He Rui walked in and the trio turned in his direction.
"Granduncle, grandaunt", he greeted He Yu and Lingxi first before turning to He Yan.
"Congratulations, First Brother", he greeted.
"Second brother, you're late", He Yan said accepted the greeting.
"Yes, I was tied up with work. I shall drink three cups as punishment". He drank three cups of wine in one.
"I heard Prince Jing has solved the case. That's impressive", He Yu complimented.
He Rui turned to face him, "I couldn't have done without grandaunt's help. I would like to propose a toast to grandaunt", he said.
He lifted up his cup and drank.
Lingxi wanted to drinks hers but He Yu stopped her, "I'll drink" he said holding her hand. "It's fine, I can hold my liquor", she said and drank it anyways.
[Evening]
"By the Mandate of Heaven, this decree is proclaimed throughout the Empire:
The Li Clan, driven by treasonous ambition, conspired to massacre the household of the Prime Minister, sow discord among the Court, divide the nation, and harbor rebellious intent against the throne.
"Their crimes are unforgivable and their guilt beyond dispute.
"By imperial decree, the Li Clan is hereby stripped of all titles and possessions. Their estates are confiscated, and all those found complicit shall suffer the sentence of death according to the laws of the Empire.
"Let this serve as a warning: those who betray the Crown and disturb the peace of the realm shall meet the same fate.
"By Order of the Son of Heaven"
The edict was read in front of the residence and was spread through the court and the capital.
[Yanxue Palace]
Li Min was patiently waiting in the bridal chambers with her fan in front of her face when her maid rushed in with a sense of urgency.
"What's wrong? Why are you here?" Li Min asked with her fan still in place.
"Your highness, the Li family....." the maid, Qingtong tried saying but could not find her words.
Li Min dropped her fan immediately and walked up to her with impatience.
"What happened to the Li family?" she asked.
"The Li family... the Li family was found to be guilty of the Prime Minister's death. His Majesty...." Qingtong tried to find the right words.
Li Min held her arms with growing fear, "What did his Majesty do? Speak!"
"His Majesty has ordered the entire Li family to be executed"
The thunder rumbled in the sky and the heavy downpour of rain suddenly gushed down adding drama to the revelation.
"What did you say?"
"But, Your Highness, don't worry. Prince Cheng specifically went to beg His Majesty to spare your life. You're safe", Qingtong assured her even though they both knew that was not the words Li Min wanted to hear at that moment.
Li Min, ignoring all etiquette, pushed Qingtong aside and rushed out of her room in her bridal attire despite the heavy downpour.
She rushed to the palace but the guards stopped her.
"Your majesty, my father has served you for decades; he would never betray the nation! Your majesty, you must see the truth!" she shouted as the guards tried to free her arms from the guards dragging her away.
"Let go of me!" she yelled at them even though it was futile.
"Your majesty, I beg you to see through the enemy's plot. My father has served by your side faithfully! You must not do this!" she kept shouting.
The gates of the palace suddenly opened. Li Min, though panting, felt a glimmer of hope.
It wasn't He Jingcheng, but rather, Eunuch Go.
"His Majesty is asleep. Your Highness, please go back", he said.
"No! I must see His Majesty", Li Min insisted.
"His Majesty spared you out of compassion and Prince Cheng's pleading. If Your Highness keeps on behaving like this, His Majesty will have no choice but to treat you as an accomplice", Eunuch Go spoke very calmly.
Li Min felt her knees go weak and it was the guards that prevented her from falling to the ground.
"No, no", she muttered in desperation.
"Your Highness, let's go back", Qingtong had reached her side with an umbrella.
"How dare you hold Her Highness like that? Let go of her!" she scolded the guards.
The guards let go of her and left. Qingtong was left supporting Li Min.
"Qingtong, what's going on?" Li Min's tears were rushing with the rain.
"Your Highness, let's go back", Qingtong urged.
Li Min shook her head. Was she just going to accept her fate like this? No.
She released herself from Qingtong's embrace and ran out of the palace. Qingtong ran behind her trying to shield her from the rain with the umbrella.They soon reached Fengyin Hall but were not allowed entry.
Lady Mao was the one who showed. She gave a slight curtsy before passing her message, "Her Highness is unwell and has gone to sleep early. Your Highness, please head back".
Li Min looked into Fengyin Hall and could clearly see that the lights were still on.
She knelt down, "your highness, my father has served you faithfully for years. Is this how you repay him?"
Lady Mao went back inside and the lights went off.
"Your highness, I shall kneel here till you see me", Li Min refused to get up despite Qingtong's insistence.
"Your highness", Qingtong curtsied. It was Prince Jing.
He bent down to hold Li Min. "Min'er, let's go back", he said softly but Li Min removed his hands from her shoulders.
She was in no mood to listen to him. He Yan knowing he could do nothing about her could only sigh. Even he was heartbroken to see Li Min like this but he knew his mother very well - even if the world was ending, she would not see Li Min. He lifted Li Min in his arms.
"Let go! Let go of me!" she screamed hitting his chest as he carried her out.
Qingtong was still holding the umbrella above them.
[Yanxue Hall]
Li Min had a towel wrapped around her as she sat on the bed. Her hair was still dripping and she had undoubtedly caught a cold.
"Drink this", He Yan held a bowl of warm medicine in front of her.
She turned her head away. He Yan sat next to her and served the medicine in the spoon. He placed it in front of her lips but she turned her face away. He sighed and set the bowl down.
"What happened to the Li family was unfortunate but there's nothing more we can do", he tried to make her understand.
She did not answer.
He brought out a folded note from his dress and showed her, "your father asked me to give this to you", he said.
Li Min reached for it but he shifted it backwards. Her look was asking him what he meant.
He picked up the bowl of medicine, "drink this first and I'll give it to you"
Li Min did not seem to be able to argue back. Her voice was rather parched from the screaming and cold rain. Even her emotions put her voice on hold. She could only open her mouth and let him feed her.
[Channing Palace]
Lingxi was seated by the reading table. She picked up a book and opened it. Using the red ink on the table, she crossed the first name on the page, 'Li Changsheng'.
She turned the page to view the next name, 'Eunuch Go'.
She closed the book and set it down, 'deceptive fox, was it really your doing?'
'Meanwhile, He Yu was brewing tea in the garden.
"Your highness", Jun Jie greeted, "everything has gone as planned. After receiving the letters, Prince Jing sent a message to his majesty and the imperial decree was sent"
He Yu poured the tea slowly on the teacup without a word.
After a long pause, he finally said, "Li Changsheng is gone. It's time for the next person"
Jun Jie nodded and He Yu's lip gave a short smile.