Chapter 283: 283. Honest People Getting Angry

The magnificent capital was shrouded in a thick, white mist on a clear morning.

On the second day of Qiao Sen’s return to the capital, Di Ao rose early, a rare occurrence.

She entered Fang Zhou’s room with a buoyant mood, intent on teasing this beauty.

Because the spittoon happened to be taken out by the servants for cleaning, Fang Zhou had to resort to using the chamber pot temporarily.

Following the spittoon’s sacrifice, even the chamber pot had to be honorably sacrificed.

Watching Di Ao lovingly, from inside out, lick the chamber pot, Fang Zhou suddenly thought perhaps next time he could try using his foot, preferably unwashed for three days.

After licking the chamber pot, Di Ao was content, noticing that the beauty was increasingly unwilling to resist her teasing. Continuing this way, one day she might actually pluck him.

After whispering a few awkward sweet words to Fang Zhou, Di Ao turned and left, preparing to attend the early court session with the intent to swiftly defeat the weak opponent, Qiao Sen.

Once Di Ao was gone, Fang Zhou too prepared to leave.

As he had behaved quite appropriately for some time, Di Ao had long since removed the imperial attendants monitoring him, leaving only soldiers.

After all, it was powerful combat strength; it couldn’t always be used for such mundane tasks. Even if Fang Zhou didn’t mind, the attendant constantly watching him was quite dissatisfied.

Having quietly left the General Mansion, Fang Zhou rode the Xuanyuan Sword, flying to the Crown Prince Mansion’s skies, cloaked by the mist.

Qiao Sen, early in the morning, had already entered the palace with Yu Qing and the three others. Last night, under Yu Qing’s urging, she specifically visited several ministers who had consistently supported her, to explain her whereabouts of the past month.

She couldn’t wait for Di Ao to menace her, or she’d be at a severe disadvantage.

Through Fang Zhou’s instructions, Liuwa, last night, did not leave with Qiao Sen and the others but stayed on the Crown Prince Mansion’s rooftop, waiting for Fang Zhou.

Seeing Fang Zhou appear, Liuwa emerged, standing on the roof, waving at him.

Fang Zhou descended and carried Liuwa on his back, enveloping them both in a state of invisibility.

With Liuwa, this sneaky, thief-like human artifact, the imperial palace was like entering an uninhabited place for Fang Zhou, no longer needing to worry about being pursued by Du Ruxue.

Upon arriving outside the imperial palace, Fang Zhou saw many officials attending the early court session.

Carrying Liuwa, he lowered his altitude, transforming into ground-level flight; anyway, he was invisible and unafraid of being seen, flying high might actually be more easily detected by the array covering the imperial palace.

“Dong!”

Once the clock at Taihe Gate within the imperial palace struck, the officials waiting from early morning gathered, solemnly entering the palace gates, forming ranks in the plaza, awaiting the signal to enter the Chaotian Hall, dividing into civil and military positions.

Di Ao, with a tall crown and adorned in court robes, stood at the forefront of all the courtiers.

Following Emperor Qiao Zhi’s illness, Di Ao began to act as an agent in handling national affairs, turning the entire Chaotian Hall into her own dominion.

Carrying Liuwa, Fang Zhou also flew into the Chaotian Hall, looking down at Di Ao handling governmental affairs below.

Di Ao conducted affairs with striking efficiency; all reported matters were decided unilaterally by her, other courtiers like mere fixtures, devoid of opportunities to speak.

Before long, a sudden official stepped out of line, bowing to Di Ao: “Lord Di, I have a matter to report.”

This official had participated in Di Ao’s banquet the previous night. Recognizing her, Fang Zhou thought he finally came.

Di Ao revealed a faint, imperceptible smirk: “Speak!”

“Yesterday, I received a report accusing Princess Qiao Sen of quietly leaving the capital, traveling for leisure for a month…”

The official revealed Qiao Sen’s discreet exit from the capital, causing an instant uproar.

Qiao Sen had publicly declared she was fasting and praying for Emperor Qiao Zhi for a month to bring blessings, a matter reported to Emperor Qiao Zhi and permitted. Yet, she secretly left for a month.

Minorly speaking, it was unfilial; majorly, it was a crime against the sovereign, with most officials siding with Di Ao, eagerly condemning Qiao Sen’s actions.

A small segment of neutral or supporting officials were looking grim.

After all, Qiao Sen’s methods were indeed crude. Couldn’t she have left town under a different pretext? Instead, she ran out secretly at this time, caught red-handed.

Liuwa rested her chin on Fang Zhou’s shoulder, watching the chaos below, whispering: “So lively.”

Fang Zhou gently slapped her little bottom: “Don’t make a sound.”

“Quiet!”

The female official of Ritual Supervision had to intervene to maintain order.

Di Ao bore a sarcastic expression, speaking in a heavy tone: “Invite Princess Qiao Sen, offer her a chance to defend herself.”

The female official quickly acted, soon bringing Qiao Sen over, accompanied by the three from Yu Qing, though they had to wait outside the Chaotian Hall.

As soon as Qiao Sen stepped into the Chaotian Hall, countless gazes instantly targeted her, making her scalp itch slightly.

However, once she saw Di Ao, the fear and anxiety in Qiao Sen’s heart vanished, leaving only a simmering rage.

She stared fiercely at Di Ao, wishing to eliminate this traitor here and now.

Faced with Qiao Sen’s furious gaze, Di Ao was unapologetic, as she never regarded this almost wasted imperial daughter as anything significant.

Without requiring Di Ao to speak, some ministers recapped the accusation against Qiao Sen before she could defend herself, many officials eagerly hurled questions at her.

“Your Highness, with the emperor gravely ill, how dare you privately leave the city for leisure?”

“While the emperor is critically ill, you used fasting as an excuse to go outside and play, truly unfilial.”

“Not merely unfilial, it’s practically a crime of deceiving the sovereign.”

Qiao Sen, overwhelmed by countless inquiries, stood alone resembling a helpless blade of grass amidst a storm, ready to be blown away.

Fang Zhou couldn’t help feeling sorry for Qiao Sen; she was the emperor’s sole daughter, and though the palace was her home, she faced a mob of outsiders berating her within her own home.

At this moment, no one could help her, even those few ministers supporting her could not. Their voices were too weak.

Qiao Sen at this moment could only rely on herself; if her mental defenses crumbled, then her first head-on clash with Di Ao would be an utter failure, rendering her useless for any future battles, completely ruined.

Conversely, if Qiao Sen could withstand this ordeal, her fragile spirit would grow stronger, earning the right to combat Di Ao.

Amidst the barrage of accusations and insults, Qiao Sen’s face was filled with trepidation, her heart was similarly clouded with grievance.

She wished to defend herself, to say she wasn’t out for leisure but seeking help for the future of Chu Kingdom.

But she couldn’t speak up; no one would listen to her reasoning and justification.

Gradually, the fear and grievance in Qiao Sen’s heart were supplanted by fury.

She started to perceive these officials and ministers as blind to right and wrong, all aiding and abetting evil, leaving the ambitious Di Ao unchallenged, yet turning against her, the legitimate heir.

Facing countless accusations, Qiao Sen’s chest was filled with rage; even she–the patient one–couldn’t help but finally erupt.

“Shut up!!”