Jiang Sixian covered her cheek, her ears ringing.
Emperor Hongde's eyes were filled with disgust, and he didn't even want to look at her.
"Killing you would only dirty my hands. You can explain to the Empress Dowager when she returns to the capital."
The Empress Dowager is Xiao Yitang's birth mother, the Emperor's adoptive mother, and also the person Jiang Sixian fears most in her life.
She dares to act this way today because the Empress Dowager is praying for the country at Mount Jiutai, beyond her reach.
Now that her evil scheme has been exposed, the Empress Dowager will certainly not let her off the hook.
"No, Your Majesty..."
Her face was filled with panic, her usual haughtiness long gone. "You can't do this to me! We grew up together, childhood sweethearts..."
Emperor Hongde's face darkened. "The one who grew up with me is Zhixian, not you."
Jiang Zhixian, Jiang Zhixu's younger sister, was chosen as the Crown Princess by the late Emperor when Hongde Emperor was still the Crown Prince. She was later pushed into Taiye Lake and drowned at the young age of ten.
Jiang Sixian stared at the expressionless man in disbelief, as if her throat had been gripped.
Emperor Hongde did not miss the fleeting hatred in her eyes, and suddenly realized, "It was you who instigated Baoxian to push Zhixian into the water."
It is an affirmative sentence, not an interrogative sentence.
"I don't."
Jiang Sixian subconsciously retorted, but a guilty look appeared on her face.
Emperor Hongde understood everything, sneered repeatedly, and then left with the Empress.
Jiang Sixian heard him say, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Before Mother returns to the capital, she can only be temporarily imprisoned in your Guanju Palace."
Guanju Palace?
Jiang Shuman understood her confusion and kindly explained, "To demonstrate the deep affection between His Majesty and the Empress, His Majesty specially renamed the Weiyang Palace, where the Empress resides, to Guanju Palace."
The ospreys cry, on the islet in the river; a fair maiden, a gentleman's ideal.
Jiang Sixian's defenses were instantly broken.
Jiang Shuman, too lazy to look at her crazed appearance, turned and left.
The door closed, and her life was over.
But this matter is not over yet.
The incident was caused by the fact that Qin Shi, Jiang Sixian's husband, Shen Jiming, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, her daughter Shen Zhixian, and the old lady of the Duke of Anguo's mansion had all been summoned to the palace.
Emperor Hongde first exempted the old lady from the formalities, and then said: "Today, Princess Yongle came to the palace to file a complaint. Someone claimed to be the concubine of the Duke of Anguo and was pregnant, which startled the princess's unborn child."
Jiang Shuman was granted the title of Princess Yongle at birth and enjoyed the treatment of a princess.
Upon hearing this, the old lady couldn't help but exclaim, "Your Majesty..."
Emperor Hongde raised his hand to interrupt her, "Grandma, don't forget that if a court official takes a mistress, he will be dismissed from his post at best, and exiled at worst."
The old matriarch was born with a compassionate heart, detached from worldly affairs, and devoted to Buddhism, having long forgotten the wickedness of human nature. Seeing that Qin was pregnant, she only thought of the innocent child, completely unaware that this would be an indelible stain on her son's reputation.
Upon hearing this, he was startled and speechless.
Jiang Shuman helped her sit down, then knelt down and said, “Your Majesty, my father was your study companion, and we grew up together. You know his character; he would never do such a deceitful act. Now he is leading troops in the field, framed by others, yet he cannot personally plead his case. My second brother escorted our teacher back to his hometown and has not returned yet. My mother is weak after childbirth, and my younger siblings are still young. As the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, it is my duty to seek justice for my father. I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice and clear my father’s name.”
Emperor Hongde nodded.
"Get up first. I will investigate this matter myself."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Jiang Shuman stood up.
The Grand Eunuch Hu Zhengxiang reported in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Physician Xu, the Director of the Imperial Medical Academy, is waiting outside."
"Let him in."
A moment later, Imperial Physician Xu entered the hall to examine Madam Qin's pulse, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, this lady is indeed two months pregnant."
Jiang Shuman let out a cold snort.
The old lady's face also turned pale.
Emperor Hongde said coldly, "Duke Anguo has been away from the capital for three months. I'd like to know how you conceived in the last two months."
Qin's head slammed to the ground.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I had no choice but to do this."
"oh?"
Emperor Hongde raised his thick eyebrows and said, "Tell me, what is the reason that you dared to falsely accuse the Duke of the current dynasty and offend the Princess?"
Aside from being somewhat flustered when she first entered, Qin had now completely calmed down.
"It was the Princess of Qingping who kidnapped my son and used him to coerce me. I had no choice but to comply."
Emperor Hongde then looked at Shen Jiming.
"Shen Qing, is this true?"
Shen Jiming was even calmer than Qin Shi, saying, "This humble subject is unaware."
Emperor Hongde's gaze was icy. "Husband and wife are one. Princess Qingping has committed such a rebellious act, and you dare to say you didn't know?"
Under the emperor's oppressive aura, no one dared to look directly at his face.
"Your Majesty, please allow me to report."
Shen Jiming said calmly, “From the day Princess Qingping married me, she harbored resentment. She even took it out on my daughter Zhixian, often beating and scolding her. At that time, I was busy with official duties in Taiyuan and had no time to take care of her. When I learned of this by chance, I had no choice but to send my daughter back to the capital and entrust her to the care of the Dowager.”
Shen Zhixian, kneeling to the side, shed tears at the opportune moment.
The old lady was shocked.
Jiang Shuman pursed her lips and remained silent.
Parents usually avoid naming their children after elders to prevent offending them. However, Shen Zhixian's name is a homophone of her late aunt Jiang Zhixian, which is clearly quite meaningful.
Emperor Hongde frowned, then looked at Madam Qin, "Who is your husband?"
Qin paused for a moment, her voice trembling slightly, "This humble woman has no husband."
Emperor Hongde: "..."
Qin closed her eyes briefly and said, “My mother was a Wusun, and my father was a Han. At that time, the Great Yan drove out the northern barbarians, and the border people hated foreigners to the bone, and beatings and cursing were commonplace. My father had no choice but to take my mother south to raise silkworms for a living. Ten years ago, the King of Shu rebelled, and my parents died at the hands of the rebels. I was rescued by General Zhou Hui, who led troops to quell the rebellion, and we developed feelings for each other. However, General Zhou already had a family, and because I have foreign blood, I was not accepted by the Zhou family, so I have been living outside.”
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