Emperor Jing looked at the thick stack of accusation memorials placed before him, feeling overwhelmed.
Having overly capable ministers isn’t always a good thing.
This time, he had intended to reprimand the Princess.
However, he hadn’t planned to completely ruin her all at once.
According to these memorials, they could easily bring down several Princesses.
"Beloved minister, are these accusations true?" Emperor Jing asked in a calm tone.
The Capital Prefect felt sweat forming on his forehead.
"Beloved minister, she’s the only sister I have left." Emperor Jing appeared somewhat dejected, "I know it’s because of me that she’s become spoiled over the years, and I regret it very much. I wonder if I have a chance to make amends."
The Capital Prefect opened his mouth, "This humble servant failed in his duties, please punish me, Your Majesty."
"Beloved minister, you have devoted yourself to the Court, how could you have failed in your duties?"
"I was unable to verify the authenticity of these accusations one by one," the Capital Prefect said, "If Your Majesty gives me a chance, I will immediately determine the truth of these charges upon returning to the Government Office."
"I understand that with your busy official duties, occasional oversights can happen," said Emperor Jing.
The Capital Prefect hurriedly left the palace, feeling as though his ancestors were protecting him today, for he suddenly understood the emperor’s intentions.
He actually guessed His Majesty’s meaning correctly.
This matter concerning the Princess cannot be handled lightly; His Majesty must provide an explanation to the people.
And also an explanation to the ministers closely watching the matter.
Moreover, the Princess is now the emperor’s only sister; as long as it’s not treason or a plot against the court, His Majesty is willing to forgive her.
So, he needed to carefully determine the veracity of these accusations.
He must both curb the Princess’s arrogance and yet ensure she is not irreparably ruined.
Indeed, the Capital Prefect was a good official who alleviated the emperor’s worries.
The next day, he went back to the palace to seek audience once more.
This time, the accusation memorials before Emperor Jing were extremely detailed, with the most appropriate punishments noted according to the statutes.
Emperor Jing read with delight, "Beloved minister, you are truly my left and right arms!"
The Capital Prefect let out a sigh of relief, his sleepless nights and bloodshot eyes from writing the memorials were not in vain.
"I will remember your contributions this time," Emperor Jing added. "Rest assured, for those who suffered grievances, I will open the private treasury and compensate them handsomely. As for the Princess, all punishments will follow your recommendations."
Execution may be avoided, but she cannot escape punishment.
According to his writings, the Princess would henceforth become a commoner.
This would probably be more painful for her than death itself.
The Princess Mansion was raided, with Shuangxi personally leading the inspection.
The decree that stripped her of her princess status was also personally announced by Shuangxi.
"You eunuch, it must be you who slandered me before the emperor! I demand to see His Majesty!" The former Princess, now a commoner, Zhou Kangping, was very agitated.
Shuangxi remained calm as ever, speaking slowly and deliberately, "Zhou..."
Frowning, Shuangxi pondered how to address her.
After some thought, he said, "Madam Zhou, careless words lead to trouble; when you speak, think before you act. You are now a commoner and cannot refer to yourself as ’Princess.’
As for seeing His Majesty, how could that be possible?
How could a commoner casually meet His Majesty? ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel{f}ire.net
"You eunuch, this is intentional vengeance!"
"I always follow His Majesty’s instructions, and act consistent with my speech—how could there be intentional vengeance? Madam Zhou feels unfairly treated, yet little does she know how much effort His Majesty put in for this outcome!"
After saying this, Shuangxi placed the accusation memorials in front of Zhou Kangping, "Madam Zhou, you may read them at your leisure. Look at these charges and see if you would still be standing here today?"
Inside the memorials was also a petition signed with fingerprints by the former staff members of the Princess Mansion.
Each accusation detailed things the Princess had once instructed them to do.
She was still defending them, never expecting they would betray her!
According to those charges, she deserved to die a hundred times over.
"Can I see these people?" Zhou Kangping asked Shuangxi.
"They have all been sent away; Madam Zhou cannot see them anymore," Shuangxi replied, "The situation is sealed; Madam Zhou should face it calmly. Otherwise, it will not be others who suffer but Madam Zhou and your daughter."
Indeed, the title and rank of Commandery Princess Bao Ping depended on Zhou Kangping.
Now, Zhou Kangping has become a commoner.
How can a commoner have a daughter who is a commandery princess?
His Majesty specifically instructed that they should not be separated as mother and daughter.
Therefore, Commandery Princess Bao Ping must also become a commoner.
After all, the Princess’s status cannot be restored.
Bao Ping, or rather, Xu Shuhui, was utterly bewildered; she did not understand what had happened, how they suddenly could no longer live in the Princess Mansion.
Moreover, she wasn’t allowed to take even a single piece of jewelry.
"Mother..." Xu Shuhui’s voice trembled, "What is happening?"
"Your uncle no longer wants us," the former Princess spoke with difficulty.
"How could that be?" Xu Shuhui refused to believe it, her uncle had always spoiled her and her mother, granting every request, how could he no longer want them?
Shuangxi handed the imperial decree to Zhou Kangping, "Madam Zhou, take this decree, as they are given to Madam Zhou by His Majesty."
It was a deed to a small piece of land and some silver.
These were Emperor Jing’s provisions for Zhou Kangping and Xu Shuhui’s survival.
Although the estate was small, well-maintained, it could provide enough to live on comfortably.
It could even generate small savings.
Of course, this was on the condition that Zhou Kangping would accept and manage it well in the future.
If not, this little estate and the amount of silver would sum up to merely a few sets of clothing for Zhou Kangping.
Xu Shuhui continued to plead with Eunuch Shuangxi, hoping he might take her to the palace.
Shuangxi was willing to speak a few more words with Xu Shuhui.
Though she was Zhou Kangping’s daughter and indeed knew nothing of worldly hardships, she had never intentionally harmed anyone.
In Shuangxi’s eyes, she was, at most, a pitiful girl fallen from grace.
"Miss Xu, it is impossible to enter the palace. You would do better to find a place to stay now, or hire a carriage to the estate; otherwise, you and Madam Zhou might end up sleeping on the streets," Shuangxi said.
"I don’t believe my uncle would treat my mother and me !" Xu Shuhui’s eyes welled with tears.
By being compliant, His Majesty could gain a good reputation and naturally wouldn’t treat them this way.
But by being non-compliant, challenging His Majesty’s limits time and again, this was His Majesty’s last resort.
Even then, His Majesty was still not hard-hearted enough to dispose of Zhou Kangping.
In Shuangxi’s view, His Majesty had already shown much kindness to Zhou Kangping.
"Madam Zhou, Miss Xu is not a child; there are some things you should not hide anymore, or Miss Xu will harbor resentment towards His Majesty for an injustice," Shuangxi sincerely advised.
Zhou Kangping glared at Shuangxi with tear-red eyes.
Shuangxi remained indifferent, "I have said all that I need to; Madam Zhou, take care of yourself."