mtl008 Chapter 244 Different thoughts
Chapter 244 Different thoughts
Inside the main hall of the Ye residence, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed to drip water. Ye Jingqing sat upright in the main seat, his face cold and his gaze piercing, staring intently at Shen Yanchu standing in the hall, his dissatisfaction undisguised.
These days, he secretly dispatched his capable men to investigate carefully, and the truth he discovered made him very worried.
The woman imprisoned that day, Shi Wanxia, turned out to be his savior.
The Prince of Xiang disappeared from the world. He was ambushed and ended up in the Cangyan Mountains. Fortunately, Shi Wanxia risked her life to save him and took good care of him for many days before he was able to save his life.
Shen Yanchu remembered this kindness and always thought of repaying it. But now, things were taking a turn for the worse.
The prince, who is currently enjoying great attention, already harbors secret feelings for Shi Wanxia.
Ye Jingqing could see clearly that every time the topic of the Heavenly Prison came up, the undisguised concern in Shen Yanchu's eyes, and the anxiety that he inadvertently revealed, all indicated his thoughts.
Although Shen Yanchu is now engaged to his daughter Ye Wenshu, and this marriage was personally bestowed by His Majesty in order to win over the Ye family and the Prince's Mansion and consolidate the court.
But Ye Jingqing was determined to protect his daughter, and he couldn't bear to see her get caught up in this complicated and tangled emotional vortex.
Unfortunately, Ye Wenshu was a simple-minded girl who was deeply in love with Shen Yanchu. She was blinded by their relationship and wouldn't listen to her father's earnest advice and warnings.
Seeing his daughter like this, Ye Jingqing felt both pain and anger, and was extremely helpless.
"Your Highness, although you and my daughter are engaged, she is still not married."
Ye Jingqing broke the deadlock, his voice low yet carrying an undeniable authority, "For the sake of her reputation, she absolutely cannot leave with you! Please forgive me, Your Highness."
Shen Yanchu paused slightly, looked up at Ye Jingqing, and then glanced at Ye Wenshu who was standing to the side silently shedding tears. He knew that what Grand Tutor Ye said was not without reason.
As a prince, his actions are always under scrutiny. If he were to bring the unmarried Ye Wenshu along, it would surely bring her a lot of gossip and ruin her reputation.
Moreover, His Majesty's decision is not something they can easily change. It involves the balance of power among various factions in the court. What if they accidentally get themselves into trouble?
After much deliberation, Shen Yanchu reluctantly agreed. "Grand Tutor Ye is right. I was presumptuous." He bowed slightly as an apology, then turned to Ye Wenshu and said softly, "Miss Ye, you are not yet married. Although we are engaged, for the sake of your reputation, it would be better for you to stay at home!"
He paused, then added, "I've also visited Miss Shi; she's fine. You can stay at home and wait to be married. As for Miss Shi, I will definitely find a way to save her."
Ye Wenshu's eyes were filled with tears, and she gently bit her lower lip. She wanted to visit her sister Shi, but she also understood that the situation was difficult and she couldn't force it.
She knew her father was strict, but everything he did was to protect her; he wouldn't harm her. After much hesitation, Ye Wenshu obediently returned to her father's side.
After Shen Yanchu left, Ye Jingqing gently stroked his daughter's hair and softly comforted her, "Shu'er, I know you feel wronged, but the world is tough, and we have to be careful in our actions."
Ye Wenshu nodded with tears in her eyes. Although she still held a sliver of hope that Shen Yanchu could rescue her sister Shi as soon as possible and keep their marriage agreement, the reality before her forced her to bury this thought deep in her heart.
After leaving the Ye residence, Shen Yanchu felt as heavy as lead. Standing in the courtyard of the mansion, gazing at the overcast sky, he was filled with doubt and helplessness.
He couldn't understand what considerations led His Majesty to issue that decree to execute Miss Shi.
Miss Shi is a woman with no strength to even kill a chicken. Although she has a lot of talent and ambition, she has never done anything immoral or immoral. How could she have angered the emperor and ended up in such a desperate situation?
Cui Yichen's mother, as His Majesty's elder sister, was a princess. She was dignified and composed, and even though she cared deeply for her children, she never dared to get too involved in court disputes.
She was well aware of the dangers involved; the slightest misstep could lead to the confiscation of her family's property and the extermination of her clan. Therefore, when Shen Yanchu inquired about the young lady's affairs with her mother, her mother could only shake her head and sigh, her eyes filled with worry, but she dared not say a word more.
"Yan'er, the affairs of the court are complicated and complex. Do not delve too deeply into them, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."
His mother's admonition still echoed in his ears, but how could Shen Yanchu stand by and watch Miss Shi be wronged and die?
However, in an era where the concept of male superiority and female inferiority was deeply rooted, Shi's behavior was undoubtedly unconventional.
She dared to attempt to enter officialdom and realize her political ambitions as a woman, which was considered absurd by many.
Shen Yanchu's third uncle, Cui Zhihao, came from the renowned Cui family of Qinghe. His family had studied poetry, literature, and etiquette for generations, a tradition that had lasted for over a century, making them a force to be reckoned with in the imperial court.
The Cui family of Qinghe has always been particular about etiquette and law. In their view, women should stay at home, be good wives and mothers, and showing their faces in public is already a great disobedience, let alone getting involved in officialdom.
His Majesty was furious upon learning of Choi Ji-ho's actions. He immediately summoned the court officials to discuss how to handle the matter. The officials unanimously stated that Choi Ji-ho's behavior was a serious violation of the court's laws and must be severely punished.
His Majesty decided to send a capable minister to investigate the matter and bring Choi Ji-ho and Miss Shi back to the capital for trial.
Knowing the gravity of the matter, the minister dared not slacken in the slightest and rushed to his destination day and night.
After an investigation, the ministers discovered that Cui Zhihao had indeed secretly appointed Shi as the county magistrate without the court's knowledge.
Moreover, he committed other illegal acts during his tenure. The minister collected all the evidence and prepared to take it back to the capital to report to His Majesty.
As far as he knew, his third uncle was an upright man who disdained the so-called "crimes" listed by that minister.
Although the specific matter was not explicitly stated, given the current situation, Shen Yanchu immediately became alert: it seemed that someone wanted to use this matter to attack the Cui family of Qinghe.
Behind this incident lies a meticulously planned power struggle.
Shen Yanchu knew that the Cui family of Qinghe was a big name that attracted attention and jealousy. They held many important positions in the court, which inevitably drew attention and resentment.
Although there may be some unworthy descendants in the family, the family as a whole adheres to the family rules and precepts and would never do such a heinous thing that disregards the lives of ordinary people.
However, when someone is determined to find fault, they will always find a pretext. Now that the evidence has been manipulated by someone with ulterior motives, the situation is extremely unfavorable for the Cui family of Qinghe.
He cannot act rashly now. His Majesty is his uncle, but the Emperor's mind is unpredictable. He cannot let his mother and father also fall into trouble.
In two days, His Majesty would order the execution of Miss Shi. He could not sit idly by and wait for his death, so he immediately returned to his study and wrote a letter to Prime Minister Cui Zhe.