Chapter 711: Another Lie To Cover A Lie (2)
Years ago when Zhao Wang Lei had just ascended the throne, Qin had attacked Xin thinking that such a time when the Emperor was still new and inexperienced would be a great time to capture his Empire and annex the territory.
However, the Qin Empire forgot that the Emperor might have been new and inexperienced, it was not he who managed and commanded the military. It was Li Clan who did that and Li Clan had always stayed well prepared for the enemy's attack.
The first attack had been handled very well after a moment of surprise which had come because of the sudden attack.
However, it was just the beginning of a war that went as long as three and a half years without any break.
It was after this long period that both sides suddenly realized that the war was not doing any good to both sides so it was wiser to come to some mutual compromise and end the war.
In the end, the war ended with the Emperor of Xin marrying the only royal princess of the Qin Empire. The seat of the Empress had stayed vacant for all these years and hence when Qin Empire demanded that Qin Wenya should be the Empress, Xin fulfilled their condition without any hard feelings.
They had welcomed the princess of Qin with open arms and had accepted her as their Empress.
However, who had ever thought that after so many years, it would come out that the Empress had never been a good person.
Not only did she attack a girl from a noble family just because her daughter loved that girl's husband, she also killed a noble Consort from the Imperial harem.
How could such a person stay in such a big position!
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe Imperial Court had a thick silence that perhaps could only be penetrated with Zhao Wang Lei's deep and calm voice. It amazed Xi Ying to watch how calmly Zhao Wang Lei was spitting out all these lies.
His story didn't have any loopholes. Though it was true that it had been him only, who had suggested this plan, he could sense that there had been many additions and editions done by Zhao Wang Lei to the story.
Xi Ying didn't mind.
The end result he wanted should not be changed and that was Qin Wenya's doom. He would not mind if Zhao Wang Lei was trying to make himself more great using this plan of his.
In the end, the more he would climb, the more pain he will feel when he will fall down from the peak.
"The Empress had threatened Zhen that if we revealed the truth behind Noble Consort Shu's death, she will have Qin attack Xin again."
Zhao Wang Lei's voice was full of rage in it as he uttered these words.
The ministers were shocked and surprised as they imagined how daring and arrogant the Empress must have been in front of the Emperor all these years to say such words to him.
No longer any explanation was needed after this.
The other part of the story was crystal clear like water.
After almost four years of the long war, Xin was still recovering. They could not indeed afford another war regardless of what condition Qin was in.
All the resources have been depleted already. Xin was still trying to maintain peace among the citizens. Another war would have brought more destruction than anyone can ever think.
"It is true that Zhen's move was cowardice in nature but we couldn't compromise with our subject's well-being at that time. So we hid the truth from everyone."
Zhao Zhang Wei had a hard time controlling his anger as he saw how the man who had killed his mother brutally whitewashed himself using his same mother's name.
He had to remind himself again and again of Xi Ying's promise to himself that Qin Wenya was going to be destroyed after this.
Qin Wenya had not played any less role in his mother's suffering when the latter had been in the Imperial Palace. Even after his mother's death, the great Empress didn't leave any chance to make his life difficult. If someone would come to know of the attempts Qin Wenya had tried to poison him secretly or Zhao Zhuang Chen had bullied him to the point of strangling his neck sometimes, they would wonder how did he even survive for such a long time.
So Qin Wenya's destruction could perhaps be the first step towards their win…his small gift to his mother to whom he had promised secretly that day that he would avenge her death.
As for Zhao Wang Lei…his doom was destined regardless of anything.
Zhao Zhang Wei breathed deeply once again when he suddenly saw all the ministers in the Imperial Court, of course except for Xi Ying, suddenly kneeling down on the ground and saying loudly.
"Your Majesty's great shelter to the subjects is wide and must stay for the lifetime of this subject."
Zhao Zhang Wei unconsciously glanced at Xi Ying and somehow he could feel that Xi Ying just scoffed. His lips twitched and he felt relieved to know that it was not only he who was feeling disgusted and suffocated by this drama full of lies.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmSince everyone was kneeling down, Zhao Zhang Wei and Xi Ying also had to stand up and bow their heads to Zhao Wang Lei.
Zhao Wang Lei's phoenix eyes were shining like stars as he looked at all the lowered heads. He could suddenly feel the power of this respect.
He ordered everyone to sit back in their seats.
Choosing the right time, he looked at Zhao Zhang Wei and said in a guilt-filled voice.
"Zhang Wei, Zhen might have fulfilled the role of the Emperor by doing what we did years ago. However, Zhen knows that we have not been a good husband to beloved late Consort and father to you by not protecting your mother."
Regardless of how much Zhao Zhang Wei disliked to say it, he had to kneel down and say it in a very worried voice.
"Your Majesty makes this Imperial Son feel ashamed with these words."
He could only say this much to play his part.
Fortunately, Xi Ying spoke after this.
"Your Majesty, what had gone wrong years ago can be corrected now. According to this minister, Noble Consort Shu deserved justice. Though it will be a late justice, it might comfort her soul somehow. This minister doesn't think of Qin as a big threat to Xin now as it was in the past. We are able to deal with the consequences but the one who is wrong should be punished severely regardless of who it is."
The ministers agreed with Xi Ying and Zhao Wang Lei also nodded his head after a moment.
"Prime Minister Xi said wise words."
But Minister Xin stood up when he heard this and said
"Your Majesty, we still need to have a proper detailed proceeding for this. If we show proper evidence to the Emperor of Qin, he would have no reason to find any conflict with us. From the beginning itself, we can try to eliminate the possibility of the war if we keep everything transparent."