Chapter 37 Rejecting Fancy in the Face of Strength
"Your Majesty, I came to the Imperial Household Department to inspect and reconcile accounts. I heard that Your Majesty was here, so I came to pay my respects. It seems that I have come at an inopportune time."
Chunyu Han made up an excuse on the spot, his eyes lowered, and no one could tell his true emotions.
"I have urgent business to attend to now, please have a seat."
The Emperor's eyes darted around, thinking that this was a perfect opportunity to make an example of someone and send a warning to Chunyu Han by punishing the Prime Minister's family.
Chunyu Han bowed and sat down, and no one noticed that he exchanged glances with the little maid kneeling on the ground as he sat down.
"Qinglian, speak."
The arrival of Chunyu Han made the Empress's eyelids twitch. Chunyu Han's cold gaze flashed by, but it made the Empress uneasy.
The affairs of the harem did not involve Chunyu Han's interests, so he had no reason to ruin her plans.
"Your Majesty, I have committed the crime of deceiving the Emperor. Please punish me. What I said before was all under someone's orders."
Qinglian's words caused a huge stir, and everyone present was on tenterhooks. She had clearly stated before that the Consort and Yu Jing were having an affair, so why did she suddenly change her story in front of Yu Jing today?
"Qinglian, how dare you! Do you know that deceiving the emperor is a capital offense?"
The Empress was the first to respond. Qinglian was a pawn she had bought at great expense, and her sudden change of heart made her, who was usually so composed, panic.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was part of the Imperial Concubine's dowry and I couldn't bear to lie and slander her anymore. The method to prevent the Emperor and the Third Prince from having blood mixed was taught to me by Biyun."
"This servant was blinded by greed. I hid the silver under the jujube tree in the east corner of Xianfu Palace and didn't touch a single penny. Since the incident, I haven't been able to sleep at night. Knowing I have no face to face the Imperial Concubine's kindness over the years, I can only atone with my death today. I beg the Imperial Concubine's forgiveness."
With tears in her eyes, Qinglian finished speaking in one breath. Before anyone could react, she quickly got up and smashed her head against a vermilion pillar in the Fengyi Palace, dying instantly.
A living life vanished right before their eyes, leaving even Yu Jing, who was used to seeing life and death, stunned.
Although the person is gone, the words she left behind are thought-provoking, especially the mention of Biyun, who was the Empress's head maid.
Almost everyone's eyes were on Biyun, who knelt down with a thud, as if her legs were bent under the weight of those gazes.
"Is what Qinglian said true?"
The incident happened suddenly, and the evidence was conclusive. The emperor was so furious yesterday that he didn't even consider the possibility of being framed.
"Your Majesty, please investigate! This is a frame-up..."
The emperor was furious when he realized that he had wronged his beloved concubine: "For no reason at all, she risked her life to frame you?"
"This servant..."
Biyun was at a loss for what to do and was about to speak when a loud slap rang out.
"You lowly servant! How dare you do such a heinous thing and tarnish my reputation? No matter how stubborn you are, not only you, but your family will also perish."
The Empress stood up, glaring angrily at Biyun, reminding her that if she dared to reveal the Empress's name, none of her family members would escape punishment.
Biyun burst into tears, knowing that the Empress intended to push her out to take the blame.
"Your Majesty, I'm doing this all for your sake. The Imperial Concubine is already favored by the Emperor, and now she has a prince. I'm afraid you'll lose your favor in the harem in the future..."
Another slap silenced Biyun's mouth. It was clear that the Empress was truly angry; this lowly servant was about to die and yet she still said such hurtful things.
"Enough! Drag him away and beat him to death with sticks. The Empress has failed to discipline her properly; she will be fined six months' salary."
The Emperor had no interest in checking on the Empress; he was in a hurry to fetch the Consort and the young prince.
"Guards, prepare the carriage for the Cold Palace."
Chunyu Han, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, finally stood up leisurely: "Your Majesty, what about Physician Yu and the Lu family..."
The emperor has always loved beautiful women more than the country; he would have forgotten this if Chunyu Han hadn't reminded him.
"Leave the rest to the Regent; you will certainly not disappoint me."
After speaking, the emperor gave the empress a cold look, half of which was a dig at her.
With the Emperor gone, Chunyu Han became the most powerful person present, and the Empress, the unpopular head of the harem, had no say in front of him.
"Canghai, clean it up, don't make the Fengyi Palace dirty."
After saying that, he turned back to look at Yu Jing: "Imperial Physician Yu, I have caught a cold. I would like to ask you to take my pulse later."
With just a single sentence, he easily resolved Yu Jing's predicament and brought him out of the palace unharmed, truly making him the most powerful man in the court.
While Yu Nian was still anxiously waiting for news at the Honeysuckle Pavilion, Chunyu Han had already led Yu Jing into the house one after the other.
"Fourth Brother?"
Yu Nian rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things, otherwise how could she have seen Yu Jing?
"Xiao Wu, take your medicine first."
Yu Jing took out a small packet of prepared medicinal powder and handed it to Chun Tao, asking Yu Nian to take it.
"No rush, I'm fine. Tell me quickly, how are things between you and the Imperial Concubine?"
Yu Nian was almost dying of curiosity. How could the matter that had put the Yu and Lu families on the brink of death be resolved so quickly? Was it all thanks to his father's silver tongue?
"Take your medicine."
Chunyu Han glanced at Yu Nian, thinking that she was truly someone who would risk her life for her family.
Chunyu Han didn't mind this, because he was the same kind of person himself. He took action this time because he saw a bit of himself in Yu Nian's persistence.
Being under someone else's roof, Yu Nian was not entirely satisfied, but she still listened to Chunyu Han's advice and took the medicine first.
But Yu Jing clearly had no intention of explaining things to Yu Nian in detail. He hurriedly said that he had something to do and left.
Yu Nian didn't know what was so urgent. The only one who knew was Chunyu Han. Expecting him to speak was like expecting a sow to fly.
Chunyu Han didn't elaborate further, and after Yu Nian finished taking her medicine, she went to her study to handle official business.
"Canghai, tell me what happened?"
Yu Nian lay on the couch, her face full of pleading.
Canghai thought about it and decided that telling Yu Nian about it would be beneficial to the relationship between the adults and Yu Nian, so he told Yu Nian the whole story.
Whether it was because Canghai's description was apt or not, Yu Nian found it thrilling.
"Why would Qinglian suddenly go back on her word? It can't be as simple as a change of heart."
Yu Nian rubbed her chin, carefully analyzing the matter.
"The Fifth Miss is indeed clever, because Qinglian is actually an informant that the Lord placed next to the Consort, and Qinglian is not completely dead. At this time, she should have already been taken to the Eastern Depot's secret estate to treat her injuries."
Canghai whispered to Yu Nian that there were many such informants in the palace, who were usually inconspicuous and could only be used in critical moments.
Yu Nian couldn't help but click her tongue in amazement. This was too impressive. No wonder he was the ultimate villain. It was such a worthwhile opportunity to latch onto such a powerful figure.
Chunyu Han threw away Yu Nian's carefully prepared essay without even glancing at it. In the face of hard power, there was no need for such fancy words.
Yu Nian wanted to praise Chunyu Han a few more times, but reality didn't give her that time.
Chuntao hurried over to report that Prime Minister Yu was already waiting outside the Regent's Mansion to take her home.
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