Happy Emperor

The next day.

Golden Throne Hall.

Lin Tian looked at His Highness and the more than 20 chief secretaries of the princes' palaces in various places.

He asked coldly, "I heard you've been looking for me? And you said you're not going to pay taxes until you see me?"

When His Highness's palace officials saw Emperor Li's gloomy face, no one dared to step forward to speak.

The current Emperor Li is no longer the puppet emperor of the past.

They all knew that the three provinces of Shengjing were under their control, and their strength was no longer comparable to that of ordinary vassal kings.

In other words, the power of King Pingdong may still be above it.

"Do you still admit that you are the people of Daxia?"

Seeing that no one responded, Lin Tian slapped the dragon throne with his hand and questioned in a cold voice.

"My lord is guilty!"

More than twenty chief secretaries immediately knelt down and shouted in unison.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say."

Seeing this, a middle-aged man stepped forward.

"who are you?"

Lin Tian had never seen this person before and asked in a cold voice.

"Your Majesty, I am Zhen Niu Meng. The new Chief Secretary of the Prince of Pingdong's Palace greets His Majesty."

The middle-aged man had a serious expression on his face, but his behavior and etiquette were impeccable.

"Zhen Niu Meng?"

"Zhen Niubi, who are you?"

When Lin Tian heard the name, he thought of Zhen Niubi, who was still imprisoned in the sky prison by him.

This Zhen Niumeng seems to understand the rules better than Zhen Niu.

But such people are also more difficult to deal with.

"Zhen Niu must be my brother!" Zhen Niu replied calmly.

"What do you want to say?" Lin Tian asked coldly.

As long as we capture Zhen Niumeng today, no other chief officials in the royal palace will dare to lead trouble.

"I would like to ask Your Majesty, what exactly did my brother do that you have thrown him into the Heavenly Prison and are not releasing him?"

Although Zhen Niu Meng had no problem with the etiquette, his tone was very tough.

A tone of questioning Emperor Li.

In fact, he had to do this. If he showed weakness, then the chief officials who had been instigated by him with great difficulty would inevitably turn against him.

"You're causing a scene at my wedding and jeopardizing my authority!"

"If I hadn't done this for the sake of my uncle, the Prince of Pingdong, I would have committed such a crime and sentenced him to death!"

Lin Tian narrowed his eyes and replied coldly.

"Well, if what Your Majesty said is true, this crime should be punished."

"Are you questioning my lying again?" Lin Tian heard the hidden meaning in Zhen Niumeng's words and asked back in a cold voice.

"no!"

Zhen Niumeng didn't expect that Emperor Li could see through his language loophole at once.

But he was not panicked and continued.

"However, according to the Great Xia laws promulgated by the previous emperor, all the chief officials of the royal palaces who have not committed treason must be sent back to their respective vassal states to face punishment. The emperor has no right to interfere."

"Zhen Changshi is absolutely right!"

"Yes, we represent the princes of various places in Shengjing. The emperor treats us just like he treats the princes."

"Is the Emperor going to violate the laws promulgated by the previous emperor?"

"......"

The chief secretaries below immediately supported Zhen Niu Meng.

Of course Lin Tian knew this law.

In the past, in order to appease the princes in various places and prevent them from seeking independence, the late emperor had them pay taxes and silver annually.

This was one of the measures that gave local princes a great deal of autonomy.

People in the territories of the vassal kings need to return to their territories to be punished.

But although this law was enacted, it was just a formality.

No vassal king actually enforced this law.

Because transporting prisoners back and forth is too costly and unnecessary.

No matter who breaks the law in Shengjing, they will be punished by the Shengjing government.

Lin Tian didn't expect that Zhen Niumeng would bring up this law today.

"Your Majesty, may I ask why you do not act in accordance with the laws of Daxia?"

Zhen Niumeng sneered when he saw Emperor Li remained silent.

He stepped forward again and questioned.

You really came prepared!

Lin Tian looked at Zhen Niumeng with a gloomy expression.

This guy is obviously much stronger than his brother, and he knows how to use the laws of Daxia to argue his own way.

However, this did make Lin Tian a little embarrassed.

After all, it was impossible for him to openly refute the laws of the previous emperor in front of a group of chief historians.

Once this is done, it will be equivalent to directly touching upon the autonomy of the local vassal kings, and they will inevitably feel insecure.

If King Pingdong instigates them again, they might unite to fight against the imperial power.

But it’s no use giving in now.

It is equivalent to telling everyone that the emperor has violated the law and bowed to King Pingdong.

Once this news reaches the ears of the major vassal kings, King Pingdong will start fighting with him again.

The situation will become even more passive by then.

"I didn't want to mention this matter in public. After all, family disgrace should not be made public!"

Lin Tian pretended to sigh.

Zhen Niu was obviously stunned when he heard Emperor Li say this.

Could it be that Emperor Li still has something that he doesn't have control over?

"Zhen Niu Meng, don't you and the Emperor's uncle know clearly the crimes that Zhen Niu Bi committed? Do you really want me to speak them out in front of everyone?"

Zhen Niumeng frowned, he had no idea what Emperor Li was up to.

The Zhen family has followed Prince Pingdong for so many years, and has never heard of any evidence against Prince Pingdong falling into the hands of Emperor Li.

Posturing?

That must be the case.

Zhen Niu Meng thought to himself, and then asked in a cold voice: "Your Majesty, please tell me clearly what exactly I have done."

“Kidnapped and murdered the prince!

Lin Tian said with a painful expression: "Uncle Huang wants to seize the throne. Does he really disregard our uncle-nephew relationship?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall exploded.

The prince is not dead?

Wasn’t the prince killed by Ji Feng a long time ago?

Could it be that Prince Pingdong really kidnapped the prince?

All the palace officials looked at Zhen Niumeng.

If Zhen Niu Bi really kidnapped the prince, it would be considered a serious crime of treason, and the emperor would have every right to punish him.

"You...what evidence do you have to accuse your brother of kidnapping and killing the prince?"

Zhen Niumeng never expected that Emperor Li would dare to bring this matter to light and even turn the tables on him.

"Prince Pingdong has always been in contact with the Crown Prince. Do you dare to say you don't know?"

Lin Tian asked coldly.

"I......"

Zhen Niumeng was suddenly speechless.

"How could my king possibly contact the prince?"

He didn't dare admit it. Once it was exposed, some things would be hard to explain.

At that time, Ji Feng usurped power and imprisoned the prince.

What would everyone think if Prince Pingdong had been in contact with the prince and had not rescued him?

King Pingdong’s loyalty is all pretense!

Prince Pingdong and Ji Feng jointly usurped power!

This incident will have a great impact on the reputation of King Pingdong, and at that time Emperor Li's imperial status will be completely legalized.

If Prince Pingdong launches another northern expedition, it will completely prove that he wants to rebel.

This is an open conspiracy, there is no solution!

Zhen Niumeng could only deny it.

I hope Emperor Li doesn't have any evidence.

Hearing that Zhen Niumeng dared to deny this, Lin Tian laughed in his heart.

Now the prince's affairs can be completely put on the Prince of Pingdong.

"I found a letter from Zhen Niu Bi, written by Prince Pingdong himself."

"And this letter was written by Prince Ping to the Crown Prince."

Lin Tian took the letter out of his arms, held it in his hand, stood up and walked towards His Highness.

All the chief secretaries saw the seal of the Prince of Pingdong on the envelope.

"Zhen Niumeng, do you have anything else to say?"

Lin Tian sat back on the dragon throne and asked in a cold voice.