Chapter Ninety-Seven: Afraid I'll drug you?

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is absolutely right."

"Today, a ferocious beast startled the emperor, and Yiqiu has been framed again. It is clear that the villains in the court have become so ruthless and inhumane in their efforts to eliminate dissidents that they have disregarded the safety of the emperor and the emperor."

"This reminds me of my grandmother's former subordinate, the former Vice Minister of War, Wang. He was loyal, brave, and upright throughout his life. However, because he did not forget his former master and had a sworn brotherhood with my grandmother, he was falsely accused of treason by villains and is now imprisoned with a grievance that cannot be cleared."

"Your Majesty! The descendant of a loyal official has suffered such a misfortune. If his name cannot be cleared, wouldn't it chill the hearts of hundreds of thousands of soldiers on the frontier? We implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly, severely punish the treacherous officials, and restore the innocence of Minister Wang, so as to comfort the loyal soul and stabilize the morale of the army!"

Xiao Yongjing immediately responded, presenting the evidence he had prepared beforehand:

“Father, I have investigated and found that the evidence used to falsely accuse Minister Wang is all fabricated.”

"This is the craftsman's coerced confession, this is the handwriting analysis report proving that the letter was forged, and there are also records from the Ordnance Department proving that the so-called 'treasonous' arrowhead was leaked from within... We have both witnesses and physical evidence."

"If this case is not thoroughly investigated, it will encourage the practice of framing others and shake the foundations of the nation. According to the law, false accusations are punishable by death. Your Majesty, I implore you to thoroughly investigate the mastermind behind this case in order to uphold justice!"

The emperor looked at the thick file in the crown prince's hand, then at Song Yiqiu kneeling on the ground, and his face darkened as he thought about the series of accidents that had happened today.

He took a deep breath, glanced at the assembled officials below, and finally issued the decree:

"The Crown Prince's report is sincere and truthful. The three judicial departments are ordered to conduct a joint trial and re-examine the case of Vice Minister Wang."

"If it is indeed a miscarriage of justice, release the accused immediately, restore them to their original positions, and severely punish the person who made the false accusation and those who instigated it. I will never tolerate such a disastrous act that harms the country and its people!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The two spoke in unison.

After this incident, the emperor lost interest and returned to the palace.

The atmosphere at the autumn hunting grounds relaxed.

At the back of the crowd, Song Qingming's face was gloomy, and his beard was practically standing on end in anger.

He grabbed Song Sangyu, whose eyes were darting away, and led her to a secluded spot. Lowering his voice, he gritted his teeth and asked:

"Yu'er! Tell your father the truth, is it really related to you that the beast startled your carriage today?"

Song Sangyu stammered, unable to admit it or completely clear himself of the truth, and could only vaguely say:

“Father…I…I just wanted to teach her a lesson, I didn’t expect it to escalate like this…”

Seeing her like this, Song Qingming's beard trembled, he clutched his chest, heartbroken and indignant.

"Are you confused, Yu'er? What kind of occasion is this? His Majesty, the Crown Prince, and all the civil and military officials are here."

"How dare you commit such a treasonous act in full view of everyone? Now His Majesty is furious and has ordered a thorough investigation. How can I, your father, protect you? This is a disaster that could lead to the confiscation of your property and the extermination of your entire clan."

Seeing this, Madam Song quickly stepped forward to interrupt, shielding Song Sangyu and protecting her.

"My lord! What's there to protect or not protect? It's just girls playing around and getting a little carried away. Isn't it common for daughters of officials to be jealous and throw little tantrums? It's nothing serious."

"Besides, as long as our Yu'er holds onto Young Master Fu and they get married soon, with the Fu family's favor, who would dare to bring up this little trouble? Wouldn't it be as if it never happened?"

Song Qingming glared at her fiercely:

"Do you think I don't know what you and your daughter are thinking? You want to use this day to ruin Yiqiu's reputation and prevent her from inheriting the title."

"But what about now? Not only was she not harmed in the slightest, but she also gained a lot of exposure and prestige in front of His Majesty and the Crown Prince. I think the succession to the title is a done deal, and this is all thanks to your efforts!"

Song Shen was enraged when her true feelings were exposed:

"Isn't this what you were thinking too? There are still two weeks until the heir to the throne. Why are you in such a hurry? Yu'er isn't trying to make a big deal out of this."

"If your sons weren't so useless and unable to shoulder the responsibilities of the family, why would we place all our hopes on a young girl like Yu'er?"

"you!"

Song Qingming was filled with anger.

"How dare you mention him? Aren't those good-for-nothings spoiled by you? Besides, Fu Langxing's situation is still far from settled."

"If Yiqiu ultimately marries into the family as agreed, with the Fu family backing her up and her own title, who in this family can touch her? Am I supposed to bow and pay homage to her when I see her in the future?"

Seeing that her father was truly angry, Song Sangyu quickly stepped forward and gently comforted him with tears in her eyes:

"Father, please calm down! Today's events were indeed due to my poor preparation, causing you worry. But rest assured, Father, I can assure you that Brother Langxing's heart belongs only to me."

"My daughter will definitely marry Brother Langxing before Song Yiqiu inherits the title, and will never let down her father's expectations and the family's trust."

Looking at the mother and daughter, Song Qingming felt a wave of weakness wash over him. He let out a heavy snort, flicked his sleeve, and left, leaving behind the words:

"I can't control you, you'd better watch yourselves!"

Song Sangyu watched her father's departing figure, then looked at Song Yiqiu, who was talking quietly with the Crown Prince in the distance. Her nails dug deeply into her palms, but she felt no pain at all.

Ruan Jiawen noticed her gaze, leaned closer, and said sourly:

“Look at Song Yiqiu. Although she’s a rough woman who came back from the frontier, she’s quite skilled at seducing men. She’s like a vixen. I don’t know when she quietly got involved with His Highness the Crown Prince.”

He Jianren quickly echoed:

"Sister Sangyu, don't be angry. We didn't expect Song Yiqiu to be so cunning and difficult to deal with. She got away with it today, but there's a long road ahead. How long can she be so smug?"

Song Sangyu glanced at them coldly without replying.

Her gaze passed over them and landed on Fu Langxing, whose face was filled with complex emotions, in the stands not far away. She silently vowed to herself:

This time, she absolutely cannot fail again!

On the other side, Xiao Yongjing smiled and handed a full glass of wine to Song Yiqiu, his eyes slightly narrowed:

"General Song was quite impressive today, stealing the spotlight. I never imagined that General Song was a man of both literary and military talent, capable of solving any problem. No wonder you are... the one I have my eye on."

His tone was alluring, dangerous, and ambiguous.

"I have helped you so much today, General Song, how do you intend to repay me?"

Song Yiqiu took the glass of wine, gently swirled the liquid inside, but didn't drink it. She looked up to meet the gaze of the person in the glass.

"Your Highness is mistaken. Today, Your Highness is not so much helping Yiqiu as clearing obstacles for yourself and going with the flow."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yongjing chuckled softly and lowered his voice to tempt her:

"What? Are you afraid I've poisoned your wine?"

He leaned closer and whispered in his ear.

"Are you still afraid... like last time, that they might have slipped aphrodisiacs into your drink?"