Inside the main hall of the Duke's mansion, which was full of guests, there was a cold and deathly silence.

Shen Zhiyi was finally able to catch her breath, and her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. Shen Muzhi, who had never been able to tolerate the slightest grievance, especially one involving the confiscation of his family's property, sneered, "Lord Song, do you have anything else to say?"

All eyes were focused on Song Maozhang.

The Crown Prince scoffed, "Lord Song, today is a joyous occasion for the Duke's mansion. Have you had enough?"

Emperor Xiaoxuan's gaze fell slightly, exuding an even more imposing aura.

"No, it's impossible that there isn't one!" Song Maozhang's mind went blank, and his voice trembled. He suddenly turned around and lunged at the guard leading the search, "Didn't you search thoroughly enough?"

This shouldn't be happening!

Which part of the process went wrong?

He clearly made people...

"Did you search the Shen family's study?"

"Do you even have anything to investigate?!"

He grabbed the guard's collar, his emotions running high and his eyes blazing with fury, but only managed to elicit a low chuckle. Following the sound, Song Maozhang met Shen Chongde's mocking and questioning gaze.

"Song Maozhang, you keep accusing me of treason? You even say the evidence is in the study?"

"How did you find out?"

"As far as I know, apart from bringing Song Shaohuai to our Duke's mansion to apologize a few days ago, you have never set foot in the Shen family. Where did you get this information? Could it be that you have been sending people to keep an eye on our Duke's mansion every day?"

"Our Shen family members all hold important positions in the military. Are you trying to pry into the private affairs of our government, or are you trying to find out about important military secrets?"

Shen Chongde's voice was light and airy, which frightened Song Maozhang so much that his legs went weak.

"I...I..."

He wanted to explain, but his mind went blank, and his stubborn mouth couldn't utter a single word.

He subconsciously glanced at Emperor Xiaoxuan.

This prompted Gao Daban to shout angrily, "Lord Song, you're slandering the Duke of Zhenguo! Do you still expect His Majesty to help you?"

"That's not what I meant." Song Maozhang's face was deathly pale, devoid of any color.

Shen Zhiyi just watched silently without saying a word.

It was the eldest brother, Shen Jingchuan, who said, "How dare you spout such nonsense in front of His Majesty without any evidence, even claiming that the evidence is in my Shen family study? So certain, could it be that you had the evidence planted there?"

One sentence seemed to have hit a nerve.

Just moments ago, Song Maozhang was tongue-tied and at a loss for words, but suddenly he jumped up: "Shen Jingchuan, you're talking nonsense!"

"I'm just guessing, why is Lord Song in such a hurry?"

"How dare you be so insolent before His Majesty!"

"Who on earth dared to be so insolent!" Shen Jingchuan, who was originally gentle and refined, was dressed in red on his wedding day. Suddenly, his eyes turned cold and fierce, and his murderous aura made Song Maozhang's legs go weak.

"You accuse my Shen family of treason and disrupting my wedding banquet, where is your evidence?"

“Your Majesty,” Shen Jingchuan looked at Emperor Xiaoxuan, “Lord Song claims that our Duke’s Mansion has committed treason, but there is no evidence to support this claim. I now wish to counter-accuse the Song family of colluding with the enemy. I implore Your Majesty to send someone to investigate thoroughly!”

“Jingchuan!” Emperor Xiaoxuan frowned.

Of the three sons of the Shen family, he was the most composed. How could he utter such frivolous words?

Song Maozhang is slandering him, saying that after investigating the Duke's mansion, he turned around and wanted to search the Marquis's mansion?

It's like children having a tiff; you punch me, I kick you back. We're all government officials; we can't act like this.

"I will give you an explanation for this matter. Today is your wedding day..."

Before Emperor Xiaoxuan could finish speaking, Shen Jingchuan knelt down and said, "I humbly request Your Majesty to grant my request."

When did you become so childish?

“Brother,” Zhou Xuance chuckled, “Today is the young master’s wedding day, yet he has been subjected to such humiliation. Who can bear it? Why not grant his request and search the Marquis’s residence? It would be a way to vent his anger.”

Emperor Xiaoxuan glanced at Song Maozhang, who was trembling with fear. He said in a deep voice, "Go to the Marquis's residence and search it thoroughly!"

Shen Jingchuan knelt and bowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The guests whispered among themselves, all thinking that the young master's actions were somewhat childish.

"Has Song Maozhang lost his mind? How dare he slander the Duke of Shen? He probably doesn't have enough lives to survive."

"Who gave him the guts?"

"The Song family is completely finished this time."

...

The guests' chatter reached Song Maozhang's ears intermittently, causing him to feel flustered and trembling.

Emperor Xiaoxuan glared at Song Maozhang, "You have slandered an official of the court! Do you know your crime?!"

"Your Majesty!" He knelt on the ground. "I was confused for a moment. My son, Shen Zhi, wanted to divorce me, which made a very ugly scene. A few days ago, she publicly humiliated my young son, which led to your reprimand of me. I failed to discipline my children properly. I made a big mistake in my confusion because I heard rumors from others!"

He reacted quickly and immediately came up with an excuse for himself.

"Your Majesty, I only felt that the Shen family members all held important positions in the army. Although it was just a rumor, I dared not be negligent. Fortunately, it has been proven that the Shen family is indeed loyal to the emperor and loves the country."

Shen Zhiyi's fingers tightened, and before she could speak, her second brother had already jumped out:

"Song Maozhang, you old scoundrel, have you no shame!"

"You were shouting so loudly just now, ruining my elder brother's wedding banquet and tarnishing the reputation of the Shen family. Now you think you can just let it all go with a simple rumor?"

"You are truly shameless!"

“Shen Muzhi, His Majesty has not spoken yet, it is not your place to be presumptuous!” Song Maozhang gritted his teeth.

He was kicked several times by the Shen family members, and his body is still in great pain.

He knelt before Emperor Xiaoxuan and said, "Your Majesty, I was negligent. Please forgive me for thinking of the country. Besides, today is a joyous occasion for the Duke's family, and it is not appropriate to have bloodshed."

"I f***ing..." Shen Muzhi almost cursed, but Shen Zhiyi covered his mouth.

He was so angry he jumped up and down.

That shameless old beast!

On the day of the wedding, the entire household was searched. Who could bear such humiliation!

Emperor Xiaoxuan glanced at Shen Chongde and asked, "Duke Shen, today is Jingchuan's wedding. What do you think should be done about this?"

This question was actually posed to the Shen family?

Shen Zhiyi felt her heart pounding wildly. Our Emperor is truly…

Anyone would find it hard to accept what happened today.

His Majesty deliberately said that today was his elder brother's wedding, clearly wanting to let the matter drop. However, he wanted his father to say the matter, seemingly handing the decision over to the Shen family, but in reality, it was a hot potato!

Shen Chongde wasn't stupid; he understood the Emperor's meaning, but he hadn't spoken yet...

“Brother, haven’t we already sent people to search the Marquis’s residence? Let’s discuss the punishment after they return,” Zhou Xuance suddenly said.

Emperor Xiaoxuan nodded, "Then let's wait a little longer."

In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn,

The palace guards rushed into the Duke's mansion, panting heavily and covered in sweat. They knelt on the ground and presented a cloth-wrapped object: "Your Majesty, this was found during the search of the Marquis's residence."

Gao Daban took the cloth bag, which was full of letters, and opened it to take a look.

His eyes widened in panic, and he hurriedly presented the document to the Emperor.

The guests all craned their necks, eager to see what was going on, but with the Emperor present, they could only restrain their emotions.

Emperor Xiaoxuan took the letter, casually flipped through it, and his face instantly turned extremely ugly. Inside was an intricately carved jade pendant. The Crown Prince, who was nearby, leaned over to take a look and his face also turned pale instantly. "Father, this..."

"Song Maozhang!"

Emperor Xiaoxuan was instantly enraged!