A scream suddenly erupted from the room, followed by the opening of the bedchamber door. The Crown Prince, barefoot, energetic, and full of vigor, rushed out.
"A snake, there's a snake! Guards..."
The voice abruptly stopped. The Crown Prince and the people in the courtyard exchanged bewildered glances.
Wang Qingyao clapped her hands lightly and chuckled, "Look, the Imperial Tutor is truly remarkable. In just a moment, the unconscious Crown Prince can get out of bed and run. Listen to that voice, so loud and spirited."
It took the Crown Prince a while to react. Blushing, he mumbled his greetings to the Emperor and Consort Wei.
The Emperor, considering he had just recovered from a serious illness, did not scold him for his disheveled attire and lack of etiquette.
Lu Peishan quickly helped the Crown Prince with his grooming and dressing.
The Emperor inquired about the Crown Prince's condition.
The Imperial Tutor smiled, "His Highness suffered from a nightmare, trapped in his dreams and unable to wake. It was an illness, yet not an illness, which is why the imperial physicians could not diagnose it. I employed a small trick, causing His Highness to see a snake in his dream. Startled, he naturally woke up."
Wang Qingyao glanced at the Imperial Tutor and, when no one was looking, gave him a thumbs-up.
He was good at spinning things, even better than Wang Qingyao.
The Imperial Tutor proudly raised his eyebrows.
After finishing his grooming, the Crown Prince, supported by Lu Peishan, went to the side hall.
Everyone was gathered there.
The eminent monk from the Grand Xiangguo Temple was covered in cold sweat, shrinking into a corner, trying to minimize his presence.
Yet, Wang Qingyao deliberately called him out.
"Master, are you feeling cold? You're sweating so much on your forehead. I must tell you, although it's the beginning of spring, the temperature is still low. Master, you should take care to stay warm!"
All eyes turned to the eminent monk.
The eminent monk trembled.
The Emperor frowned and asked Lu Peishan, "Is the Crown Princess certain this monk is from the Grand Xiangguo Temple?"
Lu Peishan mumbled, her lips barely moving, and gave a soft "Mm."
"If he is an eminent monk from the Grand Xiangguo Temple, why would he speak such nonsense? The Crown Prince clearly had a nightmare, yet he claimed he was cursed by Concubine He. If it weren't for the Princess of Ding'an today, Concubine He would have been sent to a temple outside the palace!" the Emperor said with displeasure.
The eminent monk fell to his knees with a thud, desperately kowtowing, "Your Majesty, spare me, Your Majesty, spare me."
At this moment, he had lost all semblance of an enlightened monk's demeanor.
Lu Peishan took a deep breath and said to the Emperor, "It is my fault for misjudging people. I did not expect that the Grand Xiangguo Temple would also have monks who are impostors. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
Wang Qingyao smiled, "Why punish the Crown Princess? She was only trying to save the Crown Prince, and in her eagerness, she was deceived by this so-called eminent monk. In my opinion, this master should be severely punished as a warning to others."
The eminent monk's face turned ashen. He stammered, about to cry out his innocence.
Lu Peishan gave him a look and hastily said, "Princess of Ding'an speaks too harshly. No one is perfect. Master has always had a good reputation. This was merely a mistake. Heaven cherishes life. May Your Majesty spare the master this time."
The eminent monk followed Lu Peishan's lead and kowtowed to the Emperor again, stuttering, "Your Majesty... spare me... This humble monk will return... return and diligently meditate and practice Buddhism, begging Your Majesty to spare this humble monk this once."
The Emperor frowned slightly, remaining silent.
Wang Qingyao maintained her smiling expression, "The Crown Princess is truly benevolent. However, regarding today's matter, sending Concubine He to a temple outside the palace is a minor issue. Delaying the Crown Prince's recovery is a major one. At best, it is malpractice that harms others; at worst, it is plotting to harm the nation's heir. Such a grave crime warrants the extermination of nine generations of the family!"
She smiled, but her voice carried a chilling ruthlessness.
Consort Wei glanced at the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince understood; he was the "victim," and his words carried the most weight.
However, before he could even open his mouth to speak, the eminent monk could no longer bear it. He kowtowed frantically, "Your Majesty, spare me, Your Majesty, spare me! It was the Crown Princess who ordered me to say this. I was merely following orders. Even if I were given a thousand or ten thousand times the courage, I would never dare to harm His Highness the Crown Prince!"
The hall fell silent.
Lu Peishan closed her eyes in anger. Useless. He had confessed the truth so easily when scared. With her and the Crown Prince protecting him, what could the Princess of Ding'an do to make the Emperor decide to take his life? As long as he insisted it was a mistake, what good would the Princess of Ding'an's jumping and shouting do?
Alas, he was a coward.
The Emperor looked at Lu Peishan, his usually benevolent face now showing anger, "Crown Princess, what is going on?"
In a brief moment, Lu Peishan, the Crown Prince, and Consort Wei had exchanged glances.
In their current predicament, sacrificing a pawn to save the king was the wisest choice.
Lu Peishan was unwilling, and thinking of Wei Yu's fate, she felt less trusting of the Crown Prince.
However, dragging the Crown Prince down with her now would only lead to their shared demise.
Lu Peishan clenched her fists. After careful consideration, she knelt and begged for forgiveness.
"Father, spare me. It was I, out of jealousy for the Crown Prince's favor towards Concubine He, who wished to use His Highness's illness to drive Concubine He away. I know I was wrong. Whether Your Majesty punishes or scolds me, I will have no complaints."
The Crown Prince feigned surprise, "What? You were jealous of Concubine He? Crown Princess, you have always been virtuous, generous, and magnanimous..."
Lu Peishan gave a bitter smile, "Your Highness, which woman is willing to share her husband with another? Your Highness dotes on Concubine He, and I... I truly cannot treat it with a normal heart."