Du Yutao Imprisoned

Zhu Juxuan understood and stepped back to his original spot. "Yes, I was wrong."

With that, he took advantage of Du Chengji going to check on Du Yutao and continued at full blast.

"Your Majesty, according to our dynasty's laws, anyone who shows disrespect to an imperial princess or prince is to receive thirty strokes of the cane, and anyone who attempts to assassinate one is to be executed immediately! Fortunately, my son Wuyang took the knife for the sixth princess. But if he hadn't, the sixth princess was already so frail that she needed medicinal decoctions to keep her health up. That stab might well have killed her on the spot."

"Even though the sixth princess was not stabbed, she still coughed up blood and fell ill because of Du Yutao. Besides, the sixth princess is usually gentle and courteous to everyone. If Du Yutao hadn't driven her into a corner and put her in danger, how would a weak woman like her have stabbed him to protect her own life? His intentions could not have been as simple as affection."

"Therefore, I believe we cannot take Du Yutao's word alone. This matter should be thoroughly investigated. First, lock Du Yutao in prison, then interrogate everyone who was present to learn the truth. Today he dared draw a knife on a princess; tomorrow he might dare stab a prince, and after that, who knows what he might dare do? The imperial family's dignity and safety are at stake. I beg Your Majesty not to be softhearted."

Zhu Juxuan's words framed Du Yutao's intent as assassination, avoiding the question of Di Qingyu's chastity and elevating the matter to the safety of the imperial family. Du Chengji, who was supporting Du Yutao, immediately darkened.

"Your Majesty, it should indeed be thoroughly investigated, but the general has already kicked my son until he coughed up blood. Please allow me to take him home for treatment first."

Zhu Juxuan rolled his eyes and launched into a tirade that left no room for rebuttal.

"Hmph, he coughed up blood after just two kicks? Your son's health is worrying. Could it be that he's visited the Misty Rain House so often that he's become strong on the outside but hollow within? And in that state, he still dares covet a princess of golden boughs and jade leaves? A toad dreaming of swan meat-shameless!"

"Treatment? My son and the sixth princess are both still unconscious. His Majesty would already be showing mercy by not ordering Du Yutao's death outright. How do you have the nerve to ask him to let Du Yutao go home for treatment? And he's fainted? I bet he's playing dead to scam me. Move aside! I'll give him another kick and see if he's faking it."

Zhu Juxuan's barrage of words left Du Chengji short of breath and tight-chested. Seeing that Zhu Juxuan was actually about to step forward and kick his unconscious son again, Du Chengji hurriedly moved to block him.

"You-you're being unreasonable! My son has already passed out. What more do you want?"

"Hmph, my son was stabbed by him and is still unconscious! I want his life in payment right now!" As he spoke, Zhu Juxuan actually clenched his fists and started toward Du Yutao on the ground.

"Zhu Juxuan, don't go too far!"

Seeing that he could not stop him, Du Chengji had no choice but to turn to Di Yunqian, who had been watching all along. He fell to his knees with a thud.

"Your Majesty, you saw it yourself. I beg you to uphold justice for me!"

Di Yunqian gave a theatrical cough. "Ahem, Minister Du, although I sympathize deeply with you, Zhu Wuyang is still unconscious. Even the imperial physician said the knife missed his heart by only two inches. The matter has yet to be clarified, so Du Yutao cannot leave, even if he is injured."

With that, Di Yunqian issued an order without waiting for Du Chengji to plead further.

"Guards, convey my decree. Du Yutao stabbed the sixth princess and is to be imprisoned for the time being. A decision will be made once the matter has been clarified. The minister of punishments has failed to discipline his son. His salary is to be withheld for one year, and he is to reflect on his conduct at home for seven days."

"Your Majesty..."

Du Chengji frowned and looked up, but when he caught sight of Di Yunqian's dark, unequivocal gaze, his words caught in his throat. He raised his hands and bowed, accepting his fate.

"Yes, I thank Your Majesty!"

Du Yutao was then taken away by the guards, and Du Chengji had no choice but to return home and reconsider his plans. Only Zhu Juxuan remained in Xuanzheng Hall.

Once everyone else had withdrawn, Zhu Juxuan shed his earlier offensive, roguish manner and cupped his fists as he looked toward Di Yunqian on the dais.

"Your Majesty, I was discourteous just now." He had resumed the respectful manner of a subject.

"As if I didn't know what you're like. It's a good thing you came, or I really couldn't have torn off all pretense and berated them." After all, he was the emperor; he could not abandon the dignity and propriety expected of him.

Zhu Juxuan nodded. "Your Majesty, Wuyang failed to protect the sixth princess. Please punish him."

"Let it be. Wuyang already did his best, and he took a knife wound too. Don't worry, I've already had the imperial physician treat him. He's out of danger for now."

Zhu Juxuan breathed a slight sigh of relief, but soon frowned again. "Your Majesty, the Du family is on the empress dowager's side. Even if everything Du Yutao did is true, I'm afraid the empress dowager..."

The emperor had always been benevolent and filial, turning a blind eye to some of the empress dowager's money-grabbing and mischief. Who would have thought things would grow so serious? One was his beloved daughter, the other his mother's own nephew. However one looked at it, it was a dilemma.

Di Yunqian naturally understood as well. He frowned and sighed deeply. "We'll leave this matter for now and discuss it after the facts are clear and the Mid-Autumn Festival has passed. In any case, Qingyu and Wuyang must not be wronged."

Tomorrow was the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The empress dowager's reach was growing longer and longer, making him somewhat uncomfortable as well. This was a good opportunity to give her a warning.

"Yes." Zhu Juxuan also knew it was unwise to say too much. "Then it would be best not to make a public fuss over what happened to Qingyu and Wuyang for now. Let's suppress the news first. Qingyu's reputation is what matters."

"Mm, that's all we can do for now." Di Yunqian was full of worry when he suddenly remembered something. "Would you like to see Wuyang? He shouldn't be moved, so he's being treated in a side hall of Qingyu's Yaohua Hall."

Yet Zhu Juxuan, who was so eager to protect his own, shook his head and declined. "No. With Your Majesty here, I trust he'll be all right. It's getting late, so please rest early, Your Majesty. I'll take my leave and come see them tomorrow."

His sudden entrance into the palace and intrusion into the hall today had already offended imperial authority. Although the emperor trusted him, he still had to know when to stop.

"Very well. Go home and rest."

"Yes, I take my leave."

Late that night, in the sleeping chambers of Yaohua Hall, Di Qingyu had yet to fall asleep.

At last, Chunzhi came with news. "Princess, only Du Chengji left the palace. Du Yutao was locked up in prison, and General Zhu has also left the palace."

As for what the three men had said, their people could not get inside and had no way of knowing.

Hearing this, Di Qingyu, who was drinking her medicinal decoction, lifted an eyebrow slightly and spoke coldly.

"There's no need to concern ourselves with Du Yutao anymore. Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Nothing can go wrong with what's planned for the evening. Leave as soon as it's done."

Du Yutao was merely cannon fodder she had deliberately brought out to target the Du family. The real show was yet to come.

"Yes!"

"I won't wake up until tomorrow afternoon, so I won't attend the Mid-Autumn banquet. Inform the empress tomorrow that there's no need to save me a seat."

"Understood."