Chapter 802: Stirring Up Trouble
After the coffin was sealed, it was replaced with an identical one through the palace's secret passage, containing the body of Xiao Juesong that had been moved out earlier.
If the coffin were opened, everything about the Eastern Palace would be exposed—this was a plot to destroy the entire Eastern Palace!
"Is this the letter you mentioned?" Shen Xihe calmly produced the letter brought by Li Yanyan and handed it to Liu Sanzhi, addressing the Emperor, "Earlier, Li Yanyan barged into the Eastern Palace, shouting that Beichen was responsible for the Third Prince's death. I dismissed it as mad ravings. After she poisoned herself, this letter fell from her sleeve. I dared not act on my own authority, and given the gravity of the matter, I intended to present it to Your Majesty privately later."
The Youning Emperor clutched the paper, his expression complicated. "Why would Li Yanyan do this?"
"Your Majesty, I believe there is more to the Eighth Prince's assassination attempt," Shu Fei was the first to speak up. She was no longer pretending to be at odds with Shen Xihe—ever since the matter of Xiao Changhong did not go as she wished, she had genuinely broken with Shen Xihe. "The Third Prince's consort must have been certain of something but felt powerless to speak out, which is why she staked her life on it."
"Are you suggesting that Li Yanyan's suspicions were true? That the Crown Prince knew in advance about the Eighth Prince's assassination attempt and informed Li Yanyan? That Li Yanyan, eager for merit, urged the Third Prince to rescue Your Majesty but failed and got him killed, then harbored resentment against me? When her revenge failed, she staked her life, gambling that Your Majesty would grant her and the Third Prince justice?" Shen Xihe looked coolly at Shu Fei, following her logic.
"I never said that," Shu Fei retorted. "I merely meant that no one would risk their life unless driven to desperation."
"Well said!" Shen Xihe raised her voice, her eyes glinting with frost—unreadable yet piercingly cold. "No one would risk their life unless driven to desperation. But have you forgotten what day today is?"
Today?
It is the day of the Crown Prince's burial!
If Shu Fei believes Li Yanyan was certain of the truth and staked her life for justice, then how foolish must the Crown Prince have been to know about Xiao Changyan's rebellion yet fail to prepare, only to die saving Your Majesty?
Shu Fei had contradicted herself. Her face stiffened, and in her frustration, she blurted out, "The Crown Prince was already dying. Who knows if he..."
Slap!
Before Shu Fei could finish, Shen Xihe raised her hand and struck her across the face.
The hall fell silent. Shu Fei covered her cheek in disbelief.
The servants shrank back, trembling.
"Your Majesty, the dead deserve respect. Shu Fei has slandered the Crown Prince, defaming the deceased. I implore Your Majesty to punish her severely!" With that, Shen Xihe knelt straight-backed, refusing to rise, as if she would remain kneeling unless the Youning Emperor met her demands.
Shu Fei suddenly realized that Shen Xihe would not let this go. Recalling her own reckless words, she regretted her impulsiveness. How could she have spoken so carelessly?
Her heart racing, Shu Fei could only dig in her heels. She threw herself to her knees. "Your Majesty, I never intended to slander the Crown Prince. I was merely speaking candidly, following the logic of the Third Prince's consort's actions. The Crown Prince's frailty was well-known, and rumors were rampant—I had heard them too. Moreover, before his death, the Crown Prince begged Your Majesty to protect his unborn child. It was not as if he asked for nothing..."
Her voice trailed off into a whisper.She didn't suspect Xiao Huayong of faking his death, but rather suspected he was nearing his end and wanted his death to be meaningful.
If he hadn't died saving the Emperor, why would His Majesty bestow such a name upon the child in Shen Xihe's womb?
With Xiao Huayong's sacrificial death, the Emperor would likely never appoint another Crown Prince. After giving the imperial grandson such a name, appointing another heir would be like throwing the imperial grandson into the fire!
Unless Shen Xihe didn't give birth to a grandson. Otherwise, everyone would be appalled by the Emperor's actions.
In Shu Fei's view, Xiao Huayong was dead, but the Eastern Palace gained endless benefits! If she were in his position with only days to live, she would have done the same!
Youning Emperor, however, thought more deeply. When he set the trap for Shen Shi that day, according to this letter, it had already been leaked. Did Shen Shi know in advance and play along?
One point didn't make sense: Xiao Huayong was dead. Whether this son of his was truly sincere and devoted or cunning and profound, Youning Emperor couldn't believe anyone would go to such lengths for a woman, even if Xiao Huayong was truly near death!
At least in his position, Youning Emperor couldn't sacrifice his life for a woman.
So whether this matter was related to the Eastern Palace or not, Youning Emperor found it difficult to determine for now.
If it was, was Xiao Huayong truly as Shu Fei guessed—aware of his impending death and paving the way with his life?
Or had Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe reached an agreement? He would fake his death first, then operate from the shadows, turning overt actions into covert ones. After achieving their goals, he would make a comeback?
Comparing the two, Youning Emperor preferred to believe the former. How could someone already buried in the imperial mausoleum come back to life? Even the court officials wouldn't accept it. If Xiao Huayong were truly cunning, he wouldn't act so recklessly.
Whether it was true or not, opening the coffin for another examination would reveal the truth. But this was the Crown Prince's coffin—the Crown Prince who died saving the Emperor and was buried with full honors. Opening it lightly—what would the officials think?
If the Crown Prince was indeed inside, what would the world think of him as their ruler?
The dead should be respected. The slightest misstep could bring condemnation from the entire nation!
Lastly, this matter might have nothing to do with the Eastern Palace. From beginning to end, someone might have been behind the scenes, inciting conflict between the Eastern Palace and him. Lately, Youning Emperor had grown increasingly suspicious of this.
"Your Majesty..." Liu Sanzhi, who had gone to verify Yu Sangning's confession, returned with an unreadable expression. He approached Youning Emperor and whispered in his ear, inaudible to others.
After hearing it, Youning Emperor's face turned grim. He glanced sharply at Yu Sangning, then looked heavily at Shen Xihe. "Bring them in. Summon the Three Departments and Six Ministries, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the Dali Temple, and the Censorate!"
Shen Xihe furrowed her delicate brows, unable to guess what matter could provoke Youning Emperor to such extremes!
The officials were already on duty, some conveniently within the palace, so they arrived quickly.
Youning Emperor led everyone to the main hall of the Eastern Palace. Once all the officials had gathered, he solemnly declared, "I have summoned you today to seek your judgment on a certain matter."
As soon as Youning Emperor finished speaking, a young couple in commoner's clothing was brought forward under guard. Liu Sanzhi stepped forward and shouted, "Before His Majesty, why do you not kneel?"
Trembling, the two knelt and kowtowed, their voices shaking with fear.
Shen Xihe had an excellent memory. Even though she couldn't see the faces of those kneeling, and their voices were strained, she could recall who they were. Finally, she understood the meaning behind Youning Emperor's earlier gaze.A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips, yet it was chillingly cold.
"Who kneels before me?" Liu Sanzhi demanded loudly.
Yu Sangzi's voice trembled even more: "This humble woman... this humble woman, née Liu Yu..."
"Your parents and native place!" Liu Sanzhi's tone deepened, responding to Yu Sangzi's evasive answer.
(End of Chapter)
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