Da Li Temple - Chapter 75.1

Chapter 75.1
Dream

Sandalwood incense inside the Zichen Hal was dense, and twelve bronze lamps swayed, reflecting the young Emperor’s despondent look behind the imperial desk. When he saw Su Moyi walk over, he only slightly raised his eyes, looked tired, and said, “What is there to say? Say it.”
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“I am guilty. Please, punish me.” Su Moyi took two steps forward and lifted the train of his robe, kneeling to Emperor Yonghui.
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Emperor Yonghui slowly raised his head and asked expressionlessly, “Regarding the matter of Xiao’s orphan, when did you know about it?”
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Su Moyi did not hesitate to say, “A month ago, the Empress Dowager sent someone to deliver a letter to me.”
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“Ridiculous!” A knock resounded through the hall. Emperor Yonghui was furious at the words and slapped the table.
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“Do you guys still regard me as the Emperor? You can even hide this thing from me for a month. If Xia Huan hadn’t made this scene of arresting people on the street, would you guys still keep me in the dark?”
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“I don’t dare.” Su Moyi’s voice was cold and heavy as he bowed to Emperor Yonghui.
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“The situation regarding the former dynasty is delicate, and King Liang’s intention to rebel is evident. I guess the Empress Dowager is reluctant to inform the Emperor about this matter because she didn’t want you to worry ……”
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“Heh…” Emperor Yonghui lightly snorted and interrupted Su Moyi. You speak of the court situation, but according to my knowledge, Xiao’s orphan is whom Empress Dowager chose to be Heir Consort. Did you truly not put your personal feelings in all the things you’ve done?”
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“I did,” Su Moyi answered bluntly. I and Xiao’s daughter love each other and have settled for life. If I said there were no personal feelings, then I’d be deceiving the Emperor.”

Emperor Yonghui froze, was caught off guard by his frank attitude, and did not know how to ask.
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Su Moyi did not wait for him to ask again, made a bow, and said: “Although this matter started from personal feelings, it was not more than that. I went to the palace this time, not to ask the Emperor to pardon Xiao’s daughter, but for my mother and the Emperor’s eldest son’s mother and to find out the truth of this case.”
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“Truth?” Emperor Yonghui laughed back in anger. “This case has been exposed to the world thirteen years ago. What is there to investigate again?!”
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“There is,” Su Moyi argued, “Did Your Majesty know that last night before the Golden Guard arrested her, they sent assassins to kill her first? If there’s nothing to hide, why didn’t they tell the Emperor and ask the court to arrest her openly?”
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Emperor Yonghui froze at the question.
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Su Moyi continued, “Because they knew that if the court knew about it, Da Li Temple or the Ministry Of Justice would interfere. They are afraid that Xiao’s daughter may have crucial evidence in her hands. They were worried about things being exposed, so they panicked and threw their weight around, first sending assassins, then sending the Golden Guards to kill Xiao’s daughter, so that she would never be able to speak.”
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With this statement, the hall fell silent. After a long time, Emperor Yonghui asked, “You speak without evidence. Do you have any?”
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“No,” Su Moyi answered, “But I may have a bold inference. Please, Emperor, forgive me for the crime of presumptuous speech.”
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Emperor Yonghui laughed and coldly said, “You already kidnapped the person and hid this matter. Now, you were talking about the crime of presumptuous speech? Don’t think I do not see that little trick in your heart.”
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Su Moyi smiled and frankly said, “Emperor is wise.”

“Speak,” Emperor Yonghui flicked his wide sleeve and sat behind the imperial desk.
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“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Su Moyi got up and said, “Yesterday, I had Ye Qing clean up the assassins’ bodies one by one, and I found a familiar face inside.”
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“Oh?” Emperor Yonghui frowned, “You recognize it?”
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Su Moyi shook his head, “The person beside Xiao’s daughter recognizes it. She identified one of the assassins as someone from Chen Yan, the commander of the Nan Dynasty Forbidden Army.”
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“Chen Yan?” Emperor Yonghui was surprised and couldn’t help but lean forward, “What relationship does he have with the Xiao family?”
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“He is not related to the Xiao family nowadays, but thirteen years ago, the Chen and Xiao families were.”
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Emperor Yonghui was stunned and suddenly understood something. The whole person was violently shocked, and his face suddenly became ugly.
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“You mean ……” He couldn’t believe it. He swallowed back the words that reached his mouth. Having already said this, how could the bright Emperor not understand what Su Moyi was referring to? But things are too sudden, and he feels confused in his brain. He couldn’t understand it, so he continued: “The Empress has always been pure and obedient and has tolerance for others. Let’s say that if the Empress wants to fight for favor for herself and her mother’s family and wants to get rid of Royal Concubine Xiao, she can act in the harem, so why bother ……”
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“Has the Emperor forgotten?” Su Moyi asked solemnly, “How much did the Emperor value the Xiao family then, and how much did you favor Royal Concubine Xiao? Not to mention that she can’t necessarily do it in the harem. Even if she succeeds in causing Royal Concubine Xiao to lose her baby, with her degree of favor at the time, it’s only a matter of time before she can conceive an heir again.”
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“But ……” Emperor Yonghui still wanted to refute this but heard Su Moyi add: “Royal Concubine Xiao has died so many years, and even if the Emperor believes she’s a criminal, you still miss her often. If Royal Concubine Xiao suddenly died back then, she would only have become an obsession in your heart, and the Xiao family would have obtained more honor and favor.”

“So ……,” Su Moyi paused, “it’s not hard to understand when Chen Clan and King Liang join forces, each getting what they want.”
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“King Liang?” Emperor Yonghui was shocked, “Are you saying that Xiao’s case is related to King Liang?”
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“Exactly,” Su Moyi nodded.
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“I have recently scanned the dossier from that year and investigated the people involved in that year’s case. Xiao Jingyan committed this case shortly after receiving a transfer order to become Hongzhou’s governor. Without this matter, Xiao Jingyan would have been the next governor of Hongzhou.”
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“Hongzhou ……,” Emperor Yonghui muttered, “Hongzhou again.”
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“Yes,” Su Moyi nodded, “That makes this case suspicious. Everything is too coincidental. Song Zhengxing had just been transferred from Hongzhou to the Ministry of Justice when Xiao Jingyan had such an incident. After that, Official Li went to Hongzhou to take up his position. A few years later, there was the case of the ‘fake silver.’ Now that we have the evidence, we know that Official Li and Song Zhengxing are King Liang’s people. Then ……”