Brother and sister
Then, a man dressed in a blue robe stepped out from the crowd, holding a roll of silk. He stepped forward, bowed to the high platform, and said in a clear but remarkably calm voice: "Your Majesty, I am a layman from Suyu Tower. A few days ago, at the request of General Xiao, I investigated the incident of the inexplicable fire in the palace a year ago and unexpectedly discovered some things."
"Before the Xiao family was unjustly accused, several palace servants 'accidentally' perished in a fire at Linde Palace. Most people thought it was an accident, but unfortunately, one of the servants, Fu Da, escaped and later left the palace..."
"Your Majesty, do you think it necessary for me to read aloud what that palace servant said at this moment?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Shouji and the ministers behind him were all taken aback.
Suyu Tower is the largest intelligence network in the world. Whether it's royalty, ministers, or ordinary people, there's nothing they don't know, only things they want to know or don't want to know.
Everything they say is true.
Xiao Jiangsheng steadily handed the memorial tablet to Xie Xiangsi, stepped forward, took the silk scroll from the young man in blue, stared intently at Zhou Shouji on the high platform, and asked in a voice devoid of emotion: "Your Majesty, do you want me to read it aloud?"
Zhou Shouji's eyes suddenly narrowed, and the knuckles of his fingers resting on the railing turned slightly white.
He absolutely must not let Xiao Jiangsheng reveal this matter!
"Pass down the order! The prisoner Zhou Yu'an is sentenced to beheading, to be carried out at noon tomorrow!" In the blink of an eye, he had made his decision.
Didn't they want Zhou Yu to die an undignified death? Then let them have their way.
Hearing the exclamations of surprise from the ministers around him, he looked coldly at the Xiao siblings below: "Are you satisfied now?"
“Satisfied, of course I’m satisfied.” Xiao Jiangsheng smiled, but the next second he said, “Since Your Majesty is so considerate of the Xiao family, I naturally have to offer Your Majesty a great gift.”
Immediately, two rough-looking men escorted a woman up.
Upon seeing the woman's face clearly, Zhou Shouji's eyes trembled slightly, and a minister standing behind him couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "This... isn't this Consort De?!"
These words were like a boulder falling into a lake, creating ripples upon ripples.
"...What's going on here..."
"...What else does General Xiao want to do..."
"..."
Amidst the clamor, Consort De walked calmly to the front, as if she were simply taking a leisurely stroll outside the palace, rather than being escorted back as a fugitive.
Upon reaching him, she even had the mind to curtsy to Zhou Shouji on the high platform: "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"What does General Xiao mean by this?" Zhou Shouji asked slowly.
Xiao Jiangsheng chuckled, raised his eyelids, and said, "Didn't Your Majesty previously feel that executing Zhou Yu'an in public would damage the royal family's reputation?"
Zhou Shouji remained silent.
But the next second, Xiao Jiangsheng's words completely shocked him.
"But what if he is not of royal blood?"
Xiao Jiang's voice wasn't loud, but it was just loud enough for everyone on the platform to hear clearly. In an instant, the platform, which had just quieted down, was filled with whispers again.
Zhou Shouji's pupils contracted sharply. He suppressed the wildly beating heart in his chest and spoke again, his tone tinged with anxiety: "What exactly do you mean?"
“It is exactly what Your Majesty is thinking,” Xiao said in a low voice. “Zhou Yu’an is not the son of the Emperor Emeritus, but rather the son of General Zhang Mingyuan and Consort De!”
"And Consort De is Zhang Mingyuan's half-sister!"
His words caused an uproar in the room.
Zhou Yanzhi couldn't help but feel a tremor in his heart. Although he had long suspected this, he was still unsettled when it was actually said, after all, it was too shocking.
"This...this..." An old minister stammered for a long time, but could not utter a complete sentence.
After a moment of silence, looking at Wei Shu who remained motionless below, Zhou Shouji slowly spoke: "Consort De, Lady Wei, do you have any rebuttal to what Xiao Jiangsheng said?"
Instantly, all the noise subsided, and everyone stared intently at the person below who stood ramrod straight, afraid of missing a single word she said.
Amidst the anticipation of the crowd, Wei Shu raised his eyes, looked up at the high platform, and smiled, "Indeed, An'er is indeed my son with Zhang Mingyuan."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone was startled again.
She didn't refute it! It really is true!
"His Majesty."
Just then, Zhou Yanzhi, who was standing beside Zhou Shouji, knelt down, took out a folded piece of Xuan paper from his bosom, and said in a deep voice: "This is my recent investigation report. After investigation, I found that the identity of the criminal Zhou Yu'an is indeed questionable, and it is very likely that he is not a member of the royal family."
Zhou Shouji took the sheet of Xuan paper, his eyes quickly scanning the ink characters on it, and his expression gradually darkened.
Indeed, what was said above is reasonable and well-founded.
Therefore, Zhou Yu'an... was really not a member of the royal family.
Zhou Shouji closed his eyes briefly, then looked down at the platform below, his gaze dark and menacing: "Guards, take Consort De to the Imperial Prison and await a joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices before deciding her fate."
Immediately, two Imperial Guards rushed towards Consort De and took her away.
Xiao Jiangsheng and Xie Xiangsi frowned, but did not stop them—the Empress's reaction was unexpected.
Jie Xiangsi took a step closer to Xiao Jiangsheng and asked in a low voice, "Brother, don't you think it's strange?"
After all, logically speaking, she should have denied it to the death, or at the very least, refuted it. Because if she didn't admit it, the actions of the two siblings today would leave a thorn in Zhou Shouji's heart. Although it wouldn't save Zhou Yu'an, it would certainly annoy them.
Why not do it?
Instead of admitting it so readily, without even a hint of resistance, as is the case now.
That's really strange.
Xiao Jiangsheng was also full of doubts: "Strange, but I don't know what's strange about it."
However, as he watched Consort De's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Zhou Yanzhi had a guess in his mind—he felt that Consort De's behavior was like self-destruction and revenge.
Before he could think it through, Xiao Jiangsheng's voice came from below the stage again: "Your Majesty, since Zhou Yu'an is not a member of the royal family, a public execution would not damage the royal family's reputation, then..."
"What do you want to say?" Zhou Shouji's tone was somewhat cold.
Xiao Jiang chuckled, his face gentle, but his words were extremely bold: "I would like to ask, what does Your Majesty have to say about tacitly allowing the Xiao family to be framed and killed?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Shouji was first taken aback, seemingly still reeling from what had just happened, before bursting into boundless rage.
Is Xiao Jiang Sheng really courting death?!
How dare they pressure him like this?!
"Xiao Jiangsheng, you have repeatedly defied your superiors; are you plotting a rebellion?!" His voice was icy cold, as if it were covered in a layer of ice.
The next instant, the Imperial Guards emerged from all directions, surrounding Xiao Jiangsheng and Xie Xiangsi. The gleaming tips of their blades were pointed at them, as if the moment Zhou Shouji spoke, they would fall upon them.
Zhou Shouji stared intently at Xiao Jiangsheng below the stage, awaiting his answer.
Despite the terrifying Imperial Guards surrounding them and the cries of frightened civilians, Xiao Jiangsheng and Xie Xiangsi showed no fear whatsoever.
They stared intently at the high platform, their eyes filled with unwavering determination. With all their loved ones gone, they had nothing left to fear; the only thing they could do was seek justice for their people!
"Fellow citizens!"
Jie Xiangsi suddenly spoke up, saying loudly, "Last winter, I, Xiao Yan, committed suicide at the city gate because my family was wronged and I did not want to fall into the hands of villains."
"Now that early summer is approaching, if Xiao Yan and her brother die tragically here today, it will be because His Majesty intends to silence them, refuses to admit his mistakes, and refuses to admit that he condoned the wicked harming loyal ministers!"
These words brought back memories for many, recalling that snowy night of last year, when the girl's mournful cry seemed to echo in their ears once more...
Now that things have come to this, how could they not tell whether Xiao Yan's words were true or false? For a moment, everyone looked at the bright yellow figure on the high platform with complicated expressions.
Tacit approval, persecuting loyal ministers...
Would such a monarch be a good monarch?
The tense atmosphere reached its peak in an instant. Just as Zhou Shouji was about to order the killings because he was provoked by Xie Xiangsi, a tired but authoritative voice came from behind.
"Ji'er!"
Zhou Shouji froze and slowly turned around.
The courtiers behind him had already dispersed to the sides, leaving a path through him. The Empress Dowager, dressed in a crimson palace gown and supported by Zhou Yanzhi, stood at the other end of the path, looking at him with a deep gaze.
"Ji'er." The Empress Dowager's voice softened as she beckoned to him, "Come here."
"Grandmother." Zhou Shouji bowed slightly, then quickly stepped forward and helped the Empress Dowager to the other side.
Supported by Zhou Yanzhi and Zhou Shouji, the Empress Dowager walked step by step to the railing, looked down at the dense crowd below, and sighed silently in her heart.
After a moment of silence, she slowly spoke: "The Xiao family boy, the Xiao family girl."
Xiao Jiangsheng and Xie Xiangsi exchanged a glance, then knelt down and kowtowed.
"Xiao Jiangsheng pays his respects to the Empress Dowager."
"Xiao Yan pays respects to the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager sighed and said, "Get up."
"Thank you, Empress Dowager." The two said in unison.
Her gaze swept over the brother and sister standing side by side below, pausing for a moment on the memorial tablets they held in their hands. The Empress Dowager spoke slowly, her tone exceptionally solemn: "I am aware of the Xiao family's affairs, and I am ashamed of them. Here..."
"First of all, I want to apologize to you. It is my Zhou clan that has wronged your Xiao family regarding the Xiao family's matter."
"Royal Grandmother!"
Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager would say such a thing. Zhou Yanzhi and Zhou Shouji's pupils both shrank sharply. However, the former was only surprised, while the latter was anxious.
The Empress Dowager's words undoubtedly acknowledged that Zhou Shouji and Emperor Zhaowen tacitly approved of Zhou Yu'an and Consort De framing the Xiao family.
How could this be?!
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