Chapter 129: Kill The Bird That Sticks Its Neck Out
Everyone was gathered in Zichen Hall.
The Emperor was naturally seated high on the throne, holding the petition handed up by the censors in his hand, looking as though he had been furrowing his brow in silence for a long time.
When Yue Tang entered the hall, he immediately raised his eyes, his gaze falling on her.
Yue Tang first bowed in salute.
Then she also saluted Empress Dowager Shen, who was seated to the Emperor’s right with a similarly grave expression but a hint of inquiry.
Seated to their lower left was Mu Chang’s family, and to the right was Shen Yizhu.
These people had all stood up at the same time as Yue Tang saluted.
Several censors stood in the hall below, holding tablets. From the moment Yue Tang entered the palace, their gazes had been fixed on her. Needless to say, these were naturally the ones accusing her.
It was practically a three-hall trial.
Yue Tang did not give anyone the chance to speak first. After finishing her salute, her gaze boldly swept around before landing on Mu Shuyun: “Step aside.”
Mu Shuyun had gotten Mu Chang’s backing yesterday and came prepared today, already adopting the dignified air of a victor.
Moreover, with Shen Yizhu right there in front of her, how could she fall behind? Naturally, she held herself upright and reserved, with the demeanor of a lady of high standing.
Hearing this at this moment, her expression stiffened involuntarily: “What does Princess mean by that?”
Yue Tang said: “I am Princess Yongjia, personally enfeoffed by the Former Emperor—what could be nobler? All you subjects are seated, so surely you don’t expect me to stand?
“Since there are no extra seats in the hall, Miss Mu, who has no official status, will have to yield her seat.”
These words made the Mu Family and the Emperor unable to remain seated.
What Mu Shuyun hated most was Yue Tang’s arrogant face, acting superior as a daughter of the imperial family. As if afraid others wouldn’t know about the Former Emperor’s long-outdated favor toward her, she brought it up every day to bolster her authority—how nauseating!
Seeing that the Emperor had already looked toward the eunuch nearby, seeming inclined to grant a seat and calm things down, she endured it, digging her nails into her palm, and forced a smile at the corner of her mouth: “Naturally, we dare not be disrespectful to the Princess. But Miss Shen has no official status either—why doesn’t the Princess ask her to yield?
“The Princess is biased—Yun’er won’t stand for it.”
With this coquettish and annoyed tone, she both brought the conflict to light and used her little daughter’s coquettish manner as cover for herself.
If Yue Tang insisted on her yielding the seat, it would plainly tell everyone she was here to stir trouble. If she turned to ask Shen Yizhu instead, would the Shen Family really yield the seat in front of the Mu Family?
Unable to get a seat in front of the Shen Family members, let’s see how this Princess could save face!
Empress Dowager Shen had received the report sent by Shen Li last night and already knew everything about the alley incident clearly.
She was already certain that Yue Tang absolutely knew the Mu Family was the accomplice behind the Chu Family.
This girl had quietly investigated to this extent—Empress Dowager Shen had tossed and turned the entire second half of the night, unable to sleep over it.
She had a rough idea of who had attacked Shen Yizhu, but lacked concrete evidence.
This morning, when the censors suddenly accused Yue Tang of being the one who targeted Yongfu Palace yesterday, she was stunned and half-believed it.
The doubt came because she didn’t believe Yue Tang, who had been invincible all along, would be so foolish. The belief came because of another reason.
So after bringing Shen Yizhu here, she hadn’t chosen to speak much. Now that Mu Shuyun had shifted the conflict to the Shen Family side, she still didn’t speak, merely letting her gaze shift back and forth between the Mu Family members and Yue Tang’s faces.
Mu Chang lightly stroked his short beard, sitting indifferently, seemingly unwilling to intervene in this squabble among the young ladies. Madam Mu also adopted the posture of a noble lady, holding her orchid finger as she elegantly sipped fragrant tea from a jade cup.
Mu Shuyun had a coquettish expression, but her eyes burned brightly, waiting for Yue Tang’s response.
Yue Tang waited until all sounds had completely stilled before letting out a loud scoff: “So in front of the officials’ family members, not only do I have to beg for a seat, but I also have to give explanations to qualify for begging.”
She faced the Emperor, looking down at her fingernails, which she had just painted with nail polish this morning: “Since Miss Mu insists on not yielding, then I’ll just stand.”
The Emperor had watched for a long time and beckoned to the eunuch.
This time his words were cut off again. The instant he raised his hand, Yue Tang suddenly turned her head and glared at the censors to the side: “Right, what are you lot doing! For a Princess like me to be so humiliated in front of your ministers, the Former Emperor’s face would be swollen with shame under the nine springs. Are you censors, charged with oversight duties, blind?
“Ignoring such rudeness right before the Emperor’s eyes, and not impeaching Grand Tutor Mu for failing to teach his daughter or manage his household properly—what is that if not dereliction of duty?”
The censors, who had been waiting for Mu Shuyun to complete this round before launching into a big fight, were stunned!
They had long heard of this Princess’s exploits and had carefully studied her before acting, but they still hadn’t expected her to come in so aggressively!
Wasn’t this supposed to be for interrogating her?
How had they not even started and already been countered?
Their gazes met Mu Chang’s, finally regaining some calm. One in the lead said: “The Princess has been brought to the hall as the accused. Even if the Emperor doesn’t grant a seat, there is reason for it!”
Yue Tang raised her hand to cover her lips, laughing so hard she doubled over: “So everyone here is a judge come to try me? Including Miss Mu?”
The censors were speechless.
Since it was an interrogation, Mu Shuyun indeed shouldn’t be here, nor even Madam Mu. But asking them to leave… how could they agree?
“You say you’re interrogating me, so you must have concrete evidence against me. Do you have witnesses and physical evidence?”
Yue Tang pressed them: “Did someone see me kill with their own eyes? Or see me release the snake? Which hand did I use to kill? What weapon? Where did I buy the snake? And how did I get it into the palace?
“Show the evidence, and I’ll admit you have the qualifications to interrogate me.”
The censors fell silent.
Of course there could be no witnesses or physical evidence. Even if fabricated, under such detailed questioning, the lies would burst like bubbles.
The leader braced himself and said: “This official misspoke. In truth, while investigating the Yongfu Palace case, we found the Princess has suspicion, so we asked her to come for questioning.”
“Misspoke?” Yue Tang sneered. “As censors, if you can’t even speak properly, how did you become censors?”
She faced upward: “Your Majesty, I suggest investigating these people—did they buy their positions through someone’s loophole?”
The censors’ legs shook. Half from fear, half from anger.
They knelt down with thuds: “Your Majesty, see clearly—we entered service through proper imperial exams, never clung to anyone. Please judge fairly, Your Majesty!”
Yue Tang said coldly: “I said you committed dereliction of duty, yet you dodge the point!
“Your words don’t connect, full of contradictions.
“I say Miss Mu refuses to yield, and you say I’m here for trial, so undeserving of a seat.
“I ask what gives you the right to interrogate me, and you produce no concrete evidence, claiming it’s mere suspicion—not interrogation, but questioning.
“Since it’s just questioning, not interrogation, Miss Mu’s refusal to yield violates hierarchy—so why don’t you impeach her on the spot?”
The censors all looked toward Mu Chang’s side, as if roasted over a fire.
Yue Tang glanced at Mu Shuyun, who was clenching her cheeks, and continued sneering: “Ignoring the obvious facts right before you to impeach, yet accusing me of assault without any evidence—is this how you act as censors?
“You, charged with monitoring officials, openly shield Miss Mu’s arrogant abuse of power, watching her trample the imperial family’s dignity, the Former Emperor’s dignity, Your Majesty’s dignity, my dignity?!”
“Your Majesty, see clearly…”
“See what?” Yue Tang said sharply. “You dog officials, taking court salaries, so negligent and irresponsible, bullying the Emperor—and you still have the face to beg for mercy!
“What do you take the court for, and what do you take the Emperor for?!”
Her crisp scolding echoed through the Main Hall. She, sternly rebuking with reason and evidence, was like the embodiment of imperial authority—dazzling, blazing, and imposing.
The censors kneeling on the ground couldn’t even breathe!
The Mu Family mother and daughter, waiting to reap the rewards, and Empress Dowager Shen, watching the show, all straightened their backs in shock, looking toward this lone Princess with no strong backing.
Mu Chang had long stopped stroking his beard. His brows furrowed slightly as he held his breath, looking at the still dignified Yue Tang, waves surging in his eyes.
The Emperor, who had been silently holding the petition, now crumpled it into a ball and stood up: “Where are the guards?!
“Quickly bring a seat for the Princess! Drag these unworthy ones down—ten strokes of the staff each, demote three levels!”
The guards entered in response and immediately dragged away these censors screaming for mercy.
Amid the piercing cries of agony, the eunuchs also hurriedly brought a chair and placed it properly to the lower side of Empress Dowager Shen, perfectly positioned to look down on Mu Shuyun at the opposite end.
Amid the shocked gazes of everyone, Yue Tang brushed off her clothes, sat down, and then looked at everyone: “Alright, what was said earlier?
“You summoned me to the palace because something happened at Yongfu Palace?”
Her voice was mild, her expression calm. Her gaze swept over each person seated one by one—the earlier sharpness had completely vanished in this rise and fall.
No one had recovered their wits, all momentarily speechless.
Yue Tang smiled radiantly: “Grand Tutor, you’ve managed court affairs for the Emperor these years. Those few just now must be officials under your jurisdiction. Though they’ve risen to such outrageous positions, damaging your reputation, you’re busy with state affairs, and occasional oversights are understandable—surely the Emperor can comprehend.
“I won’t pursue Miss Mu’s rudeness earlier.
“I’m asking this favor for Grand Tutor—surely the Emperor will agree.”
The Emperor nodded slightly, but the nod was clearly very heavy.
If she hadn’t brought it up, who would think of implicating Mu Chang?
This not only slapped their faces but also casually claimed a favor to shut their mouths.
Just like a rogue!
Mu Chang felt choked, his chest tight. He took a sip of tea to calm his mood.
Madam Mu and her daughter were still trembling with anger inside their sleeves.
Especially Mu Shuyun!
Earlier, when Yue Tang forced her to yield the seat, Mu Shuyun had thought Yue Tang was just unwilling to be humiliated, acting on momentary spiritedness. She hadn’t expected it to be targeted, aimed at those censors!
In just a few words, she had dealt with the lead censors—didn’t that mean the next reckoning would fall on them personally?!
This venomous woman!
Unfortunately, having already suffered a loss, she had no reason now to throw out her braid for others to grab. She kept her composure and forcibly endured it.
Shen Yizhu exchanged a glance with Empress Dowager Shen seated above, then looked at Yue Tang—her eyes bright like they hid a ray of morning light—while Empress Dowager Shen’s expression grew even more inscrutable.
“Why is no one speaking?” Yue Tang took the lead again. “Not investigating Yongfu Palace anymore? I heard the dead one was a Zichen Hall eunuch, and at the time, only Miss Shen was in the garden where the snake was released.
“Why would a Zichen Hall eunuch get involved in the conspiracy targeting Miss Shen?”
“The Princess speaks truly,” Madam Mu sighed, hiding the vicious glint at the corner of her mouth. “Since he was silenced yet left at the scene, it’s clear this eunuch was bribed by someone to frame Zichen Hall.
“But in the palace, aside from the Emperor, only the Empress Dowager and Miss Shen were there. We all thought it absolutely impossible for it to be someone from Yongfu Palace itself.
“So the Emperor had it investigated and found that just before the incident yesterday, the Princess happened to enter the palace.
“Imperial Household Department people testified that the Princess entered personally with a document to collect her monthly stipend, but after leaving the Imperial Household Department, for at least half a shichen before exiting the palace, no one saw the Princess.
“Both the Emperor and Empress Dowager were puzzled—what was the Princess doing during that time?
“And coinciding perfectly, the time of the Yongfu Palace incident overlaps exactly with the Princess’s disappearance.”
After the censors were beaten and dragged away, among those present, the Emperor was always ineffectual and naturally wouldn’t start talking.
Seeing Empress Dowager Shen and the others’ stance, they already had it figured out in their minds but chose to watch coldly due to lack of concrete evidence against the Mu Family.
If the Mu Family didn’t speak and let Yue Tang, who held witness evidence, bring it up herself, she would inevitably seize the initiative.
But it wasn’t suitable for Mu Chang to step in first, and having Mu Shuyun do it wasn’t as reliable as herself, so Madam Mu could only take the lead.
Anyway, Mu Shuyun’s ends had already been handled by Mu Chang last night at the Imperial Guard Camp—as long as they insisted it was Yue Tang, forcing her to prove her innocence.
Just these words alone—if she hadn’t obtained the witness yesterday, she couldn’t wash it clean by now.
Yue Tang said: “Since this is a palace intrigue case, why is Madam Mu speaking up? Is Madam very concerned about this case?”
Madam Mu smiled: “The Mu Family was fortunate to protect the Emperor as he grew up. Whenever the Emperor had a headache or fever as a child, the Grand Tutor and I were anxious all night.
“Danger in Yongfu Palace naturally means danger lurking in Zichen Hall.
“Upon hearing this news, this subject-wife truly cannot ignore it.”
“So Madam treats the Emperor as one of the Mu Family.” Yue Tang tugged at the corner of her mouth. “In those ten years, Grand Tutor and Madam must have treated the Emperor as your own son, right?”
Madam Mu’s face stiffened slightly: “Princess, mind your words. The Mu Family raised the Emperor by order of the Former Emperor and Former Empress—all devotion to the Emperor was sincere, how dare we transgress even slightly?
“Princess, best address the Empress Dowager and Emperor’s doubts. As long as you produce evidence proving you weren’t there, I believe the Empress Dowager and Emperor won’t say more.”
This girl was remarkably formidable—not only did her authoritative outbursts evoke the late one, but she always picked faults from words. Dealing with her required full vigilance!
So difficult to handle—how could they let her be indulged?
