Chapter 130: Grand Tutor, Prove Yourself
Madam Mu did not speak of herself, but mentioned only the Empress Dowager and Emperor in every sentence.
Yue Tang remained unmoved in the face of her petty tricks: “You repeatedly say you do not wish to transgress, yet you have even presumed to speak for the Empress Dowager and Emperor. How do you know what attitude the Empress Dowager and Emperor will have toward me?
“If the Empress Dowager and Emperor were to rebuke me a few words, would that not disappoint Madam even more?”
“You!”
Madam Mu gritted her teeth.
She remembered that this girl had always been taciturn as a child and did not like to engage with others. When interrogating the Chu Family earlier, what reached her ears also said she had formidable methods, though she did not speak much.
She had not expected that in reality, she was so sharp-tongued when she opened her mouth! Every word could pick out a flaw in her arguments. How could she then strive with reason?
Mu Chang’s gaze swept over Yue Tang’s face, and he said indifferently: “Since the Princess does not accept interrogation, for my wife to explain the facts to the Princess in her capacity as a family woman is acceding to the Princess’s wish, discussing it together, and likewise for the Princess’s decorum.
“Could it be that you wish for the Empress Dowager or Emperor to question her personally?”
The Grand Tutor’s demeanor was as before, his words and actions unhurried, pushing the point of contention away with one sentence. Madam Mu’s tense shoulders immediately relaxed.
“What are you saying?” Yue Tang laughed. “Since the Grand Tutor insists on having Madam Mu and Miss Mu remain here, I actually could not ask for more.
“Let me ask: Madam just now said I have the greatest suspicion, bribing the eunuchs of Zichen Hall to release snakes to harm people, and silencing them upon failure. Then let me ask, do you have evidence that I bribed him?”
Madam Mu’s lip curled up: “If you can prove where you went, then naturally you did not bribe. If you cannot prove it, then that is naturally evidence of bribery.”
“Excellent,” Yue Tang said. “That means you fundamentally have no evidence that I bribed the eunuch.
“Then I truly cannot understand how someone who has returned to Prince Duan’s Mansion for less than half a month, with only a handful of palace visits, had the opportunity to bribe the eunuchs by Zichen Hall?
“Madam just now said that whenever the Emperor has a headache or fever, you and the Grand Tutor are beside yourselves with worry. With such devotion, naturally the Grand Tutor would also pay attention to the palace servants by the Emperor’s side.
“Yet I, this Princess who has just returned to the prince’s mansion, managed to bribe them. Does that mean the Grand Tutor and Madam truly devote yourselves to the Emperor on a daily basis?
“You do not even carefully screen the people who serve the Emperor closely. So easily bribed by me, and you are completely unaware, not even obtaining evidence that they were bought by me. You say you devote yourselves— is that credible?
“Does your Mu Family truly loyally fulfill the Former Emperor and Former Empress’s entrustment?”
Mu Shuyun blurted out: “Shut your mouth!”
Yue Tang slammed the tea table by her hand, glaring over: “Who are you speaking to?!”
Mu Shuyun’s body trembled, and she fell back into her seat.
Everyone in the hall held their breath.
Madam Mu’s anger lodged in her chest, her muscles and bones taut: “What great authority the Princess has! So audacious even before the Empress Dowager and Emperor!”
“This is exactly what I wanted to say,” Yue Tang eyed her. “As the Grand Tutor, you should be a model for all the realm’s subjects. Your daughter has repeatedly been arrogant and rude to me before the imperial family, and if Madam does not immediately slap her mouth in punishment, that is one thing. But now, are you telling me that her behavior is due to the upper beam being crooked and the lower beam following?”
The usually lofty Madam Mu was instantly so angry her vision went black!
Yue Tang ignored her and turned a cold gaze to the ashen-faced Mu Chang: “My earlier questioning of the Grand Tutor’s family for perfunctorily caring for the Emperor—please produce evidence to clear yourselves with the same solemn attitude!”
At this point in the conversation, the situation was completely different from before.
Yue Tang, who had originally come to be interrogated, had faintly gained the upper hand!
The languidly seated Empress Dowager Shen straightened her back. The Emperor’s eyes fixed on Yue Tang. Shen Yizhu, seated just below Yue Tang, silently steadied the jade cup that had been jolted by her.
Seeing this, how could Mu Chang maintain his composure?
He knew Yue Tang was formidable in schemes, but had not expected her eloquence to be so extraordinary.
Every sentence was a trap. Continuing to entangle in words would be of no benefit to him.
Thinking of this, he faced the Emperor: “Regarding the Princess’s questioning, what does Your Majesty think?”
At this juncture, whatever he said could not turn the tables. If not pulling the Emperor to state his position now, when?
With Empress Dowager Shen glaring covetously at their side, once she joined Yue Tang’s camp, the Mu Family would suffer a loss, and the Emperor himself would be righteously suppressed by Empress Dowager Shen. He surely would not fail to make a choice!
Sure enough, after looking at both sides for a moment, the Emperor said: “The Mu Family’s loyalty to the Former Emperor, Former Empress, and to Us is beyond doubt. Yun’er was somewhat transgressive just now. Please, Elder Cousin, do not take it to heart for the sake of her filial piety.”
Yue Tang smiled up at him. She, who had been frosty-faced moments before, was now beaming with warmth: “Your Majesty takes it too seriously. You and I share the bond of being born in the same month and day— one stroke cannot write two ‘yue’ characters. Since Your Majesty has spoken, how could I not give face?
“Not only that, I extremely agree with what Madam Mu just said. The culprit bribed the eunuchs of Zichen Hall to strike at Yongfu Palace, certainly harboring enormous malicious intent.
“This is not only targeting Yongfu Palace, but targeting Your Majesty. This is clearly meant to stir up conflict between Zichen Hall and Yongfu Palace, with the aim of disrupting the palace’s peace.
“The Empress Dowager is benevolent, the Emperor is filial— this is the fortune of the realm. The culprit employs this treacherous scheme, naturally to exploit the conflict and reap the fisherman’s profit.
“Miss Shen did not obstruct anyone— how could she be targeted for murder?
“The culprit is aiming at the Empress Dowager, wanting to use the poisonous snake to silently harm her. This is not a matter of the rear palace— this is a conspiracy from the outer court!
“Based on the above, I believe that those with the opportunity to gain this fisherman’s profit must have the convenience of proximity.
“Since Your Majesty has spoken, what do you think of my view?”
The Emperor’s amiable smile instantly faded.
Now it was the Mu Family’s turn to receive his gaze.
The nearly defeated Madam Mu and her daughter suddenly sat up straight again.
Just now she had dug a pit for them to jump into, aggressively seizing the handle to make the Mu Family prove themselves, leaving them unable to raise self-proof again. Now she even avoided the essence of the matter, dragging the contention for the empress position between Mu Shuyun and Shen Yizhu into outer court politics?
She wanted to make the matter big!
She wanted to drag Empress Dowager Shen and the Emperor into the water together, pointing this case toward a conspiracy for contending for imperial power!
What did she want to do?!
No matter who spoke up for the Mu Family, did they all have to get themselves dirty to escape?!
Madam Mu looked disheveled toward her husband.
Mu Chang also felt the momentum was unfavorable.
At this time, after glancing between both sides, Empress Dowager Shen spoke: “I find this speculation reasonable.
“So who exactly wants me dead so badly? Your Majesty, Grand Tutor, why don’t you tell me whom I am obstructing?”
Compared to the potential threat from Yue Tang’s side, the Mu Family, openly aligned with the Emperor, posed a greater threat to the Shen Family. There was no reason for Empress Dowager Shen not to climb the ladder Yue Tang offered and seize the first-mover advantage.
Mu Chang indeed rose: “Empress Dowager, this matter is no small thing and must be handled with caution. I propose that this case be handed to a designated person from the Three Judicial Offices for thorough investigation!”
Hearing this, Yue Tang laughed once: “Why go to such trouble? Empress Dowager, yesterday when I entered the palace, I happened to have some gains that might corroborate my earlier speculation, and perhaps even interrogate the true culprit. Do you want to see?”
One sentence was like a needle pricking Mu Chang’s spine. He abruptly turned, a flash of sharp light swiftly passing through his eyes: “Since the Princess has gains, why not say so earlier?”
“Because I am innocent and have no need to use it for self-proof.”
Yue Tang raised her lips as she spoke, facing upward: “Today I was first accused as a suspect by censors in a memorial to the throne, then questioned as a suspect by the Grand Tutor, Madam, and Miss Mu. Before I brought this gain, though Your Majesty interceded and I did not pursue it.
“But the Grand Tutor and Madam, as parents, so shield her. Not punishing her would likely harm the Mu Family’s reputation.
“Thus, I boldly request the Empress Dowager and Emperor to permit that after the matter is resolved, the Grand Tutor and Madam come to my door to apologize. How about it?”
The Mu Family mother and daughter both stood up upon hearing this.
The Empress Dowager glanced at them, then at the Emperor: “If the true culprit can be interrogated and Your Majesty need not bear the name of offending me, why would I or Your Majesty not agree?
“Yong Jia’s words also make sense. Surely the Grand Tutor, with a prime minister’s belly that can hold a boat, will calmly accept.”
Mu Chang cupped his hands, saying gravely: “As long as the Princess can prove the true culprit is not herself, not only will I and my wife come to apologize, we will also bring generous gifts as compensation!
“But for fairness, if the Princess produces no evidence and cannot prove it, please have the Princess obey the Three Judicial Offices and not send anyone to plead or beg for mercy!”
“Just as the Grand Tutor says!”
Yue Tang tugged at her lips, her gaze sweeping toward the hall doorway: “Lan Qin, go to the palace gate and pass word to Wei Zhang to bring people to the palace gate within half a shichen.”
Madam Mu watched Lan Qin’s retreating figure, loosening her teeth that had bitten until they bled, and swallowed some saliva.
She knew it— since the dead girl had obtained the witness, how could she not present it?
Not presenting it would be a waste, right?
But as long as it was presented, the Mu Family would absolutely not allow her to bring the person alive into the hall!
She actually dared to demand they come to apologize? Dared to bet against Mu Chang— truly arrogant to the point of having no one in her eyes!
Truly thinking herself omnipotent, waiting to defeat the Mu Family like the Chu Family in a few moves?
Dream on!
Mu Chang, the Grand Tutor who was a proper jinshi, could he possibly lose to her?
This time, see how she dies!
As long as she could not produce evidence to respond to the Emperor, she would immediately be confined!
As long as she was confined, the first thing would be to send someone to kill her!
Yan Bei backing her? Hoping he would save her?
Ha!
At that point, could the Mu Family allow people from Prince Jingyang’s Mansion a chance to intervene?!
Her chest heaving, she glanced at Mu Chang, then made an excuse to leave the hall. Walking outside to the eunuch who had been waiting under the corridor for a long time, she parted her lips slightly and soundlessly uttered a few words.
The eunuch immediately followed after Lan Qin, while she, high under the corridor, finally unleashed the vicious light in her eyes without restraint.
Lan Qin arrived at the palace gate, slightly turned her head to look around, then instructed Wei Zhang in a voice neither high nor low: “Quickly bring the person here. You must act carefully— absolutely no mistakes…”
The eunuch trailing behind saw this from afar and immediately went around to the other side, finding the Mu Family guards who had long been waiting at the Imperial Guards’ gatehouse for dispatch: “Strictly guard all four palace gates. Once the person arrives, no matter which gate they approach, the ambushers move immediately!
“And as for Prince Jingyang’s side…”
At the end, he lowered his voice and whispered into the guard’s ear.
……
Yan Bei did not go to the yamen today. Early in the morning, he took A Li to release ducks, then taught him to wield a small wooden sword. After evading a hundred times the world’s hardest question of why everyone else had younger brothers and sisters but he alone did not, Jiang Shao delivered Wei Zhang’s letter.
He placed A Li on the divan: “Father King has business. You obediently recite the Three Character Classic. Father King will check when he returns.”
A Li said: “If I pass the check, will A Li have younger brothers and sisters?”
Yan Bei had a massive headache: “You have to ask your mother for that!”
After throwing down these words, he fled like.
A Li’s eyes darted around, he slipped off the bed and found Cui Xun: “Cousin Cui, you said that when talented men and beautiful women live together they have children. Does Father King and Mother count as talented man and beautiful woman?…”
Yan Bei had just left the mansion when his peripheral vision caught the tail behind him.
But he did not stop, heading straight for the Imperial City Department.
Upon arriving at the Imperial City Department, Dou Yun and Guo Yin both came out to greet him.
After entering, Yan Bei asked: “Where is the person?”
“Already prepared, at the back gate! The Imperial Household Department’s horse carriage will pass the back street in a quarter shichen. Everything is ready along the way, just waiting for Your Highness to arrive and act personally!”
As Dou Yun replied, the group had reached the back gate. Yan Bei looked at the eunuch bound five-flowered, sneered and stepped forward, striking him unconscious with one palm, hoisted him onto the waiting horse carriage, and drove away.
Dou Yun and the other then quickly returned to the front courtyard. After checking several lookouts outside from the wall top, they nodded to each other, then pulled a rope by their hand.
A large net instantly fell from the sky…
Just as the large net was swiftly hauled into the yamen, the assassins ambushed at the palace gate waited in strict formation. After counting the Imperial Household Department’s vehicles entering in sequence, they finally spotted Wei Zhang.
Wei Zhang was escorting a person, driving the horse boldly toward the palace gate.
When the leader aimed his crossbow at the person bound on the horse, he suddenly froze in astonishment…
……
Everyone in Zichen Hall was waiting.
Madam Mu had already received several messages.
She knew Wei Zhang’s side was being watched closely. After he left the palace, he immediately sent word to Prince Jingyang’s Mansion.
Yan Bei had not gone to the yamen today, then went to the Imperial City Department shortly after Wei Zhang’s message arrived.
The Imperial City Department had a prison— indeed safer to keep the person there than at Prince Duan’s Mansion.
Moreover, after discovering his whereabouts, others had already inquired ahead: last night, a horse carriage from Prince Duan’s Mansion had indeed quietly gone to the Imperial City Department.
This proved guarding against Yan Bei was correct. For Yue Tang to bring someone into the palace, her greatest chance of success was handing it to Yan Bei.
But this was also reasonable.
If Yue Tang could think the Mu Family might silence by murder, aside from Yan Bei, she could think of no one else to help her avoid the risk.
So targeting this, Mu Chang had another countermeasure.
He not only had Lu Zhao set up a dragnet at all four palace gates, but also hidden blades inside the palace.
Thus, even if Yan Bei was highly skilled in martial arts and could not succeed outside the palace gates, once he entered the palace, he must disarm and enter the hall alone with the person, without guards.
This was the palace!
If unable to kill openly, could they not do it covertly?
No matter how capable Yan Bei, how could he guess where the hidden blade was? How could he ensure the person brought was safe?
Madam Mu felt elated in her chest.
Everything was under control.
In a moment more, it would be time to see Yue Tang die!
“Madam!”
The eunuch delivering the message had served Empress Mu before and received benefits from the Mu Family back then, but he was too incompetent— after many years, he had not even served Empress Mu in the main hall for a single day.
At this time, he hurried over, but his face was not as bright as Madam Mu’s:
“Madam! Two messages. One is that Wei Zhang has brought someone into the palace, but it is not the eunuch— it is a rough-clothed common man!
“The other is that something has happened at the Imperial City Department!”
Madam Mu was not surprised that Wei Zhang’s side was a trick— as long as it was not that eunuch, whomever he brought was useless.
But something at the Imperial City Department—
“What does this have to do with us?”
“The matter is serious!” the eunuch said. “A group of twelve guards from the Grand Tutor’s Mansion who went to tail Yan Bei somehow caused trouble at the Imperial City Department, and were caught red-handed by Prince Jingyang in the yamen!
“Just now, Prince Jingyang has gone to the Censorate to accuse the Grand Tutor of letting his slaves commit assault and collide with the imperial guards…”
“Impossible!”
Then she fiercely said again: “What about the witness?”
“All dispatched troops and men have found no trace! Including the group that tracked to the Imperial City Department!”
“No trace?!”
Madam Mu blurted out, her voice cracking!
