novelSusiti Chapter 9 A cornered dog will jump over the wall
Chapter 9 A cornered dog will jump over the wall
As Ying Zheng's cold voice fell, the side door of the main hall was opened.
But to everyone's surprise, it wasn't the prisoners being escorted who came up.
Instead, he was a neatly dressed, steady-walking middle-aged man.
It was none other than Zhao Gao, the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office!
His face showed no trace of the dishevelment of a prisoner; instead, it wore a cold smile as he walked to the center of the hall and bowed to Ying Zheng.
"Your subject, Zhao Gao, pays his respects to Your Majesty."
His confident and fearless demeanor stunned all the officials in the court!
Isn't this a trial for crimes?
Why do they look like they're here to receive a reward?
Zhao Gao straightened up, his gaze not even lingering on Ying Zheng for long.
Instead, he bypassed the crowd and precisely locked onto Zhang Fan, who was still sleepy in the corner.
"hehe……"
Zhao Gao let out a cold laugh, his voice sharp.
"Your Majesty, I have heard that a celestial being has come to the palace, who can know the past and future, and even take things from afar?"
"Your Majesty, I dare to ask, is it because of this person that you summoned me to the palace today?"
Before Ying Zheng could answer, he suddenly pointed at Zhang Fan, his voice sharp and fierce, like a cuckoo weeping blood!
"Your Majesty! You are confused!"
"This man's origins are unknown, and he spouts nothing but lies. I don't think he's some kind of immortal; he's clearly a spy sent by the remnants of the six states! He's here to shake the foundations of our Great Qin!"
"If he can frame me today, he can frame Prime Minister Li Si tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow he can sow discord between you and the other princes!"
"These wicked men are truly despicable, Your Majesty!"
boom!
Zhao Gao's words were resounding and powerful!
The atmosphere inside the hall instantly reversed!
Countless suspicious and distrustful gazes once again shot towards Zhang Fan like sharp swords!
I rely on!
Zhang Fan instantly sobered up, feeling a chill run down his spine and cold sweat pouring down his back!
Zhao Gao was indeed no pushover!
He came prepared today, and he's going to try and destroy me right from the start!
Seeing the changing expressions in the eyes of the court officials, Ying Zheng's expression remained unchanged, only his voice grew colder:
"So, you're saying that your collusion with Xu Fu and the offering of poison was also a frame-up by this person?"
Upon hearing the word "poison," Zhao Gao's heart skipped a beat, but his face showed no sign of panic; instead, a strange smile appeared on his face.
"Your Majesty, please consider this carefully!"
"Someone come here!"
Ying Zheng, too lazy to waste words with him, directly ordered, "Bring Xu Fu and the rabbits up! Test the medicine in front of the entire court!"
After a while.
When Xu Fu, his face ashen, and several lively rabbits were brought into the palace, all the officials held their breath.
Everyone knew that the moment that followed would determine Zhao Gao's fate!
However, Zhao Gao, upon seeing the elixir and the rabbit, showed no alarm; instead, he burst into loud laughter:
"Hahaha! Your Majesty! You intend to use this hairy beast to test the elixir of immortality?"
He straightened his back, and his voice echoed throughout the hall:
"Your Majesty! This elixir is made from the essence of heaven and earth, refined by the true dragon emperor!"
"The potency of this medicine is far too great for a mere beast to withstand."
"Humans have their humanity, and animals have theirs! Using animals to test medicine on humans is the height of absurdity!"
"I assert that if this elixir is given to the rabbit, it will undoubtedly die! But this does not prove that the elixir is poisonous; on the contrary, it proves precisely that this medicine is extraordinary, a true celestial treasure!"
"hiss--"
These words caused an uproar throughout the court!
Many ministers looked as if they had suddenly realized something and began whispering among themselves.
"That makes sense! A dragon's body is no ordinary mortal, and the elixir of immortality is certainly no ordinary substance either!"
"Lord Zhao is absolutely right; it seems we were overthinking things!"
Seeing the reactions of his ministers, Zhao Gao's lips curled into a smug smile.
This was his backup plan!
However, a hint of pity, as if looking at a dead person, flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes as he sat on the dragon throne.
"Feed".
A cold word was uttered.
The guard immediately pried open the rabbit's mouth and stuffed the pill inside.
The rabbit struggled, convulsed, and foamed at the mouth... It died on the spot in just a few breaths!
Although it was expected, the courtiers remained deathly silent upon witnessing the horrific scene.
Zhao Gaoqiang composed himself and was about to speak again.
Ying Zheng, enraged, laughed instead: "Good! What extraordinary medicinal power! What a miraculous elixir!"
He slammed his hand on the dragon-shaped desk and roared at Li Si:
"Li Si!!"
"Your subject is here!"
"Bring up all that gold and silver treasure from his mansion! Let all my ministers see it!"
"yes!"
A hint of pleasure flashed in Li Si's eyes, and he waved his hand.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
Several incredibly heavy boxes were carried up to the main hall by the guards and slammed to the ground!
The moment the box lid was opened.
Wow!!!
A burst of dazzling golden and silver light erupted instantly, nearly blinding everyone!
Mountains of gold and silver jewels gleamed under the palace lights!
"Your Majesty!"
Li Si's voice resounded throughout the hall, "Your Majesty, I was ordered to search and confiscate Zhao Gao's residence, and found... 300,000 taels of silver! In addition, there were countless jewels, jade artifacts, and antiques!"
"boom!!"
The entire court was utterly silent!
Everyone stared in disbelief at the mountain of treasure, their minds blank!
Three hundred thousand taels of silver!
A eunuch!
A lackey!
They actually embezzled such an astonishing amount of wealth!
If Zhao Gao were to say he poisoned the rabbit, he could at least use his words to argue his case.
That mountain of irrefutable evidence completely shattered all his pretense and wishful thinking!
The last trace of color drained from Zhao Gao's face instantly, and his smug smile froze on his face, making him look utterly ridiculous.
He collapsed to the ground with a thud, his eyes glazed over, muttering to himself:
"No...it's impossible...how did you find it...?"
Inside the main hall, no one spoke up for him anymore.
All the officials lowered their heads, silent as if trembling in fear, their eyes filled with horror as they looked at the pile of gold and silver.
His gaze toward Zhao Gao was filled with nothing but contempt!
However, just when everyone thought everything had settled down.
Ying Zheng, seated on the dragon throne, spoke slowly once more.
"Zhao Gao was corrupt and lawless, and offered poison; this is his first crime."
"I ask you again, what crime did you commit by secretly colluding with the Tian family, a noble family of the former Qi state, and even signing a blood oath pact with treacherous intentions?"
boom!!!
If what came before was just a thunderclap, then this sentence is like the sky falling down!
They colluded with the remnants of the six kingdoms! They signed a blood oath alliance!
This is no longer just murder for money, this is treason!
It is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!
"No!!!"
Zhao Gao, who had been limp as a rag doll, suddenly sprang to his feet, his face filled with terror and horror!
"Your Majesty! No! Absolutely not!"
"This is slander! It's a fabricated charge, Your Majesty!"
He kowtowed frantically, making a "thump-thump" sound.
"Your Majesty's loyalty is as clear as day and night! How could I possibly collude with the remnants of the six former kingdoms!"
"Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly! This must be that sorcerer..."
"Shut up!"
With a furious roar, Ying Zheng stood up abruptly from the dragon throne!
He looked down at him with a cold gaze, slowly unrolling a scroll of mulberry paper in his hand, and then suddenly threw it downwards!
"Look for yourself, what is this!"
The scroll fluttered and landed right in front of Zhao Gao.
Li Si picked it up and handed it to Zhao Gao.
Zhao Gao took it with trembling hands, and when his eyes fell on the writing, his pupils suddenly shrank!
"This...this handwriting..."
It's exactly the same!
It is exactly the same as the one he wrote himself!
Whether it's the strength of the brushstrokes or the habits of turning points.
Even his own subtle, almost imperceptible quirks are exactly the same!
This...this is even more authentic than what he wrote himself!
The contents of the covenant terrified him; every word was like a knife to the heart, every sentence a death sentence!
"No... I didn't write this! It wasn't!"
Zhao Gao clutched the covenant like a madman, his face ashen.
A tremendous storm raged within him!
fake!
This must be fake!
But why is it so realistic?
Who in the world possesses such miraculous forgery skills?
Zhao Gao suddenly raised his head and looked at the cold-faced emperor on the high platform.
He got it!
Ying Zheng never intended to give him any way out from the very beginning!
Poison and silver are just appetizers; this fabricated alliance of rebellion is the real killer move!
His Majesty is determined to put me to death!
Why?
Why is that?
Sudden.
Zhao Gao's gaze instantly swept past everyone and fixed firmly on the figure in that corner!
Zhang Fan!
It must be him!
Since this sorcerer appeared, His Majesty has become so unfamiliar and ruthless!
Correct!
it's him!
Thinking of this, Zhao Gao suddenly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, pointed at Zhang Fan, and roared:
"Your Majesty! I know I was wrong! I am guilty! But I refuse to accept this!"
"It was all his doing! It was all that freak's doing!"
"If he can incite His Majesty to kill his ministers, he can also incite His Majesty to depose the Crown Prince and overthrow the Great Qin Dynasty!"
"This man possesses sorcery and is wreaking havoc on the court! If he is not killed today, the Qin Dynasty is in grave danger! The world is in grave danger!!"
"Your Majesty, please slay this wicked man! To bring peace to the land!!"
Zhao Gao shouted hoarsely, appearing as if he had gone mad.
The atmosphere in the entire hall became eerie once again.