Everyone lowered their heads, their chests feeling heavy under the oppressive, killing aura.
"Take the heads to the Grand Tutor's mansion!"
At that moment, the Grand Tutor Lu's mansion was also in chaos. The reason was that Lu Yanmo had left the mansion that afternoon and done something unbelievable.
He had dug up Lu Yanqing's grave.
When the news reached the Grand Tutor's mansion, the Second Madam cried her heart out, relentlessly demanding that Grand Tutor Lu punish Lu Yanmo.
Even though he had always been at odds with his half-brother, the man was already dead. To do something like this was too malicious. If the news spread, his son's future would be ruined.
Grand Tutor Lu was both angry and forced to work hard to suppress the matter.
In the middle of the night, it was all so unsettling, and yet the troublemaking, rebellious son had not returned.
Until screams echoed from outside the courtyard, Grand Tutor Lu's heart suddenly jolted. When he rushed out and saw the courtyard filled with bloody heads, a string in his mind snapped.
His head felt like it was exploding. He heard nothing around him. His slightly plump body crashed to the ground.
Grand Tutor Lu's stroke had recurred.
And this time, he was not as lucky as before.
He was paralyzed.
The Second Madam had already fainted from the shock of the heads. With no one in charge in the mansion, it descended into chaos. Zhu Sheng sent people everywhere to search for the eldest young master.
Some of the mansion's advisors, seeing that the situation was dire, secretly left, while others remained loyal, staying to help manage affairs.
This chaotic night signaled the decline of a powerful minister who had controlled the court for many years.
Ling Yao slept particularly soundly.
When she opened her eyes, she vaguely thought she had returned to that quiet mountain village, without unease, panic, or the confusion of the unknown.
All she thought about each day was three meals a day, firewood, rice, oil, and salt.
Trivial, yet also warm.
She got up, her waist and legs a little sore. Her gaze involuntarily fell on the bed curtains on the inner side. Hidden within them was a mirror, a mirror from which there was no escape.
Confusing images flashed through her mind. She was held by those strong arms, like a weak beast, unable to break free, her eyes open as she watched herself sink into the abyss of desire.
"How could you be so wicked..."
Close to the ink, one becomes black. She was becoming more and more undisciplined.
A rough man, full of crude energy.
She got out of bed. Before the dressing mirror, a small face, as beautiful as a peach blossom and a plum, was reflected. Her eyes, as bright as stars, radiated happiness and satisfaction.
She called for Yu Shan. Yu Shan first took her pulse, and everything was normal.
Although Xiao Shan had been careful, and she didn't feel any discomfort, Ling Yao was completely reassured after hearing Yu Shan's words. She then asked a few more questions about what to pay attention to.
She dressed and ate. She put on small sheepskin boots adorned with pearls and a soft white fox fur-lined feather gauze cloak with a hood.
She walked out of the hall. The guards had been replaced by Xiao Shan's own men. Yu Liu pointed out a few, and they followed behind her.
"What a grand display."
The two young palace maids standing outside the main hall whispered, "Princess Ling Yao is no longer the divine maiden, and she has just returned from the Tujue. Why does she have better treatment than our Princess Ling Xi?"
"Yes! She's so beautiful, she walks like an immortal."
"Princess Ling Xi is just too reserved, always hiding in her hall. She wasn't allowed out before, but now Princess Ling Yao can go out, and the guards don't stop her!"
"Yes, I don't think there's anything special about this divine maiden. They probably don't value her anymore!"
As the two spoke, they suddenly felt something was amiss. They looked back and saw Princess Ling Xi had appeared behind them at some point, only a few steps away.
They must have heard what they were saying.
"Your Highness, please forgive us!"
Ling Xi ignored the terrified maids who had knelt down. Her gaze was fixed on the receding group.
The golden-red cloak was dazzling, without the dejection of being ravaged, just as before, surrounded by adoration.
Why?
The closer Ling Yao got to the Taiyi Hall, the more excited she became. It had been a year, and she was about to meet her father, the Emperor.
From afar, she saw a group of people appearing on the main road, all wearing official robes and walking with great haste. The person at the forefront wore a golden python robe and a朝冠 (cháo guān - imperial crown), exuding an imposing aura with his dragon-like bearing.
"It's the First Prince," Yu Liu, who had good eyesight, stepped forward to explain. "He should have made arrangements with the master."
Behind them followed many guards. The commander of the Imperial Guard hurriedly brought his men to intercept them, but the officials, unafraid of death, confronted them.
"We must see His Majesty today!"
"His Majesty hasn't attended court for half a month! Who is reading the memorials I submitted?"
"The floods in the south are severe. His Majesty has always loved his people like his own children, so he cannot possibly ignore this! If we don't see the truth today, there must be treacherous officials disrupting the court!"
"Commander Lin, did you collude with the Lu scoundrel to imprison His Majesty!?"
Commander Lin Yue of the Imperial Guard roared, "Cao, you are slandering me! His Majesty is recuperating and seeing no one. If you force your way in, you are disregarding the imperial decree and are tantamount to rebellion!"
"Well said, rebellion! I have dedicated myself to the Great Jing for decades. With your words, I become a traitor. You are truly formidable, to be able to make decisions for His Majesty."
Minister Cao, being an elder in the court, silenced Lin Yue with a single sentence. He turned dark-faced and said nothing more, but he absolutely would not yield, blocking the way with his men.
In any case, the Prince had already been notified. When the Prince arrived, they would have their reckoning.
The First Prince was truly capable, gathering so many officials without a sound, catching everyone off guard.
And Grand Tutor Lu, where was he with such a major event? There were no members of the Lu faction among these officials either.
The First Prince and Minister Cao exchanged glances. Minister Cao grew more suspicious that the Emperor had indeed fallen ill, and he trusted the First Prince a little more.
But when he thought of the Prince of Runan, he still harbored some doubts.
"My father once said that if the court officials were to become enraged and offer their lives in remonstrance, it would mean the monarch's virtue was lacking, and he should reflect upon himself and listen inwardly."
A clear female voice approached from a distance.
Everyone turned to look. Facing the sunlight, they saw a woman, radiant and dazzling, breathtakingly beautiful, walking steadily.
Her posture was delicate and graceful, yet she possessed an innate aura of superiority. Her eyes flowed with light, as clear as if they could see through people's hearts.
From this moment on, the legendary Princess Ling Yao began to enter the public eye, standing on the high platform of Jing.
"Therefore, he could not possibly remain indifferent to his officials' remonstrances, unless... he was mentally unsound and unable to act on his own."
The officials were in an uproar.
Mentally unsound, unable to act on his own? Then who had been handling the memorials for so long? It couldn't be the Second Prince. Was it the Prince of Runan?
Lin Yue already knew the identity of the person before him. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, "Princess Ling Yao, please speak with caution! His Majesty is merely ill. You are disturbing the hearts of the people and shaking the foundations of Jing!"
This was Princess Ling Yao. She had heard rumors that she had returned, and she had indeed returned!
The First Prince sneered coldly, "It is you, the rebellious officials, who are disrupting the state! Princess Ling Yao is the divine maiden of Jing! You have been plotting to usurp the throne for a year, framing Ling Yao to be married to the Tujue. Minister Cao, esteemed officials, think carefully. Was it not from that time that Father Emperor began to change? The diligent and never-slack Father Emperor began to become lazy, attending court less and less, until now, seeing him only once a month! And throughout, he remained expressionless, speaking less than three sentences!"