Offered As A Lucky Bride To The Mad Princess To Ward Off Misfortune - Chapter 65

65: The Princess is Accused, Troops Surround the Palace

“Then how do you explain the requisition of kerosene by the Imperial Guards?” a court official immediately stood up to challenge.

Princess Rongxi remained composed, as if she had anticipated the question. She turned slowly and said unhurriedly, “The kerosene was used to make sky lanterns. Perhaps the official is unaware that adding kerosene to candle oil extends the burning time of sky lanterns.”

She then turned to the Assistant Minister of Works. “Lord Wang, is that not correct?”

The Assistant Minister of Works rose, bowed respectfully to Princess Rongxi, and said, “Your Highness, that is indeed correct.”

With the Assistant Minister’s confirmation, the questioning official flicked his sleeve and sat back down.

“Your Majesty, that’s not true! The Princess is lying! I truly smelled kerosene, and I overheard them saying they would burn down West Garden. If someone hadn’t come to save me, I would have been burned alive in West Garden tonight. I beg Your Majesty for justice, I beg Your Majesty for justice!”

Lin Wanniang’s words were heart-wrenching, and those behind her began kowtowing. Many officials, moved by compassion, started submitting memorials on their behalf.

“Your Majesty, there may be a misunderstanding here. We cannot take the Princess’s word alone,” one official said.

“A woman’s virtue is of utmost importance. Why would they risk it with such accusations? Moreover, the injuries on those young men can be verified with a simple examination.”

“Your Majesty, even if this has nothing to do with Princess Rongxi, it surely involves the Heir of Si. The Heir has long been known for bullying men and women in the capital. His inclinations are clear!”

“Your Majesty…”

More and more officials stepped forward with memorials. How could such heinous acts, committed at the foot of the majestic imperial city, be tolerated, especially when the culprit blatantly twisted the truth?

Yet Emperor Wenjing, listening to the officials’ accusations against the Princess’s household, showed no expression. Observing his demeanor, some officials quickly spoke in defense of Princess Rongxi.

“The Princess kindly offered them aid. Who’s to say they didn’t bite the hand that fed them after failing to climb the social ladder?”

“They resided in the Princess’s garden yet conspired with Prince Ning. Their intentions are despicable!”

The two factions of officials argued fiercely, growing increasingly indignant. Emperor Wenjing’s face darkened, and he threw the jade paperweight from his desk to the ground.

The jade paperweight shattered with a loud thud, breaking into pieces.

The officials fell silent and knelt in unison.

“This matter remains unresolved. The investigators sent to West Garden have not yet returned, and there is no solid evidence. Yet you all rush to condemn Princess Rongxi and Prince Ning. Are you plotting something in advance?”

If the one who rescued those men and women from West Garden today had been Prince Chen, Prince Xuan, or any of his own sons, Emperor Wenjing would have been willing to hear how his son uncovered the truth.

Princess Rongxi had held power for years, and he wouldn’t mind replacing her, using the opportunity to erase her past deeds.

But it was Prince Ning who exposed this. A thorough investigation would inevitably dig deeper, uncovering things beyond his control.

Even if he took a step back, the officials now accusing Princess Rongxi held significant influence in court.

He despised nothing more than ministers forming factions. In the early years of his reign, whenever the old vassals of Emperor Wuxuan voiced opinions contrary to his, he suspected they were plotting to restore Emperor Wuxuan’s bloodline to the throne.

Even after all these years, Emperor Wenjing couldn’t help but harbor such suspicions.

The officials at the forefront paled at his words. “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. We are not trying to frame Princess Rongxi. The events at West Garden are simply too shocking. We cannot risk inciting public outrage.”

Another official chimed in, “The last time the Drum of Justice was struck, it ended in tragedy. This time, it must not be brushed aside, or the Drum of Justice will become a mere decoration. Your Majesty, please reconsider!”

Yet the more they pressed for an investigation, the more determined Emperor Wenjing became to protect the Princess.

He glanced at the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, recalling what Xiao Qiling had said earlier about discovering West Garden. The Minister had found irregularities in the Imperial Observatory but reported them to Prince Ning instead of him. What did that imply?

It implied that Xiao Qiling, right under his nose, had long been colluding with these officials.

Emperor Wenjing, unwilling to hear their debates, raised his hand to silence them.

“There’s no need for Your Majesty to be troubled,” Princess Rongxi said, reading his thoughts perfectly. “Since this matter stems from the Court of Judicial Review’s investigation of the Imperial Observatory, let the Minister explain the case.”

Her words only deepened Emperor Wenjing’s suspicions of Prince Ning.

On closer thought, though the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was personally appointed by him, the man had served under Emperor Wuxuan. Prince Ning had been stripped of his title as Crown Prince, and any discerning official would avoid associating with him to steer clear of trouble. Yet the Minister chose to inform Prince Ning about West Garden. Could there be a hidden conspiracy between them?

How many others dared to secretly support Prince Ning?

Emperor Wenjing’s thoughts churned as he looked at the Minister expressionlessly. “Since you, Minister Guo, were the first to uncover irregularities in West Garden, explain it.”

The Minister stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, while investigating the Imperial Observatory as per your orders, I discovered boys and girls used for alchemical experiments in the home of an Observatory official. Under interrogation, they revealed connections to Princess Rongxi and West Garden.”

“But based on the official’s testimony, we couldn’t locate West Garden. We only knew that Liang Yin and Tian Ji, who supplied the boys and girls for the experiments, were former attendants of Princess Rongxi. They collected attractive men and women on her orders, first housing them in a residence on Changxing Street before sending them to West Garden or other officials’ homes.”

Emperor Wenjing’s gaze darkened as he stared at the Minister. After a long silence, he asked, “Do you have evidence for all this, Minister Guo?”

The Minister replied steadily, “The former Spring Official of the Imperial Observatory still resides in the capital. Your Majesty can summon him for questioning.”

“Then send…” Emperor Wenjing began, but before he could finish, the Chief Scribe of the Imperial Observatory stepped forward with a memorial. “Your Majesty, the former Spring Official, after being dismissed, fell into despair and drowned two days ago after drinking!”

With the Spring Official dead, the lead was cut off. Yu Nanqing glanced at Princess Rongxi standing in the center of the hall. Her expression was calm, as if she had expected this. On one side stood the lofty Princess, on the other, the suffering commoners with nowhere to turn. The Minister’s fists clenched tightly as he pressed on, “Your Majesty can summon witnesses from the Changxing Street residence I mentioned. Moreover, I know that some who escaped from Changxing Street have reported to the Prefecture.”

He turned to the Capital Prefect. “Lord Lu should be aware.”

Lu Guangping had known this moment was coming since the accusations against Princess Rongxi began. As he stepped forward to respond, he instinctively glanced at her.

Princess Rongxi’s posture was relaxed, her eyes carrying a polite smile. Lu Guangping thought of his young son, held under the Princess’s control, and gritted his teeth before bowing to Emperor Wenjing. “Your Majesty, all cases reported to the Prefecture are recorded in our files. I have heard nothing related to West Garden.”

“Lord Lu, the capital has seen many missing persons cases over the years. As the official responsible for the people, are you truly aiding the wicked, watching families be torn apart?” The Minister, furious, scolded him directly.

Lu Guangping, unfazed, turned calmly. “I’ve said all my cases are recorded. If Minister Guo doesn’t believe me, I can have the files sent to the Court of Judicial Review immediately.”

“You’re twisting words and aiding evil!” the Minister retorted. “If West Garden isn’t mentioned in the files, what about the evidence you erased?”

“Minister Guo, you need evidence to make such claims. If it’s not recorded, it didn’t happen. Or should I accuse the Court of Judicial Review of destroying nonexistent files and colluding with foreign powers?” Lu Guangping smiled and bowed slightly. “As Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, you should know better than I that empty words hold no weight.”

Emperor Wenjing leaned forward slightly, resting his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne. “If that’s the case, Minister Guo, do you have other evidence?”

“I…” The Minister hadn’t expected Princess Rongxi to be so meticulous, leaving the trail dead. But to admit he had no evidence—how could he accept that?

Even if he presented the testimony of the Minister of Revenue, it could be dismissed as the Princess’s defenders had suggested: that the commoners willingly offered themselves for wealth. West Garden’s injustices would remain buried forever.

The Minister’s brows furrowed tightly, and the kneeling commoners looked to his unyielding figure. The Court of Judicial Review handled cases too grave for the Prefecture to judge. If even the Minister was powerless, who could help them?

“I understand Minister Guo’s heart for the people,” Princess Rongxi said, her phoenix eyes curving slightly. “The Changxing Street you mentioned is indeed one of my sites for housing refugees. As for Liang Yin and Tian Ji, they left the capital over ten days ago. I can’t locate them at the moment, or I’d have them explain where these people were rescued from.”

The Minister stared at Princess Rongxi in disbelief, veins bulging on his forehead as he took a step forward. “You—”

But Princess Rongxi’s smile didn’t waver, as if certain he could do nothing to her. She lightly shifted the topic. “It’s late, and this case is complex with many doubts. It’s best to continue the trial tomorrow. The girls’ old wounds haven’t healed, and they shouldn’t kneel for long. Madam.”

A madam approached and bowed. “Your Highness.”

“Give these girls some cloaks,” Princess Rongxi said calmly. “And don’t neglect the young men either.”

Lin Wanniang, as if recalling something, looked at Princess Rongxi in terror. She opened her mouth to refuse but suddenly realized their predicament.

In West Garden, they had longed for the laws of Great Qi, but now those laws seemed meaningless under imperial power. Were their grievances doomed because of a lack of evidence?

Tears welled in Lin Wanniang’s eyes, her frustration at the unanswered Drum of Justice making her glare at Princess Rongxi with reddened eyes. They were so close—if only she could…

Before she could act on the thought, a clear, resonant voice interrupted, “Has Aunt finished speaking?”

Lin Wanniang looked toward the voice. It was Prince Ning, the one who had rescued them from West Garden.

“Your Highness, Prince Ning…”

Though Prince Ning had saved these commoners, he had remained silent since Emperor Wenjing gave Princess Rongxi a chance to defend herself, as if, like the Minister, he too was powerless to convict her.

In his scarlet python robe, Xiao Qiling’s figure was elegant and unmatched. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he had been waiting for this moment. “Since Aunt is done, it’s my turn.”

His voice, clear and cool, carried a hint of warmth at first, but when his gaze fell on Princess Rongxi, it turned icy.

“What more do you have to say?” Princess Rongxi, convinced he had no evidence, looked at him with haughty disdain.

“I have a register compiled by those taken to West Garden,” Xiao Qiling said, pulling a booklet from his sleeve. He met Princess Rongxi’s gaze, a cold glint in his eyes. “It lists the dates they were taken, their origins, and… their dates of death.”

“You claim to have sheltered these people, Aunt. I ask you, what kind of relief center has such a high death toll, all within a year of entering West Garden?”

“And these men and women kneeling here—were their wounds truly caused by ordinary weapons? If so, tell me where you rescued them from. I’ll lead troops there myself to bring those ‘villains’ to justice.”

Xiao Qiling’s booklet and words were like a slap across Princess Rongxi’s face, rendering her earlier defenses feeble.

When Xiao Qiling and the Minister discussed West Garden, their greatest challenge was linking it to Princess Rongxi.

She was cautious and adept at maneuvering. Even if someone like the Minister of Revenue testified against her, as long as Emperor Wenjing favored her, she could deflect with excuses.

After all, West Garden wasn’t registered under her name.

So they hadn’t revealed their evidence at first, letting the victims accuse her to create the illusion they lacked proof.

As expected, Princess Rongxi twisted the truth, claiming “coercion” was “relief,” inadvertently admitting her connection to West Garden.

Now, with solid evidence and her own admission, even neutral officials saw her ability to manipulate the truth.

A princess, supported by the people, had abused her power for personal gain, twisting justice even after the Drum of Justice was struck. How many other hidden injustices were there?

If she wasn’t punished now, what would she dare to do next?

The officials stepped forward, their anger surging.

“I served as a county magistrate in the northern border. Even wounded soldiers from the battlefield wouldn’t all die during treatment. Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly!”

“The Heir of Si has caused trouble in pleasure houses multiple times, and it’s no secret in the capital. Yet Prefect Lu never convicted him. If he’s so brazen in public, what must he do in the secretive West Garden?”

“The dead must not be wronged. I beseech Your Majesty to investigate this matter!”

“I second the motion!”

“I also second!”

In an instant, the Golden Throne Hall was filled with kneeling officials petitioning. Emperor Wenjing looked down at the booklet Xiao Qiling presented. It was detailed, with fingerprints on every page, impossible to forge.

Faced with the officials’ relentless petitions, Emperor Wenjing’s face turned ashen. The situation had spiraled beyond his control, his clenched teeth grinding audibly, the taste of bl00d filling his mouth.

“Rongxi, are these deeds at West Garden your doing? Were these people abducted on your orders?”

At this point, Princess Rongxi, seeing Emperor Wenjing’s even darker expression, smirked mockingly. “Yes.”

“And did those people die in West Garden?”

“Yes.”

“So your claims of aiding refugees were all lies?”

“Yes.”

With each “yes” from Princess Rongxi, Emperor Wenjing’s tone grew heavier, as if he were pained to discover her true nature.

Finally, he asked, “Abducting people, forcing innocents, taking lives, abusing power, and defying the law—do you admit your guilt?”

Princess Rongxi smiled. With the evidence laid bare, she had no reason to deny it. Without a single defense, she accepted all charges. “I confess.”

Her two-word admission stunned not only the kneeling commoners but also the officials.

Princess Rongxi had confessed so easily?

She offered no defense?

With such crimes fully admitted, the entire Princess’s household could face execution. Yet she confessed so readily?

Emperor Wenjing shared their disbelief.

He frowned, staring at Princess Rongxi, trying to discern her intentions.

At the same time, Princess Rongxi stared back, her gaze no longer carrying the humility of a subject or sister. It was as if she had torn off a mask worn for years, staring directly at the emperor, sending a chill through him.

In an instant, Emperor Wenjing’s eyes widened, as if sensing what she might do. He shouted, “Guards, seize Princess Rongxi and throw her in the dungeon!”

With irrefutable evidence and her confession, the officials thought he might be trying to lighten her punishment for a later trial.

Some stepped forward to protest. “Your Majesty, this must not be!”

“Since Princess Rongxi has confessed, please deliver her sentence swiftly!”

“Please bring justice to the innocent!”

“Please judge her now!”

“Take her away!” Emperor Wenjing repeated, “Where are the Imperial Guards?”

Suddenly, a burst of laughter echoed from the front.

“Haha, hahahaha—” Princess Rongxi laughed wildly, her body shaking with the intensity. Pointing at Emperor Wenjing, her eyes gleamed with madness, her beautiful face taking on an eerie allure.

“Mother, what’s wrong?” Si Chengli, unable to sit still, rushed to stop her disrespectful gesture.

But Princess Rongxi brushed off his hand, her laughter unrelenting, her rouged eyes tinged with a crazed, bewitching smile.

“Rongxi, what are you laughing at?” Emperor Wenjing’s unease grew. The Princess before him was no longer the gentle, caring sister he remembered.

“I’m laughing because the lords fear you’ll favor and spare me.” Princess Rongxi said, her laughter abruptly stopping. The candlelight illuminated her ornate robe, and as she calmed, she regained the dignified air of a royal princess.

Lord Li, emboldened by her fall, demanded, “What do you mean?”

“With West Garden’s crimes proven, were all those men and women there solely for Chengli’s pleasure?” Princess Rongxi swept her gaze over the crowd, landing back on Emperor Wenjing with a fierce glint. “Why did I establish West Garden, and for whose amusement? Ask my dear brother. Does he dare investigate? Does he dare unearth those truths?”

Emperor Wenjing slammed the imperial desk and stood, pointing at her. “Silence! What don’t I dare investigate? I trusted you too much, and you’ve deceived me time and again tonight. Guards, take her away!”

“Who dares touch me!” Princess Rongxi shouted sharply. Dozens of guards descended from above, their sharp swords drawn, surrounding her and Si Chengli.

She had come prepared!

Si Chengli, used to swaggering through the capital with lackeys, had never faced such a real threat. His hands trembled. “Mother, you…”

“Shut up!” Princess Rongxi, her mask fully discarded, offered no comfort to her timid son. She turned to a guard. “Has Commander Si returned?”

The guard bowed respectfully. “Commander Si is hurrying back upon Your Highness’s orders. Rest assured.”

“Rongxi! Are you rebelling?” Emperor Wenjing panicked. The Imperial Guards, nowhere to be seen, had vanished from the Golden Throne Hall.

The officials, too, noticed the anomaly. The Imperial Guards were the emperor’s trusted protectors, the last line of defense against invaders.

Now, their absence was glaring, and all eyes turned to Princess Rongxi as realization dawned.

“It’s Commander Si! Princess Rongxi has colluded with Commander Si!”

Indeed, years ago, Duke Si saved Emperor Wenjing’s life, and the Si family rose to prominence. Now, with Princess Rongxi implicated in West Garden, how could the Si family escape blame?

The power Emperor Wenjing granted twenty years ago had become the sharpest blade aimed at him tonight.

“Your Majesty, Princess Rongxi is committing treason! She must not be spared!”

“Indeed, Your Majesty! The Imperial Guards are your trusted vassals. If she can dismiss them today, what might she do tomorrow? Please reconsider!”

But Princess Rongxi’s plans went far beyond dismissing the guards.

Before she could speak, a sharp voice rang from outside the hall. “Your Majesty! Disaster! Commander Si has led the Imperial Army to surround the Golden Throne Hall!”

Emperor Wenjing’s heart sank, his face full of shock as he stared at Princess Rongxi. “You… you dare…”

“Have you forgotten, dear brother, how you claimed the throne over twenty years ago?” Princess Rongxi’s thin lips curled into a wild, triumphant laugh, her madness spilling over.

She had waited for this day too long. What did the suffering of the people matter to her? What did the plight of loyal vassals mean?

Her greatest regret was helping Emperor Wenjing ascend after Emperor Wuxuan’s death. She had played the role of the perfect sister for too long—so long that everyone believed it.

“I’m merely following your example, dear brother.”