Chapter 17 He actually pleaded guilty. Is Your Highness planning a big move?

"I don't know how to explain it."

Li Chengde's answer was very concise.

"Oh?" Emperor Qing narrowed his eyes slightly, "So, you admit your guilt?"

Li Chengde looked confused. "Admit guilt? What crime have I committed?"

Emperor Qing's face darkened. "Censor Lai said that you sold official positions and titles. Isn't that a crime?"

Li Chengde looked innocent and said, "Censor Lai said that I was the one who sold the official position. Do you have any evidence?"

Emperor Qing's expression did not ease. "Since you don't plead guilty, let's hear what Lai Qing has to say."

Li Chengde cried out that he was wronged. "Your Majesty, you can't just listen to one side and believe it. Censor Lai framed me without any evidence. Isn't this bullying an honest man?"

"Bullying me is a small matter, but from now on, whatever Censor Lai says will be accepted. Doesn't that mean there is no law in Qing Kingdom?"

Lai Mingcheng looked up at Li Chengde and said, "Your Highness, since you say you are innocent, I have a few questions for you. Do you dare to answer them?"

Li Chengde looked righteous, "Why not?"

Lai Mingcheng hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Two new signs have been erected in front of the Prince of Wei's mansion. Does Your Highness know about this?"

Li Chengde nodded, "Of course I know, I was the one who asked them to do it."

Lai Mingcheng was a little surprised. He thought the Fourth Prince would deny it, but he got the answer so easily.

So he continued to ask, "Does Your Highness know what is on the sign?"

Li Chengde was very honest. "I asked someone to put up the sign, and I must have read the content."

Lai Mingcheng's eyes flashed with joy. The cooperation of the Fourth Prince was beyond his expectation. "The price of each level of official position is written on the sign. Is this true?"

Li Chengde answered simply, "It's true."

Lai Mingcheng withdrew his gaze from Li Chengde and said, "Your Majesty, I have finished my questions."

"His Highness confessed and admitted that he knew everything about the sale of official positions in the Prince of Wei's Mansion!"

At this time, Li Chengde spoke leisurely, "Your Majesty, according to what Censor Lai said, it seems that I am really the culprit of selling official positions and titles."

As soon as the words fell, everyone in the court was shocked.

This time, the ministers were even more shocked than when they heard Lai Mingcheng impeach the Fourth Prince!

The Fourth Prince actually pleaded guilty?

This is simply incredible!
They had imagined many scenarios, but they had never thought that the Fourth Prince would directly admit that he sold official positions.

Although members of the royal family have privileges, they must confess their crimes and accept punishment in the court in front of all the civil and military officials.

Not only have they never seen such a situation before, but it has never happened before in history!

From ancient times to the present, all princes, when faced with accusations from other princes, would try their best to defend themselves by saying that they were not aware of the accusations, even if the evidence was irrefutable.

This prince, on the other hand, neither concealed nor made excuses, as if he had nothing to fear.

Everyone knows that behind this public sale of official positions, the Fourth Prince does have the shadow of His Majesty the Emperor.

But in this situation, even His Majesty the Emperor would never show leniency to the Fourth Prince.

For the sake of the royal family's dignity, His Majesty the Fourth Prince must be punished.

This is puzzling. What is the purpose of His Highness the Fourth Prince doing this?
Since the Fourth Prince can come up with a plan to exterminate the Western Hu, it means that he is not a naive person.

Since he is willing to admit to selling official positions, it means that he must have his own goals to achieve.

But what exactly it is is very puzzling!

"Li Chengde, do you plead guilty?" Emperor Qing's expression seemed to remain unchanged.

Li Chengde said something shocking, "I admit that I sold official positions publicly, but who says that it is wrong for a prince to sell official positions? Is there any written in the Qing Law?" Hearing this, Lai Mingcheng looked up at Li Chengde in disbelief, "You, you, Fourth Prince, you are making a fuss!"

"Your Highness the Fourth Prince openly sells official positions and titles. This is against etiquette and morality!"

"I sincerely ask Your Majesty to see clearly, to clear the court of corruption and restore order to the world!"

Li Chengde looked at Lai Mingcheng with a puzzled look, "Imperial Censor Lai, have I offended you in any way? Why do you insist on biting me?"

"I assume you have no selfish motives, but you keep saying that you are doing this for the country, but shouldn't the Qing Law be the foundation of our country?"

"Then please tell me first, which Qing law did the prince violate by openly selling official positions?"

Lai Mingcheng stammered, "I, I..."

Although the Qing Code covered all kinds of crimes, it had nothing to do with the royal family.

If the prince made any mistakes, it should be handled by the clan affairs office, instead of bringing it to the court like today, which is totally against the rules.

"Okay, okay, it's normal for you, the Left Censor-in-Chief, not to understand the Qing laws." Emperor Qing sounded a little impatient.

"Just remember this in the future. Don't exaggerate in the court and use the country as an excuse..."

"I am not the emperor of Northern Wei or Northern Qi, and Qing is not that kind of country. Don't do such things as seeking reputation again. I won't punish you this time."

Invite a good name?

No more punishment?
It would be fine if the impeachment of the Fourth Prince failed, but now His Majesty is saying that he is trying to clear his name?

Lai Mingcheng would never accept such a reputation even if he died!
He gritted his teeth and knelt on the ground, refusing to get up. He kowtowed repeatedly, and soon blood appeared on his forehead.

The ministers were as silent as cicadas.

Today's handling results are really unexpected.

Many times, when it comes to the mistakes of the princes, His Majesty the Emperor's attitude towards them is basically without exception, which is to hold them high but then let them go gently.

But it’s completely different here with the Fourth Prince.

Not even mentioned!

Although Your Majesty is the one who sold the official position, the prince was impeached by the censors. Logically, for the sake of the royal family's reputation, a response must be made.

Even if it's just a salary deduction, it can at least save face.

But what is the situation now?
His Majesty the Emperor completely ignored it!
Even Lai Mingchengdu, who advocated the punishment of the Fourth Prince, was labeled as "seeking a good reputation"!

This is simply a humiliation for a censor!
From this we can see that His Majesty the Fourth Prince’s grace is immense!
At this moment, in response to Lai Mingcheng's continuous kowtowing, Emperor Qing simply waved his hand and asked the guards to fork him out.

At the same time, he glanced at Lin Ruofu indifferently, then stood up and said, "I am tired, let's leave the court."

"Li Chengde, Chen Pingping, the two of you come to see me in the Imperial Study."

Without paying attention to the looks of the civil and military officials in the court, the three of them quickly arrived at the imperial study.

But as soon as Emperor Qing sat down, Li Chengde spoke up, "Your Majesty, do you feel that these censors seem to be unnecessary?"

Emperor Qing seemed a little confused, "I have already vented your anger, what else do you want me to do?"

Li Chengde shook his head and said, "This is not for myself, but for Your Majesty and Qing Kingdom."

"Your Majesty, I wonder if you have noticed one thing. These censors are out of control now. They don't even take Qing Lu seriously."

"I would like to ask, what is the significance of such censors to the Qing Kingdom other than giving them more salary?"

Emperor Qing was silent for a moment, "The Censorate cannot be abolished easily. I cannot agree to your proposal."

Li Chengde shook his head. "Who said I want to abolish the Censorate? I just have an idea to make the censors more obedient."

"Oh?"

(End of this chapter)