The greatest reliance
There was an incessant noise in the Taiji Hall.
The debate had lasted for more than half an hour. The memorial impeaching Princess Mingzhu for killing officials, destabilizing the country, and harboring refugees with ulterior motives was repeatedly mentioned by officials from Prince Yong's faction, and the language became increasingly heated.
Crown Prince Ning Yanqing sat on the throne with a solemn expression, while Prime Minister Wang frowned.
Other officials also suggested that Liu Mian's corruption should be thoroughly investigated first, but they were drowned out by the voices that "the princess violated the law first."
Shen Qingyan was seriously injured, new policies were implemented, and tens of thousands of people were affected...
These heavy words seemed like insignificant bubbles in the face of the huge waves of laws and morals.
It seems like they don't care about this at all.
Just as the situation was tense, a shrill voice came from outside the palace: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, Concubine Yu has a letter of apology to present!"
The noise in the hall suddenly stopped.
All eyes were focused on the bright yellow music box that Eunuch Gao personally brought in.
The prince raised his hand slightly: "Read."
Eunuch Gao unfolded the memorial, and the clear voice of Concubine Yu seemed to come through the back of the paper:
"Your humble servant, Yu, is deeply apprehensive and begs Heaven to hear my words. I have failed to raise my daughter properly, and I bear the brunt of my guilt. Mingzhu was young, and by nature, uninhibited and undisciplined. She did not understand the importance of the royal family's dignity, nor the strict laws of the court. During the trip to Mingzhou, Liu Mian's words and actions were offensive, and Mingzhu, overcome with rage, accidentally killed him. This is my fault as a mother, for failing to discipline and guide her."
You can hear a pin drop in the hall.
With the word "accidental", a thunderbolt that splattered blood on the government office was killed and lightly turned into an impulse of poor discipline.
Many officials had subtle expressions, and Prince Yong even narrowed his eyes.
Concubine Yu has been in the deep palace for more than ten years and has been favored continuously. She is worthy of being Concubine Yu and has good means.
"Later, Mingzhu witnessed the starving people outside Mingzhou City, the victims exchanging their own children for food. Overwhelmed with compassion, she decided to use part of the confiscated property as temporary relief for the people. Without informing the emperor of your will, she acted on her own initiative. While this was done with a sincere heart, it was ultimately an act of usurpation, and it was also due to my failure to teach her the importance of her duties sooner rather than later."
"Mingzhu's fault is truly mine. I feel ashamed of your majesty's grace and the laws of our ancestors. To demonstrate the emperor's strict self-discipline and serve as a warning to others, I request to be stripped of my title of Imperial Concubine and take Mingzhu to Ci'en Temple in the suburbs of Beijing to meditate and pray for blessings, reflect on my mistakes, and be strictly disciplined to atone for my sins and set the record straight."
Every word and sentence strikes on everyone's heart.
This, this, although the emperor was bedridden and unable to rule the country, there would always be a good day. With the help of the crown prince and the ministers, he forced the concubine to ask to abdicate and take her daughter to practice seclusion.
The courtiers, who had been so aggressive just moments before, now fell into an awkward silence. Continuing their relentless pursuit? That would mean forcing the Imperial Concubine to death and harshly treating the Imperial Princess, instantly falling into an abyss of morality. Even the Prince Yong faction was speechless, their faces livid.
Not to mention that Concubine Yu is the prince's concubine mother.
As a son and a brother, he is unfilial and unfriendly. He behaves like this. The world will surely condemn him.
As soon as this apology letter came out, the prince's pale face turned redder with anger. Let's see how this will end. Thanks to the assistance of all the kings, he, the prince, will soon be laughed at by the whole world!
Just as the suffocating silence was about to freeze, a deep voice with an exotic accent rang out from the palace entrance: "The great Southern Dynasty, the magnificent divine power, this king has truly broadened his horizons today!"
Everyone looked back in surprise.
I saw Prince Tuoba Hong of Beishuo, dressed in a dark suit, standing tall, with an undisguised sneer on his handsome and deep face.
He ignored court etiquette, strode into the hall, and swept his eyes over all the civil and military officials in the court.
"This prince personally witnessed the starving people everywhere. I also saw the Mingzhou governor, Liu Mian, with his treasury piled high with grain, while the people outside the city were gnawing on tree bark and grass roots. Your Highness, with her heart set on the people, fought against violence and protected the good, slew the pests of this country, opened the granaries and provided relief to countless people. Yet, in your mouths, such righteous deeds have been described as undermining the foundation of the nation? And you've even forced a mother to resign her position and take her daughter into seclusion as an apology."
His voice suddenly rose, almost angry. "Mingzhu is the princess I will soon marry. Her honor and disgrace are the honor and disgrace of Beishuo."
"You, the rulers and ministers of the Southern Dynasty, are so partial to corrupt and cruel officials, so harshly criticize a princess who saved the people from dire straits, and so oppress a mother who loves her daughter so much. This kind of lawlessness is unheard of by me."
Finally, his voice was filled with a hint of threat: "If this is the foundation of the Southern Dynasty, then I would like to ask, is the cornerstone of the alliance between Beishuo and the Southern Dynasty based on benevolence, righteousness, integrity and shame, or is it this kind of distortion of right and wrong?"
"Prince Tuoba is wrong," Pan Wei said, stepping out of line. "Although Her Royal Highness's actions were inappropriate, her heart is sympathetic and her feelings are excusable. Our dynasty has its own laws, and we will handle this impartially. You can rest assured, and I believe you all agree."
Another respected old minister also echoed, "There are priorities. Liu Mian's crime should be investigated, and the princess's efforts to save the people should not be completely erased."
With the two people's speeches, the atmosphere in the hall quietly changed. Things have come to this point and it is useless to pursue them further.
Prime Minister Wang, who had been silent the entire time, slowly stepped out and bowed to the Crown Prince. He spoke in a steady voice, "Your Highness, I believe that the most urgent task is to distinguish right from wrong and maintain stability both inside and outside the country."
He swept his eyes over the crowd and spoke clearly, "First, Liu Mian embezzled relief grain. He deserves death and his property should be confiscated as a warning to others!"
"Secondly, Lord Shen Qingyan presided over the relief efforts and suffered serious injuries as a result. His contributions are invaluable. This old minister believes that Shen Qingyan should be promoted to the position of temporary prefect of Mingzhou. After the Liu Mian case is thoroughly investigated, a decision on his fate can be made."
"Thirdly," he looked at Tuoba Hong, his tone becoming serious, "The engagement between Princess Mingzhu and His Highness Tuoba is a matter of great importance to the diplomatic relations between the two countries. The princess is young and impulsive this time, so she does need strict discipline. Imperial Concubine Yu loves her daughter dearly and has asked for punishment, but her situation is understandable. However, she is a noble woman, a role model for the harem, so how could she leave the palace so easily?"
"I, your Majesty, humbly request that Princess Mingzhu be placed under the strict supervision of Concubine Yu within the palace, where she must reflect on her past mistakes and not leave without your permission. Wait until Beishuo agrees on an auspicious wedding date before the ceremony. This will both preserve your Majesty's compassion and appease the allies of Beishuo."
These words are flawless.
Prince Yong's face was gloomy, his lips moved, but he didn't say anything in the end. If he continued to argue, it would cause dissatisfaction in Beishuo and the consequences would be unimaginable. Other officials, regardless of their factions, were mostly silent at this moment.
Tuoba Hong's cold gaze was enough to silence any opponent.
Prince Ning Yanqing's tense nerves finally relaxed a little. He took a deep breath and was about to speak.
The chief eunuch beside the emperor entered the eunuch hall and said loudly:
"Your Majesty has issued an oral order: The report of the royal minister is approved. The evidence of Liu Mian's guilt is irrefutable, and the three courts are ordered to conduct a thorough investigation of his accomplices. Shen Qingyan, recognized for his contributions to disaster relief, is ordered to temporarily assume the position of prefect of Mingzhou. He must ensure the people's well-being and rebuild the city without error. Mingzhu is under the strict supervision of Imperial Concubine Yu, and is to reflect on her past in Xuehan Palace. She is not allowed to leave the palace without permission. She can marry after Beishuo agrees on a date. Imperial Concubine Yu is compassionate, but the nation's rules cannot be violated lightly. She should rest and recuperate in the palace."
The dust has settled.
A storm was finally temporarily suppressed under the seemingly calm surface with Concubine Yu's apology, Tuoba Hong's intervention and the balance of power by Prime Minister Wang.
When the court was dismissed, officials hurried away with varying expressions. Prince Yong left with a sullen expression. The Crown Prince rubbed his brow wearily, a lingering gloom in his eyes. Tuoba Hong cast a deep glance in the direction of the throne, his lips curled in an ambiguous smile, and he turned and strode away.
When the news reached Xuehan Palace, Ning Lingyi was staring at the snowflakes falling outside the window.
"Your Highness, I beg you to give up your position and take you to a place of retreat?"
"Tuoba Hong questioned the laws of the Southern Dynasty in the court?"
"Your Majesty has orally instructed the Empress to strictly discipline her and not to leave the palace without permission..."
"Mingzhu's fault is actually my fault." Her mother went to such lengths for her. Every word in the letter of apology was like a slap in her face.
Ning Lingyi threw herself into Concubine Yu's arms, speechless.
Ning Lingyi flew into Concubine Yu's arms, her throat choked with sobs, unable to utter a word. Concubine Yu hugged her daughter tightly, her chin gently resting on the top of her head. She saved her daughter, and that was enough.
Then, she pulled her daughter to sit down, her eyes fixed on the written apology on the table. She picked it up and brought it close to the blazing charcoal brazier nearby. Flames suddenly swirled, greedily devouring the paper bearing the humiliation, the dancing flames illuminating the profiles of both mother and daughter.
"Yier," she said, watching the last bit of ashes drift away, her voice soft as a sigh, "Remember this day, remember the four high walls of Xuehan Palace."
Ning Lingyi turned her head and met her mother's deep and unfathomable eyes.
"From today on, you are not allowed to take a single step out of here." Concubine Yu's voice was calm and steady. "But your eyes must be looking outside. Your ears must be listening. Your heart must be filled with hatred for everyone who has forced us, mother and daughter, to this day."
The crackling sound of the charcoal fire was particularly clear in the silent hall.
"Yi'er," Concubine Yu picked up the tongs and gently stirred the last bit of paper ash in the charcoal basin. The ashes fluttered as fragile as butterfly wings. "The way Mother disciplined me today is a rule, and the way they are governing the country is also a rule. In this deep palace, the competition is not about who is more right, but who can better understand the rules and apply them."
Ning Lingyi was silent. The words in the sage books she had read in her childhood seemed to transform into an invisible scepter in her mother's hand in the firelight. The rules were no longer the rigid words in the books, but an invisible net that could be used as a lever.
Concubine Yu put down the tongs and wiped the non-existent ash from her fingertips with a white handkerchief, her movements graceful and slow.
"As for Prince Beishuo," she said in a softer voice, "Tuoba Hong's words today helped you out, but also made the Southern Dynasty's rulers and ministers appear timid in front of Beishuo. This man is cunning and scheming. If you want to use him, don't trust him easily, and be especially careful of him."
Ning Lingyi looked up suddenly: "Mother, did you know that Tuoba Hong would come?"
"I told him," she said in a flat voice, "if Mingzhu is deposed, the only one who can marry her will be someone else. He said he would definitely come."
The charcoal fire crackled softly, illuminating Concubine Yu's calm profile.
Ning Lingyi stared at her mother in a daze. It turned out that every step of this seemingly hopeless situation was within her mother's calculations. Even Tuoba Hong, who was far away outside the palace, was just a piece she placed on the chessboard at the right time.
In this deep palace, her reliance has never been on her father's favor, but on her mother who planned for her. Thinking of this, Ning Lingyi felt an indescribable bitterness in her heart. Such a mother actually suffered such an insult for her.
Concubine Yu slowly raised her eyes and looked at the gray sky outside the window. Her gaze seemed to penetrate the palace and fall on a place farther away.
"Yier, live well and watch carefully." She spoke each word carefully, "One day..."
The lingering sound dissipated in the warm air in the hall, leaving only the faint sound of burning charcoal. Ning Lingyi stood by the window, looking at the snow flying all over the sky. The carved beams and painted buildings of the hall gradually became blurred in the snow. She felt so clearly that she was imprisoned.
This magnificent palace became her strongest cage.
In the warm room of Fengzao Palace, the Queen was looking through the patterns of tribute satin newly presented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Ning Lingshu and Ning Lingli were sitting beside her, listening to the palace servants whispering the news that Concubine Yu had apologized.
"Oh?" Ning Lingli picked up a candied fruit with her slender fingers, a hint of sneer on the corner of her lips.
"This news spreads fast. Mother, what are you talking about, Concubine Yu and Sister Mingzhu?"
She slowly put the candied fruit into her mouth, her voice tinged with doubt. "You've just returned to the palace, and right after, you're putting on this poignant apology? Are you truly feeling the wrath of the calamity you've caused, or are you just pretending to retreat in order to advance, putting on a show for Father to see?"
She picked up the handkerchief and wiped the corner of her lips pretentiously: "My royal father is ill and very soft-hearted. Seeing their tearful faces, I'm afraid even the strongest anger would subside by a factor of three."
"As for Beishuo, huh, the wedding date is approaching. I'm afraid the mother and daughter have calculated that the imperial court will not really do anything to the princess who is about to get married. That's why they dare to apologize so brazenly, right?"
She fiddled with the jade bracelet on her wrist, her tone growing more contemptuous.
"What do you mean by apologizing? I think they are just relying on father's favor to avoid punishment. In my opinion, they should be severely punished and made to suffer. Mother, don't you think so?" After she finished speaking, her almond-shaped eyes contained undisguised malice as she looked at the queen.
Before the Empress could speak, Princess Zhaoyang, Ning Lingshu, who was sitting on the other side, put down her teacup and gently advised, "Mother, Sister Li's words are reasonable, but Father is still ill, and the Northern Shuo envoys are in the capital. Empress Yu and Sister Lingyi have already taken the initiative to apologize, and their attitude is so humble. If we are too harsh, it might appear that the Royal Family is at odds, which would be counterproductive."
"Why don't you be a little more forgiving first? Lingyi is our sister after all. Her marriage to Beishuo is also to share the country's worries. Mother is kind and you should put the overall situation first and be more considerate." She spoke in a clear and gentle voice and looked at the queen earnestly.
These remarks made Ning Lingli furious, but he didn't dare to say anything more and could only nod in agreement.
Finally, the queen smiled and said nothing.
Xuehan Palace is still Xuehan Palace.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
