Chapter 195 Turning Against Each Other
Dou Wenyi changed her clothes and was about to go out when Eunuch Anxi came in with a smile. He lowered his voice and reminded her, "Your Highness, Prince Rui has been found by the Imperial City Guard at Chaotian Temple."
"He's not feeling well. He'll probably accuse His Highness of imprisoning him in a secret place and then dumping him at Chaotian Temple. His Highness asked me to give you a heads-up."
Dou Wenyi's eyelids twitched violently. "His Majesty believes it?"
“Prince Rui is spouting nonsense and falsely accusing His Highness, but he has no evidence. However, His Majesty is very likely to ask you about His Highness's whereabouts. During the day, His Highness has witnesses, but it's at night…”
Dou Wenyi understood instantly and nodded, "I understand."
The palace walls were towering, and there were hardly any people to be seen on the long palace path.
Dou Wenyi followed closely behind the eunuch as they walked towards Chongzheng Hall.
Upon entering the hall, one finds Emperor Muzong, Consort Tan, and Prince Rui kneeling on the ground, weeping bitterly.
All eyes turned to Dou Wenyi. After she bowed respectfully, Emperor Muzong asked directly,
"Your Highness, where has the Crown Prince been staying these past few nights?"
Even though Dou Wenyi was somewhat prepared, her face still flushed slightly when asked about such a private matter in person. "Your Majesty, His Highness is staying at the Wutong Garden with me..."
Consort Tan frowned, her eyes filled with barely suppressed contempt. "Ha? The wedding isn't even over yet, does the Crown Princess have no shame?"
Dou Wenyi looked at her with amusement. "His Majesty ordered me to marry a woman to ward off bad luck. It is my duty to take care of His Highness's health. His Highness has just recovered from a serious illness, and it just so happens that I know a little about pharmacology. That's why His Highness stayed overnight at Wutong Garden."
"In such a special time, do couples still need to avoid certain things?"
Consort Tan's face darkened, and she snorted coldly, "The Crown Princess has quite the sharp tongue!"
Emperor Muzong's face darkened. "Shut up!"
Consort Tan frowned slightly, biting her lip, and cried out unwillingly, "Your Majesty, it must be the Crown Prince's doing. My son has always been sensible; he would never do such an absurd thing..."
"Enough!" Emperor Muzong said coldly, his anger rising at the thought of Dou Mingyan.
No man in this world could tolerate such a cuckoldry, especially a king.
How could the dignity of an emperor be trampled upon by such people!
Pei Shaoqing pleaded at the opportune moment, "Your subject is innocent! I truly have never been to Qionglin Garden. It was the Crown Prince who took advantage of my unpreparedness and sent men to kidnap me, imprisoning me in a place where there is no sunlight. He also poisoned me and threatened and intimidated me. I have suffered endless torment these past few days; I have been living a life worse than death..."
He was also forced to swallow a brown poison pill by those people; he didn't even have time to react before he swallowed it.
Pei Siyan is too cunning.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"
"The Imperial Censor Chen Yanzhou has arrived—"
With the eunuch's high-pitched voice, Pei Siyan walked over unhurriedly, followed closely by Shen Yanzhou.
Pei Siyan smiled, but his tone was unusually cold and cruel. "Fifth brother accuses me of having you imprisoned. What evidence do you have? If I really had that ability, why didn't I just kill you with one stroke? With no one to testify, wouldn't that be more advantageous?"
Upon hearing this, Dou Wenyi glanced at him cautiously. How dare he say such things in front of the Emperor? He was truly arrogant.
Pei Siyan gave her a reassuring look, and the undercurrent between them was naturally noticed by Shen Yanzhou.
"Pei Siyan, you're despicable! You dare to do it but not admit it?" Pei Shaoqin's eyes were blazing with anger, and he was so angry that he almost ground his back teeth to powder.
He cried out in tears, "Father, I am innocent! My third brother hates me to the core! He just wants to sow discord and deliberately set a trap to frame me!"
Emperor Muzong lost his patience and suddenly shouted coldly, "You unfilial son! What evidence do you have?"
That black jade pendant with the Qilin design is solid proof of its authenticity.
Pei Shaoqin was completely speechless. He couldn't even move freely, so where would he get the evidence? If it weren't for the alertness of the Imperial City Guards, he would still be in Pei Siyan's hands.
Emperor Muzong was utterly disappointed. Even if he had been tricked by Pei Siyan, it only proved his incompetence!
How could the dignified Prince Rui, surrounded by countless secret guards, be so easily kidnapped?
Pei Siyan gave him a cold look. "If we're talking about poisoning, who poisoned my headache? And who plotted against Mother? It's one thing if Fifth Brother didn't know, but I'm sure Consort Tan did!"
Emperor Muzong was slightly taken aback and looked at the Crown Prince. Pei Siyan never mentioned Empress Wen in front of him.
He also claimed that the crown prince had completely forgotten his mother...
Tan Jieyu's face suddenly turned pale, and she tightly gripped her handkerchief. Everyone who knew about that matter was dead, and Pei Siyan couldn't possibly know. She couldn't afford to lose her composure.
Pei Siyan said casually, "Father, although the night was dark, there are still other residents near Qionglin Garden. With a little investigation and finding a few witnesses, it shouldn't be difficult."
Emperor Muzong looked at Shen Yanzhou, "Yunzhi, how is your investigation going?"
Shen Yanzhou truthfully reported, "Your Majesty, I have indeed found witnesses. Because the Plum Garden is under renovation, and many bricklayers and workers were working through the night, they happened to see Prince Rui's carriage when they finished work, and they even saw Feng Tingyun, the chief steward of Prince Rui's residence."
"Your Majesty, I have also checked the records of those who left the city, and it is true that His Highness Prince Rui left the city. As for whether he entered Qionglin Garden, I dare not make a judgment."
Emperor Muzong clenched his fists, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "You wretched child, do you have anything else to say?"
With all the evidence and certifications complete, does he still want to make excuses?
Pei Shaoqin's face was ashen, his shoulders slumped, and he shook his head, "Father, I really didn't, you must believe me!"
"Fifth Prince, you have disappointed me greatly!" Emperor Muzong's face was cold and indifferent, with not a trace of the fatherly affection he once shared.
Consort Tan knelt on the ground with a thud, kowtowed to the emperor, and pleaded tearfully, "Your Majesty, I feel deeply guilty and wish to become a nun to pray for Your Majesty and atone for my sins. My son is innocent; all the blame lies with me. I beg Your Majesty's permission!"
Emperor Muzong's face was full of gloom. He thought that Dou Mingyan was nothing more than someone to be killed.
However, in order to exonerate himself, Pei Shaoqin not only set fire to the house but also sent assassins to kill him!
Although no major mistake was made, the crime is unforgivable.
Is this the son he placed so much hope in? It's heartbreaking.
Emperor Muzong's suspicious gaze swept over everyone present, and the image of the Imperial Preceptor suddenly came to mind.
Was he really going to exorcise evil spirits that day?
And Pei Shaoqin was found at Chaotian Temple. Are there really so many coincidences?
The Grand Preceptor's behavior that night was too unusual. It was hard for him not to suspect that the Grand Preceptor had let the flower thief go that night.
"You unfilial son!" Emperor Muzong's expression was cold and hard, filled with anger.
"From this day forward, you are confined to the Prince Rui's residence. Without my decree, you shall never leave for the rest of your life!"
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