Chapter 269：Chimera

"You this slut, what did you do to Jin Yu? Come ah, seize her, quickly seize her!" Worry about her son overwhelming her reason, the Empress Dowager waved her sleeves and shouted crazily.

The courtiers, who were already kneeling down behind the banquet tables, were now hating that they couldn't retract their heads down into their necks, to block their ears. Empress Dowager, this kind of reaction is simply an unprovoked confession ah! Looking at her grief and indignation, that thing truly must belong to the Gong Prince, meaning, the Gong Prince was having an affair with Hui Yi Imperial Consort?! Ahh, don't think about it, the more you think about it the more ludicrous the world will feel!

Zhao Bi Xuan went down to her knees, falling at the Emperor's feet, her body shaking violently. She wanted to explain, but found that her throat was impossibly dry, unable to even spit out a word. In the end, she could only bury her face in her hands to escape the Emperor's cold eyes.

Because of this, she had nothing to long for, and no apprehensions. Afraid the Emperor, in order to cover up the family scandal, would dismiss the guests and send her to the dungeon for a secret execution, Qian Fangfei spoke quickly, opening up the package of evidence the shadow guards had collected.

"Your Majesty, you may not be aware, but your Hui Yi Imperial Consort and Qi Jin Yu started secretly seeing each other when they were eleven years old. This is a love token Hui Yi Imperial Consort sent to Qi Jin Yu, attached to a love letter." She tossed over a jade ornament and a letter, then immediately followed up, "After Hui Yi Imperial Consort entered the palace, the two didn't break off their relationship. There's a tunnel from the Empress Dowager's palace to the Cold Palace, Qi Jin Yu used this tunnel to privately meet Hui Yi Imperial Consort at night before leaving the palace. The two could make love whenever they pleased, very passionate. But when Hui Yi Imperial Consort carelessly got pregnant, the two people grew anxious, and after several discussions, they actually schemed to have you pay for their sins."

Seeing fury flicker across the Emperor's eyes, Qian Fangfei neurotically smiled and opened, "Yes, it's exactly what you think, the Second Prince is not your son. Because you and Qi Jin Yu are brothers, we're unable to prove it with a blood drop test, but I've brought many correspondences between the two – how much they yearned for each other, how they wanted to embrace each other, how they'll pass the prince off as your son, all kinds of disgraceful things are clearly written. And as for your good Mother Empress, she knew everything from the start! Otherwise, why would she dote on the Second Prince, but never pay any attention to the First Prince? Because the Second Prince is her true grandson ah! Ha ha ha, it's ridiculous, too ridiculous! The common people have a saying for this, the palace gates dazzle like jade and glitter like gold only to hide the dirt and conceal the corruption behind it. The younger brother sleeps with his older brother's wife, and the mother not only helps cover it up, but also plans to have the bastard turtledove drive the magpie away from its nest, seeking to seize Da Qi's throne. It's a ridiculous, morally depraved drama!"

She grinned evilly and tossed the package in her hand, scattering the evidence around on the floor. There were letters, a brocade purse, embroidered handkerchief, and other private trinkets, even scarlet red lingerie and a pair of gauze stockings. There was no need to examine closely to imagine how addicted to each other the Gong Prince and Hui Yi Imperial Consort was.

Qian Fangfei was still giggling, and the courtiers had curled up into balls, trying to burrow themselves into the tiles. Hearing such a dirty royal scandal first hand, how would the Emperor deal with them to cover it up? Only Luo Zhen sat straight up, looking up at the head seat.

The Empress Dowager had already gone completely mad, shouting at the guards to seize Qian Fangfei, even ordering to have her killed on the spot. Hui Yi Imperial Consort was bawling at the Emperor's feet, constantly shaking her head in denial. The Emperor's expression was very calm, he had even folded his slender legs and was sitting in a more relaxed pose, now, he said in a heavy voice, "Shut her up."

Qian Fangfei immediately stopped smiling and kneeled, red faced, but she soon realized that this order was not directed at herself. Duke Yu Gou waved his hand, and the guards that were standing like wooden pillars at the doorway immediately moved forward, casually picking up a handkerchief and shoving it into the Empress Dowager's mouth, then dragging her out. No one said anything about the Emperor treating the Empress Dowager in such a rude way, thinking of what the Empress Dowager and the Gong Prince colluded to do, even if the Emperor had her flayed alive in the imperial court, it would be justifiable.

Qian Fangfei's heart immediately settled down. She thought that the Emperor, for the sake of the royal family's reputation, would disregard all reason to kill her, but judging by his actions, he didn't seem to have that intention. That was good, as long as she was still alive, she always had a way to escape, because she still had her trump card, and that card would certainly move the Emperor's heart.

The hall quieted down until a needle drop could be heard, everyone was waiting for the Emperor to launch an attack. It wouldn't be so unbearable if he was raging and shouting, but he was so indifferent, his pupils dull, as if he was a spectator. His calmness only made them feel more frightened. The courtiers who'd previous tried to recommend the Second Prince for heir were dripping cold sweat, their organs trembling. As for Marquess Wen Yuan and Fang-shi, they'd almost fainted to death, and Li-shi, who was still celebrating in schadenfreude, was also very confused, wanting to raise her head to peek at her son's expression, but not daring to act rashly. She settled on cursing out Zhan Bi Xuan this slut in her heart.

Zhou Yun Sheng raised his wine glass to take a sip, seeing Zhao Bi Xuan about to throw herself on his feet to beg for mercy, he thought to kick her away, but Zhao Xuan was the first to move, a slap across the face sending her flying, tumbling down the short steps and out into the main hall, her cheeks immediately swollen.

Zhao Xuan's character dictionary never had space for the phrase "Real men don't hit women".

The courtiers unconsciously dived further under the tables, saying in their hearts: if Duke Yu Gou now wants to 'punish family for the sake of justice', I'm afraid it's already too late. The Emperor's beloved darling for three years turned out to be such a dirty thing, not only passing a bastard off as his son, but even trying to bewitch him to set the bastard up as heir to the throne, it'd be strange if the Emperor could swallow down this insult!

Zhou Yun Sheng finished his glass of wine, seeing the courtier's 'whishing one could fade away' expressions, and even the court scribe had stopped writing the "Daily Notes", instead kneeling on the ground, shivering, not daring to record these scandals, he couldn't help but shake his head, chuckling.

"The Gong Prince and Hui Yi Imperial Consort's adultery, was it my fault?" He asked gently.

"Those two are immoral, they have no respect for human relationships, it's not the Emperor's fault." No one dared to answer except Zhao Xuan, who stood still, diligently pacifying.

"If that's the case, why should I feel ashamed and cover it up for them? I've done nothing wrong, I'm not afraid of our current people's comments, or the later generations' comments. Court Scribe, take up your brush and record it, your words must not be vague, but you also shouldn't exaggerate."

Court Scribe nodded, leaning forward to write at tremendous speed. The courtiers heard these words, and all admired the Emperor's magnanimous and broad-minded worldview, increasingly less anxious about their own lives. If the An Prince, the Gong Prince, or any other prince was emperor, perhaps Qian Fangfei and Zhao Bi Xuan's heads would've already been sent flying, and all the people present wouldn't be able to escape unscathed.

His Majesty really is the Holy Emperor!

Qian Fangfei quickly glanced up at the handsome man in the imperial seat, her mood unprecedentedly stable. The Emperor really was like the rumors, both resolutely ruthless and generously merciful. Although she entered the palace with the determination to die, if she could keep her life, she was naturally happier. It now seems that the Emperor didn't have the intention to hurriedly kill, because from beginning to end, she never saw murderous intent enter his eyes.

Noticing Qian Fangfei secretly looking at him, Zhou Yun Sheng nodded to her and asked, "Gong Qin Princess, where is the Gong Prince now, is he dead or alive?"

Qian Fangfei respectfully kowtowed and answered, "Replying to the Emperor, the Gong Prince is quite well, he's currently lying in the bed, sleeping. I never had the intention to kill him, only to pluck out his roots, that's all."

Gasp, plucking his roots his only a "That's all"? The Gong Qin Princess was truly vicious. For a man to lose his member, being alive would be more unbearable than death. Even if you found out that the Gong Prince and Hui Yi Imperial Consort were having an affair, wouldn't it be better to secretly report it to the Emperor? Why go straight to this kind of deadly blow? The courtiers sighed in their hearts, but they didn't know about Qian Fangfei's suffering.

She refused to expose her wounds to onlookers, so she could only grin and bear it. Was she vicious? How could they know that Qi Jin Yu was countless times more vicious than her? If he'd succeeded in squeezing out all her value, the next step would've been to send her a bowl of poison. He didn't treat her like a man, so she made sure he could never pretend to be a man again!

Zhou Yun Sheng supported his forehead on his hand, once again impressed by this woman's toughness. He flicked his sleeve and said, "Come, take Gong Qin Princess into custody, I'll soon come to personally interrogate her." Under watchful eyes, he had to punish her, but in this life, he could give her a better way out.

The guards moved forward to arrest Qian Fangfei, but she kowtowed three times and suddenly stood up, smiling spiritedly, "There's no need to bind me, I will walk out by myself." Then she turned and swaggered out.

Zhou Yun Sheng had people carry Zhao Bi Xuan away and dismissed the courtiers, from beginning to end, he never threatened them to keep quiet. The courtiers were even more in awe, and naturally didn't mention these things after going back, only deliberately alienating Wen Yuan March and Yu Gou Duchy. The once illustrious because of Hui Yi Imperial Consort's favor Zhao Jia, would probably soon be eliminated. Old Marquess Wen Yuan and Fang-shi's legs were too weak to walk, so they were thrown out of Tai He Hall by the guards. Zhao Xuan ignored the two paralyzed people on the steps, slowly walking to the carriage, supporting the also limp Li-shi.

"Finished! Our family is finished! You clearly earned your title with blood and sweat, but that slut Zhao Bi Xuan has ruined it. She was so favored, why did she have an affair with the Gong Prince? She has no brains! That slut doesn't know shame, she's just like her mother!" Li-shi wept and swore, if Zhao Bi Xuan was in front of her right now, she would probably pounce on her and tear her to shreds.

"You don't have to worry so much mother, this matter won't implicate Yu Guo Duchy. Go back first, I have something to do." Zhao Xuan gave a simple explanation and jumped onto his horse, galloping away.

———-

Feng Yi Palace, Zhao Bi Xuan had her hands bound by two chamberlains, and her mouth stuffed with a balled up handkerchief.

Zhou Yun Sheng was browsing the letters Qian Fangfei had handed over. The two knew each other for 6 or 7 years, and started dating at age 11. The first few letters were very PG, sweet and warm, but as they got older, the writings became more explicit, especially at the time of the Cold Palace love affair. Each letter seemed to be drenched with the smell of male and female arousal- the smell of desire. Zhao Bi Xuan even sent him her lingerie, gauze stockings, and other clothing articles that made the imagination run wild. Perhaps those articles spent their nights concealed away in Qi Jin Yu's arms, sniffed repeatedly every night.

Imagining that scene, Zhou Yun Sheng shook his head and scoffed, then used his brush to push the evidence off the table, the thick stack of letters landing by Zhao Bi Xuan's feet. He ordered in a heavy voice, "Release her."

The two chamberlain untied her and backed away a few steps.

Zhao Bi Xuan removed the handkerchief from her mouth and wailed, "Your Majesty, I was wrong, please give me another chance! I'll completely forget about the Gong Prince, I'll serve you wholeheartedly!"

Zhou Yun Sheng snorted out laughter, then shook his head and sighed, "Oh Zhao Bi Xuan, I'll let you know the truth, I found out about your and Qi Jin Yu's rotten adultery a long time ago. Whenever I look at you, can you guess how I feel?"