"Your Highness the Crown Prince has been at odds with the Marquis of Dingyuan since childhood. You've always resented that the marquis has outshone you. Back then, when the marquis almost lost his life in the Battle of Yan City, who in Yongding City wasn't saddened and heart - broken? Only Your Highness here was happier than anyone else!"
"Back then, the Marchioness of Dingyuan grandly annulled her engagement with the young master of the Chu family. After causing quite a stir in the Yamen of the Chief Magistrate of the Capital, she married the Marquis of Dingyuan. This made the Chu family lose all their face and became the laughingstock of the whole Yongding City."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince and Her Majesty the Queen have long regarded the Marquis of Dingyuan and the Marchioness as thorns in your sides. You've wished to cut them into a thousand pieces. How could you, out of the blue, be so generous as to give ten thousand taels of silver as a wedding gift to your sworn enemies?"
"Your Highness is telling such blatant lies. Do you think we're blind or stupid?" Concubine Yi said confidently.
Feng Jingye was left speechless by her words. His face flushed bright red. His mouth opened and closed like a stranded fish gasping for air. For a long time, he didn't know how to refute.
It was Bai Sheng who coughed lightly and said, "Alas, why bother? It's clearly a bribe. Your Highness, just admit it."
Zhuo Lingxiao also stifled a laugh and winked at Feng Jingye. "That's right. The evidence is irrefutable. What's the use of being so stubborn, Your Highness? Just admit it."
"You!..."
Feng Jingye was extremely angry. He pointed at Zhuo Lingxiao and Bai Sheng for a long time but couldn't say a word.
Feng Linche had remained silent all this time. But there was a growing sense of violence in his brows. His eyes had darkened completely as he stared at Feng Jingye and Feng Linyuan.
This Feng Jingye actually dared to collude with Feng Linyuan to harm his son Feng Linche's son?! He was really as bold as a lion!
The Dingyuan Marquis Mansion had always been Feng Linche's sore spot. If Crown Prince Feng Jingye had only tried to harm the Third Prince out of self - interest, Feng Linche might not have done much to him.
But this time, he had even joined forces with the Marquis of Dingyuan, Feng Linyuan?
The overwhelming anger that he couldn't contain made Feng Linche slam the table and stand up. He shouted at Feng Jingye sternly, "You unfilial son! You colluded with outsiders to harm your own brother. What crime do you think you deserve?"
Everyone was shocked by Feng Linche's sudden outburst, as he had always been calm. The anger of an emperor was not something ordinary people could withstand.
For a moment, everyone in the hall knelt down and lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to make a sound.
Feng Jingye's legs went weak from fear. He knelt down directly and pleaded tremblingly, "Father, please calm down. Father, it's not like this. Your son didn't..."
"You didn't? You gave the Marquis of Dingyuan ten thousand taels of real silver. The evidence is right in front of us, and you still deny it? Do you think I'm an old fool?" Feng Linche was so angry that he casually picked up the cup beside him and threw it hard at Feng Jingye's head.
Feng Jingye didn't dare to dodge at all and had to take the hit. Immediately, a dent appeared on his forehead, and a large bump quickly swelled up. There was even a trickle of blood oozing out.
"Your Majesty!"
The Queen Chu was heart - broken. She immediately knelt down and crawled on her knees to Feng Linche's feet. Holding onto his robe, she cried, "Your Majesty, Ye'er is not that kind of person. You must listen to Ye'er's explanation. There must be some misunderstanding..."
She didn't believe that her son would bribe Feng Linyuan and Bai Zheng, especially considering the irreconcilable feud between the Chu family and the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.
Moreover...
"Besides, if the marquis were really to be bribed, would ten thousand taels of silver be enough?" the Queen Chu wailed.
Although ten thousand taels of silver was a huge amount, for the Eastern Palace, it was like cutting off a piece of their flesh.
But who was the other party? It was the prestigious Dingyuan Marquis Mansion!
To bribe the Marquis of Dingyuan, ten thousand taels of silver... was nothing!
Feng Linche had to admit that the Queen Chu had a point.
He frowned deeply and looked at Bai Sheng.
Bai Sheng trembled and lowered her head. She explained as if she was very scared, "Ten thousand taels of silver is indeed not enough to bribe the marquis. But what if the marquis already had the intention to harm the Third Prince?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Feng Linche's expression changed.
The Queen Chu was still tugging at his robe to plead for mercy, but he waved his hand violently and threw her off.
The Queen Chu was caught off guard. She lost her balance and fell backward. Feng Jingye's face turned pale with fright. He quickly stepped forward to help the Queen Chu up. Just as he was about to comfort his mother, he heard Zhuo Lingxiao speak in a sarcastic tone again.
"Miss Bai is right. Brothers can be so cruel to each other, let alone an outsider like the Marquis of Dingyuan. Although ten thousand taels of silver is not much for the marquis, it's better than nothing.
Taking the silver and then helping His Highness the Crown Prince get rid of their common enemy would be a win - win situation for both His Highness and the marquis. What's so strange about being bribed with ten thousand taels of silver?"
"That's right, Your Highness," Zhuo Yi said in a deep voice. "Just admit it."
"Admit what! This Crown Prince didn't do it at all..." Feng Jingye was so angry that he was about to curse, but he was stopped by Bai Zheng's soft voice.
"Just admit it."
Feng Jingye was stunned. He saw Bai Zheng lower her eyes. Her clear black - and - white eyes were calmly looking at him.
"The ten thousand taels sent by Your Highness the Crown Prince was indeed not a wedding gift, but - " Her voice was clear and seemed completely unaffected by the tense atmosphere in the hall. Her gaze swept across the people with different expressions and finally landed on Feng Jingye's face. She blinked slightly.
"It was compensation."
Feng Jingye understood. He also knew that the situation was critical. If he didn't admit the truth, he would really be charged with the crime of harming his own brother.
Thinking of this, he let go of the hand supporting the Queen Chu. He knelt straight and lowered his head, looking a bit ashamed. "Father, Concubine Yi is right. Your son has always been at odds with the Marquis of Dingyuan. When they got married, your son never intended to give a grand gift.
It's just that some days ago, your son was temporarily deceived and instigated by a villain. I had a conflict with the Marchioness and destroyed the shop she opened. So I had no choice but to give this compensation."
Princess Yunxi frowned and asked coldly, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, are you talking about the dessert shop in Anren Alley that had just opened a few days ago but had extremely good business and always had a long queue?"
Feng Jingye nodded. The incident of smashing the shop had caused quite a stir. As long as Feng Linche conducted a little investigation, he would know the truth. So he simply didn't hide anything and told everything.
"Exactly."
"The business of that shop was really good, and the things it sold were not cheap. May I ask, Your Highness, what exactly did you break that you had to compensate with ten thousand taels of silver?!"
The one who asked was Zhuo Lingxiao.
Although it was a question, it was not a query but a rhetorical one.