Chapter 132: Showdown
It will take some time for the Shen Family members to enter the hall.
At this moment, how could Mu Shuyun accept such a reality?
She tightly clutched the Emperor’s robe and wept bitterly: “Your Majesty! I won’t go to prison, I won’t go to prison!”
Indeed, how could she go to prison?
That is a man-eating place!
A noble lady from a respected family, pure and innocent, once imprisoned, there would be no need to live as a person anymore—could the Grand Tutor’s Mansion afford to lose such face?
Even if the jailers would take extra care for the Mu Family’s sake, such a filthy place was absolutely not something a noble lady like Mu Shuyun, who had been raised in brocade clothes and fine food since birth, could endure!
The distraught Madam Mu forced herself to rally her spirits, knelt down to beg for mercy: “Regardless of whether Your Majesty admits it or not, for the sake of the Mu Family’s care for Your Majesty over the past ten-plus years—without merit, there was at least hard labor—if Yun’er is sent to prison, wouldn’t that be equivalent to sending her to her death?
“Please, Your Majesty, think thrice!”
Yue Tang let out a cold scoff.
“So the Former Emperor had you act as surrogate caretakers for His Majesty, and in the end, this is how you repay that kindness with demands! If no witness can be produced today and the case cannot be thoroughly investigated, then the dead Ruan Fu would be telling the world that His Majesty cannot escape involvement in this matter!
“She dared to harm His Majesty—hasn’t His Majesty given your family enough decorum in past years? And now at this point, you still bring up merit—as if His Majesty should grant you a plaque to reward her for getting him covered in filth?”
Empress Dowager Shen, hearing this, immediately said: “How could it not be?
“Though you initially falsely accused Yong Jia, it was precisely because she happened to enter the palace that time.
“If she had not entered the palace, the silenced eunuch would have directly pointed to His Majesty as the one behind it!
“Though I absolutely do not believe His Majesty would be so unfilial, the court officials must believe it, and the people of the world must believe it!
“You still dare to beg for mercy—do you know you nearly caused His Majesty to bear the infamy of matricide?!”
She glowered darkly at the Emperor: “Your Majesty, your indecisiveness—do you really intend to spare her because of past affections?!”
The Emperor clasped his hands behind his back, his face growing colder inch by inch.
He lowered his gaze to Mu Shuyun, whose face was ashen white at his feet, and said gravely: “Tell Us now, was it you who did this?”
Yue Tang suddenly looked over, her gaze fixed on his face.
Mu Shuyun trembled all over, her eyes wide as she stared at the Emperor, her teeth chattering, unable to utter a single word!
Madam Mu also looked at the Emperor in shock, tears streaming as she held her daughter, but at this point, she no longer knew what to say!
“I ask once more: was it you? If you admit it, there is no need for this extra step of sending you to prison. If you do not admit it, even if We wish to spare you, the law of the court will not!”
Yue Tang clenched her own hands.
Mu Shuyun’s tears fell like rain; amid her wailing sobs, she nodded.
At this point, she had no better choice.
Letting the Shen Family members act as overseers of the interrogation and drag her into prison meant not only that her father could not rescue her, but even if the Emperor wished to show mercy, he could no longer intervene.
Madam Mu covered her face and burst into sobs!
Since she had admitted it, the trial would follow next.
Merely three hours earlier, they had entered the palace full of fighting spirit.
Waiting for this battle to bring down Yue Tang and make her behave, thereby removing her as an obstacle to Mu Shuyun becoming the Empress.
In the end, they themselves were the ones defeated!
“Your Majesty, Yun’er was only momentarily confused!…”
She still tried to beg for mercy, but was abruptly pulled up by the shocked Mu Chang.
“Momentarily confused?” Empress Dowager Shen sneered. “Is this something that can be done in the blink of an eye, like drinking water or saying a word? The hunter just said she had premeditated it and arranged it several days in advance!”
With that, she raised her voice to urge: “Go see if Lord Shen has entered the palace yet? Is the Imperial Secretariat really that far away?!”
Outside the hall door, eunuchs and guards sprang into action.
The hurried footsteps seemed to stomp directly on Mu Shuyun’s heart, filling her with pain and chaos!
In her uncontrollable turmoil, she clutched the Emperor’s robe hem desperately and shrieked: “Do you truly intend to let me fall to such a state?
“Don’t forget, I did it for you, Your Majesty!”
“Silence!” The Emperor suddenly glared furiously. “What does this have to do with Us? Why drag Us into it?”
Yue Tang, who had been watching as a spectator, suddenly perked up her ears and looked over upon hearing this.
“Drag you into it?” Mu Shuyun pulled herself up by his robe, a miserable smile beneath her tear-streaked face: “You’ve probably forgotten that memorial—you personally stamped it promising I would become your Empress, and your condition was that I help you—”
“Enough!”
The Emperor whirled and roared at her, like a Buddha statue with its veil torn off, revealing a ferocious visage.
He turned to Mu Chang: “Grand Tutor, what do you say We should do?”
The situation was clear: Yue Tang and Empress Dowager Shen had aligned—let alone Mu Chang, even the Emperor himself was powerless.
That memorial was useful, but not to be used at this moment.
The Mu Family and the Emperor must not break apart; Mu Shuyun using that promise to threaten him only made things three degrees harder for the Emperor!
Mu Chang released his agitated wife and slowly lowered his hands: “Since she has admitted the facts, as an example to others, how can I shirk the crime?
“Your Majesty, dispose of it as you see fit.”
The dilemma was tossed back into the Emperor’s hands.
Empress Dowager Shen looked at them and said gravely: “Emperor, have you thought it through? This is not just Mu Shuyun’s matter—her audacity comes from the Mu Family!
“Not only should she be severely punished, but the Grand Tutor has allowed his children to commit violence in the palace, treating the entire palace grounds like their own home—such contempt for imperial authority and transgression, should he not be punished?”
The Emperor furrowed his brow: “Then, in Mother’s view, what should be done?”
“Your Majesty!”
Mu Chang blurted out to stop him.
How could he hand the talking point to Empress Dowager Shen? The Shen Family had been seeking flaws to attack them for years; with this opportunity, how could they not strike while the iron was hot?
Empress Dowager Shen sneered: “Mu Shuyun is audacious, killing in the palace and framing the Princess—she should be executed!
“Mu Chang, as Grand Tutor, fails to set an example as a subject and instead indulges his family in violence and harm—if he still sits in the Imperial Secretariat, it will be hard to convince the masses!”
The Emperor fell silent for a moment: “Though the Grand Tutor is at fault, but…”
“Emperor!” Empress Dowager Shen’s voice grew heavier. “What do you take the ancestral laws for? If you shield him, how am I to account for it?
“Could it truly be as Mu Shuyun said, that this was done at your instruction?!”
That was a hat too heavy to wear.
A chill emanated from the Emperor’s taut face.
Lan Qin approached Yue Tang at this point and whispered in her ear: “Prince Jingyang has already…”
Yue Tang immediately raised her hand to stop her, cutting off the rest.
The hall was tense as swords drawn, the moment had arrived for the two factions to clash and test each other’s resolve.
As soon as Empress Dowager Shen’s questioning words fell, Mu Chang strode forward: “Since Mother refuses to yield, how dare I put His Majesty in a difficult position?
“I beg Your Majesty to revoke all titles of the Mu Family, allow me to resign and return to my hometown, never to set foot in the Imperial Court again!”
At this, Mu Chang removed his black gauze hat, lifted his robe to kneel, kowtowed, placed the official hat beside him, then rose and retreated toward the doorway.
The Emperor’s expression changed abruptly: “Grand Tutor!”
He hurried after him, blocking Mu Chang’s path: “How can Uncle abandon me?”
Mu Chang said: “I failed to teach my daughter, my sins are grave—having received Mother’s and Your Majesty’s mercy to spare my life, I am already endlessly grateful!”
“Uncle!”
The Emperor paused, then turned: “The Grand Tutor is my subject, my uncle, and like a master to Us—the Mu Family’s kindness to Us is as heavy as a mountain; even with this fault, is it truly unpardonable?
“Does Mother dare guarantee the Shen Family will never err?
“If the Shen Family errs, does Mother dare guarantee equal impartiality?!”
Empress Dowager Shen was stunned.
In terms of lax family governance, the Mu Family had only produced this one Mu Shuyun, who resorted to any means after losing the Crown Princess position.
On their Shen Family side, even just her own brothers had been restless, with plenty of past handles left outside—how could they guarantee no future flaws?
It seemed difficult to stamp down the Mu Family today.
However, with the Mu Family so deeply tied to the Emperor, they had never expected to defeat him in one blow; now that the Emperor had said this, refusing to relent would make future reconciliation hard.
Very well.
If Mu Chang truly resigned now, it would do the Shen Family no good.
Without the Mu Family, the Emperor still had Yan Bei, and Yan Bei was with Yue Tang—they, aligned with the Emperor, would inevitably become the Shen Family’s political enemies.
Facing those two would be even more troublesome for the Shen Family.
Better to step back first—with the irreconcilable hatred between Yue Tang and the Mu Family, at least even if she learned of those past matters, she would deal with the Mu Family first.
Empress Dowager Shen’s mind raced, and she immediately turned her gaze to Mu Shuyun: “I can let the Grand Tutor go unpunished, but this Mu Shuyun—I must take her away!”
“No!”
Mu Shuyun suddenly shrieked: “I won’t go! You won’t take me away!”
Falling into the Supreme Court Prison was miserable enough, but into Empress Dowager Shen’s hands—wouldn’t that be even more unbearable?
Everyone could see how much Empress Dowager Shen had wanted to use this chance to stamp down the Mu Family; now forced to yield, she would surely use every means to torment her!
Mu Chang had already forced Empress Dowager Shen to relent, so naturally he would stop while ahead and not press further.
But hearing Empress Dowager Shen say this, he pursed his lips tightly again.
He knew Mu Shuyun could not escape today, but she was his own flesh and blood—even at this moment, he could not bring himself to hand his daughter’s life to the enemy so readily.
“Yun’er!”
Madam Mu lunged forward to embrace Mu Shuyun and sobbed.
The Emperor furrowed his brow: “Grand Tutor.”
This matter needed some resolution.
Yue Tang was still watching from the side; her remaining silent was already the best outcome.
If she piled on now, who knew how much worse it could get.
Mu Chang knew the Emperor was waiting for his stance.
He looked at Mu Shuyun, who gazed at him tearfully and imploringly, then painfully closed his eyes, turned his back: “I only beg Your Majesty to grant the Mu Family a shred of decorum!”
“Father!”
Mu Shuyun tore open her throat in a hysterical wail.
The Emperor took a heavy breath: “Chang Yu!”
The eunuch at the doorway entered: “This slave is here!”
“Lead Our personal guards to escort Miss Mu back to the mansion. Return to the palace only after seeing it done.”
With that, he looked at Empress Dowager Shen: “This decision of Ours should count as an accounting to Mother, yes?”
“Your Majesty!” Madam Mu cried out in despair!
Mu Chang abruptly turned around.
Empress Dowager Shen was also taken aback.
After furrowing her brow and standing for a moment, she snorted coldly and summoned her own eunuch: “You personally bring a pot of wine and go along to see off Miss Mu!”
“As decreed!”
The two groups in the hall immediately hurried in different directions, yet to handle the same matter.
After a piercing scream, Mu Shuyun fainted to the ground.
Palace maids immediately supported her, carried her out and placed her in a soft sedan, and as in any previous glorious entry or exit from the palace, the eunuchs lifted her toward the palace gate.
Only then did Yue Tang release Lan Qin’s hand.
Lan Qin silently glanced at her, then quietly retreated to the back.
With the situation at that point, Empress Dowager Shen’s pressure was sufficient.
If Prince Jingyang entered the hall now and brought up Imperial City Department matters, pushing the Mu Family into a corner and making it impossible for the Emperor to step down, it would only backfire and provoke the Emperor’s resentment toward Yue Tang later.
For today’s matter, killing one Mu Shuyun was enough.
With Mu Shuyun’s life in between, the private deadly grudge between the Mu Family and Shen Family was sealed.
And the Emperor publicly forcing Mu Shuyun to admit her crime had already cast the shadow of the dead Ruan Fu between him and the Mu Family.
The Imperial City Department side could follow up later.
…
On the way carrying Mu Shuyun back to the Mu Family mansion, few outsiders knew what had happened in Zichen Hall today.
Only when the sedan was carried back into the mansion did Chang Yu pinch Mu Shuyun’s philtrum, waking her from her faint.
Mu Chang and his wife followed closely, crossing the threshold.
Upon entering, Madam Mu cried out and rushed toward Mu Shuyun’s room.
The eunuchs, per protocol, had to block her.
Mu Chang went to the doorway, stuffed a handful of banknotes haphazardly: “It’s just to bid farewell to my daughter—we dare not delay the lords’ duties; please make an exception for a moment.”
Chang Yu’s side had no issue, but the one sent by Empress Dowager Shen hesitated, then only parted to allow a narrow gap.
“As long as Madam enters, it’s fine—the Grand Tutor should wait outside. If anything goes wrong, this slave’s head won’t be safe.”
Mu Chang peered through the gap into the room, then finally turned away with red-rimmed eyes.
Madam Mu held Mu Shuyun, sobbing her heart out—though she had a thousand words, how could she speak them now?
Mu Shuyun stopped crying, her face white as paper, staring blankly ahead as if her soul had already departed.
The eunuch sent by Empress Dowager Shen entered with the wine: “Miss Mu, it’s time to be on your way.”
Mu Shuyun shuddered, turned to look at her mother, then smiled, shedding two tears, as if her soul had returned.
She crawled to the ground and kowtowed several times.
“Winter is coming—Mother, remember to burn some clothes for me.”
With that, she lifted the cup, but her wrist trembled violently, nearly spilling the wine.
She murmured dazedly: “Father ultimately abandoned me for his career.”
The eunuch refilled the cup and brought it to her lips.
A clatter sounded nearby—Madam Mu had fainted from crying.
Mu Shuyun looked at her, tears flowing like rivers.
The eunuch could wait no longer, signaled with his eyes to the sides, and as the accompanying guards seized her arms, he forced the cup into her mouth.
Still fearing insufficient dose, he lifted the pot and poured it down her throat.
Mu Chang stood in the cold, gusty courtyard, hearing the incessant noises from the room—his own body trembled.
After some time, footsteps approached from behind.
The eunuchs came up to him: “This slave’s task is complete; we’ve probably soiled the ground—please, Grand Tutor, send someone in to clean up.”
Mu Chang spun like a top, rushed to the door in a few steps, yet dared not enter.
After standing a moment, he gritted his teeth, stepped inside, and saw Mu Shuyun lying dead on the ground, eyes wide in rage, blood flowing from all seven orifices.
Tears instantly poured down; he could hold back no longer and collapsed forward.
