Chapter 1335 - 15: Maid_3
If the Wenyuan Bo Mansion was truly wronged, then the Emperor listened to slander, fell into a villain’s treachery, wrongly killed loyal subjects, and would inevitably earn the infamy of being a muddle-headed ruler.
For the sake of face, the Emperor wouldn’t allow ministers to overturn the case for the Wenyuan Bo Mansion.
Since Shangguan Ji promised to help Yun Chu, it was not mere words.
Led by Duke Chong, many ministers pleaded on behalf of the Wenyuan Bo Mansion, hoping the Emperor would be lenient, but it was not only useless but also angered the Emperor greatly.
Colluding with enemies to sell out the country is a crime worse than regicide and usurping the throne; a capital offense that would punish nine generations.
How could there be forgiveness for family members of traitors, isn’t this a subtle admission that he issued the wrong imperial decree?
The Emperor absolutely disagreed.
Duke Chong and others dared not speak too plainly, or it would backfire.
And the first step in overturning the case for the Wenyuan Bo Mansion was to help Yun Chu protect her family, otherwise, if they were all killed, the Emperor would be even less likely to allow overturning the case.
Uncle Wen Yuan at least committed suicide, while the others were sent to the guillotine.
But convincing the Emperor was too difficult, and Shangguan Ji was also helpless.
Shen Junshan thought for a moment, then said, "I do have an idea."
The Crown Prince was critically ill, and the Empress left the palace to the Great Buddha Temple to pray for the Crown Prince and even had a divination performed.
The divination said the Crown Prince’s illness was due to insufficient blessings and required the Emperor to perform good deeds to accumulate blessings.
The Emperor accumulated blessings by bestowing favor upon the people.
However, the court had a year of multiple disasters, drought here, floods there, and the National Treasury was exhausted.
Even if the court wanted to bestow favor, it had no means to do so.
The Empress was at a loss, when the idea of a universal pardon was whispered into her ear.
Indeed!
A universal pardon is also a good deed for accumulating virtue!
After returning to the palace, the Empress went to find the Emperor, who hadn’t issued a universal pardon for ten years; it was time for one.
The Empress pleaded bitterly, and the Emperor agreed.
Generally minor offenders were released directly, given a chance for reform, while those guilty of heinous crimes had no such luck; they could escape the death penalty but not living punishment.
The court granted them a chance at life, sentencing them to exile a thousand miles away.
Of course, the Wenyuan Bo Mansion was convicted of colluding and treason, and surely, someone used underhanded means to prevent them from reviving, asking the Emperor to execute the Wenyuan Bo family before the universal pardon.
However, the Emperor granted the pardon to accumulate blessings for the Crown Prince; when ministers said this would not aid in blessing the Crown Prince, the Emperor softened.
Releasing so many, only to ruin everything by executing the Wenyuan Bo family, was futile and unworthy.
Exile a thousand miles was no lighter than death.
Thus—
The Wenyuan Bo family was preserved.
Upon hearing this news, Yun Chu was overjoyed and tearfully thanked Shangguan Ji.
Yun Chu wanted to kneel down to thank him.
Shangguan Ji did not claim credit, quickly helping her up. "Miss An, you are thanking the wrong person."
Yun Chu looked at him, full of confusion.
If not for them, could her mother and brother escape execution through the Emperor’s universal pardon?
Could she believe this was just coincidence?
Shangguan Ji smiled and said, "The Wenyuan Bo mansion was saved by Brother Shen’s efforts, not mine."
Previously in competition, he had concluded Shen Junshan was the material of a great general.
This time, rescuing the Wenyuan Bo Mansion, Shen Junshan’s scheming and methods left him amazed.
Shen Junshan stood alongside, his face engraved with "Yes, it was me."
Yun Chu was taken aback; she never imagined it was Shen Junshan who helped her, fearing his mischief, she dared not speak of it to him.
Judging the heart of a gentleman with a villain’s agenda, Yun Chu apologized to Shen Junshan.
Shen Junshan, maintaining his posture, said, "Living in Ciyun Temple is not a long-term plan, unsafe, and inconvenient. I think you better move into my Jibei Marquis Mansion."
Yun Chu looked at him.
Shangguan Ji also watched him.
Shen Junshan lightly coughed and said, "Why are you both staring at me?"
"It’s to make you a maid for my cousin!"
A young lady, moving into the Jibei Marquis Mansion so abruptly, would surely stir gossip.
He didn’t care about reputation, but Yun Chu couldn’t ignore it, and the Jibei Marquis Mansion must care.
Now that Yun Chu is indeed a fugitive, everything must be kept low-key; even beside her mother, there’s a chance of exposure. To ensure Yun Chu’s safety, the fewer who know her identity, the better.
After thinking it over, placing her beside his cousin was the best choice.
This arrangement seemed reasonable to Shangguan Ji, Yun Chu was slightly resistant, but since Shen Junshan had saved the lives of her mother and brothers, and it was for her own good, she could not be ungrateful.
Thus—
Yun Chu came to stay with Shen Junshan’s cousin, Yan Ning, as a little maid.
To prevent drawing attention, Yan Ning bought Yun Chu off the street, spending twenty taels of silver.
Bestowing the name of Tantan.