Chapter 238: Cutting Through Thorns
On the palace road, filled with the lingering autumn chill, palace servants from the Palace Affairs Bureau hurried past, carrying copper basins.
Wen Jia stood beneath the eaves outside Hanzhang Hall, gazing at the Vermilion Bird Gate shrouded in rain and mist in the distance, her silk handkerchief unconsciously tightening in her hand.
“Your Highness, Princess Ping Le has been escorted into the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.”
Dong Xu gently draped a cloak over her shoulders, her voice lowered.
“I heard that last night, the Crown Prince personally led people to surround the Hu Ji Wine Shop in the West Market, presenting both people and goods before His Majesty…”
Before she could finish speaking, the crisp sound of a copper basin hitting the ground suddenly echoed from the end of the corridor.
Two young palace maids knelt on the ground, trembling, as several pieces of clothing spilled from the basin, stained with dust from the ground.
The managing nanny immediately flew into a rage, raising her hand to strike them.
“Idiots! These are things you can just drop?”
Wen Jia caught sight of the purple bruises on their sleeve cuffs and quickly walked over.
“What’s going on?”
The nanny curtsied, her eyes filled with disgust and impatience.
“Reporting to Your Highness, these two maids were originally from Princess Ping Le’s Mansion. They’re clumsy and used to it, unable to even do simple tasks like serving tea or washing clothes.”
When a tree falls, the monkeys scatter; the palace is the most heartless place.
Everyone loves to add to someone’s success, but few offer help in times of need. Before Ping Le had even lost power, these people were already busy kicking her while she was down and flattering those in favor.
Wen Jia frowned slightly, gathered her cloak, and turned, her skirt sweeping across the steps.
“Please trouble the nanny to inform the manager of the Palace Affairs Bureau that this Palace wishes to take these two maids to the Princess’s Mansion to wash clothes.”
The nanny’s mouth opened in surprise, then quickly closed. She curtsied and agreed.
“Yes.”
Dong Xu gave her a faint glare and followed Wen Jia, walking silently towards Hanzhang Hall.
Princess Tuya was kneeling on a cushion, her sapphire blue brocade robe adorned with gems and emeralds trailing like flowing clouds. Before her, on the offering table, a gilded Buddha statue gazed down with compassionate eyes, as if possessing some mysterious power.
Her face was serene, like a cold statue, oblivious to the surrounding commotion, her expression calm to the point of indifference.
“Aunt, may you be well…”
Wen Jia bowed slightly, her tone respectful, yet unable to hide her anxiety.
Princess Tuya looked up at Wen Jia’s entrance, her expression unruffled.
“Sit.”
Prayer beads slid through her slender fingers, making a soft rustling sound.
Wen Jia took half a step forward, her skirt brushing the edge of the cushion, and sat down lightly to the side.
“Aunt, have you heard about Princess Ping Le’s matter?”
“Daliang’s domestic affairs, what concern are they of mine?” Tuya’s voice was clear and cold, as if carrying the chill of the snow-capped mountains.
Wen Jia bit her lower lip, hesitated for a moment, then mustered her courage.
“Aunt, Ping Le harbored death warriors, colluded with powerful officials, and poisoned the imperial harem. Her crimes are too numerous to list. Although she is now detained, given Imperial Father’s usual affection, he may not investigate or punish her severely…”
As Wen Jia spoke, she subtly observed Tuya’s expression, her eyes full of anticipation.
“Once she escapes punishment, she will surely return and stir up trouble again…”
Tuya’s fingertips suddenly stopped.
The gauze veil on her face swayed slightly with her movement, but it concealed her expression from beginning to end, making it impossible to fathom her true thoughts.
“You want me to persuade His Majesty to severely punish Ping Le?”
Wen Jia bowed slightly, “If Aunt, as the Saintess, could warn Imperial Father and make him see her true face, it would also be a service to the people… My mother in the afterlife would also be grateful for Aunt’s compassionate heart.”
Tuya gently placed the prayer beads in her hand, stood up, and adjusted the long robe on her body. Her movements were elegant, yet exuded an aura that kept people at a distance.
“I am merely a guest here, how dare I comment on the Imperial Court?”
Wen Jia’s heart grew cold. She wanted to speak again to persuade her, but saw Tuya had already turned away.
“See the guest out.”
Having issued the dismissal, she knelt back on the cushion, picked up the prayer beads, and began to silently recite scriptures.
Helpless, Wen Jia placed a sealed vermilion lacquer box, which Xue Sui had entrusted to Yaoguang, gently in front of Tuya. She curtsied slightly and took her leave.
As she walked out of the inner hall, she couldn’t help but look back…
Tuya was still kneeling there, her posture unmoving, as if the conversation had never happened.
–
Zichen Hall.
Emperor Chong Zhao’s desk was piled high with evidence.
The Shen Bi Crossbow blueprints were just the tip of the iceberg: a pass document bearing Ping Le’s palace seal, correspondence with the Xizi Wolf Guard, Gu Jie’s testimony with his thumbprint, and two Xizi Wolf Guard vanguards captured from Ping Le’s imperial carriage.
Each piece of evidence struck the Emperor’s heart like a heavy hammer.
“Your Majesty, the Censorate, along with several ministers, has jointly impeached Princess Ping Le for colluding with the enemy and treason, requesting the revocation of her title, the stripping of her honors, and imprisonment for trial.” The Grand Censor Zhou Zhengping’s voice fell heavily in the warm pavilion, exceptionally clear.
Emperor Chong Zhao suddenly threw the memorial to the ground.
“Where is Gu Jie? Summon him to the palace!”
“Replying to Your Majesty, Gu Jie was assassinated in the West Market last night, his heart meridian injured. He is still unconscious and unable to enter the palace to see His Majesty…”
Before the Minister of Justice Xue Qingzhi could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly arose from outside the hall.
Wang Chengxi hurried forward and bowed.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, Princess Tuya suddenly lost consciousness while reciting scriptures with her eyes closed today. White mist surrounded her, and seven-colored Buddha light appeared above her head… It is said she received an revelation from Wulan Holy Mountain, requesting Your Highness to move to Hanzhang Hall…”
Emperor Chong Zhao abruptly stood up.
The light from the gilded dragon-patterned lamp cast a greenish hue on his face.
“You all may withdraw for now. Let me ponder this matter.”
With that, he flicked his sleeve and strode towards Hanzhang Hall.
“Prepare the imperial carriage quickly!”
–
The candlelight in Hanzhang Hall burned all night, and the watch drums of Shangjing City sounded particularly heavy.
With Princess Ping Le’s treason case exposed, Shangjing City was thrown into chaos.
The Censorate received hundreds of secret impeachment letters daily. Daughters of noble families burned old poems exchanged with Ping Le, and even beggars on the street were discussing “having seen a carriage from the Princess’s Mansion leaving the city late at night”…
Gradually, more and more people dared to expose Princess Ping Le. Officials who had previously associated with Ping Le found themselves in a cycle of self-preservation.
The patrol cavalry of the Five City Military and Horse Department were busy arresting people all day long…
Even so, it couldn’t stop the rampant rumors in the city.
Princess Tuya’s Holy Mountain revelation, intertwined with the fortune teller’s words beneath Tianxiang Pavilion – “The heavenly grid is cracking, the earthly malevolence is clashing, and a sinister force is plaguing Shangjing City” – ignited city-wide panic.
The rumors grew more and more absurd.
The fortune sticks at Ci’en Temple suddenly cracked and fell out…
A Taoist temple west of the city was smashed by fanatical followers…
Someone saw “ghost soldiers marching” on the moat…
The rice market, hoarding grain to avoid disaster, saw a brawl involving a hundred people…
The cinnabar at the pharmacies was completely sold out…
Each incident terrified the common folk, who, overnight, began splashing black dog blood at the base of the Imperial City walls…
Even the children on the streets began singing a new nursery rhyme.
A coiled dragon trapped in shallow waters,
A fox sits on the golden throne.
A single strike severs the serpent’s tail,
Blood falls, and hearts find peace…”
This vortex, born from the regicide case and prophetic verses, along with the overwhelming rumors, like an invisible giant hand, dragged Shangjing City into deeper suspicion and madness.
The people within the city were like glutinous rice balls thrown into a hot pot, tumbling and screaming, unsure of what disaster would brew next.
Everyone seemed to be waiting for the blade to fall.
Or for a storm foretelling divine punishment to arrive…
–
You Huang Ju.
The dying candle flickered on the bronze candlestick, casting Li Zhao’s chiseled jawline as if carved from jade, accentuating his sharp edge.
He flicked his cuff with his finger, his palm slightly clenched, as if concealing his emotions.
“Your Highness, the medicine is ready,” Lai Fu said, holding a white jade bowl. “It’s brewed according to Sixth Miss Xue’s prescription. This old servant watched it for two hours, ensuring the heat was just right.”
The prescription left by Consort Xue that day was said to control the onset of the Love Silk Gu. However, after the Crown Prince brought the prescription back, he locked it in a box and never touched it. Today, he suddenly took it out and instructed the kitchen to use a new small stove to brew the medicine.
Li Zhao frowned, tasted a mouthful, swallowed twice, and then drank it down.
He then had Lai Fu filter the remaining dregs from the medicine pot, pour them into a jar, and seal it.
“Use a celadon cup instead; she dislikes silver.”
“Yes!”
“She dislikes bitterness, add some honey-preserved green plums.”
Lai Fu quickly agreed, holding the jar and scurrying off to get the honey-preserved green plums.
Mei Ruhui stood at the entrance of the warm pavilion, watching the incense in the brazier burn down to less than three inches. After a long hesitation, he frowned and asked:
“Does Your Highness intend to personally go to the Ministry of Justice Prison?”
“Precisely.”
“This humble minister dares to advise, this action is not advisable.”
Li Zhao lowered his head and fiddled with his cuff. “This Prince believes it is.”
Mei Ruhui, well-read and skilled in strategy, was adept at quoting classics and debating scholars. However, in all his years in the Eastern Palace, he had never managed to persuade Li Zhao.
This was because the Crown Prince was too opinionated and never compromised with anyone.
But this time, Mei Ruhui had to try and stop him, even if it meant risking his position.
“Your Highness should not put yourself in danger.” Mei Ruhui took a half-step forward, seeing the Crown Prince’s indifferent glance, and stopped speaking.
“Your Highness, as the Crown Prince, you must cherish your precious life. This matter is fraught with danger, and any slight misstep could be exploited…”
“Mister speaks truly.” Li Zhao’s tone was dismissive, yet carried a hint of coldness. “How could this Prince lightly venture into danger and let villains have their way? However, I never intended to use affection as bait to lure her into the trap. Some things are faster to seize than to beg for.”
Mei Ruhui breathed a sigh of relief and solemnly cupped his hands.
“Then Your Highness may rest assured. This minister will certainly proceed with caution and bring Sixth Miss Xue safely onto the grain transport boat…”
“No.” Li Zhao casually grabbed a black cloak, took a long iron sword from the wall, and slung it across his waist.
“If I am not here, who among you can persuade her?”
With that, he threw the prison layout diagram spread on the desk into the fire, fastened the dragon-patterned jade belt at his waist, drew his sword three inches from its sheath, and gestured with cold eyes.
“Order all Guard Commanders to proceed according to the original deployment! Do not alert them…”
Mei Ruhui suddenly felt a tightness in his throat. The words on his lips turned, and he bowed respectfully:
“This minister obeys!”
