After the eldest prince finished speaking, he looked quietly at Xiao Xiyou, waiting for his reply.

Xiao Xiyou raised his head, glanced at the jade pendant in Xiao Nangua's hand, and gave a negative answer.

"This is not my jade pendant. My jade pendant is in the study."

“If my elder brother doesn’t believe me, I can order a servant to bring the jade pendant.” After saying this, Xiao Xiyou instructed Xiao Liang beside him, “Go and fetch the jade pendant from the third shelf on the right side of the cabinet in my study.”

"Yes, Your Highness, I'll go right away." Xiao Liang received the order and knew that this matter was of great importance and could not be neglected in the slightest. He retrieved the jade pendant as quickly as possible.

"Your Highness, this is the jade pendant you requested." Xiao Liang carefully presented the jade pendant with both hands.

Xiao Xiyou took the jade pendant, glanced at it, and then handed it to the eldest prince. "Brother, this is my jade pendant. It is very important as it symbolizes my status as a prince. I have always kept it safe and have never lost it."

The eldest prince carefully compared the two jade pendants, and found that they were indeed very similar. He handed them to the empress with both hands, asking her to examine them as well.

Then he began to question Xiao Xiyou, “Father bestowed upon us jade pendants symbolizing the status of princes, and the patterns on each prince’s pendant are slightly different. Why is the jade pendant of the imposter identical to yours? If we do not carefully compare and examine it, it is difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake!”

“This jade pendant was extremely difficult to make, and the blueprints were destroyed when the pendant was completed, so there is absolutely no possibility of copying it. If you hadn’t intentionally found a craftsman to carefully compare it with the original pendant, how could such a similar thing have appeared in the world?” After stating his reasoning, the eldest prince looked at Xiao Xiyou with great pride.

"And how do you explain the soldiers who were recruited without authorization, who claim to be under the command of the Second Prince?"

"Could it be that my second brother is also involved in this matter, wanting an army and intending to rebel?" the eldest prince asked Xiao Xiyou, pinning the charge of treason on Xiao Xiyou again, trying to drag him into the mess.

"I don't know why those soldiers would say they were under my command, I don't know why someone could make a replica of my jade pendant, and I don't know why someone would impersonate me today and drag me into this mess."

After saying "I don't know" three times in a row, Xiao Xiyou looked around.

"Your Majesty, Eldest Brother, Censor, Imperial Preceptor, and many soldiers are present today. I ask each of you to think about this: if I were involved in this matter, why would I, knowing it was a capital offense of treason, still flaunt it in Liuli Lane and have everyone acknowledge me as their master? Why would I, knowing the Prince's Jade Pendant was difficult to control, still let it fall into the hands of a weak watchman, and leave behind Xu Cang's letter to prove that he was in contact with me, thus arousing suspicion for no reason?"

Xiao Xiyou's righteous and eloquent words planted a seed in everyone's heart.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, may this old minister say a few words as well," Zhou Mingwei stepped forward and bowed to the Empress and Xiao Dongyang.

"This old minister listened from the side and exchanged a few more words with the Grand Preceptor. The ins and outs of the matter are now clear. What the Second Prince said earlier was not without reason. After investigating the matter to this point, it can be concluded that the Second Prince and the Third Prince have no relationship."

Zhou Mingwei stood ramrod straight. He was a veteran official in the court, so everyone gave him face.

"According to my understanding, this prince's jade pendant is not only difficult to replicate in terms of its pattern and style, but also in terms of its unique material. It must be made of the finest Hetian jade. All the Hetian jade in the Great Xiao Kingdom comes from Jiangnan. Due to its extremely limited production, it is managed very strictly. Some Hetian jade can only be used by the royal family."

"If we can find out who secretly misappropriated the Hetian jade, the truth will naturally come to light."

Zhou Mingwei's words reminded everyone, including the Empress.

“Hetian jade is strictly controlled. If someone has misappropriated Hetian jade, they won’t be able to escape for a while. Everyone is tired today, so why don’t you investigate again tomorrow, Your Highness?” the Empress said to the First Prince.

"Your Majesty the Empress is right."

Xiao Dongyang also knew that haste makes waste. Even if Xiao Xiyou had nothing to do with the unauthorized recruitment of troops, if he could find out that Xiao Xiyou had counterfeited the prince's jade pendant, he could make a big deal out of it and send Xiao Xiyou away from the capital.

After the Empress and the First Prince left, Xiao Xiyou slowly stood up and bowed to Zhou Mingwei, saying, "Thank you, Lord Zhou. If it weren't for your help today, I'm afraid I would have had a hard time escaping the wrath of my elder brother and the Empress."

Zhou Mingwei looked at Xiao Xiyou with heartache and said, "Second Prince, you are too kind. I have known His Highness for so many years and I know His Highness's character very well. Moreover, the facts of this matter are clear, and anyone with eyes can see that the First Prince wants to frame His Highness."

After Zhou Mingwei finished speaking, he paused and continued to remind Xiao Xiyou, "I happened to be invited by Your Highness today to exchange chess skills with you. I hope Your Highness will be more careful in the future."

Zhou Mingwei looked up at Xiao Xiyou; he could say no more.

Xiao Xiyou nodded, "I will."

"I am deeply ashamed to have troubled Lord Zhou to come all this way today. If you do not mind, would you please stay at my residence?" Xiao Xiyou asked Zhou Mingwei.

Zhou Mingwei shook his head. "My coachman is waiting at the door. It's not far from my residence. I'll be there in a moment. I won't stay any longer."

Upon hearing Zhou Mingwei's words, Xiao Xiyou did not insist on keeping him any longer. "Then I will see Lord Zhou off."

After saying that, he took the lantern from Xiao Liang's hand, saw Zhou Mingwei off, and returned to his residence.

"Grand Preceptor, aren't you leaving so late?" Zhou Zhizhi and the other person were no longer as polite as before, and instead chatted like friends.

Zhou Zhizhi had already gone into the main hall and started drinking tea when Xiao Xiyou saw the Imperial Censor off.

"Leave? Doesn't His Highness the Second Prince have anything to say to me?" Zhou Zhizhi shook the teacup in her hand and smiled at Xiao Xiyou.

“Since Grand Preceptor Zhou wants to hear, then I do have a few words to say.” Xiao Xiyou sat down opposite Zhou Zhizhi and poured himself a cup of tea.

"I thank the Imperial Advisor for today," Xiao Xiyou said with a smile. "The Imperial Advisor has always been wise and immediately understood my hint, which led the Crown Prince and the Empress here."

Upon hearing Xiao Xiyou's gratitude, Zhou Zhizhi calmly took a sip of tea.

"I just don't understand why you would go to such lengths to have someone impersonate you, and even have a jade pendant that is almost identical to yours."

"Today, the First Prince has the Third Prince trapped like a turtle in a jar. Clearly, your best course of action would have been to stay out of it. Why did you drag yourself into this?" Zhou Zhizhi asked, voicing her inner question.

She understood the male lead's hint and went along with his wishes, but she still didn't understand why he chose the more distant option.