After Zhou Xuance was arrested, Shen Zhiyi tried to find evidence to help him clear his name, but the palace was sealed off and guarded by soldiers, so she couldn't get in at all. The servant who reported her was also protected and she couldn't see him at all.

The capital's elites lamented:

"The Shen family's daughter is really unlucky. First, she married a traitor, and just after entering the royal family, the regent plotted a rebellion."

"Is she destined to be cursed?"

“I think it’s lucky, after all, she escaped the disaster of having her family’s property confiscated and her clan exterminated twice.”

...

In this world, there are not many who can speak to His Majesty.

Shen Zhiyi went to the palace to plead with the Empress Dowager.

However, the Empress Dowager, who had always treated her kindly and doted on Zhou Xuance, refused to see her at this time, citing illness as the reason.

As she was leaving the palace, she unexpectedly ran into the Empress. After she paid her respects, the Empress surprisingly spoke up: "Have you come to plead for the Regent?"

"After all, we are husband and wife."

“Shen Zhiyi, do you know that since he was arrested, all those who pleaded for him have been arrested by His Majesty? Now everyone avoids him like the plague.”

"His Highness is in poor health, and I thought of the Empress Dowager's affection for him, so..."

"Do you love me?" A mocking smile appeared on the Queen's lips.

"Your Majesty? What do you mean by that?"

“You and the Regent are not husband and wife in reality. You were forced to marry him in the first place. It is fortunate that you were not implicated. Why bother to get involved in this mess?”

The Empress's words were a reminder.

Shen Zhiyi simply pursed her lips and didn't say anything more.

——

The arrest of the regent has sparked much discussion among the public.

Everyone was puzzled. The Regent was already at the pinnacle of his power, wielding immense influence, and deeply favored by His Majesty. Why would he seek his own death? Just as everyone was trying to find the reason, a rumor from the streets began to circulate:

Consort Xiao did not die for love, but was forced by the current emperor to be buried with the late emperor.

The Emperor and the Regent are bound by the blood feud of the murderer of the Emperor's mother!

If that's the case, then everything makes sense.

The moment this rumor spread, everyone in Dagan was horrified.

"Second brother, where did you hear about this?" Shen Zhiyi was also shocked upon hearing it.

Shen Muzhi's expression was serious. "It's spread throughout the city, and I estimate that no one in the entire capital knows about it."

"Who spread the news?"

"I don't know, but the Dali Temple has already started arresting the people who spread the rumors." Shen Muzhi clicked his tongue repeatedly. "Who is so bold as to spread rumors about His Majesty?"

Spreading rumors?

Shen Zhiyi recalled that in the Regent's Palace, Zhou Xuance had taken her to pay respects to the late Emperor and Consort Xiao. The memorial tablets were hidden behind a secret door. Why were they hidden?

It certainly wasn't the late emperor's fault.

That can only be Consort Xiao.

Someone...

Can't stand him worshipping his birth mother?

The love between the late emperor and Consort Xiao has always been a topic of much discussion, so why was it not permitted?

Shen Muzhi continued to admonish him: "Recently, many people have pleaded for him, and many have also taken advantage of his misfortune. You are still his princess, so you must be careful."

Shen Zhiyi nodded in agreement.

The more she thought about it, the more alarmed she became. Just then, Hongrui knocked on the door and hurriedly entered: "Miss, officials from the Dali Temple have come to invite you to a case."

"What?" Shen Muzhi's expression changed drastically.

When the brother and sister entered the main hall, the Duke and his wife were also there. The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was quite polite, and seeing Shen Muzhi's cold and stern expression, he simply smiled and said, "Second Young Master, there's no need to worry. It's not that the case involves Miss Shen, but rather..."

He wanted to see Miss Shen.

Disgraced official

However, he dared not call him by his given name, and instead used the word "he" instead.

"What was he doing meeting my sister?" Shen Muzhi pressed.

"I don't know."

"Zhiyi?" Shen Chongde looked at his daughter, asking for her opinion.

"Father, I want to go see her."

At this moment, everyone avoided Zhou Xuance like the plague. Shen Zhiyi still wanted to get closer, but Shen Muzhi wanted to remind her, but was stopped by her father.

She specially prepared some food and got into the carriage with the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. She was not allowed to bring any maids or attendants. All prisoners, once captured, would be severely tortured and suffer a miserable fate.

When Shen Zhi saw Zhou Xuance, she was still surprised by his surroundings.

It was a house in the suburbs, with a fan blowing cool air inside, and many books piled on the table, and even some fresh fruits.

There were even imperial physicians on call at all times, just in case of unforeseen circumstances.

this……

Are they prisoners?

Are you sure they weren't captured to enjoy a life of luxury?

As members of the royal family, even if they are arrested, their treatment won't be too bad.

Zhou Xuance, dressed in plain clothes with a white jade mask that made his lips look bloodless, was holding a book. When he saw that Shen Zhiyi had arrived, he only glanced at her with his eyelids.

The two were talking, and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review did not leave; he stood by and watched.

Once Shen Zhiyi was certain he was alright, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Your Highness, here is some food I prepared for you."

Zhou Xuance didn't speak, but got up and walked to the table, "Grind the ink for me."

Although Shen Zhi did not understand, she still did as she was told.

He sat at the table, a paperweight pressing down on the Xuan paper. He picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote the three characters "Letter of Divorce" on the paper, startling Shen Zhiyi. "Your Highness?"

"I am a dying man and should not be a burden to you, so today I will set you free."

Shen Zhiyi's fingers, which were grinding ink, paused. "You specifically sent someone to have me come here just to ask for a divorce?"

"Otherwise what?" Zhou Xuance turned his head to look at her.

"We have no marital relationship and no affection for each other. I still have some gold and silver in my manor, which I will give to you as compensation."

As Zhou Xuance spoke, he suddenly pressed down on her hand, which was still grinding ink.

His hands were slightly cool.

His palm pressed against the back of her hand, and as they gripped tightly, a slight warmth rubbed against each other.

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