Lin Xianhong knelt on the ground.
She raised her head.
The officials on both sides were all indifferent.
Some looked as if they were watching a good show.
They scrutinized them with a half-smile.
She looked at Gu Yuan in the distance.
The latter acted as if he didn't know her.
He turned away resolutely.
Then she looked at Ning Que, who was at the very front.
At this moment, he was full of vigor.
He wore a crown, a dragon-embroidered royal robe, held a jade tablet, and had a sword at his waist.
He was sitting in front, leisurely sipping tea.
It was as if nothing concerned him.
Lin Xianhong seemed to hear the mocking laughter of the ministers.
Her hands were tightly clenched.
Her fingernails dug into her flesh.
Lin Xianhong was a person with extreme self-esteem.
She always believed she could live very well on her own.
But in front of Ning Que, she could never raise her head.
She always remembered the day she knelt before Ning Que.
The more Ning Que did, the more inferior she felt deep down.
Yet her self-esteem prevented her from admitting it.
She always saw only flaws.
Even Ning Que's explanations were useless.
Now... she was a prisoner.
Ning Que was a high and mighty Prince!
Even if she refused to admit it, it was useless.
Emperor Feng looked at the three kneeling figures.
"Previously, Lin Chao caused trouble. I, considering his military merits, only stripped him of his official position and salary. But this time, he led the trouble. Although he had no intention of harming anyone, he dared to disrespect Prince Ning.
Furthermore, he incited public anger, nearly leading to a great disaster.
I will punish you as a Siku, to guard the Northern Jiang, and atone for your misdeeds."
"Your criminal humbly thanks Your Majesty!"
Lin Chao trembled as he kowtowed.
Siku was not an official position, but a type of penal servitude, meaning to patrol for bandits.
If one was sentenced as a Siku, they were to guard the border.
To put it plainly, they were cannon fodder suicide squads.
They were usually responsible for border defense and gathering intelligence.
During wartime, they charged at the front.
It was fine if there was no war; at least they could live.
If there was a war, it was basically a one-in-ten chance of survival.
Lin Jiang's eyes were bloodshot, and his body trembled.
He knew that Emperor Feng had already shown leniency.
If he were truly to be held accountable, even if not sentenced to death, he would have his hands and feet broken and then be enslaved.
One generation enslaved, all generations enslaved!
"As for you... Lin Xianhong." Emperor Feng sighed deeply and slowly said, "I have already issued an edict, permitting Prince Ning to divorce his wife.
For three years of marriage, everyone knows you disliked Prince Ning.
Now I have given you freedom, but you repeatedly cause trouble for Prince Ning.
This time, you were even used by assassins, nearly causing a great calamity."
"Considering that you once saved the Empress Dowager and provided free medical treatment and medicine to people in Chang'an City, I will strip you of your third-rank medical official position and demote you to commoner."
"This commoner objects!"
"What?"
"Xianhong, don't say any more!"
Lin Jiang was so scared he nearly jumped up.
He tugged at Lin Xianhong's sleeve.
Wasn't this courting death?
Emperor Feng had already been lenient.
He did not pursue the matter further.
Lin Xianhong raised her head.
Even facing Emperor Feng, she did not flinch.
Ning Que saw this scene and merely smiled without speaking.
One could only say this foolish woman truly wasn't afraid of death.
Emperor Feng was quite polite to her.
This matter wasn't even thoroughly investigated.
If it were, she would be guilty of attempting to harm the West Liang Princess, which was a capital crime punishable by extermination of three generations.
She indeed had no collusion with the assassins, but she indirectly helped the assassins in their attempt.
If Ning Que hadn't reacted quickly, Samuer would have already died.
Unfortunately, Lin Xianhong was unaware.
She raised her head, utterly resolute.
"This commoner does not know the assassin."
"Nor did I intend to assassinate the Princess."
"This commoner merely believes that Prince Ning represented Great Feng in peace talks, but in the end, he had to give grain to Western Liang.
Doing so is equivalent to trampling on the blood of our brave soldiers!"
"They painstakingly guarded the border, without complaint or regret."
"Prince Ning, with a mere word, wants to give away one hundred thousand piculs of grain.
For Great Feng, this amount of grain is indeed not much.
But there are still many hungry people.
Since there is grain, why not save the Feng people instead of the Western Liang people?"
"Presumptuous!"
Emperor Feng was immediately enraged.
"Your Majesty, calm your anger."
All the ministers raised their hands.
General Gu was quite helpless.
Wasn't this courting death?
Emperor Feng had already made his stance clear.
Lin Xianhong actually dared to question him in public.
Did she not know that imperial power was supreme?
Emperor Feng could not be wrong!
The ones who were wrong could only ever be the officials.
Ning Que slowly walked to the center of the main hall.
He looked at Lin Xianhong and said indifferently, "This Prince thought he had made it very clear, but I didn't expect you to be so foolish, still thinking you are in the right.
Then I ask you, what was your previous position?"
"Third-rank female medical official!"
"Then what right do you have to point fingers at national affairs? And how dare you publicly question this Prince on Chang'an Street?
The fact that this Prince could facilitate the peace talks proves that I have received the approval of His Majesty and all the officials.
You, a mere third-rank medical official, instead of focusing on treating the sick and saving lives, dare to presumptuously discuss state affairs?"
"Put your hand on your heart and ask yourself, if this matter had been negotiated by Prince Qi or General Gu, would you dare to lead the common people to question them on the street?!"
Ning Que's voice was resonant and powerful.
Lin Xianhong's face turned ashen, speechless.
Did she dare?
She truly didn't dare...
Let alone General Gu and Prince Qi, even with other ministers, she would only dare to complain a few words in private.
She dared to confront Ning Que only by relying on their past as husband and wife, thinking that Ning Que wouldn't dare do anything to her, since he had tried so hard to please her back then.
"You indeed didn't intend to harm the Princess."
"But what you did harmed her!"
"If the Princess had an accident, could a simple 'it wasn't intentional' clear you of guilt?
If it weren't for your persistent entanglement, the Princess would have already safely evacuated.
You thought you were in the right, but you were gravely mistaken."
"His Majesty, remembering your past merits, only stripped you of your official position.
What do you have to be dissatisfied about?!"
Ning Que actually didn't want to bother with her.
But Lin Xianhong was frantically seeking her own demise.
He really couldn't stand it!
Sometimes, thinking about it was quite ridiculous.
His marriage to Lin Xianhong had no affection.
He only married her because his mother liked her.
Out of responsibility, Ning Que had never mistreated her.
He considered her in every aspect, fearing she would suffer grievances.
Unfortunately, Lin Xianhong had no sense of responsibility.
To save Gu Yuan, she cruelly aborted her child.
She even thought she was perfectly justified.
Her thought process was truly something else!
Emperor Feng waved his hand, signaling Ning Que to withdraw.
He looked at Lin Xianhong.
"Now, what else do you have to say?"
"This commoner..."
Lin Xianhong lowered her head, speechless.
She really wanted to retort.
But she didn't know where to begin.
Lin Jiang desperately tugged at her sleeve.
He was almost pleading with his eyes.
He was truly afraid that Lin Xianhong would continue speaking.
If she angered Emperor Feng, the entire Lin family would die!
Emperor Feng's expression was cold and indifferent; he flicked his sleeve.
"Since you are now convinced, your official position shall be revoked."
"As for Lin Jiang..."
"As a father, you failed to properly educate your children.
Since your children committed such a grave error, you too must be stripped of your official position.
Cao Shangshu, proclaim this matter to the world as a warning to others!"
"Your subject... humbly thanks His Imperial Grace!"
Lin Jiang raised his hands, tears in his eyes.
He knew it; the Lin family was completely finished!
The entire family, neatly together, had all been reduced to commoners!
Lin Xianhong lowered her head.
The arrogance on her face had dissipated.
She didn't look at Gu Yuan, nor did she hate him.
Because she knew that Gu Yuan couldn't help much at this time.
She only looked at the spirited Ning Que.
A pang of bitterness arose in her heart for no reason.
Now... Ning Que must be mocking her, right?
Watching her as a joke, feeling immensely pleased.
In reality, she was purely overthinking...
If she hadn't rushed to seek a scolding, Ning Que wouldn't have even bothered with her.