No Explanations, No Justifications

However, nothing happened.

There was only the slightly hurried breathing of the Second Prince and the wind sobbing as it swept through the palace halls outside.

Under the gaze of over a hundred pairs of eyes, the flow of time seemed to be infinitely stretched out. Every breath was filled with unspeakable awkwardness and pressure.

Luo Zhao, the center of attention, did not even spare a single glance for the Second Prince kneeling on the ground.

She merely stood quietly in place, her gaze calmly directed toward the silent emperor on the dragon throne.

There was no panic from being accused, nor was there any hostility from being provoked; there was only an almost indifferent calmness.

It was as if the fierce impeachment just now was not aimed at her, but at some completely irrelevant stranger.

This almost humiliating disregard embarrassed the Second Prince more than any fierce rebuttal ever could, and it stung his sensitive nerves even deeper.

The civil and military officials of the entire court were as silent as winter cicadas.

Some officials who had originally expected to see a fierce struggle now felt a shadow cast over their hearts.

Her Highness's response was truly too abnormal.

What did she have to rely on? Or had she already given up defending herself?

Finally, the voice that broke the dead silence did not come from Luo Zhao, nor did it come from any of the courtiers.

Upon the dragon throne, Emperor Luo, who had been quietly looking down at the scene below, slowly spoke.

Zhao'er.

From these two simple words, one could not discern joy or anger; it seemed like just an ordinary call.

Do you have nothing to say?

There was no direct questioning, no pressure applied, and not even a mention of any specific details of the Second Prince's accusations.

He simply handed the power to speak over to Luo Zhao.

However, this plain inquiry fell upon everyone's ears with a weight far heavier than a thunderous interrogation.

Success or failure depended entirely on Her Highness's next answer!

Luo Zhao slowly turned around to face the dragon throne directly. Her movements were unhurried, and her skirt did not even stir up a single superfluous ripple.

She bowed slightly in greeting, her voice clear and steady:

Reporting to Imperial Father.

Your daughter went south to the Luo Capital by imperial decree to investigate corruption, rectify official administration, and placate the hearts of the people.

Taking more than a month, all matters have now been concluded. The case files have been clarified, the involved officials punished according to the law, the embezzled funds and grain recovered and deposited into the treasury, and the water transport regulations revised. The administration of the Luo Capital has been completely cleansed, bringing convenience to merchants and citizens, and stabilizing public sentiment.

Her speaking pace was neither fast nor slow, and every word was clear and powerful, echoing in this silent grand hall.

She completely ignored answering any of the Second Prince's accusations, instead summarizing this return to the north as a work report after successfully completing her mission.

All handled matters, including all correspondence, personnel transfers, revenue and expenditure of funds and grain, and judicial verdicts, have been recorded in detail by the female officials of the Internal Affairs Department. They are clearly categorized, fully documented, and complete with all necessary seals, without the slightest omission.

Speaking up to here, Luo Zhao paused and gave a signal with her eyes.

Shangguan Yunying, who had long been prepared, immediately stepped forward.

She held a heavy red sandalwood tray with both hands, upon which neatly stacked piles of bound case files and documents were placed, topped with several specially thickened master records.

With steady steps and a solemn expression, she walked briskly to the bottom of the imperial steps, knelt on both knees, and held the tray high.

The chief eunuch, Lyu Fang, had quietly stepped down the imperial steps and arrived in front of Shangguan Yunying.

Steadily receiving the heavy tray, he did not even cast a glance at Shangguan Yunying.

He simply supported it, turned around, and step by step, walked back up the imperial steps, respectfully placing the tray on the imperial desk in front of Emperor Luo.

The entire process was silent and smooth, bearing a sense of ritual that was meticulous to the extreme.

Luo Zhao's voice sounded again, her tone containing an implication of having successfully fulfilled her mission:

Since the matters in the Luo Capital have been concluded, according to past precedents and the itinerary, I naturally should return immediately to report on my mission, present the details, and await Imperial Father's instructions.

This is my fundamental duty as a subject and a child, and it is also the righteous obligation of serving the country.

Now that your daughter has returned, all the case files and documents are here.

She bowed slightly again: Please examine them, Imperial Father.

From beginning to end, Luo Zhao's logic was incredibly clear: I went to handle matters, now the matters are done, I came back to report on my work according to the rules, and the entire process has detailed records.

As for the Second Prince kneeling on the ground, he had been completely treated as thin air by her.

Above the court, deep shock and contemplation had already flashed across the eyes of many experienced and prudent officials.

Her Royal Highness the Eldest Princess's response was truly too brilliant!

Not explaining and not proving her innocence, but instead using open and upright political achievements and rules as a shield, dissolving the impeachment into nothingness.

This posture of only reporting on work and not involving anything else appeared both obedient and dutiful, while also revealing an indescribable confidence and a detachment that kept her out of the fray.

The Second Prince's face had already turned from red to green, and then from green to white.

He felt like a fool who had exhausted all his strength to throw a punch, only to hit empty air.

All the force rebounded back, making his internal organs churn and leaving him feeling utterly humiliated and enraged.

He wanted to stand up, wanted to roar, wanted to point at those documents and say they were all forged!

But he did not dare. Before receiving a clear signal from Emperor Luo, any further reckless action would be a breach of etiquette in the imperial presence, bringing disgrace upon himself.

Emperor Luo's gaze fell on the thick stack of documents in the tray.

Stretching out his hand wearing a jade archer's ring, he casually opened the cover of the topmost master record.

The hall was completely silent; there was only the rustling sound of Emperor Luo turning the pages.

His flipping speed was not fast. He seemed to be reading very carefully, pausing from time to time, his gaze lingering on a certain line or phrase for a moment.

Time quietly slipped away amidst the sound of turning pages.

For everyone in the hall, especially Luo Zhao and the Second Prince, every second felt like a year.

Luo Zhao maintained her posture. Even as calm as she was, facing Emperor Luo's scrutiny, it was still difficult to calm herself.

The seemingly incredibly brilliant response strategy adopted at this moment did not stem from her original intention.

Rather, it came from Gu Chengyin's instructions.

That man whom she hated to the bone but had no choice but to keep by her side.

Otherwise, according to her usual style, she would have long since gotten into an endless argument with the Second Prince.

Finally, Emperor Luo closed the document in his hand.

He raised his eyes, his gaze falling upon Luo Zhao. Within his profound eyes, no emotional ripples could be seen.

After a moment of silence, just as a flicker of hope reignited in the Second Prince's eyes, he spoke:

This time, Zhao'er has done well.

Water transport concerns the national economy and the people's livelihood, and official administration concerns the foundation of the imperial court.

To be able to calm your mind, clarify long-standing abuses, rectify discipline, and stabilize the region, you indeed have merit.

Since the case files are clear and conform to the regulations, then...

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the ashen-faced Second Prince, and then calmly withdrew it.

...let it be so.

These few light words were like a final pardon, yet also like a cold guillotine, completely ending the Second Prince's carefully planned attack.

Luo Zhao breathed a slight sigh of relief. She had succeeded; at the very least, she had passed this immediate hurdle.

Just as she bowed to thank her Imperial Father for his profound grace.

Before one wave could settle, another rose.