PFC Chapter 244 Liuyue and Princess Mingyue's disheveled appearance is discovered
Chapter 244 Liuyue and Princess Mingyue's disheveled appearance is discovered
The palace, which had been bustling with activity just a few days ago, now had several times more guards at its gates, with the imperial guards barring all the ministers who had come to witness the wedding ceremony from entering the palace.
When Zhai Yun escorted Feng Chenyi to the palace gate, the gate was already crowded with ministers. They didn't know what had happened, but when they saw Prince Rui arrive, they all gathered around.
"Your Highness, what... what's going on?" Marquis Lu spoke first.
Zhai Yun noticed that the emperor's brother-in-law was standing not far away, coldly watching them.
"This is against the rules, why can't we go in?" a minister said anxiously.
"Wait a little longer, the envoys to welcome the bride will arrive soon, what on earth has happened?"
Feng Chenyi looked at their anxious expressions and gazed in the direction outside the palace gate, his expression indifferent but equally confused as theirs.
Before long, a palace maid strode out of the palace. She looked around in the crowd, locked onto the direction of the emperor's brother-in-law, walked over to him, and whispered something in his ear.
Everyone watched this scene intently, seeing the Emperor's brother-in-law's face darken.
So far, this palace maid is the only person who has come out of the palace. Only she knows what happened inside. Curious ministers gathered around her, wanting to find out.
The palace maid, her face grim, led the emperor's brother-in-law into the palace, ignoring all the other ministers from beginning to end.
After a series of discussions and deliberations, the ministers waiting outside the palace concluded that something extraordinary had happened inside the palace, and judging from the situation, it must be related to the wedding.
Nothing else could have stopped what happened today.
Zhai Yun and Feng Chenyi returned to the carriage. Everything was developing as expected, and they only needed to wait quietly for the outcome.
In a secluded spot inside the palace gates, Emperor Xing'an, who never ventured into this place, along with the concubines of high rank and the Crown Prince, all gathered.
They stared in disbelief at the scene before them. Princess Mingyue, who was about to be sent on a marriage alliance, appeared disheveled on the bed of Liuyue, the hostage prince of Wujin Kingdom.
Liu Yue was in no better shape; his hair was disheveled, his upper body was bare, and he was kneeling on the ground.
When Emperor Xing'an saw this scene, he held his throbbing forehead and his expression changed completely. Even a high and mighty emperor would turn ashen-faced upon seeing this.
Faced with the massive crowd, Princess Mingyue huddled on the bed, covering herself with the blanket.
Although Empress Buluoyu usually looked down on Princess Mingyue, this marriage was of great importance, and as the mother of the nation, she had the responsibility of supervising the inner palace.
Princess Mingyue's actions also implicated her innocently.
Emperor Xing'an pointed a trembling finger at Princess Mingyue, his face contorted with anger and disappointment. "Empress, this is the harem you've managed!"
Frightened, Bu Luoyu knelt on the ground, trying to explain, "Your Majesty, I don't know how this suddenly happened! Princess Mingyue was perfectly fine just a few days ago, and then suddenly..."
She was caught off guard by the sudden turn of events.
In the past few days, Princess Mingyue has been very obedient, cooperating with the palace master of ceremonies in preparing for the grand wedding.
Princess Mingyue, who was huddled to the side, looked at the Empress who was kneeling on the ground in a sorry state and a smug smile appeared in her eyes. She lost her mother when she was young, and if she were not the only princess in the palace, her life would not be easy.
The queen would resent it if her father treated her even a little bit well and would always try to trip her up. Now, seeing her begging for mercy like this, she felt only satisfaction.
As the Empress spoke, she pointed at Princess Mingyue and rebuked her: "Your Majesty, it was her, it was she who did not want to marry into the Xuanyuan Kingdom and orchestrated all of this herself. I was kept in the dark."
Princess Mingyue, seeing that the blame was being directed at her, immediately feigned weakness and said timidly, "Father, how could I not want to marry into the Xuanyuan Kingdom? I truly do not know what happened. I woke up to find myself in this state. I am innocent."
Only a fool would admit to doing these things.
Upon hearing Princess Mingyue's words, Emperor Xing'an glared angrily at Liuyue, who was kneeling on the ground to the side. This second prince of Wujin Kingdom had been behaving himself ever since he arrived.
So that's what they were planning. How dare a hostage lay a hand on our princess? It's utterly despicable.
Liu Yue felt a sharp gaze that seemed to foreshadow a storm, so she lowered her head even further, her eyes darting left and right, only able to see the hard floor tiles.
Emperor Xing'an's words were full of threat, "Second Prince of Wujin Kingdom, why don't you tell me what exactly is going on?"
Seeing the focus shift, everyone present instantly fell silent, their gazes towards Liu Yue filled with the disdain of those in power. If someone had to take the blame for this, it would be a different story.
That person is just right.
Queen Buluoyu also got up from the ground and quietly watched what was about to happen.
When Emperor Xing'an called out to Liu Yue, Liu Yue trembled and stammered, "I...I don't know what happened. I...I don't remember anything about last night."
Liuyue's voice was very soft, and her body was trembling as she spoke, as if she was quite frightened.
Emperor Xing'an looked at Liu Yue, who was as timid as a mouse on the ground, and felt a sudden surge of annoyance. How could such a person be worthy of being a prince? Even if he had a hundred times the courage, he would not dare to covet the princess of his own country.
The emperor's brother-in-law was invited. Looking at the scene before him, his eyes were full of calculation. He already knew the whole story on the way here, but he didn't know why Emperor Xing'an had invited him to the palace alone.
Emperor Xing'an glanced at Princess Mingyue, then at the Empress, his eyes filled with anger. "How could you, a grown man, think like this! Now that this has happened, what do you suggest we do?"
The blame eventually fell on her. The Empress had no words to express her grievances. She said, feeling extremely wronged, "Your Majesty, how could Princess Mingyue and the Prince of Wujin Kingdom, the two parties involved, not know anything? They must have conspired to shirk responsibility. I am the one who is innocent!"
Looking at the scene before him, Emperor Xing'an understood that this was the place where the hostage of Liuyue Kingdom was staying. Even if the hostage of Liuyue Kingdom had a hundred times the courage, he could not escape the palace guards from kidnapping Princess Mingyue.
Guan Li, who rushed over on his orders to investigate the matter, also confirmed everything: Princess Mingyue had left her residence on her own.
Liu Yue is a hostage, so we can't do anything to him for the time being. If we really investigate, it will only be a shameful thing.
Emperor Xing'an's face suddenly turned cold, and the anger in his eyes subsided. "This is not the time to talk about this. The envoy from Xuanyuan Kingdom has already arrived at the palace gate. What I want is to figure out how to resolve this matter."
He proposed the marriage alliance himself, and now that this has happened, outsiders are looking down on him, the emperor whose word is law. Princess Mingyue is no longer innocent, and the best course of action is to find someone to take her place as soon as possible.