Princess Jia Hua, inside the carriage, looked at Lord Xu with a hint of admiration; his eloquence was in no way inferior to that of Prime Minister Yan.
"Does Her Majesty the Empress believe that only the Yan family's daughter is worthy of His Highness?" Lord Xu asked angrily.
Prime Minister Yan was somewhat exasperated: "Xu Zhongcheng, you have gone too far! How dare you slander the Empress! What is your punishment?"
Lord Xu smiled dismissively: "Has the Prime Minister forgotten that I am the head of the supervisory officials? The late Emperor once granted me permission to speak freely, and even if the Emperor has done something wrong, I can boldly criticize him, and I will be forgiven."
If even the emperor can say that, why should we be afraid of the empress?
Prime Minister Yan was so angry that he was fuming and glaring, but he couldn't do anything about Lord Xu. He was both angry and furious.
Lord Xu raised his chin: "I will thoroughly investigate everything my daughter said today. If Empress Yan is indeed so jealous and disregards human life, I will certainly petition the court for justice."
"You!" A murderous glint flashed in Prime Minister Yan's eyes.
Lord Xu remained calm and straightened his back, showing no regard for Prime Minister Yan.
"Censor Xu is upright and honest, and also known for his stubbornness. In all these years, when has he ever wronged anyone?"
"Some things really can't stand up to scrutiny."
Many officials were also present in the crowd, most of whom were on Lord Xu's side.
The curtain was lowered.
The Seventh Prince's tense body trembled slightly, and his breathing became erratic. Princess Jia Hua looked at the Seventh Prince, knowing that some things couldn't be rushed.
Seeing it with one's own eyes is always more shocking than presenting the truth to him.
"The Xu family is feared by the Yan family. Your Highness should send someone to protect the Xu family to prevent them from being persecuted."
The Seventh Prince moved his lips slightly: "The Yan family wouldn't do that."
Princess Jiahua frowned upon hearing this, hesitated for a moment, and then decided to remain silent.
Soon, people from the palace arrived and took Miss Xu away. Seeing this, Lord Xu wanted to follow as well, and Prime Minister Yan naturally followed as well.
The seventh prince hesitated for a moment before getting off the carriage.
Xiu Shu approached Princess Jia Hua: "Your Highness, can Lord Xu win?"
"Then we'll see if those sixteen families will pursue this to the end. If they do, either the Empress or Prime Minister Yan will have to step down."
"Since Lord Xu dares to break off relations, he will definitely make a big fuss about this matter."
The Xu family has many disciples, which is why Empress Yan has tolerated Miss Xu for so many years. The Yan family should think twice.
...
Everything that happened at the palace gate reached Empress Yan's ears. She was so angry that she was fuming, her heart pounding, and she wished she could skin Miss Xu alive.
"That bitch!"
The palace maid kept advising, "That old scoundrel Lord Xu is not someone to be trifled with. If he insists on investigating to the end, he will surely find evidence that is detrimental to Your Highness. Your Highness should make plans as soon as possible."
All the reputation that had been painstakingly built up over the years was destroyed in an instant by Miss Xu. One can imagine how furious the Empress was.
Soon, Lord Xu, Miss Xu, and the others were brought to Fengyi Palace.
The Seventh Prince also came along.
Empress Yan, her face deathly pale, stood weakly in the corridor, supported by a palace maid. She stared at Miss Xu with utter bewilderment: "Miss Xu, how could you slander me?"
“Slander?” Miss Xu also harbored considerable hatred for Empress Yan.
The reputation she has enjoyed over the years is all thanks to Empress Yan. If it weren't for Empress Yan's obstruction, she would have been the Seventh Prince's concubine long ago.
Having endured five years of unrequited love, Miss Xu's hatred reached its peak.
"Then please, Your Majesty, bring out the Guanyin image that I embroidered."
The palace maid said, "Miss Xu, you clearly destroyed that Guanyin painting. How dare you slander Her Majesty in public?"
Miss Xu scoffed and presented the embroidered Guanyin image to Empress Yan. Empress Yan smiled and praised it, saying it was not bad, and then let her pass.
She had just left Fengyi Palace when she lied again, claiming that she had left her personal jade pendant inside. When she got up to go back, she happened to see the Guanyin statue being thrown into a brazier and burning.
The flames became the final straw that broke Miss Xu's back.
"Miss Xu, I always thought you were straightforward and admired you greatly. I was also moved by your filial piety and was about to betroth you to the seventh prince. I never expected you to break my heart so badly." Empress Yan clutched her chest, her frail body swaying precariously.
Lord Xu turned around, lifted his robes, and knelt before the Seventh Prince: "Your Highness, I dare to stake my reputation for the rest of my life on this matter. I beg Your Highness to allow me to thoroughly investigate the matter of the sixteen people. If my daughter has slandered me, I am willing to atone with my death."
No one expected that Lord Xu would be so stubborn and insist on investigating.
The Seventh Prince raised his eyes and looked at Empress Yan.
"Seventh Prince, don't you still trust me?" Empress Yan asked, her eyes brimming with tears and her face full of grievance.
Lord Xu replied, "Whether it is true or not, a thorough investigation will tell us. Why waste time talking about the past and confusing the public?"
Empress Yan, upon hearing this, wished she could tear Lord Xu's mouth apart, but gritted her teeth and still looked at the Seventh Prince.
The Seventh Prince looked calmly at Prime Minister Yan: "Lord Xu is a man of unyielding integrity. When the late Emperor was alive, he praised Lord Xu for being too upright and unyielding. He is most suitable to be the one to supervise all officials."
Empress Yan's heart sank upon hearing this.
This means that we will support Lord Xu in investigating the matter to the end.
Prime Minister Yan nodded: "Since an investigation is necessary, the Yan family has a clear conscience."
The Seventh Prince nodded and said to Lord Xu, "Lord Xu, you heard it too. The Yan family has a clear conscience. If you can't find anything, you'll be guilty of slandering the Empress and the Prime Minister, a capital offense!"
"Your Majesty, I understand!" Lord Xu nodded heavily, but still did not budge.
The Seventh Prince then said to Prime Minister Yan, "For the sake of fairness, could the Prime Minister stay in the palace temporarily?"
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