Chapter 315 Ingratitude
Shen Yanzhou frowned slightly, suddenly recalling that when Emperor Muzong fell seriously ill, he was actually placed under house arrest by the Crown Prince's men, and he had no chance to obtain the imperial seal.
"Even if there is an imperial edict, it doesn't necessarily mean there is an imperial seal."
Grand Secretary Meng looked delighted. “His Majesty is seriously ill and is confined to the Funing Palace. Even if it was written by him personally, he was misled. Without the imperial seal, this imperial edict is even less valid! If we are ignorant of right and wrong and follow this kind of imperial edict, I am afraid that the Great Zhou will not be able to survive.”
"In my opinion, we should just go through the motions."
"Prime Minister Meng, what you say is very true," the ministers quickly echoed.
Before the three judicial departments jointly tried the case of Prince Duan's rebellion, the court officials had already reached a consensus. The following day, the proposed punishment for his crimes was jointly submitted to the Crown Prince by the three judicial departments.
Pei Siyan had no objection to the content of the memorial and even made a special trip to the Funing Palace regarding the matter. The father and son rarely had dinner together, but they spoke very little, and the atmosphere was rather tense.
Pei Siyan came out of Funing Palace, and Shen Yanzhou said, "Your Highness, Prince Duan has been begging to see you in the imperial prison. He even said that Consort Yun helped you back in the Cold Palace... Do you want to see him?"
Pei Siyan looked disgusted and snorted coldly, "Did he say something he shouldn't have?"
Shen Yanzhou's lips twitched. "Yes."
"Disgraceful!" Pei Siyan had never taken Pei Yunche seriously and was extremely contemptuous of the stupid things he had done.
"The imperial prison is too smelly. You should arrange for a side hall instead."
"yes."
"What are your plans for the future? You are a very talented person, and you shouldn't waste your time in the Imperial City Guard."
Pei Siyan did not deny that Shen Yanzhou was exceptionally capable. He had handled several matters to the best of his ability, which explained why Emperor Muzong valued him so highly.
However, if he were sent to a local area to benefit the people, he could easily enter the cabinet after three to five years.
He will surely become an invaluable pillar of the Great Zhou Dynasty!
Upon hearing this, Shen Yanzhou was deeply moved and answered frankly, "I want to be transferred to another post."
Dou Wenyi had already told him about the Crown Prince's opinion of him. Now, although Pei Siyan showed no resentment towards him in court, he had, after all, admired the Crown Princess; men understand men best.
He had long since figured it out: leaving Tianning City was better for everyone, including himself.
——
As dusk fell, the palace maids brought in the evening meal. Plates of exquisite dishes were placed on the table, and after the bowls and chopsticks were neatly arranged, they stood respectfully to the side.
Dou Wenyi never liked being served meals, and the palace maids had long been used to it.
The sunset painted the sky with color, and a sweet fragrance filled the courtyard. Cuizhi and several palace maids brought in the herbs that had been drying outside, and occasionally bursts of restrained laughter could be heard.
Just after dinner, Eunuch Anxi rushed over. "Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince is interrogating Prince Duan in the palace. He's asking if you'd like to go see him."
Dou Wenyi raised her eyes and said, "Okay."
She returned to her chambers to change her clothes. "Has Your Highness had dinner yet?"
Eunuch Anxi smiled and said, "We already ate it while accompanying His Majesty in the Funing Palace."
Dou Wenyi lifted her eyelids. This father and son were only maintaining a facade of civility; how could they possibly have a peaceful meal together?
I'm afraid Pei Siyan didn't eat his fill at all.
"Cuizhi, decorate the hibiscus and osmanthus cakes, I'll take them to His Highness."
Cuizhi responded and quickly handed over the food box, saying, "Please come back soon, Crown Princess."
"good."
As Dou Wenyi emerged from the long palace corridor, she saw the Imperial City Guards holding long swords, holding a man dressed in prison clothes with his hands and feet shackled.
He is Prince Duan, Pei Yunche.
His hands and feet were shackled, making a series of piercing sounds as he moved. Suddenly, he saw Dou Wenyi, and his dim eyes brightened for a moment. "Is she alright?"
Dou Wenyi felt contempt and anger rising in her heart; Prince Duan's behavior was truly despicable.
"She's doing very well. She'll find a good husband and live a happy and harmonious life. But you won't be doing so for long!"
Pei Yunche's face was grim, and his eyes betrayed his desolation. "Whether you believe it or not, I truly admire her..."
Dou Wenyi interrupted directly, "Your admiration is forcing people to die? Anyone who is admired by you is truly cursed for eight lifetimes! Pei Yunche, you are a ruthless and heartless villain. Just because you have a whim, you can ruin someone's life at will?"
"I was so blind to have saved you back then."
Pei Yunche suddenly remembered what happened at the hunting ground, and his thoughts were very complicated. If she had discovered the crippling poison in time, his leg would have been ruined.
If he becomes a cripple and has no chance to compete for the throne, does that mean he can live out the rest of his life peacefully and smoothly?
He squeezed the shackles on his hands, his whole body showing signs of dejection, but his smile was truly eerie. "Crown Princess, as you said, I am a villain, with the dirtiest blood in this world flowing through my veins! But the Pei family is all like this, Father Emperor is like this, and Third Brother is no less so."
"To be honest, you weren't saving me back then, you were harming me. You completely changed my fate. Aren't you afraid of bearing the consequences?"
Dou Wenyi's heart skipped a beat. Before she could even open her mouth to retort, she heard a deep and imposing voice behind her, "Fourth Prince, do you really think I wouldn't dare to kill you? Go and prepare a pot of good wine for Prince Duan!"
Pei Yunche's smile froze instantly.
Dou Wenyi turned his head and saw Pei Siyan and Shen Yanzhou striding over. He raised an eyebrow slightly, "Is he this noisy in the Imperial City Guard?"
"After causing trouble a few times and being severely beaten, he calmed down considerably," Shen Yanzhou reported truthfully.
"They didn't hit hard enough."
Pei Yunche was visibly panicked. He had already experienced the Crown Prince's ruthlessness and indifference, so how could he dare to continue provoking him?
"Third Brother, no, Your Highness, I was wrong, I was really wrong, I didn't..."
Pei Siyan glanced at him and said, "Everyone else knows to repay kindness, but you're the opposite. You're a heartless ingrate who can't be fed."
Shen Yanzhou gave a look to the guards of the Imperial City Guard, and the two understood and immediately escorted the man into the house.
Pei Siyan turned to look at Dou Wenyi, his cold and serious face softening instantly. "What's in the food box?"
"Hibiscus and Osmanthus Cake".
Pei Siyan felt a warmth rise in his heart, and a smile spread across his lips. "Okay."
Shen Yanzhou's deep gaze involuntarily fell on the exquisite food box, and almost instantly looked away.
The group entered the hall, and Dou Wenyi went behind the screen.
After taking their seats, Anxi opened the food box, took out the pastries inside, randomly selected one, and took a bite.
Pei Siyan turned to Shen Yanzhou, who was sitting below him, and asked, "Would you like to try some?"
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