Chapter 477: Pleading Guilty
A single Jade Pendant was not enough to convict Xiao Chengxuan directly.
The more crucial issue was—the death of Xu Jie.
...
"Are you saying the person who killed Xu Jie is connected to Xiao Chengxuan?"
Ye Chutang looked up, a little surprised.
The Eldest Princess closed her eyes to focus. Her aura remained stern and heavy, inspiring an unconscious sense of awe.
After a long moment, she slowly opened her eyes, shook her head, and sighed.
"Foolish!"
That was a clear "yes."
’No wonder she’s so furious.’
Ye Chutang had been about to retire for the night when someone from the Long Princess Mansion suddenly arrived, saying the Eldest Princess was feeling unwell and requesting her presence.
So this was the reason.
Ye Chutang put away the pulse pillow and said, "I will perform acupuncture first to clear the stagnant blood and qi. Tomorrow morning, I’ll have someone prepare the medicine according to the prescription. Take it three times a day, and we’ll see how you are after a few days of conditioning."
The Eldest Princess nodded. Looking at Ye Chutang’s elegant profile in the candlelight, she felt a pang of guilt.
"To trouble you to make a trip this late... my old body is just too disappointing."
"You honor me too much by saying so." Ye Chutang took out her needle pouch. "Your body is not suited for emotional turmoil, and you’ve been especially overworked lately, so this is to be expected. Besides, you have been very gracious to me. Whenever you have a need, I, Chutang, will not hesitate to obey. It is as it should be."
As she spoke, she took an extremely fine silver needle and silently inserted it into the Hegu acupoint on the Eldest Princess’s left hand.
"Anger is most damaging to the liver qi. You truly must be more careful."
The Eldest Princess let out a long breath, a hint of weariness finally showing in her aged eyes.
She had been very tired lately.
With His Majesty gravely ill, the burdensome affairs of the court weighed heavily upon her. Every day, she had to fight with those old fools in the Cabinet. Even a person made of iron couldn’t withstand it.
"Xu Jie’s sudden death was because someone used underhanded methods during the interrogation. The matter was kept quiet very well at first, but then Xu Fengchi insisted on a second public examination of Xu Jie’s body, and that’s when the foul play was discovered."
The Eldest Princess didn’t mention the details, unwilling to let such sordid affairs dirty Ye Chutang’s ears.
"Later, after repeated investigations, they finally found the culprit. But as it turns out, that person has an undeniable connection to Cheng Xuan. He’s said to be a minor official from the Ministry of Justice who once received a favor from Cheng Xuan. It’s hard to say if Fan Chengzhuo instigated this, but Fan Chengzhuo will never admit it. He’s washed his hands of it completely."
Pushing someone like that forward to take the fall, no matter his reasons, would lead everyone to believe he was acting under Xiao Chengxuan’s orders—after all, with Xu Jie dead, Xiao Chengxuan was the biggest beneficiary.
Xiao Chengxuan truly couldn’t clear his name, even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
Ye Chutang’s eyelids lowered slightly as she continued with the acupuncture.
These were not matters she could comment on. Remaining silent was the best choice.
The Eldest Princess trusted her, which was why she shared these things, but she couldn’t take the initiative to get involved.
Seeing Ye Chutang’s reaction, the Eldest Princess sighed inwardly.
"I know you dislike hearing about these things, but they concern Cheng Xuan. If I don’t tell you, the rumors will soon spread like wildfire throughout the city."
Ye Chutang nodded lightly. "I appreciate your good intentions."
She was not someone who couldn’t recognize kindness. The Eldest Princess’s choice to tell her all this at this moment had already made her stance clear—she was on her side.
"In the end, it’s his own fault for being so disappointing. He could have done anything, yet he just had to get involved with those Southern Hu Blade Men!"
At this, the Eldest Princess’s tone grew heavy.
She could ignore other matters, but colluding with the enemy had crossed her line.
Xiao Chengxuan was indeed her blood relative, but above that, the nation came first.
Ye Chutang removed the needles.
The Eldest Princess studied her and finally said, "Forget it. None of this has anything to do with you. Just focus on taking good care of His Majesty."
This was her way of saying she would handle any other troubles that might arise for Ye Chutang.
The corners of Ye Chutang’s lips curved slightly as she nodded.
"Yes."
...
Stepping out of the gates of the Princess Mansion, she saw a carriage was already waiting.
Ye Chutang pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders and looked up.
The winter night was especially cold after the snow, the wind like a knife scraping across her skin.
There were no stars, no moon—only a vast, gloomy sky.
’The Eldest Princess said none of this has anything to do with me, but I’m afraid others won’t see it that way.’
’Caught in the center of the vortex, there’s no escape.’
But then again, she never planned on staying out of it in the first place.
’The show has just begun. I’m afraid it’s only going to get more exciting.’
...
That night, too many people could not find sleep.
Jiang Zhao Yuan sat in his study for the entire night.
On his desk lay a letter—a message sent urgently by Fan Chengzhuo after Xiao Chengxuan was imprisoned.
In the letter, Fan Chengzhuo offered a detailed explanation, but Jiang Zhao Yuan only gave it a cursory glance before looking away.
’Things have already come to this. What’s the point in pursuing Fan Chengzhuo’s mistakes now?’
No matter how he thought about it, Jiang Zhao Yuan couldn’t understand how things had escalated to this point.
Setting aside everything else, the frame-up by those Southern Hu Blade Men was utter nonsense!
Xiao Chengxuan’s position was secure. He would have to be insane to choose such a path!
But!
Ever since he was impeached and Huo Yucheng’s case was overturned, it was as if an invisible force was pushing him, bit by bit, into the abyss.
’Something is wrong... This is all wrong!’
As the first ray of dawn pierced through the window and landed on his desk, Jiang Zhao Yuan finally made up his mind.
He would go to the palace for an audience with the Emperor!
Right now, only one person could save Xiao Chengxuan.
Emperor Muwu himself!
...
After a period of recuperation, Emperor Muwu’s health was gradually improving.
Today, he was already able to sit up and speak a few words, though his voice was still hoarse.
Consort Rong attended to him, feeding him medicinal soup and carefully wiping his hands and face with a cloth soaked in hot water.
Having been bedridden for days, Emperor Muwu had lost a great deal of weight, and his spirits seemed much lower than before.
This illness seemed to have aged him by more than ten years.
When Jiang Zhao Yuan entered and saw this scene, he was startled.
But having navigated the official circles for many years, he was a master of appearances.
So he immediately fell to his knees, his forehead touching the ground.
"Your guilty servant, Jiang Zhao Yuan, has come today to plead for Your Majesty’s forgiveness!"
Consort Rong was taken aback and instinctively looked toward Emperor Muwu.
Emperor Muwu, however, leaned back and closed his eyes, his hoarse voice finally emerging:
"And what crime have you committed?"