Chapter 354: Playing the Elder

If the only way to get the Empress to step in and uphold justice is to make a big fuss, then the fastest shortcut to a big fuss is to file an imperial petition!

He Wan had made up her mind; she knew her father was always conservative and her mother always obeyed his father, but this time she only wanted to seek justice for her child and did not want to endure a compromising, miserable existence.

If she could only choose one, she would have to choose the path she wants to walk.

Rong Luoge nodded. "You've made up your mind, so go ahead. Filing an imperial petition always comes with some hardship, you know."

"I, the consort, understand; I'm not afraid of being beaten with a board."

An imperial petition is not easy to file, nor can everyone file one.

First, you must be sure it's not a false accusation; second, a commoner suing an official, or a wife suing her husband, violates moral and legal norms, so ordinary citizens must roll a nail board to show determination and sincerity when suing an official.

He Wan wants to accuse Prince Shou and Concubine Ruan; although it doesn't require rolling a nail board, she will still have to endure at least ten beatings.

However, she will signal the beaters to be a bit lighter.

He Wan retrieved the letters and evidence, solemnly kowtowed to the Empress, and then turned and left.

Soon after, He Wan brought the evidence and struck the petition drum.

Princess Consort Shou accused Prince Shou of favoring a concubine and killing his wife, accused Concubine Ruan of plotting to harm her unborn child causing a miscarriage, and finally charged Prince Shou and Ruan Weiguang with secretly colluding with aristocratic families to sell offices and titles, embezzle civilian lands, and line their own pockets.

The capital instantly erupted like oil poured into boiling water, blooming in an instant.

A princess consort suing her husband—such a thing truly hadn't been seen in over a hundred years.

The incident happened so suddenly that even Prince Shou and the Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort didn't expect He Wan to act this way, and Concubine Ruan was stunned, her face turning pale upon hearing the news.

She relied on her favor and indeed had often oppressed He Wan, but she never imagined He Wan would dare file an imperial petition; which princess consort would not swallow her resentment to protect her position?

The case was huge, involving a current prince and the Vice Minister of Rites; the Ministry of Justice immediately escalated the case to the emperor.

Minister of Justice Chen Sheng, drenched in cold sweat, knelt in the Great Hall, feeling a chill run from his knees to his heart.

His Majesty had already been sharpening his knives against aristocratic families; now, just as he was worried about finding an opportunity, the chance presented itself.

Han Xinglan, after reviewing the letters and evidence, was furious and immediately ordered Prince Shou and Vice Minister of Rites Ruan Weiguang imprisoned, and had Concubine Ruan separately detained for interrogation.

The Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort, having no time for composure, immediately took a carriage to her brother Lord Yong'an's mansion, hoping he could petition His Majesty and first secure her son's safety.

Lord Yong'an, seeing his sister's distress, fumed, "I told you not to push people to the brink; who listened? Now look, the dog that bites doesn't bark, and they suddenly file an imperial petition!"

That bite was too fierce!

Lord Yong'an thought of Marquis Ningyuan, then looked at his own situation; his hands were already dirty, and now he feared His Majesty might implicate him because of Prince Shou's affair, so he dares not appear before the throne, yet his sister's summons cannot be ignored.

He paced anxiously in the hall, and after a while said, "Go petition the Empress, claim that He Wan has lost her mind and is spouting nonsense, and ask the Empress, out of regard for Prince Shou and for the favor you once gave her, to speak kindly to you before His Majesty."

The Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort, hearing her brother's words, turned ashen, gasped, and said, "He Wan was taken away by the Empress's people."

Lord Yong'an's vision went black, and he nearly collapsed!

Without mentioning the chaos at Lord Yong'an's mansion, it is noted that Rong Luoge also met Han Xinglan, and the two spouses discussed how to use this incident to thoroughly reform the capital's aristocratic families.

"The Prince Shou thread is certainly deep; have people dig further, and anyone implicated can be thrown in prison for a few days," Rong Luoge whispered, "Selling offices and titles, embezzling land—these are all major crimes. From this perspective, He Wan's separation from Prince Shou and the accusation against Concubine Ruan for harming her child are merely secondary."

Han Xinglan looked at Rong Luoge and laughed, "You originally had the Princess Consort strike the petition drum to accuse Prince Shou, wasn't that for this?"

Rong Luoge smiled, "That was the intention, but I didn't expect events to unfold even more smoothly than I imagined. So tell me, why would Prince Shou do this? When you first ascended the throne, you weren't unkind to him; I never thought he would secretly collude with the aristocratic families."

"Human hearts change easily; he dotes on the Ruan family, whose father is himself of aristocratic lineage, so being swayed by her is possible," Han Xinglan sneered, "He's been good at pretending; for two years he wasn't discovered. If the Princess Consort hadn't stepped forward to expose him, it might have taken even longer."

Rong Luoge nodded, "Indeed, with this thread we can investigate further, and coordinate with Suizhou, delivering a head‑on strike against these aristocratic families—it's beneficial for us."

Han Xinglan gave a slight nod, "It truly is a good opportunity, and it comes at a perfect time."

The two spouses smiled at each other, their moods instantly brightening.

If this person gets lucky, indeed the mood will be pleasant.

The Princess Consort's move stirred a thousand waves, and the entire court was terrified because of Prince Shou's affair.

Selling offices and titles, embezzling land—any of these touch His Majesty's bottom line; the one on the Dragon Throne only needs an excuse to purge them. Now, Prince Shou has offered his hands up; isn't that a trap?

The Princess Consort's action turned Shou Prince's Mansion upside down, and the first unlucky were the Ruan family; Concubine Ruan and Vice Minister Ruan were the first to be imprisoned.

Rong Luoge also received the Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort's request to see him; she recalled Kang Shufei's words and sneered inwardly, "I never saw it coming; the Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort is still a wolf in sheep's clothing."

"Your Majesty, the Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort is waiting outside the palace, what do you think?" Rong Xin stepped forward and said.

Rong Luoge smiled, "The palace rule has always been to submit a petition three days in advance, but the timing of the audience is ultimately up to me."

She had once clashed over this rule with Song Huihe; back then she couldn't relent because she didn't want to jeopardize Han Xinglan's major undertaking, but now…

"Go invite the Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort into the palace," Rong Luoge said. She wasn't afraid of the Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort, but she could not ignore the repercussions.

The Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort arrived quickly; upon entering and seeing the Empress, she was about to perform the grand salute, but Que Cai's sharp eyes and swift hands immediately steadied her.

After all, she was a Grand Consort; this courtesy was uncomfortable for Rong Luoge. She looked at the Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort and said softly, "Please sit, Grand Consort, and speak at your leisure."

The Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort looked at the Empress, her face sorrowful, eyes reddening, and said, "Empress, you must not listen to only one side; there truly is a misunderstanding in this matter."

Rong Luoge nodded, "Grand Consort, rest assured, I will not be biased; you need not worry. His Majesty is merely following legal procedures; you know the Ministry of Justice's regulations. As long as Prince Shou is innocent, His Majesty will certainly release him immediately."

But is Prince Shou innocent?

The Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort knows it herself, yet still tries to feign seniority, and Rong Luoge will not buy that trick.