Entering the Palace to Plead Guilty (1)

It was the hour of the boar.

The bright moon hung high, the clouds were sparse, and the breeze was clear. Silvery moonlight poured down from the sky, filling the ground with silver dew.

A party of men and horses rushed into the imperial palace in a panic, alarming many people.

Di Yunqian, who was still busy with memorials in Xuanzheng Hall, received word as well.

"Your Majesty, I have an urgent matter to report!" A guard hurried in and knelt to pay his respects.

"Speak." Di Yunqian looked at the memorial in his hands.

"While the Sixth Princess was distributing porridge outside the palace, she was injured by a scoundrel who meant to violate her. Her old injury has flared up, and she has fallen unconscious. Zhu Wuyang also suffered a deep knife wound to his back while protecting her." The guard chose his words with great skill, mentioning only a scoundrel and not that it was Du Yutao.

Di Yunqian sprang to his feet, anger on his face. "You're saying Qingyu and Zhu Wuyang were both injured?"

"Yes. The princess has returned to Yaohua Hall, and the imperial physicians have already gone there to treat her."

"Prepare the imperial carriage for Yaohua Hall."

Di Yunqian put down the memorial, swept his sleeves aside, and descended from the dais. He hurried outside, with the guard Zhu Wuyang had sent hastening after him.

Inside Yaohua Hall.

"Quick, bring another basin of cold water! And you, hurry and decoct these medicines."

"Oh, all right!"

Many imperial physicians, their foreheads covered in sweat, crowded around Di Qingyu and scrambled to treat her. Someone even carried out a basin of bloody water, blood that Di Qingyu had vomited.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

Just as Di Yunqian arrived, he caught sight of the scene, and his face darkened.

"That's Qingyu's blood!"

Chunzhi, who was carrying the basin, reddened around the eyes, her voice trembling and hoarse.

"Your Majesty, this is the princess's blood. When Guard Zhu carried her back, she had already vomited blood all over herself. She's still unconscious now."

She described Di Qingyu's wretched state at just the right moment, making Di Yunqian extremely worried.

Hearing this, Di Yunqian headed straight into the hall without a second thought. Once he entered, everyone hurriedly knelt.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Everyone, rise. Qingyu is what matters. Hurry and treat her; pay no mind to me."

"Yes." The imperial physicians got back to work.

Just then, Di Yunqian noticed the young man kneeling nearby.

"Zhu Wuyang, why are you kneeling? Weren't you injured too? Why haven't you had it treated?" As soon as he walked over, he saw the dagger still lodged in the young man's back and the blood that had dried on his clothes.

Zhu Wuyang knelt with his back straight, his face somewhat pale, but his voice remained firm and strong.

"Your Majesty, I have failed to live up to your grace. I failed to protect the Sixth Princess and allowed her to be injured. Though I am wounded as well, dereliction of duty is still dereliction of duty. I willingly accept punishment and ask Your Majesty to sentence me."

With that, he lowered his head, his expression calm.

Di Yunqian knew this was no time to discuss such matters, especially given Zhu Wuyang's special status. He waved a hand, stepped forward, and helped him up.

"Enough. If there are accounts to settle, they can wait. You need to have your wound treated first, or your father will come to the palace later to call me to account."

He turned and summoned an imperial physician. "You, come and examine him too. Make absolutely sure he suffers no further harm, and leave him with no lingering ailment. Otherwise, I'll hold you responsible."

The imperial physician was drenched in sweat. "Yes, yes. I will do my utmost."

Zhu Wuyang's body was tense, but he could hardly disobey. After the emperor helped him up, he could only raise his hands in a fist-and-palm salute.

"Then I'll remain here on guard. Whenever Your Majesty decides to sentence me, I'll accept my punishment."

Di Yunqian knew how stubborn he was and sighed. "As you wish. First, let the imperial physician treat your wound."

"Yes."

Zhu Wuyang also knew his wound could not wait any longer. He sat on a stool with his head lowered and quietly let the imperial physician remove his outer and inner robes to examine it.

"Your Majesty, Guard Zhu's wound is perilous indeed. Another two inches and it would have reached his heart."

The imperial physician was shocked at the sight of the wound. Even in this state, Zhu Wuyang had managed to kneel there without a sound, waiting for the emperor to call him to account.

When Di Yunqian heard this, he turned and saw blood seeping across Zhu Wuyang's back. His brows immediately knitted, and his voice was filled with concern.

"You must do everything you can to treat him. Tell me whatever medicine you need. You must not leave him with the slightest lingering ailment." He paused, then glared at the pale, silent Zhu Wuyang. "You really don't care what happens to your own body!"

Having been scolded, Zhu Wuyang sat on the stool, fine beads of sweat forming at his temples. Weakly, he said, "Your Majesty, I'm all right..."

He was about to explain himself, but Di Yunqian frowned and cut him off. "Enough. Don't speak for now. Let the imperial physician treat you first." He pointed to a guard. "You, help him to the side hall."

He insisted that Zhu Wuyang be treated first.

"Yes."

Seeing that he was in a poor mood, Zhu Wuyang could hardly disobey again and could only agree.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The young man's handsome face was utterly bloodless.

After Zhu Wuyang was helped into the side hall, he forced himself to stay alert and privately told Di Yunqian the whole sequence of events he had witnessed that night.

"The princess and I became separated. By the time I found her, she was being harassed by a group of people led by a man who called himself the Minister of Punishments' son. They also intended to violate her. In her desperation, the princess stabbed one of the minister's son's eyes with a hairpin. While I was fighting those people, the princess suddenly began vomiting blood and fell ill. The minister's son took the opportunity to charge at her with a dagger."

His head was lowered, his expression detached as he gave an objective account.

"I couldn't be in two places at once, so I could only throw myself in front of the princess to shield her. Only then was she safe. I was alone at the time, and the princess's condition was critical. I meant her no offense, but I could only carry her away, then bring her back to the palace for treatment."

After a pause, Zhu Wuyang added, "The princess had already told them who she was at the start, but they didn't believe her. Later, after the minister's son was stabbed in the eye, he ignored the people around him who tried to stop him and continued his attack. He also said..."

By this point, Di Yunqian's face could not have been any darker. He spoke in a cold voice.

"What else did he say?"

Zhu Wuyang said, "He also said that no matter who the princess was, he would kill her today."

With that, he lowered his head and said no more. After all, the emperor could send people to verify everything, so he only needed to mention the important points.

Bang!

Di Yunqian slammed his hand down on the table and erupted in fury.

"Those bastards! They truly think themselves above heaven and earth! Never mind that they dared harass Qingyu knowing who she was-even pestering a woman in broad daylight is despicable. The Minister of Punishments! Hmph, I'd like to ask him how he raised his son!"

Zhu Wuyang did not reply.

Di Yunqian also realized he had lost his composure. Suppressing his anger, he reassured him, "All right, let the imperial physician treat you first. I'll get to the bottom of this and give Qingyu and you an explanation."

"I was merely carrying out my orders to protect the princess. She was injured, so I am guilty. It is the princess who should receive that explanation."

Zhu Wuyang sat on the bed, a trace of worry on his face. "But there is something I must say. When I arrived, the princess's hair was disheveled, but fortunately, her body was unharmed and unexposed. When I carried her back, I also concealed her face. Your Majesty must question everyone thoroughly and weigh every word during your investigation, so the princess's reputation is not damaged."

Whether a princess or an ordinary woman, once she became entangled in rumors of someone harassing her with dishonorable intentions, her reputation would be damaged and she would be criticized, regardless of whether she had suffered any actual harm.

He had explained the night's events to Di Yunqian in private with this concern in mind as well. After all, the only people who truly knew the truth were him and those few participants.

Hearing this, Di Yunqian suddenly understood why he had waited there instead of seeking treatment. It was not only to plead guilty, but also to tell him the truth at the earliest opportunity, just in case someone else spoke first later and slandered Di Qingyu's virtue.

He sighed softly, appreciation and relief on his face. "I understand what you intended. Fortunately, you were there today. All right, get some rest. I'll go see Qingyu."

He wanted to reach out and pat the young man's shoulder as he had before, but when he caught sight of the wound on his back, he could only give up the idea.

"Yes. Farewell, Your Majesty."

Afterward, the imperial physician came in to tend to Zhu Wuyang's wound.

When Di Yunqian came out, he saw that Di Qingyu was still unconscious but out of immediate danger. He told the imperial physicians to continue keeping watch over her, then personally summoned everyone who had accompanied her that night.

He also confirmed much of Zhu Wuyang's account with Chunzhi, one of those involved.

However, after Di Yunqian dismissed everyone else,

"Shadow guards, go collect the testimony of the people around the Misty Rain House. Also, arrest everyone who harassed Qingyu tonight and throw them in prison."

"Yes." A dark figure appeared in a flash, knelt to accept the order, and vanished again.

But just as the dark figure disappeared, a eunuch announced from outside the door:

"Your Majesty, the Minister of Punishments and his son are kneeling outside Xuanzheng Hall. He says he has come bearing thorns to plead guilty."

Di Yunqian walked over and opened the door, his expression unreadable. "Oh? He actually dares to come."

The eunuch who had served him for many years sensed his foul mood and dared not say much.

"Let's go. I'll see how he intends to bear thorns and plead guilty. If Qingyu wakes up, send someone to let me know." With a cold snort, Di Yunqian, clad in his dragon robe, left again with a crowd of attendants.

"Yes."