Chapter 24: The Trap-Irmã Louca Rouba o Casamento? Após Trocar de Lugar com Ela e Casar com o Príncipe Herdeiro de Vida Curta, Eu Subi ao Trono como Imperatriz(Estrela e Pintura de Primavera)

The investigation naturally faced some twists and turns, but for Gu Zirui, who had the powerful Gu family as his backing, the minor obstacles set by local petty officials were of no consequence. Moreover, Gu Zirui was a capable man of action, and the case proceeded smoothly. Upon returning to the capital to report his findings, he was met with the Emperor’s praise and a flurry of rewards. Perhaps it was because of this affair that the Emperor recognized Gu Zirui’s true talent; in his delight, he promoted him two ranks, elevating him from a seventh-rank local inspecting censor in the Censorate to a fifth-rank deputy registrar in the Censorate’s Registry.

To have earned the title of "Tan Hua" (third place in the imperial examination), discovered corrupt officials while serving as a local inspector, and then received a double promotion upon the successful conclusion of the case—such a rapid ascent and such stellar achievements were truly unparalleled among his cohort of scholars. While the top-ranking graduates from his year remained in their respective offices, dutifully serving as mere background figures, Gu Zirui had already risen to fame with an unstoppable momentum. Being a seventh son of the Gu clan, with such a background and such ability, it was impossible for him not to attract attention. Yet, this very prominence meant that if trouble were to strike, it would not be a trivial matter.

When Ling Moxuan invited Ji Hua to this banquet at the lake pavilion, she had begun to carefully recall and analyze his schemes at home. She had deduced his plan: to use Gu Zirui as a pawn to drag Ling Yuzhao down. As the Crown Prince, Ling Yuzhao was surrounded by an elite guard, making it difficult for Ling Moxuan to strike at him directly. Furthermore, Ling Yuzhao was undoubtedly on his guard against Ling Moxuan. However, no defense is foolproof, and it certainly could not extend to every seventh son of the Gu family. Most importantly, Ling Moxuan had been meticulously preparing this trap for half a year, if not longer. The embezzlement case of the Qingzhou tax silver was a snare set specifically for Gu Zirui. The individuals Gu Zirui had exposed back then were indeed guilty, but through six months of manipulation, Ling Moxuan ensured that even those who appeared innocent would eventually be implicated.

The grand gift Ling Moxuan had prepared for Ling Yuzhao today was a group of so-called "escaped fish" from the Qingzhou tax silver case, who would surface to "thank" the Crown Prince. These people would cling to the Prince, pinning on him the crime of instigating Gu Zirui to abuse his power, eliminate rivals, and curry favor under the guise of the tax investigation. This matter would surely be exaggerated and whispered into the Emperor’s ears. Regardless of how bizarre the appearance of these individuals might seem, as long as there were witnesses and physical evidence—even if fabricated—presented before the Emperor, his suspicious nature would take hold. Even if he could not be entirely certain of the Prince’s guilt, the Emperor, as the Son of Heaven, would rather kill the innocent than let a potential threat go. He would inevitably order a thorough investigation into Gu Zirui and the previous tax case. Regardless of the outcome, Gu Zirui, the most promising young talent of the Gu family, would be ruined.

And that was not the worst of it. The gravest consequence would be Ling Yuzhao losing the Emperor’s trust, falling into a state of endless suspicion. After all, if one could manipulate an affine relative to eliminate rivals and form cliques, what was the next step? Naturally, treason! The Emperor was in his prime and would never allow anyone, even his own son, to covet his throne. Thus, if Ling Moxuan succeeded today, Ling Yuzhao’s position as Crown Prince would become precarious.

However, with her present, this would not come to pass. Ji Hua had already decided to cooperate with Ling Yuzhao. It was dangerous—no different from asking a tiger for its hide—but as long as she could take brutal revenge on Ling Moxuan, it would be worth it. Whether Ling Yuzhao benefited was of no concern to her; as long as Ling Moxuan did not get his way, she would be content. In her previous life, she had lived in a haze, deceived, used, and ultimately killed. In this life, knowing the cause and effect and seeing through Ling Moxuan’s schemes, she would not allow his plot to succeed or let herself fall into such a pathetic state. She only needed to keep an eye on Ling Yuzhao, ensuring he was not left alone to be ensnared by those so-called "escaped fish," giving them no opportunity to frame him.

At this moment, the chess match between Ling Moxuan and Ling Yuzhao was halfway through, the board at a stalemate. Ling Moxuan picked up a piece and glanced casually at Ji Hua, finding her leisurely sipping tea and eating snacks. He felt a sudden urge to shatter her unique sense of tranquility. He set his piece down, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Imperial Brother is truly formidable; I must rest a while before continuing." He turned his gaze to her. "I see Miss Ji has been gazing at the scenery on the lake. Might you have some reflections to share? Why not compose a poem so that I, too, may appreciate the view through your eyes?"

If her hand was injured, her mouth could still speak, right? If she could eat snacks, she could surely talk. Ling Moxuan wanted to see what other excuses Ji Hua could invent. Ji Shulan, already weary, felt her teeth ache with resentment upon hearing Ling Moxuan bring up Ji Hua yet again, asking her to compose a poem. She refused to believe her own suspicions. Was Prince Xuan truly interested in Ji Hua? That was impossible! She was his future Princess. By what right did that wretch Ji Hua have his attention? With this thought, Ji Shulan shot a venomous glare at Ji Hua.

The surrounding nobles, who had been intently watching the match, were suddenly invigorated. They stared at Ji Hua with curiosity, wondering how she would respond. They realized that Prince Xuan was deliberately making things difficult for her. Ji Hua picked up her handkerchief, wiped the pastry crumbs from her fingers, but did not rise in haste. She looked slowly at the resentful Ji Shulan and offered a faint smile. To others, it seemed like a graceful smile, as if she were accepting the Prince's suggestion. But to Ji Shulan, it was a clear provocation—Ji Hua was gloating!

The second miss, unable to sit still, stood up again. "Your Highness, is it not just a poem? I can do it! My sister has been so preoccupied with her snacks, what heart could she have for poetry? To be honest, among her skills, poetry is her weakest. Her tutors have often criticized her for lacking inspiration. I am much better. If Your Highness wishes to hear, let me do it!"

Ling Moxuan looked at Ji Shulan, who kept ruining his plans, his dissatisfaction undisguised, his tone icy. "Second Miss Ji, the eldest Miss is the most talented woman in the capital; she must be proficient in all the arts. You are her younger sister, and it is understandable to be competitive, but to try to outshine her in everything—is that not a bit unreasonable?"

The remark was heavy, and Ji Shulan’s face turned pale. "Pfft!" Someone in the crowd could not help but snicker, and the atmosphere grew even more awkward. Ji Shulan realized, belatedly, that she had gone too far.