Chapter 52 A Reliable Crown Prince
The joy of Yu'er's first birthday banquet was still lingering, but an undercurrent was quietly creeping into the Eastern Palace.
That afternoon, Su Jingyu was playing with her toddler Yu'er by the window, while Crown Prince Xiao Jingzhan was reviewing memorials in his study. Inside the Glazed Pavilion, the warm sun shone brightly, and a sense of tranquility prevailed.
The palace maid Yun Shu rushed in, glanced towards the study, and whispered urgently, "Consort, something terrible has happened! News has come from outside the palace that Master... Master has encountered an accident!"
Su Jingyu's heart tightened: "What's wrong with Father?"
"They say... the Censorate received a secret report impeaching that when you were in office in Tongzhou, there were discrepancies in the grain transport accounts you handled, and it also involved several unclear payments for dike repairs! The censor has already led people to seal up your residence and assist in the investigation, and you have also been invited to the Censorate for questioning!" Yun Shu's voice trembled.
Su Jingyu's face turned pale instantly. Her father, Su Mingyuan, was an honest and upright official; how could he suddenly be investigated? This was clearly a frame-up!
"Your Highness..." She was flustered and had just stood up when she saw Xiao Jingzhan come out of the study after hearing the noise.
"What's wrong?" Seeing that she looked unwell, he quickly stepped forward and put his arm around her.
Yun Shu immediately knelt and reported. Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingzhan's eyes darkened, a cold glint flashing within them, but his arm around Su Jingyu remained as firm as a rock. He gently patted her back, his voice steady and powerful: "Don't panic. I know your father-in-law's character well. This is a frame-up; I know what's going on."
He helped her sit down, handed her warm tea, and looked into her frightened eyes: "My dear, trust me. Your father will be alright."
"Your Highness, Father is old and cannot withstand such torment..." Su Jingyu grabbed his sleeve, her fingertips icy cold.
"I won't let him suffer," Xiao Jingzhan interrupted her, his tone resolute. "Be good, take a nap, and everything will be alright when you wake up." He bent down and kissed her forehead, then swept her up in his arms and gently placed her on the bed, coaxing her to sleep. His words carried a reassuring power, "Be good, wait for me to come back."
Having said that, he turned and left, his dark robes billowing in the cold wind, his aura exuding a chilling aura.
The study in the Eastern Palace was brightly lit by candlelight.
Xiao Jingzhan's face was ashen. He Yong and Lu Chen stood solemnly to receive the order.
"Investigate! Within an hour, I need to know who is behind this and where the evidence comes from." Xiao Jingzhan's voice was icy. "Lu Chen, send men to keep a close eye on the Censorate and ensure Su Mingyuan is not mistreated. He Yong, investigate the movements of those who have recently had conflicts with my father-in-law or are at odds with the Crown Prince."
"yes!"
Soon, the secret guards reported that the censor who was impeaching the prince had secretly entered and exited the Third Prince's residence multiple times; several key witnesses in the so-called "evidence" were all members of the Third Prince's faction; and even the families of the clerks who suddenly "exposed" Su Mingyuan had received generous rewards from the steward of the Third Prince's residence.
Xiao Jingzhan sneered. The Third Prince! It really was him! Ever since he implemented his new policies and successfully trained the troops, gaining the Emperor's favor, the Third Prince had been secretly sabotaging him. Now he dared to target his father-in-law, trying to undermine his position by attacking the Su family!
"Your Highness, shall we go directly to the Emperor and expose the Third Prince?" He Yong asked.
"No need." A cold glint flashed in Xiao Jingzhan's eyes. "Since the third brother dared to do it, he must have a backup plan. Exposing him directly would only give others ammunition to criticize him."
He hesitated for a moment, then uttered a series of commands:
Cut off the fuel supply: Have the secret guards find the families of those key witnesses, explain the consequences to them, and get them to turn against the Third Prince and accuse him of coercing them into giving false testimony.
Counter-evidence: Order people to retrieve the complete account books for the grain transport and dike repairs in Tongzhou overnight, and find out the tricks of the Third Prince's followers.
A strategic retreat: Have a trusted confidant from the Censorate point out discrepancies in the accounts, thus shifting the blame to the Third Prince's men.
To intimidate the enemy: Instruct the Censorate to prepare a memorial impeaching the Third Prince for forming cliques, engaging in corrupt practices, and framing loyal officials, but not to issue it for the time being.
At the fourth watch of the night, everything was ready.
The wife of a key witness beat the petition drum in the dead of night, accusing the Third Prince of coercing her husband to give false testimony to frame Su Mingyuan. The Censorate "coincidentally" found gold and silver bestowed by the Third Prince's residence in the homes of those clerks. The complete account books from Tongzhou were also rushed to the capital, proving Su Mingyuan's innocence.
By dawn, the storm had subsided.
The Emperor was furious and ordered a thorough investigation. The Third Prince was forced to submit a memorial to plead guilty, claiming he had been misled by his own men. The clerks who gave false testimony were executed, and the Third Prince was fined a year's salary and confined to his quarters for three months. Su Mingyuan was reinstated and even received a reward to calm his nerves.
As dawn broke, Yu'er suddenly woke up, her heart pounding: "Father!"
She opened her eyes and was met with a pair of phoenix eyes, bloodshot yet still gentle. Xiao Jingzhan was sitting by the bed, having been watching her for who knows how long. He had obvious dark circles under his eyes and a few stubbles on his chin, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept all night.
"Your Highness!" Su Jingyu grabbed his hand and asked anxiously, "Father, he..."
"It's alright now." Xiao Jingzhan held her cold hand and pressed it against his warm face. His voice was hoarse from staying up all night, but it carried a reassuring strength. "The clerk who framed my father-in-law has confessed, and the fabricated evidence has been identified. My father-in-law just needs to cooperate with the Censorate to complete the procedures and clarify the facts. He can return home in two days at most. I have made arrangements. No one will dare to make things difficult for him, and he will not suffer."
Su Jingyu stared at him blankly, seeing the weariness and tenderness in his eyes, and listening to his clear and well-organized words that showed he had everything under control. She was deeply shocked!
He stayed up all night because of her father's matter, and used swift and decisive measures to turn the tide overnight!
"Your Highness..." Her nose tingled, and tears welled up, not for her father, but for him. She reached out a trembling hand and gently touched the dark circles under his eyes, her heart aching with unbearable pain. "You didn't sleep a wink all night..."
"It's alright." Xiao Jingzhan lowered his head, kissed away her tears, and chuckled, "Seeing you at ease makes me feel less tired."
Su Jingyu could no longer hold back. She propped herself up and kissed his tired eyes, then gently kissed his brow, cheeks, and chin, her voice choked with emotion: "It's all my fault, Your Highness, for making you work so hard..."
Her kiss was as soft as a feather, filled with tenderness and affection. Xiao Jingzhan closed his eyes, feeling her warmth, and the fatigue of the night seemed to be dispelled. He held her tighter and sighed, "My dear, protecting you and the people you care about is something I do willingly."
Su Jingyu, however, insisted that he lie down and rest. She let him rest his head on her lap, gently massaging his temples with her cool fingertips, whispering sweet nothings in his heart.
Xiao Jingzhan wanted to say there was no need for this, but seeing her insistent yet distressed expression, his heart softened, and he obediently closed his eyes. In her gentle caresses and familiar scent, his tense nerves gradually relaxed, and he actually fell into a deep sleep.
Morning light streamed through the window, illuminating the two embracing figures. Su Jingyu looked down at the sleeping face of the man in her arms, her heart filled with boundless love and gratitude.
Her prince, though an eagle soaring through the heavens, was willing to roost for her and shelter her from the wind and rain.
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