Lin Qingge tapped the feather duster in her palm, saying with some uncertainty:
"Don't tell me that Shangguan Yuyan isn't actually Prime Minister Shangguan's biological daughter, but the child of Madame Xiahou and her lover?"
"Your Excellency is brilliant!"
Wu Suowei, who hadn't expected his lord to guess correctly, couldn't help but give a thumbs-up. "That's right, just as you guessed. Shangguan Yuyan is not Prime Minister Shangguan's flesh and blood, but was born to Madame Xiahou and her cousin. Originally, the two planned to marry, but Prime Minister Shangguan sent word back saying he had become the son-in-law of the former Prime Minister and would soon achieve prominence. Thus, the opportunistic Madame Xiahou claimed to have given birth to their child and stated that regardless of whether Prime Minister Shangguan accepted her, she would raise the child alone. Upon receiving Madame Xiahou's reply, Prime Minister Shangguan immediately declared that as the father, he would certainly legitimize the child and also legitimize Madame Xiahou. He merely added that the time was not yet ripe and some waiting was necessary. However, in reality, Madame Xiahou had only just begun to show her pregnancy at that time. Because she calculated that Prime Minister Shangguan would not return for some time, she inflated Shangguan Yuyan's age by one year. When Shangguan Yuyan was imprisoned by His Majesty, Madame Xiahou, seeing that Prime Minister Shangguan could not be relied upon, contacted her cousin and explained the truth of the past. That cousin seemed to have known for a long time that Shangguan Yuyan was his child. After hearing Madame Xiahou's tearful account, he agreed to handle the matter. He not only promised to rescue Shangguan Yuyan but also vowed to make Shangguan Wan'er, who had usurped the position of Empress from his own daughter, pay the price!"
Lin Qingge chuckled upon hearing this, "Tsk tsk, who gave him the audacity to boast so shamelessly? However, Madame Xiahou is indeed a formidable character, even more so than Prime Minister Shangguan. To gain wealth and status, she could change her own daughter's father at will! It turns out that her nightly 'discussions' with Prime Minister Shangguan on Mount Hua were all just for show!"
"Reporting to Your Excellency, I also overheard that cousin saying that the Eastern Isles太子 to whom he is loyal will have a major move upon entering the capital this time. It won't just stir up trouble; it will definitely catch the new Emperor off guard. That Eastern Isles太子, with the help of Prime Minister Shangguan and a noble, has set a seemingly inescapable trap. They say that if the Empress attends tonight's banquet, she will be ruined and never able to recover!"
"The Empress?"
Lin Qingge and Leng Ningyue exchanged glances, feeling that Wu Suowei's version differed slightly from their own experiences. Leng Ningyue pondered for a moment and explained, "Appealing to someone's desires is Fu Xun's usual tactic. To use his chess pieces more effectively, he fabricates one lie after another to achieve his goals."
Wu Suowei, who didn't quite understand his madam's words, scratched his head and continued, "Yes, Your Excellency. I heard it very clearly. That cousin patted his chest and guaranteed that he would make the Empress suffer. Additionally, he said that with the Eastern Isles太子's connections in the palace, rescuing Shangguan Yuyan would be as easy as turning over one's hand. Madame Xiahou, upon hearing this, was so moved that she became even more affectionate. Afterwards, that cousin also asked Madame Xiahou for some of the incense Prime Minister Shangguan usually used to scent his clothes. He claimed it was a precaution, saying that if things were exposed, all the blame could be placed on Prime Minister Shangguan."
"As expected, Madame Xiahou was helping them in secret. But looking at it this way, Prime Minister Shangguan, who was a fool raising another man's child, is somewhat pitiable. I, Your Excellency, am usually very kind-hearted and cannot bear to see good people suffer any grievance, especially someone like Prime Minister Shangguan, who is dedicated to the country and its people, even to the point of disregarding his own flesh and blood – a truly exceptional good person. Therefore, I have decided to properly punish those adulterous scoundrels who dared to scheme against me!"
"Your Excellency, can you please stop laughing like that? It's quite unsettling. Also, what do you mean by 'schemed against Your Excellency'?"
Lin Qingge, asked by him, curved her lips and said with a forced smile, "It means exactly what it says. Your Lordship has been framed as a murderer and is currently confined within Changshou Palace, awaiting judgment!"
"What?! Your Excellency has become a murderer?"
After his initial shock, Wu Suowei quickly denied it, "I don't know about others, Your Excellency, but based on your skills, which even I admire, I would believe you if you said you could empty the national treasury or rob the imperial tomb. But murder, something so devoid of skill, you surely wouldn't bother doing."
"Don't measure me by your standards! I am a dignified Prefect of the fourth rank. How could I possibly engage in petty theft or pilfering?"
"That's right, Your Excellency, you prefer outright robbery."
"Hmm?"
Lin Qingge shot him a stern look. Wu Suowei, with strong survival instincts, hastily amended, "What I mean is, a clean and upright official like Your Excellency, who hates evil as much as you do, is truly a rare sight once in a century. By the way, Your Excellency, how do you plan to punish Madame Xiahou and her cousin?"
"Hmph, dealing with such a pair of dogs is beneath my dignity. It will be more interesting to let them turn on each other. After all, my new grievances and Mo'er's old grudges must be settled."
Although Lin Qingge was smiling, her eyes did not reach her smile. Wu Suowei silently lit a candle for Prime Minister Shangguan and the others in his heart. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shangguan, having staked his old bones and determined not to let Lin Jingxing off easily, remained steadfastly guarding the entrance of Changshou Palace, ignoring his injuries. Just as Prime Minister Shangguan was contemplating how to impeach Lin Jingxing at the morning court the next day, the gates of Changshou Palace opened once more. Several palace maids and eunuchs emerged in succession. Some brought a long chair for Prime Minister Shangguan, others brought him a foot warmer and hot tea for warmth, and even provided medicated wine with miraculous effects on bruises and sprains, and an Anshen Niuhuang Pill to prevent strokes? The bewildered Prime Minister Shangguan was utterly confused. Setting aside Prime Minister Shangguan's anxious state as he guarded outside Changshou Palace all night, the next morning, instead of attending the morning court as expected, he was dragged away with a hood over his head by the imperial guards. At the same time, news of the Eastern Isles太子 being murdered in the palace spread like wildfire, and along with it, the target of public scrutiny became Lin Jingxing, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, who was accused of the murder.
"Your Excellency, why are you still in the mood to eat breakfast here? Don't you know how many officials are jointly impeaching you at today's morning court?"
Upon hearing Yan Tinghao's words, Lin Qingge nodded, "I know. Prime Minister Feng came to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager just now and already told me. Prime Minister Feng said that in his many years at court, this is the first time he has seen the entire civil and military officials, regardless of faction, united in impeaching a mere Prefect. The scene was truly awe-inspiring. He also asked me for the secret to my success, hoping to imitate it. Even if his position as Prime Minister could not be impeached, it would be good to rest for a few days under house arrest. Unfortunately, my remarkable feat is not something that just anyone can easily replicate."