Ye Zhen deliberately spread rumors.

But it was also a source of suspicion for her and Xie Tingzhou.

Since the Grand Princess is not as righteous as she appears, how could she possibly take the initiative to marry a foreign ruler for the sake of her country and people?

How could a righteous royal princess who cares about the people still choose to protect Fu Jiang after learning that Fu Jiang was using smallpox to harm people?

After reading the old Marquis's letter and learning from Cai Yu about the old princess's suppression of the Cai family, he felt even more that this person had character issues and suspected that there was something fishy about the marriage alliance.

Xie Tingzhou immediately went to look through the relevant records and some imperial edicts and memorials, and found that the old princess had traveled before the outbreak of the plague.

Meanwhile, a memorial from another region mentioned that someone resembling the old emperor Rongji had entered Dayuan incognito for sightseeing.

Over the years, the old princess has relentlessly suppressed the Cai family. When the plague broke out, the Cai family suffered the most severe losses, and Han Changgeng's parents-in-law died in that plague.

Among the noble ladies accompanying the old princess on her marriage to a foreign ruler was Cai Lingyi, the younger sister of Lady Cai.

The two then speculated that perhaps the old princess had long discovered Han Changgeng and Cai Shi's affair and wanted to take revenge on Cai Shi.

But for some reason, he came up with an idea and used the excuse of going on a trip, which happened to catch the eye of the old emperor.

It is unclear whether the old princess and the old emperor conspired to cause this plague, or whether the old emperor deliberately caused the plague in order to win over the old princess.

Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that only the military had the antidote for the plague?

It's possible that Emperor Renzhao only started to hold a grudge against the old princess after realizing what had happened.

Therefore, Ye Zhen made these slanderous remarks in front of the emperor as a test of the old princess's reaction.

As for why Ye Wantang was involved?

That was because the maidservant escorting Shegu sent a message saying that they had been assassinated multiple times along the way.

Fortunately, Xie Tingzhou had made arrangements for them during the journey, so they were safe and sound.

Even a fool could tell that Ye Zhen knew Ye Wantang was behind it.

She was surprised that he could still send so many people to assassinate She Gu even though he was under house arrest.

Then let the emperor investigate thoroughly.

The moment she said those words, the old princess froze. Though it was only for a moment, Ye Zhen and Xie Tingzhou, who were watching her, clearly saw it.

As Ye Zhen said, the old princess had long regarded herself as a savior, and as time went on, she herself believed that she had sacrificed herself for the greater good.

When the truth was suddenly revealed, she had no time to cover it up. But she quickly realized what was happening and cried out to the emperor, "Your Majesty, she is slandering me like this, trying to force me to my death!"

But the emperor saw her reaction clearly, and his heart sank.

If all of this is fake, then the royal family has truly been fooled by the old princess all these years.

Just then, Ye Zhen snorted, "I heard it clearly. If Ye Wantang hadn't used this as leverage to blackmail you, why would you have helped her target me?"

Everyone then recalled that when the Marquis's mansion contracted smallpox last time, the old princess went to cause trouble and even went to the palace to demand that the emperor burn Ye Zhen to death.

When Ye Wantang was punished, the old princess pleaded for her, and this time she even sent royal guards to assassinate Ye Zhen.

Prince Ning was the first to object.

“She harmed her own motherland with the plague, abandoned her two children, and recently she has indiscriminately protected Fu Jiang. How can she still be worthy of being a royal princess?”

He knelt before the emperor and said, "Your subject begs Your Majesty to severely punish Princess Heyi."

The old princess has been swaggering around the royal family all these years, and has bullied her father countless times.

He would never let go of an opportunity to bring down the old princess.

King Yun also echoed this sentiment.

The Grand Princess retorted, "Your Majesty, please do not believe slander. If things were truly as she says, why would Emperor Renzhao have bestowed upon me the title of Royal Guard after I returned to Dayuan, and why would he have allowed successive emperors to search for my children?"

Ye Zhen sneered, "Who said that giving you bodyguards necessarily means protection, and not surveillance?"

The Grand Princess was startled.

How does this little vixen know everything? And she was right again.

Just as he was about to refute, Xie Tingzhou said, "According to my investigation, the first generation of secret guards also passed away one after another after Emperor Renzhao's death."

Those who take their place later are very likely to be turned, which is why the world is misled into mistaking surveillance for protection.

The emperor's eyes grew increasingly dark.

If all of this is true, then the old princess must hate the royal family.

He suddenly remembered that after his grandfather, Emperor Renzhao, died, his father succeeded to the throne. Although he was polite to the Grand Princess, he was not close to her.

It was only after her elder brother ascended the throne that the Grand Princess truly enjoyed the honors that followed. The late emperor was obsessed with alchemy and women, and even entrusted state affairs to the Grand Princess.

However, it was the Grand Princess who later helped overthrow the late emperor and support his ascension to the throne, yet she also protected the late emperor's faction, making the royal family unstable in recent years...

The emperor, realizing that the Grand Princess might be behind all of this, harbored murderous intent.

Marquis Zhongyong, having maintained a tacit understanding with the emperor for many years, immediately understood the emperor's thoughts and said, "Your Majesty, during my trip to Qingzhou, I also discovered that the Fu Jiang family massacre was orchestrated by him."

His eldest son wasn't dead; he had hidden him away, and I have now brought him to the capital.

Upon hearing this, the Grand Princess asked in shock, "What do you mean by that?"

Marquis Zhongyong said calmly, "Literally, he killed his entire family in order to use you to deal with the Marquis's mansion."

"Or perhaps it's to cover something up, worried that their arrival at the Grand Princess's residence would expose them."

Xie Tingzhou added casually.

To kill someone is to destroy their spirit.

The old princess suddenly collapsed to the ground. Over the years, she had become increasingly arrogant from being pampered, and she never expected to be used by Fu Jiang in this way.

Cai Yu walked up to Cai Yueya and said, "You look like my aunt and you also happen to have the surname Cai. Could you tell me your mother's name and where she is from?"

Cai Yueya was watching the play when she was asked the question. She answered truthfully, "My mother's name is Cai Lingyi. I don't know where she's from, because she won't say. But I don't have any maternal grandparents."

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