Chapter 130: Chapter 130 The Villain Complains First
Xia An analyzed from the side.
Lin Wanyi also felt the same, and thus felt even more grateful in her heart.
As the ruler of a nation, he was already busy with state affairs.
Yet he still found time to summon her father and inform him of this matter, even arranging for her mother to enter the palace.
Lin Wanyi couldn’t help but be moved, so she hoped to thank him in person.
However, the news Qiu Ming hurried back with made it impossible for Lin Wanyi to feel happy.
Because the Emperor was with Lin Guifei.
In Yao Tai Pavilion, Lin Guifei indeed accused others before they could accuse her.
"Ever since my mother married into the Prime Minister’s Mansion, she has never been so humiliated. When my grandmother came, she said we were beaten black and blue by wicked slaves brought in by my eldest aunt’s family, and even the wet nurse who served my mother for years was beaten to death. Is there any law and order under this clear sky?"
She spoke while crying.
The whole person seemed to have lost her strength, collapsing on the ground.
Crying uncontrollably.
The Emperor sat above, listening to her complaints, but did not show any expression.
Once upon a time, this Imperial Consort of his was also like a delicate flower.
But when did the change start, making her more ambitious?
And increasingly suspicious!
Lin Guifei cried for a long time without seeing any reaction from the Emperor.
She felt even more uneasy.
She wiped her somewhat swollen eyes with a handkerchief and then cautiously said.
"Your Majesty..."
The Emperor looked at her, his eyes deep and unreadable.
Staring at her for quite a while, Lin Guifei felt a chill run down her back.
Only then did the Emperor slowly speak.
"Princess Rongkang’s account contradicts what the Prime Minister reported."
With that, he asked Dong Yuzhong to pass over a report.
Lin Guifei seemed surprised and picked it up, looking closely, and the more she read, the more cold sweat she broke out in.
She could never have imagined that her own grandfather would take sides and reveal everything straight to the imperial court!
"A family, yet speaking as if they were outsiders. Imperial Consort, who do you think is lying here?"
If it were the eldest family or Lin Wanyi who brought this to her attention.
She would have had an explanation ready.
But this was her own grandfather, the dignified Prime Minister Lin.
Both sides were his own sons, saying he showed favoritism would be unbelievable to outsiders.
"Could it be that Grandfather was deceived by someone?"
Upon hearing this from Lin Guifei, the Emperor suddenly sneered.
"Ignorant woman, do you think the Prime Minister is you? Always stirring up trouble in my harem, apparently the affairs of the Six Palaces are not enough to keep you busy, reaching out your hand too far!"
These reproaches made Lin Guifei immediately sit upright and kneel in front of him.
Daring not to let out the slightest sob anymore.
If she had known her grandfather would retaliate like this, she would have died rather than report it!
Even Grandmother, stirring up trouble over good things for no reason!
Now she had offended the Emperor; what was she to do?
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty, I... I only acted out of concern for my mother, and since it was supposed to be a good day for a family reunion, and the person hadn’t arrived, I merely asked Grandmother casually."
"Hmph, I can’t see it, Princess Rongkang has quite the knack for sowing discord!"
With the accusation of inciting strife placed upon her, Lin Guifei hurriedly explained.
"Grandmother didn’t originally plan to tell me. It was I who insisted on figuring things out. She wasn’t present, probably... probably it was just the servants making wild guesses. Please, Your Majesty, see clearly!"
Princess Rongkang was her hope and support.
No one could afford to betray her!
Thus, Lin Guifei’s intention to protect was evident.
Looking at Lin Guifei’s actions, the Emperor felt disgust from the bottom of his heart.
When she had been sent to the palace initially, because she was Lin Xiang’s granddaughter, the Emperor harbored high hopes.
He always believed that a concubine raised by a pillar of the court like Lin Xiang would certainly be a virtuous person.
But unexpectedly, not long after, her true colors began to show.
Gradually, he started to dislike her.
If it weren’t for the subsequent birth of Princess Ming Ruo, which eased their relationship.
This high and mighty Lin Guifei might have been just another master to serve in the palace.
Thinking of Princess Ming Ruo, the Emperor couldn’t harden his heart after all.
Finally, he spoke after a moment.
"Since your mother is injured and seriously ill, as a daughter, you should not be wandering about; stay in Yao Tai Pavilion to pray for her. As for Ming Ruo..."
Lin Guifei was suddenly confined, and she was dumbfounded.
She thought with this complaint, she could at least make Lin Wanyi suffer.
Instead, she ended up reaping what she sowed?
"Your Majesty! I misspoke for a moment; how can you just..."
"Misspoke for a moment? Have you not considered how much you’ve done? Do you take me for a fool to be played like this? With your conduct, you’re fit to be Ming Ruo’s mother? What if you spoil my good daughter, what would you use to compensate!"
The words were both urgent and severe.
Scolding Lin Guifei until she dared not speak again.
Yet undeniably, it was the mother who was gravely injured, and the second house who was disgraced.
Why was the Emperor only defending Mrs. Dong, protecting Lin Wanyi!
At this time, she completely forgot that it was her grandfather’s report that let the Emperor know the whole story.
Instead, she blamed all the faults on Lin Wanyi and the eldest house.
"It’s not like that, it’s not like that, Your Majesty..."
She originally wanted to argue a few more points for herself, yet saw the Emperor’s eyes filled with disapproval.
Suddenly, it was as if she woke up from a dream.
Also, knowing that if she kept pestering the Emperor with cries, the consequence wouldn’t be better than confinement!
And Ming Ruo!
Yes!
Ming Ruo!
Remembering her only daughter, Lin Guifei immediately devised a plan.
Using her daughter as a wager, she spoke up immediately.
"Please, Your Majesty, have mercy, I was instigated by others and wrongly accused the innocent without understanding the facts. It’s all my fault, but Ming Ruo has been raised by me since childhood and hasn’t suffered any hardship. I have erred as a mother, but please don’t implicate the child."
"Please, Your Majesty, have mercy!"
"Please, Your Majesty, have mercy!"
The eunuchs Jiang Heqing, Chief Palace Maid Qin He, Qin Liu, and others beside Lin Guifei all knelt down, pleading with the Emperor.
Seeing her pleading for her child’s sake, the Emperor’s anger gradually subsided.
At this moment, he couldn’t find an appropriate place to send his daughter.
He could only swallow his anger, then warned her.
"Ming Ruo is my only daughter. Avoid letting outside people talk about these matters of discord in front of her. If I hear it, don’t blame me for being ruthless and sending the daughter away!"
In the Emperor’s view, it would be a more devastating blow to Lin Guifei than confinement if her daughter were sent away.
She had only one child under her care, although merely a princess, she was cherished dearly.