Chapter 767: Chapter 729: Revealing the Truth (Second Update)

The speaker was a woman.

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Army that had been crowding the entrance of the Political Discussion Hall swiftly opened a path.

The officials craned their necks, from afar seeing a delicate figure standing before the steps. She was dressed simply, but her beauty outshone everyone, with a layer of chill in her brows and eyes, keeping anyone from coming too close.

Some sharp-eyed person recognized her, "It’s the Eldest Princess, the Eldest Princess has returned!"

"What Eldest Princess? She was stripped of her title and demoted to commoner long ago. What is she doing here?"

The face of the Princess Consort Duan turned stiff. Zhao Xunyin? At this moment, shouldn’t she be in Ningzhou? Why is she appearing in the Capital?

The development of events seemed to be spiraling out of control.

Suppressing the shock in her heart, the Princess Consort Duan stepped over the threshold and walked down the stone steps, maintaining a smile, "So it’s Fanghua, when did you return? You should have sent news to the palace earlier."

"I wrote to my brother." Fanghua said, "Unfortunately, he did not receive it."

"How could that be?" the Princess Consort Duan said earnestly, "Ningzhou is far from the Capital. It must have been the heavy snow blocking the roads, causing delays at the post station."

"Aren’t you going to ask why I wrote to my brother and what was in the letter?"

The Princess Consort Duan expressed her full understanding, "Fanghua has been away from the Capital for so many years, missing your brother is understandable. How could I inquire about a letter you wrote to the Emperor?"

Fanghua looked at the Princess Consort Duan for a moment and suddenly laughed, "My brother once gave me something, saying that if I took it out when in difficulty, no one would dare bully me. I wrote to him to ask if, when my poor nephew is being bullied, taking out that item would still count."

The Princess Consort Duan’s eyelids twitched, "Which nephew is Fanghua referring to?"

"Naturally, the unjustly imprisoned poor Zhao Xi." As Fanghua spoke, she took a Nine Dragon Pendant from her bosom, "Lady Duan, with your vast experience, do you recognize this?"

The Princess Consort Duan glanced down and immediately her knees went weak; she knelt on the ground.

The Nine Dragons symbolize the Emperor, and the Nine Dragon Pendant was Emperor Guangxi’s personal jade pendant. It was secretly given to Fanghua when she left the Capital. There is only this one in the entire Chu Country, seeing the Nine Dragon Pendant is like seeing the Emperor, known to all.

Inside the Political Discussion Hall, the officials clearly saw what Fanghua held, and in an instant, they all fell to their knees, loudly proclaiming long live the Emperor.

Fanghua ascended the steps, standing outside the Political Discussion Hall, looking at the civil and military officials kneeling inside. Finally, she focused her gaze on Chief Minister Yang and smiled, "I’ve been away from the Capital for so many years, I had no idea the Yang Family have been lying low while growing bold enough to plot rebellion by forcing the palace. Confining the Crown Prince, besieging the officials, stealing the Seal, forging a decree, these crimes deserving execution of the clans, all these done, Yang Chief Minister has not disappointed us."

Chief Minister Yang looked up at her, his eyes cold and grim, "The Eldest Princess was removed from the Imperial Family long ago. It stands to reason you should not be in the Capital, let alone the Imperial Palace."

"You’re right, Zhao Xunyin has been removed from the register," Fanghua walked up to Chief Minister Yang, raising the Nine Dragon Pendant in her hand, "but I’ve only lost the title of Eldest Princess; I am still myself, the current Holy Emperor’s sister. See, haven’t I come here unimpeded? Happened to catch Yang Chief Minister acting a grand drama in the Political Discussion Hall, disrupting your pleasure, you wouldn’t hold it against me, would you?"

Chief Minister Yang’s old face was extremely unpleasant, yet he had to submit to the Nine Dragon Pendant in Fanghua’s hand, "This old minister... does not dare!"

Fanghua put the Nine Dragon Pendant back into her bosom, bent down, and personally removed the official’s hat from Chief Minister Yang’s head, then politely smiled, "Since you dare not, Mr. Yang, please."

Filled with unwillingness, Chief Minister Yang knelt motionless.

Fanghua instructed the Imperial Army waiting outside, "Escort Mr. Yang to the Imperial Supervision Office. It’s cold, remember to give him a thicker quilt."

These words sent a chill down people’s spines.

Fanghua glanced over everyone, "I stood outside for quite a while just now. It seems Mr. Yang still has quite many supporters. Now, I offer you a chance to plead for him."

The hall was so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping, everyone held their breath.

This woman was no longer the reclusive, indifferent Eldest Princess of yore; now she was a beautiful yet deadly serpent. At this moment, anyone daring to utter anything could be beheaded for a sacrifice.

After waiting a long time with no one speaking, Fanghua sighed lightly, "Truly regrettable, Mr. Yang served as an official in the court for decades, holding a high position, yet to fall with no one caring—a desolate end indeed."

Yang Xiong’an’s official robe had already been removed, at this moment he was only wearing white inner clothes, standing outside with lips turning purple from the cold.

After hearing Fanghua’s words, he straightened his back as much as possible, "Victory befitting a king, failure befitting a bandit; today’s failure was due to my lack of foresight, not considering you the couple. Since falling into your hands, do with me as you wish."

"You have the backbone!" Fanghua praised, "As expected, Mr. Yang is indeed an unblemished stream among scholars. Just for your steely unyielding spirit, I’ll see to it that you have a slightly better cell where no outsiders will disturb your peace."

After Yang Xiong’an was taken away, the ministers were finally pardoned to stand up.

The Princess Consort Duan, who was previously kneeling in the snow at the foot of the stone steps, now lifted her head to see Fanghua standing by the carved railing.

No matter how plain her attire, this woman seemed to radiate wherever she went, making Lady Duan, a favored concubine of the harem, appear lackluster in her presence.

"Fanghua, this matter has nothing to do with me; I was implicated."

In order to protect herself and her young son, Lady Duan could only say so.

Fanghua heard this, her lips slightly curled, "I also believe you are innocent."

Just as Lady Duan exhaled with relief, she heard Fanghua continue, "As for what my brother thinks and how he plans to deal with you, that’s his own business."

Lady Duan choked a bit.

"You’ll be temporarily confined!" Fanghua said, "Until my brother issues a clear decree, I don’t want to see you again."

Lady Duan bent her knees, "Understood."

...

After the courtiers dispersed, Fanghua called Song Wei, and the two of them went to Qianqing Palace together.

Away from those people, Fanghua finally showed her worry on her face, "How is the Holy Emperor’s condition?"

Song Wei shook his head, "Ever since returning from the hunting grounds, I haven’t seen him."

Fanghua asked again, "Then what was his condition at the hunting grounds at that time?"

Song Wei stated honestly, "He was quite seriously injured. Fortunately, it wasn’t an assassination attempt; there was no poison on the arrowhead. Reason says that with so many Imperial Physicians in the Imperial Hospital, he should have recovered by now."

"So, is my brother pretending to be sick and putting on a show?"

"It’s a possibility we can’t rule out."

When the two of them arrived at Qianqing Palace, they saw Mr. Cui secretly wiping his tears.

Fanghua’s heart skipped a beat, "What happened?"

Mr. Cui choked, "Eldest Princess, you must go in quickly to see Your Majesty!"

Fanghua’s heart paused, as if she feared seeing something unexpected upon entering. She suddenly slowed her steps, entering slowly, one step at a time.

Upon reaching the inner hall, she saw Emperor Guangxi lying weakly on the Dragon Couch, his face thin, breath weak, eyes half-open. Only upon seeing her did he fully open them, yet he appeared utterly devoid of spirit.

Fanghua’s eyes grew hot, "Brother, you are..."

Mr. Cui followed her inside, already a figure drenched in tears, "Eldest Princess, His Majesty has waited for you and the Prince Consort for a long time."

Fanghua knelt with a thump, "Fanghua was late in coming to assist, causing my brother to suffer."

Emperor Guangxi took a long while to squeeze out words, "Fanghua, why did you come alone?"

Fanghua replied, "Second Lord is bringing people to the Imperial Clan Court to fetch the Crown Prince, and they will soon arrive."

"It’s good that he’s coming." Emperor Guangxi nodded in comfort.

In Zhao Xi’s letter to Ningzhou, it was written that ever since returning from the hunting grounds, Emperor Guangxi had claimed illness and not attended court. Fanghua had thought her brother was acting to expose the Yang Family’s true nature. But upon seeing him now, it was clear that he was truly ill, not what she had imagined.

She dared not think further, turned to glare at Mr. Cui, "Why hasn’t an Imperial Physician been called to see him, given how sick he is?"

Mr. Cui, crying, replied, "If it could be treated, he would have recovered long ago, and wouldn’t be in such agony now."

Fanghua had too many questions in her mind; she frowned, "Tell me, what exactly is going on?"

Mr. Cui instinctively glanced at Emperor Guangxi.

Emperor Guangxi weakly nodded.

Mr. Cui invited Song Wei and Fanghua to sit down, only then did he begin to narrate, "This matter started with a military report from the northern border."

"Northern Military Report?"

"Yes." Mr. Cui nodded, "Back when we waged war against West Yue, a few of the remnant fish escaped. Later, the Holy Emperor ordered people to search for them, searched for a long time but couldn’t find them. Unexpectedly, those few fled to Bei Yan. Turns out, a princess from West Yue had married into Bei Yan, becoming the current Imperial Concubine of Bei Yan. Her homeland was destroyed, and this Imperial Concubine persuaded the Monarch of Bei Yan to gather an army to prepare to attack Chu Country.

However, at that time, the Holy Emperor was diagnosed with heart failure by the Imperial Physician. He had the will but no strength for the war. Hence, before the great battle, he planned to pass the throne to the Crown Prince. Thus, he organized the royal hunt to fulfill his last wish."

"Wish, what wish?"