Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 225: Pleading for Mercy

The case was investigated back and forth for half a month, during which Song Qianfan mentioned countless times his desire to see Su Juan, but Su Juan never went to meet him.

It wasn’t until the case had settled, the innocent were acquitted, and the participants in the treason were about to be sentenced, that Princess Jing came to find Su Juan.

The grand Princess Mansion was as impressive as the Prince Jing Mansion once was, but now things had changed.

Prince Jing’s Princely Heir’s treason implicated the entire Prince Jing Mansion. Former allies began to distance themselves for fear of being associated and causing trouble, while those who were not on good terms weren’t shy to speak coldly.

Dongdong, fearing her mistress would be troubled, suggested, "Your Highness, should this servant go and tell people you’re not at home today, or else if the Princess Consort pleads for the Princely Heir, it would be difficult for you."

This treason case involved many people, and several with some involvement kept coming to plead. In these days, the threshold of the Princess Mansion was almost worn down.

Su Juan, however, said, "No matter."

Song Qianfan’s crimes were conclusive, his numerous offenses leading to inevitable death, and if Princess Jing didn’t plead everywhere, she couldn’t be at peace in her heart.

Today, she came to the door, and the entire Capital City was watching. It was also a good opportunity to let those people know that pleading was futile here, and there was no need to come again in the future.

Su Juan recalled the last time they met was during the Mid-Autumn Banquet that hosted foreign delegations. Now, Princess Jing looked far from how she did back then, evidently weary from running around for her son’s affairs.

"I wonder what important matter brings the Princess Consort here today?"

Princess Jing was somewhat embarrassed but had to speak, "Ah Juan, you once lived in the Prince Mansion for a while, and we always treated you as our own daughter. Now Fan’er has realized his mistakes, and this case is in your hands. Could you not, for the sake of past sentiments... show some leniency?"

Su Juan slowly replied, "The Princess Consort should not have come to find me."

"In private matters, he once tried to kill me many times, with evidence from witnesses and objects, there is no sentiment to speak of."

Princess Jing’s face turned unsightly, as there had been many rumors in the Capital that the Princely Heir had repeatedly hired people to assassinate Princess Jinyang. She thought they were just rumors... but didn’t expect that it was true.

Su Juan said, "In public matters, his crimes, besides treason, include looting the disaster relief funds destined for Xu State, which are grave offenses, unforgivable."

Princess Jing’s eyes reddened, "I ask for nothing else, just to spare his life... after all, he is the princely heir..."

"Is the life of Song Qianfan a life, but the lives of the court officials escorting the relief funds and the tens of thousands of people in Xu State not lives?!"

Su Juan’s eyes showed anger along with a chill, directly confronting Princess Jing before her.

Princess Jing was stunned, her lips moved, "But Xu State is fine now... those hundreds of thousands of taels can be replenished."

How did it come to this?

Su Juan clenched the teacup tightly and sneered coldly, "Hundreds of thousands of taels can just be replenished?"

"Does the Princess Consort know, how many thousands of people in Xu State starved to death?"

"How many suffered from hunger and cold, resorting to cannibalism?"

Princess Jing’s expression turned unsightly, her eyes lowered.

Su Juan watched her reaction and mocked, "The hundreds of thousands of taels could have saved tens of thousands of people in Xu State, but now are just a few words about replenishment from the Princess Consort?"

Su Juan’s words left Princess Jing speechlessly faced.

The tragic scenes in Xu State City were still vivid in Su Juan’s mind. Had the relief funds and grain arrived on time, would those people have starved?

Were it not for the magistrate in Xu State, and some wealthy businessmen willing to donate their wealth to help a bit, wouldn’t the number of deaths have exceeded several thousand at that time?

At this moment, hearing Su Juan’s words, Princess Jing hesitated, not realizing these things, only wanting to save her son’s life, even if exiled to another place with no return to the Capital.

Su Juan spared even the initial courtesy, coldly saying, "Does the Princess Consort know, that in this rebellion, His Majesty spared others in the Prince Mansion because of past sentiments with the Prince?"

"Today, Princess Consort pleads for such a criminal, are you not afraid of implicating everyone in the Mansion again?"

Princess Jing’s face paled like a brushstroke, "I never thought about it so much..."

She just wanted to save her son; the Emperor didn’t want to see her, and her husband didn’t want to enter the palace to plead for their son, so she could only run around herself, never thinking of these.

Having said all she could, Su Juan was unwilling to continue speaking with her, "Princess Consort, please go back, do not come again."

Princess Jing couldn’t say another word, being helped out. Once the most elegant and noble lady in the Capital aside from the Empress, now seemed to have aged decades, all because of failing to raise her son well, leading to such a great disaster, becoming like this.

Su Juan watched this scene, yet didn’t feel sympathy.

Song Qianfan’s rebellion, Princess Jing knowingly was complicit. For his foster mother, Song Qianhang presented a bloody plea to the Emperor, knelt for three full days without a drop of water in the dungeon, his knees ruined, before granting amnesty, fainting away, still not awakened.

He himself bore the Pei Family’s treason charges.

Both cases were in the hands of this Princess Jinyang, yet Princess Jing came, always pleading for Song Qianfan and never mentioning Song Qianhang once.

And with the same sons, according to Yu Zhong, Song Qianfan showed no remorse in prison, spent days cursing, never worrying about the other members of the Mansion.

He stayed in prison for how long, never asked about his father Prince or mother Princess Consort.

Su Juan only felt sorrow for Song Qianhang.

...

The next day, the Old Emperor summoned Su Juan for dinner with the Empress, "I heard Princess Jing visited you yesterday?"

Su Juan nodded, "Yes, she pleaded for Song Qianfan, wanting me to help spare his life."

The Empress sitting nearby furrowed her brows tightly, how could Princess Jing still be so confused at this point?

The Old Emperor glanced at Su Juan twice, "What do you think?"

Su Juan replied solemnly, "His crimes are all capital offenses, not implicating his family is already clemency, absolutely cannot be pardoned."

Her words greatly satisfied the Old Emperor. Some things must be understood clearly and not swayed by personal relationships.

The Princess Consort was just too confused.

After listening for a while, the Empress suddenly spoke, "If a child is not taught, it’s also the fault of the parents; I believe there should still be punishment."

The Old Emperor hesitated for a moment, "Prince Jing has volunteered to go to the fief; I thought about it, and maybe it’s not too late to let him go after the New Year."

The Empress, however, said, "I’m speaking of Princess Jing."

She was clearly aware of her son’s treason, and while the death penalty can be avoided, living punishment is inevitable.

She was still trying everywhere to smooth things over for that son, it was truly absurd. If not for making punishment, how will people in the world learn a lesson?

The Old Emperor looked at Su Juan, "I think so too, this matter is entrusted to you."

Su Juan was slightly stunned, "Ah?"

[Why do you always give me these tasks that offend people???]