frightfiction Chapter 72 was simply a stroke of good luck; it was like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.
Chapter 72 was simply a stroke of good luck; it was like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.
Finally, the roast duck that the guards had bought arrived, and Lin Shiming was almost starving.
By the time he finally wolfed down his food, there were less than a quarter of an hour left.
The two quickly got up, rinsed their mouths, straightened their clothes, and headed back to the princess's residence together. As they walked, Lin Shiming muttered to himself that he hadn't taken a nap that day and that he would definitely take revenge on some people tomorrow.
Although Lu Yuxi didn't understand why he had to vent his anger on someone from tomorrow's life because he believed in listening to his "wife," he simply agreed without asking any further questions.
At 1:00 PM, the two hurried back to the princess's residence.
The main hall had been swept and cleaned by the maids and servants, and had been restored to its original state when they first arrived.
Lu Chiying and the Prince of Ping had arrived ahead of time and were sitting in the lower seats on either side waiting for them. Upon seeing the two enter, they quickly stood up to greet them.
Lu Yuxi waved her hand, "Sit down."
Lu Chiying sat down gracefully, while Prince Ping on the other side was also about to sit down.
But as soon as he turned his head slightly, he met Lin Shiming's narrowed eyes, which seemed to be smiling but were not.
King Ping: "... ..."
He trembled, clenched his fists, but dared not sit down despite his anger, and stepped aside.
Not bad! Lin Shiming was very satisfied with his intimidating presence and the Prince of Ping's sensibility, and contentedly followed Lu Yuxi to sit in the main seat.
After taking a sip of tea, Lin Shiming slowly asked, "Has Your Majesty made up your mind?"
Lu Chiying twitched the corner of her mouth. "I've thought it through."
Lin Shiming listened attentively.
"Your Majesty, I have figured it out. My daughter's future is secured by Father and..." Lu Chiying paused, but did not look at Prince Ping again, "and by my brothers and sisters. As for Zhuang Jingyi, Fenglin is a royal princess and does not need her morally corrupt father to 'add glory' to her."
Not bad. Lu Yuxi's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile. She still had some ideas and hadn't wasted the education her father had put so much effort into in raising the princesses.
"However, I must consider the reputation of Fenglin, so we cannot divorce."
"Huh?" Lin Shiming was shocked. "Then all my efforts were for nothing?"
"...So let him die suddenly."
Lu Chiying's face was pale, her expression was weary, and her voice was weak, but her words sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.
"Your Highnesses have just arrived at the Princess's residence today, and if something happens to them tomorrow, it will inevitably cause people to speculate. What I mean is, I would like to ask Your Highnesses to smooth things over for me today. In ten days or half a month, when Madam Zhuang is seriously ill, the Prince Consort will go to Huguo Temple to pray for his mother."
"Then, unfortunately, the carriage broke down, and he tragically died. Upon hearing the news of her son's death, Madam Zhuang passed away in grief. Making the most of his resources, letting Zhuang Jingyi die in the way of 'praying for his mother' still manages to add a good reputation to Fenglin. In this way, it can be considered that this mother and son did their part for Fenglin."
Lin Shiming was stunned.
Is this what Lu Yuxi and Emperor Longyun meant when they said the "Second Princess was weak-willed"? She's a hundred times more resolute and clear-headed than some modern women who are blinded by love!
I give this a thumbs up with my real name!
As for the rest—
Lu Yuxi directly replied, "The Crown Prince's tutor lost his grandson in his later years and was overcome with grief. He was unable to continue serving as the Crown Prince's tutor and requested to retire."
Thus, the matter at court was resolved. However, even after dealing with the Zhuang family, Emperor Longyun was unwilling to let Shen Wanyi and Prince Ping off lightly for their oversight in ignoring their daughter's grievances. Before Lin Shiming arrived, Emperor Longyun had specifically instructed him to give the mother and son a good beating.
“That’s enough for the dealers. Making too big of a move will only arouse suspicion.” Lin Shiming tapped the table lightly with his fingertip, raised an eyebrow and looked at Prince Ping. “Next up, it’s Shen Wanyi and you.”
Prince Ping had been preparing for this ever since Emperor Longyun had confined him in his quarters after his outburst. Now, hearing Lin Shiming direct his anger at him, he felt a sense of relief, as if a weight had finally been lifted from his shoulders.
He moved his legs, which were getting stiff from standing, and knelt down with his hands clasped to beg for forgiveness.
"I failed in my duty and harmed my younger sister, and I deserve to be punished. However, my mother was also misled by me, so I beg Your Highness not to implicate her."
No matter what he himself is like, he is still a prince. In the end, this matter is just a matter of oversight and won't reach a particularly serious level. He can recover after some time. But his mother has already been demoted to the rank of Wanyi. If she is punished further, it would truly be like trampling on his and his mother's reputation in the mud.
Lin Shiming twirled the beaded bracelet on his wrist. Tomorrow, he planned to begin sending Prince An to the Imperial Clan Court. If the punishment of Prince Ping today was too obvious, it seemed that the incident involving the two princes would indeed be bad for Lu Yuxi's reputation.
But if I don't give him a hard time, I can't swallow my anger.
Seeing his conflicted expression, Lu Yuxi quietly leaned over and whispered in Lin Shiming's ear, "Tomorrow, Father will announce that the Empress Dowager will return to the palace on the fourth day of the fourth month, and according to custom, someone needs to be sent to personally welcome her."
Lin Shiming stopped twirling the beads.
“Since Prince Ping is willing to be punished in place of your mother, then go to Mount Fotuo for a period of time to fast and pray on behalf of your elder sister and Fenglin, and copy a few scriptures. This will be considered your atonement.”
From now until April 4th, a full twenty days, keeping him away from the court and sending him to Mount Fod to eat vegetarian food, kneel before scriptures, and copy them can be considered a punishment. It also prevents this person from taking advantage of the situation while I'm dealing with Prince An.
"To the outside world, the Empress Dowager is returning to the palace on the fourth day of the fourth month. Father Emperor sent you with a troop of imperial guards to set off ahead of time to escort the Empress Dowager back to the capital. Today, you came to the Princess's residence to ask the Princess and the County Prince for a personal accessory to offer to the seriously ill Madam Zhuang in the Buddhist hall for prayer. As for His Highness the Crown Prince and me, we are here to deliver an imperial decree."
The Empress Dowager has returned to the palace? Prince Ping's lowered eyes flickered.
Lin Shiming didn't notice his expression and continued to ponder the matter of Princess Fenglin.
If we're going to make use of something, we should make full use of it. Once this news gets out, and the Emperor and Empress praise it later, no one will dare to say that the princess and the county princess are not filial.
Therefore, the absence of a father will have a smaller impact on the princess's future.
Lu Chiying immediately understood Lin Shiming's meaning, "Thank you, Your Highness, for considering Fenglin so thoroughly."
“She is His Highness’s own niece, there’s no need for such formality.” Lin Shiming smiled gently. “As for the consort, the ornaments had been offered to the Buddha for nine days, and he went to fetch them to hang on Madam Zhuang’s bedside, but then an accident happened.”
In the blink of an eye, the prince consort vanished into thin air!
Everyone present was very satisfied.
“However, Shen Wanyi… cannot go unpunished. Didn’t she not finish copying the palace rules last time? Add another fifty copies.”
To achieve this result from Lin Shiming's ruthless methods is already quite an achievement.
King Ping dared not argue any further and bowed his head to accept the punishment.
"And that Taoist priest. Smuggle him into prison quietly and execute him in the autumn."
For money, a single sentence can easily ruin a person's life, causing them to be abandoned by everyone. Lin Shiming utterly despises such people and believes they deserve to die.
Lu Yuxi also despised such despicable people. "Then let's do it that way. Prince Ping, you still have a long way to go, and it's getting late, so let's set off immediately."
*
Prince Ping led the Imperial Guards out of the capital in a grand procession, and Lin Shiming and Lu Yuxi also returned to the palace.
They split into two groups: Lu Yuxi returned to the East Palace to check on Lu Tingsong's move, while Lin Shiming went directly to the Huangji Palace to report to Emperor Longyun.
Inside the Xuanzheng Hall, Emperor Longyun listened to the entire situation of the day with a sullen face. Finally, after hearing Lu Chiying personally order the deaths of the second consort and his mother, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"This matter was handled well, and Chi Ying is a good girl! In a couple of years, once things have calmed down, whether she wants to remarry or keep a male concubine is up to her!"
Lin Shiming glanced at Emperor Longyun in surprise, not expecting him to be so open-minded!
But this is good, it's freedom!
Emperor Longyun took a satisfied sip of tea, let out a long sigh, and then casually asked how the others had handled the situation.
"That Taoist priest has been secretly sent to prison, and he will be executed in the autumn without attracting attention."
Emperor Longyun nodded.
"As for Prince Ping, I will send him to Mount Fotuo to fast, pray for blessings, and copy scriptures. He will also welcome the Empress Dowager back on the fourth day of the fourth month."
Emperor Longyun paused in his tea-drinking.
"You sent Prince Ping to fetch the Empress Dowager?"
"Hmm, that's a good reason, very suitable." Lin Shiming was puzzled. "Is there a problem?"
"...without."
Did this person guess his revenge plan, or did he have other plans? This just gave Prince Ping and the Empress Dowager an opportunity to have a secret meeting.
Emperor Longyun stroked his beard and looked Lin Shiming up and down for a long time before finally meeting his clear and innocent eyes.
I understand, he doesn't have that kind of cunning.
It was just pure luck; a blind cat stumbled upon a dead mouse.
How enviable!