Chapter 91 - 72: The Monarch’s Anxiety and the Minister’s Humiliation
Prefect Yu brought the Government Office forensic doctor and a group of Jin Sect officials to the Prince’s mansion. Prince Changting was overwhelmed with work, and had no time to deal with them. He ordered his staff to assist the Government Office forensic doctor in examining the body, while letting the others wait in the reception hall.
The officials, having nothing better to do, began arguing in the reception hall. One moment they were cursing the Celestial Heart Sect, the next they were sighing deeply. It was unclear whether they did so for the Crown Prince or for their own official hats.
Prefect Yu, who was still mostly black-haired, had turned gray overnight.
The Crown Prince had met with an accident on his watch. Regardless of whether they could redeem themselves later, they couldn’t escape the blame for inadequate protection and poor governance.
Why was the Crown Prince safe elsewhere, but met with an incident in your territory?
You blame the Celestial Heart Sect, those rebel assassins? You don’t need to mention this; the Imperial Court would question it anyway.
For instance, why did the Celestial Heart Sect rebels appear in Jinmen Prefecture? How could they so boldly assassinate under your noses?
At the lighter end, this indicated the local officials’ negligence and dereliction of duty. At the heavier end, it meant collusion with foreign enemies, deliberate indulgence, and shielding.
If it was the former, they would only lose their official hats. If it was the latter, they would lose their heads.
The reception hall was as noisy as a marketplace.