Chapter 6, who is behind the calculations
The prince stiffened for a moment, his handsome features shifting repeatedly, and the depth of his phoenix-like eyes became increasingly inscrutable, remaining silent. It was evident that he was also in a state of extreme inner turmoil.
Such matters may seem simple, but in reality, they likely conceal a tremendous conspiracy. Rather than directing the focus towards her, it is more accurate to say it is aimed at the Cloud King's residence, or perhaps even at the Crown Prince, who is intricately connected to her body. What would be the consequences if the Crown Prince were to rescue her? Conversely, what would be the implications if the Crown Prince chose not to save her?
Li Yun was not in a hurry; she continued to gaze at the Crown Prince with an angry look. The longer the Crown Prince remained silent, the more her eyes reflected anger, regret, profound sorrow, and disappointment. This expression was one she could easily master, and it did not reveal the slightest hint of being feigned.
Li Yun felt a bit of a headache and thus stopped guessing. Given the situation, it seemed that the Crown Prince had made up his mind to abandon her. The urgent matter was to find a way to extricate herself. She had always known that relying on others was not as safe as relying on oneself. Having survived with great difficulty, she cherished her life and did not want to die before even having the chance to join the fray, as that would be too much of a disservice to the unexpected fate that had brought her here.
The guards carrying Li Yun did not dare to move recklessly at this moment, for they were not holding just anyone, but the only legitimate daughter of the Yun Wangfu, who was destined to marry the Crown Prince and become the Empress. A single misstep could cost them their lives.
Li Yunxin felt a sinking sensation in her heart, thinking that this man was indeed ruthless, truly deserving of being the crown prince of a nation
The Queen's words were filled with a fierce anger akin to the frustration of unfulfilled potential, resonant and powerful, striking the ground with authority. After a pause, she continued: "The recent cases involving hundreds of lives have truly chilled my heart. If I do not punish her, it would be difficult for me to uphold my position as the mother of the nation, and I would be unworthy of my role as her aunt. Moreover, I would feel ashamed in front of His Majesty's grace and the people's kindness, not to mention the disgrace brought upon the Yun Wangfu because of her. For all these reasons, there are indeed countless justifications for me to imprison her in the Ministry of Justice's dungeon, awaiting His Majesty's decree"
Li Yun was even more perplexed upon hearing this. The grandfather mentioned by the Crown Prince was the Emperor's mother’s father, which meant he was her grandfather as well? Could it be that the old man truly loved her so much that it led to her reckless behavior? Otherwise, how could the head of the Yun Wangfu be unaware of the responsibilities that the owner of this body had to bear upon entering the palace? This was not affection, but rather harm!
Or to think differently, could it be that he is not her biological grandfather? That does not seem right either, for if he were not her biological grandfather, how could she have grown up under the watchful gaze of so many eyes without ever realizing it? How could she possibly have deceived everyone so convincingly?
"There is no need for you to say any more!" The Empress waved her hand, interrupting the Crown Prince's words without room for doubt. "As the heir apparent, you carry the hopes of His Majesty and our Heavenly Sacred Dynasty. You must not be overly soft-hearted or merciful, nor should you indulge in the sentiments of a woman or personal feelings. Otherwise, how can you expect to succeed His Majesty and govern the world in the future? Yue'er has been too mischievous and has committed such a grave mistake, yet you still plead for her. You are harming her, not doing her any good. If she can learn from this lesson and change her ways, she will eventually understand the intentions that you and I share today!" Yue'er has been too mischievous and has committed such a grave mistake, yet you still plead for her. You are harming her, not doing her any good. If she can learn from this lesson and change her ways, she will eventually understand the intentions that you and I share today!
Alas! Upon hearing the words of the Empress, Li Yun was utterly speechless
The queen seemed to have anticipated the crown prince's reaction long ago, showing no surprise at his words. After listening to the crown prince express his pain and lowering his head in silence, she turned her gaze back to Li Yun for a moment, her phoenix eyes flashing with a hint of compassion. Suddenly, she closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her expression regained its dignified authority. She exclaimed: "You are right, my son. She has indeed become increasingly unrestrained, relying on the favor of the Cloud Prince's residence and my own affection. Just yesterday, the Wangchun Tower was set ablaze; who can guarantee that one day she won't set fire to this palace? I have always held her in pity due to her mother's early passing and have showered her with affection, but it seems I have only spoiled her arrogant and unruly nature."
Do not drag the person down yet!" The Queen's tone shifted as she looked at the two guards holding Li Yun, her voice quite stern, "Put them in the Ministry of Justice's prison, have someone guard them well, and wait for the Emperor's orders
Especially this statement is a blade that does not shed blood, one who repeatedly claims that punishment is necessary yet still pleads for her, while another speaks with the demeanor of a national mother, having killed her, yet claims it is for her own good
At this thought, a fleeting cold smile broke through the depths of Li Yun's angry gaze. She was now like a small blade of grass wedged in a crevice of a cliff, finding it not easy to fall off the edge! She wanted to see whether the Crown Prince would save her or not
The others, such as Princess Qingwan and the women in pink and green attire, displayed expressions of delight. They were all intelligent individuals and naturally understood the implications of the Crown Prince's words. Yun Qianyue, as the legitimate daughter of the Yun royal family, was utterly lacking in virtue and character, and how could she still be considered a model for young women? Everyone feared her as if she were a viper, feeling ashamed to be associated with her! How could such a person marry into the Crown Prince's residence? How could she become a queen and serve as a mother to the nation?
The Fourth Prince looked at the Crown Prince with a cold smile, yet did not utter a single word.
The Crown Prince and the Empress were both taken aback, as Yun Qianyue was unusually quiet today, without the usual uproar. They exchanged glances, both thinking that she had been pampered by everyone since childhood and had not experienced significant changes; it seemed she must have truly been frightened.
Since you, Princess Yue, are a daughter of the Cloud King's residence, you should emulate the dignified conduct of the Empresses of the Heavenly Holy Dynasty, uphold your own integrity, be generous towards others, and show compassion for the weak. Otherwise, how can you serve as a model for the world? I have never understood how your grandfather could allow you to reach such a state while still indulging you so excessively. This is truly perplexing.
The Fourth Prince had a lingering feeling that Yun Qianyue was not quite herself today, yet he could not articulate the reason. He glanced at the Empress and the Crown Prince, then lowered his head, uncertain of what thoughts were occupying his mind
The Fourth Prince's expression shifted slightly, and a trace of an inscrutable cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He also looked at the Crown Prince, waiting for what would come next
Li Yun felt aggrieved, but thought that there was no other way! Thus, she did not resist and quietly allowed the guards to escort her out.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The two immediately responded, pulling Li Yun to walk outside again
As Li Yun finished speaking, the entire viewing garden fell into a silence with dozens of people present. All eyes were turned towards the Crown Prince
Thus, it seems that today's imprisonment is inevitable! It is just as well that she can take this opportunity to see whether the ancient prison is more secure than the surveillance of the security bureau. She can also observe the situation quietly. If someone can rescue her, that would be great. If no one comes to her aid, she will find another way!
Li Yun also looked at the Crown Prince. Although she had only arrived for a short while, she had already pieced together the situation from the back-and-forth conversations among the crowd. It seemed that someone had deliberately spread the news of him going to the Wangchun Building, taking advantage of Yun Qianyue's infatuation with the Crown Prince. Naturally, Yun Qianyue could not bear the thought of the man she admired entering such a place, so she went to find him, only to encounter setbacks at the Wangchun Building. Perhaps someone had added fuel to the fire, leading her to, in a fit of anger, recklessly set the Wangchun Building ablaze.
I originally thought that the Crown Prince was already exceptionally skilled, but now it seems that the Empress is equally formidable! Indeed, those who live in the palace are not ordinary people! The Empress has managed to maintain her position without being ousted, which naturally indicates her capabilities. There must be countless individuals who wish to see the Crown Prince fall from grace. The fact that these two can thrive amidst both open and covert conflicts truly shows that they are remarkable individuals!
If we do not take action regarding Sister Yue, I truly fear that she will commit even greater and more outrageous acts in the future! Yesterday, she burned down Wangchun Tower, and it is hard to guarantee that one day she will not set fire to this palace. Therefore... Although I am heartbroken, I still hope that Sister Yue will reform from now on. The Crown Prince's gaze met Li Yun's again, as if he was weighing his words. His expression finally revealed a hint of compassion, and his eyes were clearly tinged with pain. His voice lowered as he spoke to the Empress: "However, I still ask on behalf of Sister Yue, since this matter arose because of me, Mother, please do not punish Sister Yue too harshly. A small warning will suffice to prevent greater misdeeds."
The queen's gaze seemed to darken slightly, her beautiful eyes momentarily looking at the crown prince with impatience, waiting for him to continue speaking.
Li Yun's eyes flickered slightly, yet she did not utter a single word. Anyone can make promises, but only actions can validate them! She had not reached the point of trusting anyone completely. She thought that if she were to resist at this moment, being in the imperial palace, defying the queen's control would likely be an even graver offense for her now. The palace guards would surely mobilize, and as she had just arrived, she was entirely unfamiliar with the palace, fearing that she would not be able to escape.
"Haha, I have won!" Suddenly, a light and cheerful male voice broke the silence, sounding pleasant and joyful. Immediately after, someone pushed the chessboard, and the pieces clattered to the ground. Then, two chess pieces flew towards Li Yun, and in the blink of an eye, two cries of despair came from either side of her, as the guards supporting her fell to the ground. Not far behind her, the sound of clothes brushing against the table could be heard, as if someone stood up and walked towards her, stepping lightly and laughing, "Sister Yue'er truly has the charm of my youth! That filthy and sordid place, Wangchun Tower, deserves to be burned down; it is indeed well burned! In my opinion, Sister Yue'er is not only blameless but also a great contributor! When I set fire to the Hongxiu Tower back in the day, my uncle the Emperor praised me for it!"
This prince is indeed a remarkable individual
Thus, the Holy Ancestor Emperor decreed that the position of empress in the Tian Sheng Dynasty would always be held by women from the Yun Wangfu. This is indeed a tremendous honor bestowed upon the Yun Wangfu by the Holy Ancestor Emperor, who also believed in the proper upbringing of daughters by the Yun Wangfu. Under Li Yun's gaze, the Crown Prince managed to maintain an unusual calmness, almost cold-blooded, as he spoke slowly. After a moment, he shifted his tone, his voice slightly cold, "However, no matter how wise and brilliant the Holy Ancestor Emperor may be, it is difficult to predict events a hundred years into the future. He certainly did not foresee that a hundred years later, the Yun Wangfu would produce such an unworthy daughter, especially the only legitimate daughter of the Yun Wangfu. This is truly disappointing and a misfortune for our Tian Sheng."
The Heavenly Saint Dynasty has been established for a century now. Since the founding emperor, there have been high hopes placed on the Yun Wangfu. The women of the Yun Wangfu are not only talented and virtuous but also possess outstanding character. From a young age, they have been educated in the court's etiquette, adhering to strict principles and showing meticulousness, truly serving as a model for all women in the inner chambers. After a long silence, the Crown Prince's expression returned to its usual state, avoiding Li Yun's disappointed gaze, and spoke slowly without a hint of emotion.
I will save you, do not be afraid! The Fourth Prince's voice, as faint as a mosquito, reached Li Yun's ears
These two individuals must be said to have left Li Yun in great admiration at this moment. What is shamelessness? This is it! She really ought to learn from them!
The observation deck was quiet, with dozens of people watching this scene. Many young women displayed expressions of joy and excitement. How could they not be happy when a formidable rival for the Crown Prince had been eliminated? Even if Yun Qianyue could survive her ordeal in the Ministry of Justice, the position of Crown Princess would likely be out of her reach. Moreover, how could they allow her to emerge alive?
While Li Yun was filled with anger, she also accepted more information that she was previously unaware of. It turned out that all the empresses throughout history had originated from the Yun Wangfu! Especially since this body was the legitimate daughter of the Yun Wangfu, she was naturally the most suitable candidate to marry into the Crown Prince's residence and become the empress. However, she could not understand why, knowing that this body was destined to enter the palace, the Yun Wangfu would allow her to be raised in such a foolish and notorious manner. This was truly perplexing.
Mother... The Crown Prince looked at the Empress, his expression pained, as if he still wished to plead for mercy
Li Yun let out a cold snort in her heart; this line of reasoning could be described as masterful. First, she explained the pros and cons to the Empress, suggesting that not punishing her would lead to certain consequences, and then she interceded on her behalf. However, throughout the entire conversation, she never explicitly stated that the person would not be imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's dungeon.