Chapter 1106: Chapter 1106: It Was the Emperor Who Gave Him the Opportunity

The Emperor’s expression instantly became very unpleasant, so it turns out Second Prince tampered with the blood relationship identification?

“Cough, cough, cough.” The Emperor, overwhelmed with anger, started coughing violently again.

Xiping hurriedly helped him to sit back down, and the Emperor closed his eyes, raised his head, and after a brief moment, gritted his teeth and said, “Continue.”

His voice deepened a few tones, and Meng Yunzheng slightly lowered his head, obscuring the light in his eyes.

The Fifth Prince had sent him a message just yesterday, saying the Emperor and the Second Prince had undergone a blood relationship identification, so the Emperor might show leniency toward the Second Prince.

Those words earlier, Meng Yunzheng indeed said them intentionally.

He responded in a low voice, “After the blood relationship identification, Gong Qiu brought me back to the capital. I was ten years old that year, having just experienced the pain of losing my mother, my father missing, feeling utterly disoriented. My mother explicitly stated I was my father’s son, yet Gong Qiu identified me as his through blood, leaving me confused. Fortunately, my father was still alive and was saved by a doctor with exceptional medical skill, who secretly found me. It was that doctor who told me the blood identification was not accurate.”

“My father wanted to take me away; he hated Gong Qiu but wanted me to grow up safely most of all. It was me who refused; I knew my father intended to settle me before seeking revenge on Gong Qiu alone. But I didn’t want to hide forever, nor to see my father meet his end. Gong Qiu is also the murderer of my mother, and I have a duty to avenge her.”

The Emperor nodded slowly, “So you’ve been at Gong Qiu’s side for over ten years? Quite patient of you.”

He took another look at the handsome young man before him, such determination and patience are rare indeed, even he had to admire.

However, Meng Yunzheng smiled bitterly, “But what good is only patience? It’s precisely because I lack ability that I’ve spent over ten years without catching Gong Qiu’s wrongdoing or finding evidence of his crimes. If I had the skills, I would’ve brought him to justice long ago.”

“But now that you stand before me, does it mean you’ve found evidence?”

Meng Yunzheng lifted his head, “Yes, perhaps heaven took pity. Many things have happened within the Gong Family lately. Madam Gong fell ill, Gong Chang was harmed, Gong Ya was imprisoned, the entire Gong Family is in chaos. Especially the past two days, Gong Qiu hasn’t returned, so the guards in his study have lessened, revealing a flaw. I saw the rare opportunity and didn’t want to miss it, so I snuck into Gong Qiu’s study, found the secret room, and seized his criminal evidence.”

The Emperor’s eyes slightly brightened, “Evidence?”

Gong Qiu hasn’t been home these days because he was imprisoned in the palace.

Does this mean he unwittingly provided this young man an opportunity?

The Emperor said, “Present it.”

Xiping quickly stepped forward, and Meng Yunzheng took out two books from his chest, handing them to Xiping.

The Emperor flipped through the books and sat up slightly straighter; this is… account books detailing Gong Qiu’s embezzlement during his tenure as Minister of Public Works.

And evidence of him forming factions for personal gain, though there are no letters or evidence showing contact with Noble Princess Consort Liu or the Second Prince.

The Emperor slowly placed the books on the table, “Besides these two, is there no other evidence?”

Meng Yunzheng was taken aback, raised his head, a look of confusion flashed across his face, “These, are these not sufficient? Your Majesty, these account books record the enormous amounts Gong Qiu embezzled over the years, the figures are staggering, he…”