More speculations about the truth also spread like mushrooms after a spring rain.
The Qin family resented Qin Xuanyan for failing to outdo Cheng Simian and losing the position of the Crown Princess. They were also afraid that Hongrui would learn the Qin family's secrets and that the Crown Princess would get hold of their把柄. So they poisoned the cherries sent by the Eastern Palace to the Crown Princess and killed Hongrui.
Throughout this scheme, Cheng Simian never said a single word.
She remained completely invisible.
Overcoming the enemy without shedding a single drop of blood.
Since the poisoning case couldn't be investigated through official channels, spreading rumors in the streets could also shake the court.
Qin Feng was both shocked and angry. The next day, he submitted a memorial, saying that Lady Yang had gone crazy and was talking nonsense. She had been locked up and would never run around and talk nonsense again.
But regarding the poisoning case, he didn't dare to mention it, let alone clarify it. He wanted to gloss over it.
The Emperor approved the memorial without saying a word and took no action against Qin Feng.
He also didn't express his intention to investigate the case thoroughly.
But a few days later, an imperial edict shocked the court and the public.
As soon as the Crown Prince returned from court, he rushed to Yunhui Alley in a hurry.
Liang Yuzhou, Song Wanchu, and Cheng Simian had arrived before him.
This small courtyard had become their secret base.
According to the etiquette system, during this period before the wedding, the Crown Prince and Cheng Simian were not supposed to meet.
The last time Lady Rong was poisoned and the situation was critical, the Crown Prince broke the rule, and neither the Emperor nor the Empress said anything.
But what happened today was of great importance, and they had to meet to discuss it.
Therefore, this courtyard in Yunhui Alley was the best place for them to gather.
"The Emperor has issued an edict to betroth Princess Lingyang to Qin Ziqi. Have you all heard about it?"
The Crown Prince frowned tightly, suppressing the annoyance in his eyes.
But he couldn't sit still and paced back and forth in the room.
Liang Yuzhou and Song Wanchu exchanged a look, their expressions complicated.
Cheng Simian frowned just like the Crown Prince.
"The Emperor's thunderous means and the mind of an emperor are unfathomable," Liang Yuzhou said with a cold expression. As the sun set and the room gradually dimmed, his eyes became even more profound.
"Princess Lingyang is your younger sister from the same mother. If she marries Qin Ziqi, it's like tying the Qin family to your ship. Qin Feng will never be able to change his course."
"Similarly, if you want to settle accounts with the Qin family in the future, you won't be able to take action either."
Song Wanchu said, "With just one betrothal, the Emperor restricts both sides. No one can match his imperial tactics."
This move was both a protection and a warning to the Qin family. It also completely cut off the possibility of the Qin family turning to the Second Prince.
The Second Prince could no longer win over Qin Feng.
Qin Feng was the Chief Secretary, equivalent to the Prime Minister, and the minister closest to the Emperor. Without his support, relying only on the 50,000 troops of the Gao family, the Second Prince would find it difficult to achieve anything.
One of the Crown Prince's hidden dangers was easily resolved.
Qin Feng wasn't punished and still sat securely on the throne of the most important minister.
It also avoided the turmoil in the court.
In fact, the Crown Prince was the one who benefited.
But he wasn't happy at all.
Lingyang had become a victim of the power struggle!
The Crown Prince let out a deep sigh, and deep sorrow welled up in his eyes.
"Everyone in the world has seen how indulgent and lenient the Emperor is towards Lingyang. But in the face of the interests of the court, all his love is just a bubble. The Emperor's heart is so cruel!"
Lingyang was his own younger sister, and Qin Ziqi was by no means a good man. How could he bear to watch his younger sister marry a man with the face of a human but the heart of a beast?
But he couldn't open his mouth to plead with the Emperor to take back the edict.
Because the Emperor did all this to pave the way for him.
To clear the obstacles for him to ascend the throne in the future.
If he pleaded, the Emperor would think he was weak and impulsive, and he would also get a reputation of being ungrateful.
But if he didn't plead, he would be condemned by his conscience.
This incident would become a hard thorn in his heart, constantly reminding him that the stable court was bought with his sister's lifelong happiness.
At this moment, the heartlessness of the imperial family was vividly manifested.
What Song Wanchu was more worried about was Mianmian.
The Emperor had sacrificed his beloved youngest daughter for the sake of the court. Would it have a psychological impact on Mianmian?
The Crown Prince also looked at Cheng Simian with obvious deeper concerns in his eyes.
Would Mianmian also regard him as a person like the Emperor?
She originally didn't have the determination to accompany him to the end.
Seeing Lingyang being sacrificed, she would only be more determined to back out.
The Crown Prince felt blocked in his heart.
But Cheng Simian's focus was on another thing.
"What I'm most worried about is the Empress. Princess Lingyang is her only daughter, but she has to become a victim of the power struggle. She can neither blame the Emperor nor complain about the Crown Prince. All her grief has no one to confide in. She can only swallow it alone. In the future, in front of others, she still has to pretend as if nothing has happened..."
She couldn't go on. Her chest felt stuffy and ached faintly.
The mother of the country, seemingly of supreme dignity, actually had to bear all the sorrow and helplessness alone.
Even the Empress couldn't cry and vent her emotions in front of her husband and son like an ordinary mother.
"Mianmian..."
The Crown Prince was both touched by Mianmian's thoughtfulness and filial piety and worried that she would empathize too much with the Empress.
He also couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't do something in the future that would make Mianmian heartbroken and speechless...
For the first time, he felt a sense of desolation at the high and lonely position of the emperor.
Even Liang Yuzhou couldn't think of a way to break this situation.
He could only remind the Crown Prince, "Since the Emperor has made such a decision, Princess Lingyang will surely go to him to make a scene. He may not feel good either. These days, you'd better pretend to be ill. Don't see Lingyang, don't see the Empress, and don't go in front of the Emperor. I'm afraid you'll can't help but plead, which will damage the father - son relationship."
The Emperor needed support at this moment. Since he did all this for the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince should stand by his side.
Father and son in the imperial family were most afraid of creating a rift.
They couldn't give the Second Prince any chance.
That night, everyone was in a very heavy mood.
The Crown Prince wanted to say something to Cheng Simian, but he was afraid that too many explanations would turn into cover - ups and only push the woman he loved further away.
The carriage slowly stopped in front of Lady Rong's old residence. Cheng Simian got out of the carriage and turned back to salute, "Your Highness, take care."
"Mianmian..."
The Crown Prince felt as if there was a fishbone stuck in his throat.
One was under the carriage, and the other was in the carriage. Their almond eyes met phoenix eyes.
An invisible desolation lingered and spread between them.
Cheng Simian was speechless.
She had known from the beginning that loving an emperor was dangerous, and being loved by an emperor was even more dangerous.
She was already in danger.
But looking at the broken and desolate eyes of the Crown Prince, she couldn't calm down at all.
She felt the Crown Prince's pain and entanglement deeply.
At this moment, the first thing she thought of wasn't her own future fate, but to comfort the Crown Prince and smooth the wrinkles on his heart.
She thought so and did so.
The Crown Prince was extremely shocked.
Cheng Simian actually got back into the carriage.
She stretched out her arms and gently hugged him.