"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"
The next morning, just as the Fourth Prince got up, the chief eunuch Su Peisheng hurriedly reported to him.
"What's the matter that you're so panicked?" Fourth Master asked.
Su Peisheng said, "Your Majesty, news just came from outside the palace that the Eighth Prince's residence caught fire last night, and the Eighth Prince's wife has passed away."
The Fourth Prince was shocked: "Summon the guards stationed at the Eighth Prince's residence to the palace for me."
“This servant will go immediately,” Su Peisheng said.
Su Peisheng called in the guards who were waiting at the door. The guards were very scared. After all, the emperor had told them to keep an eye on the people in the Eighth Prince's residence, but now that such a big thing had happened, they didn't know how the emperor would punish them.
The guard knelt on the ground trembling. The Fourth Prince asked, "Tell me everything that happened last night."
The guard said, "Your Majesty, there was nothing unusual at the Eighth Prince's residence last night. We guards were on our regular patrols. However, a fire suddenly broke out in the main courtyard in the middle of the night. I sent everyone to put out the fire, but the fire was too fierce. By the time the fire was extinguished, the Eighth Princess had already passed away."
Fourth Master asked, "Were there any other casualties?"
The guard said, "I was just about to report to Your Majesty that, apart from the Eighth Princess's residence, no one else died. Only a few people were injured while fighting the fire, but they were only slightly injured. I asked the maids and servants, and they all said that the Eighth Princess had sent them away early, so I suspect..." The guard did not continue, as he was waiting for the Fourth Prince's orders.
Fourth Master said, "Speak freely about whatever you suspect."
The guard said, "I suspect that the Eighth Prince's wife started this fire, and that she wanted to burn herself to death."
After hearing the guard's report, the Fourth Prince remained silent. He hadn't expected that the Eighth Prince's wife would burn herself to death today. He guessed that the Eighth Prince's wife's actions must be to force him to release the Eighth Prince. How ruthless! She was willing to risk everything to save the Eighth Prince.
The Fourth Prince was at a loss as to how to handle the situation. He figured the news of the Eighth Prince's mansion catching fire last night must have spread throughout the capital by now. He was about to attend court, and there would surely be ministers pleading for the Eighth Prince. What should he do then?
The Fourth Prince racked his brains but couldn't come up with a solution that satisfied both sides. His eunuch said, "Your Majesty, it's time for the morning court session. What do you think..."
The Fourth Prince said, "Change my clothes." Then, looking at the guard still kneeling on the ground, he said, "You may leave now!"
During the court assembly, after the ministers had all shouted "Long live the Emperor!", the eunuch announced, "Those with matters to report, please speak; those without, court is adjourned!"
A man stepped forward from the crowd and said, "I have a memorial to present."
When the Fourth Prince looked, he saw that it was the old minister, Minister of Rites, Sun Jiacheng.
The Fourth Prince had a premonition that what was bound to happen was finally coming. "My dear minister, what is it you wish to report?" the Fourth Prince said.
“I heard this morning that the Eighth Prince’s mansion caught fire last night and the Eighth Princess was burned to death. Therefore, I believe that Your Majesty should release the Eighth Prince. The Eighth Princess died to prove her innocence. If Your Majesty continues to detain the Eighth Prince, I am afraid it will be difficult to silence the public’s criticism,” Sun Jiacheng said.
"I second that proposal," another minister stepped forward and said.
Then others began to speak up for the Eighth Prince, saying that since his residence had caught fire and his wife had died in the fire, he should be released. Some even said that his wife had died to prove her innocence, and if the Eighth Prince were still detained, there would be much discussion about him both in and out of the court.
However, a few ministers knew about the Eighth Prince. One of them said, "The Eighth Prince is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Letting him out would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains."
The ministers then split into two camps and started arguing.
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