NCCnovel Chapter 274 I was framed!
Chapter 274 I was framed!
The imperial guards immediately abandoned Wang Ling and rushed to help Emperor Wenjing, while Liu Haifu stumbled and crawled into the palace.
"Summon the imperial physician! Quickly, summon the imperial physician! The Emperor has fainted!"
As soon as these words were spoken, chaos erupted inside the Buddhist hall.
The princes and ministers gathered around, looking flustered.
"Quickly, summon the imperial physician!" Prince Chen was the first to react, loudly ordering the imperial guards outside the palace.
Looking at the chaotic scene, Prince Yong felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
King Qi was the first to see what was behind the Buddha statue, and his expression instantly turned extremely ugly.
His pupils contracted involuntarily, his eyes filled with shock. After a moment, he snapped back to his senses and immediately shouted, "Don't move!"
"Don't come in!"
However, his shouts only stopped the ministers; several princes instead stepped forward and lifted the curtain.
All the princes were stunned when they saw what was behind the Buddha statue.
Their expressions varied; some were so astonished they couldn't close their mouths, some were so angry their faces turned red, and some looked utterly incredulous.
Prince Chen glanced sideways at Yun Shang without showing any emotion.
Was all of this part of Prince Yong's plan? Then who was the person he originally intended to harm?
Prince Yong had a smile on his lips, but when he saw that the person entangled with the monk was Wang Ling, his face twisted in an instant.
How could it be Wang Ling?!
The person who should be having sexual relations with the monks of Huangjue Temple here is Yu Wan, so why has it become Wang Ling?!
Prince Yong suppressed his shock and anger, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.
He couldn't understand how the plan could have deviated so drastically.
To avoid any unforeseen circumstances, a royal physician was arranged to accompany the trip.
The imperial physicians rushed over.
Emperor Wenjing fainted suddenly, and the imperial guards dared not move him. Several imperial physicians could only lift the curtain and go behind the Buddha statue.
When the group looked up, they saw the naked Wang Ling and the little monk, and were so frightened that they almost dropped the medicine box they were holding.
The group was filled with fear and trepidation, all thinking to themselves, "No wonder the Emperor fainted; such a horrible scene..."
The ministers were ordered to wait outside the palace.
At this moment, only a few princes stood in the Buddhist hall, and the atmosphere inside was deathly silent and suffocating.
Prince Yong's hands hung at his sides, his fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.
His eyes were fixed on that curtain, his gaze filled with anger and confusion.
Why did Yu Wan, whom he had carefully arranged, turn into Wang Ling?
Who exactly did this?!
Several imperial physicians hurriedly treated Emperor Wenjing.
After examining the Emperor, the officials addressed the Prince Chen, who was closest to him, saying, "Your Highness, the Emperor fainted due to a sudden surge of anger. We will administer acupuncture immediately."
Prince Chen nodded slightly. He looked at the imperial physician and said in a low voice, "You must do everything you can. His Majesty's health is related to the stability of the country and the nation. We must not allow anything to happen."
The imperial physicians quickly agreed and carefully administered the acupuncture.
Inside the Buddhist hall, apart from the occasional hushed conversations among the imperial physicians, there was no other sound.
The princes each had their own thoughts, and the atmosphere became increasingly oppressive, making it hard to breathe.
After a short while, Emperor Wenjing slowly woke up.
His eyes were dazed, as if he had not yet recovered from the shock he had just experienced.
Upon seeing Emperor Wenjing awaken, the princes all gathered around him.
"Father, how are you feeling?" Prince Chen asked with concern.
Emperor Wenjing frowned slightly, recalling the scene he had seen before he fainted. His face instantly turned gloomy, and his previously steady breathing became erratic, his chest heaving violently.
The imperial physicians were terrified that Emperor Wenjing would faint again.
The imperial physicians rushed forward and gently comforted him, "Your Majesty, please calm down and don't get angry. Your health is of utmost importance."
Emperor Wenjing took a deep breath, suppressing the rage that was about to erupt within him, and slowly said, "Investigate, investigate for me!"
The people were still unaware of what had happened inside the Buddhist temple and remained immersed in the lively atmosphere of the winter festival.
Yu Wan noticed the Imperial Guards running around.
It seems something has happened at the Buddhist temple.
……
Inside the solemn and majestic Buddha Hall of Huangjue Temple, the giant golden Buddha compassionately looks down upon the world with pity.
But what just happened was like an absurd farce, completely shattering this sacredness.
Emperor Wenjing remained expressionless.
After waking up from a coma after vomiting blood, Emperor Wenjing, who had been extremely furious, became remarkably calm.
He calmly instructed everyone to move to the back hall, so as not to defile the sacred place.
Wang Ling was dragged by the Imperial Guards like a dead dog to the back hall.
The imperial guards originally wanted to pull down their cloaks to cover him, but Emperor Wenjing glanced at him indifferently, and everyone understood.
Your Majesty is not allowing anyone to cover up Wang Ling's shame.
Indeed, beneath the calm surface often lies a massive storm, a storm that can be deadly.
The rear hall is where the monks of Huangjue Temple rest; there is no Buddha statue there.
Emperor Wenjing sat in a chair, while everyone else knelt on the ground.
It took the ministers a long time to realize what had happened.
During such a sacred and solemn winter festival ceremony, in the Huangjue Temple, which enshrines gods and Buddhas, Wang Ling, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, actually committed illicit acts with a monk of the Huangjue Temple behind a Buddha statue...
These officials had all weathered many storms, but this event was still too shocking for them.
They're blaspheming the gods! How dare they?!
At this moment, Wang Ling and the equally naked young monk lay on the ground like mud, trembling.
Wang Ling knew he was finished.
Even if he was framed or betrayed today, his life is over.
If he cannot find evidence to clear his name, not only will his life be in danger, but his family will also be implicated.
Emperor Wenjing looked down at Wang Ling and the little monk with an icy expression, his voice devoid of any warmth: "Wang Ling, I will give you a chance to explain."
Liu Haifu immediately signaled to the Imperial Guards to give Wang Ling a garment to cover his body.
Wang Ling wrapped the imperial guard's cloak tightly around his body, and the man seemed to come back to life, as if he had grasped the last straw. He desperately raised his head, tears streaming down his face.
His voice was hoarse with extreme fear and agitation: "Your Majesty, I am truly innocent! I do not know why I am here, nor do I know why I am with this monk... Someone must have framed me, I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"
Wang Ling trembled all over. "Your Majesty, since I injured my leg and stayed at home, I have not left the mansion. All the servants in the mansion can testify to this!"
"I clearly remember that I was at home today, and I really don't know why I am here."
Emperor Wenjing looked at him expressionlessly.
"You said you were at home, so how did you end up at Huangjue Temple and do such a shameful thing with the monks there?"
"How can the testimonies of your servants be considered valid? Would they speak ill of their own master?"
Wang Ling was covered in cold sweat and hurriedly defended himself: "Your Majesty, what I have said is absolutely true! I have truly been framed!"
"I don't want to hear this." Emperor Wenjing frowned. "You say you were framed. Who framed you, and what's the evidence?"
Wang Ling suddenly raised her head, looking in one direction, her tear-filled eyes flashing with intense hatred. "It's him! It's Yun Shang, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites! He must have framed me—"