Chapter 160 Who Are You Accusing of Treason?
Prince Rui, dressed in fine silk, was slightly corpulent and had a benevolent appearance.
Shen Yulou also knew that Prince Rui was a carefree prince.
Whether he was truly carefree or just pretending, that was unknown.
Many princes, even if they had talent, dared not show it.
Contending for the succession was a matter of life or death.
Some people saw things more clearly, did not have such a strong desire for the throne, and thought being a prince was not bad.
Prince Rui patted the Eighth Prince's shoulder and laughed, saying,
"I heard you've become something, kid. You won over Miss Suyin with just one poem? Not bad!"
The Eighth Prince couldn't help but gloat again.
Although he hadn't slept with Suyin, it was known in their circle that he had spent the night with Suyin.
Prince Rui finally met Shen Yulou, and as soon as they met, he whispered,
"I heard you wrote a poem for the Eighth Prince that won over the courtesan. Later, write one for me too, so I can have some prestige, how about it?"
Shen Yulou's mouth twitched.
"Your Highness, today is my wedding..."
Prince Rui laughed awkwardly.
"Right, right, right, the main event is important. No rush, no rush, another day, another day!"
Guests arrived one after another, and Prince Rui, as the host, was completely in his element.
Coupled with the Eighth Prince, who had social anxiety, the two made the atmosphere exceptionally lively.
"Ninth Highness arrives!"
As soon as Ninth Imperial Prince entered the manor, he boisterously showed off his wedding gift.
It was a half-human-tall pure gold qilin, exquisitely carved and substantially heavy.
This golden qilin immediately overshadowed all other gifts, becoming the most eye-catching item.
He smugly glanced at the Eighth Prince: "Eighth Brother, my gift has much more prestige than yours, doesn't it?"
The Eighth Prince immediately became displeased: "Who are you calling Eighth Brother? No manners.
When you need me, you call me Eighth Brother, but when you don't, you call me Eighth Brother? You think you're all grown up, don't you?"
Ninth Imperial Prince raised his chin: "I'm the class monitor now. I'm the biggest in the Imperial Academy. You're not going to listen to me calling you Eighth Brother?"
Zhao Lü puffed out his chest: "I'm still the five-stripe leader! The team captain! Your class monitor is nothing!"
Seeing that the two were about to start bickering again, Prince Rui glared at them fiercely.
"Both of you, get out and entertain the guests! If you keep arguing, I'll throw out both your gifts!"
...After the elaborate rituals were completed, the auspicious time had arrived.
The Minister of Rites, acting as the master of ceremonies, shouted loudly,
"The auspicious time has arrived! Groom and bride, bow to heaven and earth!"
Shen Yulou held the red silk, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Princess, whose head was covered with a red veil.
"First bow to Heaven and Earth!"
Under the gaze of all.
The two moved in unison, as they bent at the waist, their heads coincidentally glanced at the mountain of gifts piled to the side...Through the slit in the veil, the Princess was also looking.
The two were mainly estimating how much they would gain from this wedding.
Prince Rui was instantly speechless.
It's a wedding, hello!
Be serious!
Are they obsessed with money?
What kind of amazing couple are these two?
Prince Rui's face darkened, and he couldn't help but cough heavily.
Only then did the two withdraw their gazes, pretending nothing had happened.
"Second bow to the honored elders!"
Shen Yulou's parents were ordinary people and, by custom, were not qualified to receive a bow from the Princess.
And the Princess's parents had both passed away, so Prince Rui, as the host, would act as the honored elder.
Shen Yulou and the Princess turned, about to bow to Prince Rui.
Just at this moment!
Screech!
A sharp eagle's cry pierced the sky!
Everyone looked up in horror, only to see a gyrfalcon descending from the sky, circling above the hall.
In its sharp talons, a scroll was clearly hanging open!
In the painting, a middle-aged man with a refined appearance, seven parts similar to Emperor Ren, stood smiling.
Prince Chen!
Boom!
The entire hall instantly erupted into chaos, and everyone's faces turned pale in an instant.
The festive atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point, and the air seemed to solidify.
How Prince Chen died, everyone present knew perfectly well.
The common people might not know the inside story, but these imperial relatives and veteran officials of two dynasties were all very clear.
On this joyous day, in front of so many princes and nobles, to display a portrait of Emperor Ren's political enemy, what was the meaning of this?
Rebellion?!
Just as everyone was terrified and at a loss,
A middle-aged man dressed in censor's official robes suddenly stepped out from among the guests. He pointed at Shen Yulou and shouted in a severe tone,
"Audacious Shen Yulou! How dare you openly pay respects to a traitor on your wedding day! This is a grave offense of disrespect, with ill intentions, and your heart deserves to be punished!"
"Your subject, Guo Chang, the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, respectfully requests Prince Rui to preside over this matter and have Shen Yulou thrown into the imperial prison to severely punish this rebellious traitor!"
In an instant, everyone's gaze focused on Shen Yulou.
But a smile, which no one could understand, appeared at the corner of Shen Yulou's mouth.
Good heavens, is this guy a professional extortion actor?
His acting is superb.
Shen Yulou was secretly amused; he had long since found out that Guo Chang was Consort Shu's man.
He was originally promoted by that old fellow Feng Yusi, but when Feng Yusi fell, he remained unharmed, showing that he was also good at maneuvering.
Today's scene, Shen Yulou was waiting for him.
The atmosphere of the entire hall instantly transformed from a lively wedding banquet into a cold execution ground.
The guests dared not breathe, each one as if a pause button had been pressed.
Everyone could see that someone was trying to utterly destroy Shen Yulou!
In this deathly silence, Shen Yulou, holding the Princess's hand, not only did not panic but stepped forward, a hint of faint mockery on his lips.
He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but like an awl, it sharply pierced everyone's ears.
"You said, who, is a traitor?"
Guo Chang stiffened his neck, righteous in his words: "Naturally, it is Prince Chen! Who doesn't know about the events of that year?!"
"Oh?"
Shen Yulou raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Prince Chen was a prince personally enfeoffed by His Majesty, and his memorial tablet is enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
You, a mere censor, dare to say that a prince personally enfeoffed by His Majesty is a traitor?
Lord Guo, do you mean to say that the current Emperor is a poor judge of character, shelters criminals, and associates with traitors?"
Boom!
These words were even more destructive than the painting just now!
Everyone present, their faces instantly turned paler than the white shirts they wore.
Damn it!
What an accusation!
Saying Prince Chen was a traitor at most exposed a royal scandal.
Saying the Emperor associated with traitors, that was asking for the extermination of nine generations!
Guo Chang's cold sweat immediately poured down, his legs went soft, and he almost collapsed to his knees.
He tremblingly pointed at Shen Yulou: "You... you're slandering me! I didn't mean that!
Prince Chen was indeed a traitor; His Majesty enfeoffed him as a prince merely out of brotherly affection and extraordinary benevolence!
For so many years, the palace has absolutely forbidden the appearance of Prince Chen's portrait or memorial tablet, yet today it appears at your wedding. You harbor malicious intentions!"
"What the hell are you talking about!"
A furious roar made everyone flinch.
Prince Rui, seated at the host's table, slammed the table, his plump face full of rage, and he pointed at Guo Chang's nose and cursed,
"You scoundrel! His Majesty personally approved it! Out of consideration for Princess Zhao Siyi's filial piety, he specially allowed her to pay respects to Brother Prince Chen at the wedding! I heard this with my own ears!"
Prince Rui was so angry that his fat trembled: "Something His Majesty has allowed, how dare a petty censor like you spout nonsense here? What do you think you are!
Guards! Seize this dog who frames loyal subjects and presumes to fathom the Emperor's will!"