Chapter 273: Summoned Into The Palace
Suddenly, Yushui’s voice sounded outside the door again.
Wei Chang and Jiang Ruanxi were both stunned for a moment. Jiang Ruanxi reacted first, “Got it. Go tell them to go back first. The Crown Prince will enter the palace in a bit.”
Wei Chang was not angry about Jiang Ruanxi making decisions for him.
Jiang Ruanxi could probably guess that Wei Chang had just returned and was summoned to the palace. She raised her hand to take the seal that the man had drawn earlier from the side, “Take this with you. It might be useful later.”
Wei Chang glanced at it, instantly seeming to understand. He smiled and took it, “Madam is still the thoughtful one. Stay home and wait for good news from your husband.”
With that, Wei Chang stood up, his face immediately turning cold and stern. He grabbed the man’s collar and dragged him toward the door, throwing him to the guard, “Take him into the palace together.”
Jiang Ruanxi watched his clean and efficient manner, not knowing if it was because she knew he was the boy she met when she was young, but she felt he looked more and more handsome.
If the situation allowed it, she would want to go up to him with an adoring face and stand in front of him.
On the Empress’s side, she leisurely drank tea, unable to suppress the corners of her mouth.
She originally thought Wei Chang’s return would ruin her big plan, but after learning he had returned privately, the stone in her heart immediately fell.
Now he could barely protect himself, so he had no way to interfere in her affairs anymore.
She couldn’t help drinking several more cups of tea.
Imperial Study Room.
As soon as Wei Chang entered, a thick memorial smashed into his body, “You rebellious son, I sent you to Lingnan. Who allowed you to return to the capital privately? Look at these memorials. You’ve only been back a short time, and there are already so many accusing you.”
Wei Chang ignored Emperor Qin’s face full of anger and lowered his eyes to glance at the opened memorial on the ground. It was all about him returning to the capital privately and asking Emperor Qin to punish him.
He directly stepped around those memorials and walked to two meters from Emperor Qin, saying indifferently, “Your son had no choice but to return.”
Seeing this rebellious son not knowing he was wrong at all, Emperor Qin’s anger grew even greater, “You still think you’re in the right.”
His face was full of cold sharpness, his gaze shooting toward Wei Chang like a sharp sword.
“The Crown Princess was poisoned. Your son does not want her to end up like Mother.”
These words were like soft cotton pressing heavily on his heart.
Thinking of Madam Yu being directly killed by someone in Lingnan, and his own powerlessness, made him feel guilty all along.
The earlier anger instantly vanished.
Emperor Qin turned around, took a deep breath, and sat steadily on the dragon throne.
“How have you handled the matter with Jiang Minghuai?”
Wei Chang knew he was no longer pursuing his return. Speaking of the main matter, he also became serious.
“Your son did not return rashly. Your son negotiated with Jiang Minghuai. He agreed to bring only a few personal soldiers back to the capital, and the rest to return to the border. Your son arranged for people to escort those back, so he returned with peace of mind.”
Hearing this, Emperor Qin breathed a sigh of relief.
If Jiang Minghuai had really brought the hundred thousand troops to the capital, then his imperial throne would not be secure.
“Since you have arranged everything, I will let you off this time, but if there is a next time, I will not spare you lightly,” Emperor Qin warned.
“Your son understands,” Wei Chang said respectfully.
Suddenly, Wei Chang took a piece of paper from his collar, unfolded it, knelt down, and extended both hands straight toward Emperor Qin.
“Father Emperor, your son’s mother was killed. Your son has investigated clearly in Lingnan and knows who did it. This is the evidence. Please uphold justice for us, Father Emperor.”
Emperor Qin was stunned, his face instantly turning sharp.
He looked at the paper in front of him but did not take it immediately.
His eyes were as deep and immeasurable as a vast ocean.
Wei Chang’s lowered head had a mocking smile at the corners of his mouth.
Emperor Qin had always said in front of him how much he loved his mother. Now with evidence right in front of him, he should know who killed the Yu Family and his mother, but even after so long, Emperor Qin still pretended not to know.
This was the so-called love—truly cheap enough.
After a long while, Emperor Qin finally spoke heavily, “Little Li Zi, take it.”
Eunuch Li, standing to the side, stepped forward trembling with fear, holding the paper without daring to look at it, walking straight ahead to hand it to Emperor Qin.
Emperor Qin took it and looked at the information on it, his face growing darker and darker.
Finally, he slammed the desk heavily, “This bitch, it really was her.”
Eunuch Li trembled, lowering his head.
Wei Chang still watched Emperor Qin rage expressionlessly.
“Eunuch Li, go call the Empress to the Imperial Study Room for me.”
“Yes.”
Eunuch Li turned and left.
Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.
The Empress was roasting fire by the brazier, cracking melon seeds while smiling and chatting with Liu Ye beside her.
“I didn’t expect His Majesty to summon the Crown Prince to the palace so quickly. Given that he returned to the capital privately, His Majesty certainly won’t let him off.”
With that, she spat the melon seed shells viciously on the ground, as if they were Wei Chang.
Liu Ye said worriedly, “Empress, if the Crown Prince is punished, will it affect you?”
The Empress took a handful of melon seeds, her face showing a bad luck expression.
“Since he chose to oppose this palace, this palace cannot tolerate him. There is some impact, but there are many princes in the palace. I just need to support another one. Anyway, none are biological. Why not find an obedient one.”
Liu Ye nodded, feeling there was some reason in what she said.
But it was still a bit regrettable. After all, the Empress and Wei Chang had been mother and son for so many years, yet in the end, their relationship turned out like this.
Liu Ye agreed.
“Empress is right. If he finds out that you sent people to kill Madam Yu and the Yu Family, he will definitely turn against you.”
The Empress slammed the melon seeds in her hand heavily on the desk, her face full of frost, her sharp gaze warning Liu Ye.
“Liu Ye, don’t blame this palace for not reminding you. If you say such things again in the future, even though you have served by this palace’s side for many years, this palace will not keep you.”
Liu Ye was frightened and immediately knelt to beg for mercy, “Empress, this servant knows her mistake. She will never say it again. Please spare this servant, Empress.”
With that, she raised her hand and slapped her own face hard.
Her body also trembled continuously.
Having served by the Empress’s side for so many years, she had always known the Empress’s character.
The Empress’s meaning of not keeping her was not as simple as just expelling her from the palace—it was to make her disappear silently.
Liu Ye slapped herself several times, her face bearing heavy palm prints, before the Empress slowly said, “Alright, understanding is enough.”
Seeing the Empress return to her usual demeanor, Liu Ye breathed a sigh of relief, quickly kowtowing to give thanks, “Thank you, Empress.”
“Get up quickly.”
Liu Ye breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, standing to the side not daring to say more.
