Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Criminals

(PRINCE GUO)

I smiled as my older brother dare us. Who said Prince Jin is spineless and weak? He is neither. My brother just like doing things simply, going with the flow because he likes living peacefully. But like our Sire, Prince Jin is no fool.

Him daring us now to judge him and marked him as a murderous genius or a clumsy fool is an evidence of how clever he is. Who would dare question his intelligence when everyone knew how well read he is? But to accuse him of plotting murder yet leaving obvious evidences behind is also beyond ridiculous. Who does that? Unless you are truly insane or stupendously stupid, then that is possible.

But Prince Jin is not stupid. Not on that level anyway.

The Emperor look at the paper on his hand with Prince Jin's stamp and signature on it. Our Sire look at the kneeling man, "Do you also have a paper like this?"

"Yes, your Majesty." My former guard said. I find it disturbing that he was once my personal guard and also my cousin. I share blood with this idiot? Ugh!

"How did yout get your paper with Prince Jin's stamp and sign?" The Emperor asked again.

"I didn't get it as much as I am that one who made it and handed it over to the First Minister's people. We also hired mercenaries to come with us on the mission to harm Prince Guo," my former guard replied steadily.

"Pure lies," the Empress shook her head. "Your Majesty, are we really going to listen to these fools?"

We frowned at her, "If we won't listen to them, Mother, then it would mean that there is no crime committed. Then these two guards are making up stories.."

"They are making up stories!" The Empress agreed with me.

"And is the First Minister also making up stories?" The Emperor asked. "My Empress, this all started when the First Minister accused Prince Jin of plotting to kill Prince Guo. These guards are just witnesses. The accusation came from the First Minister..."

The Empress' face paled. "Then...maybe...the First Minister was mistaken..."

"Accusing a Prince of treason is not a mistake. It's a crime," General Wang said. "Even if the First Minister admits that he is mistaken, a simple apology won't cut it. Accusing a Prince of a crime as dangerous as treason without sufficient evidences is also a mortal crime."

We watched as the First Minister and the Empress finally realized the enormity of what they are doing. In desperation to take the Emperor and Prince Jin in surprise, they fell on a trap instead.

Now, the Empress, is trying to salvage the situation by claiming that everything was made up and a mistake. Well, that won't pass to the Emperor at all. Accusing a Royal Blood of treason without evidence is a crime against that said Royal member and an insult to the Royal Family. An insult to the Royal Family is punishable by death.

"But I am telling the truth," my former guard said. "And I have the evidence to prove it." He took out a linen envelop from the inside of his clothes and presented it to us. "This was also given to us," he said before opening the envelop and revealing a round carved wood to us.

We all peered at it and my eyes widened when I recognize that seal. The seal of the Empress was carved on the round wood. This is not the stamp on paper like in Prince Jin's case. This is an actual replica of the seal of the Empress. A replica that the Empress herself gives out to the people she trusted. And as far as I am concern, the Empress only intricately trust one person.

The First Minister. Her father.

"The First Minister gave this to me as a last resort to save himself. There is more to the plan than harming Prince Guo and pinning the crime to Prince Jin. It also involves killing the First Prince in his prison cell and then blaming General Wang for his death." My former guard is a fountain of information.