Chapter 1458: Her Highness the Princess (4)

Lü Qing, in his pursuit of wealth and status, had even attempted to kill his wife of humble beginnings and his own flesh and blood, shocking the entire court.

The Emperor flew into a rage and ordered Lü Qing's execution.

But at that moment, Lü Qing suddenly collapsed to the ground and burst into tears.

He cried bitterly before the Emperor. “Your Majesty, this guilty subject was forced into it. How could I possibly kill my own wife?”

His words calmed the crowd somewhat, making them suspect that there was another side to the story.

The Emperor was not an unreasonable man and wanted to hear what Lü Qing had to say.

After all, Lü Qing had been the top scholar personally chosen by him years ago.

If Lü Qing truly possessed such poor character and had committed such atrocities, then he, as Emperor, would also bear the disgrace of failing to recognize a man's true nature.

Taking a deep breath, Lü Qing wept bitterly and said, “Your Majesty, this guilty subject never wished to marry the Princess.”

His words stunned everyone.

Hadn't the Grand Prince Consort and Her Highness always appeared deeply in love and perfectly harmonious? Whenever people saw them together, they believed they were a match made in heaven.

“Then explain,” the Emperor demanded. “Why did you marry the Princess?”

“All of this was because the Princess forced this subject.”

Lü Qing wore a look of despair and sorrow.

“This secret has remained buried in my heart for many years. Had the Princess not acted with such cruelty, this subject would have concealed it for life and never spoken of it.”

“I never imagined that the Princess would break her promise. Even after I agreed to marry her, she still moved against my wife and children.”

Lü Qing's words left the entire court too shocked to recover.

Examining his story carefully, did it not mean that he had agreed to become the prince consort only because the Princess had threatened him with the lives of his wife and children?

Even his claim of being unmarried had been forced by the Princess?

To protect his family, he had chosen to endure humiliation, remaining by the Princess's side and lowering himself, never daring to inquire about his wife and children, believing that the Princess would honor her word.

Who could have expected that he had trusted the wrong person?

Had the new top scholar—his own son, Lü Yufan—not appeared, he might have remained deceived for the rest of his life.

Now that the Princess had murdered his wife and children, what man could endure such a thing?

Naturally, he had no choice but to reveal everything.

The Emperor, of course, refused to believe him.

How could his daughter possibly commit such deeds?

His most beloved princess was gentle, virtuous, graceful, and kind. She was absolutely not the sort of person who would harm innocent lives.

Yet Lü Qing presented evidence.

There were letters allegedly sent by the Princess ordering assassins.

And Juanzhu, the Princess's personal maid, stepped forward to testify.

With both witnesses and evidence in place, and with the two top scholars seeking justice, even a princess could not escape judgment when public sentiment turned against her.

Thus, the original host was convicted.

However, because she was a princess, she was spared death.

Her title was stripped away, she was reduced to a commoner, and she was confined to a nunnery for the rest of her life.

Everything had happened too quickly.

The Crown Prince tried to clear the original host's name, but the Third Prince had long been watching like a tiger eyeing its prey. Joining forces with Lü Qing, he quickly succeeded in dragging the Crown Prince down from his position.

The Third Prince's younger sister, Second Princess Tang Xi, whose husband had recently died, had taken a liking to Lü Qing.

Eventually, the Third Prince became Crown Prince. He gradually emptied the Emperor's authority and forced him to abdicate, ascending the throne himself.

He bestowed a marriage between Second Princess Tang Xi and Lü Qing.

Lü Yufan believed that his great revenge had been fulfilled. As for whom Lü Qing married afterward, he no longer cared.

At that time, Lü Yuzhi also appeared.

Because of her fame as the capital's most celebrated courtesan, she had caught the eye of the Third Prince and entered his harem.

She had now become one of his imperial consorts.