MTLNOVEL Chapter 139: Scapegoat_4
"Yes."
Eunuch Mu hurriedly proclaimed in a loud voice, "Proceed to Kunde Palace."
"The three of you, follow me." Xiao Zhanping, assisted by Eunuch Mu, led the way.
Xiao Jinxing, Ye Qichi, and Bai Mowan followed behind.
The group arrived at Kunde Palace.
Within Kunde Palace, the Empress and the Crown Princess Consort were already on their knees, waiting to receive them.
At this moment, both of them were extremely wan and sallow.
It was evident that they were worn out from anxiety over the Crown Prince's death.
"This consort pays respect to Your Majesty."
"Empress, please rise quickly." Xiao Zhanping hurriedly stepped forward to help Yu Qingyuan up, showing his deep concern, "The death of the Crown Prince has grieved you deeply. You have grown thin; my heart aches for you."
Yu Qingyuan, after so many years in the Imperial Palace, knew all too well the hypocrisy of Xiao Zhanping.
Naturally, she would not be dismissed by a few words from him.
She would definitely not let Xiao Jinsen off so easily.
If her son is dead, then Zhao Mengyu's son must also be buried with him.
Yu Qingyuan said, "This consort thanks Your Majesty for his concern. Indeed, these past few days my health has weakened, and it is truly due to a sickness of the heart. Every time I think of the Crown Prince... This consort truly feels like dying. For years, I've painstakingly raised the Crown Prince, any injury he suffered pained me as if a spike pierced my heart. Now that the Crown Prince has passed away, this consort truly, truly..."
While speaking, tears involuntarily streamed down her face.
And it was not feigned.
The pain of losing her child was indeed the cruelest in the world.
"The Empress still needs to take care of her health," Xiao Zhanping quickly consoled the Empress.
"Your Majesty, without finding the true murderer of the Crown Prince, this consort cannot prioritize her health. Every time I think of my son lying below, I am heartbroken and full of guilt. This consort must make things right for the Crown Prince; otherwise, even in death, I could not face our son..."
"The Empress's feelings, I understand. My coming here today is also to give the Empress an explanation," Xiao Zhanping stated bluntly.
Yu Qingyuan was slightly surprised.
In the last few days, her overt and covert pressures on the Emperor had also led her to hear that the Emperor was restless, but he still hasn't given her a direct response. After the burial of the Crown Prince today, she had her family's influence send a few memorials to the Emperor, but she didn't expect it to be so effective.
It seems.
The Emperor still didn't dare to offend the power of her maternal family.
Even if it meant staging a coup, she would make the Emperor kill Xiao Jinsen.
"This consort thanks Your Majesty," Yu Qingyuan hurriedly expressed her gratitude, "This consort knows that Your Majesty also grieves for the Crown Prince and will naturally not let the Crown Prince's death be unresolved."
"Of course," Xiao Zhanping said, "Therefore, I have identified the true culprit and will ensure that the culprit pays the due price."
"Your Majesty is wise," Yu Qingyuan immediately flattered.
She never thought there was anyone else but Xiao Jinsen.
She would not accept anyone else.
She did not believe the Emperor would dare to be so blatantly dishonest.
Now in the court, everyone was noisily accepting the narrative that Xiao Jinsen had killed the Crown Prince.
She did not believe the Emperor could be so arbitrary, telling such blatant lies.
Yu Qingyuan's face was full of anticipation.
That moment, she heard Xiao Zhanping issue a command, "Seize the Crown Princess Consort Gao Jingyi, who assassinated the Crown Prince, who assassinated General Bai, and bring her to me!"
As the words fell.
Yu Qingyuan's face instantly turned rigid.
She thought she had heard wrong.
The Emperor had actually pinned the crime on Gao Jingyi.
Had the Emperor gone mad?!
She glared fiercely at Xiao Zhanping, watching the Imperial Guards take Gao Jingyi away.
"Father Emperor, Mother Empress..." Gao Jingyi was also in disbelief.
How could such a serious accusation suddenly be leveled against her?
She confessed that she had arranged for someone to assassinate Bai Mowan, and was angry that Bai Mowan had not died! Why hadn't Bai Mowan died yet?!
Instead, the Crown Prince died.
But she had been careful, not letting anyone find out.
How had the Emperor discovered it now, and even blamed the Crown Prince's death on her?
Her relationship with the Crown Prince was indeed not good.
She knew both the Crown Prince and the Empress had the intention to depose her, and even when the Crown Prince suddenly died, she was not too sad but felt he got what he deserved. The Crown Prince had always been foolish and incompetent, indulged in beauties, and there were countless women in the Crown Prince's palace. The Crown Prince hadn't even touched her for half a year, how could she have any offspring! She also became the laughingstock of many.
Although she was not sad about the death of the Crown Prince, she definitely did not have the intention to kill him.
With the Crown Prince's death, her status was also not secure.
She couldn't do this?!
What she could do was to preserve her status as the Crown Princess Consort as much as possible.
"This consort is wronged. The Crown Prince is my husband; how could this consort commit the act of assassinating him? I implore Father Emperor and Mother Empress to discern the truth. This consort really did not..." At this moment, Gao Jingyi was also panicked.
If she was truly identified as the one who killed the Crown Prince, not only would her life be at risk, but it could potentially implicate her entire family.
Thinking of this possibility, Gao Jingyi became even more frantic.
At this moment, Yu Qingyuan, on the other hand, calmed down.
In her calmness, there was immense fury.
She lashed out at the Emperor, no longer caring about status or position, "Your Majesty, as the sovereign empowered by heaven, to protect your own son, you are so blatantly reversing right and wrong, distorting truths and lies. Do you not feel that such actions are beneath the dignity of an Emperor, beneath the dignity of Daxuan Kingdom?!"