Chapter 215: Dawn, Imperial Memorial
It was barely dawn, the Forbidden City's corner towers still bathed in the bluish-gray morning light, and the crabapple trees in Shufangzhai were already covered in a thin layer of dew. Little Swallow, her hair in a messy bun, squatted in the corridor, flipping through the letters in the rosewood box. Her fingertips traced E Min's sloppy yet sinister handwriting, her brows knitted together.
"Look here," she held the letter in front of Ziwei. The morning light shone through the window lattice onto the paper, reflecting the anger in her eyes. "And what they said about 'finding out that Xia Yuhe had an affair back then'? That's pure nonsense! I think that old fox E Min is just too comfortable with his life!"
Ziwei's fingers holding the letter trembled slightly. The morning light outlined her pale profile, and there was still a little moisture on her long eyelashes: "They...how can they slander people like this? My mother has lived an innocent life, and the emperor has recognized me a long time ago..." Before she finished speaking, her voice choked. She quickly turned her face away and wiped the corners of her eyes. The plain sleeves rubbed against the red corners of her eyes, leaving faint wet marks.
"Why are you crying?" Xiaoyanzi snapped the letter shut and patted her on the back, her hand firm but warm. "We have the evidence in our hands. Even if you want to cry, you have to wait until the Emperor punishes them! Let's go find Father Huang now!"
"Wait." Yongqi came in, still chilled by the morning dew. He had just gone to deliver a message to Emperor Qianlong and was now clutching a food box. Seeing Xiaoyanzi rushing out, he quickly grabbed her arm. He was wearing a moon-white casual suit with a dark cloud pattern embroidered around the collar. The morning light fell on his tall figure, softening the lines of his face. "The Emperor is waiting for us in the Imperial Study, but have breakfast first. Look at you, you haven't had a sip of water since getting up this morning."
He opened the lunch box, revealing steaming hot Jiangnan soup dumplings and sweet soy milk. White mist curled up, blurring his gentle features. "I know you like sweet food, so I asked the kitchen to add extra osmanthus sugar."
Xiaoyanzi's stomach growled. She looked at the plump, white buns in the steamer, and her anger subsided for the most part. But she still said stubbornly, "Who wants breakfast? I'm already pissed off!" Despite saying that, she honestly picked up a bun and took a big bite. The sweet fragrance of osmanthus spread across her tongue, and she mumbled incoherently, "For the buns' sake, I'll fill my stomach first."
Ziwei burst out laughing at her amusements. The tears in her eyes hadn't dried yet, but her face was already tinged with warmth. Yongqi looked at Xiaoyanzi's bulging cheeks, and the smile in his eyes spread like ripples. He reached out and brushed the sugar residue off the corners of her mouth. "Eat slowly, no one's going to snatch it from you."
Xiaoyanzi's cheeks flushed and she slapped his hand away, "What do you care?" Although she spoke harshly, she obediently picked up another bun and stuffed it into Ziwei's mouth, "Sister, you eat too. Only when you're full will you have the energy to argue with them."
As he spoke, Xiao Jian walked in, having changed back into his long, green robe, though the ends of his hair were still a little damp. He handed an oil-paper bag to Xiao Wanzi, "Take this to the guesthouse. Have Liu Qing prepare the carriage. I might need him to go to the Fang family today to report the news."
"Okay!" Little Mosquito took the oil-paper package, shook it, and his eyes sparkled. "Wow! Is this the sweet-scented osmanthus cake for Miss Jinsuo? It looks like it!"
Xiao Jian shook his head helplessly and turned to Xiao Yanzi. "I've read the letter. E Min not only slandered Ziwei in it, but also suggested using the grain transport corruption to suppress the Fang family. The emperor must see all of this with his own eyes." As he spoke, he pulled out a brocade bag from his sleeve, which contained several coin-sized seals. "I found these in Eunuch E's secret compartment. The ink is fresh in color, so he must have been using it frequently recently."
Xiaoyanzi took the brocade bag, pinched the cold copper seal with her fingertips, and her eyes darkened: "They not only want to destroy my sister, but also harm my parents? You wish!"
"Okay, it's time to go." Yongqi looked at the sky. The morning light had already climbed up the palace walls, dyeing the vermilion palace gates a warm gold. "The emperor said he would meet us in the imperial study after the morning court today. It's time to adjourn now."
The four of them walked toward the imperial study. Eunuchs and palace maids were already passing along the palace path, and they all bowed respectfully. Xiaoyanzi, dressed in a lake-blue dress delicately embroidered with crabapple blossoms, walked with a swift, airy step, clutching the brocade bag containing the seal, her knuckles white from pinching. Ziwei, in her moon-white skirt, wore a worried expression, but her back remained straight, her handkerchief tightly clutched.
As soon as I arrived outside the Imperial Study, Eunuch Su came out to greet me with a smile on his face. "Princess, brother, the Emperor is waiting. Just now, when the court was dismissed, Lord E was outside the palace saying he wanted to submit a memorial, but the Emperor rebuked him, saying, 'You are making trouble out of nothing. Withdraw!'"
Xiaoyanzi's eyes lit up: "Really? Did that old fox hit a wall?"
Eunuch Su smiled and nodded, leading them into the imperial study. Qianlong was sitting on the dragon throne reviewing memorials. Seeing them come in, he put down his red brush and his eyes fell on the rosewood box in Xiaoyanzi's hand. A glint of understanding flashed in his eyes: "Did you bring the things?"
"I brought it!" Xiaoyanzi rushed to the dragon table, pushed the wooden box over, and said angrily, "Look, Your Majesty! Emin and Concubine Gao have gone too far. Not only did they spread rumors that my sister is not your daughter, but they also want to harm my parents!"
Qianlong opened the wooden box, picked up the letter, and carefully read it. His brows furrowed, and his knuckles tapped the table with a dull sound. The imperial study was so quiet that one could hear the crackling of the burning agarwood in the incense burner. Ziwei nervously grasped the corner of her clothes, her fingertips digging into her palms.
"How ridiculous!" Qianlong slammed the letter on the table, his voice filled with anger. "I have already recognized Ziwei, and how dare they be so presumptuous! And this matter of embezzlement in the grain transport, E Min is so bold!"
He looked up at Xiao Jian with sharp eyes: "Did you hear anything else last night?"
Xiao Jian bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Nanny Li mentioned that 'after this is accomplished, the Fang family will never recover.' She also said that Lord E has contacted Lord Chen and is planning to manipulate the Autumn Examination to accuse Mr. Fang of cheating."
"Cheating in the Autumn Examination?" Qianlong sneered, tapping his fingertips lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne. "They are treating the court laws as a joke! Su Peisheng!"
"I'm here!" Eunuch Su hurried forward.
"Pass on my decree. Immediately arrest Eunuch E and bring him to the Ministry of Punishment for strict interrogation! Then, go to Jingren Palace and summon Concubine Gao. Have her come to the Imperial Study immediately!" Qianlong's voice was filled with unquestionable authority. "Also, summon Fulun and Lord Liu to the palace immediately!"
"Yes!" Eunuch Su did not dare to delay and quickly retreated.
Seeing that Qianlong was truly furious, Xiaoyanzi felt relieved. She leaned over and whispered, "Father Emperor, what about Emin..."
Qianlong glanced at her, the anger in his eyes faded a little, with a bit of helplessness: "Don't worry, I know what to do." He paused, his eyes fell on Ziwei, and his tone softened a lot, "Ziwei, I'm sorry for making you suffer."
Ziwei quickly knelt and saluted, her eyes slightly red: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your insight. I am not afraid of being wronged, but I am afraid of tarnishing my mother's reputation."
"Don't worry," Qianlong said gently, "I will definitely clear your mother's name." He looked at the two girls before him, one with eyes wide open like a beast protecting its cub, the other gentle and resolute yet unable to conceal her grievance, and he couldn't help but feel pity for them. "You two can rest in the side hall first. Once I've dealt with these matters, I'll have lunch with you."
Xiaoyanzi was about to say something when Yongqi quietly tugged at her sleeve. He shook his head at her, signaling her to stop. Xiaoyanzi pouted and dragged Ziwei towards the side hall. As they passed the dragon case, she glared at the letters, as if she wanted to see through them.
The door to the imperial study slowly closed, shutting out the morning light. Qianlong looked at the letters and seals on the table, his fingertips gently stroking E Min's personal seal. A complex expression flashed in his eyes. In this life, with him around, he would never allow these sinister schemes to harm the people he wanted to protect. The sunlight outside the window grew brighter, filtering through the carved window lattices, casting dappled shadows on the ground, as if foreshadowing the end of this storm.
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