"Miss Song is really persistent. Did you personally witness me eloping with the guard? If you didn't, how would you know I eloped with the guard?" Yan An smiled with dimples, her voice lazy and alluring. This Song Shuyun is really ridiculously stupid.

“I saw you there. You were sitting in the carriage when the guards from the Yan residence drove it that day.”

"How do you know it's me sitting in the carriage, and not you?" Yan An continued to ask.

"It was your guards who said that you should leave the city quickly and that the people should make way." Song Shuyun forced herself to calm down. Everything seemed reasonable and justified, and she felt as if she had grasped a lifeline.

"Oh... since Miss Song has put it that way, would you like to see what this is?"

Yan An took out the imperial edict given to him by the emperor before he left from his sleeve. Yan An had been taking extremely remote paths all the way and had not used the imperial edict. He never expected to use it here.

Yan An unfolded the imperial edict, and its contents were displayed in full before Song Shuyun.

“This…this is impossible, impossible…” Song Shuyun shook his head, his face growing paler and paler. He felt utterly hopeless, as if the world before him had collapsed in the blink of an eye.

“How is it impossible? Miss Song, are you trying to frame me again for falsely conveying the imperial decree? Fourteen years ago, my master took me away. Did you hear what he said before he left? If you did hear that I went to the southern border with Yue Xiyuan to quell the rebellion, what’s wrong with that? Or are you questioning the Emperor’s decree?” Yan An said firmly.

"No...no...that's not how it is." It turned out that he was the clown all along, and that the Emperor and Empress Dowager knew all about it. It was all over...Song Shuyun collapsed to the ground.

"It was Liu Xuening, it was all Liu Xuening. Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, please do justice for me. I have never seen Princess An leave the mansion, nor do I know Princess An. It was Liu Xuening who told me this. It was Liu Xuening who made me do this. Please, Empress Dowager, do justice for me."

Upon hearing Song Shuyun reveal everything about her, Liu Xuening cursed inwardly: "Useless." Kneeling before the Emperor and Empress Dowager, she said, "Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, I am the same age as Miss Song, and I wish to befriend her. A few days ago, Miss Song and I went to Qianyi Pavilion to buy clothes. During our conversation, we mentioned Princess An. She said she seemed to have seen the Yan family's carriage leave the city a few days ago, but she didn't know if it was the Yan family's carriage or if it was Princess An. She thought that if Princess An didn't mind my lowly status, she would like to get to know her. Princess An is a disciple of Venerable Bai Qing, and I am also considered to be of good standing. However, Miss Song seemed to dislike Princess An and made sarcastic remarks to me. After choosing the clothes, I went home and did not stay at Qianyi Pavilion. The manager of Qianyi Pavilion can testify for me. Please, Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, witness this."

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, my sister did indeed go to Qianyi Pavilion that day. She returned in a very low mood. I asked her, but she only said nothing was wrong. My sister has always been timid and simple-minded. She would never allow Miss Song to do such a heinous thing. I beg Your Majesty and Empress Dowager to investigate thoroughly." Liu Ruyan also knelt on the ground, pleading for Liu Xuening. At this moment, Liu Ruyan was also suppressing her anger: Useless thing, I will definitely teach you a lesson when we get back.

If Liu Ruyan hadn't considered that Liu Xuening was the concubine's daughter of the Minister's family, and that their fates were intertwined, why would she have pleaded for her?

"Alright, Song Shuyun has slandered Princess Yue'an, and the evidence is conclusive. He has spread rumors and insulted the royal family, committing multiple crimes including deceiving the emperor. He is to be thrown into the dungeon to await further punishment. Liu Xuening is suspected of seduction. Starting today, she is to copy the national law one hundred times as a warning to others. She is not allowed to leave the house until she finishes copying it." The Empress Dowager reprimanded her sternly, thus bringing this farce to a close.

"Your Majesty, Yun'er is young and ignorant. Considering that Yun'er's father has worked hard all these years, I beg Your Majesty to show leniency." Madam Song knelt on the ground, her legs numb, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

"Let's end the Hundred Flowers Banquet here for today. I'm tired." The Empress Dowager ignored Madam Song and turned to leave. After this farce, no one was in the mood to celebrate.

"Respectfully seeing off the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress Dowager Chen."

"Princess Yue'an, Yun'er is still young and not fully mature. She has been framed. Please spare Yun'er's life. I will definitely discipline her more when we get back. Please, Princess Yue'an, save Yun'er." Madam Song watched as the Empress Dowager left the banquet, then turned around and knelt down to Yan An. As Yan An was about to leave, she hugged her leg.

A look of disgust flashed in Yue Xiyuan's eyes. His gaze turned cold, and he channeled his inner strength into his palm, sending Madam Song flying two meters away. "Filthy."

Madam Song was so focused on pleading for her daughter that she forgot the ruthless regent who was by Yan An's side. Suddenly, she felt like she couldn't breathe and her whole body was trembling uncontrollably.

"Since Madam Song says so, then I, the princess, would like to ask Madam Song, do you think that the imperial decree issued by the Empress Dowager was a mistake? Or do you think that Song Shuyun was just joking with me today? If he was right, I would lose my innocence today, the General's Mansion would be convicted of deceiving the emperor, the Yan family of over a hundred people would be executed, and in a few days he would replace me as the mistress of the Regent's Mansion and rise to the top? If he was wrong, Song Shuyun's actions today would just be a joke, harmless? Does Madam Song dare to say that Lord Song and Madam Song were unaware of what Song Shuyun has done these past few days?" Yan An's lips curled into a cold, bloodthirsty smile.

Madam Song felt a chill run down her spine at that smile. How could they not know about the rumors that Song Shuyun had been spreading about An's elopement these past few days? They thought it would be wonderful if their daughter could become the Regent's wife. They never expected that Princess An would know!

Yan An's sinister aura was no less than that of the Regent at this moment. Madam Song then realized that her daughter had offended the wrong person this time and was truly beyond saving.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!