Chapter 1221 - 897: Playing the Victim
From Qianqiu Palace to Liangyi Hall, the path was meticulously cleaned. The accumulated snow was swept aside to line the sides of the road like a white border, while the snowflakes resting on the palace walls hadn’t been cleared in time. A gust of wind would occasionally blow fine snowflakes onto people’s faces.
This cool sensation was not at all unpleasant, especially for Little Yuanzi, who seemed to particularly enjoy the snow. His face would light up with happiness whenever he was sprinkled with it.
Along the way, laughter and joyous voices continuously echoed.
Seeing her son so happy, Shang Ruyi was naturally in high spirits, and even Yu Wenye, who walked alongside her, seemed to have softened his stern gaze. Meanwhile, Nanny Feng and Tushere, trailing behind them, were cautious, worried that Shang Ruyi might not be able to carry the child and ready to intervene at any moment.
As they proceeded, Tushere quietly asked, "Are you feeling well now?"
Nanny Feng smiled and said, "Miss She’er, rest assured."
"Oh,"
Tushere seemed not entirely convinced and scrutinized Nanny Feng thoroughly, assuring herself that she was fit to serve today without any issues. Even after a gust of wind passed, there were no signs of tearing eyes or sneezing, indicating she really had recovered. Only the faint scent of herbs from the incense bag at her waist remained.
Tushere said, "That’s good. Be careful when we reach Liangyi Hall."
"Yes."
The group continued walking for a while and soon reached outside Liangyi Hall. In the distance, they saw a few others walking towards the hall from another direction. The two groups ran into each other at the hall’s entrance.
They were none other than the Crown Prince, Crown Princess Consort, and Crown Prince Consort attending the palace banquet today.
Yu Wenye stepped forward first, greeting Yu Wenqian with a respectful salute, "Imperial Brother."
"Second Brother,"
Yu Wenqian returned the salute with a smile, then fixed his gaze on the thickly wrapped bundle in Shang Ruyi’s arms, warm smile spreading across his face, "You’ve brought Little Yuanzi along."
Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "Yes."
"In such cold weather, can the child come out?"
"Thank you, Imperial Brother, for your concern. This child loves going out, and today is a family gathering; he should meet his father and all his elders."
"Indeed."
Yu Wenqian said, "Let’s go in; it’s windy outside."
So, everyone turned to enter Liangyi Hall.
Before being announced at the door, a familiar, deep voice said solemnly, "Did you say you were outside the city for days, arresting all Jiang Xian’s fellow villagers and interrogating them one by one?"
Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this.
At that moment, Yu Dingxing stood in the center of the hall with several Lord Ministers by the door’s side, each with a different expression but all silent. Yu Wenquan sat at the hall’s forefront, his face filled with disbelief, staring wide-eyed at Yu Dingxing.
Yu Dingxing said, "Yes."
Yu Wenquan immediately furrowed his brow, "What are you doing?"
"Minister, I’m here to seek Your Majesty’s forgiveness."
"..."
"That Wanggang Village leftover slipped under my nose. I have sinned, and I must find a way to capture him. But despite the Ministry of Justice and General Lou’s men searching the whole city in recent days, they’ve found no trace of that rebel, so I thought I’d start with those around him."
"So, you spent days interrogating in a mountainous village?"
"Yes."
Yu Wenquan momentarily fell silent; his gaze drifted slowly from Yu Dingxing’s head to his feet. It was evident that he had changed clothes and combed his hair before entering the palace, but the deer-leather boots on his feet were covered in muddy snow and worn from days spent in the mountain village.
Recalling Yu Dingxing’s old injury flaring up due to the cold, Yu Wenquan’s brow furrowed into a knot.
He said, "Why do you bother?"
"..."
"I have never blamed you for this matter, and that rebel was living outside the city, difficult to track down. Even if he escaped, it’s not your fault."
"..."
"Someone, quickly serve hot tea to the Commandery Prince!"
Eunuch Yu hurriedly rushed forward with steaming tea, and Yu Dingxing thanked him after receiving it, downing it in one gulp.
Probably chilled for too long, the hot tea soon caused him to cough.
Yu Wenquan then glanced past Yu Dingxing’s shoulder and caught sight of shadows outside the main door, promptly saying, "Is it the Crown Prince and King Qin? Come in."
Eunuch Yu hastily signaled for the door to open. The Crown Prince and King Qin entered with their families, greeting and paying respects to the Emperor. Yu Wenquan’s gaze fell on the bundle in Shang Ruyi’s hands only briefly before turning serious, "Crown Princess Consort, I instructed you to care for your father’s health. How do you allow him like this?"
Yu Mingyue stepped forward gently, "Father insisted on doing this."
"Oh?"
"Father said he is loyal to Your Majesty and the court and can’t be guilty of the Dynasty."
"What nonsense."
Yu Wenquan sighed and shook his head repeatedly.
Though he had become in-laws with Yu Dingxing, they were not close initially; he was merely a meritorious official. Yet following the Dragon Gate Crossing battle, where one Commandery Prince died and another was injured, he transferred his affections from Duke Shenwu to Duke Wushan, showing more tenderness and tolerance.
After Yu Mingyue finished speaking, she quietly turned her face, cautiously eyeing her father beside her. Despite her lofty words striking a chord with Yu Wenquan, the suffering endured wasn’t fictitious—remembering his eye’s excruciating pain in the cold, until stepping into the steaming hall, he still felt a sharp blade drilling into his brain along the eye socket. The hardship endured in that mountain village, beneath grass thatched cottages, was unmistakable.
Yu Dingxing couldn’t help but bite his lip.
At this moment, his resentment shifted from Yu Wenye, who caused his injury, and General Lou’s family involved in the Hot Spring Palace case, to his daughter, who forced him to endure hardships and flaunted his miserable state before the Emperor.
After all, the one suffering was himself, while the beneficiary was her, dressed elegantly and living comfortably!
Though grinding his teeth in hatred, Yu Dingxing suppressed his pent-up frustration, raising his head again to face Yu Wenquan, "I pledge to serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly, without complaint!"
Yu Wenquan sighed deeply, slowly stood, and asked, "Then what did you find out?"