freenovelworld Chapter 231 Iron ore is extremely important, involving the lifeline of a country.
Chapter 231 Iron ore is extremely important, involving the lifeline of a country.
Minister Su slowly raised his head, his face full of fear. "Your Majesty, I truly have no idea! There must be someone interfering, deliberately trying to confuse the public and frame me!"
"Interfering?" The Emperor's eyes flashed with cold light. "This morning, the mine collapsed, trapping more than a dozen miners whose fate is unknown. Tell me, who is interfering?"
Upon hearing this, Minister Su's face turned deathly pale, and his lips began to tremble slightly, but he could not utter a single word.
Prince Yong took a step forward, his gaze fixed on Minister Su, and said coldly, "Minister Su, do you mean that I am the one who is interfering, or that I have wronged you?"
"Or is it that I was responsible for the mine collapse due to shoddy workmanship? Or am I deliberately framing you?"
Minister Su: "Your Highness, that's not what I meant. I would never dare to do that!"
Prince Yong pressed on, "It's not my fault, but does the Emperor have wronged you?"
Minister Su was terrified by his words and immediately kowtowed. Prince Yong was trying to kill him!
"Your Majesty, I dare not..."
He immediately began kowtowing repeatedly, his forehead hitting the ground with a dull thud.
The Emperor gave Minister Su a cold look. "Having served as an official for so many years, Minister Su, you've truly mastered this trick of exaggeration and fabrication! All these years, I've been so wrong to trust you!"
"Your Majesty, please investigate! This old minister truly knew nothing about it! This old minister's loyalty to Your Majesty is as clear as day and night!" Minister Su kowtowed and cried out in tears.
Just then, Marquis Anyang stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. There may be more to this matter than meets the eye, and we need to investigate it carefully."
"The most urgent task is to rescue the people trapped in the mine immediately, otherwise their lives will be at stake. I volunteer to go to the mine myself to organize the rescue operation, and I humbly request Your Majesty's permission!"
Before he could finish speaking, the emperor angrily interrupted him, grabbing the memorials on the table and throwing them hard at his feet.
"You volunteered? What volunteered for? Do you really think I don't know you married the eldest daughter of the Su family? Have you all been in cahoots to deceive me?"
The Marquis of Anyang's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly knelt down. "Your Majesty, I am utterly loyal to you and would never bend the law for personal reasons because of my family. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth!"
"This mine disaster is of great importance. I am only concerned about the people and cannot bear to see innocent people suffer, so I have dared to volunteer!"
The Emperor was clearly in a bad mood, and he snorted coldly: "If you are truly loyal, you should avoid suspicion at this time and stay obediently in the Marquis's residence."
Marquis Anyang lay prostrate on the ground, wanting to say something, but could only swallow his words.
The sudden collapse of the mine shaft was no accident; it was a trap set for them!
The emperor's gaze swept over the kneeling ministers, and the entire hall was eerily silent.
After a long silence, the Emperor said in a deep voice, "Minister of Works, dismissed and investigated immediately! All other officials, demoted by one rank!"
All the ministers responded in unison, bowing with their foreheads touching the ground.
"As for the mine collapse, leave it to Prince Yong to handle."
The Emperor looked at Prince Yong with trust in his eyes, "Uncle, you are usually shrewd and capable. This matter is of great importance. More than a dozen lives are trapped. You must do your best to rescue them, thoroughly investigate the truth, and give me and the people of the world an explanation."
Iron ore is extremely important, affecting the lifeline of a country.
He would feel most at ease if the matter were left to Prince Yong...
Prince Yong stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said solemnly, "Your subject obeys the decree! I will do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's trust."
The Emperor rubbed his slightly aching head, waved his hand, and said wearily, "All of you may leave." His voice was full of weariness.
Over the years, one thing after another has happened in the court, never a moment's peace, leaving him utterly exhausted...
Minister Su and Marquis Anyang exchanged a glance, understood each other, and quickened their pace.
Both of them knew that today's events were just the beginning, and there would likely be much more trouble to come.
Prince Yong's voice suddenly rang out, "Minister Su, if I were to find out that you dared to tamper with the iron mine, your life would be over."
Minister Su paused, his back stiffening instantly, cold sweat soaking his back once more. He didn't turn his head, but mechanically continued to take two more steps forward.
Then the Prince of Yong called out to the Marquis of Anyang: "Marquis of Anyang, please wait."
Marquis Anyang paused, slowly turned around, and forced a smile on his face. "What are your orders, Your Highness?"
Prince Yong's gaze was sharp as he stared directly at Marquis Anyang, approaching step by step as if stepping on Marquis Anyang's heart.
"The Marquis's mansion has suddenly formed a marriage alliance with the Su family. Your Highness is truly blessed!" He then changed the subject, "In this investigation, I will treat everyone equally. If the Marquis's mansion is implicated in any way, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Marquis Anyang's expression changed slightly, and he quickly cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, you are wise. Although I have married the eldest daughter of the Su family, I have always been dutiful. During this mine disaster, I was extremely anxious and only wanted to rescue the people. I had no selfish motives whatsoever."
Prince Yong snorted coldly: "I hope so."
"This mine collapse involves many people, and I will definitely find all the culprits. The Marquis of Anyang's mansion had better not have any other thoughts, otherwise, the consequences will be more than you can bear."
After saying this, Prince Yong gave Marquis Anyang a deep look, then turned and strode away.
Marquis Anyang's expression was uncertain. He knew that since Prince Yong had already made such a harsh statement, he would definitely pay extra attention to the Marquis's residence. He would have to be more careful in his future actions.
Minister Su was even more distressed, feeling as if he were walking on the edge of a cliff, where the slightest mistake would ruin his future and put his life in jeopardy.
Meanwhile, at Hongmeng Academy, the two were still talking.
"Won't they send someone to destroy the evidence?" Chu Ruohan was indeed a little worried.
A mysterious smile played on Gu Junze's lips, his eyes deep and unfathomable. "Lin Jingchuan has already sent people to keep an eye on things..."
Looking at Gu Junze's profile, Chu Ruohan couldn't help but sigh: This man's thoughts are so deep and his schemes so far-reaching that they are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
"Let's go back and rest. Someone else will take care of the rest."
Gu Junze took Chu Ruohan's hand and walked into the house.
In the alley of West Street, Gu Chengyan walked hurriedly and soon arrived at an old wooden door.
He raised his hand and tapped lightly on the wooden door with a rhythm of three long taps and two short taps, his knuckles striking the door with a dull thud.
With a creak, the door opened a crack. Gu Chengyan quickly glanced around and, seeing no one was there, slipped into the room and then swiftly closed the door.
"Young master, why did you come all of a sudden?" The man inside the house lowered the door latch and asked with a puzzled look on his face.
Gu Chengyan looked anxious. "Go and check right away. Has something happened at the mine?"
The man noticed his anxiety, nodded, and turned to leave.
With a loud bang, the door was flung open, and a person rushed in, panting heavily, his clothes covered in dust.
"Oh no! The mine has collapsed, and more than a dozen people are trapped inside."
Upon hearing this, Gu Chengyan closed his eyes; sure enough, something had happened…