Half an hour later, the carriage of the Eldest Princess stopped at the main gate of the Marquis of Dingguo's Mansion.
Meanwhile, the emperor in the palace received the news that the Eldest Princess had returned to the capital.
"What did you say?"
"Your Majesty, the Eldest Princess has returned to the capital."
"E, elder sister is back?" The emperor threw the memorial in his hand and stood up in a hurry. "Quick, help me change my clothes. I'm going to welcome elder sister."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty." The eunuch wiped the sweat off his forehead and quickly persuaded him. "The Eldest Princess hasn't entered the palace yet. She's gone to the Marquis of Dingguo's Mansion."
The emperor stopped in his tracks and looked at the eunuch in disbelief. "Why did elder sister go to the Marquis of Dingguo's Mansion?"
The eunuch quickly replied, "The Eldest Princess said she was going to find a wife for the prince, so she went to the Marquis of Dingguo's Mansion."
"Nonsense!" The emperor straightened his robe and sat back down.
At first hearing that his elder sister was back, it seemed as if he had returned to the time when his mother was still alive, the time when he was dominated by his elder sister.
He almost forgot that now he was the emperor of the Great Yue. However... "You go there in person and tell elder sister to come home. If Xing'er takes a fancy to Miss Xie, I'll bestow the marriage directly."
The eunuch: "..." He silently shed a tear for the crown prince and the queen in his heart. However, as the emperor's personal eunuch, he felt it was necessary to remind him.
"Your Majesty, this Miss Xie is the daughter - in - law the queen has taken a fancy to. What the Eldest Princess is doing..."
Only then did the emperor remember that he did plan to bestow the marriage on the crown prince after dealing with the Wang family, which could be regarded as a compensation to the crown prince and the queen. But now, it might not be that easy!
After thinking for a while, he waved his hand. "Forget it. Just tell elder sister to enter the palace quickly."
"Yes!" The eunuch bowed and quickly retreated.
As soon as the eunuch left, someone else came to pay respects.
The emperor was quite disturbed by his elder sister's sudden return. He originally didn't want to see anyone, but when he saw it was the Minister of the Supreme Court, he remembered the case of the Wang family and allowed the person to enter.
"Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty."
"What's the matter, my爱卿?"
The Minister of the Supreme Court didn't beat around the bush. He directly took out the box in his hand. "Your Majesty, what I have here are two letters found in Master Wang's study. They're of great importance. I didn't dare to make my own decision, so I specially ask Your Majesty for instructions."
"What letters?" The emperor rubbed his forehead and waved his hand. The eunuch who served the writing brush on the side took the box.
The Minister of the Supreme Court secretly glanced at the emperor and then lowered his head again. "I don't dare to make random remarks. Please have a look yourself, Your Majesty."
The emperor had a bad feeling. He opened the box and saw two yellowed pieces of paper inside. He unfolded them and took a look...
"Bang!" After scanning the letters for a few lines, the emperor directly slapped the letters on the table and asked sharply, "Where did you say this letter come from?"
"I, it was found in the secret compartment of Master Wang's study in the Wang family." The Minister of the Supreme Court was afraid of not making it clear and quickly said, "No one opened this box before it came into my hands."
"Are you sure no one opened it?"
"I'm sure. After this box was found, the Second Prince gave it to the leader of the imperial guards to hold."
If the Minister of the Supreme Court still didn't understand what the emperor meant at this time, then his position would have been in vain. However...
"Since that's the case..."
"Your Majesty." The Minister of the Supreme Court trembled and interrupted the emperor before he could say anything bad. Regardless of whether the emperor would be angry with him, he directly said, "This morning, the steward of the princess's mansion also sent me a letter. It's also related to the Wang family. According to the procedure, that letter should be kept in the Supreme Court as evidence for the joint trial of the three departments. I can't take it out."
"Wh, what letter?" The emperor suppressed his anger, and the bad feeling in his heart became stronger and stronger.
"Th, the same as the one in the box. The Wang family colluded with foreign enemies and framed the Marquis Zhou!"
This sentence from the Minister of the Supreme Court was like a judgment, directly nailing the emperor's restless heart.
He understood that those ugly and evil truths would not be buried after all.
If he still didn't understand at this time that someone was pushing all these means against the Wang family behind the scenes, then his years as an emperor would have been in vain.
It was only his fault that he understood too late. He didn't see clearly that when he, as the emperor, acquiesced to what the Wang family had done, he had become inseparable from the Wang family.
He was doomed to be restricted by the Wang family.
But things had come to this!
Unless he had the courage to exterminate his elder sister's family and then the Wang family, just like he exterminated the Zhou family more than ten years ago.
But he couldn't, didn't dare, and couldn't do it.
If he really did so, he would really become a sinner of the Great Yue!
The emperor let out a long sigh, slumped on the dragon throne, and waved his hand. "Forget it. You can go down. Take these things away. Do everything as it should be done. Today, I'll act as if I haven't seen you. Deal with the matter of the Wang family impartially. No matter who is involved, never bend the law for personal gain."
"Yes, yes, yes, yes!" The Minister of the Supreme Court took the box from the eunuch's hand. He didn't dare to look at the emperor's face and quickly retreated.
When he saw the sun outside the imperial study, he felt as if he had been reborn.
He felt as if he had known something extraordinary, and also as if he knew nothing.
However, the Eldest Princess was really amazing!
At this time, the people in the Marquis of Dingguo's Mansion also sighed like this!
In the meeting hall of the Marquis of Dingguo's Mansion, a place that had never been opened since the death of the old Marquis Xie, the middle gate was opened today to welcome the Eldest Princess and her entourage.
The old Lady Xie sat on the lower seat, smiling at the Eldest Princess. "Your Highness's visit is a great event for our mansion. I'm sorry to have wronged Your Highness. Please forgive us."
The Eldest Princess pursed her lips and smiled. "What are you talking about, old lady? You were a close friend of my mother in the past. Now I, as a junior, come to visit an elder."
After saying that, the female official behind her handed over a box. The Eldest Princess took it, stood up, and personally handed it to the old Lady Xie. "These are some medicinal herbs produced in the northern border. Take them to nourish your body, old lady."
The old Lady Xie took it nervously and knelt down to salute. "Your humble servant thanks the Eldest Princess for the reward."
The Eldest Princess quickly helped her up and raised her eyebrows. "You're being too polite, old lady. Do you not regard me as your own junior?"
"Your Highness is joking."
The old Lady Xie felt bitter in her mouth and couldn't say a word.
The Eldest Princess seemed so polite, but her court clothes, manners, and bearing all reminded her.
This was the princess of the imperial court, not the daughter of her old friend.
Seeing that the atmosphere was about right, the Eldest Princess glanced around the room and said with a smile, "Why isn't that boy Xie Yi here? I remember I used to fight with him when we were kids. And where's Xie Yi's wife? I heard she's a famous beauty from the southern border. This boy snatched her as soon as she arrived in the capital. I'd like to see what kind of beauty she is."