TRBDM -Chapter 66 Entering the Palace to Report

Xie Chuan had never possessed much judgment of his own—whatever Wei Zhaorong said, he followed.

Seeing that Wei Zhaorong was unharmed, Xie Chuan said, “Mother, I’ll go check on Eldest Sister first. I brought some ointment to promote blood circulation and reduce bruising—I’ll take it to her.”

Moyun Courtyard did not lack medicinal ointment, but Xie Chuan’s thoughtfulness was still commendable.

“Go on,” Wei Zhaorong waved him off.

After Xie Chuan left, Wei Zhaorong took a letter out from the drawer.

The letter had been delivered that morning by Lin Juehui, while she was still at the Court of Judicial Review.

It was personally written by the General of Nanyang, detailing how Lei Lieshan had delayed military intelligence, nearly causing the soldiers to starve to death. Afterward, he falsely claimed the military merit for himself, loudly proclaiming that without his timely delivery of provisions, the battle would have been lost—erasing the victory the frontline soldiers had bought with their own blood and lives.

Wei Zhaorong stared at the letter, her emotions difficult to calm for a long while.

How could she not be moved by Lin Juehui’s sincerity toward her?

With this letter in hand, along with Jiang Yuelin’s investigation, Wei Zhaorong did not believe the Emperor would remain indifferent.

The current Emperor was advanced in years. Several princes were locked in open and covert struggle, and the court was far from stable.

At such a time, he needed to “kill the chicken to warn the monkeys”—to show those restless officials secretly forming factions and cliques the iron-fisted authority he still wielded.

Having lived two lifetimes, Wei Zhaorong knew many inside secrets.

The Emperor intended to support the Crown Prince’s ascension. However, the Crown Prince was soft by nature and lacking in decisiveness. Moreover, his empress mother was frail in health. After the Empress’s elder brother died in battle a few years ago, no one in her family had been able to step up, and their influence had gradually waned.

The Third Prince, son of the Imperial Noble Consort, was ambitious. In secret, he had gathered a group of officials around him. Talk of deposing the Crown Prince frequently surfaced in court.

The Second Prince was no less competitive, constantly stirring up tension between the Third Prince and the Crown Prince. The remaining princes were hardly trouble-free either—each harbored his own schemes.

The Crown Prince had once had a young heir with the Crown Princess. But when the little prince was two years old, he ate poisoned date cakes and died prematurely. To this day, the culprit had never been found.

The Emperor feared that one day, the Crown Prince himself might also suddenly lose his life.

Now, in his old age, many matters were beyond his strength. Though the Third Prince secretly consolidated power, the Emperor could only watch helplessly.

The Third Prince advocated harsh, oppressive governance, contrary to the Emperor’s own political views. Such tyranny would endanger the people and the state.

If the Third Prince ascended the throne, the Noble Consort’s family would dominate unchallenged.

Lei Lieshan was one of the officials supporting the Third Prince. Wei Zhaorong had deliberately chosen this timing.

Removing Lei Lieshan from beside the Third Prince might not alter the grand situation, but it was better than doing nothing at all.

The next day, Wei Zhaorong donned the official robes of a titled noblewoman and entered the palace early in the morning.

On her way to Taihe Hall, she unexpectedly encountered the Grand Princess Zhao Lingchen.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Grand Princess,” Wei Zhaorong knelt in salute.

Zhao Lingchen sat in her sedan chair, her bearing noble and elegant. She cast Wei Zhaorong a casual glance.

“You may rise.”

Wei Zhaorong stood, then looked toward the Grand Princess.

With just one glance, several images suddenly flashed through her mind.

Shi Yi.

He had a pair of extraordinarily beautiful peach-blossom eyes—and the Grand Princess Zhao Lingchen before her possessed an identical pair.

No… rather, Shi Yi’s eyes were exactly the same as the Grand Princess’s.

An absurd thought surfaced in her mind.

Could Shi Yi be the Grand Princess’s child?

No. Wei Zhaorong quickly dismissed the idea.

The Grand Princess had remained unmarried her entire life, always alone. How could she possibly have a child?

Wei Zhaorong could not help but take a few extra glances.

“Oh? Does the Old Madam of the Marquis have something to say?” the Grand Princess asked.

Wei Zhaorong immediately lowered her head. “No. This subject wife is getting on in years. After kneeling for so long, I felt a moment of dizziness and inadvertently offended Your Highness. I beg forgiveness.”

Zhao Lingchen lazily withdrew her gaze and did not pursue the matter further. “Let’s go.”

The palanquin lifted, and the Grand Princess departed.

Wei Zhaorong shook her head, dismissing her groundless speculation, and walked out of the Taihe Hall.

The imperial palace was heavily guarded. As she waited in a side chamber of the Taihe Hall, Wei Zhaorong was cautious in both words and conduct, leaving no room for gossip.

After waiting for a long while, a eunuch finally announced her audience.

Wei Zhaorong stepped slowly into the main hall. From afar, she saw the Son of Heaven seated high above. She respectfully knelt and kowtowed. “This subject wife pays her respects to Your Majesty.”

The Emperor rested his index finger against his temple. Only after a moment did he speak. “Rise.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Madam of the Marquis, for what purpose have you come to see me?”

Wei Zhaorong stood and looked toward the Emperor. “Your Majesty, I have entered the palace to report that General Wei Yuan, Lei Lieshan, has falsely claimed military merit.”

The Emperor, who had appeared listless, showed a flicker of interest. “I recall that the General Wei Yuan’s residence and the Mingde Marquis’s residence are related by marriage. When one prospers, the other should prosper as well. Why, then, do you suddenly accuse him?”

Wei Zhaorong’s eyes reddened slightly. “Because he attempted to murder his lawful wife—my eldest daughter, Xie Wanrou. Wanrou is now barely clinging to life. My heart feels as though it is being cut by knives. I implore Your Majesty to uphold justice for the Mingde Marquis’s residence.”

“Oh? Tell me in detail about this attempted wife-murder.”

Wei Zhaorong recounted everything truthfully. “Before numerous witnesses, Lei Lieshan not only refused to admit his crime but even slandered my daughter’s chastity. His conduct is utterly intolerable.”

As she spoke, a tear fell.

She quickly wiped it away. “This subject wife has lost composure. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

The Emperor lowered his eyelids, scrutinizing Wei Zhaorong from his lofty seat.

“Since the Court of Judicial Review has already begun handling the case, I trust they will give the Mingde Marquis’s residence an explanation.”

“Your Majesty!” Wei Zhaorong knelt again, revealing her true purpose. “I beg Your Majesty to permit my Wanrou to divorce Lei Lieshan.”

“When the Court of Judicial Review completes its investigation—if it is proven that General Lei indeed attempted to murder his wife—I shall permit their divorce.”

Wei Zhaorong knocked her head loudly against the ground three times. “Many thanks, Your Majesty.”

She then presented a letter. “This is a handwritten letter from the General of Nanyang. It details Lei Lieshan’s delay in escorting military provisions and his false claim of military merit. I ask Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly.”

A eunuch accepted the letter and presented it to the Emperor.

After reading its contents, the Emperor struck the dragon throne with his palm. “Outrageous! Summon the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Yan Shoujun. I want this matter thoroughly investigated.”

Only after leaving the palace did Wei Zhaorong realize her back was damp with a thin layer of cold sweat.

The Emperor’s heart was unfathomable; imperial intent was impossible to predict. Though she held evidence in her hands, accusing Lei Lieshan without permission carried no guarantee that the Emperor would accept it.

Had she misjudged the Emperor’s will, she might have pushed the Mingde Marquis’s residence into another abyss.

Fortunately, she had guessed correctly.

The Emperor was wary of the Third Prince’s growing influence. Punishing Lei Lieshan would serve as a warning to the Third Prince as well.

After everyone had dispersed, the Emperor in Taihe Hall still wore an expression of anger.

“Cough, cough, cough…”

“Your Majesty!” The chief eunuch hurried forward—only to notice patches of blood on the Emperor’s sleeve.

The Emperor had been ill for a long time. Apart from the chief eunuch and the Empress, no one in court knew.

But his condition was worsening, and it would soon be impossible to conceal.

The Emperor stared at the bloodstains on his robe for a long time without speaking.

After leaving the palace, Wei Zhaorong went directly to the residence of the General of Nanyang.

And yet—the resemblance between the two was simply too striking.