Chapter 459: Princess Gao Yang Loses Her Temper

"So you think that with just a little leverage you can have me under your thumb?"

Zheng Guanyin was genuinely puzzled by this.

Yes, she was the one who caused Du Ruhui's imprisonment, but so what?

Even Li Shimin did not continue the investigation, and even Du Ruhui himself never brought it up again.

If Chen Yan wanted to expose this matter, setting aside what might happen to her, how should Li Shimin handle it?

Kill her?

Spare her?

Both are unacceptable!

Exposing her would only put everyone in a dilemma. Li Shimin doesn't know how to deal with it; Du Ruhui would probably still plead on her behalf, and Chen Yan no longer has any leverage to blackmail her.

Therefore, trying to use this to blackmail her is basically impossible.

"Hmm...... let me first answer your first question: why I wanted to ask you to investigate!" Chen Yan thought for a moment, intending to speak plainly: "First, poisoning the Crown Prince, if discovered, the extermination of the nine families is inevitable."

"Since the poisoner dared to act, they must have made thorough preparations, confident that neither we nor His Majesty could uncover it, just as you once framed Cai Duke and sent him to prison."

"I believe that at that time you were completely sure you wouldn't be discovered, and even if an accident exposed you, you were confident you could preserve yourself."

"Is that so?"

Zheng Guanyin gave no answer, slightly lifting her chin, indicating for him to continue.

A hint of a smile flashed in Chen Yan's eyes as he continued: "In fact, people are easily confined by their own thinking. At first, you did act flawlessly; His Majesty certainly wanted to uncover you as the mastermind and then punish you severely."

"However, at first His Majesty got nothing; he couldn't identify you as the mastermind."

"Yet even so, His Majesty never considered having others, or other officials, assist the investigation, because he thought that if even his own many agents couldn't find it, others would be even less likely to succeed."

"In fact, I only mentioned the situation briefly to Gao Yang, and she immediately guessed it was you, surpassing everyone else. You were caught off guard as well, which led to you... hmm, now not treating me very well."

Gao Yang curved her eyes, straightened her chest, slightly lifted her chin, clearly finding Chen Yan's words very gratifying.

Zheng Guanyin twitched the corner of her mouth, glanced at Gao Yang, and was at a loss for words.

That day when Gao Yang came to her door, she never imagined Gao Yang could guess it was her; she only thought Gao Yang was coming to reminisce.

Zheng Guanyin said expressionlessly, "So this is the reason you came to ask me for help? You think that His Majesty can't find it, but I can?"

"Not at all," Chen Yan said with a smile, shaking his head, "I just think that compared to His Majesty, you, who naturally stand opposite us, have contradictions, and are ignored by most of Chang'an's power holders, might give me a different surprise."

"Anyway, it's just a trial, no real loss."

"A trial?" Zheng Guanyin scoffed, "What a trial!"

"I pretty much understand your thinking, but you seem to have forgotten, on what grounds I would help you?"

"You just said that we naturally stand opposite each other; since Gao Yang came last time, even the old affection was trampled under her foot. I'm not targeting you, that's already good enough, yet you naïvely think I'd help you?"

Chen Yan's smile gradually faded at those words, his brows slightly furrowed.

He hadn't spoken when Gao Yang couldn't hold back any longer, saying coldly: "Zheng! Aunt! You say that when I came last time I trampled the affection between us, but you seem to have forgotten that you first used my husband's position to stir the winds, causing the ailing, unrecovered prime minister of the current court to be wrongfully imprisoned, to satisfy your pitiful and tragic desire for revenge."

"Today I want to ask you, who truly disregarded the past affection first? And who stepped on that affection first?"

Zheng Guanyin's expression changed.

Gao Yang gave her no chance to speak, narrowing her eyes: "I know the conflict between you and my Father Emperor and others; regarding these matters, we juniors neither voice opinions nor discuss them behind anyone's back."

"The older generation's conflicts should be resolved by your own generation, not involve us!"

"After all, from childhood to now, we juniors have never once disrespected you, Aunt, whether it's me, my elder brother or sister, or even my younger brother or sister."

"It was you, Aunt, who started the first offense; how could you blame me for the fifteenth?"

When she finished, Zheng Guanyin's complexion instantly turned ugly.

Chen Yan looked at his wife beside him, bewildered and uncertain.

Is this damn the same death‑seeking little wife of mine who spends all day playing mahjong and being overbearing?

You can say that?

"Hehe......"

Zheng Guanyin, furious yet laughing, said, "What a Princess Gao Yang. The world says Changle is gentle, graceful and wise, but your spiteful Princess Gao Yang doesn't seem any different."

"Yes, you're right!"

"I committed the first offense, and you did the fifteenth, that's only fitting!"

"But what we're discussing now doesn't seem to be that issue, but rather on what grounds I should help you!"

She paused, gave a cold smile, "Anyway, in your eyes I'm probably just a woman who acts without scruples and has no sense of reason."

"Then why should I..."

"No!" Gao Yang said calmly, "You will help, because you are a major suspect in poisoning the Crown Prince!"

"The hatred for killing one's husband is unforgivable; you can't avenge my Father Emperor, but avenging the Crown Prince is entirely possible!"

"Moreover, you managed to stir such a huge commotion in Weinan County, spread it to Chang'an, and still live here peacefully; you indeed have that ability, don't you?"

"My good aunt!"

Chen Yan had the patience to talk more with Zheng Guanyin, but Gao Yang had no such patience!

Last time Zheng Guanyin almost provoked her to anger; today she again brazenly said that she trampled the old affection.

She just wanted to say "Hehe".

Those damn affections, weren't they all the ones she visited from childhood, coming over for idle chats each time?

Since you say she stepped, then today she'll step for you to see!

"......"

Gao Yang's brief words left Zheng Guanyin, Chen Yan and everyone else in stunned silence.

If earlier everyone was merely making veiled threats, showing their rhetorical skill, Gao Yang's words this time were outright threats.

You won't help, right?

Fine, tomorrow I'll claim that the Crown Prince's poison was put there by you!

I think you won't be able to endure it!

I want to see whether, if public opinion erupts, Empress Changsun and Li Shimin will still mind Zheng Guanyin's position.

In the silence, Gao Yang suddenly smiled, "By the way, Marquis Zheng's mother, you must not forget how the Wei family fell apart in a single night."

"My husband may lack other talents, but his ways of stirring up trouble are the finest in the world!"

"When I arrived just now, I noticed you don't seem to be alone; I think… this person, you see, should think more about themselves and the people nearby."