novelaction Chapter 117 Anyang Receives 3 Large Strokes
Chapter 117 Anyang Receives 3 Large Strokes
Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, "Hmph, even if you didn't instigate her, Princess Anyang committed such a crime of deceiving the emperor, and as her father, you cannot escape blame."
An Yang raised her head, her eyes filled with despair. She knew that she couldn't escape this time no matter what. Suddenly, an idea came to her. She pointed at Prime Minister Li and shouted, "It was all my father's fault. He said that if I didn't do this, he would kick me out of the house. I was scared, so I listened to him."
Prime Minister Li's eyes widened, and he angrily cursed, "You wretched daughter, how dare you spout such slander!"
Prime Minister Li never imagined that his beloved daughter would be so disregard for the greater good.
What good does it do her to accuse her own father like this?
Just then, the Empress's personal maid came to deliver a message: the Empress wanted to see Prime Minister Li and Anyang.
Seeing this, Zhou Yuan led Prime Minister Li and others into the palace.
Hiding in the tree, Su Yinyin and Lao Yi watched the departing army.
Su Yinyin gestured for Lao Yi to take her to the room. Once inside, the two realized what was happening.
If you want to feign madness to frame others, then go ahead and pretend properly! You won't last long before your true colors are revealed.
Who would be feigning madness to sit here and eat such exquisite food? The room is decorated so elegantly, it makes you think you're in a brothel!
It seems that this Princess Anyang is a food enthusiast!
Su Yinyin sighed, "I haven't seen enough yet! What should I do?"
Seeing Su Yinyin's regret, the old man offered his suggestion: "Miss, why don't we go to the palace and see what's going on?"
Su Yinyin thought for a moment, "I won't go. There are too many guards in the palace, it's too much trouble!"
The old man said, "Don't worry, as long as Miss wants it, none of these are problems."
Seeing that Lao Yi was full of confidence, Su Yinyin and Lao Yi found a secluded place to watch the show before they arrived.
After entering the palace, Zhou Yuan recounted the events that had transpired.
Zhou Yuan sneered, "You two, father and daughter, stop trying to shift the blame. I will not easily trust either side."
Zhou Yuan was secretly furious that the Li family dared to slander and manipulate him.
At this moment, the Empress, who had been standing silently to the side, slowly spoke up: "Your Highness, there may be more to this matter than meets the eye. Princess Anyang is young and timid after all; perhaps she has been misled."
In my opinion, it would be better to detain and interrogate the two first, and then thoroughly investigate the truth.
After a moment's thought, Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement, "Let's do as the Empress says."
Therefore, the Imperial Guards stepped forward to escort Prime Minister Li and Princess Anyang.
Princess Anyang was so frightened that she collapsed to the ground, while Prime Minister Li glared at her fiercely, his eyes seeming to want to devour her alive.
After they were taken away, Zhou Yuan said to the Empress, "Empress, Prime Minister Li is not only a member of your family, but also the Prime Minister of the country."
Prime Minister Li has entered the palace to lodge a complaint with the Emperor, accusing me of intimidation. If it is found that they have falsely accused me, I hope the Empress will not help them escape punishment.
The Empress nodded slightly, her demeanor graceful. "Your Excellency is too kind. I will certainly uphold the law of the land. Let us go together to see His Majesty and let him decide on a place."
Zhou Yuan said no more and left in a huff. The Empress, however, said she needed to dress and would depart later.
Su Yinyin and Lao Yi observed everything clearly from the shadows. Su Yinyin said softly, "This empress seems fair, but who knows what she's really up to?" Lao Yi nodded.
Not long after, Su Yinyin saw a young eunuch sneaking towards the prison where Princess Anyang and Prime Minister Li were being held. Curious, she pulled Lao Yi along and followed him.
The young eunuch whispered in front of the prison gate, "Princess, Her Majesty said she would find a way to save you, but things are too tense right now, so you need to be patient for a while."
The young eunuch went to Prime Minister Li's cell and whispered, "Prime Minister, Her Majesty the Empress said that those who should be spared should be spared. Otherwise, everyone will suffer along with us."
Su Yinyin was startled; it turned out that the Empress still intended to protect her.
That's right, Prime Minister Li is her main force. The main force can't fall. If the minor character is gone, so be it. Who told the minor character to act on her own?
At this moment, the old man gently tugged at Su Yinyin's sleeve, signaling her to leave.
The Queen was pacing back and forth in her palace. Her fears had finally come true. But she hadn't expected her true colors to be revealed so quickly.
He's utterly useless. All those years of careful nurturing were for nothing.
The Empress, however, had her own plans. The Li family could not fall, nor could they fall. If they did, the political landscape of the court would inevitably be reshuffled, and she needed to devise a plan carefully.
Before an incense stick had burned, Regent Zhou Yuan and the Empress had gathered in the Imperial Study.
After resting for most of the day, the emperor felt much better. He sat in his chair, listening to the guards' reports.
The emperor frowned slightly. Just then, a minister who had been standing by the emperor's side whispered, "Your Majesty, this matter involves Prime Minister Li filing a complaint with the Regent. This is no small matter!"
Upon hearing this, the emperor's gaze deepened. "I understand."
The emperor slowly spoke, "Issue my decree to bring Prime Minister Li and Princess Anyang to the Imperial Study." Everyone bowed their heads in agreement.
Before long, the two were brought in. Prime Minister Li appeared calm, while Princess Anyang seemed slightly flustered.
The emperor looked at them and said, "Prime Minister Li, do you have any solid evidence to support your lawsuit against the Regent?"
Prime Minister Li respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, I am guilty! I was deceived by my daughter and wife, which is why I came to the palace to file a complaint with Your Majesty."
At this moment, the Empress gracefully bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Prime Minister Li is an upright and honest person, not a fool. He knows that filing a complaint with the Emperor is a very important matter, but he loves his daughter too much."
The emperor glanced at the empress but did not respond.
Su Yinyin hid to the side and observed silently, thinking to herself that the situation was becoming more and more complicated.
The Regent sneered and looked at Prime Minister Li, saying, "Prime Minister, are you so eager to overthrow me? Are you perhaps feeling guilty?"
Prime Minister Li's expression changed, and he was about to refute.
The emperor raised his hand to stop them, then looked at Anyang: "Anyang, you tell me, what's going on here?"
Princess Anyang knelt on the ground, looked up at the emperor, sneered a few times, then looked at Zhou Yuan and asked, word by word: "Your Highness, is it wrong for me to love you? Is it wrong for me to want to marry you? I have loved you for ten whole years, why can't you see me? What's wrong with me?"
When I heard that you already had a princess, my heart ached. But I still begged my father to plead with His Majesty to make me your concubine. But my father disagreed and was unwilling.
Why can't any of you grant my wish! When I returned home from the Prince's mansion, I begged my father to go to the palace to see the Empress and ask my aunt for help. But my father refused me again, despite his repeated claims of loving me as his daughter.
As a result, even this small request couldn't be met. In that case, nobody wants to live anymore.
The emperor frowned slightly upon hearing Princess Anyang's words. "Anyang, I admire your devotion, but matters of the heart cannot be forced."
Regent Zhou Yuan replied, "I am not worthy of the princess's deep affection. My heart belongs only to the princess."