The crowd reacted with varying expressions. The people around Marquis Xi Ning all wore smug expressions, while those around Xiao Qi were either shocked or furious. Only Xiao Qi himself remained calm and composed, his eyes as still as a lake, meeting Marquis Xi Ning's gaze, which was half questioning and half threatening, without taking a step back.
“There is no physical evidence left,” Xiao Qi said. Upon hearing this, the people around Marquis Xi Ning became even more arrogant. “However, there are still witnesses.”
Upon hearing this, Marquis Xi Ning's expression changed, a fleeting look of panic flashed across his face, the muscles on his wrinkled face twitched slightly, and his eyes widened.
"Bring the witness into the hall," the Emperor ordered, following closely behind.
The eunuchs immediately began to speak in thin, hoarse voices, one after another.
A short while later, the hunched-over steward was brought in. He didn't look at anyone, kept his head down, and performed a deep bow when he reached the center of the hall.
When Marquis Xi Ning saw him, half of his defenses crumbled instantly. Cold sweat broke out on his palms as he gripped his scepter, and a fine layer of sweat seeped from his forehead.
"Your Majesty! I don't recognize this person at all!" Marquis Xi Ning spoke before the steward could, his shoulders trembling slightly.
The Emperor remained calm and composed, and said leisurely, "I never said that this person knew the Marquis. He was merely a witness invited by Minister Shen. Why is the Marquis so flustered in denying it?"
Marquis Xi Ning felt a pang of regret, blaming himself for being too eager to distance himself, which allowed these greenhorns to seize the opportunity!
"Tell me," the Emperor said, his anger gradually fading, and his expression softened considerably when he gave instructions to the steward.
The steward was still kneeling on the ground, his face almost touching the ground. "Your Majesty, I was the steward of the Marquis ten years ago. It was not Prince Sui'an who betrayed the country, but the Marquis! Back then, it was I who helped the Marquis frame Prince Sui'an's family and frame the Xiao family, forcing the Xiao family to be destroyed and killed."
"You audacious madman!" Marquis Xi Ning's hand holding the tablet trembled, his eyes were bloodshot, and his previous calm and deceitful demeanor was completely gone, replaced by a furious rage that seemed to burst from his body.
"In the courtroom, you dare to disregard the imperial law and frame a high-ranking official!" Marquis Xining was so angry that he spoke without thinking, like an enraged lion, wishing he could tear the steward to pieces.
“This humble subject is telling the truth!” Ignoring his threat, the steward began to kowtow repeatedly. “If Your Majesty does not believe me, this humble subject can also recite the letters from back then in which the family of Prince Sui’an were plotted against!”
"Shut up!" Marquis Xining was so angry he almost jumped up and down, his face turning red with rage.
The steward continued to ignore him and began to recite the text. The officials on the side of Marquis Xining were all sweating profusely and their faces turned ashen. Marquis Xining's expression became more and more unbearable as the steward recited the text. In the end, he simply fell silent, his body trembling with each sentence he recited.
After reading it aloud, the Emperor's face hardened with rage. "Marquis Xi Ning, what else do you have to say?"
Marquis Xi Ning was struck dumb as if by a bolt from the blue. He threw down his official tablet and sat on the ground with a thud, sitting there blankly as if his soul had been ripped out. Seeing that he was at his last gasp, the officials all turned against him.
"Very well, Marquis Xining has confessed to his crimes: colluding with the enemy, betraying the country, framing the prince, and oppressing the people. According to the law, he should be executed!" The Emperor waved his hand. "Guards, take Marquis Xining to the imperial prison and execute him in the autumn!"
Upon hearing the last two words, Marquis Xi Ning hurriedly scrambled to his feet and kowtowed repeatedly, crying, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I am innocent!"
The guards with swords came forward on command, grabbed one of the Marquis of Xining's arms with one hand, and dragged him out like a dead dog. The Marquis of Xining was still wailing, and his voice filled the entire hall. It wasn't until he was dozens of feet away from the hall that everyone could hear his voice gradually weakening.
His followers shrank back and huddled together in fear.
Finally, the treacherous minister was brought down, and a hint of joy appeared in the emperor's eyes. Just as he was about to begin the reward and punishment, Shen Yuheng suddenly knelt down with a "thump".
“Your Majesty, I am not the newly appointed Vice Minister of Revenue, Shen Yuheng, but a descendant of Prince Sui’an, named Xiao Qi. I am here incognito to search for evidence to clear my late father’s name. I know I have committed the crime of deceiving the Emperor, and I beg Your Majesty to punish me.”
How could the Emperor truly punish you? “You have rendered meritorious service in investigating this case, and I am already rewarding you. From today onwards, I will restore your status, bestow upon you a hundred acres of fertile land and ten thousand taels of gold, and have you marry Wan Wanwan within half a month.”
"Thank you, Your Majesty..." Xiao Qi was about to kneel down to express his gratitude when he heard the second half of the sentence and was stunned. He looked up at Wanwan.
The other person winked at him playfully, while Wan Yuechi's lips tightened and he rolled his eyes inwardly.
Seeing Wanwan's joyful expression, Xiao Qi unconsciously smiled and hurriedly knelt down to thank the emperor for his grace.
However, before the couple could even begin preparing for their wedding, news of war broke out on the frontier.
Previously, Marquis Xining had colluded with foreign powers. Now, with the information revealed by Marquis Xining, the enemy had already captured three cities and was advancing towards the capital with unstoppable momentum.
With the Marquis of Xining and his cronies all fallen from power and everything in ruins, there was really no general to send out for battle. So Xiao Qi volunteered to go to the frontier to defeat the enemy.
The young emperor had no choice but to agree.
Xiao Qi was not yet twenty years old and had no experience in leading troops to fight the enemy, so everyone was worried about his departure.
Before they could say a proper goodbye, Xiao Qi led his troops to the frontier. No matter how clever Wanwan was, she was still a girl and did not qualify to go to the battlefield. She could only wait at home for Xiao Qi's triumphant return and, together with Zhang Xiu, used the money from running the shop to prepare provisions.
All the income from the Wan family shops was invested in grain and fodder, which greatly reduced the pressure on the national treasury. However, Zhang Xiu and Wanwan, who were busy running around, were both exhausted.
That day, Wanwan was checking the accounts when Wan Suizhou came in with a plate of cut fruit.
When she was little, her grandfather often peeled fruit for her. Wanwan would roll up her sleeves, pick up an apple that had been peeled into a little rabbit, and stuff it into her mouth, making her little mouth bulge.
"Wanwan, eat slowly," Wan Suizhou stroked his beard with satisfaction, then changed the subject, "The Emperor bestowed a marriage upon Wanwan and Young Master Shen a few days ago, didn't he?"
Wanwan's dark eyes flashed, and she nodded. Then, as if remembering something, she leaned closer to her grandfather and said mysteriously, "Grandpa, Young Master Shen is Brother Xiao. The Emperor has restored his identity, so please don't call him Young Master Shen anymore. Besides, Brother Xiao is also a mermaid, and his mother and Wanwan's mother are good friends."
Wan Suizhou paused in stroking his beard, a hint of surprise flashing in his deep eyes, before quickly returning to his warm expression. "So Wanwan and Grandpa's grandson-in-law are old friends."
Wanwan, resting her chin on her hand, heard her grandfather address Xiao Qi as her grandson-in-law, and a faint blush immediately rose to her eyes. "Grandpa, don't talk nonsense! We're not married yet! Wanwan is ignoring you!"
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