diskusbooks Chapter 220 Where is she?
Chapter 220 Where is she?
"Sister, why don't you go back and prop your pillow up a bit, so you can eavesdrop on us in your dreams?"
The owl was slightly angry, but it still carefully closed the door behind it when it left.
After all, they didn't want to wake up Wu Ziyan, who was fast asleep.
Even in his dream, Wu Ziyan could vaguely hear their conversation.
She wanted to turn over, but because of her injuries, she could only lie flat and could only manually put her arms around Mo Baiyun.
Mo Baiyun gently patted her abdomen, as if soothing a child to sleep.
A little while later, he yawned a few times, covered himself with the blanket, and fell asleep.
Fortunately, Mo Baiyun was covered in injuries and couldn't sense Wu Ziyan's restless sleeping posture.
But after they fell asleep, the ointment was indeed miraculous; even though the candlelight had gone out, their wounds seemed to emit a faint glow.
They're repairing their damaged tissues; no wonder this is a game.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.
Officials arrived one after another, some by carriage, some on foot, and some on foot, some by horse-drawn carriage, and some on foot, to attend court.
Wu Chengye met with the Prime Minister, holding a jade tablet in his hand, their understanding unspoken.
Wu Chengji walked behind them, still thinking about what would happen if they targeted Wu Ziyan in court today.
What should she say in response?
Above the court
The Empress sat on her high throne, exuding an imposing aura without anger, her hands resting on the dragon and phoenix chair as she looked down at the ministers standing below.
They seem to have a lot on their plate these past two days, they're very busy.
The Ministry of Revenue said that funds were needed in certain areas, and the Ministry of Rites asked how to handle Xiao Rong's matter this time.
The Ministry of Justice said it would punish Wu Ziyan, and so on; basically, everything was aimed at putting down Wu Ziyan.
Until Wu Chengye knelt down, not daring to look directly at the Empress's majesty: "Your Majesty, the Fourth Princess Wu Ziyan disregarded the imperial decree and went out without permission during the period of confinement."
"Moreover, His Highness Qi Zeyun died the day before yesterday, and His Highness Qi Zexuan was assassinated. These are all matters of paramount importance to the state."
"What does the Second Prince's claim that the Fourth Prince went out without permission have to do with the sudden deaths of the other two princes?"
The person who said this seemed to be defending Wu Ziyan, but in reality, they were giving Wu Chengye a chance to continue speaking.
"Lord Zhang, you may not know this, but on the very day Wu Ziyan left, His Highness Qi Zeyun was assassinated."
"This brings to mind that in the main hall, Huang Ziliang accused her of poisoning him."
"How could someone of royal lineage harbor such thoughts!"
"Don't talk nonsense without evidence, Second Prince. How could the Fourth Prince possibly do such a thing?"
"Isn't this the evidence His Highness is currently investigating? It's been two days, and there's still no news."
"Besides, Qi Zeyun died in her residence! If we hand the matter over to him to investigate, I'm afraid we won't be able to explain it to Xiao Rong!"
Wu Chengji looked at Wu Chengye, realizing that he wanted to strip them of all their real power.
She wanted to seize power and control them all.
"Your Highness is mistaken. Your Highness, we have been collecting evidence for the past two days."
"And yesterday I heard that the Second Prince stabbed the Fourth Prince in the street."
"Even if the Fourth Prince went out without permission and disobeyed the imperial decree, you are still relatives of the imperial family. How can you justify injuring someone in the street?"
The speakers were several of Wu Chengji's followers, mainly because they couldn't stand Wu Chengye's arrogant attitude.
"My lords, I have already said that the period is one month. The Fourth Prince ran away yesterday, so the First Prince will go to his residence to carry out the twenty strokes of the cane."
"She probably won't be able to get out of bed for at least a month. Is there anything else to discuss?"
"Xiao Rong will soon learn of the deaths of the two princes, and then conflict will surely break out on the border," Wu Chengye added.
"So, in your opinion?"
"Hand over the culprit."
"I've been speaking for a month, and you still don't understand?"
The oppressive aura was truly unbearable.
Wu Chengye still cowers in front of his mother, the Empress, which is why the Prime Minister thinks she is unlikely to achieve great things.
Those discerning ministers clearly knew that the Empress was protecting the Fourth Prince and the First Prince.
Now, everyone knew perfectly well how much importance each of the princes held in her heart.
Wu Chengye heard the Empress say this, so how could she dare to say anything more?
The Prime Minister is now in the eye of the storm and doesn't dare to speak out.
After the court session ended, there was a thick stack of memorials all accusing Wu Ziyan and Wu Chengji of inaction.
She glanced at the batch of red ink and waited for her two daughters to sort things out.
After the court session, Wu Chengye walked alongside the Prime Minister with a dark expression.
These are clearly huge matters, so why do they seem like trivial things to the Queen?
There's only one truth: either the Empress favored her two daughters too much.
Or perhaps the Queen already knew the truth beforehand.
I really hope it's the first one. The Prime Minister knows her too well; her greatest skill is manipulating people's hearts.
Having everything under her control, she must already know all of this.
I'm afraid there isn't enough evidence yet. If there were, they would have already sealed off her residence and left her with no place in the court.
"Your Highness, you'd better find out exactly what documents you lost, or we'll all be dead."
The prime minister's voice was very soft; he just casually said it as he passed by her ear.
Although Wu Chengye was reckless, she wasn't stupid. Given the Empress's temperament, who would dare disobey her orders?
Wu Ziyan could run out openly, although it wasn't exactly open, but at least the guards at the gate didn't stop her.
Just now in the imperial court, it was only said that she would be given twenty strokes of the cane.
Moreover, the twenty strokes of the cane may not even be carried out; who knows if it's just an attempt to cover up the truth?
She guessed that Wu Chengji would definitely make a big show of it, leading the execution procession through the streets before heading to Wu Ziyan's residence.
It seems I have no choice but to go back and teach Sima Lingyu a lesson again, but he's a tough nut to crack. No matter how I torture him, he just won't open his mouth.
News had reached Jiu'an Prefecture long ago, and Sima Lingchuan's heart leaped into his throat upon hearing this devastating news.
But when he heard that it was Wu Chengji who was administering the punishment, his heart, which had been pounding with anxiety, finally settled down.
He didn't see Wu Ziyan this morning either, so he guessed she was still at Huang Ziliang's place and hadn't gotten up yet.
He was also injured, and just as he was thinking of going to check on him, he saw Huang Ziliang appear in the yard.
Huang Ziliang was stunned to see that Sima Lingchuan was all alone.
Logically speaking, Wu Ziyan should be with him.
He only came out of the courtyard after hearing that caning was to be carried out.
Sima Lingchuan was about to speak, but felt a little embarrassed.
After all, he had no official title or status, and yet he was being asked in front of all the servants if Wu Ziyan was in his room.
This doesn't seem good for his reputation.
He could only ask more subtly, "Ziyan hasn't gotten up yet?"
Huang Ziliang looked puzzled, genuinely unaware of what he was talking about. Had he gotten up or not? Didn't he, as the husband, know?
Sima Lingchuan saw that he looked puzzled and didn't seem to be faking it. He wasn't in the room, so could he have been at Han Yuxiu's place last night?