Seeing Lin Qinghe remain silent, the Emperor asked, puzzled, "Qinghe? What's wrong?"
Lin Qinghe snapped back to attention and smiled faintly, "It's nothing, Your Highness was merely lost in thought."
The Emperor took her at her word, "So that's how it is..."
After finishing breakfast with the Emperor, he left for the imperial court. The moment the Emperor's carriage departed, Lin Qinghe pointed at a young eunuch in the Hall of Heavenly Purity and said, "Take me to You Rong's quarters!"
The young eunuch's face drained of color, and he stammered nervously, "Your Highness, our quarters are dirty and dilapidated. How can someone of your noble stature possibly set foot in such a place..."
"Silence! Don't make me say it a second time. Take me to You Rong's quarters! Otherwise, I'll have your head!"
The young eunuch stammered, "Your Highness, this servant, this servant..."
Lin Qinghe narrowed her eyes, her gaze as cold as ice. The eunuch, terrified, quickly complied, "Yes... this servant will escort Your Highness there immediately. This way, Your Highness..."
Lin Qinghe noticed the young eunuch repeatedly signaling to other eunuchs before he left.
She paid it no mind. She was determined to see You Rong today and find out what Wang Wan had done to him!
The young eunuch reluctantly led Lin Qinghe to the eunuchs' quarters. He stopped before a door, sweat beading on his forehead, and stammered, "This... this is You Rong's dwelling."
Without a word, Lin Qinghe pushed the door open. The room was sparsely furnished, but the bed was empty.
Lin Qinghe asked coldly, "Where is You Rong? Didn't they say he was ill?"
The young eunuch immediately dropped to his knees, terrified. "Your Highness, this, this... this servant truly doesn't know where You Rong has gone. Perhaps he went out on his own and hasn't returned. Why doesn't Your Highness wait? Perhaps You Rong will return."
"Perhaps You Rong will return?" Lin Qinghe stared down at the trembling eunuch, "Did he return on his own, or were you ordered to let him go? Hmm?!"
"This, this... this servant, this servant..."
"Hurry and take me to find You Rong! Or... do you truly wish to lose your head?!"
The young eunuch's face turned ashen. Terrified, he confessed everything. "Your Highness, You Rong was taken away by Eunuch Wang Yue and his associates. He should be with Eunuch Wang Yue. This servant... this servant truly knows nothing else! I beg Your Highness to spare my life!"
Wang Yue?
Wang Wan's so-called godson?
Upon hearing this, even with her simple mind, You Yue suspected something had happened to You Rong and said anxiously, "Your Highness, is my brother... will he be alright?"
Lin Qinghe pursed her lips and continued coldly, "Take me to find You Rong!"
"Yes... yes, Your Highness."
They arrived at the room where Wang Wan and Wang Yue often carried out their private punishments. The young eunuch stammered, "Your Highness, You Rong should... should be inside."
Lin Qinghe pushed the door open directly. As she entered, Wang Yue, with an impatient, shrill voice, cursed, "Who is it! Can't you see I'm teaching You Rong a lesson! How dare you interrupt..."
"Hmph! Wang Yue, you want to know how this princess dares to interrupt you?"
Lin Qinghe saw You Rong tied up, his face pale. Though he wasn't overly disheveled, it was clear he had been subjected to torture!
Lin Qinghe's face darkened with anger!
You Rong looked up and a flicker of surprise crossed his deep eyes when he saw Lin Qinghe.
How did she know he was here?
Wang Yue turned around and his face contorted in fear. He immediately fell to his knees with a thud. "It... it is Your Highness. This servant greets Your Highness. It was this servant who was ignorant and offended Your Highness. I beg Your Highness to forgive me!"
Lin Qinghe walked forward a few steps and stopped before You Rong. He, suppressing the strangeness in his heart, spoke, "This servant greets Your Highness."
Lin Qinghe "Mm"ed and turned to face Wang Yue, who was kneeling on the ground. She asked coldly, "Wang Yue, this princess asks you, why is You Rong tied up here? What crime has he committed? What law has he broken? Moreover, if a palace servant breaks the law, there are established palace rules for punishment. By what right do you administer private torture upon him?!"
"This servant, this servant..." Cold sweat broke out on Wang Yue's forehead as he desperately tried to concoct a story. "Reporting to Your Highness, You Rong broke a precious item in His Majesty's chambers. He deserves to be punished."
"Putting aside whether You Rong actually broke a precious item in my father's chambers, a matter that is yet to be proven true, you have administered private torture. For this, you shall accompany this princess to my father to explain yourself!" Lin Qinghe scoffed.
Wang Wan had lied about You Rong being ill. Based on this alone, Lin Qinghe was certain You Rong had committed no offense. He was simply favored by the Emperor, which made them jealous and eager to punish him!
"This servant knows his mistake. I beg Your Highness to spare my life. This servant truly knows his mistake..."
Lin Qinghe completely ignored Wang Yue, who knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing and admitting his wrong. She personally untied the ropes binding You Rong.
As soon as the ropes were loosened, You Rong, who had been bound all night, staggered and lost his footing. Fortunately, Lin Qinghe caught him with quick reflexes.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
You Rong met Lin Qinghe's concerned gaze, his heart stirred. He pursed his thin lips, stood up straight, and took a step back. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. This servant is unharmed."
Lin Qinghe intended to step forward again to examine You Rong closely, but due to the many eyes watching, it was inconvenient. She could only turn to Mei Lan and say, "Go and fetch the imperial physician!"
After Mei Lan left, Lin Qinghe instructed, "Take Wang Yue to the Hall of Heavenly Purity. After Father finishes his court session, this princess will report this matter to him!"
Returning to the Hall of Heavenly Purity, Physician Zhang examined You Rong and declared it to be superficial wounds with no serious harm. Lin Qinghe was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
She met You Rong's eyes, about to speak, but he quickly lowered his head, making it difficult for her to say more.
As soon as the Emperor finished his court session, someone came to report that Lin Qinghe, along with You Rong and Wang Yue, was waiting for him in the Hall of Heavenly Purity.
The Emperor found it strange but immediately ordered his carriage to return to the Hall of Heavenly Purity.
Wang Wan, following behind, felt a pang of dread upon hearing You Rong's name, a bad feeling washing over him.
When the Emperor returned to the Hall of Heavenly Purity, he saw Lin Qinghe looking furious as soon as he entered. He asked, bewildered, "Qinghe, what is wrong? I just finished my court session, and you wanted to see me, and you look like this... Did some careless eunuch in the Hall of Heavenly Purity anger you?"
Lin Qinghe said, "Father, Your Highness needs to report something to you. Wang Yue has administered private torture within the palace!"
The Emperor looked at Lin Qinghe, then at the pale-faced Wang Yue and You Rong, utterly confused.
"What exactly is going on?"
Wang Wan, unnoticed, gave Wang Yue a look. Wang Yue immediately began to kowtow incessantly, weeping dramatically, "This servant knows his mistake. I beg His Majesty to spare my life..."