Chapter 439 Is this the same as that matter?

"A frame-up?" Xie Yuxiao sneered, his face turning ashen. "Whether it's a frame-up or not, we'll find out at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet!"

His eyes, sharp as knives, swept over Xie Yun, who was kneeling on the ground. His tone was so heavy it could crush a person: "When the time comes, all the civil and military officials will gather, and the Minister of War will also be present. I want to see how you will explain this 'collusion' in front of the entire court!"

Xie Yunyang trembled all over, and when he looked up, his eyes were full of resentment and injustice: "Father! Your son is innocent, and I will surely clear my name at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet!"

Xie Yuxiao snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves and turned away: "I hope so! Until then, you are confined to the Eastern Palace, and without my decree, you are not to step out even half a step!"

Xie Yunyang choked back tears as he replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey!"

The father and son spoke so quickly that Sheng Sheng and Xie Yunqi hadn't even figured out the previous sentence before the next sentence, which contained even more information, came crashing down on them like a ghost.

The two huddled together, their heads bobbing up and down as they spoke, their expressions incredibly varied—sometimes frowning, sometimes squinting, a mixture of confusion, bewilderment, and shock.

Only after Xie Yun-yang stood up and left without saying a word did the two of them scramble to stop her, while the other anxiously tried to find Xie Yu-xiao to get some answers.

"Wait, Father, what exactly is going on? How could my brother, the Crown Prince, be forming a faction with the Minister of War?"

Sheng Sheng didn't even know who the Minister of War was, but Xie Yuxiao said he suspected that this Minister of War had given Xie Yun-yang something at Zhennan Pass. However, Sheng Sheng knew very well that Xie Yun-yang had not received anything from anyone at that time.

"Father, is there some misunderstanding? My brother, the Crown Prince, isn't that kind of person. I didn't see anyone send him that kind of picture!"

Xie Yunli also stepped forward: "Yes, Father Emperor, I was seriously injured at the time. It was Sheng Sheng and the Crown Prince who guarded Zhennan Pass for me. How could it be..."

"Enough." Xie Yuxiao turned his back to them, refusing to look at them. "You only believe what you see. What about when you didn't see it? How do you know what you didn't know?"

These words left the two speechless.

That makes sense. Although they are together every day, they are not glued together every single moment of every day.

How do you know what he did when you weren't looking?

"Father, my Crown Prince isn't that kind of person!"

Sheng Sheng ran up anxiously, and only then did Eunuch Hou try to stop her in a panic, but Xie Yuxiao reached out to stop him.

She tugged at Xie Yuxiao's sleeve, repeating the same sentence over and over again.

"Brother Crown Prince, you really wouldn't do that. Is there some misunderstanding?"

She turned back pleadingly, trying to find someone to help her persuade Xie Yuxiao.

However, apart from Xie Yunli, who had already spoken, and Xie Yunqi, who was completely bewildered and had been unable to persuade Xie Yunyang, and could only stand there scratching his head as Xie Yunyang walked away, the others, including Xie Yunchuan and Xie Yunwen, remained silent.

She paused, as if thinking of something, then looked up at Xie Yuxiao and slowly loosened her grip.

"Well, as the saying goes, there's no smoke without fire. Since such absurd news has spread, even if it's just speculation, it still means there's some truth to it." Sheng Sheng coughed lightly and slowly walked down. "Since Father has already said so, let's wait for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet and see how our Crown Prince proves himself!"

Xie Yunqi was very puzzled: "Shengsheng, how come even you have switched sides?"

Xie Yunqi, that big, simple-minded guy, could tell from Sheng Sheng's voice that something was amiss, but he didn't understand anything. Instead, he approached each person indignantly and said, "We promised to walk together for life, how could you do this!"

Sheng Sheng secretly glanced at Xie Yuxiao's tense profile, thinking to herself: "Father and brother, are they deliberately setting a trap with the Crown Prince? What Fourth Brother said earlier is probably related to this. Although I don't know exactly what happened, if I continue to insist, it will definitely ruin things."

She cleared her throat and took Xie Yunqi's hand: "Fifth brother, don't worry, Father knows what's going on! Let's just wait and see, the Crown Prince will definitely be able to explain it clearly."

Seeing that he was still agitated, she thought for a moment, then used her trump card, grabbing his hand and pleading, "Brother, don't you trust the Crown Prince?"

Xie Yunqi's ears turned red instantly as he was enveloped by her soft voice, and most of his excitement immediately dissipated. He scratched his head and muttered, "Of course I believe the Crown Prince! But...but Father has confined him to his quarters!"

Sheng Sheng tiptoed and whispered in his ear, "It's good that you're under house arrest, so that no one can take the opportunity to cause trouble for Crown Prince Brother! Listen to me, let's keep an eye on things quietly, maybe we can help you? And Brother, have you forgotten, didn't Fourth Brother tell us in the carriage before that Second Brother had some trouble and had to postpone his engagement with Sister Yan Yan because of it?"

Xie Yunqi finally realized, somewhat belatedly, "You mean, that matter is this matter?"

“Yes.” Sheng Sheng shook his hand, her eyes sparkling. “Good brother, just listen to me and stop yelling, or Father will get angry!”

Xie Yunqi was so coaxed that he had no temper left and nodded: "Okay... I'll listen to you and stop making a fuss."

The Imperial Study was finally calmed down, and Xie Yuxiao seemed to have calmed down as well.

"Your sister just returned today, and the Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner. I don't want to lose my temper again." Xie Yuxiao sat down. "You may all leave."

"Yes, Father."

Everyone left the Imperial Study, but perhaps because the scene had been too strange, no one spoke for a moment.

Some people know the truth but choose not to say more.

Some people, however, are afraid to say more because they haven't fully understood yet.

The siblings stood at the door looking at each other for a long time, and finally pulled Xie Yunchuan up, saying, "Oh, well, didn't Mother ask us to go eat? Brother, let's go!"

Sheng Sheng whispered to Xie Yunwen, "Fourth brother, you must appease the fifth and eldest brothers, especially the fifth brother!"

After saying that, she grabbed Xie Yunchuan and ran off in a flash.

How embarrassing! The best course of action is to flee!

...

Inside the East Palace.

The palace servants were still going back and forth organizing the things Xie Yun-yang had brought back, while Xie Yun-yang calmly brewed tea in the pavilion in the West Garden, as if he had not been reprimanded or confined by Xie Yu-xiao at all.

There was no urgency whatsoever to "prove" himself at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet in a few days.

Bamboo shadows sway outside the pavilion, and the aroma of tea wafts through the air.

Xie Yun poured tea from the teapot. As the tea soup entered the cup, fine foam rose to the surface. He stroked the rim of the celadon cup with his fingertips, his eyes showing no trace of anxiety.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is in high spirits."