Proud Feather

Chapter 34 Confession
The emperor was not surprised that Concubine Shu would appear at this time. He had been in poor health recently, and Concubine Shu often came to Funing Palace to take care of him.

However, the timing is so perfect that one can't help but feel that the people in Funing Palace should be replaced.

The emperor said calmly, "This has nothing to do with you. Get up!"

Concubine Tian Shu dared not stand up and knelt down to beg, "Your Majesty, my family is from a farming family and I have not been to school much. I may have done some foolish things and been deceived, but I certainly can't set a complicated trap. They are not that smart! Your Majesty, please have mercy and allow me to ask them. If they have truly wronged the princess, please punish them. I am willing to share the same punishment with them."

As she spoke, she kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, please be merciful and give me a chance for He'er's sake."

The emperor was silent for a long time, then he spoke: "A Ling, what do you say?"

Chu Ling's expression remained calm. With her past life's experience, she had long guessed that her father wouldn't directly punish the Tian family. Her eldest brother was gone, and the remaining princes and princesses were too young. Her second brother was her father's only remaining adult prince, and Concubine Shu had a long-standing relationship with him. No matter how much he doted on her, he had to consider his second brother's dignity.

Furthermore, if she and her second brother become enemies because of this, what will she do after her father passes away? As a father, of course he does not want his children to become enemies.

"Your Highness, please ask whatever you want." Chu Ling said calmly, "I also want to know why the Tian family harmed me."

Seeing the emperor nod, Concubine Tian Shu was overjoyed. "Thank you, Your Majesty." She straightened her expression and said, "Princess, you are so magnanimous. I will make thorough inquiries and will not show any partiality."

After a while, Concubine Tian Shu frowned more and more tightly as she looked at the file. When she put it down, anger was already evident on her face.

"Huier, before you invited the princess to the Dahuai Temple, did you know who Jinghui was?"

Tian Huier replied timidly, "Aunt, I, I heard that he was a highly accomplished monk. Everyone who had seen him said that he had a majestic appearance, so I thought..."

"Have you seen it?" Shu Fei interrupted her.

Tian Huier lowered her head: "I..."

"Speak!" Concubine Shu said sternly, "If you dare to lie, there are some punishments that others cannot carry out, so I will do it myself!"

Tian Huier was so frightened that she couldn't help but say, "I've seen it once..."

"So, you know that Jinghui has a very good appearance, is eloquent, and is very good at deceiving people, right?" Concubine Shu stared at her.

Tian Huier opened her mouth but didn't dare to answer. She called out weakly, "Aunt, I didn't know he was a liar..."

Concubine Shu stopped questioning her and turned to her mother, saying softly, "Mother, I have a few questions for you, but you must not lie to me."

Mrs. Tian was naturally very obedient to her daughter, who brought her so much glory. "Alian, you said, I can't lie to anyone else, but I can never lie to you."

Concubine Shu asked, "Did you know the princess was there when you went to burn incense?"

Mrs. Tian glanced at her son and answered hesitantly: "I know..."

"Then do you know that the ladies traveling with you like to gossip?"

Mrs. Tian still answered: "I know..."

"Then why don't you clarify?"

"Because..." Old Madam Tian looked at Hui'er unconsciously.

"Hurry up and tell me!" Concubine Shu's face darkened.

Frightened by her words, Old Lady Tian blurted out, "The princess is usually very fierce. I dare not say anything about her!"

"Are you afraid or don't want to?"

Madam Tian hesitated. "Mother!" Concubine Shu warned.

Madam Tian looked at this, then looked at that, and asked carefully: "I, I said it's okay?"

"With my daughter here, what can happen to you?" Concubine Tian Shu said in a complicated tone, "Even if His Majesty wants to execute you, I will bear it for you..."

After receiving the assurance, Madam Tian finally said, "Huier said that someone will take care of the princess' affairs and asked me not to say too much."

Concubine Shu nodded slowly and finally looked at Tian Ben: "Brother, what do you think?"

At this point, some things are already obvious.

When Concubine Tian Shu said that her family was not that smart, it was somewhat self-deprecating. At least she and her brother were considered rare smart people among ordinary people.

At this moment, Tian Ben raised his head and saw something in the girl's eyes, and then he pleaded with a hint of humility.

However, Concubine Tian Shu did not give in. Finally, Tian Ben gritted his teeth and turned to his daughter: "Huier, are you still not telling the truth?"

Tian Huier was stunned for a moment: "Dad?"

Tian Ben's eyes were red. "You told your grandmother and the others that you'd been estranged from the princess a while ago, and you wanted to use this opportunity to mend things. Everyone believed you and helped you. Later, when the princess got into trouble, we didn't suspect you, but now the facts are in front of us. You met Jinghui beforehand, and then you asked the princess to see him, and you even asked your grandmother to watch from the sidelines... Every single thing is related to you. How could such a coincidence happen?!"

Tian Huier was frightened: "Dad, do you think I arranged this?"

"What else?" Tian Ben shouted, "You invited the princess, so why did you insist on meeting Jinghui? And why did you specifically instruct your grandmother, causing rumors to spread?"

"I, I..." Tian Huier was at a loss, but so many people present were indifferent to her.

Only Old Madam Tian remained unfazed, trying to speak up for her granddaughter: "Boss, are you mistaken? How could Hui'er possibly harm the princess? They are such close friends, even if they have some conflicts..."

"What's the problem?" Tian Ben pressed. "Mom, did you hear Hui'er say something? Tell the truth!"

His expression was so serious that Old Lady Tian couldn't help but say, "Huier said that the princess has a bad temper... Oh, she was just saying it, she didn't take it to heart! After all these years..."

Tian Ben was even sadder. "So you've always held a grudge against the princess. Hui'er, have you forgotten what your aunt said when she took you to accompany the princess? If it weren't for the Empress's support, your aunt wouldn't be where she is today, and our Tian family wouldn't be as wealthy as it is today! The Empress is your aunt's master, and the princess is your master too! You must serve the princess wholeheartedly and repay her kindness! Have you forgotten all this?"

Tian Huier felt cold all over and slowly understood.

My aunt is here today, and the Tian family is rich.

She blinked, tears slowly falling.

"Dad, I, I was wrong..."

"You admit it?" Tian Ben stared at his daughter.

Tian Hui'er nodded while crying, then turned and prostrated herself. "Your Majesty, I confess. I was resentful of the princess and lost my temper, so I deliberately spread the rumors. I just wanted to vent my anger, but I didn't expect to be taken advantage of and almost killed the princess. I was wrong, I deserve to die!"

Tian Ben kowtowed immediately after, "Your Majesty, I failed to educate my daughter properly, causing her to cause great harm and attracting thieves who harmed the princess. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

Concubine Shu then knelt down and wept, "Your Majesty, it was I who indulged my family and made them forget their roots. I have no choice but to take the blame for Hui'er's thoughts. Your Majesty, I will punish her in any way you choose. I only ask that you spare Hui'er's life!"

　I was finally able to eat, I was touched.

　　(End of this chapter)