"Just you wait, today's me is tomorrow's you. I hope your fate will be even worse than mine, hahahaha."
As she spoke, she threw her head back and laughed again.
His crazed appearance made everyone frown.
But Situ Mingji remained unchanged, completely unaffected by Gu Yunjin's words.
"Your Majesty, I did not do this. My conscience is clear. I beg Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly and give me justice."
"Um."
Emperor Rongcheng nodded.
Situ Mingji is the daughter of Situ Qinghe.
Situ Qinghe was Emperor Rongcheng's sharpest weapon, and he still relied on him in the court.
Moreover, he repeatedly took the blame for Emperor Rongcheng.
Therefore, Emperor Rongcheng was particularly lenient towards Situ Mingji.
He couldn't help but look at Li Ce, who had been standing silently since he came in.
Li Ce immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I have investigated and found that the items in those people's hands do indeed belong to the Third Prince's Consort."
"Furthermore, I specifically investigated those people in the Imperial Garden, and they were indeed all carrying silver notes. According to the survivors, these silver notes were given to them by Miss Gu."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Rongcheng's gaze finally fell upon Gu Yunjin.
"Third Prince's Consort, what else do you have to say?"
Gu Yunjin gave a cold laugh.
"I...have nothing to say. Do with me as you please."
Gu Yunjin had no strength left at this moment.
She knelt limply, her face full of irony and emptiness.
She seemed to be unable to feel even the pain in her ribs.
Oh well, if he's dead, he's dead.
For her now, death is a kind of relief.
She just couldn't kill Gu Jingchun and was even used by Situ Mingji, which made her hate him even more.
However, to her utter surprise, Gu Jingchun knelt down at that moment.
"Your Majesty, the Third Prince's Consort is, after all, my younger sister."
Although we are not related by blood, she is deeply loved by my parents. If something were to happen to her, it would surely break my father and mother's hearts.
"I am not harmed at this moment."
"Moreover, the Third Prince can't be left alone, and he's completely devoted to his sister."
"Please, Your Majesty, show mercy and spare my sister's life."
After he said this, everyone present was shocked.
No one expected that Gu Jingchun would plead for Gu Yunjin.
Shen Hechuan, in particular, frowned deeply, seemingly unable to understand why Gu Jingchun would do such a thing.
If it were him, he would kill Gu Yunjin eight hundred times over and still not be satisfied.
Those present who heard this changed their opinion of Gu Jingchun considerably.
After all, according to previous rumors, Gu Jingchun was unfilial, so he was kicked out of the Marquis's mansion by the Yong'an Marquis and his wife.
Later, because she was unwilling to lend a helping hand to the Marquis of Yong'an, she became the subject of much discussion among the people.
But now, Gu Jingchun, fearing that the Yong'an Marquis's couple would be heartbroken, actually pleaded for mercy for his enemy.
Such filial piety, such magnanimity and ambition show that her character is not as bad as the rumors suggest.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Rongcheng couldn't help but look at Gu Jingchun with newfound respect.
Then I thought about the situation of the Third Prince.
Since he got married, he has indeed done far fewer of his previous outrageous things.
If Gu Yunjin is killed this time, the Third Prince will probably cause trouble again.
Emperor Rongcheng felt a headache coming on at the thought of the Third Prince causing a scene.
So he simply sighed and said directly:
"Since Miss Gu has pleaded for her, then spare her life. Give her ten strokes of the cane, then take her back and imprison her in the Third Prince's courtyard."
From now on, without my order, no one may release her.
This is equivalent to locking Gu Yunjin up.
Moreover, she was kept by the Third Prince's side.
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingchun immediately bowed in greeting.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness."
When she bent over, the smile on her lips was almost impossible to hide.
Gu Yunjin, how could I let you die so easily?
The Third Prince's methods have only just begun; there are even more important methods to come that you haven't even tried yet. How can you die so easily?
"Don't worry, I will make sure you try all the methods you have."
Gu Yunjin remained kneeling blankly while Gu Jingchun pleaded for her life, only turning to look at Gu Jingchun after Emperor Rongcheng spared her life.
At that moment, it would be a lie to say she wasn't moved.
However, when Gu Jingchun leaned down, she clearly saw the slightly upturned corners of his mouth and the provocative look in his eyes that he glanced at her for a moment.
For a moment, Gu Yunjin's brain went blank, and then she understood everything in an instant.
Gu Jingchun wasn't pleading for herself; she wanted the Third Prince to beat her to death.
This discovery nearly drove Gu Yunjin mad.
She stared at Gu Jingchun and immediately shouted angrily.
"Gu Jingchun, I don't need your kindness. Do you think I don't know what you're up to?"
"You wait, I will absolutely not let you have your way."
As she spoke, she looked at Emperor Rongcheng.
"Your Majesty, I know my sins are grave. I beg Your Majesty to grant me death."
But Emperor Rongcheng was extremely irritated at the moment and couldn't be bothered with her. He simply waved his hand and ordered someone to take Gu Yunjin away.
Soon, the sound of a cane being struck could be heard outside.
Emperor Rongcheng also stood up at this moment.
He was really worried about his grandson's safety, so after saying a few more words, he left with Jiang Xianhao.
After Emperor Rongcheng left, Shen Hechuan glanced at Situ Mingji before looking at Gu Jingchun.
Gu Jingchun, who also cared for Gu Jinxi, suggested that he leave.
Because of this incident, the palace banquet was no longer enjoyable for them.
After Shen Hechuan dismissed Gu Jingchun, the palace banquet quickly came to an end.
Emperor Rongcheng came out of the main hall and had just stepped onto the road when Li Ce followed him.
Upon seeing this, Emperor Rongcheng immediately understood what was going on. He glanced at him and asked, "Li Ce, tell me the truth, who exactly did this?"
Upon hearing this, Li Ce immediately knelt down.
“Your Majesty, those things are indeed the Third Prince’s wife’s, but they were not given to them by the Third Prince’s wife.”
"I have discovered that these items were delivered to those people by a palace maid."
"And that palace maid had some private contact with the maidservants around Miss Situ."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Rongcheng understood everything.
He couldn't help but sigh.
“Situ Qinghe is getting bolder and bolder. It seems it’s time to teach him a lesson.”
These words implied an intention to let the matter drop and help Situ Mingji conceal it.
The reason Li Ce hadn't mentioned this earlier was because he understood Emperor Rongcheng's desire to protect Situ Mingji. Now, hearing this, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
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