Zhao Huan frowned secretly. It seemed that Princess Dexin was determined to protect Qi Zhiyan.

Meng Gurao, who was standing nearby, suddenly said, "Your Highness, are you saying that the woman kneeling in the hall is slandering the Prince Consort, and that the Prince Consort and this woman are not acquainted?"

Princess Dexin sneered and said, "Of course."

"How should Yu Rentong, the steward of the Prince Consort's Mansion, explain? Why did he run to Chenliu Town to assassinate the mother and her two children?" Meng Gurao asked coldly.

Unexpectedly, Princess Dexin had been prepared: "I sent him."

"What!" Even Zhao Huan was shocked when these words came out: "De Xin, do you know that inciting murder without reason is a serious crime?"

Princess Dexin was frightened and had to argue, "I didn't ask Yu Rentong to kill anyone. I just asked him to scare the mother and son. I already knew about this woman's slanderous visit to the capital last time, but I didn't confront her out of respect for the royal family."

"Imperial dignity, you still know the imperial dignity!" Zhao Huan was furious: "If it weren't for the superb martial arts of my guards, this mother and her two children would have been killed!"

Princess Dexin was shocked. She knew how powerful Yu Rentong was. He hadn't killed the mother and child. Looking at the injured Linghu Yunlong beside her, she couldn't help but ask, "How is Butler Yu doing?"

After all, she was a princess of noble status. Linghu Yunlong bowed and said, "I wanted to take him to the authorities, but he resisted and tried to kill me, but he failed."

Princess Dexin was even more panicked. The guard before her was actually better than Yu Rentong. "Have you captured Steward Yu?"

Linghu Yunlong shook his head: "He is dead. He wanted to kill me, but I didn't fail."

Hearing this, Princess Dexin actually felt a tinge of relief. This woman was cold and indifferent. It would be better if Yu Rentong died; the dead couldn't argue.

"Your Majesty, I guarantee with my life that my husband and this woman do not know each other. This woman has slandered my husband time and time again. Please, Your Majesty, take action." Princess De Xin cried.

Zhao Huan ignored her. He looked at Qi Zhiyan and said, "Qi Zhiyan, I'll give you one last chance. Tell the truth, and I'll spare your life. Do you really not know these three people?"

"Your Majesty, I do not know this woman at all. Please understand my words." Qi Zhiyan said firmly.

"Alright!" Zhao Huan raised his gavel. "Come here, drag these three mother and son out and chop them off!"

"Your Majesty!" Linghu Yunlong was shocked and came to persuade him.

Zhao Huan said angrily, "Since the princess and her husband both say this woman is a slanderer and an imposter, then I will do the deed for you and execute the mother and her two children."

Guards had already come over to hold Qin Shufen, and the two children shouted: "Mom, Mom!"

Princess Dexin was very proud, while Qi Zhiyan kept her head down and did not dare to look up at her from beginning to end.

"Drag this woman out and chop her into pieces first." Zhao Huan pointed at Qin Shufen.

Two guards held her, but Qin Shufen did not resist from beginning to end.

When Qin Shufen passed by her, Princess Dexin had a vicious smile on her lips.

Qi Zhiyan still kept his head down, but his body was trembling slightly.

Qin Shufen was dragged out, and the hall fell silent for a moment. Zhao Huan slammed the gavel again: "Take these two children out and kill them together!"

Qi Zhiyan's body trembled as the guards passed by with two children. Qi Zhiyan finally raised his head and looked at the two children. The corners of his mouth twitched, but he didn't say a word.

"You are such a heartless bastard, Qi Zhiyan!" Zhao Huan leaped over the table and cursed, "I've given you countless chances to wake up because you're my son-in-law. I never thought you, a beast, would disregard even your own flesh and blood for the sake of fame and fortune. I wanted to kill these two children, and you didn't even say a word. Someone, come!"

The sunlight was dazzling, and the light shone into the lobby of Kaifeng Prefecture's government office. Of course, this was just the author's imagination.

A group of people walked in from outside the government office. They were Qin Shufen who had just been pushed out and beheaded, Zheng Xian from the Tiger Office, and several ordinary people dressed in street clothes.

When Qi Zhiyan saw those common people, his legs immediately went limp and he sat down on the ground, trembling all over.

These people knelt down one after another and looked at Qi Zhiyan.

"Qi Yaozi, have you really become a royal consort?" an old man asked.

An old woman said, "How could you do this, my son? Do you know how Shufen has been doing these past few years since you left? She's been washing clothes for others and digging wild vegetables in the mountains, leaving the food for the children and your mother while she eats the wild vegetables herself. Her hands are frozen red in the middle of winter, and she's fainted by the river several times. Do you think you're still human?"

"That's right, you are worse than an animal!"

"What a cruel and unfaithful man!"

It turned out that Qi Zhiyan's nickname was Yaozi. These people accused Qi Zhiyan of wrongdoings, and Qi Zhiyan fell to the ground like a puddle of mud.

Princess Dexin looked at all this and was immediately panicked and at a loss. How could she have imagined that Zhao Huan would actually call all the neighbors from Qi Zhiyan's hometown in Yuezhou.

Zhao Huan left the hall and walked down with his hands behind his back: "You didn't expect that? I sent people to Yuezhou to bring the witness to the capital. Even if you killed someone to silence him, do you think I can't punish you? Qi Zhiyan, what else do you have to say now?"

Qin Shufen had remained silent throughout the entire process. Now she walked over to Qi Zhiyan and, with a loud slap, gave him a resounding slap.

This slap in the face was truly satisfying. Qin Shufen angrily said, "Are you still worthy of being a human being? Let me tell you, your mother hanged herself because of you, an unfilial son."

Upon hearing this, Qi Zhiyan finally burst into tears, and Princess Dexin also knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please be lenient with me."

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