At this moment, the solemn and muffled bell rang from the ornamental column, its melodious sound resounding into the sky. Along with it came the voice of Emperor Guangwu:
"I hereby grant special permission for a retrial of the case of the Lan Family. The Supreme Court, the Ministry of Justice, and the Censorate shall handle it jointly!"
Emperor Guangwu's decision sent the imperial garden into an uproar.
Song Chengyuan lost his composure and suddenly stood up. The muscles on his face twitched.
Why did Father agree?
Why did he agree so easily?
He was still in a rage because of this matter not long ago. Why did he suddenly change his mind?
If the case of the Lan Family was retried, both the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate were under Song Yinghuai's control. Wouldn't the crimes he committed be exposed?
Song Chengyuan's face turned pale with anxiety in an instant. No longer caring about pretending to be obedient, he shouted:
"Father! Absolutely not!"
"The evidence in the case of the Lan Family was conclusive that day. It was Lan Yuanyi himself who confessed. What's there to retrial?"
"Father, don't believe the evidence that the Fourth Brother and his people found. It was all fabricated by the Fourth Brother to find fault with me and Lord Wen. Father, think twice!"
"The case of the Lan Family involved treason and caused quite a stir in Daye that day. If it is retried, there will be voices of doubt about Father in the court and among the people. This will be a great challenge to the imperial court and the imperial power!"
"If we're talking about a great challenge to the imperial power and the imperial court, this little girl thinks that what the Crown Prince has done will only make the court and the people more disappointed in the imperial power and the imperial court!" Caiyu suddenly said angrily, interrupting Song Chengyuan's opposition.
Song Chengyuan suddenly turned his head and stared at Caiyu in shock and disbelief. "What? You dare to talk about me? What have I done?"
This little slut dared to scold the crown prince of the current dynasty!
Was she tired of living?
Even if Father was disappointed in him recently, the imperial power was inviolable.
A little maid dared to scold and refute the crown prince. It was simply outrageous!
Not only Song Chengyuan, but even Song Yinghuai and Sheng Jiangli looked at Caiyu in astonishment.
Song Yinghuai's heart skipped a beat. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
At this moment, even he didn't know why Caiyu dared to openly provoke the crown prince.
A sense of danger spread in his heart, which made him instinctively want to scold Caiyu:
"Miss Lan! Don't be so rude to the Crown Prince!"
Caiyu was scolded and temporarily suppressed her anger.
However, the words had already been spoken. She was determined not to leave any regrets in her heart tonight!
Moreover, once the case of the Lan Family was retried, Lan Guifan, who was held under the crown prince's control, would be in danger.
Only by exposing all the crown prince's evil deeds to the emperor and making Emperor Guangwu and the world aware of them could the crown prince be forced to release the person.
Sheng Jiangli and Song Yinghuai's gazes met above Caiyu's head. He saw the doubt in Song Yinghuai's eyes.
He slightly averted his gaze, ignoring Song Yinghuai's gloomy and furious gaze.
Don't look at him.
He didn't know what Caiyu was going to do either!
He only knew that Caiyu's words just now might push the matter in an uncontrollable direction!
Song Chengyuan knelt down crying and wailing, and cried to Emperor Guangwu, "Father! I'm so useless! As the crown prince of Daye and your son, I'm being scolded by a little daughter of a criminal!
"If I don't teach this little girl a lesson today, where will the face of the royal family of Daye be?"
...
In Changchun Palace.
Lv Baiwei, who had just recovered, entered the palace to visit Empress Ma.
With the century-old snake gallbladder that Song Yinghuai had hunted on Mulan Mountain as medicine and the prescription from Master Guangzhi, Empress Ma's spirit had improved recently.
If nothing unexpected happened, she could still survive the New Year's Day this winter.
"Your Majesty looks much better. It's really a great joy," Lv Baiwei forced a smile on her slightly pale face. "I've always hoped that Your Majesty would live a long and healthy life!"
Empress Ma's gentle nature had become even more gentle and kind since her health had improved recently. She smiled and said,
"Much better... I don't know if it's just a sudden spurt of energy. But Xuan Yao was kind enough to hunt the snake gallbladder for me to extend my life. I'll fight with God and survive this winter."
"Your Majesty, don't say such discouraging words. There's no such thing as a sudden spurt of energy. You're the mother of the country, blessed with great fortune and longevity. I bet that after this winter, you'll be completely recovered!"
"You're so sweet-tongued!" Empress Ma was amused. "But I see that you don't look well recently. That plague must have taken a toll on your body. Since you're in the palace today, let the nanny go to the imperial pharmacy to get some newly tribute snow clam, ginseng, and bird's nest for you to replenish your body."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Lv Baiwei said with a smile.
Empress Ma felt a little tired after chatting for a while. Seeing that Lv Baiwei also seemed to be on the verge of collapsing, she gave a few instructions and then went to rest.
Lv Baiwei left the bedroom and turned into Zhaoyang Hall. Mei Gu, looking sickly, walked over and whispered a few words in her ear.
A victorious smile appeared on Lv Baiwei's face. "Miss Lan San really didn't disappoint me. She really exposed the crown prince's crimes. The crown prince is in trouble now."
Mei Gu said, "Yes. The crown prince was scolded by the emperor before entering the banquet. We thought the matter was over, but unexpectedly, Caiyu exposed his crimes in front of all the officials. This time, the crown prince will surely be condemned by the censors. Your Majesty has finally avenged yourself."
Lv Baiwei let out a sigh of relief and sneered. "He tortured me for so many years. Now it's his turn to taste the feeling of being abandoned by everyone."
"Although the crown prince is facing an unprecedented crisis now, this old servant wonders why Your Majesty asked Caiyu to expose him. Caiyu has really stolen the show today. She took the credit for suppressing the plague, and now she's exposed the crown prince's crimes. Isn't she taking all the benefits? I heard that her identity as the third miss of the Lan Family has been restored, and the emperor has even forgiven her for faking her death and escaping.
"The emperor even nodded in agreement to the retrial of the case of the Lan Family. This is something that even Prince Yan couldn't achieve!"
Taking all the benefits?
Lv Baiwei didn't comment.
The corners of her pinkish lips slowly curled up, showing a sinister smile. "Whether she's taking the benefits or not... we'll have to wait and see."
Lv Baiwei exposed Song Chengyuan not just for a moment of pleasure but to use Caiyu to take revenge.
She knew Emperor Guangwu too well, and she also knew how important the face of the royal family was.
Caiyu's accusation against Song Chengyuan wouldn't make Emperor Guangwu give up on Song Chengyuan. Instead, it would arouse his killing intent.
Anyone who dared to challenge the face of the royal family would never end well in Emperor Guangwu's eyes!
However, the retrial of the case of the Lan Family was beyond Lv Baiwei's expectation.
If the case of the Lan Family was really retried, both the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice were under Song Yinghuai's control, and the minister of the Supreme Court was a coward. The Lan Family really had a good chance of overturning the case.
If the Lan Family overturned the case in advance, the deal between her and Song Yinghuai would lose its bargaining chip.
At this moment, Lv Baiwei was very glad that she had accidentally made Caiyu expose Song Chengyuan.
This move might push the Lan Family, which had a chance of overturning the case, into destruction!
In the imperial garden.
Emperor Guangwu's mood fluctuated.
The fact that Empress Ma could survive this winter was a relief to Emperor Guangwu.
After all, every extra day with his wife was a gift from God.
So Emperor Guangwu had been in a much better mood these days.
In addition, the plague on Qixia Mountain had been suppressed at an unprecedented speed, and the number of deaths was the lowest in the history of this dynasty and even previous dynasties. Emperor Guangwu thought it was a warning from God.
God was warning him to implement benevolent policies, love the people, and receive blessings.
This was also the Buddhist saying that Master Guangzhi had preached during his stay in the palace:
"Practice compassion, and blessings will come naturally. Abstain from all evil and do all good."
The fact that Empress Ma could unexpectedly extend her life for a few months made Emperor Guangwu believe in cause and effect and blessings.
In order for Empress Ma to survive this winter, Emperor Guangwu began to do good deeds and reflect on the political strategies and the way of being a king that he had implemented when he was young.
So when Caiyu asked to use her merits to exchange for a retrial of the case of the Lan Family, although Emperor Guangwu was instinctively angry, he managed to hold back.
It was just a retrial.
All ceremonies, music, and military expeditions originated from the emperor. What couldn't he do?
In the end, whether it was a wrong case or a crime, it all depended on his words.