Proud Feather

Chapter 33 Sacred Heart
Even though everyone was standing in the Funing Hall, Gao Mian still felt a sense of unreality.

What happened to the tough battle they promised? He was prepared to spend the entire day with the Tian family, but how come the case was already closed in less than an hour?
On the other side, the emperor ended the meeting in the hall and left Zhang Ji and Lin Wenyu behind.

Zhang Ji was okay, but Lin Wenyu was a little nervous.

Yesterday, the princess inspected the three courts, but when she was supposed to go to the Ministry of Justice, she returned to the palace. Could she have said something to His Majesty? The Ministry of Justice hasn't made any progress on this case, but it's not his fault. He's already sent out everyone he needs to, so what else can he do if he can't find the truth?
Sure enough, Chu Ling, Gao Mian and others came in.

"My son, I will meet my father."

"I see your Majesty."

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty..."

The emperor looked at the crowd of people coming in without showing any surprise. He just smiled and asked his daughter, "A Ling, why are you back so early?"

"I will come back naturally after the case is concluded." Chu Ling also replied with a smile.

Only then did a look of surprise appear on the emperor's face: "The trial is concluded? So quickly?"

"Not all of them have been concluded, only the first one!" Chu Ling turned back, "Master Gao, please tell me!"

"Yes!" Gao Mian stood up and glanced back at Lin Wenyu, a little puzzled. This time, the three judicial departments were tied together. He was diligently investigating the case for everyone's sake. What was wrong with Minister Lin? Why did he seem unhappy?
Regardless of Lin Wenyu's thoughts, Gao Mian focused on facing the emperor: "Your Majesty, under the supervision of the princess, the Dali Temple has concluded the case of the rumors about the Dahuai Temple..."

He slowly recounted the events of the incident, how the Tian family had discussed inviting the princess, and how they had spread the rumors...

When they got to the end of the story, the three members of the Tian family kowtowed repeatedly.

"Is this true?" The emperor's expression was surprisingly calm.

"His Majesty……"

Tian Ben had just said two words when Madam Tian spoke up first, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! They tortured me into confessing. This was a tortured confession!"

Old Madam Tian liked watching plays, and after learning a trick of being tortured into confessing something, she couldn't wait to put it into practice.

Tian Ben, however, was savvy and wanted to stop my mother, but then he heard the emperor say, "Oh? How did they get a confession under torture?"

Madam Tian shook off her son and complained to the emperor: "Your Majesty, the princess poisoned Hui'er and forced us to appear in court!"

Gao Mian quickly said, "Your Majesty, there was no poison, the princess was just joking!"

Madam Tian continued, "She also made up lies and slandered me by saying that my son was going to become the emperor's uncle!"

Gao Mian then defended himself: "The old lady pretended to be confused and didn't remember anything, and the princess deliberately lied."

As he spoke, he presented the file: "This is the court record, please review it, Your Majesty."

Madam Tian wanted to say something more, but this time Tian Ben stopped her: "Mom, stop talking!"

She was just an old country woman, clueless, thinking that the emperor didn't see it, so it didn't count. She was exposed in court, so she couldn't just deny it.

Chu Ling ignored them and took credit for it to the emperor: "Father, am I really capable? I was told that I had to supervise everything. Now that the first case is concluded, the murderer who poisoned my elder brother will be found by me sooner or later!"

The emperor responded softly and handed the file to the other two people.

Zhang Ji and Lin Wenyu looked at it in turn and remained silent.

Although there was no circumstantial evidence, the cause and effect were crystal clear, the inferences were logical, and most importantly, the suspect was proven to have committed fraud and could not explain his actions, so the case could indeed be concluded. However, the process was indeed a bit ridiculous. Only the princess could do this, and no one else could do it.

Gao Mian, this kid, I usually thought he was quite honest, but I didn't expect that he would use chicken feathers as a token of authority to incite the princess to do such a thing...

"What do you two think?" asked the emperor.

Zhang Ji replied, "I have no opinion."

When it was Lin Wenyu's turn, he said, "The princess is truly amazing. She cleared the case so quickly. However, there's still one missing point in the file."

Chu Ling turned around.

Lin Wenyu looked at the three Tian family members and said, "Motive."

Gao Mian immediately said, "Your Majesty, the motive is not only profit but also hatred. The Tian family is a relative by marriage. I dare not overstep my bounds. I still ask Your Majesty to make the decision."

The emperor nodded slightly, his eyes lowered. "What do you say?"

Tian Ben finally seized his opportunity and immediately kowtowed, shouting, "Your Majesty, this is exactly what I wanted to say. My family may have acted poorly in this matter, but there is no reason to harm the princess! What good would it do to ruin her reputation? We have no grudge against the princess, and we have no vested interests in her!"

At this point, Tian Ben cried, "Your Majesty, I was indeed wrong in this matter. Relying on the Empress Shu, I thought the Tian family had some face and was unwilling to go to the Dali Temple for trial. I repeatedly shirked responsibility, which led to so many things. However, I absolutely did not harm the princess. This is a fabrication!"

Chu Ling sneered in his heart.

She truly underestimated Tian Ben, this lackey. In the Dali Temple courtroom, he knew he had no defense and simply let them conclude their case. But before the emperor, he sidestepped the important points and went straight to the heart of the matter.

"You're making something up out of nothing. You mean, I've wronged you?" Chu Ling glared at him.

"I dare not!" Tian Ben lowered his head deeply. "It's just a coincidence. Princess, you are understandable to think so, but I can't help but speak up for my family. Princess, please think about it. Have we ever been disrespectful to you? Hui'er and you have been together since childhood. There is no reason for this, right?"

"How should I know?" Chu Ling said with a cold expression, "Who knows what you all are thinking? Maybe this princess wants to have a bowl of soup tonight, and word gets out to the imperial kitchen. A little eunuch gets scolded for being slow in lighting the fire, and then he starts to blame me in his heart for wanting to drink soup so late at night. Who can say for sure, how can one predict this?"

These words were extremely cruel, but they also pointed out human nature accurately, and the three chief judicial officials were all moved.

Yes, the human heart is unpredictable. A little jealousy or anger can be a motive, and the person being resented may be completely unaware. Most importantly, the superior will not care whether your motives are reasonable or not. As long as they think you might do something like this, they will get rid of you.

The princess's words really hit the mark of the emperor.

In his heart, a hundred or a thousand Tian families are not as good as his own daughter. Even if they are the second prince's in-laws, so what? They are so stupid and will not be of any help to the second prince.

The emperor's eyes moved, and it was obvious that he had made a decision.

At this time, there was a noise outside: "Empress Shufei, His Majesty is busy now——"

When Mrs. Tian heard that reinforcements were coming, she shouted immediately.

"Alian, come and help! Your mother is dying!"

When Concubine Tian Shu heard the voice, she ignored the etiquette and shouted angrily: "Get out of the way!"

Then he rushed into the palace, knelt down before the emperor, and pleaded in a pitiful voice: "Your Majesty, human life is at stake. Please reconsider!"

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　　(End of this chapter)