Chapter 11

Public opinion is boiling, like a pot of boiling water that cannot be stopped.

The fire that Cui Yunshu lit with her own hands spread like wildfire throughout the entire capital in just three days. From the mansions of princes and nobles on Zhuque Street to the humblest peddlers in the back alleys, everyone was talking about the "Crown Prince's Amorous Affair." Storytellers and actors on the streets and alleys even embellished the story into more than a dozen versions, each more scandalous, more bizarre, and more infuriating than the last.

Public resentment surged like a raging sea, heading straight for the imperial city.

The emperor, seated on his dragon throne, was finally startled by the overwhelming roar.

The emperor was furious.

A strongly worded imperial edict was issued from the palace, reaching the Court of Judicial Review, ordering Minister Zheng Xiu to close the case within three days and give the people an explanation!

The Emperor's will was as firm as a mountain, as powerful as thunder. The entire Dali Temple was thrown into a state of panic, lights blazing as officials interrogated those involved throughout the night. Meanwhile, the Cui family mansion, another undeniable center of this storm, was shrouded in gloom, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

In recent days, the gates of the Cui family mansion have been practically worn down by visitors. The elders of the clan have been repeatedly summoning him to the ancestral hall for "tea," and each time he returns, his face grows increasingly grim. Those white-haired elders, spitting as they question him, demanded to know why he had failed to properly raise his daughter, why he had allowed the future crown princess of the Cui family to fall into such a wretched state, practically piercing Cui Wen's spine.

The mother, Madam Song, secluded herself in Feige all day, refusing to see any outsiders, her brows furrowed with an unyielding sorrow. Sometimes she would sit for a long time in her eldest daughter Cui Yunxi's courtyard, and other times she would come to Cui Yunshu's room, looking at her, hesitant to speak, and finally letting out a long sigh.

Cui Yunshu knew how intelligent her mother was; she probably already guessed that her youngest daughter was fueling this out-of-control media storm. But she didn't point it out, only silently watching her with her worried eyes.

Meanwhile, Cui Yunshu remained calmly in her courtyard, listening to the increasingly sensational news brought back by Atao and Shitou each day. She knew that everything was unfolding smoothly according to her worst-case scenario.

Unable to prove his innocence, the Crown Prince was filled with public resentment, and the Emperor was furious and exerted pressure... It seemed that this marriage was about to be completely destroyed by the overwhelming public opinion.

She could almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.

However, on the afternoon of the third day, just when Cui Yunshu thought everything was about to settle down, a shocking piece of news, like a thunderclap in the dry season, exploded in the Cui residence without warning!

"Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!"

Butler Cui An scrambled into Fei Pavilion, his usually composed face now etched with unprecedented horror and panic. He forgot all manners and shouted hoarsely to Cui Wen and Madam Song, "Master! Madam! Something terrible has happened! The... the eldest young lady..."

"What's wrong with Xi-jie?!" Madam Song stood up abruptly, her heart leaping into her throat.

Cui Wen's expression also changed, and he shouted sternly, "What kind of behavior is this, all flustered and disorderly! Explain clearly, what exactly happened to the young lady?"

The steward, Cui An, was panting heavily, almost crying: "The eldest young lady... the eldest young lady... she went alone, in the manor's blue-curtained carriage, to... to the Dali Temple! She said... she was going to beat the drum to appeal for justice!"

"What?!"

Cui Wen and Song Shi were both struck as if by lightning, their faces turning deathly pale.

Cui Yunshu, who had just received the news and rushed to the main hall, happened to hear the complete sentence at the door.

"Buzz—"

Her mind went completely blank for a moment.

To beat the drum and appeal for justice?

Sister...what is she doing at the Dali Temple? Who is she going to seek justice for?

An idea that was utterly absurd yet perfectly suited to the current situation suddenly shot into her mind like the most venomous snake, biting her heart tightly!

No...it can't be...

My sister... how could she...

[Dali Temple, Courtroom]

"mighty--"

In the solemn and imposing Dali Temple courtroom, two rows of bailiffs, wielding fire and water sticks, spoke in booming voices. The plaque hanging high above, inscribed with the words "A Clear Mirror Hangs High," gleamed with a cold yet impartial light in the beams of light cast from the courtyard.

Zheng Xiu, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, sat upright behind his desk, his face ashen. These past few days, he had been tormented by the "Crown Prince Case," unable to eat or sleep properly. On one side was the Crown Prince, on the other, the surging public opinion, and coupled with the Emperor's strict order to close the case in three days, he felt his official position was teetering on the brink of collapse.

Just when he was at his wit's end, the Dengwen Drum outside the hall, which symbolized a great injustice, was suddenly struck!

The drumbeats were deep and resolute; after three beats, the entire Dali Temple was shaken.

"Who beats the drum? Bring them to the hall!" Zheng Xiu slammed his gavel and shouted sternly.

Soon, a figure was brought into the courtroom.

The moment Zheng Xiu saw who it was, not only all the officials and yamen runners in the hall, but also the common people who were crowding at the door to listen, were all shocked and gasped.

The visitor turned out to be a woman.

A woman dressed in plain clothes, without any makeup, yet still possessing unparalleled beauty.

With her upright posture and composed steps, she slowly walked to the front of the hall under the gaze of dozens of eyes that were either astonished, curious, or inquisitive, and bowed gracefully to the person in charge.

"This humble woman, Cui Yunxi, pays her respects to Lord Zheng."

Her voice was clear and cold, like jade striking each other, and it sounded particularly distinct in the solemn courtroom.

Cui Shiyunxi!

The future Crown Princess!

What...what is she doing here?!

Zheng Xiu felt a chill run down his spine. He almost instinctively stood up, but then realized it was inappropriate and quickly sat back down, his voice trembling slightly: "Miss Cui... Miss Cui, why... why did you beat the drum? Do you know that once this drum sounds, there is no turning back?"

"I know." Cui Yunxi slowly straightened up, her clear eyes calmly meeting Zheng Xiu's sharp gaze, without the slightest fear or hesitation. "I have come here today not to seek justice, but only to bear witness."

"Testify?" Zheng Xiu was taken aback.

"Indeed." Cui Yunxi's voice remained calm, yet each word was clear and resolute. "I have heard that rumors have been circulating in the capital recently, all because the Dali Temple is handling a case involving His Highness the Crown Prince. I dare to ask, Your Excellency, is the crux of this case... that His Highness the Crown Prince was unable to prove his whereabouts on the night of the incident?"

Cold sweat beaded on Zheng Xiu's forehead. He hadn't expected this sheltered young lady to be so direct. After a moment's hesitation, he nodded: "Indeed...that's right."

"That's good." Cui Yunxi seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. She glanced around at all the astonished faces in and out of the hall, and then, in a clear and firm voice that could shake the entire capital, she stated, word by word:

“On the night of the incident, His Highness the Crown Prince… was with me.”

These words shocked everyone in the room!

The entire courtroom fell into a deathly silence for a moment, followed by a thunderous uproar!

"What?!"

"What did she say? That His Highness the Crown Prince was with her that night?"

"My God! This...this is impossible! They're not even married yet!"

The crowd in the audience erupted in uproar, their voices and exclamations merging into a massive wave that nearly lifted the roof off the courthouse.

Zheng Xiu dropped the gavel to the ground with a "thud." He stared dumbfounded at the slender yet imposing woman below him, feeling as if his worldview had been completely overturned at that moment.

"Silence! Silence!" The constables shouted themselves hoarse trying to maintain order, but they couldn't quell the uproar.

Cui Yunxi remained oblivious to everything around her. She stood there quietly, like a solitary plum blossom blooming proudly in the wind and snow. She continued to slowly reveal, in her calm and even voice, the secret that belonged to her and the Crown Prince, before the entire world.

"That night at three-quarters past 9 PM, Your Highness, longing for me, sneaked into my Cui residence and met with me in the Mizhu Courtyard where I reside."

“We…we sat and chatted on the stone benches under the bamboo grove in the courtyard until past midnight, when His Highness quietly left.”

"We discussed river works in Jiangnan and military affairs in the north. His Highness also... even painted a picture of the scenery of 'Autumn River Awaiting Ferry' that he himself had painted..."

Her account was extremely detailed, with the time, place, and even the details of their conversation perfectly matching up, leaving no room for doubt. Every detail was like a heavy hammer, striking the hearts of every listener and shattering all the woman's accusations.

This is His Highness the Crown Prince's perfect alibi.

An alibi that comes at the cost of the future Crown Princess's reputation.

【Cui Residence】

The news spread back to the Cui residence as quickly as possible, like a whirlwind.

When the steward Cui An reported everything that had happened in the Dali Temple courtroom to Cui Wen and Song Shi without missing a single word, the entire main hall fell into a deathly silence.

Madam Song's body went limp, and she nearly collapsed to the ground if Zhang Mama hadn't caught her in time. Clutching her chest, tears streamed silently down her face as she murmured, "My Xi'er... my silly child..."

Cui Wen stood frozen in place, his old face turning a deep purplish-red. He pointed to the door, his lips trembling, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Nonsense! Absolutely...nonsense! The Cui family's reputation...the Cui family's century-old honor...has been completely ruined by her!"

Cui Yunshu, who was standing at the door, was stunned, as if struck by lightning.

My mind went completely blank.

elder sister……

She actually...did it...

She actually sacrificed her most precious reputation for that man, publicly revealing their most private meeting to the world!

No!

That's impossible!

Her first thought was that her sister must have been forced! Threatened by the Crown Prince! Yes, that must be it! That hypocrite Crown Prince, what despicable things wouldn't he do to protect himself?! He must be using the safety of the Cui family and her brother's future to threaten her sister!

A raging fire, a mixture of anger, terror, and heartache, instantly overwhelmed Cui Yunshu's reason.

"I'm going to find her! I'm going to bring my sister back!"

She screamed and turned to rush out, like an enraged young beast that had lost all reason.

She was going to the Dali Temple to expose the Crown Prince's conspiracy and to tell everyone that her sister was innocent and had been coerced!

She couldn't bear to watch her sister jump into this abyss of no return for a "scumbag"!