All the ancestors in the capital begged me to be a substitute

The next day, the special envoys sent by the emperor and the queen mother watched the interrogation of the son-in-law Cui Jin in Dali Temple.

Cui Jin refused to admit that he was related to those assassins, and even bit back, saying that he was kidnapped by the assassins on the way back to his hometown to worship his ancestors, and was trapped in the villa. He was not released until the news of the eldest princess' death came.

Alluding to someone deliberately framed, wanting him to be a scapegoat.

At a critical moment, Cui Jin asked Chang Eunuch to take out a bloody white cloth, and identified the emperor's grandson as having been wounded by the sword on the night the eldest princess was stabbed to death, implying that Chu Yan was the one who killed the eldest princess. The real murderer.

It's just that both sides are verbal accusations, and there is no real evidence to prove that the other party is the murderer.

Dali Temple and the government office did not dare to make their own claims, so they had to ask the special envoy to report back to the Queen Mother and the Emperor for a decision.

In the end, the queen mother came forward and ordered Dali Temple to re-trial on the grounds of insufficient evidence, released Cui Jin, and arrested the real culprit separately.

All parties knew well that the Queen Mother's intervention was to protect Chu Yan.

But since the opponent has gained the upper hand, how can he give up easily.

The assassination and death of the eldest princess spread like wildfire overnight.

The rumors about the emperor's grandson Chu Yan in the capital became more and more intense.

The previous case about Donggong Bingjiao was also brought up again.

There are even rumors that the deaths of the emperor's three sons may all be related to Chu Yan.

With all the talk and money, the already notorious reputation of the emperor's grandson Chuyan was even worse.

The official's memorial to impeach Chu Yan flew to the emperor's desk like snowflakes.

Those scholars who wanted to jointly write a letter asking for orders to thoroughly investigate the emperor's grandson started to make noise again.

The emperor kept silent, neither punishing Chu Yan nor calming public opinion, just watching from the sidelines.

At the same time, the funeral of the eldest princess could no longer be suspended and had to continue.

The queen mother was deeply saddened by the death of the eldest princess, and decided to go out of the palace to the eldest princess's mansion to express her condolences.

Since her old man was going, the emperor and empress would also accompany her. In this way, all concubines and concubines above the rank of imperial concubine in the harem would accompany them.

Princess Pingyang's mansion went up and down, cooperating with the Ministry of Rites to organize the funeral ceremony, and at the same time preparing to welcome her, they were extremely busy.

As for the Duke of Wei's mansion, as the eldest princess's natal family, it is natural to contribute people to help manage it.

Concubine Cui did everything by himself.

He made a look of deep sorrow in front of people.

But in the dead of night, looking at the bright moon in the sky alone, imagining that in the future, he would no longer have to bow his knees to that powerful and arrogant woman, the eldest princess, no longer have to pretend to be gentle with her, and no longer have to be careful in front of her...

What's more, he thought that after many years, he would meet up close with his beloved Concubine Zhao Gui, Bai Yueguang.

Concubine Cui only felt his heart was boiling hot, and he laughed out loud.

After finally waiting for the day when the Empress Dowager came to the Princess Palace to express her condolences, Cui Jin got up early and asked Eunuch Chang to help him change his clothes.
The rough linen filial piety clothes were changed one after another, and the hair was also loosened and recombed, tossing back and forth more than ten times.

Finally, he looked at his majestic self in the mirror, and finally showed satisfaction.

"It's a pity that I have to wear sackcloth and filial piety for that woman in front of people, and I don't know if Ah Wu will be unhappy seeing me like this." Cui Concubine said worriedly.

Eunuch Chang turned his head calmly, rolled his eyes silently, turned his head again, and persuaded with a smile, "You and your empress have known each other since childhood, your childhood sweetheart, your empress has always admired you, no matter what you look like now , Empress only thinks of you well."

These words literally entered Cui Jin's heart.

"You're right." Cui Jin nodded in agreement, "I had a stutter when I was young, they all laughed at me and disliked me, only Ah Wu has a kind heart and always thinks I'm the best, no matter what's good Things are all given to me. If it weren't for her, I'm afraid I would have been devastated long ago, and how could I be here today."

Eunuch Chang responded with a smile, "That's right. After the empress got married, although she and the son-in-law have never met again, every time the wife of the Duke visits the empress, the empress will ask about the recent situation of the son-in-law. All these years are also thanks to the son-in-law. Speaking on behalf of the Zhao family and the empress in front of the eldest princess will make the emperor more and more trust the Duke's Mansion and the empress, and the empress will always remember the deep friendship of the son-in-law."

Eunuch Chang would say these words once or twice in front of Cui Jin every few days.

If it is an ordinary person, I am afraid that I will get tired of hearing it long ago.

But Cui Jin never tires of listening to it, and every time he hears it, he will be moved for a long time, "As long as Ah Wu can live well and remember what I have done for her, I will be satisfied in this life."

Eunuch Chang sincerely praised a few more words, and then went out with Cui Jin to greet him.

The body of the eldest princess has been enshrined in the coffin, and the front hall of the princess mansion has been arranged as a mourning hall by the people from the Ministry of Rites.

The mourning hall is wide, and the dark coffin is placed at the top.

Shen Lingxi, as the embalmer of the eldest princess's body, was invited by the funeral officials of the Ministry of Rites to arrange the remains of the body because of her excellent craftsmanship, and also accompanied her in the mourning hall.

Following the eunuch's chorus, the Empress Dowager walked in from the outside, supported by the Emperor and Empress.

The eldest princess is the emperor's younger sister, and the siblings have been very close since childhood.

Even though the Eldest Princess cheated on her death, she had secretly greeted the Emperor in advance, but when the Emperor stepped into the mourning hall, he saw with his own eyes the name of the Eldest Princess written on the banner, and in the coffin lay a corpse that was almost exactly the same as that of his closest relative. , his face was still a bit sad.

Shen Lingxi hadn't entered the palace for several days, when she first saw the Queen Mother, she found that the old man was much more energetic than before.

As if sensing Shen Lingxi's gaze, the Queen Mother looked sideways at her, and winked at her invisibly.

Shen Lingxi also winked at her knowingly.

The queen with a serious face next to her looked at her probingly, Shen Lingxi quickly lowered her eyes and lowered her head quietly.

It's just that her peripheral vision was locked on Concubine Zhao Gui who was following behind the Queen Mother.

Concubine Zhao Gui is about 30 years old. Although she is the emperor's favorite concubine, her appearance is not ostentatious.

On the contrary, Concubine Zhao is petite and exquisite, with snow-skinned red lips and delicate complexion, she is so beautiful that she has no offensive power at all, especially her pair of autumn-like eyes, when looking at people, there is a look of "I feel sorry for you". Qiyun, the whole person is like a hibiscus soaked in water, charming and fragrant.

Such a woman, no wonder Concubine Cui will never forget her.

Behind Concubine Zhao Gui, there were still many concubines and servants in the dark, making the originally spacious mourning hall look quite cramped.

Concubine Cui was disfigured, kneeling in front of the coffin with a mournful face, bowing to the nobles one by one.

Only when he was paying respects to Concubine Zhao, his red eyes slightly lifted up, and his eyes met Concubine Zhao's. Under the cover of the wide filial hat, his lips trembled, and he silently called out two words: Awu .