Chapter 564: Ministers Plead for Mercy

The queen's expression changed slightly when she heard this. Although she was not distant from her second uncle's family when she was a child, she was not particularly close either. She had never sat on her second uncle's shoulders. What her father said now was meaningful. She nodded gently, her voice choked with sobs.

"I remember, Father. I remember everything. I will never forget Second Uncle's love. But the situation is turbulent now, and Second Uncle is far away in the southern border. How can we avoid bringing trouble to Second Uncle's family?"

Duke Hua sighed, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes.

"Lingyi, your second uncle's family is loyal and devoted. If it really comes to that, they will understand how to protect their family. Right now, our most important thing is to stabilize the situation in the capital and buy a glimmer of hope for the Crown Prince. You must remember that no matter what happens, the roots of the Hua family cannot be severed. You may be the Queen, but you are also a daughter of the Hua family."

The queen took a deep breath, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and said firmly.

"Don't worry, father. I understand."

After the father and daughter finished their conversation, the queen took out some money and made some arrangements at the Dali Temple to make Duke Hua's life better. Then she took a carriage back to the palace.

In the carriage, the Queen thought of Duke Hua in prison and couldn't help but shed tears.

Seeing this, Nanny Su handed her a handkerchief and comforted her.

"My Lady, please stop crying. You've already cried many times these past few days. It's not good for your eyes if you continue crying."

The queen said guiltily upon hearing this.

"It's my fault. I'm too greedy. It's obvious that the Crown Prince only needs to do his duty and everything will be fine... It's my carelessness that has led me to indulge the Crown Prince and the Hua family. This is why my father, at such an old age, still exists in Tianlao's heart, worrying about the future of the Crown Prince and the Hua family."

When Nanny Su saw the queen crying like this, she couldn't help but have tears in her eyes too.

"Your Highness, this is not your fault. Please do not blame yourself. There are many things in the royal family that are beyond their control. His Highness the Crown Prince has his own difficulties, and Your Highness you also have your own difficulties. Although the Emperor has respected you very much over the years,

But the concubines in the palace have also come one after another, and Concubine De and Concubine Mei are all very troublesome. Others may not know this, but this old servant knows how hard it is for you, Your Majesty, to take care of your harem. If it weren't for you, Your Majesty, who has always suppressed Concubine De and her son, I'm afraid the Second Prince would have fought with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince long ago..."

The queen suddenly remembered what her father had said, the girl's red wine buried under the peach tree.

He suddenly reached out and held the nanny's hand.

"Mammy, turn around and go to the Hua family again. I have something important to say to my brother."

Upon hearing this, Nanny Su lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked at the sky outside.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid you can't return to the Hua family now. It's getting late. If you don't hurry back, the palace gates will be locked, and no one will be allowed to enter or leave. The Emperor is already furious. If you don't hurry back, I'm afraid he'll be even angrier."

The queen nodded upon hearing this and spoke helplessly.

"Mammy, what you said makes sense. I must hurry back before the palace gates are locked."

Then he looked up at the sky outside and smiled bitterly.

"The Empress Dowager is second only to the Emperor, and above all others. Outsiders may see her as glorious, but in reality, she is just a canary kept in the palace. When the Emperor is pleased, she comes to see me. When he is unhappy, I may not see him for ten days or half a month."

Wiped the tears from his face.

"Madam, I will return to the palace first. You take my badge and go back to the Hua family to tell my brother that it's time to dig up the daughter's red wine from under the peach trees in the Hua family's farm in the suburbs."

White House.

Jun Moyong was playing chess with Jun Moye.

"Cousin, now that the Crown Prince has been imprisoned, shouldn't we wrap up this game?"

Jun Moye dropped a white piece, picked up the tea on the table and took a sip.

"It can't be ended so easily. The Queen in the palace is no pushover, and the Hua family is no pushover either. A'yong, it's not appropriate to celebrate prematurely before the outcome is finalized."

Jun Moyong looked at the chess board, then looked up at Jun Moye.

"So, cousin, what you're saying is that the Queen might make more moves?"

Jun Moye nodded upon hearing this.

"The power of the Hua family cannot be underestimated. Just wait and see. Soon someone will come to plead for the prince. What you need to do is to write down all those who plead for the prince."

Jun Moyong was surprised when he heard this.

"The Crown Prince is already at the end of his rope. If those ministers continue to plead for the truth in the face of overwhelming evidence, wouldn't they be causing trouble for themselves?"

Jun Moye gently put down the teacup after hearing this.

"Over the years, you and the Crown Prince have had many interactions in the Imperial City. A'yong, you still underestimate the Crown Prince. Those ministers who support the Crown Prince and plead for him are not necessarily supportive. It could be that they are bound by interests, or that they are using leverage to threaten him, or that the Queen has promised him even greater benefits."

Jun Moyong nodded thoughtfully after hearing this.

"Ayong understands. Thank you for your advice, cousin."

Sure enough, with the help of the Hua family and Concubine Shu.

As expected, there was a glimmer of hope for the Crown Prince's situation in the court that day.

The third prince took the lead and spoke.

"Father, I have something to report."

Emperor Tianyuan looked at the third prince.

"Well, go ahead."

The Third Prince glanced at Emperor Tianyuan before speaking respectfully.

"Your Majesty, regarding the case of the Crown Prince and my brother buying and selling official positions, I feel there must be something fishy going on. The evidence is insufficient. I'm afraid someone is deliberately framing the Crown Prince and my brother. Otherwise, how could all this evidence have ended up on your desk in such a short time?"

Once someone started talking, naturally other ministers would immediately come forward and echo him.

"Your Majesty, the Third Prince's words make sense. Your Majesty, I'm afraid someone has framed him. I feel it's inappropriate to imprison him so easily."

Emperor Tianyuan sat on the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping deeply across the court, his mind pondering. He was not unaware of the undercurrents surging within the court, and the Crown Prince's affairs were a matter of utmost importance. However, this matter involved the very foundation of the nation, and he had to proceed with extreme caution.

"Oh? The Third Prince is so sure. Is there any evidence to prove that the Crown Prince was framed?" The Emperor Tianyuan's voice was intimidating without being angry, and the originally noisy court instantly quieted down.

The third prince was slightly startled, then knelt down and said.

"Although I have no direct evidence, my brother, the Crown Prince, has always been diligent in his duties and a benevolent man. How could he have committed such a heinous act? I implore you, Your Majesty, to investigate this matter and clear the Crown Prince's name."

Immediately, a minister echoed the words.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has been by your side all these years, sharing your worries. You know His Royal Highness's character best. It turns out someone is jealous of the Crown Prince's trust and has orchestrated this scheme to lure the Crown Prince into it."