Chapter 5 A good show: singing, recitation, acting, and fighting; a fierce woman sheds tears.
Yuan Yan bowed his head honestly, "Mother, I know I was wrong."
"Tell me, where did you go wrong?" Yuan Hao put down the folded document in her hand and glanced down. Her second son had always been proud and flamboyant since he was a child, and it was rare for him to be so obedient. Today, Yuan Yan was unusually well-behaved.
"Your Majesty, I was wrong to fight with my third sister at the palace banquet, ruining your wonderful feast and your enjoyment, and disgracing the royal family. It was truly wrong of me."
It seems there has been some progress; these days of self-reflection haven't been in vain.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Hao nodded slightly in his heart, only to hear Yuan Yan take another breath.
“But…” Yuan Yan lowered his head even further, “If I were given the chance to do it all over again, I would still do the same thing.”
"Oh? Why is that?"
Yuan Hao did not immediately get angry when he heard such unrepentant words. Instead, he asked calmly.
"Your Majesty, please understand. The reason I argued with my sister that day was because she mentioned our deceased father... saying that the Imperial Nobleman had bewitched the Emperor, and that His Majesty was misled by him, which is why he favored me. She told me to be careful with my words and actions from then on. Now that the Imperial Nobleman is gone, the Lin family's achievements overshadow the Emperor's, and they will soon be overthrown. My good days as the Prince of Yue are also coming to an end." Yuan Yan said with a sorrowful expression.
This usually proud and strong woman couldn't help but shed tears when she talked about her sad moments.
The Imperial Noble Minister Yuan Yan mentioned was naturally her biological father, Lin. Yuan Xiao's insults against his deceased father in front of his daughter were truly devastating, and it's no wonder that Yuan Yan couldn't hold back and suddenly lashed out in public that day.
Even when her mother, the Empress, punished her and pressed her for the reason, she refused to mention it in public because she felt it was too insulting. She would rather bear the blame and be punished alone than speak out.
It is truly lamentable that such a filial daughter ended up being punished.
Yuan Yan, intending to expose the emperor's deep-seated suspicions, deliberately added insults against the Lin family to his already insulting remarks about the Imperial Noble Minister. The phrase "his achievements overshadow the emperor's" indeed caused the emperor's brow to twitch.
Yuan Xiao, who was kneeling on the other side, was shocked upon hearing this, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Unexpectedly, Yuan Yan endured the punishment without saying a word that day, but today, for some unknown reason, he revealed the whole thing.
She said those words deliberately that day to provoke Yuan Yan. She was certain that, given Yuan Yan's proud and stubborn nature, he would likely not easily reveal the truth when questioned afterward.
Therefore, she deliberately provoked Yuan Yan to make a move at the palace banquet, so that he would be punished by the Empress Dowager and suffer in silence.
Now that the Empress Dowager knows the truth, what should she do... Yuan Xiao's mind was in complete turmoil.
However, before Yuan Xiao could come up with a response, the Empress Dowager was already asking.
"Yuan Xiao, is this true?"
Yuan Xiao broke out in a cold sweat. "Mother Empress..." He was wronged. It was indeed she who said the insults against the Imperial Noble Minister, just to provoke Yuan Yan. But the part about the Lin family and the Prince of Yue was not hers.
However, just as she was about to defend herself, Yuan Hao's sharp gaze pressed down on her.
Yuan Xiao knew he couldn't hide this from his mother, the Empress.
Originally, it would have been fine if the Empress Dowager hadn't known the inside story, but now that she knows there's something fishy going on, she'll definitely send her secret guards to investigate. At that time, her previous words and actions will be exposed, and the Empress Dowager will probably be even angrier.
"Yes, yes, that is true." Yuan Xiao dared not deny it and quickly kowtowed to beg for forgiveness, "Your subject knows his mistake and begs Your Majesty for punishment."
"However, I truly did not say anything about the Lin family! Your Majesty, you are wise enough to know that even if I had the greatest courage, I would not dare to utter such words..."
“Third Imperial Sister,” Yuan Yan interrupted her, his voice choked with tears, “Mother Empress has always respected meritorious officials and treated the Lin family well… If it weren’t for what you said, how could I have known such harsh words?”
Yuan Xiao had nothing to say and was speechless.
Why has Yuan Yan, who is usually so straightforward, become so cunning and difficult to deal with today? Yuan Xiao was extremely annoyed.
"Now you know you were wrong. Then why didn't you speak when I asked you the reason that day, and instead let your elder sister be punished?" Yuan Hao's expression was serious. Her face had darkened as soon as Yuan Yan mentioned the phrase "bewitching the emperor".
If Lin was a seductive and alluring ruler, then what was this emperor... a foolish and incompetent ruler who was blinded by beauty?
Upon hearing that the King of Yue and the Lin family would soon be overthrown, his expression visibly changed. It was one thing for Yuan Hao to be wary of the Lin family's military achievements in private, but it was quite another for someone else to guess and openly state it.
To say that the Lin family, which has just made great contributions, is about to fall, doesn't that mean that she, as the emperor, is intolerant of people and has the intention to harm meritorious officials?
Using this incident to provoke Yuan Yan is utterly despicable.
Yuan Hao's face turned extremely ugly.
"You dare to insult your father, what else wouldn't you dare to do? If these words weren't yours, were they said by your second elder sister?"
"Who taught you to spout such nonsense? Confess now!" Yuan Hao knew that with Yuan Xiao's simple mind, she probably couldn't have come up with such provocative words; there was likely someone instigating her behind the scenes.
The First Princess Yuan Jing is naturally involved in this matter, but can Yuan Xiao implicate her? On the surface, Yuan Xiao is close to the First Princess, and in the eyes of others, he is considered to be part of the First Princess's faction. Implicating the First Princess would not benefit him at all.
Moreover, the eldest princess always presents herself as kind and benevolent in public, and has an excellent reputation. Even if she said it, the mother might not believe it.
Yuan Xiao could only grit his teeth and agree: "It was my second sister, who has always been a male without a family, who was resentful because the Imperial Noble Minister was favored by the Empress Dowager. So she had a wicked idea to make my second sister look bad at the palace banquet."
"It was a moment of weakness on my part that led me to harbor evil intentions, and I am willing to accept Mother Empress's punishment... but there was no one who instigated me, and I beg Mother Empress's forgiveness."
"So, the blame for this matter is mostly on you. I only punished your second sister before, I didn't expect that you were also involved behind the scenes."
"This matter arose because of you. Your elder sister has been reflecting on her mistakes for so long, so you shall be punished with twice the amount of time she has spent."
"The Third Princess Yuanxiao is wicked and immoral. She insults your father, frames your elder sister, and does all sorts of despicable things. She is hereby suspended from attending court and ordered to be strictly instructed by her attendants."
"Shuqing, as her father, has failed in his duty of educating his daughter and has been detrimental to her moral character. Therefore, Shuqing is stripped of her position and demoted to the rank of Consort, and is deprived of the power to assist in the management of the six palaces."
Without hesitation, Yuan Hao announced a severe punishment, which also implicated Yuan Xiao's father, Shu Qing.
"As for Yan'er, it's pitiful that she was framed and wronged. Why doesn't she tell her mother?"
The emperor rose and stepped down, personally helping Yuan Yan, who had been kneeling, to his feet.
Yuan Yan's eyes stung, as if he were moved to tears again, "Mother Empress..."
“I am already aware of this matter; the fault does not lie with you,” Yuan Hao comforted him.
"Your second daughter, Yuan Yan, is extremely filial and kind-hearted. I am aware that she was framed during the previous palace banquet. She shall be allowed to resume attending court immediately and shall be granted double the salary."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
