I just want to be a princess, no, you want to be a queen

After leaving the government office, Pei Mian, who was hidden in the crowd, chased after him, "Your Highness, thanks to the wife of the Marquis of Zhongxin for coming. If you had said that Fourth Miss Lu was still innocent, you could have escaped Concubine Song's trap, but His Majesty would have known you were lying to him. Privately, he would have inevitably caused trouble for Your Highness."

Chu Mingzheng raised his hand to stop him and asked, "Did she just want to betray me, or did she want to deny the rumors and prove her innocence?"

Pei Mian couldn't understand why His Highness was still concerned about such a trivial matter when everything was fine. But he could only poke his lungs truthfully.

"Last night in Jingzhao Prefecture Prison, Song Wei was so considerate and spent the whole night with the Fourth Young Lady. Moreover, they have often met at Wenhua Palace over the past two months."

Pei Mian investigated everything clearly and said sincerely, "Your Highness, I have to remind you that your home was robbed during the two months you were away."

Chu Mingzheng slapped him on the head without any hesitation.

Pei Mian rubbed his head and said with a smile: "Your Highness, you pity her, but since she doesn't know what's good for her, why bother to care about her anymore? What kind of vision do you have?"

“She’s useful!”

"What's the use?" Pei Mian was surprised.

Chu Mingzheng glared at Pei Mian coldly, "Go send a message to Jin Yiluo's spy in the capital and inform him of the consequences of this matter."

"Why are you saying this?" Pei Mian asked curiously.

Chu Mingzheng turned his head to look at the Jingzhao government office and said calmly, "Restore her innocence!"

Does this mean you are not planning to marry the fourth daughter of the Lu family?

"Yes!" Pei Mian took the order and left.

……

Inside the Qinzheng Hall, the emperor reviewed memorials while Concubine Zhou served him with writing materials. Clearly, both seemed somewhat absent-minded. The arrival of the Jingzhao Yin shattered the silence.

"This iron scroll of immunity from death was awarded to the Chengyang Marquis' Mansion. How can she, a daughter-in-law who married out, be qualified to use it?" Concubine Song was the first to lose her temper.

"Qinzheng Palace is an important place of the previous dynasty. What qualifications do you, a concubine, have to be here?"

The Queen Mother's voice reached the hall, and Concubine Song hurried forward to pay her respects.

The emperor smiled and went to help the empress dowager. "I am only here to serve you with writing materials. Your Majesty, your words are too kind."

At this moment, the Queen Mother was in no mood to argue with Concubine Song. She looked at the Jingzhao Yin who was kneeling on the ground and said, "Sir Wu, I have something to ask you."

"I am all ears." Jingzhao Yin turned to the Queen Mother and knelt.

"Five people have died in a major crime in the capital. Instead of investigating the rumormongers and punishing the perpetrators of domestic violence, you detained innocent, yet unconvicted, people in the government office for an entire night. What law in our Great Sheng allows you to enforce the law this way?"

The Queen Mother angrily slammed the tea table and said, "The capital is the model for all prefectures and counties under heaven. This is how you set an example."

"I am terrified!" Jingzhao Yin buried his head deep in the ground.

Regardless of the iron-clad exemption from death or the Empress Dowager's intervention, the Emperor knew the case could not proceed, so he said, "Mother, for the sake of the iron-clad exemption from death, the case of the fourth daughter of the Lu family will not be pursued. As for the others, you shall sentence them as you see fit."

The emperor pointed to Jingzhao Yin, who agreed repeatedly.

Eunuch Su walked in at this time. "Your Majesty, a merchant from the Xiongnu royal court said he is asking to see Your Majesty on the orders of the young Khan. He also said that the matter is urgent and cannot wait a moment."

The emperor had a vague feeling that the situation was not going well, but he had no choice but to let the Huns in.

Although the rumors in the capital about the daughter of Marquis Chengyang were fierce, they did not involve the marriage with the Xiongnu at all. Therefore, the Xiongnu spies had not taken any action. After hearing Pei Mian's words, they realized the seriousness of the situation and hurried to meet the emperor.

He immediately asked, "Your Majesty promised the young Khan to strictly guard the Green Water Pond. Why is there such a big fuss?"

"This matter does not involve the incident of the Clear Water Pond." Although the emperor's explanation was reasonable, he still agreed to clear the name of the daughter of the Marquis of Chengyang under pressure from the Huns and the queen mother, and to thoroughly investigate those who spread the rumors.

Coming out of the Qinzheng Palace, Concubine Song said to the eunuch in charge, "Quick, tell my brother to hide everyone."

On the platform, Xu Pei watched Concubine Song depart and sighed, "It's obvious that Concubine Song is the mastermind behind this. You've always been reluctant to get involved in these matters, but are you really going to become her enemy now?"

"I have indulged her too much, letting her think that just because she gave birth to the emperor's son, she can do whatever she wants."

The Queen Mother angrily slammed her hand on the railing and said angrily, "I'm not even dead yet, and you dare to bully my grandson like this? What will happen if he is really made the Crown Prince? I just want to teach her a lesson, to let her know that no one can bully my Zheng'er."

Xu Pei said, "It's time to give Concubine Zhou a warning. I'm just worried that this will affect the mother-son relationship between you and His Majesty."

The Queen Mother's expression was as gloomy as the sea, and she waved her hands helplessly, "The mother-son relationship between me and Your Majesty was already broken the moment I adopted Zheng'er."

Xu Pei's eyes were filled with heartache, and she was really confused. "Your Majesty will definitely make Prince Guangcheng the Crown Prince. Your Highness doesn't have many years left to live. What is this Concubine Song doing with all this nonsense?"

"It's in accordance with etiquette and law to enthronize the eldest grandson, and there's already a precedent in our dynasty. Her concerns are not unfounded." The Queen Mother said bitterly, "But I can't let my son, Zheng Er, be without descendants just for the sake of their comfort."

Seeing the Queen Mother's growing anger, Xu Pei helped her down the platform and told her the good news she had received today: "Duke Qin has left for the capital to celebrate your birthday."

Duke Qin was the eldest son of the Queen Mother's younger brother. He was very happy not to see him for many years.

However, the Queen Mother was puzzled: "Didn't you tell them that there is no need to celebrate my birthday this year? It's a waste of money and effort."

"Others may not come, but your own children will definitely miss you." No matter how many years you have been in your husband's family, your mother's family is always the closest to you in your heart.

Xu Pei comforted the Queen Mother, "Duke Qin has always been cautious and has specifically reported this to Your Majesty. Your Majesty is also filial to you. He knows that you care about Duke Qin and is willing to do everything to make you happy."

"You're the only one who knows how to make me happy."

Seeing the Queen Mother's expression relax, Xu Pei continued, "I heard that Duke Qin brought his youngest daughter with him. The little girl is only 28 years old, the age of a flower."

"Really? Have you promised her?" At her age, the Queen Mother's favorite thing to do is to choose a husband for her younger generation. Upon hearing this, she sat up straight.

Xu Pei smiled and said, "I'm afraid it's up to you, my aunt, to make the decision."

……

Jingzhao Prefecture Yamen

The Jingzhao Yin trembled as he sat back on the already cold chair. With him came the palace aunt who was in charge of the physical examination. Lu Mingyang was in a daze when the palace aunt invited him into the back hall.

Looking at the instruments for body examination, Lu Mingyang stepped back in fear: "Aunt, there's no need to examine me again. I, I'm no longer..."

The palace aunt interrupted with a smile: "Don't be afraid, Fourth Miss, I am here on the orders of the Queen Mother."

As expected, she did not do a physical examination, but just went through the motions and announced to everyone that the fourth daughter of the Lu family was still a virgin.

As the Chengyang Marquis's family left, the Jingzhao government office was still bustling with activity. The gavel rang, and Lu Mingqin, exiting the mansion, twisted her ankle as she walked down the stairs after hearing the Jingzhao Yin's words about thoroughly investigating the rumors.