The atmosphere in the palace was solemn, like the calm before a storm. Crown Prince Li Chengqian pointed at Lin Qingya and said in a stern voice: "Prime Minister Lin's daughter dared to collude with the enemy and commit treason. The evidence is solid and the crime must be punished!" As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Qingya stood up in a panic. Her slender figure seemed particularly small in the magnificent palace, but her aura was overwhelming. She stroked her temples and smiled, but the smile was as cold as winter ice: "Prince, you are so sure, do you know where the evidence is?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she closed her eyes gently. After a moment, she slowly opened her eyes, with a hint of sharpness in her eyes. The expressions of the ministers in the palace and their thoughts flooded into her mind like a tide. She smiled softly, her voice was crisp and pleasant, but every word was sharp: "Oh? It turns out that Lord Li, who is by the side of the Crown Prince, secretly accepted bribes and forged evidence to frame the Lin family. And the evidence... is in Lord Li's bag." Lin Qingya's voice was calm and powerful, with a hint of sarcasm in her tone. She looked at Li Chengqian, the angle of her mouth corners raised more and more, and there was a hint of teasing in her eyes. In the hall, there was a cry.
Li Chengqian's face suddenly changed. He didn't expect Lin Qingya to be so accurate in seeing everything. He touched the lotus on his waist subconsciously, his hands trembling slightly. He looked around in panic, his eyes dodging, and his domineering aura withered instantly. In the center of the hall, a slender incense burner was filled with green smoke, and the light gauze curtains danced in the wind, reflecting the complicated expressions of the court officials at the moment.
Lin Qingya took advantage of the victory and said firmly and forcefully to Zhao Sisi, who was trembling beside her: "As for Miss Zhao, I don't need to waste my words to prove your collusion with foreign enemies, do I?" As she spoke, she took out a delicate little box from her sleeve and opened it. Inside, there lay a letter and a delicate jade pendant, which glowed blue in the candlelight. Zhao Sisi's face turned pale, her body swayed, and she almost fell. Her lips trembled, and she wanted to defend herself but couldn't find any excuse.
Emperor Li Heng sat on the dragon throne, and without saying a word, he stared at Lin Qingya with a sharp gaze. He looked at this young woman, and a complex light flashed in his eyes - relief, admiration, and a subtle admiration. The palace was silent, with only the crackling of candles. Lin Qingya gracefully presented the letter and jade pendant to Li Heng, her eyes calm as water, but with a firm strength. Her every move revealed her confidence in strategizing, like a plum blossom standing proudly in the wind and snow, blooming with its own brilliance.
Li Rui quietly observed all this, with a slight smile on his face and a gleam of admiration and love in his eyes. He looked at Lin Qingya with gentle and firm eyes, secretly admiring her intelligence and courage. He gently stroked the jade pendant on his waist, which was a token he gave to Lin Qingya.
Lin Qingya bowed gracefully and returned to her seat, her eyes calm but with an unquestionable dignity.
After a brief silence in the hall, Li Rui stood up and said loudly: "Brother, I have something to say!" He stared at Li Heng who was sitting on the dragon throne with a blazing gaze, his tone firm and powerful. "The Crown Prince has wolfish ambitions and is plotting something, the evidence is solid! I have already obtained the ironclad evidence that the Crown Prince has been secretly making friends with treacherous officials in the court and plotting rebellion!" He paused and looked around. Those ministers who were originally hesitant and waited, bowed their heads in front of Li Rui's strong aura and dared not look directly at him.
Li Rui took out a stack of memorials from his sleeve and threw them in front of the palace. "These memorials are all evidence of the Crown Prince's private collusion with the scoundrels! There are also young officials who are forced to be involved because they are afraid of the Crown Prince!" He looked around, his eyes were sharp, and his voice was full of doubtful majesty: "Today, I am willing to fight for Miss Qingya and the country of the Great Zhou to punish the traitors!" After saying that, he cast his eyes on Lin Qingya, his eyes full of tenderness and determination. The air was filled with a tense atmosphere, and the magnificent decorations in the palace seemed dim at this time. Only the memorials thrown by Li Rui clearly reflected the candlelight.
Lin Qingya lowered her eyes to hide the barely perceptible smile on her lips. She observed the expressions of the ministers in the palace calmly, her mind clear. Li Rui's move not only directly pushed Li Chengqian to the forefront, but more importantly, he put himself in opposition to Li Chengqian, clearing the obstacles for her and showing his support for her.
Then, several old officials who held real power stood up one after another. They either exposed Li Chengqian's various evil deeds with righteous indignation, or expressed their support for Lin Qingya with impassioned speeches. For a while, the crowd in the palace was excited, and the voices of criticism against Li Chengqian came one after another. Li Chengqian's face was pale. He didn't expect things to develop to this point. He stammered in panic, but he was unable to refute it. He looked at Li Heng in fear, trying to seek help, but he only got the latter's cold eyes. The air around seemed to freeze, and only Li Chengqian's heavy breathing echoed in the palace.
Li Heng looked at the dramatic scene in front of him with mixed feelings. He looked at Lin Qingya with complex and deep eyes. She, this extremely intelligent woman, not only resolved the crisis, but also won unanimous praise from the court and the public with her wisdom and courage. And Li Rui, for Lin Qingya, was willing to take a huge risk and confront him. He took a deep breath, his voice low and powerful: "Come here, take the crown prince Li Chengqian to the sky prison and choose a day for trial!" He took a last look at Lin Qingya, with a trace of relief and admiration in his eyes.
Li Chengqian was taken away by the guards. He struggled desperately, but to no avail. The palace gradually returned to peace. The ministers congratulated Lin Qingya and praised her intelligence. Lin Qingya just bowed slightly and took it lightly. She knew that this was only the first step of a long journey, and the road ahead was still long. She gently adjusted her sleeves, her eyes moving and her gaze firm.