Zhou Xuance made a sarcastic remark, leaving Song Yuxiu utterly embarrassed.
But no one dared to offend him, so they could only endure it.
"Xuan Ce!" Emperor Xiaoxuan couldn't bear to listen any longer. "This is a matter between the Shen and Song families. You should stay out of it."
“I didn’t want to get involved either, but I saw injustice and did not expect that the Marquis would accuse me of colluding with a servant to slander Prince Song. I can only say a few words to defend myself.”
"Speaking of which, the young master is really something!"
“It is quite common for a man to have three wives and four concubines. Not everyone is like your father, the Duke, who only married the Duchess in his entire life.”
"Just let your sister bear with it. It's such a small matter, and you've bothered your elder brother. It's really inappropriate."
Shen Jingchuan's face was full of resentment.
Their eyes met, and sparks seemed to fly.
These words left everyone speechless.
Having three wives and four concubines was indeed quite common.
However, after the family reunion banquet, Song Yuxiu promised to remain loyal to Shen Zhiyi alone.
Now that she's in the mansion, she even dares to arrange for prostitutes to come home, which shows her usual behavior.
Zhou Xuance wasn't saying this to help Song Yuxiu.
Instead, while he was already in the fire pit, they kicked him twice more, sending him tumbling into the inferno.
This caused him to tremble uncontrollably, covered in sweat, his head hitting the ground, and he didn't even dare to lift his head.
"Your Majesty, this matter..." The old lady tried to argue, but Emperor Xiaoxuan silenced her with a look.
"I know the truth of this matter."
Shen Zhiyi is the only legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion, and the Duke cherishes her dearly.
Last time, I was able to persuade them.
Now that things have blown up so much, the news of Shen Jingchuan dragging Song Yuxiu through the streets will surely spread throughout the entire capital by daybreak, and this matter is unlikely to end well.
"Song Yuxiu, last time you promised me that you would never hurt Zhiyi again, so I advised her to carefully consider the matter of divorce. How dare you deceive me!"
Emperor Xiaoxuan roared in anger.
The Song family members all turned pale and knelt on the ground, barely daring to breathe.
The fact that Shen Jingchuan caught the person on the spot is undeniable.
The regent suddenly intervened again, adding fuel to the fire.
Shen Zhiyi knelt on the ground, looking very aggrieved.
Emperor Xiaoxuan took a deep breath. "In that case, you and Zhiyi should get a divorce."
"Your Majesty—" Song Yuxiu looked up at the Emperor, but his heart trembled as he saw the anger in the Emperor's eyes.
"What? You don't want to?"
Zhou Xuance chuckled: "He probably can't bear to part with the wealth and power that the Shen family can bring him."
Song Yuxiu gritted his teeth inwardly.
What exactly did I do to offend this evil spirit?
He's everywhere!
Zhou Xuance took a sip of tea. "Prince Song, I come from a military background and speak frankly. Please don't take offense."
Shen Zhiyi pursed her lips:
You've torn away even the last veil of pretense that the Song family had left.
And you're telling people not to mind?
"Song Yuxiu deceived me, he shall be flogged fifty times!" Upon hearing this, the Song family wanted to plead for mercy but dared not.
Song Yuxiu had already been tortured beyond recognition by Shen Jingchuan. If he were to be subjected to caning, he would probably lose his life here.
Shen Jingchuan knelt down and kowtowed to express his gratitude for the Emperor's grace.
"Don't thank me. I watched Zhiyi grow up, and naturally I don't want her to suffer any injustice." Emperor Xiaoxuan looked at Shen Jingchuan. "Song Yuxiu is, after all, the heir of a marquis's family. Your behavior tonight was really inappropriate."
"You made a great contribution in western Sichuan this time, and we were going to promote you, but you acted impulsively tonight. So we've cancelled the reward and you're suspended from your post and sent home to reflect for half a month."
Shen Jingchuan knelt down and kowtowed, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"
Emperor Xiaoxuan looked exhausted and gestured for everyone to leave, but then called out to Zhou Xuance.
When only the two brothers remained in the Imperial Study, Emperor Xiaoxuan said, "Xuan Ce, what you just said was really excessive. After all, Shen Jingchuan saved your life. I heard that the two siblings visited your residence a few days ago. I thought you had a good relationship with the Shen family now."
"It's really good."
"Then why..." Emperor Xiaoxuan seemed at a loss for words. "Shen Jingchuan is a standout among the younger generation, about your age. Spending more time with him won't do you any harm."
"I have always had a conflict with the Shen family in terms of military strategy, so let the relationship be bad, I don't care."
"As fellow court officials, we'll inevitably have to interact. You should be more polite to the Shen family in the future. Look at what you just said... what kind of nonsense was that?"
“Alright, I was wrong. I will visit the Duke’s mansion to apologize another day.” Zhou Xuance stood up. “Brother, it’s getting late. I will return to my residence first. You should rest early.”
After Zhou Xuance left, Emperor Xiaoxuan's gaze darkened.
Gao Daban had just entered the imperial study and was about to tell him that the execution of the Crown Prince of Song had been completed, but before he could even open his mouth, the Emperor suddenly raised his hand—
With a sudden swing,
All the memorials on the dragon's desk were knocked to the ground!
His breathing tightened, and his gaze turned cold and deep.
The Song family...
What a hopeless mess!
**
On the carriage
Shen Jingchuan closed his eyes to rest, while Shen Zhiyi lowered her head slightly, constantly looking at her brother, hesitant to speak. It wasn't until they arrived home that he gestured for his younger sister to follow him into the Shen family ancestral hall.
He didn't speak, but Shen Zhiyi had already knelt down.
"Are you my sister?" Shen Jingchuan asked in a low, hoarse voice.
"elder brother……"
"You're really something. Knowing that His Majesty didn't want you to divorce Song Yuxiu, you devised such a brilliant scheme, and even..."
Shen Jingchuan's voice trembled slightly, "He even schemed against his own brother."
Shen Zhiyi's heart was pounding, and her fingers tightened. "Brother, I'm sorry."
"You want to push things to the extreme and get the Emperor to personally issue an edict granting you a divorce, so I'm cooperating and continuing this charade."
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