Chapter 131 If a child is not properly taught, it is the parents' fault.

While the palace eunuchs went out to deliver imperial edicts, the emperor continued to review memorials, while Bai Xiuming stood quietly to the side.

After approving the two memorials, the emperor suddenly asked, "What do you think should be done with the Prince of Ying'an's family?"

Bai Xiuming stood quietly with his hands at his sides: "Your Majesty, I am only responsible for investigating the case. How to handle it is entirely up to you."

The emperor ignored him and continued, "Yesterday, many members of the imperial clan begged me to show leniency, believing that Prince Ying'an had merely been deceived and had not committed a serious offense."

After what happened yesterday, anyone who isn't completely stupid should have some idea of ​​what was going on.

Moreover, the Imperial Observatory went door-to-door checking bloodlines and actually caught a few people with mixed bloodlines. They should know exactly what the problem was.

Bai Xiuming was not surprised. Although Prince Ying'an had not accomplished much, he had always had a good reputation. Otherwise, His Majesty would not have decided to appoint him as the Zongling.

In the past, he wouldn't have said much about such matters, but for some reason, he thought of Ah Chan's so-called act of helping those in need.

He didn't care what became of the Prince of Ying'an's family, but he figured she would be happy to know they were not doing well.

Therefore, Bai Xiuming said, "Your Majesty might as well give Prince Ying'an a chance."

The emperor was somewhat surprised that he would speak, and couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

"I have no evidence to prove that Prince Ying'an deliberately mistook his daughter. Based on this alone, we cannot judge the character of his family."

Bai Xiuming certainly knew that the emperor was concerned about this.

Princes in the royal family may have their own ulterior motives, and may be incompetent, but their character must at least be passable.

"Then tell me, how should it be judged?"

"Your Majesty might as well test them for a while. It is understandable that the Prince of Ying'an and his wife only mistook their daughter for someone else, but if they are still unmoved after learning about their biological daughter's plight, then it is suspicious."

The emperor seemed to think the suggestion was good and nodded: "Then let's give it a try."

The Ying'an Prince's family did not expect the case to be resolved so quickly. Upon hearing the imperial decree, they dared not delay and hurriedly boarded their carriage and entered the palace.

On their way to the Imperial Study, the family was filled with unease. The fact that the case could be solved so quickly might not be a good thing for them.

Prince Ying'an was even more worried. He hadn't yet come up with a solution when the emperor summoned him. He didn't know what to do.

How will this be handled?

Upon entering the Imperial Study, the four of them knelt down and performed a grand salute.

The emperor glanced at them and said coldly, "Get up."

Princess Ying'an stood up with the help of Prince Ying'an. The emperor did not speak, and they all stood quietly to the side, none of them daring to ask first.

"Bai Xiuming, speak."

"Yes." At this moment, Bai Xiuming, who was standing to the side, said to the Ying'an Prince's family: "According to the investigation, the person who replaced the Princess of Xin'an was originally named Han Xiaotong. She was the daughter of a minor official in Jiaozhou and had known Xu Zecheng since childhood. After Xu Zecheng and the Princess of Xin'an went to Jiaozhou, the two met again. Xu Zecheng was dissatisfied with the princess's domineering nature and felt that Han Xiaotong was gentle and considerate, so he had an affair with her."

After Bai Xiuming finished speaking, he glanced at the Ying'an Prince's family.

Princess Ying'an's face paled. She always felt that Bai Xiuming's words were mocking her, that she had treated fish eyes as pearls and cherished them for more than ten years.

Bai Xiuming paid no attention to Princess Ying'an's reaction and continued, "Later, Xu Zecheng learned from Han Xiaotong that her fiancé's family had a secret face-changing technique. The two of them had malicious intentions and swapped the face of Princess Xin'an. Subsequently, Han Xiaotong killed her fiancé and Princess Xin'an."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's wife couldn't help but gasp softly. Bai Xiuming glanced at her and then said, "Fortunately, the county princess is lucky and survived."

It took a long while for Prince Ying'an to react after Bai Xiuming finished speaking: "Lord Bai, are you saying that Xin'an... is still alive?"

"Indeed, Your Highness should have seen her. She recently came to the capital with a ghost opera troupe and even performed for Your Highness."

Prince Ying'an was stunned: "What?"

"Her name is Yu An, but everyone calls her Yu Dajia."

Upon hearing this title, all four of them were stunned.

The Crown Prince's wife turned to look at Princess Ying'an. She remembered that the princess had given her a gift on the day of the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet.

On that day, both Jia Xin'an and Xu Zecheng were present.

A pang of pity suddenly rose in the Crown Prince's wife's heart. What had Xin'an been through all these years? How had she managed to endure it under those circumstances?

"She is actually Xin'an..." Princess Ying'an murmured, "If that's the case, why did she go through all this trouble? Why didn't she just acknowledge us directly?"

Princess Ying'an's attitude was so matter-of-fact that it left people momentarily speechless.

"Do not speak nonsense in front of His Majesty," Prince Ying'an whispered a reminder.

Princess Ying'an had no choice but to shut her mouth in embarrassment.

"That's a very good question. I'd also like to know why Xin'an didn't simply acknowledge you as his father, but instead caused this scene at my birthday banquet." The Emperor looked at them expressionlessly. "Prince Ying'an, do you know your crime?"

Upon hearing the emperor's words, Prince Ying'an thought to himself that the emperor was taking his anger out on Prince Ying'an's residence because the birthday banquet had been ruined.

He knelt on the ground with a thud, his voice trembling slightly: "Your Majesty, it is my fault. I mistook my daughter for someone else's, which led to this disaster and caused Your Majesty to be alarmed. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

Princess Ying'an knelt down upon seeing this, but couldn't help but argue, "Your Majesty, Xin'an's actions have nothing to do with us."

"It's none of your business. Isn't she your daughter?"

"But, but Your Highness and I haven't seen her for more than ten years. Even if she has caused trouble, you must not blame Your Highness."

The emperor looked intently at the person kneeling on the ground, then suddenly changed the subject: "What Princess Ying'an said makes some sense."

Seeing that the two visibly relaxed, he continued, "Xin'an dared to be so presumptuous at my birthday banquet. He may be spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape punishment. He deserves severe punishment. Princess Ying'an, what do you think is the proper way to punish him?"

Princess Ying'an quickly replied, "It is entirely up to Your Majesty to decide. The Prince and I have no objections."

"Really?" The emperor seemed unconvinced. "Xin'an has suffered a lot these past years. How can you bear to see him suffer like this?"

Princess Ying'an said with righteous indignation, "This is the punishment she deserves, and I will never cover it up."

Where is Prince Ying'an?

Prince Ying'an lowered his head: "I have no objection."

The crown prince, kneeling behind, couldn't help but speak up. He was very nervous when facing the emperor: "Your Majesty, my sister... my sister has been disrespectful, but..."

He couldn't utter a single useful word for a long time.

"Does the Crown Prince of Ying'an have a different opinion, or is he willing to take the blame for her?" the Emperor asked.

Prince Ying'an kept his mouth shut.

Disappointment flashed in the emperor's eyes: "Since you all agree with what I say, how should Xin'an be punished?"

Seeing that no one dared to speak, the emperor looked at Bai Xiuming: "Bai Xiuming, what do you think?"

“It is the parents’ fault if the child is not taught properly. The actions of the Princess of Xin’an are inextricably linked to the Prince and Princess. I believe that Your Majesty should severely punish them.”

Prince Ying'an suddenly turned to look at Bai Xiuming. He never expected that the other party would suddenly kick him when he was down at this time.

"Bai Xiuming, my lord has no grudge against you, how can you make false accusations!"

Bai Xiuming remained unresponsive, as if he hadn't heard their accusations. The Emperor, however, slammed his fist on the imperial desk and roared, "Insolence! What do you take this place for?"

Princess Ying'an then realized that she was in front of the Emperor. She trembled and knelt back down.

"I think Bai Xiuming's words make a lot of sense. Prince Ying'an and Princess Ying'an have failed to educate their daughter properly. She speaks rudely and disrespectfully in front of me and shows no remorse. She is really not suitable to stay in the capital. She should go to the Imperial Temple to cultivate her character."

Upon hearing the emperor's words, Princess Ying'an collapsed to the ground.

The Imperial Temple, though called a temple, was in reality a place where members of the royal family were confined.

If any member of the imperial clan made a mistake, the minor offense would be punished by being allowed to reflect on their actions at home, while the more serious offense would be sent to the Imperial Temple to reflect on their actions.

What did she and the prince do wrong?

It wasn't like they deliberately mistook their daughter for someone else. That vengeful spirit chose this day specifically to take revenge, angering the emperor and implicating their entire family!

Princess Ying'an thought to herself, "If I had known this would happen, I would have been better off not coming back."

If no one had exposed Han Xiaotong's true identity, their family would still be living happily together, and things would never have come to this.

Prince Ying'an was no better off than his wife; he cried out, "Your Majesty, I am innocent!"

"Where are you being wronged?"

"I have absolutely no knowledge of what Xin'an has done, and I didn't even recognize her."

The fact that he couldn't recognize his daughter was ultimately used as evidence by Prince Ying'an.

Unfortunately, he couldn't understand the emperor's thoughts and didn't realize that the more he said those things, the more the emperor would dislike him.

The emperor, however, was completely unreasonable, replying nonchalantly, "Didn't I just say that if a child is not taught, it is the parents' fault? Regardless of whether you recognized her or not, now that she has disappeared, you should naturally be punished in her place."

"As for you..." The emperor looked at the pale-faced Prince Ying'an, showing leniency towards the younger generation, "You shall go back and reflect on your mistakes in seclusion for a year."

The Prince of Ying'an and his family were thus sent out of the palace in a daze, and in the end they still didn't know what they had done wrong.

They might think that they had offended Bai Xiuming, and that the emperor had simply listened to Bai Xiuming's slander.

After the people left, the emperor snorted coldly: "A family, some stupid and some wicked, I really didn't misjudge them."

"Your Majesty, please calm down," Bai Xiuming advised. "Why bother arguing with them?"

The Ying'an Prince's family was dealt with, but the culprit is still around.

Bai Xiuming then asked, "Your Majesty, what should be done with Xu Zecheng and Han Xiaotong?"

The emperor pondered for a moment and said, "The Xu and Han families shall have their property confiscated and be exiled. As for these two, they have confused the royal bloodline, a crime deserving of death. Since the evidence is conclusive, they shall be executed as soon as possible."

Bai Xiuming considered it briefly. The Spring Festival was just around the corner, and it was not auspicious to see blood in the first month of the lunar calendar, so he decided to deal with the two of them before the Spring Festival.

He bowed slightly: "Your subject obeys."

Having said all that needed to be said, and seeing that Bai Xiuming still showed no sign of leaving, the emperor couldn't help but ask curiously, "Is there anything else?"

"When my subordinates interrogated Han Xiaotong last night, they obtained an unexpected piece of information. This information is related to the Lady of Jinyang. I am not sure what to do, so I have come to report to Your Majesty."

"The Marquis of Jinyang again?" The emperor raised an eyebrow. "There are rumors that you have a grudge against the Marquis of Jinyang's family. What is it that makes you keep an eye on them every day?"

Bai Xiuming said helplessly, "Your Majesty, this is truly a coincidence."

He didn't care about the life or death of the Marquis of Jinyang's family, but A-Chan kept a close eye on them. Unexpectedly, this time she was right.

"Alright, tell me about it."

Bai Xiuming said solemnly, "Han Xiaotong confessed that Lady Xue, the wife of the Marquis of Jinyang, had a father who was a minor official in the same government office as her father, and the two had known each other for a long time."

"What a coincidence?" The emperor became slightly interested in the topic. "What, is there some kind of collusion between the Xue family and Han Xiaotong?"

"The collusion cannot be settled, but it can be considered as knowing but not reporting. Last time, when the Marquis of Jinyang was investigated because of his daughter's marriage into the Shen family, Madam Xue found Han Xiaotong, who had become the Princess of Xin'an County, hoping that she would help the Marquis of Jinyang out of consideration for their past relationship."

"Past relationships? She knew Han Xiaotong's identity all along?"

"I share the same doubt, which is why I have come to consult Your Majesty."

The emperor glared at him: "You dared to arrest the Marquis of Jinyang, yet you're afraid of his wife? Do I have to teach you what to do?"

"Your Majesty is wise."

"Hmph, get lost."

Not long after Bai Xiuming left the palace, the Mingjing Guards surrounded the Jinyang Marquis's residence again.

Marquis Jinyang had only enjoyed a few good days when he heard that Bai Xiu had come to his door, and his face turned ashen.

But he didn't dare stop them, so he could only reluctantly go out to greet them.

"Lord Bai, what brings you here today?"

"My visit today has nothing to do with the Marquis of Jinyang. I request that the Marquis of Jinyang invite his wife out."

A hint of anger flashed across the Marquis of Jinyang's face: "What does Lord Bai mean by this?"

Bai Xiuming twitched the corner of his lips: "It seems the Marquis is unwilling to cooperate, then let's go in and search."

At his command, the guards of the Mingjing Division swarmed forward, and even the guards of the Marquis's residence dared not stop them.

Before long, Xue was brought out.

Lady Xue looked panicked, not knowing what had happened. When she saw Marquis Jinyang, she asked urgently, "My lord, what is going on? Why are they arresting me?"

"Lord Bai, you'd better give me an explanation, or I will definitely report you to His Majesty!"

Bai Xiuming looked at Madam Xue and said, "Madam Hou should be very familiar with the name Han Xiaotong, right?"

Madam Xue stiffened, but immediately denied it, saying, "Who is Lord Bai talking about? I have never heard of that name before."

"Is that so? But Han Xiaotong didn't say that."