Chapter 221: The Trial

Chapter 221: The Trial

"Your Highness, you're back."

Lin Yunwan had just closed her eyes to rest a while when she heard some noise outside.

She hadn't expected Qi Lingheng to return!

He bent down, helped Lin Yunwan sit up without a word, and said softly, "I'm back."

"There was some trouble in a remote county, a few were killed... that's what delayed me."

Qi Lingheng wanted to explain why he was late but didn't want to speak of bloody matters in front of her.

Lin Yunwan understood.

Wasn't there almost a loss of life outside the city gates too?

"You've had a hard time these past few days, Yunwan. I'll take you back."

Lin Yunwan was still a bit worried and hurriedly said, "While you were away, I used your private seal, and now in the Jiangqian government office, there are some..."

"I know."

Qi Lingheng took a thick cloak that Lin Yunwan wore, draped it over her, and fastened it, looking down, "I heard some things on the way back. Don't worry, I've already handled some of it."

"Now is not the time to deal with everyone individually; after the disaster victims are settled..."

A cold light flashed in his eyes.

Lin Yunwan smiled slightly and took his hand.

Qi Lingheng said softly, "I'll take you back first."

Not wanting to be a burden, Lin Yunwan said, "Your Highness, please stay here to oversee things. I can go back by myself."

Qi Lingheng insisted on escorting her.

"There are enough people here to take charge, but I... am your husband, the father of our child."

He couldn't put his wife and child second.

Lin Yunwan felt reassured; she nodded, instructing the maids to pack up, and they all returned to the Huanwang Mansion together.

She was truly exhausted. After bathing, she fell asleep on the bed and didn't wake up until noon the next day.

Cuichun, seeing her awake, sighed in relief and said, "You're finally awake!"

She had been scared to death!

Lin Yunwan asked for the time, only then realizing how long she had slept.

She touched her belly and said, "It's rare that the baby didn’t kick me."

With about two months left until childbirth, she often had trouble sleeping, but last night, she slept soundly.

Cuichun brought water for Lin Yunwan to wash up, smiling, "The little prince knows you're tired and cares for you."

Lin Yunwan laughed, "How do you know it's a prince? What if it's a girl?"

Cuichun replied, "I dreamt of it; it's a little prince."

She was overjoyed, certain that her mistress would give birth to a little prince.

Lin Yunwan, feeling very hungry, quickly had lunch. She intended to send Cuichun to inquire if Qi Lingheng would return in the evening.

Cuichun said, "His Highness came back this morning to see you. Seeing you were not awake, he left without even drinking tea. He said he probably won't return tonight."

Lin Yunwan thus assumed Qi Lingheng wouldn't be coming back.

Reflecting on the people outside the city gates and the disaster relief efforts, her mind eased; with Qi Lingheng's abilities and status, the situation could only improve, not worsen.

In the middle of the night, while Lin Yunwan had already fallen asleep, Qi Lingheng returned.

He quietly came in to check on Lin Yunwan, and seeing her arm outside the blanket, gently tucked it back in.

As he left, he instructed Cuichun, "Don't mention this to the princess."

Cuichun softly replied, "Yes."

The next day, Lin Yunwan sensed someone entering her room in the middle of the night, but she had already instructed Cuiqin not to disturb her at night unless specifically asked.

Therefore, no maid attended her closely during the night.

Lin Yunwan frowned and asked, "Did the prince return last night?"

Cuiqin smiled and said, "The prince came back to check on you in the middle of the night and then left."

She brought Lin Yunwan the medicine for stabilizing her pregnancy.

Lin Yunwan smiled slightly, sipping the medicine leisurely.

On the day Qi Lingheng came back to rest, Lin Yunwan dined and strolled with him, casually mentioning that she knew he had returned late at night.

Qi Lingheng, holding her hand, said, "If I don't come back, someone won't even cover themselves with the blanket."

"I kicked off the blanket?"

Lin Yunwan, disbelieving, laughed, "I don't have such a habit. Don't tease me."

"You didn't kick off the blanket. You sleep soundly, but you always like to keep your arm outside."

That was indeed true...

Lin Yunwan laughed, "You, who have been pampered since childhood, know how to take care of others?"

Qi Lingheng looked at her and asked, "And when did you learn to take care of people?"

"Of course, it started with taking care of my parents and younger brother."

The year her father fell ill, Lin Yunwan was the first to shoulder the responsibilities of the eldest daughter.

Qi Lingheng said with a smile, "I too have parents and family."

Lin Yunwan was momentarily lost in thought.

As long as there is love, even those of royal lineage can show deep affection.

Lin Yunwan's due date was in September, and the palace had sent several imperial physicians in advance, including two renowned gynecologists.

She asked the physicians to also check Xiruo's pulse.

"It's a joyful pulse."

Xiruo was also expecting.

Lin Yunwan, heavily pregnant, was unable to get up easily, so she had Cuichun escort the physicians out, giving them a reward.

She also urged Xiruo, "Aren’t you eager to go back and tell your husband?"

Xiruo pressed her lips together in a smile, "His Highness summoned officials from Jiangqian and the province today to discuss rewards and punishments. My husband won't be back so soon."

Lin Yunwan pondered for a moment.

She hadn't heard Qi Lingheng mention anything about rewarding or punishing officials.

She wondered how he would handle it.

At the Jiangqian government office.

Civil and military officials were gathered in the hall.

Qi Lingheng was the chief judge, with the deputy officers being the administrative and judicial supervisors from both the bureaus.

The case, jointly reviewed by the prince and the two bureaus, was extremely complex. After nine days of continuous deliberation, a preliminary judgment was made.

The officials were abuzz with discussions.

"This is more than just rewarding for merit; it's clearly... clearly..."

It's about protecting the Princess Consort Huan!

Those who acted upon orders were rewarded, while those who disobeyed the Princess Consort's commands and spread rumors were duly arrested or demoted.

"Don't speak recklessly. Those rewarded by the prince truly did well, and those punished had irrefutable evidence against them."

In any case, no major fault could be found in the preliminary verdict.

But it was clear to the discerning eye that the Prince Huan fiercely protected his consort.

"I believe Prince Huan is not biased. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dealt with the consort's father."

The Qing Shui government office, where Lin Huabin was stationed, failed in its duties. The entire office was penalized, dashing his hopes for commendation in the next three years.

Despite the preliminary results, he still wanted to plead his case with Qi Lingheng.

Qi Lingheng, followed by high-ranking officials from the provincial bureaus, was unapproachable for Lin Huabin.

Even though he was the "father-in-law," his status as a minor official rendered him powerless, watching Prince Huan walk away, he sighed in despair.

His role as the father-in-law...

Brought only losses, no gains.

"My Lord, should I just send these preliminary trial documents to the capital as they are?"

The administrative commissioner was utterly respectful and cautious.

Qi Lingheng nodded, his expression gentle yet devoid of any smile, as if preoccupied with something.

The two commissioners exchanged glances, wondering if the prince had any dissatisfaction.

They were apprehensive, not daring to take anything lightly.

Afu approached and whispered something in Qi Lingheng's ear, causing his expression to change abruptly. He hurriedly excused himself from the commissioners and left.

The two commissioners looked at each other in bewilderment.

"What's with the prince..."

Afu informed them, "The princess is giving birth!" In a rush to return, he said to the commissioners, "Please excuse me, I must head back to the residence immediately."

The commissioners were very polite: "Please go."

Afu dashed off, and only then did the commissioners breathe a sigh of relief.

The administrative commissioner wiped his brow and said, "...I knew it, the prince just nodded during the final session of the trial."

"So he was preoccupied with the princess's childbirth."

The judicial commissioner clapped his colleague on the shoulder, laughing, "A false alarm, just a false alarm."