Shen Zhi was equally surprised when she saw her.
She was dressed in tattered clothes, in coarse linen. Perhaps fearing she would offend the nobleman's eyes, her face had been cleaned, but she looked withered and haggard.
There are also words carved on his face.
She appeared dazed, and as the guards pressed down on her shoulders to force her to kneel, she was still muttering incantations.
His eyes were darting around, and his demeanor was somewhat erratic.
Since her previous attempt to assassinate Chen Shi in the street, which resulted in her being executed on the spot by her elder brother, reported to the authorities, arrested, and imprisoned, Shen Zhiyi had never seen Chen Shi again, let alone expected her to appear here.
"Why is it you?" The Empress Dowager frowned; her appearance was clearly unexpected by everyone.
"You wicked woman!" Shen Chongde was even more furious when he saw her.
"Wasn't the Marquis's mansion supposed to be raided and the entire clan wiped out? How come she's still alive?" the crowd murmured.
"Yes, the matter concerning the Song family was personally overseen by the Prince."
How could there be any fish that slipped through the net?
...
As they spoke, the courtiers couldn't help but look at the regent with suspicion.
Zhou Xuance was quite frank: "Before the Song family was convicted, Chen was imprisoned by the Dali Temple for attempting to assassinate my queen in the street. She was just waiting to be executed in the autumn. Moreover, after she was imprisoned, Song Maozhang kept writing letters of divorce and abandoned her."
"So when the entire Hou family was arrested, her name was not on the list."
The ministers nodded.
This makes sense. Chen was arrested first, but because of other crimes, he was already imprisoned and divorced, and was no longer a member of the Song family, so he escaped a disaster.
"As for why she didn't die, you'll have to ask the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."
After Zhou Xuance finished speaking, the head of the Dali Temple immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Chen was originally supposed to be beheaded in the autumn, but several months ago, there was a flood in the Jianghuai region, and you granted a general amnesty. She happened to be on the list of those granted amnesty and thus escaped this fate."
Everyone suddenly realized that this was how it was.
In this light, the Chen family member can be considered lucky.
"Now that you have been pardoned, you should be grateful. Why are you spreading rumors and slandering the Emperor?" The Crown Prince raised his voice and shouted angrily in a low voice.
Perhaps the sound was a bit loud, instantly attracting Chen's attention. She looked up at the stage in a daze...
As his gaze swept over the crowd,
Suddenly, her gaze fixed on Shen Zhiyi, and she became instantly agitated: "Zhiyi, please forgive me, I will never dare to do it again."
"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have lied to you and forced you to drink all kinds of herbal medicine every day."
"Can you forgive me?"
"Although I arranged for that cook, the plan was proposed by Lin Yaoyao. She said that to completely control you and the Duke's Mansion, we had to find something to hold against you, so I arranged for someone to try to ruin your reputation."
“I am Yuxiu’s mother. You love him so much, you will surely forgive me, won’t you?”
...
She spoke incoherently, but everyone in the capital knew that in the spring, the Marquis's wife had an affair with the cook and became pregnant with an illegitimate child. She miscarried at the Marquis's family reunion banquet, where the Empress Dowager and the Regent were present.
This matter is still widely discussed today.
Unexpectedly, the truth was that she wanted to frame Shen Zhiyi?
Upon hearing this, Shen Chongde was enraged. Ignoring his wife's attempts to stop him, he rushed forward and kicked her twice.
Military generals are known for their great strength.
He kicked her twice, causing her to vomit blood. She clutched her abdomen, curled up, and cried out in pain and begged for mercy.
"You filthy wretch, how dare you frame my daughter!"
If it weren't for the rule against bringing sharp weapons to palace banquets, Shen Chongde would have definitely taken a knife and torn her to pieces.
"Spare me, spare me—" Chen lay on the ground, her face contorted in extreme pain.
Emperor Xiaoxuan felt a headache coming on. "He's just a madman. Duke Shen, there's no need to get angry. I will give you an explanation for this matter!"
"Guards, drag this madwoman away!"
"Beating him to death!"
Emperor Xiaoxuan was in a fit of rage when Lady Chen happened to be there.
"The Emperor?" Just as Chen was about to be dragged away, she suddenly found strength and broke free, catching the guards off guard. "You can't kill me! You can't!"
"She's insane! Take her away right now!" The Empress Dowager frowned, extremely displeased.
Mid-Autumn Festival, such a wonderful holiday.
Seeing such a crazy woman is really bad luck.
"You can't touch me. Do you know who I am?"
"I am the Lady of the Marquis of Xuanhua's Mansion!"
Everyone laughed:
That's absolutely insane.
Some people mocked, "The Marquis's wife? The Marquis's mansion is gone now, so where would a wife come from?"
"How could the Marquis's mansion be gone?" Madam Chen questioned. "You must be talking nonsense."
"The Song family has been accused of treason and collusion with the enemy. The evidence is irrefutable. Their home was raided and the entire clan was wiped out several months ago!" someone reminded them.
"Impossible!" Chen suddenly became agitated and rushed up to the official. "Do you know who our family works for?"
At this moment, Emperor Xiaoxuan had a splitting headache and was about to speak when it was too late.
Because Chen had already started shouting and speaking:
"Our Song family..."
"They are doing official business for the current emperor!"
Others just found it funny to hear this.
The entire Daqian is under the Emperor's control, and all officials are there to serve the Emperor. What is there to boast about?
Only Shen Zhiyi secretly glanced at Emperor Xiaoxuan.
He seemed to be overwhelmed with anxiety, and his body staggered. If his tall companion hadn't caught him in time, he probably would have fallen.
The Crown Prince sighed helplessly, "What a joke! Who isn't working for Father Emperor?"
"Our Song family is different!"
"Cover her mouth and drag her away!" Emperor Xiaoxuan roared, trying to stop her from speaking again.
Two guards stepped forward to stop her, but they couldn't catch the madwoman, allowing Chen to continue her arrogant shouting: "You have no idea how much His Majesty relies on our Song family!"
"Three years ago, Shen Zhiyi fell from his horse, which was also orchestrated by His Majesty."
"They just want Yuxiu to marry Shen Zhiyi. She's the only young lady in the Duke's mansion. Don't you think His Majesty is being exceptionally kind to our Song family?"
“Shen Zhiyi, you can’t blame me. It’s His Majesty who won’t allow your Shen family to grow stronger, so naturally he won’t allow you to marry into a powerful and wealthy family. He won’t allow you to divorce Yuxiu, you…”
"Born a member of the Song family, and will die a member of the Song family!"
"If you treat me well, I might spare your life when the Shen family is destroyed."
Chen seemed unaware that Shen Zhiyi had already married.
The words were utterly absurd.
Judging from what she just said, it doesn't seem to be entirely nonsensical ramblings; it probably has some credibility.
Her words at this moment shocked everyone present.
so,
The courtiers were horrified.
It is possible that the Emperor himself arranged and facilitated Shen Zhiyi's marriage into the Song family.
Moreover, when Shen Zhiyi initially requested a divorce from Song Yuxiu, His Majesty did not grant it.
Are they worried that the Shen family's marriage alliance with powerful nobles, forming a powerful alliance, would threaten the imperial power?
How could the emperor, a man of great stature, design a mere little girl?
It is understandable that, throughout history, some clandestine methods have been used to consolidate imperial power.
However, once these things are torn apart and laid out in the open, they become...
That would be extremely embarrassing!
Emperor Xiaoxuan felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, his blood surging through his body. He was probably too excited, which made him dizzy and he almost collapsed to the ground...
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