What? Shen Yu has lost her chastity?
Liu Yu was puzzled. Previously, Prince Hong had admitted that he had indeed hired someone to defile Shen Yu, but Shen Yu later proved her innocence.
Rumors circulated in the capital that "Mu Chenyu not only did not consummate her marriage with Bai Yehua, but she also did not lose her virginity." Liu Yu was overjoyed at the time, believing that Chenyu had escaped a calamity by using a defensive item.
Who would have thought that Aunt Bai would now say that Chen Yu had lost her virginity?
Completely baffled, he couldn't help but ask, "Don't talk nonsense, do you have any evidence?"
"Do we still need evidence? The jailer said that the Empress entered the Imperial City Guard and gave Chen Yu an abortifacient."
What? Liu Yu stood there dumbfounded as if struck by lightning. No wonder the Empress forbade anyone to visit Chen Yu. It must be true what Aunt Bai said.
At this moment, Aunt Bai had already used her long skirt to cover the damaged letters and prepared to escape, but fortunately He Yuan and his men stopped her and retrieved the letters.
It was already past midnight.
He Yuan sighed deeply as he looked at the damaged letters scattered across the desk. "Alas! None of these letters mentioned poisonous herbs; they've probably been burned."
"No, no..." Liu Yu muttered to himself, picking up the letter again to read it carefully. By the time he reached the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), he had read all the letters again, but still found nothing.
At this moment, Jade ran over to report, "Consort Yu has found out that the Emperor has ordered Prince Heng to set off before dawn and return to Xiliang. The Empress has already gone to the Dali Temple to force Miss Chenyu to go with Prince Heng. If she does not comply, she will be sent to be executed ahead of schedule."
Upon hearing this news, Liu Yu disregarded his criminal record and rushed to the Dali Temple.
------
Inside the iron cage, Chen Yu lay on a pile of dry grass, clutching her stomach and shivering. Her long dress was stained with blood.
"Ugh...it hurts..."
"Miss Chenyu, what's wrong with you?"
"Grandma, I must have miscarried... It's alright, I was... taken advantage of... to have this child, I never wanted to keep it in the first place..."
After Chen Yu finished speaking, she secretly looked outside and saw that the Empress was already standing outside with the imperial physician.
"Go in and check if it's really a slipped tire?"
"yes!"
The imperial physician entered the iron cage and saw that Chen Yu's white dress was stained red with blood, but... why was she trembling all over? It was so stuffy in the prison, it shouldn't be like this.
The imperial physician, suspicious, ordered the jailer to bring two candles, instantly illuminating the cell as if it were daytime. There, he saw Shen Yu trembling all over, her face... covered in maculopapular rashes, her neck, hands, and even her wrists—every exposed skin was covered in them.
The imperial physician's expression changed drastically. He suddenly stood up and retreated, thinking to himself: Shen Yu is very likely to have contracted smallpox. If he examines her closely, he will definitely be infected.
Seeing the imperial physician's unusual expression, the Empress hurriedly asked, "Have you miscarried?"
"Your Majesty, Miss Chenyu has indeed miscarried."
"Very well! You may all leave. I have something to say to Chen Yu."
As the Empress was about to enter the cage, the imperial physician knelt down in fear to stop her, saying, "Your Majesty, Chen Yu has not only miscarried but has also contracted smallpox. Please leave immediately."
smallpox?
The Empress was shocked and hurriedly left the Dali Temple, reporting the matter to the Emperor.
The emperor ordered, "Tie Mu Chenyu to the cremation platform. If the Mu family cannot find any evidence before noon, burn her."
"If Shen Yu's innocence is proven, what does Your Majesty intend to do?"
The Emperor glared at the Empress and asked in a deep voice, "Your Majesty knew all along that Prince Hong had someone defile Shen Yu, so why didn't you tell me? If it weren't for Lord He solving the case, I would still be in the dark."
"Does Your Majesty know who defiled the 'Sinking Fish'?"
"I have read the testimony from Prince Hong's residence, which says it was done by a beggar on the street. Alas, Prince Hong's actions were truly inappropriate! Fortunately, Lord He considered Shen Yu's reputation and covered up the matter. If the Mu family had known, they would have certainly resented the royal family. Now that Shen Yu has contracted smallpox, let fate decide."
In truth, regardless of whether Shen Yu was innocent or not, the Emperor had already decided to execute her. After all, the evidence of Prince Hong's plot to defile Shen Yu was conclusive, and the Emperor feared that one day Shen Yu would retaliate against Prince Hong's residence, and that Princess Hong and her two children would likely face certain death.
What the Emperor didn't know was that Shen Yu already knew that Liu Yu was the one who had defiled her. She had no resentment towards the Prince Hong's mansion; what she hated was that the Empress wouldn't let go of the child in her womb.
She was tied to the cremation platform. Listening to the commotion, she looked up and squinted. The sunlight was dazzling; it was already noon. It seemed she was going to die here.
Sure enough, Lord He's voice rang out, "It's noon, time to carry out the execution!"
With a snap, the token fell to the ground, and two executioners raised their torches high and threw them over.
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
The torch was lowered, followed by the crackling sound of dry wood igniting.
"Stop! The evidence has been found!"
"Mu Chenyu is innocent! Stop!"
Shen Yu opened her eyes and saw Liu Yu rushing over, holding a letter high. His right arm was hanging around his neck, and he swayed left and right as he ran, like a bird with broken wings. He struggled to squeeze through the crowd and was captured by the guards.
Next came Mu Nanfeng and Bai Yejing. Unfortunately, Mu Nanfeng had just squeezed through the crowd when he was stopped by Princess Yanghua and Gu Lingrong. "Husband, Chenyu has smallpox, which is incurable."
"With Young Master Liu and Young Master Bai here, Brother Feng, please do not take any risks."
"Yu'er is my sister! Let me go, you two!"
"Guards, tie up the eldest young master and take him back!" Princess Yanghua gave the order, and the Mu family guards immediately tied up Mu Nanfeng.
"Fish, don't be afraid, you won't die!" Mu Nanfeng cried out anxiously, looking towards the crematorium. He saw Bai Yejing carrying Chen Yu as they rushed out of the raging flames, their clothes already ablaze.
The situation was critical. Ignoring the excruciating pain in his shoulder, Bai Yejing rolled on the ground with Chen Yu in his arms. It took a long time for the flames on their bodies to be extinguished.
By this time, Bai Yejing's face was covered in sweat, and he gritted his teeth to endure the pain. He stood up and helped Chen Yu walk towards Lord He, while the common people and guards retreated in fear.
Yes, Shen Yu was diagnosed with smallpox, and everyone was afraid of her, including Lord He.
*Smack!* The magistrate slammed his gavel and said in a deep voice, "Mu Chenyu has contracted smallpox. Do not approach her. Respond from a distance."
"yes!"
Chen Yu knelt down, her eyes meeting Liu Yu's.
At this moment, Liu Yu was already shackled and imprisoned, and in a few moments, he would be exiled.
Seeing Chen Yu's ragged clothes and disheveled appearance, he couldn't help but feel heartbroken and shed tears. He had once longed to marry Chen Yu, have children with her, and spend his life with her, but now he was a criminal, and didn't know when he would be able to return to the capital!
*Crack!* The gavel struck again, and Lord He, holding an imperial edict, rose to read aloud, "Liu Yu is guilty of a crime, daring to trespass into the Dali Temple and search Yixiang Garden without authorization. The Emperor has ordered that Liu Yu be exiled to the western frontier, three thousand miles away, and shall not return to the capital for five years. Take him away."
Five years?
Shen Yu was shocked, tears instantly streaming down her face. Through her blurred vision, she saw Liu Yu being dragged away from the execution ground by two guards and disappearing into the crowd, leaving only his shouts that echoed through the sky:
"Mu Nanfeng! Please send someone to inform me of Chen Yu's fate. Liu Yu will be extremely grateful!"
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