"What?"
The entire hall erupted in commotion. Apart from Xie Lingqin, who was tightly gripping Yu Ruyi's hand and tugging at Zong Zhenghao's sleeve, she gestured for them not to rush or panic.
"Let's go take a look."
The group followed the Crown Prince to the small courtyard they had just been in.
"What did the Seventh Princess say before she died?" The Crown Prince looked at Tingyu with a serious expression.
Tingyu paused for a moment, then said, “When I brought the Seventh Princess here, she only said that she regretted it and was sorry. She then said she was tired and asked me to guard outside and keep my distance. I thought to myself that the Seventh Princess was probably in a bad mood, so I kept my distance. However, later I felt that something was wrong, so I rushed into the house, and then… that’s how the Seventh Princess ended up.” Tingyu reported word by word.
"You may step aside now. I will deal with your dereliction of duty later." The Crown Prince waved his hand, and Tingyu immediately stepped aside.
"This... the Seventh Princess committed suicide..."
Marquis Zhongyong and the Prefect of Jingzhao exchanged a glance, then looked away.
This is too much of a coincidence.
"Lord Zongzheng, please take the Seventh Princess's body away first," the Crown Prince said to Zongzheng Hao with a furrowed brow.
However, Zong Zhenghao suddenly bent down with a headache, "Lingqin, I have a headache. You handle this for me."
“Yes, Uncle.” Xie Lingqin gestured for her uncle to step back a little before stepping forward and bowing respectfully to the Crown Prince. She then said, “Your Highness, the Seventh Princess has violated the seven grounds for divorce by having an affair. This is my cousin’s letter of divorce. The Seventh Princess will never be allowed to enter the ancestral hall of the Imperial Clan Government.”
Xie Lingqin gritted her teeth, took out the letter of divorce from her sleeve, and looked at the Crown Prince in front of everyone, neither humble nor arrogant, as if she were really speaking on behalf of Zongzheng Hao, "Your Highness, I know that you are fair in your dealings. I presume that you will not make things difficult for Zongzheng Hao because of these matters."
The Crown Prince looked at Xie Lingqin, his eyes like deep pools, unfathomable. After a moment, he raised his hand slightly, without a trace of emotion, and said, "I admire your straightforwardness. Speak."
Ah! Thank you so much for your appreciation.
"The Zongzheng government has been a family for a hundred years, with a clean and honest reputation. A woman who has lost her chastity, is of impure character, and has the delusion to harm her grandfather, her parents-in-law, and her husband, even if she is a princess, should be punished the same as commoners if the emperor breaks the law. Now, the princess knows that she is ashamed and commits suicide to atone for her sins. But you would not force our Zongzheng government to take in her filthy body and put it into our pure ancestral hall."
Xie Lingqin was angry, resentful, and unwilling to accept defeat.
However, she spoke each word softly and silently, without any emotional fluctuation, truly only to save face for her maternal grandparents' family.
However, only the crown prince, who was facing her directly, could feel the undisguised coldness in her starry eyes.
Moreover, Xie Lingqin's words were all reasonable.
Even someone as cunning as Yuwen Xian didn't believe that the Seventh Princess's body should be disposed of by the Zong government at this time.
Moreover, Zongzheng Xu had already issued a letter of divorce before the Seventh Princess died.
The Seventh Princess caused such a commotion, and yet she died just like that. What can happen when a person dies? Nothing can be done.
Although the Seventh Princess died...
A profound look flashed across Yuwen Xian's eyes.
So, when the group returned to the front hall, all the attention turned back to Li Junru.
"Your Highness, a maidservant from the eldest daughter of the Minister of War said she has urgent news to report outside the mansion gate."
No sooner had they sat down than someone came to report from outside, before anyone in the front hall had spoken.
The crown prince glanced around, then raised his hand and said, "Let her in."
Xie Lingqin remained expressionless; she knew it couldn't be anything good.
really.
She was a maidservant of the eldest daughter of the Minister of War. It is said that the eldest daughter did not believe that her brother would do such a thing, openly having an affair with the princess, so she went to that painted boat to investigate.
Surprisingly, they found a kind of grass at the stern of the boat. It was said that this grass grew in the water, and if one smelled it, it would make one's mind wander, cause confusion, and lead one to do things that defy common sense.
The Marquis of Zhongyong, who was present, happened to recognize this herb, so...
I believed half of what Li Junru said.
"I see. I misunderstood Miss Xie. I'm so sorry. I apologize." Li Junru quickly backed down. "So, you were wrong yesterday too. I didn't have an affair with the princess. Perhaps I just happened to be talking to some woman, and you misunderstood."
Xie Linglou could only try to signal Zongzheng Hao and Yu Ruyi not to get angry anymore, so that he could keep his composure and say, "It's okay, I might be seeing things," amidst Li Junru's obviously smug expression.
Your eyesight is failing, that's why I spared your life.
Even though she knew the story was full of flaws, she still went along with it.
Because the Emperor and the Crown Prince's attitudes were so clear, she couldn't allow the Zong government to be unable to even play the role of "victim" and implicate the innocent.
People see, the Prefect of Jingzhao, the Marquis of Zhongyong, the Wise Prince, and the Minister of War—isn't there no doubt about this?
The Minister of War, in particular, looked so relieved.
I really want to tear it off and shred it to pieces.
Of course, there's also the Crown Prince's hypocritical face; I really want to fill it with lead and poison, and kick it around like a ball.
"Li Junru will be stripped of his official rank and will be barred from holding office without imperial decree. As for the Imperial Clan Government, you have been wronged. I will report this matter to my father, the Emperor." This was the Crown Prince's final decision.
The matter is now closed and its verdict is final; regardless of the truth of the matter, it should not be discussed further.
Watching everyone leave from the government.
Xie Lingqin slowly loosened her grip on her sleeve, looking at the high sky and white clouds, her thick eyelashes gently lowered. It didn't matter; she wouldn't let Li Junru live an easy life.
“Lingqin, little girl…”
With everyone gone and the courtyard quiet, Zongzheng Hao withdrew his gaze. Approaching middle age and having experienced half a lifetime of worldly affairs, how could he be so foolish? If he didn't understand before, he now understood.
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