Chapter 204

Chapter 204: House Arrest Prince Rong had gone to great lengths to please the Emperor, but who would have thought that his daughter would drag him down so badly? Foolish! Utterly foolish! "Your Majesty, this must be a misunderstanding. How could Rongjia have invested in a gambling house?" Prince Rong's forehead beaded with sweat. No matter what he said, the Emperor remained silent. Until his daughter was brought in. County Princess Rongjia still looked bewildered. On the way over, the eunuch had hinted at the matter, but she still hadn't figured out what was going on. Now she knelt and softly called out, "Father." "What are you calling me for?" Prince Rong roared in fury. "Explain yourself to your imperial uncle quickly! It's all a misunderstanding, isn't it?" "A misunderstanding?" The Emperor looked down from his elevated position. In truth, he knew full well that he had no sons, and his brothers were all eyeing his throne. He had allowed the Rong Prince Mansion to enjoy boundless wealth and honor because he knew that his younger brother Rong had no ambition to seize the throne—he merely hoped the Emperor would adopt one of Prince Rong's sons as his heir. That, he could accept. So he had elevated the Rong Prince Mansion, granting them every honor. But all of this had to stay within bounds—at least on the surface. The Emperor's single word "misunderstanding" pressed down like a thousand pounds of weight, making it hard for those below to breathe. "The witnesses and evidence are all here. Without Rongjia's approval, would the Chen family dare to invest in a gambling house?" The Emperor said he was old, but he was not senile. "Your... Your Imperial Majesty, your niece truly knows nothing about the gambling house. Previously, I wanted to add another source of income, so I had my trusted stewardess find a way, and she turned to her son. As for how the Chens made money, I truly never asked." This was the truth. County Princess Rongjia only cared about having money, and with her trust in Chen De's Wife, she hadn't paid much attention to the matter. Had the eunuch not mentioned it, she wouldn't have known at all. The Emperor did not believe her. "It's your business, yet you claim not to know? How is that possible?" Prince Rong didn't believe it either, but at this moment, he could only help cover for his daughter. "Your Majesty, please investigate carefully. Rongjia has a simple nature—it's possible she was deceived by others. Besides, as a County Mistress, why would she need to earn money through such means?" "Then what now? The ones arrested are Rongjia's people, and the evidence is conclusive. Are you asking me to bend the law for personal gain?" The Emperor was furious. "I have given you every dignity and honor, and what do you do in return? Every single one of you is useless, insisting on doing something disgraceful. You've shamed the royal family completely!" County Princess Rongjia's heart trembled violently. She could barely breathe—this was the first time the Emperor had scolded her like this. She felt utterly wronged. She truly didn't know! How could this be blamed on her? Upon learning that Cui Zeyu had handled the case, County Princess Rongjia immediately said, "Imperial Uncle, that Cui Zeyu holds a grudge against me. He must have framed me. I can swear to heaven—if I had any knowledge of this, may I die a horrible death!" She swore solemnly, but in the Emperor's eyes, she was simply refusing to repent. Who would believe she knew nothing about such a matter? But Prince Rong began to waver. He knew his daughter—she wouldn't swear such a vicious oath unless she truly had no knowledge. Just then, Cui Zeyu arrived. He walked into the hall, knelt, and paid his respects. "May the Emperor be well. The Chen family has confessed everything. Besides County Princess Rongjia's investment, there are other officials involved, including the Qin family and others." The Emperor had long wanted to usher in reform and replace the old guard. Those veteran officials from the great clans were all stubborn and outdated in their thinking, protecting one another in office. He needed a blade like Cui Zeyu to do his bidding. "The Qin family?" The Emperor's face showed disappointment. "After all the trust I placed in them, every single one of them is sucking the blood from my empire. Lu Zeyu, I now promote you to Vice Minister of Personnel, rank three. I want you to investigate thoroughly—spare no one!" Only by replacing one generation with another could new vitality emerge. The Emperor was old, and without sons, he wanted even more to accomplish deeds that would be remembered in history. That was why he had sent Xie Yunting on the northern expedition. Cui Zeyu had been promoted several ranks at once. Prince Rong's heart pounded—he knew the Emperor would not let this matter go easily. "Your Majesty..." "You father and daughter need not say more. In the coming days, Rongjia will remain in the palace. We'll decide on punishment once the matter is fully investigated!" The Emperor's attitude was resolute and brooked no argument. Keeping County Princess Rongjia in the palace was a way of keeping her under watch—meaning the Emperor still did not believe her. Prince Rong had no choice but to yield. "Father, I..." County Princess Rongjia was afraid. She truly hadn't expected to be ruined like this by those around her. But meeting her father's gaze, she knew there was nothing else to be done. After all, no matter what she said, no one would believe her. As Prince Rong walked out of the great hall, Cui Zeyu followed shortly after. "Cui Zeyu... no, I should call you Lu Zeyu now. You were also raised in the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion. Did you have to go this far?" Prince Rong looked at Cui Zeyu. "Did your father never teach you how to conduct yourself in the world?" "Is Your Highness asking me to show leniency? If everyone bends the law for personal gain, how can the nation be governed? How can good people survive, and how will the wicked ever be punished?" Cui Zeyu showed no fear of Prince Rong. "When there are too many termites, if they aren't rooted out, the great hall will collapse. Does Your Highness not understand this principle?" "But you have made many enemies. Do you truly believe you can go on like this for long?" said Prince Rong. "Every day I hold office, I serve the country and the people for that day. Even if I cannot last long, at least my conscience is clear!" Cui Zeyu walked past Prince Rong. "I would advise you, Your Highness—spoiling a child is harming a child. County Princess Rongjia is arrogant and willful; she has long deserved punishment!" Cui Zeyu left. Prince Rong returned home with a belly full of anger. Princess Consort Rong rushed over anxiously. "How did it go? What did the Emperor say?" "This is all thanks to the fine daughter you raised—the Emperor didn't believe a word!" Prince Rong took a deep breath. "I wouldn't believe it either. She says she knew nothing—how could that be possible?" "What if it truly is the case? You know Rongjia—she doesn't have that many schemes when it comes to those around her," Princess Consort Rong defended her daughter. "She ought to have some schemes by now. A grown woman, and for a bit of money, she did something like this?" Prince Rong grew angrier as he spoke. "I told you from the start not to indulge her so much. I never supported her marrying Song Shulan in the first place. And before that, at the Du family, she stirred up such a huge mess—if we hadn't kept all her dowry, the Dus would have taken her to court in Bianjing long ago!" If she weren't his own daughter, would Prince Rong have gone to such lengths to shield her? "Keep your voice down!" Princess Consort Rong frowned. "The Du family is in the past—why bring it up now? You say I spoil her, but don't you spoil her too? Enough, what use is talking about this now? Let's think of a way to get her out of this!" Prince Rong's temper was unsettled. He wanted tea, but found it too hot, which only stoked his fury further. "Don't worry, she won't die! The Chens still have some sense—they didn't confess what Rongjia did. But they are Rongjia's people, and this matter cannot be separated from her. The Emperor made a pointed remark to me, meaning he intends to rein in certain great houses, and I should not meddle in affairs that don't concern me—otherwise, the glory and wealth of our Rong Prince Mansion ends here." "Then how will the Emperor deal with Rongjia?" asked Princess Consort Rong. "She will be punished one way or another—otherwise it will be hard to satisfy the public." Prince Rong sighed. He still could not bring himself to abandon her. "Tomorrow, go to the palace and pay your respects to the Empress. Ask her to put in a good word." Princess Consort Rong thought of her daughter's situation, her heart full of anxiety, and at the same time she harbored resentment toward the Cui siblings. If not for the Cui siblings, how could her daughter have come to this? Meanwhile, at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, Old Madame Song had hoped County Princess Rongjia could rescue her second son, but now County Princess Rongjia could not even save herself. She went to her son crying. Song Shulan had intended to go find Cui Lingrong, but when he reached the entrance of Qiushuang Zhai, he stopped. "Marquis, are you not going in?" Qingshan saw his master standing there for a while. "It's cold out here. If you're not going in, shall we head back first?" "Qingshan, tell me—what have I done wrong by her?" Song Shulan was referring to Cui Lingrong. Qingshan lowered his head. It wasn't that he didn't know how to answer—it was that he didn't dare. In truth, all the servants of the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion were fond of the eldest young mistress. She was fair in her dealings, never mistreated the servants, and rewarded and punished with clear distinction. Everyone in the mansion, high and low, respected her. The situation they were in now was entirely because County Princess Rongjia had married into the family. "Never mind—what would you know of such things." Song Shulan had no other recourse, so he reluctantly went inside to find Cui Lingrong.