Chapter 238: Yun Chu Gets Harassed
This time, when the Crown Prince welcomed the Side Princess Consort, the Emperor gave the Fang family ample face by setting aside a pile of memorials and specially attending to join in the festivities.
The Empress wore a smile on her face. The Emperor honoring the Fang family also meant showing respect to the Eastern Palace, letting everyone know that the Crown Prince's position as heir was unshakable.
Under the Ministry of Rites' arrangements, after Fang Xinyan served tea to the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Princess, the ceremony was considered complete.
The Side Princess Consort was escorted to the bridal chamber, and fine wine and delicacies were served in an endless stream. Everyone took their seats according to their rank and status.
Yun Chu sat together with Lin Shi.
Having heard of the Empress's intentions, Lin Shi said with an unpleasant expression, "I never expected the Empress to harbor such thoughts."
Gongsun Ning was no good match, and the Empress's move was truly distasteful.
She didn't want her daughter to have just escaped the wolf's den of the Xie family only to fall into a tiger's cave next.
The mother and daughter ate their meal quietly.
Amid the clinking of cups and exchange of toasts, the banquet gradually drew to a close.
Yun Chu got up to use the restroom.
Qiutong accompanied her. Halfway there, Qiutong's voice tightened: "Miss, someone is following us."
Yun Chu frowned.
This was the Eastern Palace, and the Emperor and Empress were both present. Who would dare cause trouble here?
She rounded a flower trellis, then suddenly stopped and turned around, catching sight of the elegantly dressed eldest son of the Gongsun family, Gongsun Ning.
Discovered, Gongsun Ning showed no embarrassment. Swinging his folding fan, he approached: "What a coincidence to meet Miss Yun here."
He had gone to great lengths to persuade his aunt, the Empress, to act as matchmaker and arrange a marriage for him. Yet, his aunt had told him that Yun Chu refused to marry into the Gongsun family.
His father was the current Imperial Uncle, his aunt was the Empress of the nation, his cousin was the future emperor—with such status, countless women flocked to him. How could this woman before him refuse?
However, her refusal was somewhat understandable. After all, she was the capital's number one beauty and the eldest daughter of the Yun family—naturally, she had her pride.
"Miss Yun, you've lost your husband, I've lost my wife—we're a perfect match," Gongsun Ning took a step forward. "Once you become the Madame of the Gongsun family, I'll have my aunt, the Empress, intervene and ask the Emperor to clear your Yun family's name."
Yun Chu lowered her head: "The clear will remain clear, the muddy will stay muddy. The truth about the Yun family will come out in time; there's no need to trouble Lord Gongsun."
Gongsun Ning's face turned cold: "Miss Yun, you're refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. You should know how many women wish to be my official wife, yet I've set my sights on you alone. You've been married before yet can still become the Madame of the Gongsun family—this is your honor. If you refuse, I can't guarantee the position of official wife will remain available for you."
As he spoke, he closed his paper fan and slowly moved it toward Yun Chu's chin, attempting to lift her face.
He was far too eager to get a closer look at just how peerlessly beautiful that face was.
However.
Just as his paper fan was inches away from her chin.
A gust of sharp wind swept in.
Gongsun Ning felt a sharp pain in his wrist, followed by a kick to his chest that sent him tumbling to the ground.
He looked up and saw Prince Pingxi standing there, his tall frame completely blocking Yun Chu from view.
"You!" Gongsun Ning roared in fury. "Prince Pingxi, we've always minded our own business! How dare you lay hands on me! I'll tell my aunt!"
Chu Yi replied calmly, "As you wish."His unperturbed demeanor only fueled Gongsun Ning's rage further. Clambering up from the ground, he turned and stormed ahead.
Chu Yi glanced back. "Are you alright?"
Yun Chu shook her head. Before any harm could befall her, this man had appeared.
Like a towering mountain, he stood before her, shielding her from all storms... though she had long ceased to fear adversity.
She spoke quietly, "Beware of the villain lodging complaints first, Your Highness. We should hurry over."
Chu Yi slowed his pace to walk beside her, maintaining proper distance only when they reached an open area.
Neither noticed the figure sitting silently amidst the flowering trees, clad in pale green robes that nearly blended with the foliage.
The man's face bore a sickly pallor as he leaned on a branch to stand, his frame so frail it seemed a breeze could topple him.
This was Chu Rui, who had petitioned to have his own title revoked.
"Your Lordship, I've finally found you! The wind is strong here, you mustn't catch cold..."
A young eunuch supported Chu Rui as they emerged from the grove.
Chu Rui's gaze lingered in the direction where Yun Chu had disappeared.
He wondered why the divorced eldest daughter of the Yun family appeared so familiar with Chu Yi.
Ahead, the wedding banquet was nearing its conclusion.
The Emperor chatted briefly with several ministers before rising to take his leave.
At that moment, Gongsun family's eldest son rushed in clutching his chest in indignation, falling to his knees before the Emperor and Empress with a thud. "Your Majesty, Aunt Empress! I beg for justice!"
The Empress, who had always doted on this nephew, immediately descended the steps to help him up. "What has happened?"
Gongsun Ning coughed violently while clutching his kicked chest before making his accusation: "Aunt, it was—"
His words were cut short by a woman's weeping.
Interrupted, he turned to see Yun Chu kneeling tearfully beside him.
Such a great beauty, when she wept, resembled pear blossoms glistening with rain—truly like "the sentimental peony bearing spring tears, the weak rose resting on morning branches"—evoking profound pity.
Gongsun Ning completely forgot what he had meant to say.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness," Yun Chu knelt on the ground, sobbing between words, "The Yun family has served with loyalty for generations, protecting our nation. Now my father is merely missing, not convicted of any crime—why must someone harass the Yun daughter so cruelly?... Lord Gongsun, angered by my rejection, sought to humiliate me. Had Prince Pingxi not chanced to pass by, I could only have preserved my virtue through suicide!"
As she spoke, teardrops fell one by one.
Gongsun Ning stared transfixed, wishing he could draw the beauty into his arms to comfort her.
But a sharp kick from the Empress jolted him awake, meeting her icy glare.
He blurted immediately: "She—she seduced me! I remained unmoved, so she falsely accused me in anger! Prince Pingxi was deceived by her too—he kicked me!"
Lin Shi stepped forward anxiously. "Impossible! Chu'er would never do such things!"
The Empress said coldly, "My Gongsun family's descendants would never disgrace a woman. There must be some misunderstanding."
"I witnessed it myself," Chu Yi's voice was deep. "By our dynasty's laws: those who harass women receive thirty cane strikes. If causing a woman's suicide from shame, the penalty is hanging."
Gongsun Ning's vision darkened. He hadn't even touched a hair on Yun Chu's head—how could this count as harassment?
The Empress responded calmly, "Yi'er, what one person alone claims to have seen may not be truth.""Your Majesty, I witnessed it as well," Chu Rui said, leaning on the young eunuch as he stepped forward. "It is true that Lord Gongsun attempted to assault Miss Yun, but Prince Pingxi intervened before any harm could be done."
Though stripped of his title as Prince Zhuang, he remained a member of the royal family. He rarely appeared at such occasions and never involved himself in disputes, so his words carried considerable weight.
First, Prince Pingxi claimed to have seen it with his own eyes.
Then Chu Rui declared he had witnessed it too.
With two individuals of such standing stepping forward as witnesses,
the Empress's expression finally shifted noticeably.
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