Phi-Fic Chapter 1294 Major Sin
Chapter 1294 Major Sin
Zhan Yan sneered, "I heard everything you said just now. If you honestly confess who ordered you, you might be treated leniently. Otherwise, I will hand you over to the king and punish you for deceiving the emperor!"
The young monks were already too young to withstand such intimidation.
One of them immediately burst into tears: "Yes, it was the abbot who made us do it! He said the queen ordered us to deliberately provoke the crown prince during the prayer ceremony and then spread rumors about him!"
The other nodded in agreement, "The abbot even gave us some silver, telling us to run away as soon as possible!"
Zhan Yan ordered the young monks to be tied up and taken back to the Prime Minister's residence overnight.
At the same time, Lin Yiwan also received a message from the palace guards that Chun Tao had secretly gone to the Crown Prince's palace and seemed to be making arrangements for something.
Lin Yiwan acted decisively, immediately leading Su Mei and several guards to the palace. She knew she couldn't wait any longer; she had to present the whole truth to the King of Wu before Min Yue could make a move.
Upon arriving at the palace, Lin Yiwan barged directly into the palace study. The King of Wu was reviewing memorials when he saw her in such a hurry and frowned: "Yanwan, barging into the palace so late at night, what kind of behavior is this?"
Lin Yiwan knelt on the ground and cried out, "Uncle, something terrible has happened! Queen Minyue is plotting to frame the Crown Prince and has even sent someone to assassinate you! I beg you, Uncle, to investigate!"
The King of Wu's face darkened: "What nonsense are you spouting now? How could the Queen harm the Crown Prince and me?"
Just then, Zhan Yan arrived with the young monks and pushed them in front of the King of Wu: "Your Majesty, these young monks are the evidence! They confessed that it was Min Yue who instructed the abbot to frame the Crown Prince during the prayer ceremony!"
The King of Wu stared at them with a grim expression and rebuked them: "Are you deliberately framing my queen?"
The young monks all kowtowed heavily, saying, "We dare not! We have only confessed the truth. We beg Your Majesty to investigate!"
Lin Yiwan and Zhan Yan immediately spoke up, "We beg Your Majesty to investigate!"
The King of Wu's expression changed drastically; he could no longer stand idly by.
He had to give Crown Prince Zhan Xuan an explanation!
He squeezed his eyes shut and spoke with difficulty, "I will go and ask Yue'er right away to see if she did such a vicious thing!"
He hurried to the palace where Min Yue lived, and heard someone shout loudly: "Your Majesty, the King has arrived and is at the palace gate!"
Min Yue rushed out, her eyes full of confusion: "Your Majesty, why have you come at this time?"
She curtsied, her voice still gentle and melodious.
The King of Wu did not help her up. He stepped straight into the palace, waved away all the palace servants and eunuchs, and the palace door creaked shut, cutting off all outside sounds.
He turned to look at Min Yue, his tone as cold as the frost outside the palace: "Min Yue, do you know your crime?"
A flicker of panic crossed Min Yue's eyes, which she quickly concealed. When she looked up, her eyes were filled with grievance: "Why does Your Majesty say such things? I, Yue'er, have always served you dutifully and respectfully. I do not know what crime I have committed to anger Your Majesty so much?"
King Wu frowned, strode up to her, stared intently at her, and demanded, "Did you collude with the abbot of the temple, attempting to use a few young monks to ruin the reputation of Crown Prince Zhan Xuan?"
"Your Majesty, this is all slander! Someone is deliberately framing me!" She threw herself at the feet of the King of Wu, tears streaming down her face.
She sobbed with grief, "Yue'er and Crown Prince Zhanxuan have never had any interaction, and I know that he is the Holy Maiden's most valued grandson. Even if I had the greatest courage in the world, I would not dare to plot against him! Please, Your Majesty, investigate this matter!"
The King of Wu looked down at her, his eyes full of scrutiny: "Zhan Yan has already found out that your personal maid Chun Tao went to the temple, and those young monks can vouch for her with their own words. Do you still want to deny it?"
Min Yue kowtowed loudly, her forehead hitting the gold brick, from which fine beads of blood seeped out.
She resolutely declared, "I swear to Heaven that I have never done such a thing! If I have uttered even the slightest lie, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"
She raised her head, tears mingling with blood streaming down her cheeks, looking utterly pitiful. "Your Majesty, since Yue'er's presence by your side is an eyesore to some, then grant their wish and order Yue'er to die. I will have no complaints about dying by your hand!"
The King of Wu was slightly moved when he saw the bloodstains on her forehead.
Yue'er is his savior and his queen. How could he punish her based on only one side of the story?
He really couldn't bear to part with it!
Thinking of this, his expression softened considerably.
Seeing his expression soften, Min Yue was overjoyed, and then cried even more bitterly: "Yue'er knows that Crown Prince Zhan Xuan is the son of Marquis Zhanyi of the Sheng Dynasty. He has a powerful background. How dare Yue'er go against him? Yue'er is not a fool!"
She slowly rose, took a few steps back, and looked intently at the King of Wu: "If Your Majesty still does not believe what Yue'er has to say, then Yue'er can only prove her innocence with her death!"
Before she could finish speaking, Min Yue suddenly turned around and crashed into the dragon pillar inside the hall.
The speed was so fast that the King of Wu had no time to react. "No!" he cried out in alarm, rushing forward but only managing to grab a piece of her sleeve.
With a muffled thud, Min Yue's forehead slammed heavily against the stone pillar, and blood gushed out instantly, staining her white clothes red.
She collapsed softly, her breath faint, but her eyes remained fixed on the King of Wu, filled with endless grievance and sorrow: "Your Majesty, Yue'er is innocent, please believe Yue'er!"
The King of Wu scooped her up in his arms; her hands were icy cold, and the blood from her forehead stained his dragon robe, stinging his eyes.
He cried out urgently, "Yue'er! Yue'er, hold on!"
His voice trembled, all his former authority gone, replaced by panic and heartache. "It was my fault! I shouldn't have listened to the slander and wronged you! Don't scare me, I'll summon the imperial physician right away!"
He carried Min Yue and rushed out of the palace gate, shouting, "Summon the imperial physician! Summon the imperial physician quickly!" In the darkness of the night, his figure looked particularly disheveled, yet also filled with unprecedented anxiety.
Min Yue leaned against him, a faint smile on her lips, and slowly closed her eyes.
She knew she had won her gamble. The King of Wu still held onto their past relationship; as long as she was willing to risk everything, she could temporarily save her life and even regain his trust. As for the schemes, she could simply insist they were framed and deal with them later.
King Wu carried Min Yue and hurried to the side hall, his heart filled with remorse.
He shouldn't have acted so impulsively, and he shouldn't have concluded that Min Yue was guilty based on just those one-sided statements.
Perhaps it was a remnant of the Heavenly Mandate Palace deliberately framing her; it seems we must get rid of them quickly.
The imperial physician rushed over and immediately began to treat Min Yue.
The King of Wu stood guard by her side, holding her hand tightly, his eyes fixed on her pale face. He had only one thought in his mind: as long as Yue'er was safe and sound, he was willing to pay any price.