latelenovela Chapter 103 It's not my stuff anyway, he can use his own things as he pleases.
Chapter 103 It's not my stuff anyway, he can use his own things as he pleases.
Lin Shiming and Lu Yuxi didn't even sit in the imperial carriage; they held hands and ran all the way to a small garden before stopping.
"You're not happy."
Lu Yuxi lowered her head and remained silent.
"You were the one advising me a while ago, so why can't you see things clearly now?"
While at Fengyi Palace, Lin Shiming had already noticed that Lu Yuxi was often distracted and that sadness frequently flashed in her eyes.
He was afraid and sad, but he didn't dare to show it in front of Bai Qiongzhu. He just pretended that he was completely preoccupied with Emperor Longyun's plan.
Or rather, it wasn't just Lu Yuxi; all four people in the inner chamber of Fengyi Palace tonight were putting on an act.
Although they were prepared, they still couldn't help but feel sad when they learned that Bai Qiongzhu's time was really running out.
Lin Shiming recalled the few words Bai Qiongzhu had said before he left Fengyi Palace.
"I have no regrets. Yu Xi has you, and His Majesty still has the two of you. As for the Empress Dowager... I believe you two can succeed. When the time comes, just light incense with me and inform her."
"Two months is fine too. It won't delay Xiao Liu's wedding, and it will allow me to see Yu Xu sooner."
Don't worry or be sad for me. I hope you can all be happy.
…
Every sentence seemed to be an explanation of his final wishes, as well as an encouragement to others to live happily.
Lu Yuxi remained silent. Lin Shiming sighed, dismissed the palace servants who had been following at a distance, and then reached out to hug Lu Yuxi.
"Don't be afraid, I will always be with you."
A gentle breeze swept away a tear from Lu Yuxi's eye. He slowly raised his hand, then suddenly wrapped his arms tightly around Lin Shiming's waist. "You won't leave me, right?"
My elder brother has left, my sister-in-law has left, and now even my mother is leaving.
From five years ago until now, except for the day of her wedding, Lu Yuxi seems to have been burdened with heavy thoughts every day, forcing herself to gradually familiarize herself with everything her brother once had.
Lin Shiming struggled to breathe as he was being choked, but he still tried to hug Lu Yuxi back, attempting to comfort him, "Don't worry, I'm healthier than you, I'll definitely die after you."
"..."
Good job.
The somber atmosphere vanished instantly.
Lu Yuxi paused, then slowly released Lin Shiming. "You really..."
Oh well, he's just a little fool!
Lu Yuxi smiled helplessly, "...You really know how to comfort people."
He really couldn't feel sad now; his heart was filled with indescribable feelings.
Seeing that his words of comfort had worked, Lin Shiming was overjoyed. This was the first time he had ever comforted someone! He'd made the person feel better with just a few words; what a clever little devil he was!
"Alright, are you hungry?" Lu Yuxi straightened Lin Shiming's clothes, which she had crumpled. "Let's go back to the East Palace for dinner first. Tingsong is waiting."
Shi Ming and his mother were ultimately different. One was audacious and unburdened by worldly concerns; even as the Crown Princess, bound by numerous rules and etiquette, she remained even more unrestrained. His mother, on the other hand, was burdened by many concerns and ultimately trapped in the duties of the Empress.
Lu Yuxi carefully combed Lin Shiming's hair, but her thoughts drifted further afield.
Ultimately, it's nothing more than a conflict between power and self. Power is just a tool; if you can control it, you can do whatever you want; if you are bound by it, you will become a puppet.
The Empress Dowager has been a puppet for most of her life, and now she is about to be freed from that situation, which should be a good thing for her.
Lu Yuxi sighed inwardly, but a smile appeared on his face. He took Lin Shiming's hand. "Let's go."
He still had a lover, a father, and a mother's expectations. He couldn't wallow in his pain; avenging his mother, brother, and sister-in-law as soon as possible was what he should do most.
*
April 16th.
Early in the morning, the Xuanzheng Hall of Emperor Longyun was already packed with people.
Thanks to Lin Shiming's special instruction to "act overnight" when he issued the imperial edict last night, the entire capital knew overnight that Lin Shiming had suddenly dealt with the Prince Ding's family. After much investigation, they only managed to find out that the former Princess Ding had entered the palace once that day.
Such a big matter naturally couldn't be ignored by these people, so they all waited at the palace gate early on, coming to ask Emperor Longyun for clarification.
When Lin Shiming and Lu Yuxi arrived, they found the Imperial Clan Minister earnestly arguing with Emperor Longyun.
"Your Majesty, this matter concerning Prince Ding cannot be handled this way!"
Emperor Longyun took a sip of hot tea and comfortably squinted his eyes. "The Empress has already submitted her memorial; how could I possibly reject it?"
"But this memorial from the Empress Dowager belongs to Her Majesty the Empress—"
"That's right! It belongs to Zitong, so what can I do if Zitong gives her own things to the Crown Princess?"
Zongzheng was furious. "It was given to the Crown Princess, but the Crown Princess can't actually use it!"
"Huh? Can't I? I didn't know that." Emperor Longyun happily ate another piece of pastry. "But whether it's possible or not is none of my business, is it? It's not my stuff, he can use his own stuff as he pleases."
Li An buried his head further into his chest, trying hard not to laugh out loud.
Zongzheng stamped his feet in frustration, "The Empress's memorial isn't yours, but the Crown Princess is still your daughter-in-law, can't you do something about her?"
"This won't do! How can I reprimand my daughter-in-law? This is a matter of the inner quarters, and it should be the Empress's responsibility."
"What about Her Majesty the Empress? Why don't we ask Her Majesty the Empress to step forward?"
Emperor Longyun took another sip of tea, smacked his lips, and said, "I'm sick!"
Zong Zheng: "..."
So, is there really no one who can punish this lawless Crown Princess?!
The Grand Secretary Yue, standing nearby, cupped his hands in greeting. “Your Majesty, why engage in such cryptic exchanges with us? The Crown Princess cannot issue an edict so casually without any reason. We simply wish to get to the bottom of this. We cannot allow the Crown Princess to depose a prince without any explanation!”
"Hey! Don't shout like that!" Emperor Longyun pointed at Grand Secretary Yue, "He's already a Prince!"
Grand Secretary Yue forced a smile, "Alright, it's Prince Ding. But the reason—"
Emperor Longyun impatiently put down his teacup. "Isn't it all written in the imperial edict? Go to the Imperial Clan Court and see for yourself."
"Even if Her Highness the Crown Princess's reasons are valid, such a major matter cannot be decided and a decree issued without prior discussion in the court!"
Emperor Longyun pressed down on his teacup, becoming even more agitated. "Is it that your memory is failing as you get older? I already said that he has issued the edict, and I can't possibly overturn it, can I?"
Forced to accept his poor memory, Grand Secretary Yue: "... ..."
Okay, we've come full circle.
Your Majesty is clearly trying to let things go unchecked.
But they could not back down. The Crown Princess was already acting recklessly. If they were to give her the power to use the Empress's documents at will, wouldn't that be outrageous?
No, we must restrict him and block his access to the Empress's documents!
Just as the court officials below mustered their courage and were eager to come forward and argue with Emperor Longyun, a report suddenly rang out from outside.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived——"
"Her Highness the Crown Princess has arrived!"
"Your Highness, we pay our respects."
The crowd quickly stepped back and knelt down to make way for the two.
Lu Yuxi and Lin Shiming also strode through the kneeling crowd without any hesitation and stood in front of the imperial desk.
"My son, I will meet my father."
"Hmm! You've come at the right time!" Emperor Longyun waved his hand eagerly. "They're just about to ask about the Empress's memorial yesterday! You can tell them yourselves; I don't care."
Oh, so someone actually dares to pick a fight with me!
Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming stood up and looked the group of people over.
"Do you have any questions?"
"In my opinion..."
"No need to think that!" Lin Shiming raised his hand to stop him. "It's alright to have questions. The Empress's official documents haven't been used for many years, so it's normal for you to be unclear about the process and have questions. I'm kind-hearted, so I'll use you as an example again on the spot so everyone can see the whole process clearly!"
"Pfft—" Emperor Longyun couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
Good grief, this is going to incapacitate another one on the spot!
The minister who had spoken immediately collapsed to the ground, his legs giving way beneath him, trembling with despair.
Others might be bluffing, but this ancestor really dared to do it!
"Your Majesty! Your Highness the Crown Prince! You cannot abandon the Crown Princess!"
He dared to depose the prince yesterday, and today he's threatening to depose the court officials. How can they not be afraid!
Everyone knelt down and begged, but Lin Shiming didn't care at all. "Don't beg Father Emperor and Crown Prince! They've never used the Empress's edict before, how can they overstep their bounds and ask me for help?"
This... is fallacy! It's all fallacy! Is this how you use the term "overstepping one's bounds"?
The crowd was so angry that they couldn't speak for a long time, their hands trembling with anxiety and restlessness.
Lu Yuxi turned her head and chuckled silently, pretending to be a block of wood.
"Alright!" Emperor Longyun was too lazy to look at these people's faces anymore, and directly dismissed them. "There's nothing to argue about, all of you may leave."
He's busy stamping that "contract of servitude" from yesterday! He can't let it get in the way of fooling the Lin family!