Chapter 49 Scars Someone is willing to clear your grievances for you
The Jade Dew Cups in Jinhua Palace were shattered all over the floor. Palace Master Hong hadn't seen the Empress Dowager show her emotions for a long time, and it was all because of this little girl.
"Lu Tingwan!" He clenched the jade ruyi tightly in his hand, his nails almost digging into his flesh. The Clivia miniata bloomed in an exceptionally bright green color.
"Don't be angry, Your Majesty. Your health is more important," Shopkeeper Hong advised, removing the jade ruyi from the Empress Dowager's hand. "Lu Pushe, with Your Majesty's instructions, must have passed on the message. Lu Tingwan switched sides and went to Hanzhang Palace. He didn't mention the account book, but simply said he was testifying on behalf of Cheng Pushe, seeking justice for the farmers and severe punishment for Gao Heng. He won the hearts of the people and satisfied both Your Majesty and the Minister of the Central Secretariat."
"She's so brazenly challenging the Jinhua Palace. I'm sure she has some hidden agenda. The Empress Dowager should find an opportunity to question her and then decide on her punishment. Kyoto is so small, it wouldn't be too difficult for the Empress Dowager to make her pay."
"Lu Tingwan has nothing to fear," Empress Dowager Jiang said in a deep voice. "It's just that she ruined my plans. Today, she used my name to enter the palace and do things for her own benefit. I haven't even given her the opportunity to act, but she's already taking advantage of me. What a good daughter Lu Mingqian has raised."
"Do you know what else was said in Hanzhang Palace?"
"I've sent someone to inquire. Shortly after Lu Tingwan left the palace, the Dali Temple Minister also returned to the Dali Temple. Your Majesty," said Palace Master Hong, "Your Majesty has been imprisoned."
"Cheng Xianzhi is in the imperial prison revising the law, what is the emperor going to do?"
Queen Mother Jiang's beautiful eyes darkened as she considered starting an uprising.
Gongsun Xue returned to the Cheng family to take charge of the overall situation. She asked her father to let her go to see Cheng Xianzhi several times, but Gongsun Yin rejected her request every time. He still asked her to wait and protect the family home. With Cheng Xianzhi away, she, as the mistress, was the focus of the Cheng family.
She had just moved back to Yingyue Pavilion and was about to go to the study to clean up for Cheng Xianzhi when she saw Lu Tingwan, who was sent back by the palace servants. She was covered in scars and her face was pale.
Gongsun Xue was at a loss. She caught the man and asked about the situation, only to find out that Lu Tingwan had gone to see the emperor to plead for mercy.
She actually went to the palace to see the emperor? Or to plead for Cheng Xianzhi? When did their love develop to such a deep level? Gongsun Xue was puzzled.
That night, the two of them had a big quarrel in the study, and the news spread throughout the mansion. As a result, Cheng Xianzhi and Lu Tingwan no longer had any contact with each other.
Gongsun Xue had originally been resentful of Cheng Xianzhi for abandoning her and Lu Tingwan, but after learning the full story, she no longer cared. So why did she go to the Emperor today to plead for mercy, and what was she asking for?
She was doubtful, but still followed him. Feng Xin was the only one in Yansheng Hall, and it was difficult for Bai Riben to see anyone from Yansheng Hall.
Now, the place was deserted and Lu Tingwan was injured but had no one to call. Gongsun Xue could only send a few maids to stay and look after him. The imperial physician prescribed medicine for the wounds, and since the whip wounds were all on his back, he instructed the maids on how to use and the dosage, and then left.
Lu Tingwan woke up for a while after taking the medicine, but she didn't want to wake up so soon. She thought it would be better if she fell asleep, and the pain would go away.
"How are her injuries?" Gongsun Xue asked.
The maid replied, "The wounds, large and small, are shocking to the senses. I wonder how the Second Madam managed to survive. This woman requested an audience with the Holy Saint in Hanzhang Palace and was sentenced to twenty lashes. This must be because of this."
"Has she woken up?" Gongsun Xue asked in a trance. She had never taken her seriously before, and she also felt that her mind was not on Cheng Xianzhi. Even though she left the house every day, Gongsun Xue turned a blind eye. As long as she didn't compete with her, she could tolerate her existence.
It now seemed that if she went this far for Cheng Xianzhi, it wasn't heartless or indifferent. On the other hand, she had never considered taking such a step. If Cheng Xianzhi knew her good intentions, would he soften his heart? Would he transfer his feelings to Lu Tingwan?
Such true love, even she would be moved by it, let alone for him?
"I woke up. It was the Second Madam who asked me to go down."
"Did she ask anything?" Gongsun Xue said.
"Just tell this servant that if Feng Xin comes back, tell her to return to Yansheng Hall as soon as possible."
"I understand. There is no one in Yansheng Hall. Leave two maids outside. If necessary, go in. Don't disturb the Second Madam unless she calls you."
All she could do now was to take good care of Lu Tingwan. After all, she was injured for her master. This way, she would have something to explain if Cheng Xianzhi came back.
After returning to the Dali Temple, the Dali Temple Minister announced that he would meet the witnesses mentioned by Lu Tingwan, who were Aunt Miao and others and Tianshu.
After Lu Tingwan learned that Cheng Xianzhi was imprisoned in the imperial prison for retrial, she thought that someone might interfere, so she arranged for Tianshu to give Aunt Miao a few free instructions for Chunji Pies, to be used only after the hour of Hai.
Chun Ji Pie was setting up a stall diagonally opposite Gao Heng's back door. Although the stall was not big, the food was delicious.
That night, while they were eating pie, they did see a man in black entering the Gao family's back door. Tianshu mentioned it deliberately as if nothing had happened.
They said that Gao Heng was in prison and the valuables in the house would be easily stolen by thieves. Aunt Miao and the others thought it was just an ordinary thief breaking into the house and cursed at him, saying that Gao Heng deserved it.
At first, the few people did not take it seriously. After the man in black came out, Tianshu left on the pretext of having something to do, and followed the man in black into the deserted alleys in the west of the city.
Most of the people who rent houses there are wanderers who make a living by selling their weapons and lives. They do things that cannot be made public. As long as they have money, it doesn't matter what they do.
Luo Yunchu is their landlord, and Tianshu is usually the one who comes to collect the rent. Luo Yunchu asked Tianshu to find an excuse to negotiate the rent, and brought the sleeping pills that Lu Tingwan had prepared in advance. With Tianshu's kung fu, a head-on confrontation would probably alert the enemy, so he had to resort to extraordinary means.
After the drug was administered, the person was sent to an uninhabited house for detention. Lu Tingwan had discussed with Luo Yunchu in advance that if she did not show up in Zhichunli at 9:00 today, he would take Tianshu, Aunt Miao and the person who framed her to the Dali Temple.
The reasons were explained clearly, and after the Dali Temple's investigation, they found both witnesses and evidence to frame Cheng Xianzhi and the Minister of Justice for taking bribes. The Dali Temple was able to release the suspects with justification and silence the people's complaints.
Li Tingfeng went to the imperial prison. Cheng Xianzhi's condition in prison was not as miserable as he had imagined. Even though he was wearing prison uniform, it was difficult to hide his innate coldness.
The books in the prison were mostly laws from past dynasties, and the library was also piled high with classics. As Li Tingfeng stood at the prison door, the eunuch Qian announced, "Your Majesty has arrived."
Cheng Xianzhi stood up calmly, patted his prison uniform a few times, and saluted: "Your Majesty, your humble servant pays respects."
"Xianzhi, get up." Li Tingfeng waved his hand, and the jailer opened the cell door. Li Tingfeng went in and sat in the seat where Cheng Xianzhi had originally sat.
"Why are you here, Your Majesty?" Cheng Xianzhi stood solemnly.
"You can sit down too." Li Tingfeng took the case file on the table and looked at it. "You haven't been idle these few days in the imperial prison."
"The revision of laws is imminent. I don't want to disappoint Your Majesty, nor do I want Your Majesty to be controlled by others because of my mistakes." Cheng Xianzhi said seriously.
"Do you also think it's your fault that this disaster happened in Kyoto?" Li Tingfeng asked, looking at him.
"This incident was not caused by me, but I failed to prevent its consequences in advance. If we look into the reasons, I cannot escape the blame."
"Well," Li Tingfeng put down the case file and looked at him steadily. Cheng Xianzhi's face was calm, "But someone is willing to go to Hanzhang Palace to complain about your grievances. She doesn't think it's your fault."
He, usually calm, looked puzzled. Someone was begging for mercy on his behalf when he broke into Hanzhang Palace? He had never thought that someone would be willing to do so for him. Gongsun Xue? With Gongsun Yin around, he would definitely not let her act rashly.
Seeing him lost in thought, Li Tingfeng jokingly said, "Mr. Cheng, why don't you take a guess as to who it could be?"
Cheng Xianzhi felt hesitant and thought for a moment: "Your Majesty, please explain clearly."
"Lu Tingwan, your second wife." Li Tingfeng raised his wide sleeves, looking like he was watching a show.
"Lu Tingwan?" Cheng Xianzhi was incredulous. Then, remembering what happened that night, he laughed at himself and said, "She's probably asking His Majesty to sentence her to death."
Li Tingfeng burst into laughter upon hearing this, so much so that Cheng Xianzhi couldn't figure out what he meant.
"At first, I thought so too. The woman who requested an audience in Hanzhang Palace had to be whipped before she could plead her case before the emperor. But she actually received twenty lashes."
Cheng Xianzhi's eyes flashed with surprise. Did she really hate him so much? Would she rather be tortured than blame him for his mistakes?
"What she said to His Majesty is exactly the same as what is said outside: she abuses her power for personal gain and perverts the law, clinging to power but doing nothing."
"At first, I also thought she was sent by the Empress Dowager and Lu Pushe to testify against you," Li Tingfeng said, "but when she appeared in front of Hanzhang Palace, covered in wounds, she accused Gao Heng of being inhumane and the law of being ruthless. In her earnest words, she never once mentioned you."
"I didn't know that Lu Mingqian had such a daughter."
Cheng Xianzhi looked calm, but an inexplicable emotion welled up in his heart.
When she argued with him that day, her eyes were full of disappointment and fear. He thought Lu Tingwan would be trapped in her own fog, but he never thought that she would understand what he said.
Maybe I am too narrow-minded.
Since Lu Tingwan said those words in Hanzhang Palace, the Queen Mother must have known that it was not a good thing for her. There was no such clause in the covenant between her and herself that required her to sacrifice herself to escape from trouble.
"Lu Tingwan isn't someone who would willingly be controlled by the Empress Dowager and Lu Mingqian," Cheng Xianzhi said. "As Your Majesty said, she didn't come to the Emperor just to plead for me. She must have made other offers to Your Majesty."
"It seems you know something about her," Li Tingfeng said. "At first, I thought she was just a pawn that the Queen Mother had placed beside you to monitor. I knew you could handle it, so I never asked."
"As long as the Dali Temple obtains the witnesses and material evidence that the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice and you have accepted bribes, the rumors in Kyoto will be self-defeating. We can then use you to announce the revised laws to the Dalan territory and sentence Gao Heng severely." Li Tingfeng stood up and said.
"The Dali Temple has found evidence."
"Lu Tingwan dared to come here alone, which means she has made sufficient preparations. She has sent all the witnesses and evidence to the Dali Temple. As for the means by which she achieved her goal, I am not interested. As long as she can help me achieve the desired result, Gao Heng will be sentenced to death, and the peasant girl will be released from Chunfeng Tower. These are the conditions I agree to her." Li Tingfeng said firmly.
"It won't be long before Cheng Qing will be able to leave the imperial prison."
Cheng Xianzhi was still lost in thought. He wanted to know how Lu Tingwan had gotten the evidence, and he couldn't think of anyone else who could have framed her except Queen Mother Jiang and Lu Mingqian.
Lu Tingwan dared to openly disobey the empress dowager and act on her own, and there was a hint of cunning in her expression that no one noticed.
"Lu Tingwan, ah Lu Tingwan, I underestimated you." Cheng Xian muttered to himself.
Three days later, the Dali Temple found out the truth and submitted the case file to the Hanzhang Palace. Other officials who had originally had complaints about the case stopped speaking out.
Queen Mother Jiang had no more trump cards and didn't want to cause trouble secretly, so she could only endure the defeat. The little emperor had grown stronger, and if Lu Tingwan hadn't defected, the situation wouldn't have turned around so quickly.
Gao Heng was sentenced to death and executed at the execution ground. The people condemned him, and Uncle Zhou's eyes welled up with tears until the moment his head fell to the ground. Unfortunately, Lu Tingwan didn't get to see this scene, as her wounds hadn't yet healed.
Feng Xin came to change the dressing every morning and evening, and the bloodstains had healed somewhat, but the wound was deep and could not be healed in a short time. She could only lie down all day and could not lean her back against the couch. Sometimes she felt stuffy in her chest, so she asked Feng Xin to help her sit up for a while. Even walking would pull the wound, and the pain made her dare not move anymore. She asked Feng Xin to do everything.
Upon hearing Gao Heng's final verdict, Uncle Zhou retrieved his daughter from Chunfeng Tower. Cheng Xianzhi was also released from prison, and the matter was finally settled. However, her wounds still reminded her of the bloody incident that had rocked the city.
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