"I don't know," Xie Zhaozhao said, quite surprised. "Why do you say that, Father?"

"Today in court, the Crown Prince fell ill. After court, Princess Yu Rong stormed into the palace and revealed that the Crown Prince's illness was caused by the deceased young master Gu from the Earl's Mansion and his concubine."

Xie Anfeng said, "Young Master Gu's concubine is the daughter of Guan Shanyue, who was beheaded more than ten years ago."

In other words, Princess Yurong accused the Earl's family of two crimes: harboring fugitives and poisoning the Crown Prince.

They were all heinous crimes that led to the extermination of entire families.

Xie Anfeng meant that Lord Gu Zheng was really not worth Princess Yurong's attention.

Her target is definitely Gu Shaoyu and Xie Zhaozhao.

Xie Zhaozhao frowned and said, "Gu Chengyan and his concubine are both dead. Does she have any evidence to slander the Earl's Mansion like this?"

“Princess Yu Rong was well prepared and presented evidence. Not only were there testimonies from the armored men in the place of exile when Gu Chengyan saved Guan Yingying, but there was also a letter with Guan Yingying’s own signature that she had poisoned the Crown Prince.”

Xie Anfeng said that His Majesty withheld all the evidence and did not hand it over to the Court of Judicial Review.

After hearing Xie Anfeng's words, Xie Zhaozhao already understood the situation.

His Majesty intends to protect Gu Shaoyu.

Princess Yu Rong used her newfound life to fabricate all the evidence against "Guan Yingying" using her own handwriting.

Princess Yu Rong is Guan Yingying, and only Xie Zhaozhao knows this. Even if Xie Zhaozhao told Xie Anfeng, he might not believe her.

The father and daughter exchanged information and discussed it for a long time.

As Xie Zhaozhao left the study, she said to Xie Anfeng, "Father, I will go back and immediately discuss countermeasures with my second elder brother and Gu Zheng. I will definitely exonerate myself and the Grand Secretary."

Xie Anfeng said, "Tell the Gu family to be clear-headed. Without Grand Secretary Gu, the Earl's Mansion cannot survive even for a day."

"yes."

Xie Zhaozhao wasn't afraid. His Majesty wouldn't kill her and Gu Shaoyu just because Princess Yurong complained. Besides, the Earl's Mansion had a get-out-of-jail-free card!

What she had to do was figure out the best way to extricate the Earl's Mansion from the situation while simultaneously implicating Princess Yu Rong!

Princess Yurong was able to come up with so much cash to buy a large ship at once, so she must have some trump card up her sleeve from the Wei family.

We must reveal all her cards before killing her.

Those confidence points cannot be left to Wei Jingzhong.

Upon returning to Qingpu Garden, Xie Zhaozhao instructed Mo Yan to invite Gu Zhongyu and Gu Zheng over, saying she had urgent matters to discuss.

Soon, Gu Zhongyu and Gu Zheng arrived at Qingpuyuan.

When Xie Zhaozhao said that Princess Yurong had accused the Earl's family of two crimes before the Emperor, Gu Zhongyu and Gu Zheng were both dumbfounded.

"Isn't that bullshit? The case that my third brother tried resulted in them being exiled to the wilderness, and then his own nephew is supposed to rescue that guy surnamed Guan?"

Gu Zhongyu flew into a rage upon hearing this, "How can you believe what Princess Meatball says?"

In a fit of anger, he called out Princess Yu Rong's nickname.

Xie Zhaozhao sighed, looking at the hot-tempered Gu Zhongyu, and said, "She obtained the signed confessions of the exiled soldiers, as well as a letter from Aunt Yue admitting that she was Guan Yingying."

Gu Zheng was shocked: "Third Aunt, does this mean that the two major crimes committed by the Earl's Mansion—one of harboring fugitives and the other of harming the Crown Prince—are both related to my brother?"

"right!"

"What should we do?" Gu Zheng panicked immediately. "Third Aunt, is she really that wicked woman?"

Xie Zhaozhao said, "I'm not sure. But the information provided by Princess Yurong does contain many of her handwritten letters, proving that she is indeed Guan Shi and that she did indeed poison the Crown Prince."

Gu Zheng said in despair, "Each of these is a capital offense!"

Gu Zhongyu said, "What is there to confess to? My elder brother and his direct descendants are all gone. What is there to confess to? If they want to pursue this matter, let them dig up my grave!"

“Getting angry won’t help. Let’s discuss a solution.”

Xie Zhaozhao said, "His Majesty or the Empress will likely summon Gu Zheng for questioning today or tomorrow."

Gu Zheng, remember this: if His Majesty summons you to the palace, I will certainly be able to defend myself before him. If the Empress issues an imperial decree, you must immediately send someone to inform me.”

"Yes, Third Aunt, I've written it all down."

The group discussed their strategy in detail. Gu Zheng and Gu Zhongyu were extremely worried and left with heavy hearts.

The following day at noon, an imperial edict was indeed issued from the palace: Princess Yu Rong and the Crown Prince had accused the Marquis of Pingyang of harboring fugitives and poisoning the Crown Prince, and summoned the Old Madam, Gu Zheng, Gu Zhongyu and his wife, and Xie Zhaozhao to the palace.

Hua Zisheng came to deliver the imperial decree and quietly told Xie Zhaozhao, "Madam Grand Secretary, His Majesty is personally handling the case and instructs you to boldly refute his arguments."

Xie Zhaozhao felt much relieved.

The old lady was released from the sealed-off Ci'en Nursery and looked extremely old.

However, Gu Zheng provided her with good food and drink, and dressed her in luxurious clothes.

"Mother." Xie Zhaozhao bowed to the old lady according to etiquette.

"I wouldn't dare," the old lady said sarcastically, then suddenly asked, "Are you pregnant?"

“Yes,” Xie Zhaozhao lowered her eyes slightly, “the pregnancy is still in its early stages.”

Suddenly, tears streamed down the old lady's face. She said viciously, "You also have children now. When you, an old woman, bury your young, you'll know the pain of losing your own flesh and blood. It's pitiful how tragically the Earl and Yan'er died."

Manman was furious and snapped, "Madam, are you senile? How can you talk like that?"

"Madam, please watch your words!" Xie Zhaozhao was also very displeased.

Madam Lu had been grateful ever since Xie Zhaozhao helped her arrange the marriage between Gu Huanhuan and Gu Mianmian.

Hearing the old lady's sarcastic remarks about Xie Zhaozhao, she immediately became angry: "If you can't speak properly, then shut up. Is it fun to be disliked by everyone?"

“Your brother is dead, and none of you are seeking justice for him; you're all only thinking about your own power!”

The old lady was filled with grief when she thought of her eldest son and his family who had died. "I want to ask His Majesty, why is it that the Crown Prince forced my son, grandson, and daughter-in-law to their deaths, and he was only confined for half a year?"

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