Before Chu Qianli could speak, Chu Lingyang added, "Lan'er truly doesn't know how to speak, but she is pure of heart and has no ill intentions. If she says anything wrong, little Qili, please don't take offense."
"Your second imperial uncle apologizes to you."
"What are you saying, second imperial uncle? I was merely thinking of Father Emperor and wished to return to the palace to see him as soon as possible."
Chu Qianli composed herself and smiled at him, "As for the conversation between me and second imperial aunt... well, it's a woman's secret, so I won't tell second imperial uncle."
"Heh," Chu Lingyang finally felt at ease seeing this, "It's good that you didn't quarrel."
"How could I quarrel with second imperial aunt?"
"Heh, a woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea, how would your second imperial uncle know? Heh."
After leaving Prince Ling's mansion, the smile on Chu Qianli's lips slowly vanished the moment she stepped into the carriage.
The Princess of Ling had not offered any solution to breaking the life-and-death pact.
Whether she truly didn't know, or knew something but was unwilling to say, Chu Qianli was deeply troubled.
If the life-and-death pact could not be broken, she would be forever controlled by Lan Fan.
Must she truly perish together with him?
...
What Chu Qianli feared happened sooner than expected.
That night, the Emperor's sleeping quarters were filled with officials, all of whom had come to plead for Prince Yu.
"Your Majesty, outside the palace, in every corner of the imperial city, on every street and alley, people are singing a ballad that says..."
"What is it?" Chu Jiangnan asked expressionlessly.
An official immediately recited the so-called ballad sung by the common people to the Emperor, sentence by sentence.
Chu Jiangnan had a headache. He couldn't remember every sentence, but he understood the general meaning clearly.
The ballad implied that the Emperor, for the sake of his own power, suppressed his elder brother and even intended to harm his brother's family.
Everyone had heard that the Emperor had secretly executed Prince Hao while he was in prison.
Furthermore, the Emperor had even set fire to Prince Hao's mansion, intending to ensure that Prince Yu would have no descendants.
The reason for the Emperor's actions was naturally that he had found his princess, and wished to hand over the empire of Nanming to his daughter, hence he was persecuting loyal subjects.
The lyrics also contained sarcasm and disdain for Chu Qianli, calling her a mere woman who dared to covet power, shamelessly.
It even insinuated that Chu Qianli had shifted all the blame for her mistakes in the Xin Hua Village incident onto Prince Hao.
A mere ballad, yet it contained so much meaning.
"Presumptuous!" Chu Lingyang, who had rushed over, was furious after hearing it!
"For the sake of the people of Xin Hua Village, the princess stayed with the sick day and night, risking her life. Without the princess, this epidemic would not have been contained!"
"These idle fellows, instead of writing poems and composing songs to praise the princess, they are slandering her. Their hearts are wicked!"
"Your Highness, please do not be angry. This ballad also concerns Your Highness."
"What does it have to do with me?" Chu Lingyang asked angrily.
The official immediately said, "The people in the streets and alleys are also spreading another version."
"What version?"
"Your subordinate dares not say."
"Nonsense!" Chu Lingyang was furious.
What did he mean by daring not to say? After saying such presumptuous words just now, he was now putting on airs of not daring to speak?
It was simply pretentious!
"This..."
"Since you dare not say it, then do not trouble him."
Outside the hall, Chu Qianli walked in with steady steps.
"If they don't want to say it, why should second imperial uncle force them? It's not pleasant to hear anyway, so let it be buried. It's better not to listen!"