The palace maid kowtowed. “I have made a mistake. Your Majesty, although the situation was dangerous then, Her Highness and Prince Zhou were coincidentally not in the palace and managed to escape. This is all because of Your Majesty’s blessing. Oh right, Your Majesty’s blessing also protected Princess Xinnan, that’s how Princess Xinnan could also be blessed. Your Majesty is the most fortunate person on earth…”
“Enough, His Majesty is naturally the most blessed person.” Concubine Yan then came to the main point. “Princess Xinnan managed to escape misfortune all because of Prince Han. Prince Han had long ago placed guards around the Princess to protect her. He also rushed back in time to prevent the Crown Prince from harming the Princess. This is all Prince Han’s love for his younger sister.”
The palace maid had been instructed by Concubine Yan. “But since Prince Han knew that the Crown Prince was going to barge into the palace and could arrange for guards to protect the princess, why couldn’t he arrange for people to protect Your Highness and Prince Zhou? Princess Xinnan is Prince Han’s younger sister but isn’t Prince Zhou his brother as well?”
True enough, the Emperor’s face changed.
Concubine Yan reprimanded, “Keep quiet! How dare a palace maid like you criticise a prince? If you dare to say anything more, I will slap your mouth. Aren’t you going to leave!”
The palace maid left.
Concubine Yan kneeled down. “Your Majesty, the palace maid’s words were inappropriate and it is my fault for not teaching her well. Please punish me, Your Majesty.”
Li Shimin helped Concubine Yan to stand. “I never thought that my trip to the Hot Spring Palace made me almost lose the Crown Prince and Prince Han. More than that, it almost made bystanders like you and Prince Zhou suffer. I had been touched by Prince Han’s kindness. He showed concern to the Crown Prince and Xinnan... but why did he ignore Prince Zhou when he knew there was danger?”
“Your Majesty, you are too harsh on Prince Han. Prince Han and the Crown Prince were both born by the Empress. The Empress has also raised Xinnan from young. Their relationship is naturally different. Prince Zhou is my son and he is not more important than anyone else. In such a precarious situation, it is understandable that Prince Han did not care about Prince Zhou.”
“Ridiculous!” The Emperor fumed, “Prince Zhou is my beloved son, who said that he is not important? When Prince Han enters the palace, I have to question him.”
“You must not!” Concubine Yan silently celebrated her success. “Aren’t I and Prince Zhou safe? Moreover, the Crown Prince created such a big mess in Chang’an, it is all thanks to Prince Han that everything is fine. Prince Han had made such a huge contribution, Your Majesty should be rewarding him. You should not make Prince Han unhappy just because of Prince Zhou.”
At this moment, Chief Cao came to receive the Emperor. The Emperor expressed that he wanted to eat with Concubine Yan. However, he recalled the Crown Prince’s request and ordered that no one was to make things difficult for the Crown Princess and the Imperial Grandson.
In a flash, everyone’s expression had a subtle change.
The Emperor did not miss it and asked Chief Cao what was going on. Chief Cao bowed and reported, “Your Majesty, the Crown Princess is dead.”
The Emperor was shocked. “Dead? How?”
Chief Cao replied, “From what I heard, Prince Han barged into the Internal Attendant Department before Your Majesty returned to the capital and personally...strangled the Crown Princess.”
A wave of dizziness overcame the Emperor. In a fit of anger, he could not distinguish between right and wrong. He blamed Chief Cao, “How did you manage the Internal Attendant Department? How could you let Prince Han enter and commit such a huge crime?”
Concubine Yan rushed to help speak up for him. “Chief Cao was waiting upon you in the Hot Spring Palace. The Internal Attendant Department was managed by Court Lady Fu. The Crown Princess’ death cannot be blamed on Chief Cao. I heard that when Prince Han killed the Crown Princess, Court Lady Fu was present. I heard that after the incident, not only did she let Prince Han go, she even ordered the female officials to not tell anyone about what happened.”
The Emperor became slightly more composed. “Summon Court Lady Fu, I want to question her.”
Chief Cao went to carry out his orders.
Chapter 81.2: Protect
Fu Rou entered and greeted the Emperor. She knew that the Emperor was bound to summon her and hence she was calm.
However, under instigation by Concubine Yan, the Emperor was suspicious whether Fu Rou had bent the law for her personal relationships. Before she arrived, he had called for several witnesses from the Internal Attendant Department. He wanted to see if her answer was consistent.
The Emperor asked, “Court Lady Fu, the Crown Princess died in the Internal Attendant Department that you were managing. Do you know about it?”
“Yes.” Fu Rou was honest.
The Emperor then asked, “How did she die?”
“The Crown Princess was killed by Prince Han.” Fu Rou did not hesitate.
The Emperor asked again, “Prince Han is kind and has always respected the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Did he intentionally kill the Crown Princess?”
Fu Rou was composed. “Prince Han did it intentionally. He used a white silk to strangle the Crown Princess to take revenge for Consort Han. After investigating, I found out that the weapon used to kill the Crown Princess was brought into the palace by Prince Han. From this, we know that Prince Han had the intention to kill when he went to look for the Crown Princess.”
Concubine Yan blurted out, “At that time, why did you give the order to not let anyone know about this. Were you trying to help Prince Han cover up? Are you trying to hide something from His Majesty?”
“Your Highness must be joking.” Fu Rou looked at Concubine Yan before turning back to the Emperor. “I was instructed by Empress Zhangsun to manage the Six Offices and serve His Majesty and the various nobility. I only want to do my duties conscientiously. The truth is whatever it is. I will not try to help Prince Han cover up nor hide anything from Your Majesty. As for the order, I did not want others to know that the Crown Prince’s younger brother killed his sister-in-law. If this news were to spread, it would ruin the royal family’s reputation and hurt Your Majesty’s character.”
Concubine Yan opened her mouth but did not say anything.
Fu Rou retrieved a document. “Your Majesty, before you returned to the capital, I have written down whatever I saw and heard on the ninth. I have also written in detail about the Crown Princess’ death and the written confessions of various palace personnel. I have brought this document with me, and from this, it can prove that I did not have any intention to hide anything.”
Yu He laughed, “You could have written it at the last minute, how can it count for anything? Court Lady Fu, how can you prove that this was written before His Majesty returned to the capital?”
Fu Rou abided, “I wonder if Chief Yu would then believe Imperial Concubine Wang’s testimony?”
Yu He was silent.