Chapter 43
In that instant, the courtyard of Dali Temple became a silent tomb.
The voices of all living people were buried alive by Cui Yunshu's earth-shattering accusation.
The wind stopped.
The crying stopped.
The cursing stopped abruptly, as if someone had grabbed its neck.
Only a deathly silence remained.
And hundreds of gazes.
Shock, confusion, fear, and schadenfreude—all rushed in like countless poisoned knives, aimed at the trembling, magnificent carriage in the crowd.
The Second Prince's Consort, Wei Shuyu, felt as if all the blood in her body had been drained in that instant.
She could feel the hundreds of gazes outside the carriage piercing through the thick walls and the thin curtains, like countless cold steel needles stabbing into her body and into her bones.
Rotten skin grass.
Southern fiefdom.
What she thought was a flawless, most secretive killing move was torn apart by Cui Yunshu in front of the entire capital, leaving a bloody wound.
No……
wrong……
How could she know?
How could she possibly know!
The bribed man is dead! There's no way he can prove anything!
She's bluffing me! She must be bluffing me!
Wei Shuyu's fingernails dug deeply into the soft flesh of her palm, the sharp pain bringing a sliver of clarity back to her confused mind.
She must not panic.
She is a prince's consort, she is the future...
She cannot be here, terrified by a merchant's daughter.
"absurd!"
A sharp voice finally came from the carriage, trembling with a fierce but cowardly air, as if desperately trying to maintain composure.
"This is utterly absurd! You...you, a merchant's daughter, have ruined your appearance and now you want to frame me? The Southern Territory is so vast, what do a few poisonous weeds have to do with me? This is clearly your Cui family knowing their sins are grave and trying to drag me down with them!"
"Guards! Take me...back to my residence!"
She wanted to escape.
However, it was too late.
When Cui Yunshu used herself as bait and took this situation to this point, she had already blocked everyone's way out.
"Your Highness, please wait."
A clear, somewhat weary, yet incredibly steady voice rang out.
It is Cui Yuanjue.
He stepped out from the crowd and, facing the carriage, bowed respectfully without being humble or arrogant.
"Whether my sister's words are true or not can be found out with a simple investigation. The Dali Temple's files will record everything that happened today. If Her Highness the Princess leaves now, I'm afraid... it won't be a false accusation, but rather an escape from punishment."
His words, like a gentle knife, precisely severed Wei Shuyu's last shred of hope.
A flicker of expression finally appeared on the ashen face of the Minister of Justice. He glanced at Cui Yunshu, whose face was half-fleshed like a ghost but whose eyes shone with a frightening brightness, then at the carriage that was caught in a dilemma, and finally, his gaze fell on the bribed shop assistant who was now paralyzed with fear.
He knew that this case was no longer something that his small Dali Temple could handle.
"Seal off the scene!" he roared. "Detain all those involved! Compile the case files overnight and submit them to the Emperor!"
...
Night, the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.
Emperor Tang Tai stared silently at the dossier before him, presented overnight by the Dali Temple, still bearing the fresh ink.
His face betrayed no emotion.
But in those deep, well-like eyes, a cold, overwhelming rage surged, enough to engulf the entire capital.
He didn't care about a prince's concubine's jealousy.
He didn't care whether the "Jade Complexion Cream" was real or fake.
What he cares about is the dignity of the royal family!
It's about the face of the Tang family, the ruler of the world!
The empress dowager interfered in politics, framed officials' families, and used such vicious methods! What's even more foolish is that she was exposed in front of the entire capital!
That fourth daughter of the Cui family...
In the emperor's mind, the image of the girl in the courtyard of the Dali Temple, with half a ghost mask, calmly accusing the princess consort, appeared in the report from the secret guards.
Such ruthless methods.
What incredible courage!
She is not trying to prove her innocence.
She is forcing the emperor to abdicate.
She used her own face, the reputation of the Cui family, and a public trial of unprecedented scale to force him, the emperor, to give her an explanation.
An impartial and incorruptible account that allows no favoritism or room for maneuver.
Because the whole world is watching.
"Your Majesty..." The chief eunuch beside him trembled with fear, not daring to even breathe loudly.
The emperor slowly closed the file.
"Issue my decree."
His voice was very calm, so calm that there wasn't a ripple in it.
But each word is like a piece of ice falling from a great height.
"The Second Prince's consort, Lady Wei, is insatiably jealous, has framed loyal officials, and is of immoral character, corrupting the palace! Effective immediately, she is hereby deposed and banished to the Cold Palace, never to be released without imperial decree!"
"Second Prince Tang Jingming has failed to properly educate his wife and misjudged people, resulting in the family scandal being exposed and the royal family being disgraced! He is hereby ordered to reflect on his mistakes in seclusion for three months and is stripped of all his duties as assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works. He is to calmly reflect on his actions!"
"The Cui family has a daughter who remains calm in the face of danger, is resolute and fearless, and possesses great integrity. In the case of 'Flowers in the Mirror,' she has been exonerated. Therefore, the Imperial Household Department shall allocate 100,000 taels of silver and 100 pieces of top-quality jade ornaments and rare treasures to the Cui family as a form of appeasement."
The imperial decree, like thunder, spread throughout the entire palace in an instant.
The Second Prince's residence has completely collapsed.
When the eunuch delivering the imperial decree, expressionless, stripped Wei Shuyu of her magnificent concubine's attire, she finally awoke from that nightmare.
She screamed, cried, and cursed like a madwoman.
She cursed Cui Yunshu, cursed her husband who had abandoned her, and cursed the cold, heartless, cannibalistic palace.
However, nobody cared.
Like a venomous snake whose fangs have been pulled, she was dragged by two expressionless old women towards that cold cage she had heard of countless times but never imagined she would ever set foot in.
Her husband, the Second Prince Tang Jingming, listened coldly to her cries from behind a door, without ever showing his face.
It's not that he didn't want to save them.
It is beyond saving, and cannot be saved.
Sacrifice the pawn to save the king.
This is the coldest, yet most practical, survival rule of royalty.
...
The Eastern Palace.
The study was warm and inviting.
Crown Prince Tang Jingcheng looked at the newly arrived official report in front of him, his face beaming with undisguised, unrestrained joy.
"Excellent! What a brilliant act of risking one's life to test the poison! What a remarkable comeback!" He couldn't help but applaud, "My future sister-in-law is truly... an extraordinary woman!"
Cui Yuanjue stood to the side, his face also showing a mixture of excitement and pride.
But more than anything, there was lingering fear.
He couldn't imagine what his sister was feeling as she smeared that deadly poison on her face.
“Your Highness,” he bowed, “with the Second Prince fallen from power, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, which he previously assisted in managing, are now in a power vacuum. This is the perfect opportunity for us to expand our strength! I believe we should immediately submit a memorial to the Emperor, recommending our own people to take over these two important positions!”
"No."
Tang Jingcheng's smile faded slightly. He glanced at Cui Yuanjue and shook his head.
“Yuan Jue, you haven’t seen far enough,” he said in a deep voice. “Father is furious right now. He’s not just angry about the second son’s stupidity, but also about the loss of face for the royal family. If we rush to seize power now, in Father’s eyes, how are we any different from those wolves taking advantage of the chaos?”
Cui Yuanjue's heart skipped a beat.
He only saw the victory, but ignored the thoughts of the emperor who held the final say behind it.
Just as he was about to apologize, a few days ago, his sister sent him a note with only a few words on it, which suddenly flashed through his mind.
"In victory, do not be arrogant. In defeat, do not be discouraged. When advancing, proceed slowly. When retreating, proceed swiftly."
Suddenly, he understood something.
"Your Highness is wise!" Cui Yuanjue suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with unprecedented clarity and determination. "It was I who failed to think things through."
"In my opinion, Your Highness should not only refrain from arguing, but should instead...retreat!"
"Retreat?" Tang Jingcheng was taken aback.
“Yes, retreat!” Cui Yuanjue’s voice became steady and powerful. “Your Highness should take the initiative to apologize to the Emperor when you attend court tomorrow! Say that although this matter was started by the Second Prince’s wife, it has far-reaching consequences and has shaken the capital. We also have our faults for not recognizing people properly and failing to notice it in time!”
"Furthermore, Your Highness should also recommend several respected and virtuous senior officials who are known for their peaceful and unassuming nature to temporarily assume the duties of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works! This will demonstrate Your Highness's open-mindedness and lack of selfishness!"
Tang Jingcheng looked at Cui Yuanjue, and his gentle eyes gradually filled with shock and an indescribable admiration.
Retreat to advance!
What a brilliant move!
While the Second Prince was in a state of utter distress and disarray, his elder brother took the initiative to plead guilty and even recommended talented individuals for the country!
This retreat will not only not result in any loss, but will also create the most vivid and intense contrast between his benevolence and magnanimity and the narrow-mindedness and ruthlessness of the Second Prince!
In the Emperor's heart, it is obvious who is superior and who is inferior!
“Yuanjue…” Tang Jingcheng stepped down from his seat and patted Cui Yuanjue’s shoulder heavily, his eyes filled with unprecedented reliance and trust. “You are truly my Zifang!”
...
The next day in the imperial court.
When Crown Prince Tang Jingcheng stepped forward to plead guilty and recommended several neutral senior officials, the entire Taiji Hall turned its attention to him.
The emperor on the dragon throne looked at his eldest son, who was considerate of the overall situation and kind and tolerant, and then thought of his illegitimate son, who caused him so much trouble because of the women in the inner quarters. The scales in his heart tipped completely.
"Granted."
He said it calmly.
Then he added another sentence.
"However, those senior officials are too old to be bothered. For now, Your Highness, please take care of the matters concerning the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works."
The decree is hereby issued.
The second prince's cronies looked ashen-faced.
The Crown Prince's faction, on the other hand, were overjoyed.
The Cui family, as the biggest "victim," not only cleared their name but also received huge royal rewards, and their prestige was unparalleled for a time.
Cui Yuanjue's position in the Eastern Palace rose rapidly due to his "meritorious service in offering advice," and he gradually became the Crown Prince's most indispensable confidant.
A deadly crisis triggered by jealousy within the inner quarters.
Ultimately, however, it turned into a political victory for the princelings and the Cui family in a way that no one expected.
In Qing Shu's courtyard.
Cui Yunshu looked in the mirror at the scar on her left cheek, which, although scabbed over, was still a hideous mark.
She listened as the maid reported the final outcome of the court proceedings.
His face remained completely expressionless.
She simply reached out and gently stroked the scar.
This scar will heal.
But it will forever remind her that in this damned world, having money and a boat is far from enough to survive.
You also need, and have the right.
It possesses absolute power that can instill fear in everyone.
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