Chapter 78 Bringing them to justice. In the afterlife, I... will...
One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black.
Having spent a long time by the Regent's side, Chu Yueyuan had deeply grasped the essence of a man's imposing presence. She picked up her teacup, her clear, dark eyes sweeping over the Tao and Lin families in the hall. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her tone was cool and aloof:
"Today is the birthday banquet of Young Master Xie. The front hall is still entertaining guests. Prince Chun has specially arranged for you to discuss this in the inner hall. This is to preserve the dignity of the Tao and Lin families. I hope you will not disappoint the Prince's good intentions."
Normally, under the regent's imposing presence, the young empress dowager always appeared gentle and kind. However, at this moment, the woman's bright eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze sharp, and she suddenly exuded the majesty of a monarch, causing everyone's hearts to tremble.
Xie Yu was the first to react, quickly snatching the knife from Scholar Lin's hand and advising him in a low voice, "Your daughter's reputation is of utmost importance, I hope Brother Lin... will think twice before acting!"
Scholar Lin glared fiercely at Prince Tao, who was hiding behind a pillar, and sat back down with a gloomy face.
Chu Yueyuan took a few sips of tea, then slowly put down her teacup and gestured to Lord Hu, "My lord, you may continue."
"Yes... Your humble servant obeys."
Lord Hu wiped the sweat from his forehead, wanting to drink some tea to soothe his throat, but his hand found nothing on the table, so he could only cough twice.
Because Bailu was Lin Yuzhen's personal maid, in order to prevent the two from colluding, Lord Hu ordered that Bailu be locked in the woodshed to record her testimony.
Afterwards, Lord Hu dispatched a team to search the seven guest rooms of Yaxuan in order to find the child who was locked inside.
Bai Lu's testimony was almost identical to Lin Yuzhen's statement. All that was left was to find the crying child, which would prove that Lin Yuzhen's entry into Qixiang's guest room was an accident and not a secret meeting with Tao Shizi. This would establish Tao Shizi's crime of indecent assault.
However, the guards searched the entire Yaxuan Pavilion thoroughly and even secretly questioned all the guests who brought their children to the banquet, but they did not find any missing children.
Time slipped away quietly in the oppressive atmosphere, and the smug look in Tao Shizi's eyes grew increasingly arrogant. If his leg hadn't still been hurting, he would have crossed his legs with a smug grin.
The color drained from Lin Yuzhen's face as she stared intently at the door, eagerly awaiting the appearance of the child who could prove her innocence.
Half an hour later, the servants sent out by the Lin family returned dejectedly.
Prince Tao, leaning on his cane, emerged from behind a pillar and winked at Lin Yuzhen, saying:
"I wonder when Lin Daiyu fell in love with me. Did she see me perform so well at the polo match in the suburbs of Beijing? Alas... if you want to get closer to me, why make up this lie about hearing a baby crying?"
Lin Yuzhen bit her lip until it bled, tears welling in her eyes, and swore to the heavens, "Lord Hu, I absolutely did not lie, I... I really heard a child crying in the guest room..."
Princess Anxian coldly observed the Lin family's behavior today and knew in her heart that this marriage was impossible. Since they could not become in-laws, she might as well trample the Lin family into the mud.
She rested her hand on her forehead, her nail-studded fingers lightly tapping her temple, a forced smile on her face.
"So many servants have searched for most of the day, yet they still can't find the child you mentioned? In my opinion, it's obvious that you and Yuanheng were caught having an affair, and to protect your reputation as a chaste and virtuous woman, you're trying to pin the blame on Yuanheng!"
"No...no..." Lin Yuzhen shook her head vigorously. The pressure that followed was almost too much for her to bear. Her face turned pale instantly, and her body trembled uncontrollably, like a flower about to wither away.
Scholar Lin slammed his hand on the table and stood up, pointing at Princess Anxian's nose and cursing, "Don't push your luck!"
Seeing that they were about to start arguing again, Chu Yueyuan slammed down her teacup, interrupting their argument.
She lowered her eyes, gazing at the bewildered Lin Yuzhen, and spoke gently, "Miss Lin, when you heard the child crying inside, did you ask whose young master he was?"
Looking into the Empress Dowager's clear, lake-like eyes, Lin Yuzhen was soothed by her calm tone, and her chaotic thoughts were calmed. She frowned and tried to recall the scene.
“I asked, but the child just kept crying and kept repeating the same sentence: ‘Help, help, let me out.’”
Lord Hu lowered his head and examined Bai Lu's statement, nodding and saying, "That's right, Miss Lin's maid also admitted that the child locked in the room said those words."
Princess Anxian scoffed disdainfully: "Those two, mistress and servant, had already planned it out. Of course, they used the same words to slander someone. Now, they can't find anyone in the entire Prince's mansion. Does that child have wings and fly away?"
What was said unintentionally may have been taken to heart by the listener.
Chu Yueyuan gently tapped the jade porcelain cup with her fingers. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and she quickly asked, "After Miss Lin broke down the door, did she see any live animals or birds inside? Not counting Prince Tao..."
Prince Tao opened his mouth, and for a moment he felt that the Empress Dowager was indirectly scolding him.
Lin Yuzhen looked surprised: "How did Your Majesty know... I remember there was a strangely shaped parrot on the table. After I opened the door, the parrot flew out of the room."
So that's how it is...
Chu Yueyuan's brows relaxed, and she turned her head to look at Lord Hu, smiling slightly: "I can testify for Miss Lin that she did indeed hear the child's cries for help."
Lord Hu looked bewildered: "But...didn't the Empress Dowager just say that you and Miss Lin bumped into each other in the osmanthus grove?"
“Indeed, I also encountered that ‘child’ in the woods!”
Chu Yueyuan recounted to everyone the encounter with the purple-crowned parrot, explaining, "Miss Lin did not see the parrot mimicking speech with her own eyes, but only heard its high-pitched voice, which she mistook for a child calling for help, thus assuming that someone was trapped in the guest room."
Princess Anxian clearly didn't believe the young Empress Dowager's explanation, and gave a sarcastic smile:
"Your Majesty just now called me a litigious fool, but now, to help the Lin family escape punishment, you're making up all sorts of absurd stories! You're quite the writer of storybooks!"
Chu Yueyuan raised her eyes to look at Princess Anxian, her tone frank: "It's not difficult to verify what I'm saying. Lord Hu can send someone to check Qixiang's guest room. There should still be traces left on that upturned table. Furthermore, Miss Lin and I can each draw the parrot on paper. If the drawings match, it will be enough to prove that we encountered the same parrot that mimics speech."
Lord Hu nodded repeatedly and immediately sent men to search Yaxuan again.
Zhu received a look from her husband and instructed the servants to bring paper, brushes, and ink. She also arranged two study rooms for the young empress dowager and Lin Yuzhen to paint.
When the servant returned with a bright green feather, Chu Yueyuan and Lin Yuzhen had already finished their paintings.
Lord Hu brought out two paintings for comparison. He saw that the two parrots in the paintings both had purple tops and red beaks, emerald green wings, and a black line encircling their necks. They were almost identical.
Lin Yuzhen and Prince Tao bumped into the Empress Dowager one after the other, and Lin Yuzhen did not mention the parrot during the encounter.
The parrots drawn by Miss Lin and the Empress Dowager are exactly the same in terms of feather color and pattern. If they had not seen them with their own eyes, it would have been impossible to depict them so similarly. Therefore, it can be concluded that the purple-headed parrot that can only imitate human speech does exist.
The Lin couple were deeply moved. Scholar Lin's eyes were red, and he bowed deeply to the young Empress Dowager. Madam Lin was also sobbing uncontrollably, pulling her daughter to follow her husband in performing the same deep bow, expressing her gratitude:
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your wise judgment and for clearing my daughter's name!"
Seeing that all the evidence pointed to the Lin family, Princess Anxian's face turned ashen. A glint of shrewdness flashed in her eyes, and then she suddenly smiled.
"Hey, after all this commotion, the culprit turns out to be a parrot that can mimic human speech!"
She raised her hand to gently touch the hairpin at her temple and sighed, "But that beast has flown away, and now we've lost the most crucial evidence. To convict someone based solely on a feather and two paintings, Lord Hu, don't you think that's too frivolous?"
Under the menacing gazes of the Lin and Tao families, who seemed ready to devour him, Lord Hu broke out in a cold sweat, caught in a dilemma, stammering and unable to give a coherent explanation.
Chu Yueyuan frowned slightly: "What do you mean by that, Your Highness?"
Princess Anxian's smile deepened, and she feigned difficulty, saying, "Miss Lin, this charge of indecent assault is far too heavy. Unless we can catch that talking bird, how can our Tao family bear such a stigma? However, if this case drags on, it will inevitably become a city-wide scandal. Yuan Heng, being a man, is unaffected; he'll just provide fodder for gossip. But it's Miss Lin's flawless reputation..."
Madam Lin quickly pulled her daughter into her arms and interrupted her coldly, "Is the Princess threatening us?"
Princess An-hyun chuckled softly:
"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and Lord Hu are both here. How could I dare to threaten Madam Lin? I just wanted to explain the situation to you. Alas... to be honest, both of our families have suffered an undeserved calamity. Miss Lin mistook the parrot's cry for a child's cry for help, and Yuan Heng mistook Miss Lin for a dancer seeking favor. These are all misunderstandings! It's enough to clear up the misunderstandings. Why make a scene at the Dali Temple?"
Lin Yuzhen broke free from her mother's embrace, glaring at Princess Anxian's hypocritical smile, her voice trembling with suppressed anger:
"How can Your Highness compare these two matters? When Prince Tao forcibly took me into his house, I clearly stated my family name and begged him to release me, but he said... even if I am a daughter of the imperial family, I can't escape his grasp!"
Her eyes were bloodshot as she said, word by word, "The harm he did to me cannot be covered up by a simple misunderstanding."
Princess Anxian's lips still curved upwards, but her eyes turned cold. She scoffed, "It seems Miss Lin is determined to take this to court. Fine, since we can't find that parrot anyway, we'll just wait it out until everyone in the capital knows. I'll see if the Shen family still wants a chaste and virtuous woman like you."
Lin Yuzhen opened her mouth, but it was as if a fishbone was stuck in her throat, and she couldn't make a sound.
She trembled all over, her heart churning with an indescribable absurdity and sorrow. A member of the royal family, yet his heart was a hundred times more despicable than that of a street ruffian.
Seeing the reaction of the Lin family's youngest daughter, Princess Anxian's face softened into a gentle smile. She bypassed Lin Yuzhen and spoke candidly to the Lin couple:
"Both of our families are distinguished clans, why should we fight to the death over such a misunderstanding? How about this, we sign a document to settle this matter. The Tao family will have its elders discipline this wretched child according to family rules. Your Lin family should also be lenient and promise in the document that you will not pursue this matter. In this way, your daughter's reputation will be preserved, and our Tao family will also retain some dignity. Wouldn't that be a win-win situation?"
As an outsider, Chu Yueyuan felt like the abacus beads that Princess Anxian was slapping at her face, but she couldn't help but admire how Princess Anxian had grasped the Lin family's weaknesses with every word.
The case lacks the most crucial evidence: parrots are not human, have no registered address, and leave no trace. They can fly hundreds of miles in a single night. Finding a parrot in the vast sky is like looking for a needle in a haystack, with little hope.
Moreover, the longer this case drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for the Lin family.
Just as Chu Yueyuan had predicted, the Lin couple exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with struggle.
Madam Lin's handkerchief was almost torn to shreds, and the veins on Scholar Lin's forehead throbbed. After a long while, the two finally sighed and nodded dejectedly.
"Mother, I don't want this... This is unfair!"
Lin Yuzhen burst into tears. Previously, she had been humiliated by Prince Tao and slandered by Princess Anxian. She had repeatedly brought up the humiliation in front of everyone, and she had always managed to hold back her tears. But faced with this outcome, she could no longer suppress the grievances in her heart, and large tears slid down from the corners of her eyes.
Madam Lin hugged her daughter tightly, her voice choked with emotion, "Silly child, has this world ever been fair to women..."
Chu Yueyuan looked at the Lin family mother and daughter who were crying their hearts out, and felt a mix of emotions.
Yes, has the world ever been fair to women?
Chu Shuheng defamed Hu Shi in the name of her husband. Even if she were to bring the case to justice in the capital, people would only mock Hu Shi for being crazy. How could there be any question of consent or unwillingness in the sexual relations between husband and wife?
Tao Yuanheng took advantage of Lin Yuzhen under the pretext of being drunk, and the evidence was irrefutable. However, because a woman's reputation must not be compromised, she was forced to swallow her grievances and be trapped in the nightmare of that day for the rest of her life.
Chu Yueyuan then turned her gaze to Prince Tao and saw that he had a frivolous smile on his lips, which almost stretched to his ears, showing no sign of remorse.
She calmly brought the teacup to her lips, concealing the glint in her eyes.
As the head of the Prince's Mansion, Xie Yu naturally became the notary for the documents signed between the Lin and Tao families.
Both parties affixed their fingerprints and personal seals to the contract, and the document was made in triplicate. One copy, along with the testimonies of both parties, was left in the Dali Temple to be returned to the case file.
Tao Shizi stepped forward with his cane, his face beaming as he stamped his seal. Afterward, he grinned at Lin Yuzhen and said, "Sister Lin, I have offended you greatly today. I hope you will not take offense. Another day when I have time, I will invite you to have a cup of tea to apologize."
Lin Yuzhen leaned on her mother's shoulder expressionlessly, her eyes vacant, as if she hadn't heard Tao Shizi's frivolous words, looking like a broken paper puppet.
Prince Tao, having been rebuffed, snorted coldly.
The document stipulated that the Lin and Tao families should keep quiet about what happened today, but it did not prohibit others from talking about it. There were so many powerful and wealthy people around him. As long as he let slip a word when he was drunk, someone would embellish it and make this romantic affair seem even more vivid and interesting.
That little bitch from the Lin family wants to put him in jail? Dream on! Let's see how he ruins her reputation!
The Lin and Tao families put away their documents, and the case was considered closed. The handkerchief that Lord Hu used to wipe his sweat was soaked through. He let out a long sigh and began to organize the documents on his desk.
As Madam Lin was helping the distraught Lin Yuzhen away, the young Empress Dowager called softly from behind, "Miss Lin, please wait. I need you to be my witness."
Lin Yuzhen turned around blankly, her red and swollen eyes filled with confusion.
Princess Anxian, still fearing the Lin family might renege on their promise, clutched the documents and tried to leave as quickly as possible. However, she was stopped at the hall entrance by two Buddhist soldiers wielding swords. She turned around, raised an eyebrow, and said:
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager...what is the meaning of this?"
Chu Yueyuan did not answer, but looked at Lord Hu opposite her, her eyes curving slightly: "I want to accuse someone of my own. I wonder if you would be willing to uphold justice for me?"
Lord Hu quickly rose, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I am of course willing. May I ask who Your Majesty wishes to accuse?"
Chu Yueyuan lifted her eyelids, a hint of coldness flashing in her clear, icy eyes.
She glanced at his smug face, a faint smile playing on her lips: "I will accuse Tao Yuanheng of insulting the widow and committing a grave crime of disrespect."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was speechless with astonishment.
Princess Anxian forced a stiff smile: "Is the Empress Dowager drunk? Yuanheng just met His Highness today, and before he could even pay his respects, he was injured in the leg by His Highness's guards. How could he have acted so disrespectfully!"
Chu Yueyuan calmly picked up the dossier on the table, slowly turned a few pages, and read aloud the confession written on it: "Tao Yuanheng chased after them out of the woods and saw the two beauties in front of him. He then raised his voice and teased them, saying: 'Why don't you throw yourselves into my arms, so that I may pity you?'"
"This confession also bears the fingerprint and personal seal of Prince Tao. Lord Hu, do you think this file can serve as evidence that Tao Yuanheng spoke disrespectfully to me?"
Lord Hu was sweating profusely, and without even bothering to take out a handkerchief, he simply wiped the sweat from the tip of his nose with his sleeve: "This... of course can be considered evidence."
"Then what crime should be he charged with?"
"...If a subject speaks disrespectfully to his monarch, he is committing insubordination and shall be sentenced to death by hanging according to the law."
The young master Tao, who had just been smug, was suddenly dumbfounded. His remaining good leg began to tremble, and he could no longer hold onto his crutch. He collapsed to the ground with a thud.
As the Lin couple coldly observed the dissolute young man's pathetic state, the resentment in their hearts dissipated, and a look of pleasure appeared in their eyes.
Princess Anxian hurriedly stepped forward to explain: "Your Highness is wise. Yuanheng spoke carelessly while drunk, which was not his intention. Please do not take offense at such a muddle-headed person."
Chu Yueyuan frowned slightly and sighed, "If I were an ordinary widow, I naturally wouldn't bother with him..."
She gently wiped her moist eyes with a handkerchief, her voice low and hoarse:
"I am the widow of the late Emperor, and my status is rooted in the royal family. For Prince Tao to speak so disrespectfully to me is to blaspheme the spirit of the late Emperor. During the palace turmoil, the late Emperor died protecting me at the hands of traitors, and now I cannot even uphold his reputation. In the afterlife, how will I face him...?"
Tears streamed down the woman's porcelain-white cheeks, her appearance like pear blossoms falling in the rain, showing her utter heartbreak.
Princess Anxian was extremely annoyed to see the young Empress Dowager using the late Emperor's name to put on airs. She cursed inwardly that, given the extent of her affair with the Regent, the green light on the late Emperor's head could probably serve as an eternal lamp even in the afterlife.
Chu Yueyuan gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks and sighed softly, "Alas, it would not be worth taking the life of Young Master Tao just because of my reputation as a widow. Besides, in terms of seniority, I am still Young Master Tao's elder..."
Princess Anxian's eyes lit up, and she quickly smiled and agreed, "Indeed, Your Highness is my sister-in-law, and of course also Yuanheng's..."
Chu Yueyuan added, "Those who disrespect their elders will be punished even more severely."
Princess Anxian: ....
Chu Yueyuan put away her handkerchief, her slender fingers gently gathering the phoenix-patterned hem of her sleeve. Her eyes were clear and bright, and her tone was indifferent: "How about we change it to exile?"
Princess Anxian wanted to say a few more words, but Xie Yu cut her off, cupping his hands in gratitude and saying, "Your Highness is so magnanimous and has pardoned Prince Tao's death sentence. The entire Tao family will be eternally grateful and will surely repay this kindness with their lives."
"As the Prince suggests, let's first imprison Prince Tao in the Dali Temple today. As for his place of exile..." Chu Yueyuan pondered for a moment, "Then let the Ministry of Justice decide on his punishment. What does Lord Hu think?"
Lord Hu was able to rise to the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and he clearly understood the importance of each position.
From the conversation between the young Empress Dowager and Prince Chun, he had already grasped the current situation. Moreover, behind the young Empress Dowager was a powerful figure whom he could not afford to offend.
Lord Hu straightened his back, the sweat on his forehead stopped, and his voice became more confident. He said solemnly, "Guards, take Tao Shi... take the criminal Tao Yuanheng into prison."
Only when two constables fastened heavy shackles did Prince Tao realize he was about to become a prisoner. His face filled with terror, he shouted to Princess Anxian:
"Sister, sister, save me!"
Princess Anxian gritted her teeth and turned her face away. This idiot actually recorded her own crimes in the case file. She was so stupid that she was beyond redemption!
The only thing we can do right now is to get the prince to bribe the Ministry of Justice as soon as possible so that his younger brother can be exiled to the vicinity of the capital and spared physical suffering.
"Your Majesty, I shall take my leave now."
Princess Anxian outwardly bowed respectfully, but inwardly she secretly made a mental note of this debt, vowing to make the young Empress Dowager pay for it a thousandfold in the future.
After the Tao family left in a huff, the Lin couple embraced their daughter and wept with emotion.
The decision to exile Tao Shizi from the capital was undoubtedly the best outcome for the Lin family.
The Tao family is busy working on the Ministry of Justice and will not have time to frame the Lin family for a while. This storm will subside quietly. Even if the Tao family wants to bring up old grievances in the future, the perpetrators are far away and cannot be reached. What storm can they stir up?
Lin Yuzhen's pale cheeks gradually regained some color. She stared blankly at the young empress dowager who was talking with Lord Hu. Her dim eyes regained their light, as if withered trees had been reborn in spring.
Scholar Lin lifted his robe, knelt down and kowtowed, his tone unusually solemn: "Your Majesty, I thank you! I am deeply grateful to Your Highness for clearing my daughter's name today. I am willing to follow Your Highness with all my might, even if it means going through fire and water, I would not hesitate to die a thousand deaths!"
Chu Yueyuan casually twirled the silk-threaded mutton-fat jade bracelet on her wrist, her eyes crinkling into a gentle smile:
"There are many things to attend to today, so why don't you take your wife and Miss Lin back to the manor to rest as soon as possible, Lord Lin?"
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the round fan that Princess Anxian had placed on the rosewood table, and then said, "Times are rare and easily lost, so I hope Your Excellency will not miss this opportunity."
A strange look flashed across Scholar Lin's face, but he quickly understood the meaning behind the Empress Dowager's words. The dead are far more secretive than the living. For the Lin family, the exile of Prince Tao from the capital was an opportunity to eliminate future troubles forever.
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