Chapter 113
The long steps outside the imperial study were warmed by the afternoon sun, and the white marble surface reflected the gentle light. Song Qingyuan held Qian Baoer's hand and walked step by step with great stability.
The child's hands were cold and still trembling slightly, but her palms were no longer as clammy as they had been a moment ago. He would occasionally raise his head and steal a glance at the Crown Princess beside him. Her profile seemed to be coated with a soft glow in the sunlight. Her voice had been just as gentle when she had comforted him in the palace.
Shen Yanzhi walked on the other side of Song Qingyuan. He didn't say anything, but used his figure to block most of the inquiring or awe-inspiring gazes from behind for his wife and children.
The tense atmosphere finally relaxed until they boarded the carriage back to the East Palace, with the heavy curtains blocking out everything from the outside world and only three people left in the carriage.
Qian Baoer was probably very tired and frightened. As soon as she got in the car, she fell asleep leaning on Song Qingyuan's cushion, with tear marks still on her little face.
Song Qingyuan carefully adjusted his sleeping position to a more comfortable one, and then draped the thin blanket over him. After doing all this, she breathed a long sigh of relief, leaning back, her back against the soft pillow. In an instant, the composure and composure she maintained in front of others fell away, revealing a hint of fatigue.
"I was really afraid he'd burst into tears in front of the palace," she whispered, a hint of fear in her voice. "For such a young child, seeing the person sitting on the dragon throne, it's a blessing that he didn't faint from fright."
Shen Yanzhi reached out, wrapped her slightly cool fingers in his palm, and gently stroked them. "You did very well. Even I never thought that you would bring Baoer directly to the emperor."
His voice was low, carrying a sense of calmness after everything had settled. "This move is more effective than any evidence. The human heart is the most powerful weapon."
Song Qingyuan felt the warmth in his palm, and his heart began to calm down. "I can't help it. The King of Wei is best at confusing right and wrong and confusing the public."
We might not have the absolute upper hand in a verbal argument. He could argue that we fabricated both physical and witness evidence. But how could he defend a living child who was nearly silenced? He couldn't say we hired someone to impersonate him, could he?
As she spoke, she herself smiled, though with a hint of coldness. "He's betting that the Emperor, mindful of their father-son bond, will show mercy. I'll show the Emperor with his own eyes just how 'kind' this son truly is."
How can the emperor protect someone who is so cruel as to kill a whole family even for a seven-year-old child?"
"Drain the firewood from under the cauldron and kill with one blow." Shen Yanzhi looked at her, his admiration undisguised, "Qingyuan, after this battle, no one in the court dares to underestimate you anymore."
"I don't want to be looked down upon, nor do I want to be looked up to. A peaceful and stable life is what I want." Song Qingyuan muttered, then changed the subject with a hint of sarcasm, "However, Your Highness's performance in the Imperial Study today was also remarkable. That composure and steadiness, that unwavering composure despite the collapse of Mount Tai, is truly admirable."
Shen Yanzhi was amused by her imitation of the storyteller's tone, and the heavy atmosphere in the carriage suddenly became much lighter. "Oh? Is the Crown Princess praising me or insulting me?"
"Of course it's a compliment," Song Qingyuan said seriously. "Especially when father was angry, you stood there, your posture straight, neither humble nor arrogant, quite like a crown prince. Unlike some people," she curled her lips in the direction of the King of Wei being dragged away, "who only howled like pigs being slaughtered, which is unbecoming."
Shen Yanzhi suppressed his laughter and nodded in agreement: "Crown Princess, you are so kind. If it weren't for your advance planning, I wouldn't have the confidence to stand so straight."
The two men smiled at each other, many words needing no words to be spoken; they understood each other already. This victory was not the achievement of one person, but the result of the two of them fighting side by side.
The carriage rumbled and soon returned to the East Palace.
The palace gates were wide open, and the palace servants, led by Chief Steward Fu'an, were already lined up waiting. Seeing the Crown Prince and Crown Princess' carriage return safely, everyone's faces revealed a heartfelt joy and relief. For days, the entire Eastern Palace had been shrouded in a cloud of gloom, and everyone felt insecure. Now that the leader was safe and sound, and a decisive victory had been achieved, it meant that these servants could finally stand up straight.
"Welcome Your Highness, welcome Her Majesty back to the palace!" Fu'an's voice was trembling with excitement.
Shen Yanzhi carried the sleeping Qian Baoer down from the carriage, followed closely by Song Qingyuan. She glanced at Fuan and the others and said softly, "Everyone, get up. You've all been working hard these past few days. Ask the kitchen to add a few more dishes tonight so everyone can have a share."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!" The cheers of the palace people almost broke through the sky.
Song Qingyuan then instructed Lin Xiaoshu, who was standing beside him, "Go, pick out two attentive maids and a few young eunuchs, and tidy up a quiet courtyard to look after Bao'er. He's been frightened, so be extra careful with his diet and daily life. Also, ask an imperial physician to come and take a look and prescribe some calming prescriptions."
Lin Xiaoshu responded crisply and left immediately.
After everything was arranged, the couple returned to their bedroom. After changing out of their elaborate palace attire and having a simple lunch, they finally relaxed their tense nerves of the past few days.
However, this peace did not last long.
In the evening, news arrived from the palace. Upon hearing the decree decreeing the Prince of Wei's imprisonment and stripping him of his title, the Empress fainted in Kunning Palace. Upon waking, she wept incessantly and was now bedridden, unable to swallow anything. Emperor Jingming suspended court for the day and personally remained in Kunning Palace, comforting her and summoning the imperial physician. The Empress's illness gripped the entire palace with panic.
Song Qingyuan was reading a book from the previous dynasty under the lamp. When he heard the news, he stopped turning the pages.
"Here it comes." she whispered.
Shen Yanzhi, who was dealing with a backlog of official business in the past few days, looked up at the words, his expression calm. "As expected. Queen Mother won't let this go."
"You fell ill at the perfect time." Song Qingyuan closed the book, his tone tinged with sarcasm, "You didn't faint earlier or later, but just after Father issued the decree.
This fainting transformed me from a mother who had failed to raise her son into a heartbroken and pitiful person who had lost her beloved son. I'm afraid the anger my father felt towards my second brother would be somewhat diluted by this guilt."
"My father has always respected my mother more than he loved her, but after decades of marriage, there must be some affection between them." Shen Yanzhi put down his pen, walked over to sit beside her, "My mother's move is not to overturn my second brother's verdict, that is impossible.
She was trying to preserve the last bit of dignity of her second brother, and even more so, to preserve the reputation of herself and the entire Duke of Wei's Mansion."
Song Qingyuan leaned on his shoulder and sighed, "Yes, a confined prince and a rebellious son despised by the emperor are different after all. As long as the emperor softens his heart a little, my second brother's life in the clan house will be a little easier in the future.
Moreover, the Queen's move is also a demonstration to us. She is telling us that even if the King of Wei falls, she, the Queen, is still there, and the Duke of Wei's Mansion is still there. This chess game is not over yet."
At this moment, the commander of the guards from the Eastern Palace arrived to report that initial progress had been made in the joint trial of the three courts. Hundreds of people from the Prince of Wei's mansion had been interrogated throughout the night, and many had already succumbed to the pressure.
Among them, a trusted advisor to the King of Wei revealed a number of shocking secrets. Over the years, the King of Wei had not only formed cliques and installed his cronies, but had also secretly amassed wealth and privately opened an iron mine, his ambitions far greater than those of a small corporation. More importantly, numerous large sums of money were recorded in the account books, all leading to a single location: the Duke of Wei's residence.
"Duke Wei's Mansion?" Shen Yanzhi's eyes turned cold.
The guard commander bowed his head and replied respectfully, "Yes. The chief secretary said that most of the King of Wei's expenses, especially the money used to maintain his private army and bribe officials, came from the secret support of the Duke of Wei's mansion. The Duke of Wei, the Queen's brother, is likely aware of this matter."
Song Qingyuan and Shen Yanzhi looked at each other and saw seriousness in each other's eyes.
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