On the first day Xiao Tong resumed his attendance at court, the civil officials of the Crown Prince's faction brought forward a massive stack of evidence. Kneeling in the Golden Throne Hall, they accused Minister of Revenue Chunyang Tai of colluding with the Second Prince in an attempt to assassinate the heir to the throne, a crime punishable by the extermination of all nine familial clans.
The moment these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in uproar. Chunyang Tai stood within the ranks of officials, his hands trembling like chaff in the wind while cold sweat drenched his back.
Only yesterday, the Chun Mansion had received a blood-soaked skeleton accompanied by the Crown Prince’s verbal decree threatening the extermination of his entire lineage. Today in the imperial court, he heard the Crown Prince’s faction accusing him of plotting against the heir. Chunyang Tai was now gripped by overwhelming terror.
Chapter 79