Xiao Chen had walked the path to the Fengluan Palace for over ten years, and for over ten years, he had felt suffocated.
"Your Royal Highness, must you really do this?" the eunuch beside him asked, trembling with fear.
Overthrowing the Liu family would be no different from clipping his own wings.
Xiao Chen replied, "I do desire the imperial throne, but I also wish to pass it on to the child Qingwan and I share. Yet now, my eldest son is just gone."
He lowered his eyes and raised a hand to wipe the moisture from the corners of his eyes, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
Fengluan Palace was not far from Consort Liang's palace. On the way back, he happened to run into Cui Qingyuan, who was hurrying over.
"Your Royal Highness," Cui Qingyuan bowed. "May I ask how the Crown Princess is doing?"
The Crown Prince's long, narrow eyes lowered slightly. He did not answer directly. "She is in Consort Liang's palace."
"Does Your Highness remember what you promised when you married Qingwan?" Prime Minister Cui's face turned cold. "I will absolutely not let today's matter rest."
The Crown Prince said, "Prime Minister Cui, you must have collected quite a bit of evidence of the Liu family's crimes these past few days, haven't you?"
Hearing this, Cui Qingyuan's deep eyes flickered slightly.
The Crown Prince stood with his hands behind his back, his face displaying an unprecedented sharp coldness. "I hope Prime Minister Cui can lend me a helping hand."
In Consort Liang's palace, Tang Qingwan had slowly woken up. Upon learning of her miscarriage from the imperial physician, she said nothing, merely curling herself up in the quilt.
"Yunchu, Yunfeng, I want to be alone for a while. Please don't say anything."
Cui Yunfeng's face was covered in tears.
Cui Yunchu also felt stifled, as if a heavy stone was pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
She really wanted to ask her cousin if she had even known about the child's existence, but asking such a thing felt truly cruel.
"Rest now. Yunfeng and I will guard the palace doors for you. I have already sent someone to notify Prime Minister Cui; he will be here shortly. Put your mind at ease. He will handle the rest."
Tang Qingwan's muffled voice came from under the covers, already choked with sobs. Cui Yunchu and Cui Yunfeng exited the bedchamber, and Tang Qingwan's crying could be clearly heard echoing inside.
The Crown Prince and Prime Minister Cui arrived shortly after.
Tang Qingwan's painful, choking sobs made both men turn pale. The Crown Prince, in particular, looked as if he were drowning in a tide of sorrow, his face deathly still.
The Crown Prince entered the bedchamber, while Prime Minister Cui sought out the imperial physician to ask about Tang Qingwan's condition. When he learned of her miscarriage, he stood under the eaves of the corridor, speechless for a long time.
The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.
No one knew what the two inside the chamber said to each other, but Tang Qingwan's crying never ceased, occasionally mingled with the Crown Prince's own choked sobs.
Suddenly, a clamor arose outside the palace. The Department of Punishment that Consort Liang had mentioned finally arrived at a leisurely pace.
Leading them was Shen Xiabai, dressed in his official uniform, looking even colder and sterner than usual. Behind him followed three or five sturdy young eunuchs.
After paying his respects, he issued an order. "Men, take Side Consort Liu, Lady Zhao, the servants of the Imperial Kitchen, and... Eldest Miss Cui back to the Department of Punishment."
"..."
The young eunuchs had already gone to apprehend the others.
Cui Yunchu looked left and right, glancing at this person and that person, before her gaze finally landed on Shen Xiabai, trying to prove that her ears were just ringing.
Take who? Eldest Miss Cui?
Cui Yunfeng immediately stepped forward to block her. "Lord Shen, this matter has nothing to do with my elder sister. Why are you taking her away?"
Shen Xiabai lifted his eyelids. His bland voice lacked any fluctuation. "Eldest Miss Cui once harbored intentions to seduce His Highness the Crown Prince. She also has a motive to poison the Crown Princess."
Cui Yunchu was so angry she almost laughed.
Like hell she had a motive.
Was it that he couldn't do anything about her normally, so he wanted to find another excuse to secretly kill her off?
"Lord Shen, don't you think your words are a bit far-fetched?"
Shen Xiabai parted his lips coldly. "This is how I have always handled cases. I do not let go of any clues, lest evildoers take advantage."
As they spoke, the other young eunuchs had already escorted the people out and left first.
He said to Consort Liang and Prince An, "I am acting on His Majesty's decree to investigate this matter. Your Ladyship, Your Highness, please rest assured. Once the matter is concluded, I will certainly return the people exactly as they were."
Hearing this, Prime Minister Cui, who was about to say something, also fell silent.
Only Cui Yunfeng was incredibly anxious. "Father, hurry and save Elder Sister. What kind of place is the Department of Punishment? How could a delicate lady like Elder Sister stay there?"
Prime Minister Cui said, "Lord Shen is acting according to the law. We must not obstruct him."
Cui Yunchu knew that no one present would speak up for her, so without waiting for the young eunuchs to escort her, she took the initiative to walk outside.
Leaving the palace, she gritted her teeth and said, "Shen Xiabai, you are using your public office to avenge a private grudge."
Shen Xiabai lazily raised his eyes. "What private grudge do I have with you?"
Cui Yunchu was about to speak when she heard him continue, "Eldest Miss Cui, feel free to tell me. It will serve as a good reminder so I can avenge it all together today."
"..." Cui Yunchu immediately fell silent.
Having crossed swords with him several times, this was the first time she had suffered such a huge loss in front of Shen Xiabai.
Cui Yunchu had suffered countless unfair treatments and grievances since childhood, but at this moment, a wave of sorrow still welled up like a spring, making her eyes turn slightly red.
Everyone bullied her, and she had no one to back her up.
"When I marry a powerful and influential husband, I definitely won't let you have an easy time."
Shen Xiabai cast a faint glance at her and, uncharacteristically, ignored her.
The others were individually taken onto the carriages, while Cui Yunchu, whether intentionally ignored by Yu Feng or for some other reason, was left standing there with no one paying attention to her.
Then, they drove off, leaving only Cui Yunchu standing next to Shen Xiabai's carriage, all alone.
Shen Xiabai produced a rope from somewhere and walked up to Cui Yunchu. "Hold out your hands."
"You're just taking me back for questioning. I'm not a criminal. On what grounds are you tying me up?"
Shen Xiabai's expression was bland. His voice, lacking any emotional fluctuation, made the listener gnash her teeth. "Eldest Miss Cui is full of tricks and requires special attention."
Seeing Cui Yunchu glaring at him continuously, Shen Xiabai added, "There is another option. I can tie Eldest Miss Cui to the carriage, and you can run after it. The result is the same."
"Shen Xiabai, you are shameless." If anger could materialize, little flames would definitely be shooting out of the top of Cui Yunchu's head.
Weighing her options, Cui Yunchu stretched out her hands, allowing Shen Xiabai to tie them, and then she was led onto the carriage.
She sat opposite him, glaring at him out of the corner of her eye, secretly swearing in her heart that one day, she would return today's humiliation a hundredfold.
Shen Xiabai leaned against the carriage wall, his lazy gaze falling on Cui Yunchu. "To survive by plunging into deadly peril. The ladies of the Cui family truly have impressive methods."
Cui Yunchu's eyelashes fluttered. Pretending not to understand, she lowered her eyes and fiddled with the sachet at her waist.
"Has Eldest Miss Cui heard of the various tortures of the Department of Punishment?"
Of course Cui Yunchu had heard of them. Let alone women, even men would pale and tremble all over at the mere mention of them.
She said nothing, only keeping her eyes slightly lowered. The afterglow of the setting sun spilled into the carriage with every sway of the curtain, casting its light upon her exceptionally beautiful features.
Shen Xiabai bent forward slightly and curled his lips. "Are you afraid?"
Cui Yunchu raised her eyes, still remaining silent.
"Before we arrive at the Department of Punishments," Shen Xiabai said, "I am willing to give Eldest Miss Cui an opportunity to explain herself. What do you say?"
Cui Yunchu's tightly clenched fingers relaxed just a fraction. After a brief moment of conflicted hesitation, she nodded.
Just as Shen Xiabai sat up straight, preparing to hear what she had to say, the woman across from him suddenly grabbed his robes, and a dramatic, ear-piercing wail began to grate against his ears.
