289 Lóng Wei, the Governor of Qinping

Kang Xi didn’t stay quiet and stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I also think that Prince Lóng Wei should become the Governor of Qinping. None of us was able to find who could attack the Crown Prince, but Prince Lóng Wei found it.” He could not let Lóng Wei get upset. To save his family, if he had to see Lóng Wei as the Governor, he would do that.

Tianjie and Zhang Xi looked at each other. Kang Xi’s support for Lóng Wei was something unusual, but Tianjie knew the reason behind it.

“Lóng Wei must have asked Kang Xi to support him,” Tianjie whispered near Zhang Xi’s ear, who agreed with him.

Li Zixuan also supported Lóng Wei, and because some of the strongest ministers agreed to make Lóng Wei the next Governor, other ministers didn’t hesitate to give their support as well. It would not be wise to rebel against the decision of the King when the strongest ministers wanted Lóng Wei to be the Governor. Also, they did not want to be on the bad side of the royalty.

Unanimously, everyone agreed on the King’s decision.

Qiu Zedong smiled and picked up the royal seal. “Prince Lóng Wei will be the new Governor of Qinping. He will be granted 500 horse soldiers, 1000 foot soldiers and other perks as the Governor of Qinping.” He stamped the royal seal on the royal decree and directed Qiu Mu to make an announcement regarding it in the capital.

Qiu Mu bowed, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lóng Wei smiled and stepped up. He raised his hands to his shoulders and joined them. “Your Majesty, thank you for giving me such a big responsibility. I, Qiu Lóng Wei, will work for the Qiu Kingdom till the end of my life.” He turned and looked at the ministers in front of him, “Thank you for showing your faith in me. I will not disappoint anyone present here and help you all,” he stated and put his hands down.

Qiu Zedong smiled to see his youngest son’s happiness. All this time, he was punished most of the time. His joy multiplied when powerful ministers from the Kingdom came out in support of Lóng Wei. He kept the royal seal back at its place.

.....

“Now, we shall head to the proceeding which we left yesterday in the middle,” Qiu Zedong said and glanced at Kang Huijuan.

“Lóng Wei lied to everyone for almost six months when I punished him because he beat Kang Huijuan, which broke both his hands. However, recently, the truth was revealed. I am displeased to hear that, because of a lack of evidence, my son decided to remain quiet when Kang Huijuan was at fault.” Qiu Zedong gazed at Kang Xi and asked him if he knew anything regarding this.

“Your Majesty, if I had an idea of this, then I would have stopped my son and punished him for the wrong he did. My son is extremely guilty of his act and is ready to apologize to Prince Lóng Wei.” Kang Xi looked at his son and asked him to apologize to Lóng Wei.

“If an apology could end everything, then there would be no need for punishment,” Li Zixuan stated in his hoarse voice.

“Your Majesty, Prince Lóng Wei was punished without any second thought. I believe that there should not be any discussion over Kang Huijuan’s punishment. He did not only do wrong to a woman but also stayed quiet when the reason was asked by Prince Lóng Wei,” Li Zixuan asserted with a menacing look.

“We are with Minister Li Zixuan, Your Majesty,” the ministers on the left said in unison and bowed their respective heads.

Kang Xi glanced at Lóng Wei, who was silent. He wondered why he wasn’t speaking. He had promised him that he would help them.

“However, there was a lack of evidence. We still do not know if the woman who is claimed to be impregnated by Kang Hujian exists or not. It could be a lie of Prince Lóng Wei to tarnish the name of my family,” Kang Huijuan could not stay quiet any more and stepped forward to speak.

“I never did that, Your Majesty. Prince Lóng Wei and his wife lied about me,” Kang Huijuan claimed. Kang Xi gestured to his son to stay quiet, but he didn’t listen to his father. “Your Majesty, justice demands evidence. Why would I do something like this with a servant? I am a nobleman with high values,” he affirmed.

“Is Kang Huijuan saying that Princess Consort Li Hua lied that day about this?” Zhang Xi asked while looking at Lóng Wei.

“It can be a lie because if she can hide her true identity and enter the royal family, then she can lie about anything,” Kang Huijuan proclaimed. “Prince Lóng Wei didn’t speak last time because of the lack of evidence, and he cannot accuse me openly of the thing which I never did,” Kang Huijuan loudly said while lowering his head.

“Your Majesty, I never did anything wrong. I am being framed by Prince Lóng Wei’s wife. If someone should be punished, then it’s Princess Consort Li Hua.” He tilted his head to narrowly gaze at Lóng Wei.

“She dragged my name into this because Eunuch Lianying was a gift from the Kang family. She must have had hidden motives to do so,” Kang Huijuan had decided that he would end Lóng Wei’s chapter today.

“Blame her one more time and I’ll bury you here alive!” Lóng Wei finally opened his mouth to speak, and his jaw clenched.

“Prince Lóng Wei’s use of words is so inappropriate. If a person like him becomes the Governor, then Qiu Kingdom’s downfall is evident. I want to ask everyone here on what basis they want me to be punished? Justice demands evidence. You cannot accuse a person merely because of some rivalry,” Kang Huijuan asserted.

“I knew that you would never apologize for the wrong you did. That’s why I have brought the evidence, Kang Huijuan,” Lóng Wei pronounced, and looked at the King.

Kang Huijuan was shocked to hear him and lifted his head to look at Lóng Wei, who was smiling with confidence.