047 The Empress Dowager has arrived.
The hall fell silent instantly.
Yuan Chongjing knelt down with a thud, and said in a bitter voice, "Your Majesty!"
Regardless of the outcome, if the palace staff were to investigate Li Yang's health, not only Li Yang herself, but the entire Yuan and Li families, as well as their in-laws, would be criticized.
Especially concerning was Wei Songlan, the daughter of the Wei family, a relative of the Yuan family by marriage, who was already engaged to Song Hezhou, the Empress Dowager's cousin. If this happened, Song Hezhou and his family would also be affected. For the sake of the Empress Dowager's reputation, Emperor Mingde hesitated.
The Fifth Prince had been secretly observing Emperor Mingde's expression. Seeing his hesitation, the Fifth Prince felt a slight disappointment. However, he did not give up and secretly gave Yang Chenshi a look.
Madam Yang continued her tearful plea: "Your Majesty, what I'm saying is true. This little peach is indeed not their biological daughter. Your Majesty, you must do justice for Prince Yu! They have committed the crime of deceiving the emperor by concealing the royal bloodline!"
Little Peach had been holding onto Li Yang's hand, but upon hearing what she said and looking around at the people, she finally couldn't hold back the tears welling up in her eyes and cried out softly, "Mother, Mother, Little Peach is scared."
Li Yang quickly hugged her and said, "Little Peach, be good. Daddy and Mommy are here. Don't be afraid. Daddy and Mommy will protect you."
Little Peach nodded, burying her head in Li Yang's arms and refusing to come out.
Only her soft sobs echoed in the empty hall.
Yuan Chongjing astutely found the flaw in Yang Chenshi's words and looked at her, rebuking her: "Yang Chenshi, let me ask you, even if everything you said is true, how did you, a mere woman, confirm that Xiao Taozi was born to the Princess Consort of Yu? No, back then, when you were far away in Chenzhou, how did you know that the Princess Consort of Yu was pregnant and gave birth on her way to Yuzhou?"
After he finished speaking, before anyone else could react, he immediately knelt down before Emperor Mingde: "Your Majesty, I suspect that someone is targeting Prince Yu and me, and that's why they found the false testimony prepared by my wet nurse from back then. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth."
“That’s right,” the Eighth Prince chimed in after carefully considering Yuan Chongjing’s words, “Father, this Yang Chenshi is just an old woman from the countryside. She becomes a wet nurse for every child she gives birth to. Why is it that out of so many people, she only remembers Yuan Chongjing and his wife? And how did she, an old woman thousands of miles away, know so much about what my elder brother did back then, in such detail?”
"Your Majesty!" Qiuqiu, who had been kneeling beside Madam Yang Chen, spoke up: "This servant, Yang Qing, is the apprentice of the Divine Physician Ghost Hand. A few days ago, Madam Yuan went to my master for treatment because of Lord Yuan's amnesia. During the treatment, this servant overheard Madam Yuan's conversation with my master and learned all this. If Your Majesty wants to know the truth, just send someone to find my master and ask him."
Emperor Mingde glanced at Zhou Xing, who accepted the order and turned to leave with his men.
Before he even reached the door, Zhou Xing stopped. He heard footsteps outside the hall, followed by an old but strong female voice: "What's going on? Such a big commotion. Zhou Xing, are you leaving the palace?"
Zhou Xing hurriedly bowed and said with a smile, "Greetings, Empress Dowager."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Mingde immediately rose from his dragon throne and walked down to her: "The Empress Dowager has arrived."
Li Yang turned around and saw a woman, about fifty years old, walking in surrounded by a crowd. Her hair was exquisitely styled, adorned with a delicate jade hairpin inlaid with pearls, the shimmering light making her hair appear even blacker and smoother. She wore a crimson palace gown, embroidered with large auspicious patterns in gold thread. Though not tall, her presence alone commanded respect.
As Emperor Mingde approached, the Empress Dowager said lightly, "I had nothing to do today and thought I'd come out for a stroll in the garden. I saw from afar that it was quite lively here. As I get older, I just wanted to join in the fun and listen to people talking. I hope the Emperor doesn't find me bothersome?"
Emperor Mingde smiled, took the palace maid's hand, and helped the Empress Dowager over: "Your Majesty is joking. How could I dare to dislike Your Majesty?"
After he finished speaking, the Fifth Prince and the Eighth Prince quickly knelt down before the Empress Dowager: "Greetings, Grandmother."
"Alright, all of you, get up. I didn't come here to see you bow," the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
As everyone entered the hall, they spontaneously stopped, except for the Empress Dowager and Emperor Mingde, who continued forward. When they passed Li Yang, the Empress Dowager stopped, tilted her head to look at Xiao Taozi, and then smiled as she patted her little head, saying, "This child is quite adorable."
Little Peach blinked, trying her best to suppress her fear, and knelt down before her like everyone else, stammering, "Little Peach also greets the Empress Dowager."
Li Yang nudged her secretly and instructed her to say, "Your subject, Yuan Li Shi Li Yang, greets the Empress Dowager."
Little Peach, quick to learn, immediately changed her words and said in a clear voice, "Your subject, Madam Yuan's Little Peach, greets the Empress Dowager."
“Not my wife, but my daughter,” Li Yang whispered.
"Oh." Little Peach nodded with her chubby face, then knelt down and kowtowed, introducing herself in a serious manner: "This humble woman, Little Peach of the Yuan family, greets the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager was amused and laughed heartily. She took off the bracelet from her wrist and said, "You little rascal, come here. It's our first meeting. I haven't prepared any gift for you. This bracelet is one that I've worn close to my body for a long time. I'll give it to you today."
Little Peach looked at Li Yang, hesitated, and didn't dare to accept.
Just as Li Yang was about to refuse, the Empress Dowager said, "This is for you. Why are you looking at your mother? Here, quickly accept it."
As the Empress Dowager spoke, she bent down and personally took Xiao Taozi's hand, placing the pendant on her wrist.
The bracelet was a bit too big, and it wobbled precariously on Xiao Taozi's wrist, as if it were about to fall off. Xiao Taozi thought for a moment, then brought her left hand over, intending to slip her left wrist inside as well.
This action made the Empress Dowager unable to suppress her laughter. She smiled and said to Emperor Mingde, "Never mind, he's just a debt collector."
As she spoke, she took off another bracelet: "Here's another one for you, so you won't have to force your left hand in anymore?"
Seeing that Li Yang didn't refuse, Xiao Taozi obediently accepted the bracelet, looked up, and said with a sweet smile, "Thank you, Your Majesty. You're so kind, Xiao Taozi likes you so much~"
The Empress Dowager affectionately touched her face before walking toward the head of the table: "Emperor, such a beautiful and lovely young girl has entered the palace. Why didn't you send someone to tell me so that I could also share in the joy?"
The Eighth Prince said, "Grandmother, you don't know, Xiao Taozi is the daughter of Yuan Chongjing and Li Yang, and she's only four years old this year. It was this old woman who came here to testify, insisting that Xiao Taozi was born on the way to Chenzhou by my elder sister-in-law. Everyone knows that my elder sister-in-law died along with her unborn child back then. Grandmother, tell me, isn't she just talking nonsense!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Yang immediately burst into tears, saying, "Your Majesty, please investigate! I am truly innocent! She is not four years old, she is five! Five years old!"
The Empress Dowager sat at the head of the table, looking down at Yang Chenshi. With just one glance, Yang Chenshi lowered her head guiltily. The Empress Dowager sneered inwardly, but feigned incomprehension, saying, "I don't understand. Who gave a common woman the audacity to accuse an official of our court?"
The Fifth Prince replied, "Grandmother, it was my Third Brother who sent someone to find me early this morning, wanting me to help legitimize the royal family."
"The third prince?" The Empress Dowager suddenly realized, then turned to Emperor Mingde and said, "Wasn't the third prince confined to his residence by the Emperor? How could he know such private matters?"
Yang Chenshi immediately replied, "It was this servant who begged the Third Prince. This servant could not bear to see the Empress Dowager and the Emperor being deceived, so I risked my life to request an audience. I beg the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to see the truth; this servant is only doing this for the sake of the royal bloodline of the Great Qi!"
The Empress Dowager glanced at her casually, then said in a soft but authoritative voice, "How dare you! You have the right to interrupt when I'm speaking to the Emperor!"
Yang Chenshi was so frightened by her gaze that she trembled, cold sweat began to bead on her forehead and temples, and she immediately knelt down on the ground, groaning: "Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty, spare my life!"
Little Peach trembled slightly, looked at her timidly, and leaned against Li Yang. Li Yang patted her gently twice, signaling her not to be afraid.
The Empress Dowager then withdrew her gaze from Yang Chenshi, gave Li Yang a light glance, and said slowly, "Is the royal bloodline something you can interfere with? I think the Third Prince hasn't reflected enough, that he's actually coming up with such ideas. Fifth Prince, why don't you try to persuade him? Why are you fooling around with him?"
The Fifth Prince immediately knelt before her. Regardless of the truth, for the sake of the royal family's reputation, the Empress Dowager had made her decision. The Fifth Prince said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was rash."
The Empress Dowager was not angry with him and said, "Very well, I know the Third Prince's temperament, and I suppose you have no way to refuse."
The Fifth Prince lowered his head, his face showing shame.
Emperor Mingde said, "Empress Dowager, what do you think of this matter...?"
Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Xing received the news from outside the palace, bowed and walked to Emperor Mingde's side, and whispered, "Your Majesty, Grand Tutor Lu requests an audience."
Grand Tutor Lu was Emperor Mingde's tutor when he was still the crown prince. At that time, Emperor Mingde was not favored by the late emperor and was in dire straits. Grand Tutor Lu remained loyal to him and devoted himself to teaching him. Emperor Mingde respected him greatly. Grand Tutor Lu is now over seventy years old and has long since retired from court. I wonder what brings him to the palace today.
Emperor Mingde had no desire to concern himself with the current affairs, and said to Zhou Xing, "Let the teacher wait for me in the side hall."
Zhou Xing bent over and walked out quickly.
The Empress Dowager also saw through Emperor Mingde's thoughts and said, "Your Majesty, please go and attend to your business. Grand Tutor Lu rarely enters the palace, so he must have important matters to attend to this time. Leave this to me. I will certainly be fair and impartial and will never allow anyone to question the 'royal bloodline'."
These words made Yang Chenshi bow her head so low it almost touched the ground.
Emperor Mingde said, "Then I'll have to trouble the Empress Dowager."
His departure was tantamount to handing the matter entirely over to the Empress Dowager. The Fifth Prince truly couldn't fathom whether Emperor Mingde's actions stemmed from a genuine disregard for Prince Yu's bloodline or from ulterior motives.
His thoughts were always unpredictable to the Fifth Prince.
Just like five years ago, he instigated the conflict between the Crown Prince and the Third Prince. He thought Emperor Mingde would keep the Crown Prince, but unexpectedly, Emperor Mingde deposed the Crown Prince and demoted him to Prince Yu, exiling him to Yuzhou. In recent years, he has allowed the Third Prince's power to gradually grow.
So now, do you want the Third Prince to become the second Prince Yu?
The Empress Dowager sat on the throne, looking at the figures below, some standing and some kneeling, and felt nothing but annoyance. If it weren't for Xi'er coming to plead with her, she wouldn't have bothered getting involved in this mess. Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager said, "Since the Emperor has entrusted this matter to me, I must handle it impartially to be worthy of the ancestors of the royal family. How about this, Fang Mama, take Madam Yuan to Shou'an Palace for a 'sit'."
Shouan Palace was the residence of the Empress Dowager, and it was quite far from the Council Hall where they were located.
Fang, the old woman beside her, immediately responded, "Yes."
As Granny Fang approached Li Yang step by step, Yuan Chongjing stepped in front of Li Yang and knelt down before the emperor: "Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes at his action and said unhappily, "What, are you going to block my way?"
"Your Majesty, I dare not. But I am Li Yang's husband and Xiao Taozi's father. I am their support and must protect them for the rest of their lives. I am willing to die to prove my innocence. I am willing to die for my country. I only ask that Your Majesty make the decision that if any court officials are accused of concealing royal bloodlines in the future, the 'those with ulterior motives' must be thoroughly investigated. Do not let the hearts of the people of Great Qi be chilled."
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