This way.
The Commandant's Office.
"My lord, I have heard that Princess Han has been imprisoned. Is that true?"
"That's right."
“This…Master, this Princess Han runs a clinic in the capital and is dedicated to saving lives. How could she have done such a thing? She must have been wronged.”
"Yes! I understand."
"Since you know this, then the ministers should also understand it in their hearts, right? Why are they all submitting memorials demanding severe punishment?"
"What else could it be? The affairs of the court, to put it bluntly, are nothing more than factional strife."
"Sir, is there no one to plead for him?"
"Speak? How can we speak? The Emperor is furious this time, who dares to speak? Besides, there is a petition from the people, and every official has submitted a memorial to the throne, except for a few."
"My lord, can you help Princess Han?"
"Help? How can we help? Those officials hold such high positions, yet they dare not utter a word. Do you want our governor's office to be implicated?"
"I...I...Alright, no one dares to interfere in this matter, so don't overthink it."
Upon hearing this, Madam Wang sighed, her face filled with extreme worry.
Time flies.
A day has passed in the blink of an eye.
At this moment, in the prison cell of Dali Temple.
Ye Qingcheng hadn't slept all night. Standing in the cell, looking at the dark cell, her face was pale and haggard.
Of course, she wasn't afraid of not being able to sleep; she had just been thinking about it all night.
At this moment, she still believed that Ye Guoxiang was targeting her.
There were two things she couldn't understand.
One thing I just don't understand is why Ye Guoxiang was so determined to kill her.
Another point is that her shop has been open for several years now, and things have been peaceful.
If she doesn't say anything, no one will know that those shops belong to her.
Even Old Master Cao and Manager Jia only knew about a few companies they cooperated with; they didn't know all of them.
Moreover, when she opened her shops, she was usually afraid that people would be jealous and frame her, so she usually did so discreetly, using the name of the shopkeeper.
So what methods did Ye Guoxiang use to uncover all of her shops? It really put her in a lot of trouble.
"Hey, dinner's ready."
While she was still lost in thought, a jailer threw in two steamed buns and said irritably.
Ye Qingcheng snapped out of her thoughts, glanced at the two steamed buns on the ground, and then looked at the jailer.
"Sir, could you please help me by sending a message that I wish to see the Emperor?"
"To see the Emperor?"
Pfft…
The jailer chuckled: "You're the princess, aren't you?"
Ye Qingcheng nodded.
"I'm telling you, don't even think about it. You're going to the execution ground tomorrow. You still want to see the Emperor? That's just wishful thinking."
"tomorrow?"
"Otherwise what?"
After hearing this, Ye Qingcheng frowned, thought for a moment, and then spoke again.
"Could you please fetch me some pen, paper, and ink? I need to write a petition and ask you to send it to the Emperor."
"Pen, paper, and ink?"
"Um!"
"I'm telling you, you're about to die, and you still think you're a princess?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingcheng frowned slightly and her face darkened.
"Are you so sure that I will die?"
"Of course! You probably don't know, but I heard about it on my way to work this morning."
This morning at court, the officials once again submitted a memorial demanding that you be dealt with as soon as possible, to give the people of the city an explanation.
"The entire city?"
"That's right."
"Hehe! I, the princess, have always been generous to the people over the past few years."
I have always treated the poor without charging them a penny, providing them with free medical care and medicine.
They even provided porridge at irregular intervals and distributed monthly allowances to poor families.
"With such depravity, it's one thing for the people to be ungrateful, but why would they demand that I, the imperial concubine, be punished?"
"Hmph, I don't know about that, but I still have to advise you, since you've already been convicted, you shouldn't think about it anymore."
Besides, to get out of this Dali Temple prison, unless it's an imperial edict or the Emperor himself comes to release you, even a god couldn't save you.
"Oh! Really?"
"Of course, I've been guarding this cell for more than just a day or two. I've seen countless death row inmates, and not one of them has ever gotten out."
After the jailer finished speaking, he shook his head, ignored Ye Qingcheng, and turned to leave.
Ye Qingcheng frowned as she watched the jailer walk away.
After thinking for a moment, she took out the brocade pouch that the old nun had given her.
After she saw the character "离" (separation) written on the talisman inside the brocade pouch.
Her brows furrowed tightly again.
How could it be the character "离" (lí, meaning separation)? What does this character mean?
Ye Qingcheng looked at the word "separation" and couldn't understand it at all.
Meanwhile, on this side...
Inside the palace.
The Emperor had just finished the morning court session and returned to his study when the Empress Dowager arrived again.
However, the emperor persuaded her with a few more words, and she believed him and left.
After the Empress Dowager returned.
The Emperor looked at Eunuch Yin.
"Is Princess Han behaving herself in prison?"
"This servant doesn't know either, but since there's been no news from the Dali Temple, it should be alright!"
"Um!"
After hearing this, the Emperor nodded: "Do you think I should go and see her?"
"This...this servant dares not say more."
"You old fool, fine. Since you've already made up your mind, there's no point in seeing him or not seeing him."
"Report."
No sooner had the Emperor finished speaking than a guard rushed in, knelt down, and reported.
"What is it?"
"Your Majesty, news has come from the Court of Judicial Review that the Princess has brought your token and requests to enter the prison."
"How dare you! Who gave her the audacity to use the token I gave her?"
Upon hearing this, the emperor was furious.
After he finished shouting angrily.
He stood up.
"Eunuch Yin, come with me to take a look."
"yes."
This way.
The eldest princess and the official Zhang who had escorted Ye Qingcheng earlier were locked in a stalemate at the door.
"How dare you, Lord Zhang! Seeing the token is like seeing the Emperor's elder brother, don't you know that?"
“Please calm down, Your Highness. I know this, but His Majesty has ordered that no one is allowed to enter the prison unless he comes in person. So please forgive me, Your Highness.”
"You insolent fool! Since I possess the Emperor's token, it is as if the Emperor himself is present. Do you not understand?"
"This...this humble official understands, but this...this..."
"What is this? Let me in right now! Are you trying to rebel?"
"This humble official dares not."
"Hmph! Then hurry up and open the door."
"this…"
"What? Do you want to die?"
"Your...your humble servant..."
"presumptuous."
Before that Lord Zhang could finish speaking, the Emperor's angry shout rang out.
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