Let’s Squander A Billion First!

Chapter 1414: Chapter 1414: The Power Behind the Gates (24)

Marquis Boan was a bit confused.

He came to demand justice for the Third Princess.

How did it become about the incident with Princess Yudie being stung?

”Princess Yudie was invited by the Third Princess, and was instructed by the Third Princess to have an eunuch pour a whole body of honey water on her, leading to wasps being attracted.”

Chuzheng’s speech was unhurried, carrying a cold tone.

”The Empress Dowager, this matter is pure nonsense!” Marquis Boan immediately retorted: ”The Third Princess would never do such a thing!”

Chuzheng gave him a cold glance: ”Bring the people in.”

A few palace maids and eunuchs were brought in, and they knelt on the ground in unison.

”Tell us, who instructed you to harm Princess Yudie, and how did you do it?”

The palace maids and eunuchs trembled on the ground, their faces pale.

”It... it was the Third Princess...”

The palace maids and eunuchs’ statements matched what Chuzheng had said.

These people all served by the Third Princess’s side.

Marquis Boan’s face went pale with fury.

It was a clear day when the Third Princess was alone.

How could those palace maids and eunuchs all have witnessed the scene?

”The Empress Dowager, this surely is someone framing the Third Princess.” Marquis Boan pointed at those palace maids and eunuchs: ”They are lying! Princess Yudie and the Third Princess bear no grudge against each other, why would the Third Princess treat her in such a way?”

Chuzheng: ”Does the Marquis remember what you just said?”

Marquis Boan: ”...”

What did he just say?

Chuzheng’s tone was gentle: ”The Marquis said it was Princess Yudie’s retaliation. May I ask, if the Third Princess did nothing, why was there retaliation? Since the Marquis was so sure, you must know what the Third Princess did to Princess Yudie.”

Marquis Boan: ”...”

Marquis Boan’s face instantly turned ashen.

The words were spoken by himself.

Now, there’s no way to refute them.

”Does the Marquis have any objections?”

Marquis Boan: ”...”

What good are objections?

Chuzheng has so many witnesses here.

This time, the Third Princess is...

”To treat one’s sister with such cruelty, Marquis Boan, how do you think the Third Princess should be punished?”

Marquis Boan came to seek justice for the Third Princess.

But now he has to discuss how to deal with the Third Princess.

How could he respond?

-

The third princess’s punishment was quickly announced; she was sentenced to guard the Imperial Mausoleum for three years.

The Third Princess was at the age to be married, and going to guard the mausoleum for three years, though she was a princess and did not worries about marriage, she would still miss the best time to choose a Prince Consort.

The Third Princess made a fuss about not going.

The Young Emperor initially wanted to speak a few words for her, as she was his Imperial Sister after all.

But after visiting Chuzheng, he returned with no intention of doing so.

He directly ordered people to pack up the Third Princess and send her to the Imperial Mausoleum.

Noble Consort Xuan heard about this and chuckled lightly: ”Is she not afraid of offending Marquis Boan?”

Chunxiu: ”The Third Princess exposed her own handle, Marquis Boan wanted to save her but couldn’t.”

Noble Consort Xuan’s eyes sparkled with suspicion: ”Why would she stand up for Princess Yudie?”

Chunxiu: ”The Empress Dowager is now in charge of the harem, standing up for Princess Yudie shouldn’t be unexpected, should it?”

Noble Consort Xuan sneered: ”It should be, but such a punishment, for a princess, is far too severe. Moreover, the Third Princess was also stung by wasps, it can be considered even now, right?”

Chunxiu found herself at a loss for words.

The wars between the big players, as a mere palace maid, she didn’t quite understand.

After thinking for a while, Noble Consort Xuan instructed Chunxiu: ”Keep an eye on that side recently, report any abnormalities immediately.”

”Yes.”

-

Rong Shi’s chamber.

Rong Shi stood by the window with his hands behind his back.

Ting Ying was tidying up the letters on the desk for Rong Shi, speaking while sorting: ”General, the Empress Dowager has already punished the Third Princess, do we still need to plan after?”

”No need.”

”Yes.”

Ting Ying ignited the letters and burned them.

Rong Shi came back to his senses, his eyes reflected the flickering flames.

After a moment, he said in a deep voice: ”Inform the people on that side, they can act now.”

”Yes.”

-

Half a month later.

News came from the Imperial City, reporting two ministers had consecutively died in accidents.

The Dali Temple sent personnel to personally investigate and confirmed the deaths as accidents.

This incident only caused a brief discussion and didn’t attract much attention.

No more incidents occurred thereafter, and everyone quickly forgot about it.

Nothing unusual happened on Chuzheng’s side either.

Noble Consort Xuan frequently visited the Young Emperor, trying various ways to entertain him.

However, the Young Emperor was recently engrossed in learning, had no time to entertain her, and even invited Noble Consort Xuan to join the study.

...This was Chuzheng’s idea.

Learning brings peace.

The Young Emperor found this method very effective.

Princess Yudie had already recovered, but Zhizhi’s death dealt her a heavy blow.

Her frame had grown somewhat thin.

Chuzheng inquired what she intended when she came holding something previously.

Princess Yudie did not hide it.

She wanted to leave the Imperial Palace.

After General Rong’s visit, Princess Yudie felt even more compelled to leave, lest her cousin discover what life was like for her inside the palace.

She didn’t want to trouble her cousin.

The items she brought were exactly what Su Xue had guessed.

They were left to her by her mother, the only way to leave the palace was to get married.

And as the Empress Dowager, it’s Chuzheng’s responsibility to oversee the princesses’ marriages.

”Do you have someone you love?”

Princess Yudie lowered her head, her cheeks slightly red, but in the end, she shook her head.

”If so, just say it.” With the Good Person Card supporting you, wouldn’t I allow you to marry?!

Princess Yudie shook her head: ”I don’t have anyone.”

Chuzheng raised her brows slightly: ”Are you willing to marry someone you don’t love?”

Princess Yudie lowered her eyebrows, gazing at the carpet on the ground.

”Leaving this place, marrying anyone... it’s all the same.”

Within these high walls of the deep palace, her world remained unchanged.

Princess Yudie evidently had someone she liked.

But she wouldn’t say, leaving Chuzheng with no choice.

Once Princess Yudie left, Chuzheng instructed Su Xue to call for Rong Shi.

”Empress Dowager, wouldn’t it be inappropriate to summon General Rong like this?”

”Why would it be inappropriate?”

”Empress Dowager, you... with General Rong, must avoid being suspected,” Su Xue said tactfully.

After all, the Empress Dowager was still quite young.

If someone maliciously spread rumors, it would be quite troublesome.

Chuzheng pondered for a moment, agreeing with Su Xue: ”That makes sense. Have Rong Shi come secretly.”

”...”

Su Xue felt her forehead throb.

If he came openly, with attendants, there’d still be some cover.

Having General Rong sneak in would surely be more chaotic?

Naturally, Rong Shi did not come sneakily.

Once inside the hall, Chuzheng dismissed Su Xue first.

Su Xue: ”...”

Something didn’t feel right.

Su Xue dare not leave the main hall, withdrawing only to the inner room.

”Empress Dowager, what do you need from me?”

Chuzheng gestured for Rong Shi to sit: ”Can’t I call you for no reason?”

I simply wanted you to come!

Look at my Good Person Card, what’s the problem?

Rong Shi stood motionless, expression serious: ”Empress Dowager, we should maintain our distance.”

”Oh.”

Chuzheng responded casually, clearly having not listened.

Chuzheng got to the point: ”I’ve called you concerning Princess Yudie’s marriage.”

*

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