Zhao Xi closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.
He was tricked.
What’s even more hateful is that until now, he still doesn’t know who plotted against him!
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Last night, he thought he was the oriole, but he didn't know that he was the mantis!
Zhao Xi suppressed his inner anxiety and resentment and said calmly, "Father, I swear to heaven that I never did that beastly thing to Jia. I have already questioned the servants who served me last night, and they said that I was drunk and unconscious and was carried into the bedroom. Before I fell asleep, there were only two maids on duty in the room, no one else!"
"Besides, there's so much going on in the palace's backyard. If I openly carried Jia back to my room, how could anyone not see me? According to the night watch maid, they went to get some water, and when they came back, they heard a woman's voice in my room. I suspect Jia snuck into my room while I was asleep, intending to frame me!"
"Is this really true?" Emperor Jianxi was suspicious.
Jia cried out to the heavens, "Your Majesty, this is unjust! If what the prince said is true, how could I have sneaked in without anyone noticing? The witnesses and confessions the prince mentioned are all from the palace. They are paid by the palace and follow the prince's orders. How could they have told the truth?" Jia was heartbroken, tears welling up in her eyes. "I truly have no way of defending myself!"
"It's me who has no excuse, right?"
When Zhao Ying came in with Queen Xiaomin in her arms, she heard Zhao Xi shouting.
Queen Hyomin: Let’s not talk about the king, my son…
Zhao Ying: No wonder Yue'er misheard it at first.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."
"Your son pays homage to His Majesty the Father..."
Emperor Jianxi waved his hand and declined the formality.
When Zhao Xi saw Empress Xiaomin and Zhao Ying coming, he closed his eyes in embarrassment, his heart sinking to despair. This was truly humiliating...
Empress Xiaomin didn't say anything, she just sat down and listened, and Zhao Ying did the same.
But unexpectedly, Zhao Xi had been beaten to death by Jia.
The witness statements were all from the palace, so naturally they could not be trusted.
Besides this, what other evidence is there?
Emperor Jianxi, Empress Xiaomin, and Zhao Ying were silent, obviously believing it.
Zhao Ying coughed lightly twice, feeling somewhat embarrassed. After all, it was her own brother who had done such a bad thing and insulted the minister's innocence. Fortunately, Jia was a strong woman, otherwise she would have committed suicide in anger after such humiliation, and Zhao Xi would have been even more guilty.
But if this matter is handled properly, it can be overcome.
Zhao Ying stood up, walked forward, handed the teacup to Emperor Jianxi, and said softly, "Father, please calm down..."
Emperor Jianxi took a sip. Zhao Ying's delicate fingers rubbed Emperor Jianxi's shoulders, and she said coquettishly, "Father, why are you so angry? According to me, although the timing of this incident was inappropriate and it accidentally hurt three parties, I think that for all three parties, there is no way to rebuild without destroying them."
"What do you mean?"
Emperor Jianxi's expression brightened, and his voice softened. He thought to himself that his daughter was the best, being gentle and kind so as not to make him angry. But Xi'er, that rascal, threw his old face on the ground and stepped on it like it was free...
"I've heard in the past that General Fang Dongfang is manic and violent, beating and scolding his wife and children at will, which is extremely humiliating. When this incident happened, Lord Fang even rushed to the palace openly and beat Madam Fang without asking any questions. He also said that Madam Fang was a whore. Such a person, let alone if something goes wrong, is not a good person even if nothing goes wrong. Especially since he is a military general, who will defend his country in the future. If he doesn't even love his wife and children, how can we expect him to care for the people?"
Fang Dong wanted to refute, but when he looked up, he saw Emperor Jianxi, Zhao Ying, and Empress Xiaomin, all of whom had the same unapproachable looks and majesty, so he lowered his head in embarrassment.
He has no right to speak here...
Zhao Ying continued, "As his wife, Madam Fang has also suffered greatly. Madam Fang lost her virginity to Prince Ding. Regardless of the reason, it happened, and Prince Ding will definitely punish her severely. But rather than hold her accountable, it's better to make peace... I suggest that we use this opportunity to reconcile Madam Fang and Fang Dong."
"Since Prince Ding and Jia are already married, why not take this opportunity to take her into the palace? This will not only give Jia a status, but also help her escape from suffering."
Queen Xiaomin nodded, "That's right, this way, it can also show Xi'er's tolerance and tolerance, but..."
Empress Xiaomin looked at Jia and said gently, "Jia, are you willing?"
Jia's eyes trembled, and she kowtowed hurriedly, "I don't expect to be able to serve in the palace with my humble status, but if I can obtain the grace of Your Majesty to cancel my engagement with Fang Dong, then..."
Fang Dong gritted his teeth and said, "No! I don't agree!"
Queen Hyomin sneered, "What does it have to do with you?"
Fang Dong said sternly but weakly, "Your Majesty, Jia is my wife. She belongs to the Fang family in life and will be their ghost in death. How can she decide on her own whether to stay or go?"
This sentence completely upset Empress Xiaomin. She stood up with a bang and roared, "You also know that she is your wife. When you beat her, scolded her and humiliated her, why didn't you think about her being your wife? And you keep saying that she is from the Fang family. You should understand that she is the mistress of the Fang family, not your slave in Fangdong. She married you, not sold you. She can do whatever she wants. It's none of your business!"
"She was raped, and you didn't hit the rapist, but you hit her? What kind of person are you? Even pigs and dogs would spit on you!"
The three Zhao family members looked at the furious Queen Xiaomin, and all their domineering aura, princely power, and princess power disappeared, and they became like three little lambs.
Especially Zhao Xi, who yelled, "Mother..."
Queen Hyomin then realized that the criminal was her own son. She had lost her mind for a moment and actually allowed someone to beat her own son.
Fang Dong lowered his head in reluctance and fear.
Emperor Jianxi was about to speak and agree to Zhao Ying's proposal, but was interrupted by Zhao Xi.
Zhao Xi said solemnly, "Father, Mother, I have been wrongly accused. I absolutely did not violate Jia. If you do not believe me, please ask a nanny to examine Jia's body and I will be cleared of all charges!"
Zhao Xi swore in a confident tone that he would not do anything to his own father, mother and sister. Could it be that he was really wronged? They all agreed to a physical examination.
How could this be fake?
Zhao Xi thought about it and decided that he had definitely not touched Jia. He was not an inexperienced man, so he had no feelings. However, he was not very sure, as he was drunk after all. So he wanted to test Jia. If it was true or not, Jia had never been touched by him, and there was no sign of sexual intercourse, so she would definitely not be willing to undergo a physical examination, which would prove his innocence.
Empress Xiaomin looked at Jia and asked, "Jia, are you willing to go for a physical examination?"
Jia bowed deeply, "I... am willing to undergo a body examination to prove my innocence!"
Zhao Xi: ...
Queen Hyomin: My son, how come you are even more shameless than your mother...
Zhao Ying: All men are bastards, they won’t admit what they did!
Emperor Jianxi: Is it better to make Jia a concubine or a maid? It turns out Xi'er likes this kind of woman...
Half an hour later, Nanny Hua brought Jia out from the inner hall.
Jia knelt back down and Nanny Hua reported.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it is indeed... it is correct."
Zhao Xi closed his eyes, his brows twisted into a knot.
He really...really...
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