All Heavens: From Joy of Life to The Great Feng Night Watchman

“At the time, some local people saw that Fan Xian was subdued by several women, and the plaintiff did indeed have martial arts skills.”

"Now it seems that this case was a frame-up against Fan Xian, ruining his reputation!"

Looking at the stack of files in front of him, Emperor Qing had no interest in flipping through them. "Mei Zhili, if this case is investigated thoroughly, can you clear Fan Xian's name?"

Mei Zhili replied, "Of course, a criminal conviction can be made, but one plaintiff died in a car accident."

"Respect for the dead is paramount, and public opinion is a powerful force; Fan Xian's reputation is likely beyond repair."

Emperor Qing then asked, "What if both plaintiffs die? Would Fan Xian's reputation be completely ruined?"

Mei Zhili hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the other plaintiff is being held personally by the Chief Constable of the Capital Prefecture, and is being guarded by ten seventh-rank constables..."

Emperor Qing looked up to the sky and sighed, "The most poisonous heart is that of a woman... Mei Zhili, this matter cannot be blamed on you."

Then Emperor Qing changed his tone and angrily rebuked, "Your performance today has greatly disappointed me!"

You have dared to disregard the dignity of a prince; this is utterly disrespectful to the royal family!

Seeing Emperor Qing's anger, Mei Zhili hurriedly knelt down, "This old minister is terrified!"

"As the old minister in charge of the capital region, my eyes and heart are only for Your Majesty. This vital region obeys only Your Majesty's orders!"

"No one else, not even princes, empresses, dukes, or nobles, can interfere with the judicial proceedings in the capital!"

Emperor Qing was puzzled. How did this old man suddenly become so clever and perceptive?

He originally thought that Mei Zhili would openly flatter the Crown Prince, so that he could take the opportunity to eliminate him.

Now that Mei Zhili has publicly broken with the Crown Prince, he can be retained for observation, just like Gong Dian.

"Alright, this case has been handled reasonably well. You may leave."

Mei Zhili picked up the case file and whispered as he left, "Your Majesty, this case..."

Emperor Qing sighed again, "Let's give everyone some dignity."

Not long after Mei Zhili left, Li Yunrui, with tears in her eyes and a heart full of grievances, walked toward the Imperial Study.

Just now, because she said she didn't want Wan'er to marry Fan Xian, the Empress Dowager ordered Hong Sixiang to slap her.

The marriage of a royal woman can only be decided by His Majesty. Since His Majesty has absolute authority, she must obey.

This is both national law and family law.

Therefore, although the Empress Dowager was quite angry after hearing the rumors about Fan Xian, she still punished Li Yunrui.

Upon entering the imperial study, Li Yunrui gracefully knelt down, then looked at the man before her with tears in her eyes and a pitiful expression.

She was able to manage the Imperial Treasury for so long because of Emperor Qing's absolute trust and indulgence.

This trust stemmed from her childhood admiration for Emperor Qing, an admiration that transcended sibling affection.

She knew that her brother, the Emperor, was in love, but he had restrained himself, which was why he was so indulgent towards her.

Emperor Qing's face was gloomy as he slowly walked to Li Yunrui's side.

If someone else had done this, Emperor Qing would never have tolerated it so leniently.

"Don't hold a grudge about the Empress Dowager slapping you."

Li Yunrui raised her head, her delicate face filled with grievance, "Your Majesty..."

"I just don't want Wan'er to marry a country bumpkin, especially a dissolute and licentious one!"

Emperor Qing, who was initially somewhat soft-hearted, instantly flew into a rage upon hearing these words.

"Snapped!"

He turned around and slapped Li Yunrui to the ground.

"Li Yunrui, you've gone too far!"

Emperor Qing's fury took Li Yunrui by surprise!

Fan Jian's illegitimate son has been disgraced, so why is Emperor Qing so furious!

She didn't understand, and she was even more unconvinced.

Could it be that Li Yunrui's position in His Majesty's brother's heart is actually lower than that of an illegitimate son of the Marquis of Sinan?

"Whether Fan Xian is licentious or not, and how he got that reputation, you know perfectly well!"

"You dared to kill the Imperial Guards just to ruin Fan Xian's reputation!"

"The Imperial Guards! They are there to protect me! Li Yunrui, are you rebelling?!"

Hearing Emperor Qing's words, Li Yunrui, whose mouth was bleeding from the beating, was truly shocked!

She truly didn't know about the killing of the Imperial Guards. Those palace maids were indeed skilled in martial arts, and the leading female official was even a seventh-rank high-level cultivator.

Li Yunrui came up with a plan: the female official would lead the palace maids out of the palace, and two assassins would carry it out together.

Even if the other palace maids who attacked Fan Xian were arrested, they could at most implicate the leading female official.

The two assassins trained by the Junshan Society would absolutely not budge.

After the matter was settled today, the female official in charge, surnamed Han, came to report.

Li Yunrui was very satisfied and immediately ordered his trusted confidant to silence him.

The act of storming into the restricted area controlled by the Imperial Guards is tantamount to treason, and Li Yunrui must take it to the extreme.

However, the female official Han did not say that they killed the imperial guards. They were too audacious. Couldn't they have just knocked them out?

Jing Ni left no special traces when she made her move, so the blame for killing the Imperial Guards could only fall on Li Yunrui.

"What is Your Majesty saying? I don't understand."

Emperor Qing retorted angrily, "Of course you don't understand. What about the leading female official? She should have been silenced, right?"

"That lady-in-waiting must be Lady Han, who was in charge of procurement today!"

Li Yunrui insisted, "Your Majesty, my sister truly knows nothing about this!"

Emperor Qing paced back and forth in the room, but did not speak again.

Although this matter is egregious, it hasn't reached the point where the siblings would completely break off their relationship.

After all, the two had a special relationship, and Li Yunrui had done a lot for Emperor Qing over the years.

"Then kneel down and wait!"

An hour later, the crown prince hurriedly requested an audience. Upon entering, he immediately knelt and kowtowed.

"Your Majesty, the palace maids who ambushed and attacked Fan Xian were all my doing. Please forgive me!"

Looking at the panicked Crown Prince, Emperor Qing shook his head and said, "Crown Prince, you've grown up."

"He was able to ruin Fan Xian's reputation and kill a squad of Imperial Guards in the area controlled by the Imperial Guards."

"Li Yunrui admitted to nothing, and all the key parties involved are dead, so there's no way to verify the facts!"

"Killing the Imperial Guards is treason! What are you so eager to admit!"

"Li Chengqian, do you have a pig's brain?!"

"How could we possibly admit to rebelling!"

Upon hearing Emperor Qing's words, the Crown Prince immediately broke out in a cold sweat, his forehead dripping with perspiration!

It was just a palace maid attacking Fan Xian, how did it turn into such a serious matter as killing the Imperial Guards!

The Crown Prince thought it was nothing more than a palace maid damaging the reputation of an illegitimate child, which is why he dared to take the blame.

"Your subject made a grave mistake due to a moment of confusion, and now I deeply regret it..."

However, I have never ordered anyone to kill the Imperial Guards... much less considered rebellion!

Emperor Qing looked coldly at Li Chengqian. He had already pinned the blame on Li Yunrui in his heart, but he simply didn't want to really pursue the matter with Li Yunrui.

He was certain the Crown Prince would come, and he wanted to use this opportunity to warn and remind the Crown Prince. This was Emperor Qing's imperial strategy and way of governing his subordinates.

He believed that Li Yunrui's actions were not a true rebellion, but rather that a mishap occurred during the operation, resulting in the accidental killing of imperial guards.

Li Yunrui smiled faintly, knowing that her emperor brother wouldn't turn against her over such a small matter.

The blame for ruining his reputation and killing the Imperial Guards has now been shifted onto the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince continued his repentance, "The affairs of the Imperial Treasury should be decided solely by Your Majesty!"

Your subject should not have acted recklessly and arbitrarily seized power!

Hearing the Crown Prince's words, Emperor Qing became even angrier, "The Imperial Treasury controls the wealth of the entire nation. You, as the Crown Prince, don't even fight for control of the Imperial Treasury's finances. What kind of Crown Prince are you!"

"Royal blood is so noble, and etiquette and laws are the foundation of the nation, but look at what you have done?"

"How dare you use the reputation of the women of the inner palace to tarnish someone else's name? Isn't this making the royal family a laughingstock to the world!"

"When you make too many jokes, you lose all respect. Your actions this time are self-destructive!"

The Crown Prince continued to kowtow and admit his mistake, saying, "Your subject is terrified, your subject knows his mistake, your subject was confused!"

Emperor Qing angrily rebuked, "You are indeed utterly foolish. Reflect on your actions."

Then, Emperor Qing picked up a few sheets of paper from the table and said, "I was once the crown prince, but there should be limits to vying for power!"

"This is a list of officials who are to be dismissed soon. Take a look and see if your protégés are on it."