Wu Ming stood frozen in shock.
Cui Qian’s words struck the crowd outside the yamen like a thunderbolt, and the families of the victimized girls erupted in piercing screams.
“How dare you, Cui Qian, slander a royal princess!”
“How amusing, Lord Wu. When I refused to speak, you tortured me to force my words,” Cui Qian spat out a mouthful of blood. “Now that I’ve spoken, you refuse to believe me.”
“Why don’t you investigate whether this princess once had a gravely ill grandmother?”
The trial was abruptly halted, and a storm of curses surged toward Song Shihuan.
In less than an hour, the victims’ families, joined by a mob of commoners, surrounded the Qin Prince’s Mansion.
“Let Princess Fu’an come out and confront Cui Qian face-to-face!” one woman wailed. “Why won’t she show herself? Bring her out at once!”
“Exactly! If Cui Qian is lying, the princess can explain herself.”
As the crowd refused to disperse, Liuxi rushed inside in a panic.
“Your Highness, the crowd outside is growing larger.”
Song Yu, his face dark with anger, rose from his chair. “A’huan, stay here. I’ll go out and explain the situation.”
Watching Song Yu’s retreating figure, Song Shihuan lowered her gaze.
Without proof, people would never believe her.
Human nature dictated that when neither side had evidence, the crowd would rather side with the accuser for the sake of spectacle.
As expected, when Song Yu painstakingly explained that Song Shihuan was not an accomplice but a rescuer, the crowd fell silent for only a moment before erupting again.
“Your Highness claims the princess is innocent—what proof do you have?”
Hearing this, Song Yu felt a deep sense of helplessness.
“Cui Qian’s words are baseless too. Why do you believe him and attack my daughter?”
“Because the princess’s portrait was found in Cui Qian’s study!”
“And Cui Qian knows about her past!”
A voice hidden in the crowd stirred the people further. The instigator, seeing his goal achieved, tried to slip away unnoticed—only to collide with imperial guards who had been lying in wait.
As the crowd grew increasingly unruly, Song Yu stormed into the prison cells of the Dali Temple in fury.
“Cui Qian, why did you slander my daughter?”
Cui Qian looked at the renowned prince before him, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “I never imagined the Qin Prince would go to such lengths for a child not his own.”
“But you’ve misjudged her.”
Song Yu’s rage had reached its peak.
Yet Cui Qian, oblivious, continued, “The daughter you’ve taken in is a ruthless woman. At just seven years old, she helped me harm others. Keeping her by your side will bring disaster.”
“Cui Qian, I’ll give you one last chance—confess the truth to the public.”
Cui Qian smirked. “I’ve already told the truth in court.”
The next moment, a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the prison.
Birds perched on the old tree outside scattered in fright.
Song Yu’s dagger dripped with blood, while Cui Qian’s lower body gushed crimson.
The guards nearby instinctively tensed—the Qin Prince had severed Cui Qian’s manhood.
As Cui Qian teetered on the edge of unconsciousness from pain, Song Yu ordered the guards, “Douse him in saltwater.”
Even more agonized shrieks followed.
“Cui Qian, for all the lives you’ve ruined, this is mercy.” Song Yu’s voice was icy. “Once I uncover the truth, I’ll have you sliced to death, piece by piece.”
“You’ve provoked someone you shouldn’t have. Death would be too kind for you.”
With that, Song Yu turned away. Whatever the reason, he knew Cui Qian would never speak the truth now.
He had to find the girl from back then—fast.
......
By the time the news reached the Eastern Palace, Song Shihuan had been branded a demon child.
“Your Highness, rumors are spreading that Princess Fu’an is a demon incarnate, cruel even as a child,” You En reported cautiously, gauging Song Yanzheng’s reaction. “With her tied to Cui Qian’s case, she’ll likely be ruined.”
“A demon child?”
Song Yanzheng murmured the words.
If she were a demon, how could she have been a blessing?
Had he misjudged Song Xiyan?
“What has the Crown Princess been doing?” Song Yanzheng now regarded Shen Hua’er with newfound respect—she was clever and decisive.
“Her hand is behind much of the damage to Princess Fu’an’s reputation.”
After a moment’s thought, Song Yanzheng said, “Let’s go see Xiyan.”
When they met again, Song Xiyan’s demeanor was indifferent. “Elder Brother is here.”
“Have you heard about Song Shihuan?” Song Yanzheng suppressed his anger at her attitude.
“A wild girl like her was never blessed. Now her true nature is revealed.” Song Xiyan hid her glee. “The Eastern Palace has suffered enough because of her—have you forgotten?”
“I haven’t.”
Song Yanzheng resumed his usual patient elder brother act, but Song Xiyan found it unsettling.
......
At court, Wu Ming, acting on Consort Mei’s orders, stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, according to the prisoner Cui Qian’s testimony, Princess Fu’an must be detained in the Dali Temple prison until the truth is uncovered.”
Wu Ming feigned righteousness, as if devoid of ulterior motives.
Emperor Yuanyou laughed coldly. “Based solely on Cui Qian’s slander?”
“Her portrait hung alongside twelve others—shouldn’t that prove she was a victim who narrowly escaped?”
“Without even investigating, you’d throw my granddaughter into prison?”
“What an exemplary Dali Temple official.”
Facing the emperor’s wrath for the first time, Wu Ming trembled and knelt.
But another official spoke up. “With the Qin Prince and Princess Fu’an implicated, they can no longer participate in the sacrificial rites. I propose selecting another imperial descendant from the Eastern Palace as a replacement.”
Emperor Yuanyou’s temples throbbed as he surveyed the scheming ministers—most were the Eastern Palace’s allies.
The crown prince’s position could no longer be left untouched.
Resolved, the emperor pretended to be overwhelmed by anger, then collapsed before his desk.
Wu Qi nearly fainted in terror, and Mei Zhilin rushed to the scene.
The ministers fell silent, hearts pounding.
If the emperor remained unconscious, only the Eastern Palace would have the authority to decide Princess Fu’an’s fate.
