Imperial Husband Chapter 61

At the same time.

"Ugh... my head hurts so much..." Ying Ziheng slowly woke up, supporting his throbbing forehead as he groaned. When he inadvertently saw the dilapidated palace he was in, he was stunned. "Where is this? Wasn't I being helped back to my bedchamber?" 

"Mmm... what's that sound... uh... why does my whole body feel so terrible... ah... you... I... you, you, you... who are you?"

Li Siyuan also woke up slowly. Upon hearing Ying Ziheng's voice, he instinctively looked towards him and immediately noticed his disheveled state. Looking down at his own equally disheveled clothes, he was seized with panic and confusion.

Actually, Li Siyuan had never fallen asleep. After the sexual encounter with Ying Ziheng, had remained awake the entire time, secretly observing his every move. So, when Ying Ziheng woke up, Li Siyuan immediately closed his eyes and feigned waking up shortly after.

Ying Ziheng's pupils constricted. "Who are you?" Could it be that I've been set up?

This was the first thought that crossed Ying Ziheng's mind upon seeing the unfamiliar Li Siyuan. After all, unless someone had plotted against him, how could he inexplicably end up in such a place with this shuang'er?

Bang.

Before Li Siyuan could respond, the door was opened from the outside. The one who opened it was none other than an enraged Ying Zhengjing.

"Fa... Father... Emperor..."

Ying Ziheng was dumbfounded, staring blankly at Ying Zhengjing and the others who had suddenly burst in, utterly at a loss for what to do.

Shen Qianxue seized the initiative, pointing at Li Siyuan and saying, "How dare you! Which palace's servant are you? How could you use such despicable means to scheme against the Crown Prince during His Majesty's longevity banquet?"

Shen Qianxue was also risking everything, planning to pin the so-called crime entirely on Li Siyuan. Otherwise, if it was confirmed that Ying Ziheng was involved, Ying Zhengjing would definitely not let it go.

With Shen Qianxue leading the charge, Ying Ziheng went along with the flow: "Father, my mother consort's words are absolutely right. You know I have always been fond of Ningyu. How could I possibly do such a thing with a complete stranger, a shuang'er, especially during Your longevity banquet?"

"......" 

Ying Zhengjing fell silent, seeming to take Ying Ziheng's words into consideration.

Seeing the change in Ying Zhengjing's expression, Ying Ziheng immediately knelt down, pressing his advantage: "Father, for this shuang'er to dare commit such a shameless act during the longevity banquet, there must be conspirators behind him. I beg Your Majesty to conduct a thorough investigation to clear your son's name!"

Shen Qianxue also knelt down: "I beg Your Majesty to clear Ziheng's name."

"Enough!" Ying Zhengjing scolded with a deep frown, then commanded, "Yang Shaochuan, take this shuang'er to the Court of Judicial Review. Do not damage his voice. Interrogate him until he reveals why he framed the Crown Prince."

"As you command, Your Majesty."

Yang Shaochuan bowed in acknowledgment and immediately ordered the two eunuchs beside him to take Li Siyuan to the Court of Judicial Review for strict interrogation.

Li Siyuan's eyes widened in terror, tears welling up as he cried out, "Your Majesty, this subject is wronged! This subject also doesn't know what happened. I woke up and found myself with His Highness the Crown Prince..."

Perhaps disturbed by Li Siyuan's pleas of innocence, Shen Qianxue instinctively overlooked the term 'subject' and angrily retorted, "It seems you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin. How dare you lie even now?"

[臣 (chén): lit. your subject/official, a standard term a government official or noble would use to refer to themselves before the Emperor]

[不见棺材不落泪 (bù jiàn guān cai bù luò lèi): lit. not to shed a tear until one sees the coffin; fig. to refuse to admit defeat or acknowledge the truth until faced with irrefutable, dire consequences]

"You just referred to yourself as 'subject'?"

Ying Zhengjing had been watching Li Siyuan closely and naturally noticed the impropriety in his words.

Without a certain status, no one would dare call themselves 'subject'. If his guess was correct, this shuang'er's identity was certainly not as simple as a servant.

Gu Rushuang, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke: "Your Majesty, Chengjun remembers this shuang'er is a child of the Prince of Dingbei."

A child of the Prince of Dingbei?

Gu Rushuang's words not only severely refuted Shen Qianxue and her son's claim that he was a servant, but also stunned everyone present, including Li Siyuan.

How does the Empresa know me?

Li Siyuan looked at Gu Rushuang in surprise and confusion.

Li Siyuan was well aware of his near non-existent presence. Moreover, even his birth mother, Wei Shiwan, often forgot his existence. Gu Rushuang was the Empress, how could he possibly know of him? But now the facts were before him, leaving no room for disbelief.

Gu Rushuang seemed to sense the doubt in Li Siyuan's eyes and responded with a slight smile.

Li Siyuan immediately stiffened.

Could it be that Li Jin told His Majesty the Empress?

The more Li Siyuan thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Otherwise, why would Gu Rushuang pay attention to an insignificant nobody like him?

Thinking this, Li Siyuan couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Gu Rushuang's words not only confirmed Li Siyuan's identity but also rendered Shen Qianxue's earlier slander ineffective, undoubtedly helping Li Siyuan. If Li Siyuan had revealed his identity himself, Shen Qianxue would likely have accused him of impersonation, and even if he eventually cleared his name, he would have inevitably suffered.

In reality, Li Siyuan's guess was not far off. Gu Rushuang learned about Li Jin helping Li Siyuan through the guards sent to protect Ying Yuan. As for Gu Rushuang's decision to help Li Siyuan, it was a spontaneous one.

Ying Zhengjing waved his hand, stopping the eunuchs from taking Li Siyuan away. He then looked at Gu Rushuang and asked, "Is the Empress certain you have not mistaken this person's identity?"

If this matter involved the Prince of Dingbei, Ying Zhengjing had to consider it more carefully.

"Yes." Gu Rushuang nodded calmly and continued, "This child also attended Your Majesty's longevity banquet with the Successor Princess Consort of Dingbei."

Shen Qianxue stared at Gu Rushuang with intense resentment. "Your Majesty, the Empress's words are merely his one-sided account and cannot be trusted. You must send this shuang'er to the Court of Judicial Review for a thorough investigation!"

No, I absolutely cannot accept Gu Rushuang's words. I must stall until my brother finds out. My brother will surely have a way to help Ziheng out of this predicament.

Having served Ying Zhengjing for many years, Shen Qianxue clearly understood how much he disapproved of princes associating with ministers in private, let alone the Crown Prince secretly befriending officials. If it was confirmed that the Crown Prince had an unspeakable private affair with a shuang'er from the militarily powerful the Prince of Dingbei family, Ying Ziheng would definitely be in serious trouble, and Ying Zhengjing would come to despise him.

Gu Rushuang's expression cooled. "Noble Consort Chun, are you questioning This Palace?"

Shen Qianxue gritted her teeth. "This matter concerns Ziheng. I must ask Your Majesty the Empress to forgive my bluntness. Besides, who knows if the Crown Prince's sudden predicament has anything to do with the Emp—"

"Noble Consort Chun!"

Ying Zhengjing interrupted with a displeased scowl, instantly cutting off Shen Qianxue.

Seeing Ying Zhengjing's darkening face, Shen Qianxue panicked. Forgetting her confrontation with Gu Rushuang, she quickly knelt. "Your consort misspoke. I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness."

Ying Zhengjing coldly demanded, "You still know you misspoke?"

Ying Zhengjing always valued rules. Although he did not favor Gu Rushuang, Gu Rushuang was, after all, the Empress, residing in the central palace. He would not allow Shen Qianxue to slander Gu Rushuang in his presence without any evidence.

"Crown Prince... Li Siyuan, why are you here? Uh... Your... Your Majesty..."

No sooner said than done.

While Ying Zhengjing was still furious, Li Ruoyan rushed in calling for the Crown Prince. She was stunned to find her most despised brother, Li Siyuan together with Ying Ziheng, and even Ying Zhengjing present. What was even more jaw-dropping was Li Ruoyan's attire, which was completely inappropriate for a young lady of noble birth.

"Why is the Prince of Dingbei's legitimate daughter here?"

It was no secret that the Prince of Dingbei Li Shiyun doted on his legitimate daughter. Last time he returned to the capital to report on his duties, he brought his legitimate daughter to the palace, so Ying Zhengjing was naturally familiar with Li Ruoyan's appearance.

"This... your subject..."

Li Ruoyan never expected things to turn out like this and felt utterly unable to explain herself.

"Yang Shaochuan, find three clean sets of clothes for them to change into, then bring them to see Us." Having said that, Ying Zhengjing turned and strode away first, without even a glance at Ying Ziheng.

As soon as Ying Zhengjing left, Shen Qianxue narrowed her eyes and repeatedly questioned Gu Rushuang, "Your Majesty the Empress, what a clever scheme. Everything that happened today was probably your doing, wasn't it?"

"This matter has nothing to do with This Palace. You should think carefully about how to explain things clearly to His Majesty."

"Hah." Shen Qianxue sneered coldly. "Anyone can say that."

"Believe whatever you wish."

Gu Rushuang turned and left after Ying Zhengjing.

I will not admit defeat so easily.

Shen Qianxue gritted her teeth fiercely, then turned her attention to Ying Ziheng. "Ziheng, I will go after His Majesty. You change your clothes first. No matter what, I am here for you."

___

After about a while.

The three, now changed into clean clothes, were brought to the palace Ying Zhengjing had mentioned.

During this time, Shen Qianxue had pleaded extensively on Ying Ziheng's behalf to Ying Zhengjing, portraying him as a victim, but Ying Zhengjing remained unmoved.

This made Shen Qianxue extremely uneasy.

Shen Qianxue had considered seeking out Shen Chaoyan to help Ying Ziheng out of this predicament, but she had only taken a few steps before being stopped by guards. She couldn't leave at all, let alone inform Shen Chaoyan about the matter.

To avoid bringing shame to the royal family, only a few people were present. Among the princes, besides Ying Ziheng, none were there. However, perhaps because Li Jin was the heir of the Prince of Dingbei and the Prince of Dingbei himself was absent, Ying Zhengjing specifically summoned him. Of course, Wei Shiwan was also summoned. Wei Rong, afraid she might misspeak, unusually did not accompany them but instead took the carriage back to the Prince's mansion first to await news.

"Mother..."

Seeing Wei Shiwan approaching, Li Ruoyan couldn't help but redden her eyes and call out plaintively.

Wei Shiwan signaled Li Ruoyan not to panic, then bowed to Ying Zhengjing. "Your subject's wife pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years."

"Enough, rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Do you know why We summoned you here?"

"Your subject's wife does not know."

"Don't know?" Ying Zhengjing pointed coldly at Li Siyuan. "Then tell me, do you know who he is?"

Why is Siyuan here?

A flicker of surprise passed through Wei Shiwan's eyes. "Replying to Your Majesty, he is the shuang'er born to your subject's wife."

"Very well. Yang Shaochuan, tell the Princess Consort of Dingbei everything that just happened."

"As you command, Your Majesty."

In front of everyone present, Yang Shaochuan recounted the events in detail to Wei Shiwan. Wei Shiwan's expression shifted from complete ignorance to one of terror and shock.