Chapter 1471
Coup
Chapter 1471 Coup
In the new palace, the new lord leaned back in his chair, savoring the tea that Liang Shi had served him, but his gaze fell on the stack of impeachment memorials in front of him, yet he couldn't concentrate on reading a single word.
The words Lin Hao spoke in court kept echoing in his mind.
"The crime of printing counterfeit money is a major matter that involves the entire Jiuchuan region. What role did you, Second Brother, play in it?"
Thinking back to what the sixth prince had said in court:
"Now I've arranged for him to stay in the villa. After questioning him, he has confessed everything about printing counterfeit money, and you, the eldest son of the Xinchuan family, are...!"
What is it? Is it the mastermind behind everything?
The second brother interrupted the sixth brother, but interrupting doesn't mean he didn't hear him.
The reason he didn't pursue the matter on the spot was that he didn't want things to get out of control in the court, especially since the eldest son of Xinchuan might be playing a dishonorable role in this matter.
Counterfeit currency case.
The amount of counterfeit money circulating in Xinchuan was not too large, and with the help of Lao San and Lao Liu, the spread of counterfeit money was stopped.
But this matter ultimately involves all of Sichuan, and the new currency was issued by Sichuan. If we cannot give an explanation to all of Sichuan, where will our authority be?
Chen Xi, the key figure in the counterfeit currency printing operation, was found to have had dealings with people close to Yin Song.
The new Chuanzhu closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Someone come here!"
"My lord!" Liang Shi pushed open the door and came in.
"Summon the eldest daughter of the principal wife to the palace!"
······
Yin Song arrived quickly, and his expression remained relatively calm when he came out of the mansion.
But he knew in his heart why his father had called him. After all, the sixth prince had spoken so frankly in court, his father couldn't possibly not ask.
However, this hurdle is not easy to overcome.
The door to the imperial study closed behind them, leaving only the father and son in the vast hall.
The new lord neither offered him a seat nor showed anger, but simply looked at him indifferently, his gaze like a stagnant pool, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
"Is the counterfeit currency case related to you?"
Yin Song knelt on the ground, his heart pounding like a drum, but he maintained his composure: "Father, I am innocent."
"Injustice?" The new Chuanzhu stood up, walked up to him, and looked down at him, saying:
"Chen Xi is already under Lao Liu's control. You should know better than anyone what he'll spill out."
Yin Song raised his head, looked directly into the eyes of the new Sichuan chieftain, and said with unwavering certainty:
"Father, who is Chen Xi? He's a street rogue. If he wants to implicate me, what wouldn't he make up to save his own life?"
He paused, then said meaningfully, "Besides, this isn't the first time Lao Liu has used torture to extract confessions, so his words can't be trusted!"
The new Chuanzhu frowned slightly; the second brother's words did not dispel his doubts.
"It's no secret that the sixth brother has his eye on my position. He'll do anything for the sake of becoming the heir to Xinchuan!"
Seeing this, Yin Song continued:
"Moreover, when the sixth brother returned from Tong'an, he brought back the agreement with Lord Daichuan, but he did not bring back a reply to me."
"Father, don't you find it strange? My father-in-law is the richest man in Daichuan. He personally promised to join forces with other mine owners to persuade Lord Daichuan!"
"But now, Lord Daichuan and Lao Liu made a written promise, yet they haven't even sent me a single reply."
Yin Song's voice grew increasingly steady, and even he himself felt that what he said made a lot of sense, so he continued his analysis with a focused gaze:
"What does this mean? It means that Lord Daichuan has been persuaded by Lao Liu, and my father-in-law has also been cut off from contact."
"Sixth Brother's trip to Daichuan is probably not just about the mineral veins; perhaps he's reached some other agreement, and it might not even be aimed at me!"
The second brother's words were not without reason, and he also felt that the sixth brother's actions were somewhat beyond his expectations, showing signs of being out of control!
The new lord remained silent for a moment, then turned and walked back to his desk to sit down, saying calmly, "What you've said is all speculation!"
"Father, you are wise!" Yin Song thought to himself, feeling reassured, and then prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed.
"The counterfeit currency case is of great importance. If it was indeed done by your son, your son is willing to accept any punishment. However, your son is the eldest son of the legitimate wife and the future heir of Xinchuan. How could you ruin your future by doing something like counterfeiting currency?"
"Please give me some time, Father. I will investigate this matter thoroughly as soon as possible and give you an explanation!"
The new lord stared at him for a long time, hesitated for a moment, and finally slowly spoke:
"Very well, I'll give you three days. Explain yourself clearly at the morning court session three days from now!"
In fact, the new Chuanzhu did not want to give up on the second son, so he gave the second son time and opportunity to deal with this matter. After all, he was the successor he had carefully cultivated for more than ten years, but...
Yin Song kowtowed again and said, "Thank you, Father!"
When he got up and left the Imperial Study, his back was soaked with cold sweat.
······
Night falls at the Jie Garden in the Second Young Master's residence.
Only one lamp was lit in the study, casting long, distorted shadows of the two people.
Yin Song sat in the main seat, his face ashen. Opposite him, the fourth brother, Yin Zheng, held a teacup, slowly blowing away the foam, but did not drink it.
"Second Brother, you didn't invite me here tonight just for tea, did you?"
Yin Song looked up at him and said in a low voice, "Chen Xi has been taken into custody by Lao Liu!"
Yin Zheng paused slightly, recalling Lin Hao's words at the court meeting, and then put down his teacup and said, "I know?"
"As far as I know, he had already detained the people before he returned from Tong'an, which means he had been investigating this matter."
"If I hadn't stopped him in time today in court, he would have almost exposed the counterfeit currency case!" Yin Song said through gritted teeth.
"But my father has become suspicious. He summoned me to the palace tonight and interrogated me about this matter. I managed to keep my composure and only said that I should give him an explanation!"
Yin Zheng was silent for a moment, then asked, "What about Dai Chuan? Any news about your father-in-law?"
"No!" Yin Song said, clenching his fist.
"Sixth Brother brought back a copy of the agreement with Lord Daichuan, but I still haven't received a reply from my father-in-law. It's obvious that Lord Daichuan has suppressed my father-in-law's advances!"
Yin Zheng's brows furrowed: "So, Lord Dai Chuan has already sided with the Sixth Prince?"
“It’s not just Lord Daichuan!” Yin Song stood up, walked to the window, looked at the dark night outside, and said hesitantly:
"Old Liu has managed to entangle the Tong'an Mountain matter, the Danchuan road closure matter, and the counterfeit currency case all together, one thing leading to another!"
"He's not competing with me for the mineral vein; he's setting a trap, a deadly trap to drive me to the brink of despair!"
"According to my inside information, and the last time Lao Liu went to Mo Chuan, he got along very well with the boss and the Mo Chuan leader!"
"Thinking back even further, the sixth prince went to Jinchuan and entered into a marriage agreement with the princess of Jinchuan, and his concubine was from Jichuan!"
"And then there's his tutor, Dai Di, who not only constantly flattered the emperor before him, but also befriended many important officials in the court!"
After analyzing this to himself, Yin Song suddenly realized and said, "Oh, without realizing it, Lao Liu's power has grown so great!"
The room remained quiet for a long time before Yin Jun finally came to his senses, swallowed hard, and asked, "Second Brother, what do you plan to do?"
Yin Song turned around, his eyes filled with an unprecedented resolve:
“Now I’ve been driven to a dead end. It seems I have two choices. First, I can admit my mistake and hope that the impact of the counterfeit money case won’t spread. I can try to get my father to give me a lenient sentence.”
Yin Zheng remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
"But you know your father better than I do!" Yin Song's voice turned cold: "When has he ever spoken to us about fatherly affection?"
"He's always only ever tested, controlled, and used us. He pushed Lao Liu forward just to use him as a whetstone to hone my abilities, didn't he?" His voice grew louder, as if years of suppressed resentment had finally found an outlet.
"But my knife doesn't need sharpening; it's already sharp enough. If I keep sharpening it, it'll start drawing blood!"
"Besides, I am the eldest son of the legitimate wife, the rightful heir! If he truly trusted me, he shouldn't have allowed the sixth son to hinder me at every turn!"
Yin Zheng put down his teacup and asked softly, "What's the second option?"
Yin Song looked at him and said, word by word, "Since he won't give me a way out, I'll fight for it myself."
"Second brother, you~!" Yin Zheng's pupils contracted slightly, and he immediately understood the meaning behind Yin Song's words.
Yin Zheng remained silent for a long time, then gritted his teeth and said:
"Second Brother, he is, after all, our father!" He stood up, straightened his robes, and said.
"I'm not involved in this matter, but don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Just pretend I wasn't here today."
"Oh~!" Yin Song looked at him, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.
"Fourth brother, you're always so smart. It seems Sixth brother was right about you."
"Second Brother~!" However, before Yin Jun could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the second brother, who said, "You should call him the eldest son!"
"Yes, eldest son!" The fourth son then continued, "That was the sixth son's instigation; I never had any other intentions!"
"Then prove it to me!" Yin Song interrupted again.
"Second brother, it's not that I'm backing down, it's just that I'm about to become a father, and if something happens to me!" The fourth brother then knelt before the second brother, tears streaming down his face, and said:
"I'm afraid... I'm afraid I'll drag them down in the future!"
"Fourth brother!" Yin Song's voice returned to calm, as calm as a stagnant pool:
"How can you still not understand? We've come this far, we're all in the same boat. Do you really think you can sever ties with me?"
After a long silence, the fourth prince suppressed his excitement and said wearily, "Eldest Master, what do you want me to do?"
"In private, let's still call each other Second Brother!" Yin Song then said calmly.
"My father gave me three days to investigate Chen Xi's counterfeit money case, and I cannot have any contact with Chen Xi, so this Chen Xi must die tonight!"
"Of course, it's best to die quietly!" Yin Song added at the end.
"Yes, Second Brother!" Yin Jun walked out of the Jie Garden of the eldest son's residence, somewhat lost and dejected.
Watching the fourth brother walk away, Yin Song muttered to himself, "Trying to be clever, did you really think I couldn't see through your little scheme?"
"We've come this far, how can you back down now!"
······
The next day, morning.
Civil and military officials lined up on both sides, and the atmosphere inside the hall was as heavy as the sky before a storm, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
The new Sichuan governor sat on the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. He glanced at Yin Song, whose head was lowered, his expression unchanged, showing no sign of anything amiss.
The new lord breathed a slight sigh of relief; perhaps the reprimand he gave last night had worked.
Hopefully, he can distance himself from the matter as soon as possible; otherwise, the second son will inevitably be punished for the counterfeit currency case.
"If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court is adjourned," the chief eunuch Liang Shi announced in a shrill voice.
"Your subject has a memorial to present," said the Vice Minister of the Jiuchuan Affairs Office, stepping forward.
"Regarding the Tong'an Mountain mine, Lord Daichuan has clearly given up his covetousness. The Sixth Young Master deserves much credit for this. However, the Sixth Young Master has been imprisoned for opening the Danchuan official road without authorization. I believe...!"
"Ahem!" The new Chuanzhu coughed twice, interrupting him, "This matter can be discussed later!"
He did not intend to discuss the sixth prince's affairs in court, lest it cause unnecessary complications.
Then several ministers presented a few trivial matters, which the new governor dealt with one by one.
Just when he thought the morning court session would end peacefully, the Minister of Revenue suddenly stepped forward and knelt in the hall.
"Your subject has a memorial to present!"
Shin-chan looked at him, a strange unease rising in his heart: "Granted."
The Minister of Revenue raised his head and spoke in a loud voice:
"Our lord has reigned for over thirty years and has made outstanding achievements. The entire nation reveres him!"
"However, Your Majesty's health has been poor in recent years, and the affairs of state are very complicated. We cannot bear to see Your Majesty overworked."
"The eldest son, Yin Song, is intelligent, vigorous, and has long resided in the Eastern Palace, making him well-versed in court politics!"
"Your Majesty, we earnestly request that you follow the ancient custom and abdicate in favor of the eldest son of the legitimate wife, so as to secure the state and calm the hearts of the people!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Vice Minister of the Household Administration, the Censor, and more than ten court officials stepped forward and knelt on the ground!
"We second that proposal!"
"Please, Your Majesty, abdicate in favor of the eldest son!"
"Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance, please make a decision as soon as possible!"
The sound echoed inside the hall, making the window frames hum.
Shin-kawa's expression changed drastically. He stood up abruptly and stared intently at the Minister of Revenue kneeling at the front.
"You... are you trying to force me to abdicate?"
The Minister of Revenue knelt on the ground, his voice firm and resolute: "We dare not! We are all of utmost sincerity, thinking only of the well-being of the nation!"
The new lord's gaze swept over the crowd. Fortunately, not everyone was forcing him to abdicate; neither the sixth nor the third prince's men knelt down.
The new Chuanzhu felt somewhat relieved, and then his gaze fell on Yin Song.
Yin Song did not kneel. He stood in the queue, his face calm, like an observer.
"Yin Song!" The new Chuanzhu's voice trembled. "Did you instigate this?"
Yin Song slowly raised his head, a slight smile playing on his lips, revealing a smile that was hard to describe as either bitter or relieved.
"Father!" He stepped out of the ranks, stood still in the hall, and said in a steady and measured voice, with concern in his eyes:
"Your son simply doesn't want you to overwork yourself anymore."
"You~!" The new lord of the river felt a metallic taste rise to his throat, and then with a "pfft," he spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the imperial desk in front of him red.
"My lord!" Liang Shi cried out in alarm as he rushed to support him, causing an uproar in the hall.
The new lord wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, pointed at Yin Song with a trembling hand, and said in a hoarse voice:
"Yin Song...you are the eldest son of the legitimate wife, the future heir of Xinchuan, why are you in such a hurry to force the emperor to abdicate?"
Yin Song looked at the man on the dragon throne, who had aged considerably, and suddenly smiled.
That smile contained bitterness, resentment, exhilaration, and a hint of relief.
"Father, you ask me why?" His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.
"Because I've had enough!"