Chapter 145: Turns Out This Empress Dowager Has a Temper, Too
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
The two men bowed, and the Emperor raised a hand. "King Guo Zhang, I have two petitions here. One is from the Marquis Xuanping, accusing Princess Xuanyang of beating his son. The other is from your granddaughter, accusing the Marquis Xuanping’s son, He Chengfeng, of attempting to defile and abuse her. What are your thoughts?"
Before Wang Changwen could speak, Wang Wanqing’s father, Wang Zhihan, spoke up. "How could Wanqing file a complaint against Chengfeng?"
He looked to the Empress at the side. "Empress, what in the world is going on?"
The Empress first glanced at the Emperor. Seeing no reaction, she knew she had his tacit permission and proceeded to tell them what had transpired.
Upon hearing that his daughter had nearly been defiled and had her leg injured, Wang Zhihan’s first reaction was disbelief. He then shook his head in denial. "This must be a mistake. That boy, Chengfeng, is handsome and well-mannered. Though he can be a bit playful due to his youth, he would never do something so outrageous. There must be a mistake somewhere."
He then added hastily, "Your Majesty, Empress, you may not be aware, but Wanqing has never wanted to marry Chengfeng. She is always nitpicking. Tonight, for the Lantern Festival, Chengfeng invited her out, and she was very reluctant. She’s probably just throwing another tantrum."
The Empress let out a cold laugh. "Throwing a tantrum? You haven’t even gotten to the bottom of this. How can you be so certain she’s just throwing a tantrum?"
Xiao Li raised an eyebrow. ’Well, this is rare. So my sister-in-law, the Empress, has a temper after all.’
Marquis Xuanping and Wang Changwen exchanged a look. Wang Changwen stepped forward. "Your Majesty, Empress, could there be some misunderstanding in all this? I wonder where Wanqing is."
The Empress replied, "Wanqing was injured. The Imperial Physician is treating her now."
Wang Changwen frowned. "Where is she injured? Is it serious?"
As he spoke, he glanced at He Chengfeng on the stretcher, his eyes asking: ’Is it more serious than this?’
The Empress saw his expression and actually smiled. "She is in the side hall. Father, you should go see for yourself."
"Aunt."
Wang Wanqing’s voice came from the entrance of the hall. Everyone turned to look as she gently pushed away the palace maid supporting her and limped inside on her own.
Her hands and feet were bandaged, and there were bruises on her face, made even more conspicuous by the ointment that had been applied.
Wang Wanqing walked in resolutely and prepared to bow, but the Emperor excused her. She managed to stand straight. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Wang Zhihan frowned. "Wanqing, how did you get yourself into such a state?"
’What a ridiculous question.’ She couldn’t even be bothered to answer.
"Grandfather." She looked at Wang Changwen, her gaze firm and determined. "Do you wish to hear from my own lips what I suffered tonight?"
He Chengfeng, who had been lying motionless on the stretcher, began to twitch as if in a final burst of energy. Marquis Xuanping, realizing something, said to Wang Changwen, "Uncle Changwen, Wanqing seems quite badly hurt. Let’s have her go back and rest properly. If Chengfeng has truly wronged her, I will personally bring him to your door to apologize once he can walk. At that time, if my niece Wanqing wishes to beat him or scold him, I will not interfere."
With just a few words, he tried to reduce the matter to a private squabble between the two.
Wang Changwen had known the severity of the situation the moment he heard the Empress’s account. It was his own granddaughter who had suffered, but if word of such a thing got out, it would be the family’s reputation that was damaged.
He was also furious with He Chengfeng for being so reckless. They were to be married soon, so why the rush?
But no matter how angry he was now, he could only suppress the matter to save face for both families. At the same time, this gave him some leverage over the He Family.
In the space of two breaths, the old fox’s mind had already run through a thousand schemes.
"The Marquis Xuanping is right. Chengfeng and Wanqing are engaged. It’s just a young couple’s quarrel. It was truly inappropriate to disturb Your Majesty and the Empress over such a small matter."
Wang Zhihan immediately went to pull at Wang Wanqing, scolding her with a stern face. "Is there something you can’t say at home? Would your father and grandfather not stand up for you? Coming here to disturb His Majesty in the middle of the night—how audacious."
With so many people watching, the Wang family was actually threatening the victim.
Wang Wanqing glanced at the Emperor and Empress, her gaze finally landing on Xiao Li, who stood off to one side.
Xiao Li did not avoid her gaze. She simply looked back at her calmly, her expression unreadable, as tranquil as still water.
Wang Wanqing had wanted to ask her for help, but she had no right to. The Wang family had harmed the Princess once before. For the Princess to have saved her today was already more than enough. She had to learn to be strong on her own.
"Your Majesty..."
Wang Wanqing dropped to her knees, bowing her head to the floor with grim finality. "I, Wanqing, am willing to shave my head and become a nun, to never marry in this life. I beg for Your Majesty’s grace!"
She knew her path. If she went home, she would inevitably be forced to compromise, and in the end, she would not escape her fate of marrying He Chengfeng. After what happened today, her life after marrying him would likely be even more miserable.
She had two paths left: either death or the nunnery.
She did not want to die. She wanted to live, even if it meant a life of solitary devotion with green lamps and ancient Buddhas. She would have no regrets.
Wang Zhihan’s face changed in an instant as he snapped, "Wanqing, what nonsense are you spouting?"
"Get home this instant!"
Wang Zhihan quickly pleaded, "Your Majesty, this rebellious daughter is just spouting nonsense out of spite. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness."
While the Wang family descended into chaos, the Marquis Xuanping stood aside, enjoying the show. He would wait for the Wang family to handle their own first. Only when there were no more problems on their end could he properly seek justice for his son.
"Silence!"
A eunuch’s sharp cry instantly stopped them.
The Emperor’s face was dark, his eyes filled with fury. This group of people had absolutely no respect for him as the Emperor.
"Since the complaint has been brought to the imperial court, then let the Three Judicial Offices hold a joint trial and bring the truth to light."
"Men, take them all away!"
The ones to be taken away were, of course, Wang Wanqing and the He father and son.
The Wang father and son were stunned. "Your Majesty?"
’Why is he actually treating this like a real case?’
The Marquis Xuanping looked at the Emperor, suddenly unsure. If they were truly imprisoned, that would be disastrous.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider."
The Emperor’s sharp gaze swept over him. "Reconsider what? Weren’t you the one who wanted to accuse the Princess? Since you’re accusing a princess, you must have witnesses and evidence. Should I condemn the Princess based on your word alone? A joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices will uncover the truth, and I will surely give you justice. But if you have slandered the Princess and distorted the facts, I will show no mercy!"
Xiao Li, standing by the Empress’s side, gave the Emperor a thumbs-up from an angle no one else could see.
She mouthed the words: ’Brother, you’re amazing!’
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" Wang Changwen bowed and stepped forward, feigning the air of one trying to ease the Emperor’s worries. "A trivial matter such as this is not worth such a fuss. At the end of the day, this was caused by two youngsters. It’s a family affair, and it was truly inappropriate to bring it before Your Majesty."
"Why not leave this matter to me, your old subject? I will absolutely give Your Majesty a satisfactory answer."
After speaking, he bowed in Xiao Li’s direction. "Many thanks to Princess Xuanyang for saving Wanqing."
Then he turned to the Marquis Xuanping. "The Wang family should also bear the cost of Chengfeng’s treatment. I ask my dear nephew to grant this old man some face."
He was playing the peacemaker, trying to appease all three parties and ultimately reduce a big problem to a small one, and a small one to nothing.
The Marquis Xuanping was reluctant, but the situation was not in his favor now. He couldn’t exactly go to prison with his son, could he?
"I’ll do as Uncle Changwen says."
Xiao Li raised an eyebrow at the Emperor and whispered, stoking the flames, "Brother, it seems Mr. Wang’s words carry more weight than yours."
The Emperor’s anger was about to flare up again when the Empress suddenly spoke to Wang Wanqing. "Wanqing, since you have the resolve to shave your head and become a nun, would you be willing to enter the palace and become one of my female officials?"
Wang Wanqing stared at the Empress in shock, then immediately kowtowed in excitement. "I am willing, Your Grace!"
Wang Changwen realized what was happening. "Empress..."
The Empress looked at him. "The marriage between Wang Wanqing and He Chengfeng is hereby annulled. She will enter the palace immediately as a candidate for female official. Does Mr. Wang have any objections?"
Wang Changwen wanted to say something, but facing the Empress, he deflated helplessly.
The Empress looked at Wang Zhihan. "Do you have any objections?"
Wang Zhihan looked at his father, then at his sister. "I will obey the Empress’s decree."
All that remained was the Marquis Xuanping. The Empress’s gaze swept over He Chengfeng on the floor. "Regarding today’s events, I thank Princess Xuanyang for her timely assistance. The Marquis Xuanping wants to press charges? As it happens, I also have a question to ask. Does the Xuanping Marquis Mansion take me, the Empress, for a fool?"
The Empress was a Wang by birth, but her greater identity was that of Empress. Just because she didn’t usually use her power didn’t mean she didn’t have it.
The Marquis Xuanping tried to argue, but the Empress simply said, "Wanqing does not lie. There must have been other witnesses present. The Marquis is free to twist the truth, but then we will have everyone arrested and interrogated. If it is as Wang Wanqing said, then this He Chengfeng must atone with his life!"