Chapter 96: This Isn’t Slander, It’s Fact
The clues brought by Dou Yun were indeed shocking and puzzling. Consort An and her son having friendship with Prince Duan was truly unexpected.
Moreover, this friendship was kept secret from everyone, which made it even easier for people to imagine things.
But no matter how Prince Duan kept in contact with them, it could not erase the Chu Family’s crimes. So it was not unwillingness to investigate, but the urgent priority was not to chase the inside story based on this clue. Instead, the Chu Family had already been pushed to the forefront, and right now they must seize the moment to complete this game.
By the time Dou Yun, Guo Yin, and Yue Tang met, Chu Xin’s courtyard was already in chaos like a pot of porridge.
The successive heavy blows over the past few days had already caused the entire Chu Family to collapse greatly. Now someone had actually dared to break into the inner residence of the Chu Family to commit violence. It was truly too bold, too disregarding of the Chu Family.
Their disciples were all over the world. Could they not overturn the Imperial Court?
A crowd of elders and young ones came to the courtyard to curse angrily. Only Chu Ying faced the messy courtyard and the injured guards with a grim face in silence.
There were four people who came. The leader was slightly older, and the three who followed were very young, but they were all skilled in kung fu and very steady. They could take down the guard sent by the man surnamed Hu to stake out and trick him into opening Chu Xin’s hidden compartment. So even if they were not directly sent by Yan Bei, they must be people related to him.
And they risked their lives to take away that golden seal. It was very likely they were Yue Tang’s people.
Just four of them escaped from under his nose, breaking through a team of dozens!
“Has there been no news from Second Master yet?!”
The situation was so urgent that Chu Ying could no longer suppress his anger.
Chu Rui’s eldest son stepped forward to report: “Uncle, Father has not returned since he went out during the day, but he sent word that there are some leads. He must still be investigating.”
“When he returns, have him come see me immediately!”
Chu Ying flung his sleeves and left the courtyard.
Back in the study, third brother Chu Xuan followed in: “Big Brother, there was just news from the Palace saying that Empress Dowager Shen directly pressured the Emperor. It seems this time the Shen Family is going all out to use the Yue Huan matter to crush the Chu Family.
“We must quickly come up with a countermeasure!”
“Exactly!” Chu Ying narrowed his eyes. “One or two are too rampant. Does my Chu Family not strike, so they really think we are easy to bully?
“Go draft a new memorial on the matter of the two princes falling into the water on their way back to the capital three years ago, and present it at tomorrow’s morning court to accuse the Shen Family! Since it’s tearing faces, everyone come into the fray!
“I want to see if they, the Shen Family, can really bear this crime!”
Chu Xuan was slightly startled: “The matter of the Emperor and First Prince falling into the water three years ago, is there already a conclusion?”
“No conclusion, but can the Shen Family shake off this suspicion?” Chu Ying tapped the table with his knuckles. “At that time, the existence of the two princes was the greatest threat to whom?
“After the accident, the Former Emperor passed away. Who was so eager to push Fourth Prince onto the throne?
“Everyone in the world saw it. It was the Shen Family!
“The Emperor and Empress Dowager Shen are now hostile, is it merely because of that imperial seal?
“He is less than a year away from coming of age. Once the time comes, unless the Shen Family openly rebels, it is absolutely impossible for them to occupy the seal!
“The Emperor doesn’t need to fear at all.
“Then why does the Shen Family still oppose the Emperor?
“What he fears is not the Emperor grasping full imperial power, and then the first to be exterminated being his killer enemy?
“On the matter of the two princes encountering danger at the same time, if the real culprit does not stand up and confess, the Shen Family will never be able to clear itself!
“And if you were the Emperor, after gathering imperial power, would you not be the first to pull down Empress Dowager Shen and her son?”
Chu Xuan listened with unsteady breath: “So that’s how it is! That means now the Shen Family wants to kick us when we are down, so we use the ready stone to hit their sore spot!
“But according to this, back then the ones who secretly harmed the two princes could only be the Shen Family!
“After all, at that time the two princes were surrounded by Palace people. Even the Mu Family was kept far away on the imperial ship outside. To still be able to strike, it could only be that Empress Dowager Shen bribed the guards!”
Chu Ying’s face was stern: “Regardless of whether it is or not, you go and be responsible for tangling the Shen Family. Remember to bite them tightly and not let go. Even if Yan Bei wants to interfere, do not yield! Just accuse the Shen Family of plotting treason, and I believe the Emperor will welcome this petition!”
“Yes!”
Chu Xuan quickly retreated.
Chu Ying withdrew his gaze and took a sip of tea.
Even though the tea was already ice-cold, he did not mind.
After Yue Tang’s disturbance, the Chu Family was beset with internal and external troubles, surrounded on all sides. Previously, because of scruples about Yan Bei holding military power, it was not good to act rashly to avoid incidents. Now Yan Bei had already struck first, and the Shen Family took advantage of the danger to kick when down. Was he supposed to respond silently?
The handle was already in Yue Tang’s hands. Whether to fight or not was no longer his choice.
“Big Brother.”
Breaking through the rustling rain was second brother Chu Rui.
In this short while, the sky had already slightly brightened, and even the lights under the corridor could not be suppressed.
When Chu Rui called out “Big Brother,” his voice still carried panting, then he patted the rain off his arms and hurried in.
He had not taken the soft sedan as usual, showing how hasty this trip was.
Chu Ying spoke first: “Have you found the results?”
“Found them!” Chu Rui nodded. “It can already be confirmed that Yue Tang had been living in the Xu Family pretending to be Xu He’s wife He Shi. On the day of the Du Family’s birthday banquet, she followed Xu He to attend the banquet at the Du Family. It was probably her first meeting with Yan Bei at that birthday banquet!”
“First time?” Chu Ying straightened his back. “From the Du Family birthday banquet to Yan Bei raising the He Family blood case at the Imperial Court, it was only two or three days. In such a short time, Yue Tang could convince him to form an alliance?”
“It was the first meeting, but according to other officials at that banquet, Yan Bei was very shocked when he saw Yue Tang, so I guess they must have known each other long before!”
To control the Du Family, naturally there were people under the Chu Family among the officials who had been friendly with the Du Family in recent years. Inquiring about the birthday banquet yielded results immediately.
But the suspicion in Chu Ying’s brows did not fade: “Prince Jingyang’s Mansion is far in Mobei, and Yue Tang lived alone in the outskirts of the capital, unable to meet people casually. How could the two of them know each other?”
“Yan Bei has been in the capital for three years, and no one knows where Yue Tang was hiding during these three years? Maybe they met during these three years?” Chu Rui steadied his breathing. “Although you and I have not seen Yue Tang, according to the officials who saw the ‘Top Scholar’s Wife’ at the banquet, that fake Top Scholar’s Wife was stunningly beautiful, one in ten thousand. Yan Bei is full of vigor and still guarding an empty house. If he had seen Yue Tang and was deeply impressed, it is not impossible.”
Chu Ying furrowed his brows tightly: “Yan Bei is the leader of thousands of warriors in Mobei and the only son of Prince Jingyang. He should be single-mindedly pursuing power, with ambitions for the world. How could he be entangled in romantic affairs? A man like him would never put any woman in his heart!”
Chu Rui stepped forward: “But I also learned that when Yue Tang moved out of the Xu Family that day, she had guards from the prince’s mansion with her. So it can almost be confirmed that Yue Tang is now living in Prince Jingyang’s Mansion!”
“Is that so?” A sharp light flashed in Chu Ying’s eyes. “In that case, the ones who came last night to seize the golden seal must be her people!
“What great boldness. Does she really think she is omnipotent?
“Even if she knew Yan Bei before and can count it as having friendship, now after she shows up, she can at most get an empty-shell prince’s mansion. Does she want to get the Imperial City Department? Does she have that ability?
“There is no precedent in the current dynasty for a woman to hold office. She is just a weak woman, and the child she gave birth to back then is long dead!
“Even if the Former Emperor had a promise back then, how could the vast Imperial City Department be handed over to a woman like her?
“Yan Bei actually let her live in the prince’s mansion. How confident is he in her?”
“This Yan Bei is always sitting in the Imperial Court, always a stumbling block. No matter what he fancies in Yue Tang, since he chooses to ally with Yue Tang, so much the better. When the time comes, get rid of them together.” Chu Rui took a deep breath. “You are right. Prince Jingyang’s Mansion is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. They hold the troops of the entire Mobei. How could they be peaceful?
“Moreover, now Yan Bei also holds the Bureau of Military Affairs, with military power in his hands. There is no wolf in the world holding fat meat in its mouth that would not swallow it.
“In short, Yan Bei has ambitions for power. The Former Emperor’s sudden order for him to return to the capital was an extremely wrong decision! Now inviting the god is easy but sending him away is hard. Borrowing the name of regent, he can occupy the military power for a long time.
“And if not for his sudden intervention, we would have crushed the Shen Family long ago! And no need to divert energy to guard against him!”
The plan against Yue Tang back then could almost be called flawless. Even if she luckily escaped, after all, it was a full three years before she came back. According to their original scheme, cleaning up the aftermath would not take three years. At most three to five months and it would be settled.
It was Yan Bei’s sudden appearance that disrupted all the original plans, preventing those who should fight from fighting, those who should die from dying, those who should come forward from coming forward. The Imperial Court turned into the current stagnant pool.
If not for that, with Yue Tang coming back this time, let alone killing along the way, whether she dared to return to the capital would be a question.
“Things have come to this, what use is complaining?” Chu Ying interrupted him. “The sky has brightened. The yamen should be starting work.
“Just now I already sent third brother to deal with the Shen Family. Now, you go resubmit the criminal charges we accused Du Minghuan of some days ago! First put him in prison, then immediately petition to remove him from his post.
“Once the position of Imperial City Department Envoy is vacated, immediately push our prepared candidate up! Absolutely do not let Yue Tang and them interfere!”
Chu Ying paused: “Aren’t we supposed to first disintegrate Yan Bei and Yue Tang? Why suddenly turn to accuse the Du Family?”
Chu Ying sat down behind the lamp, his gaze cold: “Yue Tang has already moved into Prince Jingyang’s Mansion. This is enough proof that she and Yan Bei have formed a group.
“As the commander of the entire Mobei, Yan Bei would not do anything not in his interest.
“Right now he is alone in the Imperial Court. Although he has the Former Emperor’s imperial edict in hand, once the Emperor reclaims the imperial seal, it will be a new emperor’s new officials.
“The Former Emperor’s imperial edict, given the right opportunity, the current Son of Heaven may not be unable to veto.
“The Imperial City Department has thousands of troops. Yan Bei’s forces are in Mobei. If he can get the Imperial City Department, no one can easily shake him.
“Earlier he kept contact with the Du Family, wasn’t it because he fancied that Du Minghuan is the Imperial City Department Envoy?
“This is the reason I am certain there must be interest ties between them.
“In short, he agreed to ally with Yue Tang because he fancies the Imperial City Department.
“No matter how Yue Tang plans to take revenge, as long as the Imperial City Department does not fall into her hands, she is just a paper tiger.
“To Yan Bei, she would also lose value.
“Without value, why would Yan Bei still help her?”
Chu Rui looked at his profound gaze under the lamp and nodded in realization. Before he could speak, wooden clogs sounded outside the door. The person outside brought in a gust of wet cold morning chill: “Master, someone just came from the yamen saying Du Minghuan personally went to the Supreme Court Yamen to petition accusing Master of setting up a murder plot against Princess Yongjia three years ago!”
“What?!”
This short sentence was like firecrackers exploding deafeningly, making ears buzz!
Chu Rui, who had been stirred to hot blood by Chu Ying’s words, suddenly turned to look at Chu Ying behind the desk: “Du Minghuan has struck first!”
Chu Ying’s face was ashen as iron, and he also stood up: “When did this happen?”
“Just now. The yamen received the news and immediately sent someone to report!” The messenger’s voice trembled, whether from cold or fear. “He went himself, but shortly after, Prince Jingyang rushed over! And immediately summoned the officials of the Three Judicial Offices to hold court. Now Eldest Young Master has already been brought to the court hall for trial!”
“They act fast!” Chu Rui cursed, then looked at Chu Ying: “I’ll go pressure the Three Judicial Offices right now, force them to first try out the crimes Du Minghuan committed days ago! If the man surnamed Du dares to rebel, I’ll make sure he dies badly!”
“Going now is too late!” Chu Ying glared angrily. “This is Yue Tang’s idea. She has already beaten the drum to start the war!
“Du Minghuan is pushed out by them as the vanguard. With them as witnesses, who knows if the man surnamed Du has some physical evidence in hand—this is not false accusation, this is fact!
“As long as Yan Bei presses the Three Judicial Offices for a thorough investigation, in no more than three days evidence can be found to match the Du Family’s testimony!
“At this step, as long as anyone in our Chu Family admits the crime, the charge of the Chu Family murdering imperial offspring will basically be nailed down!
“And Xin’er is already in their hands. He knows the whole story, and he is still a key witness who directly handed over to Du Minghuan. Given Yue Tang’s brutal methods toward the He Family, she should have many ways to force Xin’er to confess!
“At this point, if you go to the court hall, they won’t even need to summon you. They can directly put you in prison!”
Chu Rui paled: “Then what should we do?!”
The charge of murdering imperial offspring, they already had one now, and the Shen Family was relentlessly pursuing it on this basis. By law, it was punishable by decapitation!
Not to mention that three years ago the Chu Family killed Yue Tang’s mother and child!
With this one crime, no one in the entire Chu Family could escape!
Thinking of this, he anxiously rushed to Chu Ying: “Quickly think of a way!”
Chu Ying looked at him with eyes reddened anxiously in the morning light, clenched his fist and turned to the rain curtain outside the door: “Send someone to inquire about Xin’er’s news, try every means to smooth relations to get a message in.
“Then, prepare a horse carriage for me. I am going out to see someone!”
