Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 29
The atmosphere around froze, and everyone’s expressions varied.
“Just now, who was it that said they wanted to detain my husband?”
The noble and elegant princess exuded authority. Her thin lips were lightly pursed, and her natural majesty silenced the crowd. Instinctively, everyone’s eyes turned to the heir of the Anyang Earl.
Jiang Libai followed suit, glancing over before curling her lips. “I was wondering who it was. Turns out it’s the heir of the Anyang Earl.”
Zhou Ran clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the Seventh Princess without wavering for a moment. “Princess, this is the ‘fine consort’ you chose! Having an affair and even plotting against my brother’s life!”
Jiang Libai sneered and walked over to Gu Yun. After glancing up and down to ensure that she hadn’t suffered any mistreatment, she addressed Magistrate Zheng, who had stepped down from his platform. “Based solely on the one-sided testimonies of the people the heir of the Anyang Earl brought, it seems there isn’t enough to prove that my husband harmed the young heir of the Anyang Earl, is there?”
Magistrate Zheng rubbed his hands nervously and quickly nodded. “Yes, yes! Indeed, it does not directly prove anything!”
“In that case, why hasn’t my husband been released yet?” Jiang Libai’s cold glance made Magistrate Zheng shrink his neck.
He glanced timidly at the heir of the Anyang Earl. “This… Since the Seventh Princess has spoken, and these testimonies still require verification, perhaps we should adjourn for today?”
At this point, Zhou Ran no longer insisted on detaining Gu Yun.
He took two steps forward, standing before Jiang Libai with a hint of dissatisfaction on his face, but he suppressed it. Then, as if something had occurred to him, he smirked mockingly and said, “Since the princess insists, I’ll give you this face.”
Saying this, he leaned closer to Jiang Libai’s ear and remarked with deep sarcasm, “Princess, your judgment is truly lacking. After all your picking and choosing, you ended up with such a flirtatious pretty face…”
Jiang Libai, afraid he might touch her, stepped back two paces. “My consort is not yours to insult. If you continue spreading baseless rumors, I’ll report to the Emperor and have you punished for disrespecting the royal family!”
Gu Yun, concerned she might lose her balance, reached out from behind to steady her by the shoulder.
Zhou Ran straightened his posture after finishing his remark, his gaze coldly landing on Gu Yun’s hand supporting Jiang Libai. “It seems the princess is truly devoted. But I wonder if you’ll still be so protective after learning the truth!”
Jiang Libai had no interest in engaging further. She let out a cold humph and linked her arm through Gu Yun’s. “It’s late, and I’m tired. Let’s go home.”
Gu Yun glanced down at her arm and smiled pleasantly. “Alright.”
The two ignored the commotion behind them and left the magistrate’s office together.
Outside, the sky had darkened. Bitterly cold winds swept through, and snow danced in the air.
Gu Yun lifted her cloak and pulled Jiang Libai into her embrace. “The wind is strong, and you’re dressed lightly. Be careful not to catch cold.”
A warm feeling surged through Jiang Libai’s heart, spreading throughout her body. She let out a soft “Oh” and didn’t resist.
Inside the carriage, Jiang Libai nestled in Gu Yun’s arms, pondering the events of the day.
“Although Zhou Ran didn’t press further, I feel this matter isn’t over yet,” she mused, looking up at Gu Yun. “This ordeal feels like a test.”
But she couldn’t quite figure out what was being tested.
Gu Yun didn’t take the matter to heart. If someone sought trouble, she couldn’t stop them. Whatever came, she’d deal with it as needed. If they all came for her, she’d settle them together.
After all, her time was better spent nurturing her relationship with the Seventh Princess than dealing with these nuisances.
Pushing aside the earlier events, Gu Yun focused on the princess nestled in her arms. The girl’s delicate face tilted upward, her damp eyes reflecting Gu Yun’s image, filling her with delight.
“Princess, there’s no need to worry. No matter their schemes, they won’t affect us.”
The faint scent of Gu Yuni’s fragrance brought Jiang Libai back to her senses. She realized she hadn’t pushed Gu Yun away earlier. Nestled in Gu Yun’s warmth, she found herself reluctant to move.
Blushing slightly, Jiang Libai clenched her teeth and wrapped her arms around Gu Yun’s waist. After all, they were both women. Holding each other to keep warm should be perfectly normal, right?
Suppressing the secret joy in her heart, she turned her head away. “Who’s part of ‘us’? Don’t associate yourself with me.”
Her bashful demeanor was written all over her face, unable to be hidden. Gu Yun’s eyes sparkled with amusement, her tone teasing. “If the princess doesn’t want to be associated with me, then why are you holding me so tightly?”
That last sentence, soft and husky, sent tingles through Jiang Libai’s ears, leaving her flustered.
Annoyed, she gripped Gu Yun’s waist under the cloak. “You’re the one holding me first. I just didn’t want to embarrass you by pushing you away. Don’t take advantage of it!”
Gu Yun felt no pain, only a ticklish sensation, as though a kitten had pawed at her. Smiling, she gently grasped Jiang Libai’s misbehaving hand, rubbing it softly. “See? Now you’re getting handsy with me.”
Jiang Libai was speechless. Who was the one really being inappropriate here?!
She swatted Gu Yun’s hand away, shooting her a glare. “We’re discussing serious matters! Don’t change the subject.”
“Once we return, I’ll have Mu Jiang investigate why the Anyang Earl’s household is framing you. If we uncover their motives and plans, we’ll be better prepared to deal with them.”
“As you wish, Princess.” Gu Yun didn’t take these people seriously, but since Jiang Libai cared so much, she naturally complied.
—
That evening, after returning to the princess’s residence, Jiang Libai instructed Mu Jiang and his subordinates to investigate the matter. At the same time, she asked Chunxi to relay the events in detail to her mother consort, particularly emphasizing that Gu Yun had no connection to that woman.
However, before the investigation yielded any results, news arrived that the young master of the Anyang Earl Residence had passed away. Grief-stricken, the Earl of Anyang immediately submitted a petition overnight, requesting an audience with Emperor Yu.
Emperor Yu had already learned of the events from Consort Yuan and was aware of his seventh daughter’s strong defense of Gu Yun.
Although the Earl of Anyang held only an honorary title without any official duties, his ancestors had contributed greatly to the expansion of Yu Kingdom’s territory. Hence, Emperor Yu could not entirely disregard him.
The palace gates opened, and Emperor Yu met with the Earl of Anyang in the Ganming Hall.
The hall was vast and empty, lit brightly by candlelight.
The Earl of Anyang, a man in his forties, was so overwhelmed by the loss of his youngest son that he wept uncontrollably.
Tears streamed down his face as he sobbed pitiably.
A cold glint flashed in Emperor Yu’s eyes, but his face remained warm and composed. “Earl Zhou, whatever your concern may be, speak freely. On such a cold day, there is no need to kneel for so long.”
The Earl of Anyang wiped his tears, trembling as he slowly rose to his feet. “Your Majesty, you must seek justice for me!”
“What is it?” Emperor Yu feigned ignorance about the events outside the palace that afternoon.
The Earl of Anyang gritted his teeth and claimed that his youngest son had been murdered by the Seventh Princess’s consort. He also accused the capital prefect of shielding the Seventh Princess’s consort.
Emperor Yu listened calmly and expressed his sympathy. “Such a tragedy is truly shocking. The deceased has passed; you must take care of yourself.”
Then, his tone shifted. “However, the capital prefect has just submitted a report detailing the events. The testimonies against Gu Yun are inconsistent and unreliable.”
The Earl of Anyang shook his head. “Your Majesty, you are unaware. I have other evidence proving that the Seventh Princess’s consort murdered my youngest son, but…”
Hearing this, Emperor Yu’s expression turned cold as he asked indifferently, “Why didn’t you present this evidence at the capital prefect’s office?”
“This matter concerns the Princess. My eldest son did not wish to embarrass Her Highness in front of everyone and thus refrained from presenting the evidence at the time.”
—
The lights in the Ganming Hall burned brightly through the night until dawn, after which the hall fell silent.
As the Earl of Anyang exited the palace, an imperial decree was issued.
The decree stated that the consort of Princess Jia Ning might be implicated in the death of the Earl of Anyang’s youngest son. Emperor Yu ordered the Ministry of Justice to investigate the matter thoroughly and impartially.
Upon receiving the decree, Minister Li Zhongxian of the Ministry of Justice sent officials to invite Gu Yun from the Princess’s residence. He also dispatched others to bring witnesses from the Anyang Earl Residence.
The snow continued to fall that day, and the skies remained dim.
Unable to dissuade the Seventh Princess, Gu Yun wrapped her warmly in a cloak, covering her completely before taking her hand and heading to the Ministry of Justice together.
Upon their arrival, Li Zhongxian ordered a comfortable chair for Princess Jia Ning and invited her to sit.
Jiang Libai noticed that the chair was spacious enough to accommodate another person. She beckoned to Gu Yun. “Husband, come sit with me.”
Disregarding the onlookers’ gazes, Gu Yun stepped forward and sat beside the Seventh Princess.
Seeing her compliance, Jiang Libai was satisfied.
She addressed Li Zhongxian, seated at the head. “Since my father has entrusted this matter to you, you must investigate it thoroughly and expose how these people intend to frame my consort.”
Li Zhongxian heard the protective tone in her words and responded, “Yes, Your Highness, I understand.”
As the people from the Anyang Earl Residence arrived, the interrogation officially began.
What no one expected was that the people from the Anyang Earl Residence dropped a bombshell.
“…Yun Yan has evidence to prove that what she says is true and not fabricated.”
The eldest son of the Earl of Anyang signaled to Yun Yan, who knelt on the ground.
The delicate woman began sobbing and recounting her story. “I’m sure everyone has heard about the rumors concerning me and my cousin Yan outside the city… But it was all orchestrated by the Seventh Princess’s consort. She drugged me and my cousin, forcing us into a compromising situation…”
Jiang Libai, unwilling to listen to the woman’s claims, interrupted coldly, “Where is your so-called evidence? You claim to have known my consort for a long time. What proof do you have? Since my marriage to my consort, I have known him to be nothing like the faithless person you describe!”
Gu Yun hadn’t expected the Seventh Princess to speak so fervently on her behalf, and warmth surged through her heart as she quietly held Jiang Libai’s hand.
Yun Yan, trembling like a leaf, finally squeezed out, “I have evidence… Because… I am already pregnant with the child of the Seventh Princess’s consort!”
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😂 the court decide based on which farce is performed better