126 Elimination (3)

As these words were spoken, it was as if something had been detonated with a thunderous roar.

Gong Wu'e smiled triumphantly.

The Emperor’s face suddenly turned ashen. He roared, "Feiyue, you had better explain to me clearly what exactly is going on here!"

Han Feiyue lifted her skirt and knelt before the Emperor. "Your Majesty, your subject’s daughter-in-law never wished to be the Crown Princess from the very beginning. I pleaded with the Empress Dowager and spoke to you as well, yet no one was willing to listen. This man is someone I had already given my heart to before I married the Crown Prince. This wine pouch is also something I brought back from the northern frontier, intending to gift it to him. But because I was to marry the Crown Prince, the pouch could never be given away. I did not marry the Crown Prince willingly, and I had already fallen for someone else before the wedding. I do not consider this a violation of wifely virtue."

"Insolent!" A slap landed on Han Feiyue’s face without hesitation.

Han Feiyue did not even cover her face; she remained kneeling.

"Your Majesty, calm your anger," the Empress said, quickly stepping in to soothe him. "Your Majesty, since she has already confessed, how do you intend to handle this? If word of this gets out, it will be a loss of face for the Imperial family. Your Majesty, perhaps it would be better to have her name the man and have them both—"

"Are you trying to silence them permanently?" The Emperor turned to look at the Empress. "Han Feiyue is indeed at fault here. But it is also true that she had already fallen for someone else before marrying Yun’er. Among the consorts in this harem, who can guarantee that they did not harbor feelings for someone else before becoming my woman? I will investigate this robe thoroughly. The origin of the wine pouch is already clear; since she never gave it to him, it means there was no illicit affair. Gong Wu'e's one-sided story is not enough to be believed. If there is no other evidence, am I to execute the Crown Princess? If I insist on finding out who that man is, it would only be announcing this scandal to the world, turning a non-issue into a real one. Do you truly want the dignified Crown Princess to be seen publicly standing with a man she once loved?"

Based on the Emperor’s previous decision to send Long Zhan to pursue Han Feiyue, I had long suspected that the Emperor was not entirely ignorant of the situation between Han Feiyue and Long Zhan. He was deliberately choosing not to pursue the matter, and his words were clearly shielding her. Yet, having reached this point, how could the Empress simply let it go?

"Your Majesty, if the Crown Princess’s heart is not with Yun’er, has he not suffered a great grievance? With her heart elsewhere, how can we guarantee she won't rekindle that old flame? Your Majesty, as the Crown Princess and the future Empress, I cannot tolerate her having divided loyalties. Please, Your Majesty, reconsider."

If the Emperor were to say anything more, his bias toward Han Feiyue would be too obvious. Thus, he asked Jiang Yun, "Yun’er, Feiyue has been married to you for several months. Based on your daily life together, how do you view her feelings for you, and how do you think this should be handled?"

Jiang Yun looked at the Empress, then at Han Feiyue, and said, "I believe that Feiyue and I have grown closer day by day. As long as she is willing to swear that she no longer holds that man in her heart and will have no further contact with him, I am willing to trust her."

The Empress was dissatisfied but could not vent her frustration. The Emperor nodded with a hint of approval. "Yun’er speaks with reason. Feiyue, tell Yun’er of your resolve. Since he is willing to trust you, the Empress and I naturally will as well."

"Your Majesty—" The Empress began, but the Emperor cut her off. "Say no more. Let us see what Feiyue has to say."

Han Feiyue remained kneeling on the ground. As the sunlight shone upon her face, it revealed her resolute expression. She said slowly, "Your Majesty, I do not wish to deceive you, nor do I wish to deceive the Crown Prince. In this matter, I can control my actions, but I cannot control my heart. I dare not claim that I can forget him. If the Crown Prince trusts me, I will try—I will try hard to forget him and will never have any contact with him again. If the Crown Prince does not trust me, then I submit myself to your punishment."

After saying this, Han Feiyue kowtowed.

Her words had essentially admitted that she still loved someone else. How could Jiang Yun endure this?

Jiang Yun said, "Father, I have nothing more to say. I leave the decision to you." With that, he turned his head away and refused to look at her.

"Your Majesty, she has already confessed. Are you going to let the Crown Prince suffer such a grievance and let the Imperial family be shamed?" Gong Wu'e interjected.

Han Feiyue had backed herself into a corner; even if the Emperor wanted to protect her, he could no longer do so.

"Your Majesty," Zhang Bitong said, "while there is no evidence that the Crown Princess has done anything untoward, the meaning of her words is clear. Everyone here has heard it. If she is not punished, I fear..."

The Emperor finally spoke. "From today on, strip Han Feiyue of her title as Crown Princess. Send her to live with the virtuous Consort Xian to cultivate Buddhism and reflect on her transgressions. When she has cleared her mind of all thoughts and completely forgotten that man, she may return to the Eastern Palace."

"Your subject thanks you for your grace, Your Majesty." Han Feiyue kowtowed once more.

Gong Wu'e could barely hide her smile.

"See that you behave yourself!" The Emperor flicked his sleeves and turned to leave. Long Zhan had no choice but to follow.

"Crown Prince, let me accompany you for some tea. Father specially had some fine tea delivered."

"I am not in the mood. Sixth Brother, come with me for a walk."

"Yes, Third Brother. Ninth Brother, you come too."

The three of them left the Eastern Palace together.

Having failed to get a pleasant reaction from Jiang Yun, Gong Wu'e turned to Han Feiyue. "Han Feiyue, you are no longer the Crown Princess, so why haven't you packed your things and left? Oh, wait—the items in your room are for the Crown Princess's exclusive use. Why don't you just take that man's robe and that wine pouch and go report to Consort Xian!"

Han Feiyue stood up, cast a cold glance at Gong Wu'e, picked up her sword and the wine pouch, and turned into the room.

"Han Feiyue, did you not hear what I said?" Gong Wu'e stamped her feet in anger.

"Wu'e, now that she is no longer the Crown Princess, you should maintain the demeanor of a consort," the Empress soothed.

"Yes, Aunt."

"Consort Tong, the matter here is finished. Would you care to join me for a stroll in the Imperial Garden?"

"I would be honored, Your Majesty."

"Wu'e, come with us. Let her pack her things by herself."

"Yes!"

"You should learn more from Consort Tong in the future. She has served the Emperor for many years; the entire harem knows of her virtue. When I am too busy to attend to you, go and seek her counsel."

"Yes, I will remember that."

The Empress's words made Zhang Bitong beam with joy.

Han Feiyue had been eliminated by the combined efforts of the Empress and Gong Wu'e. It seemed the next step would be for the Empress to install Gong Wu'e as the Crown Princess. She likely still wanted Zhang Bitong to speak on her behalf to the Emperor.

As the three left, I lingered behind. When Han Feiyue emerged, she carried only a few changes of clothes, her sword, and the wine pouch. Nothing else.

"Your Highness," I said, stepping forward.

Han Feiyue looked at me. "I am no longer a Crown Princess."

"Miss Feiyue, your servant does not understand why you had to do this. Clearly, the Crown Prince was protecting you, and the Emperor was too. If you had just made that vow as the Crown Prince asked, you would have emerged unscathed. Yet you chose to..."

"I spoke the truth. Why should I say things that go against my conscience just to save my skin? I have kept these words in my heart for too long, and I have had enough of being the Crown Princess. This is for the best. I only hope that when the Empress Dowager returns, she can..."

Han Feiyue stopped there. The "can" she referred to certainly wasn't about regaining her position as Crown Princess, but what else could follow it?

Han Feiyue had always been proud, a person who dared to love and hate. She had dared to flee her marriage before, so her words today shouldn't have surprised me. Her stopping Long Zhan from speaking was clearly a way to protect him.

Her feelings for Long Zhan were truly lamentable.

This woman was finally unwilling to be a bird in a cage, choosing instead to rebel. Even if it meant living a life of solitude with only oil lamps and Buddha statues, it would be happier and freer than her current existence.

She was meant to be an eagle soaring in the sky, not a bird in a cage.

I said, "Miss Feiyue must know what she is doing. You are going to Consort Xian, and since the Sixth Prince has always looked after her, even if the secondary consort wishes to make things difficult for you, it won't be easy for her."

"Little Xiao, have you already calculated the situation for me?"

"This servant wouldn't dare."

"Give Long Zhan a message for me: tell him not to plead for me, and not to come see me."

Even now, she was still protecting him. But how could I stop Long Zhan from doing what he wanted? Still, I had to deliver the message. Things were already this bad; if Long Zhan were implicated, it would be even worse.

I watched Han Feiyue leave. As I prepared to head to the Imperial Garden to find Zhang Bitong, I saw Long Zhan at a corner. His presence there was no accident; his gaze was still fixed on the direction in which Han Feiyue had departed.

"Miss Feiyue asked me to give you a message."

"Do not plead for her, and do not see her," Long Zhan said before I could speak.

I was startled, then said, "Since you know, I hope you will heed her words."

"I know she walked this path deliberately. I will not plead for her, because it would be useless and only bring her harsher punishment. I will not see her, because I want her to truly let go."

I sighed. "Once the heart is stirred, how can it be easily let go? But you are right. The Emperor's final words were clearly an opportunity for her. If she finds clarity while with Consort Xian, it is possible for her to return to the Eastern Palace. It is for the best that she does not see you."

"Indeed. If you have time, go and check on her. I worry that Gong Wu'e and the Empress will not let it end here, especially with the Empress Dowager returning in two days."

"Do not worry, I know what to do. Besides, the Sixth Prince and Consort Xian are there; they won't dare to act recklessly."

"Good."

"Long Zhan, that wine pouch is indeed hers. But the robe is not. I suspect the Empress or the consort planted it in her room, and the pouch was found by accident. Perhaps we should investigate that robe; we might find something."

"Do not involve yourself in this anymore. You cannot afford to provoke either Gong Wu'e or the Empress."

"But Miss Feiyue has been truly wronged."

"This is now a settled matter. If the Emperor and Empress do not pursue it further, neither you nor I can keep digging. Little Xiao, do not put yourself in danger, do you hear me?"

"Yes, I understand."

Despite what I said, I still wanted to steal that robe to take a look. If I could find any clues and keep them, they might be useful in the future.

"Long Zhan, I only want to borrow it to look. I will not act rashly without your permission. Please..."

"You want me to get that robe for you?"

I nodded and smiled. "You are wise. The Emperor said he would investigate the robe; as the head of the Imperial Guards, it would be perfectly logical for you to retrieve it for him, wouldn't it?"

Long Zhan frowned at me, then his expression softened, and he said with a hint of indulgence, "I really can do nothing with you. But you promised me—no rash actions."

"I guarantee that my word is my bond."