Chapter 224: Summoned to the Palace

Chapter 224: Summoned to the Palace

"Your son greets you, Father." King Qing suppressed his excitement and unease as he bowed. Noticing several high-ranking ministers in the hall, all staring at him with strange looks, his heart sank immediately.

Could this be bad news?

Then, King Qing noticed Lord Pei kneeling on the ground.

Lord Pei had his forehead pressed to the floor, his entire body trembling, and did not lift his head upon King Qing's arrival. Seeing Lord Pei in such a pitiful state, King Qing's heart sank.

After all, Lord Pei held a high-ranking position in the court. Unless he had angered Father, how could he be in such a state?

But if Lord Pei had committed some grave offense, King Qing could hardly control his thoughts and immediately thought of Dingbei. His face involuntarily paled.

Since King Qing's entrance, Emperor Xingyuan had not spoken. His sharp gaze rested on King Qing's face, noticing the change in his expression, and his impassive face darkened further.

"King Qing, do you know of Taiping Town?"

When King Qing heard Emperor Xingyuan call his title, his heart skipped a beat. He quickly replied, "I do not know."

"You don't?"

The emperor's calm yet somewhat oppressive voice came from above, causing King Qing's heart to rise with tension. He nervously corrected himself, "It sounds somewhat familiar, but I can't recall. Which town is it?"

Emperor Xingyuan glanced at Grand Eunuch Sun Yan, "Show the petition to King Qing."

Sun Yan approached King Qing with the petition in hand.

After carefully reading it, King Qing fell to his knees with a thud, "Father, the accusations on this petition are complete lies, pure slander! As a prince, how could I, for the sake of money, slaughter an entire town of people? I am wronged, Father."

Emperor Xingyuan did not soften his expression at King Qing's protest, "A young girl from a small town went through countless hardships to come to the capital and intercepted a royal procession to cry for justice, just to wrong you?"

King Qing looked up, tears of anxiety streaming down his face, "I am truly wronged. Father, perhaps some people, seeing Count Gu Chang's downfall, are trying to bring me down by staging this farce—"

"Silence!" The moment King Qing mentioned Count Gu Chang, Emperor Xingyuan's anger flared up.

Lately, he had been unable to sleep, tormented by the wait for news from Mr. Songling, hoping for a possibility that he and the Empress might still have a son. Because of this, despite wanting to destroy Count Gu Chang's family, he had to hold back.

He had many sons, each backed by a powerful family. He also had many officials, some outstanding, some mediocre, some aloof, and some scheming. Each had their own stance and thoughts. Before finding that child, he could not take any risks.

"Summon Jinlin Guard Commander He Qingxiao to the palace."

Not long after Emperor Xingyuan's command, He Qingxiao hurriedly arrived.

"This official greets the Emperor."

"Go to Shun Tian Prefecture and bring a woman of the Zhu family to the palace. Sun Yan—"

"This servant is here."

"You will go as well and summon the Shun Tian Prefecture Magistrate to the palace."

Both responded promptly and immediately headed to Shun Tian Prefecture.

At that moment, the Shun Tian Prefecture Magistrate was anxiously pacing in his room.

How is the situation with the report from Censor He? Why hasn’t the person we sent to King Qing’s residence returned yet?

Meanwhile, Zhu Xiaoyue was placed in a side room under supervision.

"My lord, Eunuch Sun and Jinlin Guard Commander Lord He have arrived from the palace."

Hearing his subordinate's report, the Shun Tian Prefecture Magistrate quickly walked out and greeted He Qingxiao and Sun Yan with a bow. "Lord He, Eunuch Sun."

Sun Yan cleared his throat. "His Majesty has an oral decree to summon Prefect Tian for an audience."

He Qingxiao asked, "Is Miss Zhu present? His Majesty summons her to the palace."

"Yes, yes." The prefect personally led the two to the side room.

Zhu Xiaoyue was sitting in the corner and hurriedly stood up, looking nervous as He Qingxiao and the others entered.

He Qingxiao gave Zhu Xiaoyue a deep look.

This is the Miss Zhu that Miss Kou mentioned.

"Is Miss Zhu present?"

Zhu Xiaoyue bent her knees slightly. "This commoner is indeed Miss Zhu."

After confirming her identity, they hurried to the imperial palace. As a commoner, Zhu Xiaoyue underwent a thorough inspection before being allowed to enter the palace gates.

In the Hall of Heavenly Purity, Emperor Xingyuan sat in silence, and the atmosphere was heavy, until Zhu Xiaoyue was brought in.

"Commoner Zhu Xiaoyue greets Your Majesty," Zhu Xiaoyue knelt down and buried her head deeply.

"Look up." A voice that betrayed no emotion came from above.

Zhu Xiaoyue pressed her hands on the cold floor, the icy golden bricks reflecting her pale face, intensifying her nervousness.

How could she not be nervous? She was about to face the Emperor himself!

But she couldn’t be nervous; she had to seek justice for her slaughtered villagers!

The images of mutilated bodies, desperate screams, and the numerous hardships along the way flashed through Zhu Xiaoyue’s mind. Gathering all her courage, she finally looked up.

Though she looked up, she avoided meeting his gaze.

Emperor Xingyuan observed the girl kneeling on the ground closely.

After a brief silence, Emperor Xingyuan spoke. "Are you the Miss Zhu who accused King Qing and the Left Minister of the Ministry of Revenue?"

"It is I, a commoner, who accuses King Qing and the Left Minister of the Ministry of Revenue," Zhu Xiaoyue replied, her voice trembling but her words clear.

"Speak carefully."

"My father was a town elder in Taiping Town." As she began her story, Zhu Xiaoyue forgot her nervousness.

She described the hardships of the villagers after the earthquake, the lack of food and clothing, and how her father went to the county to urge for disaster relief supplies. However, the official who promised to report the situation died mysteriously.

Zhu Xiaoyue’s bloodshot eyes fixed on King Qing. "My father suspected that the relief official and local officials were colluding to embezzle relief funds. He risked his life to intercept King Qing’s carriage. King Qing promised my father that he would send someone to investigate and asked my father to return to the town first. But two days later, instead of life-saving supplies, we received only cold steel."

A line of tears slowly flowed down her face, past her lips. Zhu Xiaoyue bit down hard on her lip, tasting the metallic tang of blood.

But this physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in her heart.

"You are the prince, this entire Great Xia is your family's, the elders and townsfolk of Taiping Town are your subjects, so why did you do this, why?" Overwhelmed with pain, Zhu Xiaoyue shouted out her agonizing question.

During the few days she stayed at Miss Kou's residence, her tense nerves finally eased, allowing her time to reflect. But the more she thought, the more her heart ached. She even wished she had never learned to read, like the other girls in town, or that reading more might have helped her understand.

The young girl's hoarse and desperate question echoed through the palace hall.

Emperor Xingyuan tried to speak but found his throat tight, as if a stone were lodged there. After a pause, he cleared his throat and spoke. "I will send someone to investigate Dingbei. If what you say is true, I will see that justice is done."

"Thank you, Your Majesty! May you reign for ten thousand years!" Zhu Xiaoyue pressed her forehead to the ground and sobbed quietly.

As Emperor Xingyuan scanned the room, He Qingxiao stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I have something important to report."

"Speak."

He Qingxiao slightly lowered his eyes. "Two days ago, the Jinlin Guard apprehended a young man acting suspiciously. After interrogation, he claimed to be the son of the chief clerk of Beiquan County."