Priceless: A widow with a baby asks the prince to marry again

It was three o'clock in the morning and the lights in the Dali Temple in the capital were still on.

Duan Chou yawned and tried to find another topic to talk about. "Boss, you were the first one to skip court and not pay homage to the Eighth Prince. Why did the Eighth Prince arrest all the officials but not you? And they all ran away, while we stayed in the capital and didn't go to court, and no one came to question us."

Putting aside the many doubts he had sorted out, Gu Qinglian decided to call it a day. Many key figures had either entered the imperial mausoleum, disappeared, or he was not qualified to question them. He couldn't even enter the scene of the incident to investigate...

In fact, Gu Qinglian himself didn't know. Even if he found out the truth, what would it matter? Could he still bring the criminals to justice?

"Do you remember how many cases we have tried and how many high-ranking officials have been sentenced to exile?" Gu Qinglian asked.

"This... must be dozens or even hundreds of cases, right? Cases where entire families were executed are rare." Duan Chou recalled.

"The place of exile is usually opposite to the criminal's place of origin. For example, criminals from the south were exiled to the north, and those from the north to the south."

Gu Qinglian stood up and put away the various files. He continued, "Nowadays, the forces of Daxia can be roughly divided into two factions, the north and the south. People on both sides cannot freely interact with each other to show their loyalty, but those exiled criminals always have relatives and friends, and there are always people who want to take care of them."

"The Dali Temple is one of the Three Departments, so it can naturally inquire into the affairs of criminals. I don't stand south when I'm absent from court, and I don't stand north when I'm not running. If it doesn't have anything to do with the overall situation, naturally no one will hold on to a bridge in the middle."

Duan Chou suddenly realized, "So, in the past, Prince Duan always sent me evidence that would warrant exile, but not death. Is this how he wanted the Dali Temple to play this role?"

Gu Qinglian paused as he lifted the lampshade. If Prince Duan hadn't been in any accident...

"Alas..." He sighed softly and extinguished the candle. When a person dies, it is like a light going out.

After leaving the Dali Temple, Gu Qinglian and Duan Chou were about to return home in their carriages and sedan chairs when a fast horse came running up and an official called out urgently, "Master Gu, please stay! I have something important to tell you!"

The man who came was dressed as an official from the Ministry of Justice, so Gu Qinglian stopped.

But I didn't expect that the truth I had been pursuing so hard would be presented right before my eyes!

"Shu Fei and the other people who were buried alive with the emperor have all left the imperial mausoleum safely!"

"Eunuch Xu and other personal eunuchs claim to have witnessed the Prime Minister and the Eighth Prince sneak into Taiyang Palace the night before the late emperor's death and place the so-called imperial decree of succession in the hands of the late emperor!"

"Everyone is currently at the Ministry of Justice. This is a serious matter. The Minister of Justice invites all the officials from the Censorate and the Supreme Court to come to the Ministry of Justice to investigate the truth together!"

This matter is indeed serious. Even though it is the middle of the night, the lobby of the Ministry of Justice is bustling with people!

Not only the three courts, but also the high-ranking officials who stayed in the capital, the clan leader of the Ministry of Clan Affairs, the Minister of War, etc. came one after another.

The majestic trial hall of the Ministry of Justice was even more solemn at this time.

However, it was different from the usual trials. Concubine Shu was a concubine who was canonized by the late emperor, and being buried alive with the emperor was not a crime. On the contrary, being buried alive was considered a gift and honor to some extent, although no one wanted such a gift... In short, now that Concubine Shu has left the imperial mausoleum, she should be treated as a concubine according to the rules. Even during the trial, she would sit behind a gauze curtain, with palace maids serving on both sides.

The Minister of Justice, who presided over the trial, bowed to Concubine Shu first. After Concubine Shu explained her situation, he gently asked, "Your Majesty, there are still many things you don't know about the past. Could you please recount how you were ordered to be buried alive with the emperor, and how you were taken out of the imperial mausoleum?"

The graceful figure behind the curtain nodded and narrated the story: "That day, I and Concubine De were both imprisoned in the cold palace. A few days later, an imperial decree arrived, ordering us to be buried alive with the emperor..."

"At that time, Concubine De questioned us. We all have princes, and no matter which dynasty or generation, we don't need to be buried alive with the emperor. How could Concubine Xian dare to issue such an imperial decree in defiance of the world? Then, Concubine De ordered Eunuch Wang, who issued the decree, to bring it to her for review."

"Eunuch Wang refused to issue an imperial decree, but instead summoned several servants around him and actually took the white silk and insisted on hanging Concubine De... Seeing that things were not going well, I spoke out to dissuade him. We have been favored by His Majesty, and by treating us like this, aren't you afraid that His Majesty's spirit in heaven will wrath you?"

"Then Eunuch Wang and his men grew fearful and stopped using violence. They continued to threaten us with words, saying that we were doomed to die and that it would be more dignified for us to die with His Majesty."

"I agreed and told them that I wanted to be buried alive in the imperial mausoleum..."

At this time, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Metropolitan Censorate spoke up and ordered the others, "Go to the Hanlin Academy and check if there is any such imperial edict left."

As documents of supreme authority, imperial edicts and imperial decrees were usually recorded in the Hanlin Academy to ensure their authenticity and validity. Although the emperor sometimes bypassed this procedure to issue secret decrees and other special orders, imperial decrees were not included in this category. If they were not recorded, they could even be considered invalid.

Of course, if a copy of the imperial edict was left, it would become incriminating evidence. The Empress's power did not override the laws of the ancestors, and Consort Xian was not the Empress. Forcing a concubine with an heir to be buried alive with the Emperor was clearly overstepping the bounds of propriety!

"There is no Empress Defei on the list of people to be buried with the late emperor. When the late emperor was sent to the mountain mausoleum, Empress Defei was not among those buried with the emperor..." The Minister of Taichang Temple asked. Their functions were related to sacrifices. They would also coordinate with other departments to complete such a major event as the late emperor's national funeral. They also had to check the people who were buried with the emperor.

Of course, at that time, everyone's attention was on the fierce competition outside, and no one thought of caring about the concubines in the harem. Therefore, no one cared about the loss of a concubine...

Concubine Shu's voice softened a bit: "The night before His Majesty was buried, the Seventh Prince disguised himself as a eunuch and entered the cold palace to take Concubine De away."

At this moment, the ministers opened their eyes wide. Several princes had disappeared during the vigil. They thought that the Seventh Prince had been assassinated by the Eighth Prince! Who would have thought that he had already escaped?

"Does the Concubine Shu know where the Seventh Prince has gone?" The clan leader of the Ministry of Clan Affairs asked. Given the current situation, the Seventh Prince might not be able to make a name for himself, but he was still a descendant of the royal family and needed a place to stay.

Concubine Shu shook her head: "When the Seventh Prince asked me if I would leave with him, he said that he would remain in hiding and never return to the capital."

The ministers paused, and then they understood what the Seventh Prince meant. Chu Shijin was no longer Chu Shijin from then on, and he did not want to be found.

"Then... Lady Shufei, why didn't you leave with the Seventh Prince?" the Minister of Rites asked in confusion.

Concubine Shu had indeed written a will, signed and sealed it, expressing her wish to be buried alive. Before the late emperor's funeral, several princes and noble ladies personally asked her about it, and Concubine Shu always agreed. Then, in front of all the officials, she walked into the imperial mausoleum step by step, adorned with a phoenix crown and a red robe...

Concubine Shu suddenly sobbed softly: "According to the rules, only the Empress can sleep with Your Majesty in the Imperial Mausoleum... Therefore, even though I will be buried alive, I am willing to sleep with Your Majesty..."

The ministers were silent for a while.

Although Concubine Shu repeatedly said she was willing at that time, everyone believed that it was Concubine Xian and her faction who threatened the lives of the fifth prince Chu Shihuan and the ninth prince Chu Shixuan. After all, it is more reasonable for a mother to be willing to die for her children, isn't it?

Unexpectedly, Concubine Shu was really willing.

After a long while, the Minister of Justice continued to ask respectfully, "How did the Concubine Shu get out of the imperial mausoleum?"

Concubine Shu sobbed, but then laughed, and said with a mixture of tears and laughter: "I entered the Xuan Palace and was wondering why His Majesty didn't prepare a coffin for me. Eunuch Xu told me that His Majesty had already given instructions..."

Xu Jin stood quietly in the middle of the hall for a long time. Then he stepped forward and spoke, holding out a piece of writing: "The Emperor once said that if one's ears are filled with noise during life, one should have peace after death. Let those who are buried alive with the dead observe for a hundred days, and then all of them can leave..."

Xu Jin teared up as he said, "The Emperor is so kind... After he fell ill, he made arrangements for us servants. He told us to find the craftsmen who were building the imperial mausoleum, obtain the blueprints for the route, and prepare enough food for everyone to come out together in a hundred days."

The Minister of Works nodded and said, "Eunuch Xu did come to the Ministry of Works those days and asked for the list of craftsmen who were building the imperial mausoleum!"

The Minister of Justice immediately took the handwriting, which read "I am alone..."

The ministers gathered around to pass it around and read it. It was indeed what it said, but they were all puzzled by the awful handwriting, which looked like a scribbled mess. One could barely make out the words...

Dali Temple Minister Gu Qinglian suddenly said, "Eunuch Xu said that this was arranged after His Majesty fell ill."

Everyone suddenly realized that the late emperor was seriously ill at the time and could barely lift his hands, so naturally the handwriting was different! Someone drew an analogy and said, "The imperial edict of succession..."

The ministers still didn't dare to directly conclude that it was a fake. The Minister of Justice said, "At least we can be sure that the imperial edict was not written after the late emperor fell ill!"

At this time, combined with the previous events, someone said: "If it was written before he fell ill, the imperial edict would have required the Hanlin Academy to keep a record of such a crucial matter as the succession of the throne!"

As mentioned earlier, the emperor's edicts were usually not determined by whether the Hanlin Academy had a record of them, but at this moment, it could be used as evidence! The Left Censor-in-Chief immediately sent someone to investigate!

At the same time, the investigation of the case reached the most important part, and everyone looked at Xu Jin.

The Minister of Justice's expression became serious, and he asked solemnly, "Eunuch Xu said that the servants in Taiyang Palace witnessed the Prime Minister and the Eighth Prince entering Taiyang Palace late at night?"

"Those of us who were not at home that night but were working in Taiyang Palace are all here." Xu Jin said, turning to look at the large group of eunuchs and palace maids behind him.

The eunuchs and palace maids came forward one by one and told what they had seen and heard that night.

First, someone came to report that a master had sneaked into the imperial study and was discovered when he was escaping. The person is still at large and has not been caught. The people below don’t know if something is missing and how to deal with it.

The servants in Taiyang Palace asked the late emperor for instructions, and the late emperor sent some personal servants to the imperial study to check.

As for what they were checking, the eunuchs and palace maids refused to say, and the ministers were tactful enough not to ask. Those who had guessed knew not to speak, and those who had not guessed knew that there were some things they should not ask.

Later that night, a man in black passed by the front of Taiyang Palace, and the guards chasing him shouted that it was the thief who broke into the imperial study. Some of the guards outside Taiyang Palace ran to stop him, but they were one step away, so they followed closely in pursuit. Later, the remaining guards were all sent out by the late emperor.

There were naturally servants in Taiyang Palace, but the late emperor liked quietness, so when he went to bed, the servants would quietly wait in the dark side room.

The room on the other side was separated by a piece of fine Suzhou embroidery. From the bright outside, one could only see the white background and the beautiful scenery of mountains and rivers, but from the dark inside, one could clearly see the scene outside. As long as the emperor on the dragon bed made the slightest movement, the servants would go out to serve him at any time.

That night, the Prime Minister came in and looked around, unaware that they were watching from inside...

Not everyone is good at speaking. Some people talk incoherently.

But everyone's different words, saying the same thing, further confirms the truth of everything.

The princes and ministers who had entered Taiyang Palace all remembered that there was indeed an embroidered painting of mountains and rivers there... but they never realized that there was something more behind it...

"If all this is true, how dare the Prime Minister sneak into Taiyang Palace late at night and place the so-called imperial edict of succession! This is enough to prove that the Eighth Prince's accession to the throne is not legitimate!" Someone immediately glared angrily.

However, more important things are yet to come.

The young eunuch added nervously, "That night... I saw the Eighth Prince rush into the palace and shake His Majesty on the dragon bed... His Majesty didn't wake up... The Eighth Prince turned around and angrily asked the Prime Minister... if there was an antidote..."

The whole place was filled with shock and silence for a few moments before someone asked, "Does anyone know what the antidote is?"

"The Prime Minister answered, but I didn't hear it clearly..." the young eunuch said with a blush.

"I only heard the Eighth Prince angrily scolding the Prime Minister..."

The young eunuch looked around nervously, as if he was unsure whether to speak or not. Seeing Xu Jin nod at him, he continued to repeat: "The Eighth Prince scolded: 'As long as the emperor is alive, it doesn't matter if Chu Shikun becomes the crown prince... We can just kill Chu Shikun someday...'"

Many people around gasped!

Gu Qinglian's eyes faltered slightly. "Again" meant that this had happened before, and Prince Duan was attacked and killed the day after the late emperor passed away...

The other ministers also looked solemn. These words not only clearly showed their intention to harm their brother, but also showed that the Eighth Prince had already witnessed the death of the late emperor and knew that it was the Prime Minister who was responsible!

The Eighth Prince first allowed his maternal relatives to murder his own father! Now he is shielding the murderer and reaping the benefits!

Now, the imperial edict is really useless!

It is impossible for the subjects to accept that a man who killed his father and committed heinous crimes can sit on the throne... At least, his crime cannot be widely spread.

This matter was made public in the lobby of the Ministry of Justice in full view of everyone, and even involved many hostile factions. It would surely spread throughout Daxia!

Zong Ling said, "Speaking of which, after the Fifth Prince escaped the capital, he accused Consort Xian of framing Consort Shu with the charge of poisoning the late Emperor... But the imperial physicians all said that the late Emperor passed away due to illness, and that Consort Shu later voluntarily entered the mausoleum and never mentioned this matter..."

Everyone looked at Concubine Shu who was sitting behind the curtain. No one involved mentioned anything, and the Fifth Prince's words were unfounded. Many people just thought that the Fifth Prince was being hunted down and persecuted, and made angry and malicious speculations.

"When the Japanese princess was taken away, she was indeed accused of poisoning the bird's nest porridge sent to Taiyang Palace, but I drank it myself..." Concubine Shu said sadly and aggrievedly, "And after she was sent to the cold palace, the poisoning was no longer mentioned... Concubine De said that she was just looking for a pretext to arrest her..."

At this point, Concubine Shu suddenly thought of her own children and asked anxiously, "By the way, Huan'er and Xuan'er, are they okay?"

Everyone paused, and the Minister of War replied, "Reporting to the Consort Shu, the Fifth Prince has recently mobilized the Qin Clan Army and is heading towards the capital... The Ninth Prince should be accompanying his brother."

The ministers exchanged glances. The Fifth Prince's movements were also disturbing...

"We must first find out what the Prime Minister and the Eighth Prince have done, and get to the bottom of the matter before we can deal with the minor details." The Minister of Justice returned to the main topic.

Zong Ling further analyzed, "If there is no reason, Consort Xian has no right to dispose of a concubine who has already been canonized, so the frame-up must be true. However, we still don't know whether the late emperor passed away due to illness or was poisoned by a treacherous person."

"We get it!"

A eunuch suddenly remembered something and exclaimed, "The Concubine Shu was framed for poisoning the Emperor with bird's nest porridge! The Emperor's dinner before his death was the bird's nest porridge sent by Eunuch Wang! At that time, Eunuch Wang was testing the medicine for the Emperor, and he dipped a spoonful in it, but there wasn't even half a spoonful left! We used to ridicule him for forgetting his duty, but now I think he must have something to hide! He dared not eat too much!"