Clouds Support the Moon

  "Halt!" The voice came from the gate of the hall. Everyone turned to look, and saw Yuan Longkui and Yuan Longbi supporting Yuan Longqiao on either side as he slowly entered the hall.

  Indigo-colored long gown, uncombed long hair, a face with cold and hard lines, exceptionally pale and wan.

  Zhao Gan's heart ached and he stood up from his throne, "Xiao San, why can't you just behave yourself?"

  "It's causing Father Emperor worry, I'm really unfilial."

  "Alas, never mind all that. Come on in, take a seat."

  "Thank you, Emperor Father." A eunuch brought over a stool, and Yuan Longqiao slowly sat down, closing his eyes slightly to catch his breath for a moment. "Emperor Father, do you want Zhen Fei to hang herself?"

  "That's right."

  Yuan Long glanced at Zhen Fei, who had been hopeful since they entered, and said calmly: "After all, Zhen Fei is the emperor's consort and has served Emperor Father for many years with dedication. Killing Zhen Fei now would not be difficult, but it might chill the hearts of the other consorts in the harem."

  "Your Majesty, everything I have done is for Your Majesty, I am true to you!" Zhen Fei was not stupid, she knew that this might be her only chance to survive. She crawled on her knees to the front of Dan Qiu, knocking her head and begging bitterly, her forehead bleeding, her hair disheveled and her eyes blurry with tears, looking very pitiful.

  Emperor Zhaoqian closed his eyes, sighed slightly, and waved his hand wearily: "Forget it. Considering that your wife has pleaded for you, I will spare your life, but from now on, you will be banished to the Cold Palace!"

  The tearful Zhen Fei raised her eyes and choked out a "Thank you, Your Majesty."

  "Prime Minister Sire Tu has arrived!" The eunuch outside the palace loudly announced.

  Emperor Zhaoqing nodded at Zhenfei to step down and ordered in a low voice: "Let him come in."

  "Your Majesty has ordered Sito Xi to pay respects and have an audience."

  The sound of footsteps echoed, Sītú Bì's official uniform was neat and tidy, his belly was full, one foot stepped into the palace gate, seeing everyone, he couldn't help but pause for a moment, "Your humble servant Sītú Bì pays respects to Your Majesty."

  Zhao Gan Emperor did not let him get up, but pointed to the prison officer kneeling beside him, "Sir, can you recognize who he is?"

  Situ Bi lowered his head, and in an instant, he had turned 180 degrees in his mind. He could hear the dissatisfaction in Emperor Jun's tone, but he didn't understand what it was about! After glancing at Yu Si, he lowered his head again: "I don't recognize him."

  "Oh? How dare you, Yu Si!"

  Witnessing the previous example of Zhang Deshun and Zhen Fei, the prison officer was already frightened, his clothes were wet with sweat, and he trembled as he lifted his sleeve to wipe away the beads of sweat on his forehead. He stuttered: "Your humble servant has not seen...seen the Prime Minister...Prime Minister, it is...it is Zheng Daren who conveyed the Prime Minister's orders!"

  "What orders? What orders?" Sito raised an eyebrow, his gaze shooting towards him like lightning.

  "Sweat dripped down from the prison officer's forehead, and he suddenly had a feeling that no matter what he said today, he would not be able to escape his fate. Gritting his teeth, he said: 'Minister Zheng personally told me that I must obtain the confession of treason from the Third Prince, even if something happens, there is Prime Minister to take responsibility with him.'"

  Situ Bi's breath rose, his small eyes staring round and round, as if flames could burst out of them at any moment. "Are you saying that Yun Huan personally delivered the order to you in prison? When did he go?"

  "Last... last night!"

  "Nonsense!" Situ Tong was thoroughly angry, and he had indeed heard rumors that Yuan Longqiao was being detained in the Ministry of Justice's prison. He hadn't thought about whether to take action yet, but he didn't expect to be implicated himself, and on top of that, to be framed for a crime. He bowed again and said sorrowfully: "Your Majesty, this jailer is spouting nonsense, framing me, I am truly innocent! Yu Xian went to Zhuozhou to rush the grain tax half a month ago, he wasn't even in the capital, how could he have gone to the Ministry of Justice's prison last night to deliver my orders? I hope Your Majesty will see clearly."

  The prison officer was shocked and quickly said: "Last night, it was indeed the Minister of Justice, Zheng Yuke, who came to the prison in person. I wouldn't dare mistake him for anyone else!"

  Situ Bi did not respond to him, but instead turned to Yun Wuqi, "Lord Yun, is it true that Situ Mo allowed Xun Xu to go to Zhuo Zhou?"

  Yun Wuqi glanced at Yu Si and bowed his head to Emperor Zhaojian: "I also know about Lord Zheng's matter of rushing grain in Zhuozhou."

  "Your Majesty." Sito Xi deeply bowed his head, no need to say more, everything was self-evident.

  "This can't be!" The tightly wound nerves of the prison officer completely collapsed, his hands ceaselessly clawing at the ground, his eyes wildly red as he bellowed: "This can't be! Impossible!"

  The Emperor Zhaojian's tired hand waved, and immediately a eunuch came to take the prison officer out. The crowd had not yet caught their breath when another eunuch returned with the message that Yuan Longchun suddenly fell ill and could not enter the palace as ordered. The anger that Emperor Zhaojian had suppressed flared up again. "Rebellious son! He's just a coward who doesn't dare to come see me!"

  "Imperial Father," Yuan Longqiao suddenly spoke up, "there's something I didn't want to say, but after this incident, I'm really heartbroken. The secret of Fourth Brother, I don't want to help him keep it anymore. Fourth Brother has been plotting against my life not just once or twice, I've always prioritized brotherly love and didn't speak out, but this time Fourth Brother has gone too far, I don't want to indulge him in his mistakes anymore. Xiao Qi, bring it out!" He nodded at Yuan Longbi.

  "Hmm." Yuan Longlin reached into his bosom and pulled out a memorial, walking up to the Danque Hall to respectfully present it to Emperor Zhaoqian.

  "My fourth brother has repeatedly tried to kill me and my queen, this memorial lists several eyewitnesses and material evidence of the assassination attempts, Your Majesty can investigate each one, I do not have a single false word."

  Zhaodian Emperor flipped through page after page, getting angrier and angrier until his hands couldn't stop shaking.

  In the General's mansion, Xia Xue sat at a table with a despondent expression, staring blankly at a teacup in front of her. Xia Tian paced back and forth in the room, muttering to himself: "Why hasn't he come back yet? What happened to San? Big Brother isn't coming back, Father isn't coming back, and now even Qing Ming has been summoned into the palace. Alas, is this imperial palace going to swallow people whole? Why does everyone who goes in never come out?"

  Feng Lian held a cup of hot tea in front of Xia Tian, "Don't worry, Miss. The Third Prince will definitely be fine. Have a sip of tea to calm down first, perhaps the young master will bring back good news soon."

  She let out a sigh and took the tea cup from Xia Tian, bringing it to her lips. Feng Li's eyes stared at her unblinkingly, his heart tightening with anxiety.

  "Fourth Sister!" Xia Xue suddenly asked: "Are you often able to see Seventh Highness?"

  The teacup fell down with the trend, and Xia Tian asked inexplicably: "Yes, he often comes to the Ling Wang Fu, what's wrong?"

  Watching the cup of tea being put down, Feng Lui pursed her lips, and her face couldn't hide its disappointment.

  "Th-then... I..." Xia Xue's face turned red as she lowered her head, twisting the handkerchief in her hands, and said shyly: "Then can I go to the Ling King's mansion to play with you in the future?"

  Let's take a look at something else first.