cabinet

Zhong Lu Ping's death on her wedding night caused a stir throughout the capital. People speculated about the cause and wondered how the new Emperor would handle it.

When Cui Xiang was brought to the palace, dawn had broken, and he appeared calm. Cui Yi skipped the morning court session, having calmed Chi Ying down, and waited in the study. "Tell me what happened," he demanded, his face stormy.

"There's nothing to say," Cui Xiang muttered, turning away.

"Nothing to say? Someone died, and you have nothing to say?" Cui Yi tried to remain calm but was furious that his brother showed no remorse for the woman he claimed to love.

Cui Yi exploded, "Didn't you say you loved her? Didn't you promise to treat her well? What did you do to her?"

Cui Xiang shrugged, "She killed herself. It's none of my concern."

Cui Yi's eyes widened, "Suicide?"

Chi Ying barged in, ignoring Wang Shi's protests, demanding answers. "What did you do to Lu Ping? How did she die?"

"I didn't do anything. She committed suicide," Cui Xiang calmly stated.

Chi Ying, enraged, couldn't find words, while Cui Yi ordered, "Sit down. We need to understand what happened. Don't upset yourself."

Cui Xiang recounted, "After the wedding, we went to bed. Later, I woke up needing the chamber pot and found her dead beside the cabinet."

"That's impossible!" Chi Ying protested. "Lu Ping wouldn't commit suicide. There must be another reason!"

Cui Xiang glanced at her and Cui Yi, "She never wanted to marry me. I thought she changed her mind, but apparently, she couldn't bear it."

Cui Yi said, "She agreed to marry you in front of us."

Cui Xiang smirked, "Lu Ping's character is strong. How could she suddenly agree? Are you trying to blame her now that she's dead?"

"You!" Cui Yi, livid, smashed a teacup, shards cutting Cui Xiang's hand.

"If she didn't want to marry me, I could have—"

Cui Yi, barely containing his fury, interrupted, "Enough. We need to investigate thoroughly."

"Wait, no matter how long it takes, I am willing to wait. But Your Majesty, you abuse your authority as the Emperor and force her to submit. I know you mean well for me, but now that Greenping is dead, living on would make me nothing more than a walking corpse. What is there left to live for?"

"You are simply... simply..." Emperor Cui Yi was speechless, his head throbbing with anger. On that day, Zhong Greenping had personally said she was willing to marry Cui Xiang in front of only three witnesses: him, Chi Ying, and Zhong Nian. "Bring Zhong Nian here!"

Chi Ying stopped him, saying, "Wait, we cannot let Zhong Nian testify. He will surely say that it was the Emperor and I who forced Greenping to marry Huaiyou. We should wait for Sister Cheng's autopsy results and then hand the case over to the Ministry of Justice for public trial with all six ministers present. This way, no one can take advantage of the situation."

Cui Xiang was startled by this suggestion but remained composed, relying on the fact that the deceased could not testify.

Emperor Cui Yi agreed with Chi Ying's reasoning. Zhong Nian, being the instigator of Zhong Greenping's forced marriage, would certainly try to shift the blame after her death. Even if they were the Emperor and Empress Dowager, accusing him of slander and executing him wouldn't silence public opinion. A public trial was indeed safer.

"Your advice makes sense, my beloved concubine." Emperor Cui Yi summoned Du Zhongquan. "Pass my decree: The death of Princess Yanhe shall be investigated by the Ministry of Justice. Summon the six ministers to attend the trial together with me. Take both Prince Jing and Zhong Nian there, and detain them separately."

Cui Xiang was taken away quietly, remembering Zhong Nian's instructions to remember he did nothing; it was Greenping who committed suicide out of despair. It wasn't time to protest yet, as doing so would seem suspicious.

After the prisoners were taken away, Emperor Cui Yi asked, "Do you think there are doubts?"

Chi Ying sighed deeply, supporting her forehead with one hand. "I can't say for sure. Given Greenping's character, it's possible she committed suicide out of despair at midnight. However, since she had already decided to compromise, it doesn't seem like she would act impulsively. We need to see Sister Cheng's autopsy results and send someone to search the Jing王府 carefully. If Greenping really committed suicide, there must be a suicide note."

Emperor Cui Yi agreed with her assessment. "You're right. I'll have Wen Yu accompany the Ministry of Justice officials to search Jing. Also, I suspect there might be secrets in the Zhong family mansion. You mentioned that Huaiyou frequently visited the Zhong residence. As Greenping is Zhong Nian's sister, I don't believe he would sell his sister without gaining any benefits. Searching the Zhong mansion now might reveal unexpected findings."

Chi Ying hesitated about sharing her suspicion that the offspring of powerful ministers and the current prince might be plotting treason.

Emperor Cui Yi had anticipated this and decided to keep it from Chi Ying to avoid worrying her.

Thus, both sat silently, harboring the same concerns.

The Ministry of Justice conducted a thorough investigation and collected testimonies for a day before holding a public trial the next morning to investigate Princess Yanhe's mysterious death. As per Emperor Cui Yi's request, all six ministers gathered to observe the trial, while countless curious citizens gathered outside, held back by guards.

Zheng Xingchuan, the Minister of Justice, an old minister of the Jianyuan dynasty, had served three emperors but never witnessed such a grand scene. With the Emperor on his left and Empress Dowager on his right, along with six ministers, he felt immense pressure. He cautiously struck the gavel.

As the primary suspect, Cui Xiang was brought in first, appearing dignified without handcuffs or shackles. Zheng Xingchuan intended to let him stand while answering questions, but Emperor Cui Yi commanded, "Kneel down!" Cui Xiang reluctantly complied.

Zheng Xingchuan cleared his throat awkwardly. "Thanks to the trust of His Majesty and Her Majesty, today I will preside over the trial concerning Princess Yanhe's sudden death. I will handle it fairly. Prince Jing, as the first person to discover the body, please recount what happened."

Cui Xiang repeated what he told Emperor Cui Yi the previous day, adding, "My newlywed wife died tragically overnight, causing me great sorrow. I will cooperate fully to uncover the cause of Greenping's death."

Zheng Xingchuan nodded. "So, Princess believed she was forced to marry you, leading her to commit suicide. Is that correct?"

Cui Xiang confirmed, "I don't understand investigations, but when I woke up, I found Greenping's body alone in the room. Whether it was suicide or murder, I hope you will find the truth."

Although he claimed neutrality, he subtly shifted the blame to Emperor Cui Yi. Without forcing the marriage against Greenping's will, the tragic incident wouldn't have occurred. Outside, the crowd whispered, avoiding direct criticism of the Emperor but expressing dissatisfaction through their eyes.

Emperor Cui Yi shifted uncomfortably in his seat, feeling bitter.

"Was Princess truly unwilling to marry you? Could there be other reasons leading her to choose death?" Zheng Xingchuan asked.

Cui Xiang replied coldly, "If there were other reasons, why would she die on her wedding night in the bridal chamber?"

Zheng Xingchuan nodded, finding his explanation reasonable. Cui Xiang continued, "My brother said Greenping willingly married me, but I know she admired military men and looked down on me. If she hadn't been coerced, she wouldn't have married me and committed suicide on our wedding night."

"The truth is," Emperor Cui Yi said angrily, "I summoned Greenping to the palace because I knew she didn't want to marry you. But on that day, she surprisingly expressed her willingness to marry you. Empress Dowager noticed something was wrong and gave her another chance to change her mind, but she insisted. So I had no choice but to agree."

Cui Xiang smiled faintly. "As the supreme ruler, whatever you say becomes the truth, turning black into white and the dead into the living."

Zheng Xingchuan struck the gavel loudly. "How dare you!"

Cui Xiang showed no fear, adopting a defiant attitude. "I admit I caused Greenping's death. If I hadn't persisted, my brother wouldn't have forced her to marry me, and she wouldn't have died. If someone must take responsibility, let it be me. With Greenping gone, my life has no meaning."

Outside, the crowd murmured sympathetically, believing Cui Xiang was innocent and that Emperor Cui Yi was responsible for Greenping's death.

Emperor Cui Yi was furious, wanting to punch Cui Xiang.

"If someone must take responsibility for Greenping's death, it should indeed be you!"