“What are you trying to do?” Empress Zhangsun felt that something was wrong.
“Imperial Father is disappointed in me, Imperial Mother no longer loves me. My own brother cannot stand me. I have nowhere to go, I can only bid you farewell.” The Crown Prince took out the sword from his waist and placed it across his neck.
The Crown Princess cried out miserably, “Crown Prince!”
Empress Zhangsun’s expression changed. “Crown Prince, don’t!”
“When the Han Mansion hid poison under the horse saddle, Imperial Mother said that it was the people in the Han Mansion and Prince Han did not know anything about it. You did not allow me to pursue this matter with Prince Han. In the end, my leg is disabled and nothing happened to Prince Han. Now, the Han Mansion has sent a plate of poisoned jujube cake to the Eastern Palace, making their intentions abundantly clear. Yet Imperial Mother does not seem to care. I only want to ask you one thing. Do you really think that Prince Han is innocent?”
“The jujube cake was sent from the Han Mansion and they are indeed under suspicion. However--” They still had to investigate further.
The Crown Prince cut her off. “Then how do you intend to punish Prince Han?”
“Even if Han Mansion is suspicious, it might not have been Prince Han that ordered it.” Empress Zhangsun remained calm.
The Crown Prince chuckled coldly. The sword in his hand pressed against his neck. “If it is not Prince Han, then who else? Who else can it be!”
“It is not Prince Han, it is...is…” Empress Zhangsun’s heart sped up.
“It was Consort Han.” The Crown Princess’s tone was icy cold.
Fu Rou was extremely startled. This was the true intention!
Empress Zhangsun froze. In the next second, it was as if she had made up her mind. “Yes, it is Consort Han. Prince Han has already left Chang’an, the jujube cake can only be sent by Consort Han.” If she had to choose between her son and her daughter-in-law to be the scapegoat, it would be her daughter-in-law!
The Crown Princess remained expressionless. “Consort Han must have wanted Prince Han to become the Crown Prince. Therefore, she poisoned the jujube cake. Imperial Mother! Imperial Mother, you have to stand up for my poor sister! You have to punish Consort Han!”
The Crown Prince also added, “Imperial Mother, please punish Consort Han.”
“Your Majesty, the Investigation Bureau has yet to come to a conclusion. They have not finished investigating. You cannot immediately place the blame on Consort Han.” Fu Rou stepped up and kneeled in determination. She never wavered between right and wrong.
“Fu Siyan is together with Consort Han. Now that Consort Han’s crime has been revealed, you are still pleading on her behalf? Could it be that you are involved in this too?” The Crown Princess criticised.
The Crown Prince continued threatening. “Imperial Mother, if you insist on protecting Han Mansion, then I will die here. After all, if I cannot gain your fairness, I will only be pushed to the edge by Han Mansion and will eventually die.”
Empress Zhangsun fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking, “If Consort Han used poison to kill, she should face the death penalty. But you have to understand that Consort Han is Consort Han while Prince Han is Prince Han. Your younger brother did not try to poison you.”
“Your Majesty!” Fu Rou was shocked. “If Consort Han is guilty, she should be dealt with according to Great Tang’s laws after the investigation is completed. If you deal out the death penalty for your own personal reasons, you will ruined Great Tang’s laws. Your Majesty, please think again!”
“Imperial Mother is the head of the six departments and manages the royal family’s issues. Why is there a need for Great Tang’s laws? How dare you slander the Empress. Complete disrespect!” At this moment, the Crown Princess’ voice resounded even louder.
Emprezz Zhangsun’s expression was strict. “Guards, take Fu Siyan away. Lock her up in the Rites Office.”
“Your Majesty! Prince Han and Consort Han’s love is very deep. If you kill his wife, what will Prince Han do? How will you face Prince Han in the future? You definitely cannot!”
No matter how other people slandered her, Fu Rou had a clear conscience.
“Prince Han is filial. He will not go against his own mother for a lady that cannot give birth. Brothers are like hands while wives are like clothes. I rather burn the clothes than to chop off the hands! Drag her away! Take away her token to leave the palace!”
In Empress Zhangsun’s eyes, there was no Tang Law or National Law. She only had two sons.
It was then that Fu Rou realised that the priest’s deliberate words had formed a thorn in this Empress’ heart. Now, it had crept all over her heart. There was no way to remove it and it would eventually lead to a tragedy.
Chapter 71.2: Fall of Jade
Li Baolin was in the Imperial Garden’s pavilion, enjoying the snowy scenery as she drank hot tea. She was extremely content. Recently, there had been a wave in the Lizheng Palace and the brothers from the Eastern Palace and Han Mansion had been fighting more and more fiercely. It was not as if she did not know this. She was celebrating that she was transparent and would not be sweeped up in the fight.
From afar, she saw a few internal attendants looking for something. She remained in silence as she drank her tea peacefully. All of a sudden, she heard movement from behind a fake mountain. Soon, someone stepped out.
Li Baolin also shrieked but quickly covered her mouth as soon as she recognised who that was. She spoke lowly, “Fu Rou, what trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?”
Fu Rou looked anxious. “It is hard to explain. I am rushing to Lingxiao Palace now to do something important.”
“All the internal attendants are looking for you. Do you think you can reach Lingxiao Palace with what you are wearing?” Li Baolin glanced at the internal attendants in the distance. She instructed her palace maid. “Guihua, take off your clothes and give them to Fu Siyan.”
Li Baolin then said to Fu Rou. “They are looking for a female official and will not notice a palace maid. Those internal attendants are not flexible and are extremely stupid.”
Fu Rou smiled gratefully at her as she wore Guihua’s clothes. “I am leaving now, I will thank you another day.”
Li Baolin looked on as Fu Rou moved through the Imperial Garden and murmured to herself, “I hope you still have a chance to thank me.”
When Fu Rou reached Lingxiao Palace, she saw that the door was wide open. She spoke as she walked in. “Your Highness, please hurry and send a letter to Sheng Chumu and Prince Han…” When she saw who was in the study room, she was startled and immediately greeted. “Greetings, Concubine Yan.”
It seemed as if Concubine Yan had been waiting for her. Her expression was calm. “Fu Siyan, is there a need to ask another prince to send Prince Han a letter?”
Fu Rou could not be bothered to care about anything else. “The Empress wants to kill Consort Han. It is very urgent. Your Highness, please help to send someone out of the palace to inform Prince Han and Sheng Chumu. If not, it will be too late.”
Concubine Yan did not make a sound. Fu Rou was anxious. “Your Highness, if you help the Han Mansion this time, you will be a huge benefactor to the Han Mansion and the Duke Lu Residence. The situation in the palace can change anytime. Who does not need more friends to help? This will not only help Your Highness, but it can also help Prince Zhou’s future.” She has never wanted to use anybody. But if she did not put it this way, Consort Han will have no chance.
Concubine Yan finally nodded. “You make sense.”
Fu Rou relaxed slightly. “Then please hurry, Your Highness.”
Concubine Yan called for two internal attendants. Just when Fu Rou thought she had succeeded, the two internal attendants grabbed ahold of her.
“Take her away.” Concubine Yan smiled.