Wang Qingyao also felt that the Crown Prince must have known.
But they had no evidence.
Chen Zuo's confession only went as far as General Zhou.
As for who instructed General Zhou, it could be the Crown Princess, or it could be the Crown Prince.
But in this situation, no one would be foolish enough to implicate the Crown Prince.
After all, as long as you survive, there's always hope.
Wang Qingyao and Ling Yun felt a bit regretful.
Not long after, news came from the palace.
The Emperor personally interrogated Chen Zuo. Chen Zuo, wishing only for the Emperor to grant him death, took all the blame upon himself, refusing to mention who had instructed him.
However, in this situation, whether he confessed General Zhou or not was no longer important.
General Zhou was now an undeniable criminal.
The Emperor sent people to arrest General Zhou. General Zhou denied everything, and Chen Zuo also vehemently proved that the matter had nothing to do with General Zhou.
General Zhou learned the full truth of the matter from the Emperor and was utterly shocked.
His expression did not seem feigned.
He, along with the Emperor, pressed Chen Zuo for who had instructed him.
But Chen Zuo's lips were sealed, preferring to die himself rather than reveal the mastermind.
One by one, their lips were as hard as iron. The Emperor was furious.
If the Emperor had been more ruthless, directly ordering Chen Zuo's death and threatening the extermination of his entire clan, Chen Zuo might have revealed the mastermind.
But by chance, the Emperor was benevolent and kind, unable to disregard human life or harm innocent people.
Wang Qingyao said to Ling Yun, "Why don't we go into the palace to take a look?"
The two were now the Eldest Prince and Princess Consort, and they possessed the Dragon's Shadow Token. Without needing to announce themselves, they swaggered into the palace.
The Emperor was throwing a tantrum in the Ninghui Hall. Chen Zuo remained unmoved by all his methods.
General Zhou was on the verge of resorting to force.
Fang Zheng and the Seventh Prince were also present, acting as mere observers, letting the Emperor and General Zhou vent their frustrations.
Chen Zuo maintained a death-seeking expression, like a dead man, not uttering a single word.
No wonder the Emperor was going mad.
Wang Qingyao watched from outside the hall for a while. After the eunuch announced their arrival and the Emperor granted permission, she and Ling Yun entered together.
The Emperor was still in a rage and spoke to Ling Yun in a rather sharp tone.
"What are you two doing here at this time?"
Ling Yun smiled, "Your Majesty, please continue. We're just observing."
As he spoke, he pulled Wang Qingyao to a corner.
The Emperor: "..."
Getting closer, Wang Qingyao examined Chen Zuo from head to toe.
He wasn't hiding anything special. Of course, even if he were, it would have been found by now.
Only on his neck, he wore a crescent-shaped, dark green jade pendant.
Upon closer inspection, the jade pendant was engraved with the character "Chan."
Upon seeing "Chan," Wang Qingyao thought of "Chanjuan."
"May we all live long lives, and share the beauty of the moon, though thousands of miles apart."
No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like a girl's name.
Wang Qingyao carefully sifted through her memories. Among the young ladies she knew, none had a name with the character "Chan."
However...
As a transmigator, Wang Qingyao had read no less than eight hundred, if not a thousand, palace intrigue novels. What kind of melodramatic plots hadn't she encountered?
She began to brainstorm, thinking wildly.
Soon, she had a guess.
"Father Emperor," she said, raising her hand, "May your humble servant speak a few words?"
The Emperor waved his hand, indicating she could say whatever she pleased.
Fang Zheng looked up at Wang Qingyao and exchanged a glance with Ling Yun.
They probably couldn't understand how Wang Qingyao could possibly solve a problem they couldn't.
Ling Yun gave him a look of pride and reassurance.
Wang Qingyao took a step forward, looked at Chen Zuo, and said slowly, "Deputy General Chen is indeed loyal and righteous, willing to die himself rather than implicate the Crown Princess."
Chen Zuo's eyes suddenly narrowed, and he gritted his teeth, "Princess Consort, you need not make baseless accusations. This matter has nothing to do with the Crown Princess."
"How could it not be related?" Wang Qingyao smiled faintly. "Deputy General Chen has deep affection for the Crown Princess, silently protecting her even after she married someone else. At the Crown Princess's word, Deputy General Chen would go through fire and water, willing to die without regret. The Crown Princess is truly fortunate!"
Chen Zuo's face turned instantly pale. He looked at Wang Qingyao, his expression one of shock.
Everyone else in the hall was also completely stunned.
Ling Yun opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
Wang Qingyao had never discussed Chen Zuo's affair with the Crown Princess with him.
Was this improvisation?
General Zhou, being the Crown Princess's maternal uncle and having doted on her since childhood, couldn't bear to see her slandered. He immediately raised his voice, "Princess Consort of Ding'an, one can eat whatever they want, but one cannot speak carelessly. I watched the Crown Princess grow up, and I know her character very well."
He then turned to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, please do not listen to the Princess Consort of Ding'an's nonsense."
Ling Yun couldn't stand it. Hmph, slandering his wife!
"Does General Zhou mean that having good character prevents one from having an affair?"
"You..."
The word "affair" was a bit crude.
The Emperor coughed lightly and looked at Wang Qingyao, "Princess Consort of Ding'an, do you have any evidence for what you say?"
"Does General Zhou, the Crown Princess's nickname or courtesy name, contain the character 'Chan'?"
Chen Zuo trembled violently.
General Zhou, confused, replied, "Indeed, there is the character 'Chan'."
"The crescent-shaped jade pendant that Deputy General Chen wears around his neck is engraved with the character 'Chan'."
Chen Zuo's whole body began to shake.
Admittedly, a jade pendant and the character "Chan" were not direct evidence.
He could have argued that it had other meanings.
But at this moment, with his secret exposed, Chen Zuo lost his composure and his usual calm and alertness.
Wang Qingyao continued, "The Crown Princess has failed in her wifely duties and disrespected the royal family. I request Your Majesty to depose her from her position as Crown Princess, imprison her in the death row, and grant her death, to uphold the dignity of the royal family."
In his desperation, Chen Zuo cried out, "Your Majesty, spare my life! It was all my own wishful thinking, my infatuation with the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess is unaware of any of this."
See, wasn't that coaxed out of him?