Chapter 46: The Trouble
This statement hit the nail on the head, and everyone in the hall nodded secretly in their hearts.
Cui Shizhong's wife, Yang, not only had a husband who held a high position in the government, but she was also the Empress Dowager's niece, holding a distinguished position. Standing at the forefront, she couldn't help but speak with surprise, "Princess Lingling is quite right. The children in my family treasure the lucky money given by our elders year after year, let alone something bestowed upon them by the Emperor."
Princess Gao asked coldly, "Who knows? There have been many people who have stolen jade and perfume in history. Han Shou stole a precious perfume, but wasn't it also a rare gift from the emperor? What if the Princess of Lingling County loves a stranger and doesn't want to express her love by giving him the most precious gift?"
These words were so blunt and harsh that the hall fell silent for a moment, and everyone frowned secretly.
Qian Deng didn't confront her, saying, "So, the Grand Princess, who holds the first rank, and the Princess Changyi, who holds the second rank, can wear the Nine-Tree Golden Flower at any time. I believe they must have quite a few on hand, and are more likely to give them to others than to me, right?"
Seeing that she didn't beg for mercy in such a situation, but instead threw dirty water on them, Princess Gao was immediately furious: "Bitch, you committed such a shameful thing, and after being exposed, you still dared to bite the princess and the county lord. I think you are tired of living!"
"Princess, please respect yourself. Lingling's words are all based on your assumptions and have no other meaning."
Princess Gao stood up in anger, strode to Qiandeng who was kneeling on the spot, and raised her hand to slap her.
Qiandeng had practiced his family's spear skills for three years, so his movements were naturally agile. He turned his head to avoid her slap, raised his hand and tightly grasped her wrist, making her unable to move.
"Let go!" Princess Gao gritted her teeth and tried to pull her hand back.
Upon hearing this, Qiandeng immediately let go. Princess Gao was pulling back, but suddenly lost her leverage and fell backwards. Her body wrapped in gorgeous clothes fell to the floor of the hall, and all her princess demeanor was gone.
Amid the exclamations of the people in the hall, Xiao Fuyu hurried forward and frantically helped his mother, who had embarrassed herself in public, to her feet. When he looked up, he suddenly saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince standing on the steps.
He didn't know when he arrived. He watched the show in the hall with a stiff expression, pursed his lower lip and said nothing.
Accompanying him was none other than Cui Fufeng, Junior Secretary of the Dali Temple. This most distinguished young man from aristocratic family in the capital, his gaze passed indifferently over her, and like the Crown Prince, he gazed at Qiandeng's kneeling figure, not paying her even a moment's attention.
In an instant, the overflowing jealousy seemed to be poured with a bucket of cold water. Xiao Fuyu stared blankly at the person walking up the stairs step by step. His whole body stiffened and he couldn't move.
The eunuch outside the palace hurried in to report: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived outside the Xuanhui Palace, and together with the Junior Official of the Dali Temple, he is requesting an audience with Her Royal Highness the Empress."
The Queen raised her eyelids and looked at the princess and her daughter who returned to their seats in a state of embarrassment. She then looked at Qian Deng who was kneeling silently in the hall. She turned her gaze to the Crown Prince outside and said in a low voice, "Come in."
The Crown Prince hurried up to the palace, approached Qian Deng, and bowed to the Empress. "Mother, the Dali Temple, under the orders of the Imperial Court, is responsible for all matters concerning the Changhua Palace. However, our investigation has revealed that this case involves a wide range of matters, including royal relatives and ladies, so we dare not act arbitrarily. Your Majesty commands the six palaces and the ladies of the Imperial Court, so I, along with the Junior Secretary of the Dali Temple, have come to you to present the details."
Royal relatives and ladies - The Queen's thoughtful gaze fell on Princess Gao and Xiao Fuyu. After all, just now, these two royal relatives and ladies were talking about the affairs of the Changhua Palace.
Seeing the Crown Prince come in without even glancing at her, Xiao Fuyu gritted his teeth and pointed at Qian Deng, who was kneeling on the ground, saying, "Your Highness, you're supposed to be upholding justice for the Changhua Palace, but you know that the Princess of Lingling gave the gift you gave her to a man she had an affair with. How shameless!"
The prince turned around silently and glanced at her.
His face had a cold and calm expression, and his thick, long eyelashes covered his eyes. Although one couldn't see what was inside, it was enough to make one feel a chill.
Xiao Fuyu felt a chill running down his forehead, and subconsciously took a step back. Suddenly, he understood.
He was no longer the gentle and tolerant boy who always put her first in everything.
The army was in chaos, the emperor and empress fled, and he was left alone to guard the capital. He had transformed rapidly, and in the dramatic changes in his life and the current situation, he gave up the softness and warmth of the deep palace - perhaps, there was also a part that belonged to her.
If the growth of a man and the evolution of an emperor are destined to abandon all emotions, Xiao Fuyu, who grew up close to imperial power, can accept it calmly.
But... Xiao Fu Yu turned his gaze to Qian Deng and clenched his hands resentfully.
Then he had to abandon the part of his heart that was left for Princess Lingling!
The Queen's gaze swept over Xiao Fuyu calmly, with a hint of disappointment, but she still spoke up for her: "Alright, judging whether it is or not is very simple. Lingling, is your Nine Trees of Golden Flowers still in the mansion?"
Qian Deng bowed his head and replied, "After the war, the palace was busy with other matters and was still counting the items given by the emperor. However, I have indeed not found any trace of the set of Nine Trees of Golden Flowers given by the palace."
Princess Gao combed her messy hair, but she didn't forget to sneer, "It's been several months since the court restored order. How many valuable things do you have in the Changhua Palace? How dare you be so negligent with the imperial gifts and not even count them?"
"Yes, Lingling knows his mistake," Qiandeng replied respectfully. "But I'm still young and of low rank, so I've never seen other nine-tree golden flowers. I don't know if they all look like this. How can the nine-tree golden flowers the princess's maid bought from the market be said to be the one given to me by the palace?"
The female historian at the Princess's residence glanced at the person above her and, seeing Princess Gao nod at her, she said, "When I was in the palace, I knew that the Six Bureaus had a rule that, to regulate the artisans in the palace, all jewelry was marked. The golden tree and golden flower would be marked with an engraving at the end of the stem."
Upon hearing this, the palace maid immediately picked up a golden flower and handed it to the queen.
The queen turned the golden flower over and saw the character "Ren Er" as big as a sesame seed engraved on the end of the flower tree.
The palace maid had already rushed to the Shanggong Bureau's Sizhen Division, retrieved the archives from that day, and examined them. She reported, "The Sizhen craftsmen's names are recorded according to the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. The craftsman ordered to create the nine golden flowers for the Changhua Palace was indeed the one with the name Ren. This is the second set of flowers this year."
Therefore, the painting of nine golden flowers discarded on the ground was undoubtedly the one given to Princess Lingling by the palace.
Princess Gao stared at Qiandeng, a hint of pride etched in her smile. "Princess Lingling, why aren't you crying out for justice? Could it be that what that man said was true? Could it be that you really gave him the imperial gift, and now you're speechless?"
"How can I protest my innocence? If I were to testify, everything your lady historian has said would be brought to the imperial court for trial. Officials and runners would then search every street and alley in the East and West Markets. The news that Princess Lingling of the Changhua Palace is having an affair would quickly spread throughout Chang'an and even the world. No matter what the final outcome, as a woman, once this stain on my reputation is stained, it will be impossible to wash it off." Qian Deng twitched the corner of his mouth at her, but his face was devoid of a smile. "Why, does the Grand Princess really want to see the Changhua Palace made a fool of itself and the imperial court brought to shame?"
Princess Gaoguo smiled grimly: "Humph, since you have committed such a crime, are you still afraid of being investigated by the court?"
"Why is the court pursuing me for something I haven't committed?" Qian Deng knelt down a step toward the Queen, looked up at her, and said, "Please allow me, Your Majesty, to ask Lingling for a few questions from the ladies-in-waiting at the Princess's residence."
The Queen picked up the teacup and said calmly, "Ask."
Qiandeng looked directly at the female official and asked, "Since you saw the peddler in the West Market, let me ask you, where and when was it?"
The female official answered without hesitation, "Yesterday at 3:00 PM, at the entrance of an alley near the West Market."
"Which alley? Tell me clearly."
The female official said, "Zheliu Lane."
"Okay, let's go to the entrance of Zheliu Lane. What does the person who sells the Nine Trees Golden Flowers, who says he gave them to me as a gift, look like?"
"His face was covered, but judging by the exposed features, he must be a handsome young man in his early twenties. He was wearing fashionable Hu clothing and spoke with a Jiangnan accent."
"You watched and listened so carefully, and even understood the details of the thing in his hand. It seems you spent quite a while talking at the alley entrance?"
The female official, who had been answering fluently, finally hesitated for a moment before saying, "About... a moment. After I understood the whole story and saw that the item was good, I bought it."
Cui Fufeng, who had been standing quietly by, immediately understood Qiandeng's intention when he heard these words.
He looked at her who was confident, breathed a sigh of relief, and a faint smile finally appeared on his face.
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