evidence is here. Do you have anything else to say?"
Prefect Gao: "..."
What else could he say? Wait for death.
However, where did His Highness the Crown Prince get such high-tech equipment that it could record his 'acts'? It was too bizarre.
Also, who the hell was peeking at him from the rooftop while he was doing his 'good deeds'...
Seeing Prefect Gao's flushed face and his prolonged silence, Xiao Jinheng's expression turned stern. He ordered Kong Xingzhuo, "Escort him away and lock him up with Commander Jiang and the others. He will be executed at noon tomorrow at the Meridian Gate!~"
Such scum, if kept in court, would be a menace...
"Yes!"
Kong Xingzhuo nodded and led the despairing Prefect Gao away.
Xiao Jinheng then turned to Consort Xian. "Consort Xian's adultery with a minister, treating palace rules as child's play, is one of her crimes. Little Village Girl, please record it..."
Little Xi Tian responded with an "Oh," lowered her head, opened her small satchel, and took out a notebook, scribbling away.
She had seen in TV dramas before that someone who held grudges would write down the bad deeds of others in a notebook and settle accounts at the end of the year.
She never expected to become a 'recorder' today...
"Military Advisor Shen, it's your turn to speak now!~" Xiao Jinheng looked at Shen Ducai.
Upon hearing this, Shen Ducai trembled and secretly glanced at Consort Xian.
Seeing her looking half-dead and trembling, Shen Ducai breathed a sigh of relief. After much deliberation, he began to confess Consort Xian's crimes...
Good heavens, it wasn't until he started speaking that it took half an hour, which showed how many bad deeds Consort Xian had committed over the years.
Her transgressions were truly innumerable and beyond description.
At the end of his confession, Shen Ducai added, "I, I reiterate that what I've said just now was my voluntary confession, not obtained through torture or coercion. Furthermore, I have a roster here of all the rebel officials who have followed Consort Xian over the years. Your Highness the Crown Prince can bring them to justice now..."
Xiao Jinheng took the roster, unfolded it, glanced at it, and then handed it to Emperor Cheng. "Father, please keep it!~"
Emperor Cheng grunted, indicating his satisfaction with his son's judgment.
"Little Village Girl, record another item. Write that Consort Xian incited rebels, usurped power, harmed loyal officials, oppressed the common people, manipulated politics, and instigated rebellion. This shall be classified as the second charge..."
If these crimes were to be elaborated one by one, Xiao Jinheng wouldn't be able to finish in three days and three nights.
Little Xi Tian blinked her big eyes, muttering as she wrote, "With so many charges, Consort Xian will probably get her 'lunchbox' early!~"
Consort Xian: "..."
Do you think you're funny?
I'm practically dying, and you, little girl, can't you say something more pleasant?
Seeing that Little Xi Tian had finished writing, Xiao Jinheng smiled slightly and leaned close to her ear. "Little Village Girl was very brave today. I'll buy you big chicken legs when we get back!~"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
I don't want chicken legs anymore.
She had thought she would lose weight in the capital, but she had been eating constantly during this time, and she was starting to gain weight again.
Emperor Cheng felt a surge of warmth witnessing the sweet interaction between the two children...
Perhaps it was this little girl's influence that prevented Heng'er from becoming dull and uncouth during his years living in the countryside.
"Consort Xian!"
Xiao Jinheng stood before Consort Xian. "This third charge is the most shameful and despicable!"
Consort Xian's heart skipped a beat, and she dared not meet Xiao Jinheng's gaze.
Xiao Jinheng frowned and called out towards the hall entrance, "Come in..."