Free Web NovelChapter 50: Feigned innocence
The seal was heavier than it appeared—cast in gold, its surface cool and unyielding. At its crown, a peony bloomed in intricate relief, each petal carved with impossible precision, layered and full as though frozen at the height of its beauty.
Shen Yexue staggered back a step. ’No! There’s no way—"
But the word had no power, not against what was visible in the eyes of everyone.
The court turned, slowly, and completely towards her.
Empress Lihua lowered her gaze, as though in quiet devastation. But the faint curve of her lips vanished before anyone could truly be sure it had been there at all.
Her gaze drifted to Ru Yi, whose head was lifted, her forehead pinched together in a frown. She wondered what would happen to the triplets. Surely, they’d have a better fate than getting executed.
"There’s no way that was in my chamber," Yexue exclaimed, eye wide. "Someone must’ve put it there."
And Qingyue—for the first time she felt something dangerously close to fear. Because now they were no longer accusing the Empress, they now had to defend themselves.
This was how people lost everything.
General Han Zheng seized the moment to strike. "Your chamber is heavily guarded, is it not?" he asked in a condescending voice. "Maybe it’s time to admit you all tried to frame the Empress in the name of revenge. Or was it merely the throne you were after?"
Most of the ministers nodded in agreement.
"What we care about is justice." How Qingyue remained calm through it all was beyond her. "I can assure you we didn’t steal the seal."
"If you could break into the Empress’s chamber to retrieve documents that claim she was responsible for the death of the late Empress and princess Lin Yuexin, then what’s the guarantee that you didn’t take the seal?"
Minister Cui Mingde realized the shift of power cowered away. "This was really just a setup to bring the Empress down."
Lieyin, who had heard him, almost drew her sword. "Coward."
Qingyue realized at the last minute that this was a stage by the Empress and they’d walked into it.
"We did not take the Empress’s seal, and all the documents are real." She tried to grasp whatever she could.
There was murmuring among the ministers. Yu Zanzhou was the first to speak up. "Princess Qingyue had come to meet us in order to form a secret alliance."
"Do you think she was planning a rebellion?" another asked.
"If we wanted to rebel, you cowards would be the last to be recruited!" Lieyin, hand on the hilt of her sword.
Qingyue closed her eyes briefly, she needed to get everything back in control before it exploded in their faces.
"Someone must’ve planted that seal there," Qingyue said, but even her knew that excuse was weak.
"Looks like you can’t even defend your actions," Empress Lihua said, then turned to the Emperor with teary eyes. "It’s my fault, I should’ve treated them better."
The emperor said nothing as he stared at his first daughter, the rage in her invisible to everyone but him.
"Are you done with the examination?" This question was directed at the royal physician who cowered under the intense gaze of everyone.
"Yes," he answered, his voice high-pitched, "there is indeed poison running in your veins."
Everyone gasped.
"Were you so bent on punishing the Empress who had cared for you in the absence of your mother," the Emperor took a deep breath, "that you’d try to even kill me just to prove your point."
"I did not poison you," Qingyue maintained eye contact with her father. "The Empress did, believe it or not."
"What about the secret army you’ve been gathering?" General Han Zheng asked, a glint in his eyes. "Don’t think I don’t know what has been going on. You even switched most of the guards at the inner palace."
"What secret army?"
General Han Zheng turned to the Emperor. "This matter cannot be treated lightly. Gathering troops, having secret meetings with ministers in the dead of the night. And lastly, accusing the Empress of treason."
Empress Lihua let a tear roll down her face, making herself pitiful. "The lack of concern on my part must’ve pushed them over the edge. I do apologize for not taking care of them properly. And for involving an innocent maid in all of this. I would’ve been devastated if she had been executed because of me."
Everyone had forgotten that Ru Yi was still there, knee planted on the floor. Her face was down, making it hard for anyone to read the expression on her face.
So this was the Empress’s plan, to make the triplets take the fall while securing the power she wielded over the throne.
Ru Yi closed her eyes, to think she’d played a huge part in all of this. The triplets would have her neck if they ever learned the truth about the seal.
Instead of relief that the Empress was finally clearing her name, Ru Yi found herself feeling a bit of guilt. Especially at how the entire court had turned against the princesses.
Zhao Chen who had been quiet during the entire ordeal finally perked up on his seat. "This means Ru Yi will be released, right?"
"The maid will be released as she has been found innocent," General Han Zheng said. "And the princesses are found guilty of poisoning the Emperor which is treason, killing Princess Lin Yuexin, and plotting against the Empress."
Lieyin immediately drew her sword, "I will not stand and watch all of you slander us! We had no hand in the death of Lin Yuexin, and we certainly did not poison the Emperor." Although now she wished she had done it.
Everyone recoiled in fear.
Lieyin’s anger was not something to be messed with, all of them knew it. General Han Zheng saw the opportunity to use it in his favour.
"To raise a sword in front of the Emperor is to threaten the power his seat holds, which makes you an enemy of the kingdom."
The Emperor stood, finally tired of all the theatrics but none the less surprised. "Were you really plotting against the throne?"
Lieyin’s rage was heightened even more by the question. "And if I was? Does the throne not rightfully belong to us?" freewēbnoveℓ.com
Qingyue tried to hold her back but Lieyin was far too gone.
"Watching you let that spawn of disgrace be crowned your heir is enough to make any normal person insane! You turned your back on us the moment our mother died, all for that unworthy woman."
"Lieyin..."
"Give me a reason why I should not strike both of them down right now." Lieyin’s heart was heavy with years of repressed anger that was finally bursting at the seams. " As if you or any of them are deserving of that throne."
