"Your Majesty, have you ever heard of an anecdote that happened fourteen years ago?"
Emperor Jianxi frowned.
Zhao Yao fell to the ground, closed his eyes happily, and thought to himself that Shangguan Chaolu was not a wasted dog!
Zhao Ying is finished!
Shangguan Chaolu's eyes were resolute, and her voice was cold and crisp. "Fourteen years ago, Princess Huai'an and my brother were childhood sweethearts. However, my brother was favored by Princess Chengqian. Princess Chengqian was unable to coerce or bribe my brother, so she drugged Princess Huai'an at a banquet, causing her to... lose her virginity to a guard."
"After Empress Xiaomin learned of this, she married Princess Huaian to the Xiongnu in order to cover up her daughter's crime!"
These words circulated in the circle of powerful people in the capital for a long time, but they were just rumors without any evidence. Moreover, since they involved Empress Xiaomin, no one dared to report them to Emperor Jianxi.
At this moment, this terrible window paper was broken.
Emperor Jianxi's eyes were frighteningly cold, and he said gloomily, "Do you know what crime Panmei, the current queen mother, committed?"
"I have never tried to flatter you! My husband, Zhao Quan, is the guard's younger brother. He knows the whole story very well, so Princess Chengqian holds a grudge against him. She even wants to silence him..." Shangguan Chaolu stared at Zhao Ying with a look as if filled with poison.
Zhao Ying looked bewildered and asked, "How could this have ever happened?"
"Father, you know the Queen Mother's character very well. How could she harm Sister Huai'an?"
"Chaolu, I know that last time you asked me to give Zhao Quan an official position, but I refused. You bear a grudge against me, but since this involves my reputation and that of my mother, I cannot tolerate your flattery!"
Princess Xian stood up. At this point, the truth is no longer important. The downfall of the Eastern Palace is more important.
She glanced at Zhao Yao sympathetically, then slowly retracted her gaze and looked at Zhao Ying, "Your Highness, please tell me the truth. It's been so long, I'm sure that Your Highness and the Emperor won't blame you anymore. And you are the Emperor's most beloved daughter... Amitabha."
As the virtuous princess spoke, she pinched the Buddhist beads in her hand. Everyone knew that she loved to worship Buddha and did not fight or compete...so there was no need to slander Zhao Ying.
The Crown Princess scoffed, "You're all just empty talk. Where's the evidence?"
Prince Liang smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Crown Princess, isn't Xue'er's behavior enough evidence? If someone didn't want to kill her, why would Xue'er suffer this calamity?"
Princess Liang: "Sister-in-law, you don't think Huai'an set this up to harm your daughter, do you?"
The Crown Princess was speechless.
Behind him, Wei Fu approached and said nonchalantly, "She wouldn't plot against her own daughter, but I heard that Princess Huai'an has been blocking the doorway, refusing to let anyone in. If what Zhao Quan said is true, it's possible she wasn't setting a trap to harm Your Highness, but someone else was plotting against her. She deserves the consequences."
Zhao Ying's pupils trembled slightly, and she couldn't help but glance at Shangguan Shu.
Shangguan Shu happened to look at her and gave her a reassuring look.
As expected of his age, the virtuous prince was very thoughtful. After hearing Wei Fu's words, he immediately pulled the crown prince into the discussion. "Marquis Wei and the crown princess are speaking so strongly for Cheng Qian. Could it be that the crown prince is also involved?"
Someone in the crowd was breathing heavily.
When it comes to the prince... things get even bigger!
Emperor Jianxi always had a sullen face and was very secretive.
Suddenly, he looked at Zhao Yao, "Huai'an, is this true?"
Zhao Yao knelt deeply before Emperor Jianxi and choked up, saying, "Father, this happened many years ago, and I don't want to talk about it anymore. But today, for the sake of these innocent lives, I have no choice but to tell the truth. Please forgive me for my deception..."
"Every word Chaolu said was the truth. Not only that, Sister Ying knew that Zhao Quan was blackmailing her with this matter and tried to kill him more than once to silence him. Father, the injuries on Zhao Quan's body were the result of Sister Ying's forced confession..."
"You're talking nonsense!" Zhao Ying knelt down and said in panic, "Father, this is not true! I don't know anything at all. How could I hurt Sister Huai'an? I have always regarded Sister Huai'an as my own sister..."
"Sister? Then why did you force her husband? My brother was supposed to be His Highness Huai'an's husband, didn't you force him to marry?"
Zhao Ying was speechless, tears streaming down her cheeks. She kept saying, "No... No..."
The corners of Zhao Yao's lips curled up in pride.
She suppressed her pleasure, pretending to be miserable and said, "If your Majesty still doesn't believe me, you can summon my mother. She also knows the truth..."
"Of course your mother will speak for you!" Zhao Ying seemed anxious and said sternly.
Zhao Yao, however, looked calm. There was no point in saying more at this moment, as the emperor would definitely summon her mother.
Sure enough, Emperor Jianxi ordered someone to bring Ji Da Ying over.
Although she agreed to stay in the cold palace, thanks to Zhao Yao's arrangement, Ji Da Ying did not suffer any punishment, but her clothes became a little worn out.
When passing by the crowd, Prince Shou couldn't help but frown when he saw her like this.
"Your Majesty..."
Emperor Jianxi asked Ji Da Ying what happened fourteen years ago, and what Ji Da Ying said was exactly the same as what Zhao Yao said.
After listening, Emperor Jianxi took a deep breath and asked in a low voice, "Cheng Qian, do you have any evidence to prove what you said?"
Zhao Ying clenched his fists, suppressing the resentment and anger in his heart, and said, "Your son...no."
"But I really didn't do it! If your father doesn't trust you, does he also not trust your mother?"
Emperor Jianxi did not answer.
Everyone understood that Princess Chengqian was doomed to fail.
The virtuous prince said respectfully, "Father, it seems the truth of what happened back then has been revealed. Cheng Qian murdered someone out of love, and Mother covered it up for him. Is there anything about the Crown Prince's younger brother involved? I am willing to help you, Father, and investigate this case!"
Upon hearing this, the Crown Princess quickly knelt down, "Father, Princess Chengqian has been wronged! Empress Xiaomin is a model mother of the country and a role model for women in the Great Chu. How could she do such a thing? Not to mention that the Crown Prince is also involved. It's simply ridiculous!"
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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