35 CHAPTER 35 : Crime and evidence

"Do you, Left Prime Minister confess on your crime?!",the emperor could be seen like a raging dragon. The emperor is now so mad that he lose him composure. Who wouldn't be when his prime minister is accused of committing a murder?

"This minister doesn't dare. Truly this lowly minister is innocent", left prime minister kowtowed. He just come for morning assembly as usual and suddenly he was being accused of murder. Did he murder anyone in his sleep?

"Your majesty, the corpse found on the site of murder has been identified as Minister Lu of the Ministry of Revenue. This jade had been found on the corpse. His body had been burnt so bad that it was impossible to recognize his face", the young master Wei claimed. As soon as he said that, several burly guards bring what seems to be a corpse on a stretcher. As if in agreement, all the people present cover their nose.

After showing the black as charcoal corpse, the Emperor signaled the guards to take the corpse out. 'This young prefect had audacity to bring dead body to the assembly hall? This had never happen before. This is not a presecution ground!', the Emperor is not pleased with young master Wei's action.

Looking up at the proud face of the young master Wei, the Left Prime Minister could feel his face becoming hotter. 'This young man is abusing his authority on placing a false charge on me!'. This young prefect on the capital suddenly charge into the morning assembly and started to accused him. He didn't even know what crime is he talking about.

The emperor look at the jade with 'Lu' engraved. He stares at his prime minister, this prime minister had been loyal to him since the day he take over the crown and never did any wrongdoings.

"If what this young prefect had claimed is true, what would you say the motive behind my so called 'murderous crime'?", Left Prime Minister would not just sit there and do nothing to clear his name!

The hall is in uproar. The ministers in the hall become restless. How could they didn't know the character of their colleague? No one would believe a slander without concrete prove and motives.

Smirking, young master Wei showed 5 blue colored books. "Do prime minister recognize this?", he held the books in the air for all to see. Then he turns around to the emperor, "Emperor, we had found this in Minister Lu's office at the ministry of Revenue. There are series of questionable transactions to the Left Prime minister. Here is the evidence. The left prime minister had been embezzling fund from the kingdom's treasury for a long time. After minister Lu took over the position as chief of the Ministry of Revenue, he had found inconspicuous transaction linking back to the left prime minister. When minister Lu confronted him, he killed and burned the body!". The young prefect handed the eunuch the accounting books.

Left prime minister is left with black line on his head.

Slamming his head on the floor, he pleaded, "Emperor, this lowly minister had never seen those books and had no intention to betray the emperor and the kingdom! Pleading the Emperor to reinvestigate!".

With blood on his head, the left prime minister looked too pitiful. The Emperor almost run to pick him up. How could he not know this loyal minister of his kingdom? But the circumstances now made him hesitate.

The hall became quiet. Prefect Wei almost let out his laugh. The crown prince is standing in front of the line of minister with frown on his face. He is now in a dilemma. If the left prime minister is found guilty, it would be impossible for Li Xi Rui to enter the palace and became his concubine.

Suddenly footsteps could be heard from in front of the hall. "Father emperor, this prince wish to present another evidence!", Long Jie hurriedly drop on his knee and pleaded on behalf of the left prime minister.

The Emperor saw this and felt a bit relief. If his son can present counter evidence, his minister could be save. "You may present the evident!", his voice could be heard echoing in the hall.

Long Jie stood up and look at the direction of the door. "Come in!".

Slowly, a man with a pale grey robe, make his way to the front of the hall and kowtowed. The hall is in uproar! Voices of ministers could be heard everywhere.

"How could this be?", the young prefect is in disbelieve.

"Long live the Emperor. This lowly minister greet the Emperor", the man in the pale grey robe politely kowtowed. He peek a glance at the left prime minister. After he saw the blood on his head, he grimaced.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS PREFECT WEI?!!!!!", the Emperor is so angry, his vein almost popped out. 'This heir of the marquis Wei had barged in and interrupting the morning assembly just for false charge? Who is that blind to appoint this stupid young man to become a prefect?!!!'.

"As father Emperor could see, the supposedly dead minister Lu is still alive and well", Long Jie glanced at the clown young master Wei and smirked. 'You are still not qualified to play this kind of game with me!'