Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 194
Chapter 194 - The Emperor's Scruples
Imperial Concubine Yin was extremely fond of Miss Fang.
Neither her family background nor her character had a single flaw that could be picked out.
Lord Fang, holding the rank of Right Censor-in-Chief of the Second Rank in the Censorate, held a position of genuine authority, yet because he still answered to the Left Censor-in-Chief, he would never appear overly prominent or threatening.
Miss Fang was the youngest daughter of the Fang family, a cherished pearl raised in the palms of her parents. Although she had been doted on since childhood, she remained well-read and courteous, with conduct and deportment completely devoid of blemish.
Ordinarily, a woman of such fine stature would never be married off to a Prince's estate to serve as a stepmother.
However, Imperial Concubine Yin had accidentally discovered that this young lady actually harbored deep affection for Yi'er... Consequently, the marriage discussions naturally proceeded with exceptional smoothness.
"Yi'er, this Miss Fang is far more suited to be a Princess Consort than that previous Miss Tan," Imperial Concubine Yin lowered her voice. "If the day truly comes when things reach that ultimate step, the Fang family will also serve as a tremendous pillar of support for you..."
Chu Yi furrowed his brows, cold light shimmering within his pitch-black eyes. "Did I not tell Imperial Concubine Mother that my marriage does not require your further intervention?"
"You speak, and I am simply supposed to obey?" Imperial Concubine Yin's expression shifted as well, and she demanded angrily, "Take a look at your own age. Which imperial prince has remained unmarried as late as you? Having two children out of wedlock has already made you the laughingstock of many. If you continue to refuse to take a Princess Consort, do you have any idea how people will gossip about you?"
Such words were things Chu Yi had already heard far too many times.
His Imperial Father would say them, Imperial Concubine Mother would say them even more, and the Empress Dowager, the Grand Princess, the court officials... practically everyone who held any standing to speak before him had uttered them at some point.
Having heard them so often, he simply ceased to care.
He had indeed considered it once—taking a Princess Consort for the sake of the two children.
Yet the children instinctively repelled the idea, and he himself felt no willingness whatsoever.
That being the case, why force it?
If Yun Chu lived a truly blissful life, then he wouldn't mind remaining single for the rest of his days.
Yet throughout all these years, she had remained trapped within the Xie family...
Even if the entire imperial household opposed it, even if he became the target of public condemnation, so long as she gave a single nod, he was willing to brave universal censure.
"If Imperial Concubine Mother insists on having her way, then I can only refuse an imperial decree."
Disregarding Imperial Concubine Yin's wrathful expression, Chu Yi turned and strode out of Changqiu Palace.
Just as he stepped into the palace corridor, he ran straight into the Prince of Gongxi coming from the opposite direction.
The moment he caught sight of Chu Yi, the Prince of Gongxi's expression darkened slightly, though it was quickly replaced by a warm smile.
He strode up quickly, patted Chu Yi on the shoulder, and said with a chuckle, "I heard from Chief Eunuch Gao by Imperial Father's side that Third Younger Brother will soon be marrying the Fang family's daughter as your Princess Consort?"
Chu Yi's expression remained tranquil. "Does Second Elder Brother have spies planted within the Imperial Study?"
The Prince of Gongxi's smile stiffened. "Madam Fang and Miss Fang have made numerous trips to Changqiu Palace to pay their respects—that is common knowledge throughout the entire palace; there is hardly any need to specially plant spies."
"Madam Yu and Miss Yu frequently visit the Palace of Imperial Concubine Hui. Viewed in that light, is Second Elder Brother planning to take Miss Yu as a secondary consort?" Chu Yi's gaze carried not a single ripple, yet the words he uttered caused the Prince of Gongxi to choke fiercely.
The Yu family was his maternal grandfather's household; it was entirely natural for them to enter the palace to pay respects to his mother. What possible connection did that have with taking a secondary consort?
Suppressing his rising anger, he maintained as mild a tone as possible and said, "Regardless, this elder brother simply awaits the day I can drink to Third Younger Brother's wedding joy. I have matters to attend to, so I will not accompany you further."
He swept his sleeves back and walked away.
After taking a few steps, however, he paused and glanced back at Chu Yi.
A few days ago, Chu Yi had invited more than a dozen high-ranking officials for a late-night discussion. According to his scouts' reports, the meeting had stretched close to midnight.
Third Younger Brother had never associated too closely with court officials, and coupled with the fact that the Yin family was entirely low-profile and honest, he had never once regarded Third Younger Brother as a rival.
Yet now...
The Prince of Gongxi smiled faintly. If Third Younger Brother insisted on entering the game, then he would temporarily step out of it.
He would simply sit back and watch Third Younger Brother and Crown Prince Eldest Brother tear into each other like dogs. Whichever of them emerged victorious would earn the qualification to serve as his, Chu Mo's, true opponent.
Chu Yi's hawk-like eyes narrowed sharply.
He was still investigating the assassination attempt during the previous autumn hunt, but when the inquiry reached a certain point, the trail had abruptly snapped. All the severed clues conveniently ended up on his desk. He had suspected the Prince of Gongxi's estate, but severed clues could not stand as concrete evidence.
Even when he reassigned men to continue digging, they hit a dead end.
If the person lurking in the shadows truly was his Second Elder Brother Chu Mo, then a storm of blood and slaughter would likely soon engulf the imperial palace.
Chu Yi did not leave the palace directly; instead, he headed toward the Imperial Study.
Fortunately, this time the Imperial Study was free of imperial consorts. Following Eunuch Gao's announcement, he was permitted to enter immediately.
"You've come at just the right time," the Emperor said, in high spirits as he smiled. "I was just about to have someone draft the decree for the marriage, with the wedding set for three months from now. How does that sound?"
"Imperial Father, this son has no intention of taking a wife at present," Chu Yi went straight to the point. "I implore Imperial Father to rescind the edict!"
The moment his voice fell, the Emperor let out a cold laugh. "Once winter passes, you will be twenty-six years old. The longer you wait, the fewer prominent aristocratic clans will be willing to marry their legitimate daughters to you. This Miss Fang is currently your best option!"
Chu Yi raised his gaze, enunciating each word clearly, "Marriage is the joining of two families in harmony. If one party is unwilling, it breeds resentment. I ask Imperial Father to think twice."
"Since ancient times, marriage is determined by the orders of one's parents and the words of a matchmaker. When has it ever been your turn to express unwillingness?" The Emperor picked up his imperial jade seal and pressed it directly onto the marriage decree. "This marriage—you shall contract it whether you wish to it or not!"
Chu Yi's hawk-like gaze fixed upon the imperial seal.
For the very first time in his life, he truly experienced the absolute supremacy of imperial power.
Suppressing his churning emotions, he spoke, "Lord Fang deeply dotes on his youngest daughter—a fact renowned throughout the entire capital. If Miss Fang suffers any grievance within the Prince's estate, Lord Fang coming to cause trouble for this son would be of little consequence, but I fear that by then, Lord Fang might choose to impeach Imperial Father on fabricated pretexts."
"Audacious!"
Furious, the Emperor snatched up his writing brush and hurled it straight at Chu Yi's face.
This son of his was brilliant at suppressing bandits, but equally brilliant at infuriating people, showing not the slightest regard for paternal or imperial authority.
Lord Fang served as the Right Censor-in-Chief. Down below, the Censorate supervised the hundred officials; up above, they impeached the sovereign himself.
The Emperor indeed held certain misgivings in this regard.
He sneered, "If Lord Fang is dissatisfied with this marriage, he has plenty of opportunities to come find me; it is not your place to speak of it."
Chu Yi lowered his gaze.
In other words, Imperial Father cared about Lord Fang's attitude. In that case, this matter became much easier to handle.
Riding his horse back to the estate, he had barely arrived at the front gates when Chengxu hurried forward, cupping his fists in a salute, "The matter regarding the He family that Your Highness previously ordered this subordinate to investigate—I have finally uncovered some clues."
Chu Yi vaulted down from his horse. "Speak."
Glancing at the guards and garrison soldiers stationed at the estate gates, Chengxu lowered his voice, "It is connected to the Xie family's Madam."
Chu Yi immediately strode into the estate, signaling Chengxu to continue only after they reached the study.
"The He family's sole surviving legitimate son, He Xu, exposed Xie Shi'an's identity at the imperial palace gates not long ago and went missing amidst the chaos. Following Your Highness's instructions, this subordinate deployed a squad of troops to search for him. After searching for nearly half a month, we finally discovered He Xu's corpse." Chengxu raised his head. "It took a considerable amount of effort, but I discovered that right before He Xu died, he had been in contact with Steward Chen from the Xie family's Madam's side."
Chu Yi's brow and eyes darkened heavily.
Xie Jingyu's death was linked to Yun Chu.
The exposure of Xie Shi'an's identity was also linked to Yun Chu.
He Xu's death undoubtedly originated from Yun Chu's hands as well.
What on earth had the Xie family done to drive a person originally as pure and kind-hearted as Yun Chu to violate her own principles and resort to such actions?
The only thing he could ascertain was that Yun Chu detested the Xie family to the bone.
Chu Yi commanded, "Go personally and wipe clean every single piece of evidence."
Chengxu shook his head. "Even if the Dali Temple were to investigate, the trail would at most lead to Chen Deju. Even if they suspected the Xie Madam, they would never find a shred of evidence."
Chu Yi's thin lips pressed into a rigid straight line.
Their very first meeting had taken place at a banquet hosted by the Yun family.
The capital was draped in blossoming flowers, and the spring scenery was at its finest. At the Yun family's spring banquet, he had laid eyes upon the Yun family's legitimate eldest daughter. Back then, she was only six years old, while he was eleven.
In his memory, the six-year-old version of her had a round face, a chubby little chin, big round eyes, and wore a duckling-yellow long dress as she hid amidst the blooming forsythia bushes.
When he was nursing his sorrow in solitude, she had crashed unceremoniously into his field of vision just like that.
He would forever remember her clear eyes, the bits of grass scattered all over her hair, the mud staining her cheeks, and the dog she clutched tightly in her arms... The dog was filthy, and she was equally dirty...
The carefree, innocent little girl of years past had grown up amidst the passage of time, turning into someone so profoundly cautious.
Even when his own people investigated, they could uncover nothing.
A weight lifted from his heart.
Picking up his writing brush, Chu Yi penned a letter. "Have this delivered to the Fang family immediately.”