Si Hengnian's face was ashen: "Your Highness, I just want to know what crime my father-in-law committed? He even dared to harm the elderly, weak, women and children in his household."
The eldest prince smiled enigmatically: "The military commander of Lingzhou was chased all the way to the capital by the Xu clan. He reported that the Xu clan had committed crimes such as seizing fertile land, forcing women into prostitution, illegally mining, and raising troops. Does the Prince think these crimes are enough to warrant the confiscation of their property and the extermination of their clan?"
“That’s impossible!” Xu Huixin said firmly. “My father never did such a thing.”
"Whether it has been done or not, His Highness and several ministers will investigate. In addition, there are court officials who have accused the Prime Minister's wife of secretly manipulating the young master of the Fang family to be exonerated for murder, and of accepting bribes and other crimes. The evidence is complete, and the Prefect of the Capital has already confessed. As a married woman, it is best for Princess Consort Xun not to interfere too much. The Emperor cherishes Prince Xun's talent and has made great contributions to the country. He does not want to see Prince Xun implicated."
“The princess’s family is my family, and I will investigate this matter thoroughly for my princess.”
"Does Prince Xun not trust me, or does he not trust my second brother, the Minister of Justice, and the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review? Do you think so many of us would conspire to frame Prime Minister Xu? Prince Xun, this is an imperial edict from the Emperor. Before the truth is uncovered, no one is allowed to enter the Prime Minister's residence. Are you trying to openly defy the imperial edict?"
Si Hengnian's face was gloomy, his fists clenched tightly. Looking at Hui Xin's worried and frightened expression, he felt a pang of pity, but reason told him that now was not the time to openly oppose the royal family.
If only he had more time, then if something happened at the border, only he could save it. At that time, who wouldn't give him some consideration?
He absolutely believed that his father-in-law and his clansmen abused their power, but rebellion was something he had no intention of doing for the time being. How could his father-in-law, a civil official without military power, do such a thing? Perhaps it was the royal family deliberately causing trouble to warn him that he might disobey and marry Huixin?
Ha, he conquered the country for the court, but he couldn't even marry the woman he loved. Why should such a royal family make him devote himself to the country and risk his life?
But the time is not right yet, and we must continue to be patient.
Si Hengnian then pulled Xu Huixin back a few steps: "Your Majesty, I dare not. I was just worried that my mother-in-law, a mere woman, would be frightened, so I came to check on her."
“Hengnian…” Xu Huixin stared at him blankly, never expecting that he would back down at this moment.
"Don't worry, I believe the Crown Prince and the others won't wrong your father-in-law. Once the matter is investigated, the Prime Minister's residence will be fine."
"But my mother..."
Si Hengnian gripped her hand tightly: "Huixin, stop fooling around. The Crown Prince is handling a case, and we cannot interfere. Let's go back to the palace first."
The eldest prince smiled at the opportune moment: "Princess Consort Xun, please rest assured, no matter what crime Prime Minister Xu has committed, you are a married woman and Princess Consort Xun, so you will not be implicated."
Xu Huixin couldn't smile at all. She pursed her lips and gave him a deep look: "Farewell, Your Highness."
"Please wait, Prince Xun and Princess Xun. Once the matter concerning Prime Minister Xu has been investigated, I will inform the Prince Xun's residence as soon as possible."
When the two returned to the Prince Xun's residence, Si Hengnian was furious. The advisors of the Prince Xun's residence were also worried: "Is His Majesty's move intended to warn Your Highness?"
"I heard that not only the Prime Minister and the Prefect of the Imperial Workshop, but also several court officials were detained by the Imperial Guards before the court session even ended. These are all nobles and officials who have recently had dealings with our Prince's Mansion."
"Your Highness, I believe it would be best for the Prince's residence to sever ties with the Prime Minister's residence. If necessary, the Princess Consort..."
Before the man could finish speaking, he was forced to swallow his words by Si Hengnian's terrifying gaze. He quickly lowered his head and admitted his mistake: "Your Highness, it was I who overstepped my bounds."
"Go down and receive twenty strokes of the military rod. From now on, I don't want to hear any criticism of the Princess Consort. She is the Princess Consort I went through countless hardships to marry. She is your second mistress. If I am not here, her words are equivalent to my words." Si Hengnian looked at everyone very seriously and earnestly, showing his determination to protect Xu Huixin.
Just then, Hsu Hui-hsin walked outside and heard these words. She, who had been holding a grudge, was immediately moved to tears.
"Hengnian..."
"Didn't I tell you to rest? Why did you come here?"
“I’m really worried about my father and the Prime Minister’s residence. My mother must be terrified, being locked up in the residence alone.”
"It's alright. They won't dare to act recklessly until the truth is found out. I will definitely find out who dared to frame my father-in-law!"
Xu Huixin hesitated and whispered, "What if His Majesty is the one who wrongly accused Father?"
Si Hengnian remained silent, only holding her hand tightly: "If it's a lie, there must be evidence of it being fabricated, and I will find out."
"Hengnian, I believe in you."
The advisors of Prince Xun's mansion watched helplessly as the two publicly displayed their affection. Some wanted to say something, but thinking of their colleagues who had just been dragged away, they silently shut their mouths, only worrying about their own future.
Even if we don't have all the evidence and witnesses to prove that Prime Minister Xu committed the crime, what can they do even if the imperial family wanted to? Would they rebel because of this?
The prince has prestige at the border, but that's only at the border. Moreover, the court has more than just those 200,000 soldiers at the border. Although His Majesty is suspicious, the country is stable. If they openly rebel, I'm afraid their chances of success are slim.
Moreover, they originally thought that the eldest and second princes were mediocre, which is why they were confident in their plans. However, now that the two princes have shown their ruthless methods, can they still rule the country?
It would be better to lie low for now and make other plans later, but judging from how much the prince cares about the princess, he doesn't seem like he'll listen to advice.
This isn't marrying a princess; it's clearly marrying a scourge. They might even discover something amiss with the betrothal gifts sent to the Prime Minister's residence.
However unwilling they were, the strategists could only leave with their heads down under Si Hengnian's cold gaze.
"Don't worry, this is not just a matter for the Prime Minister's residence, but also for the Prince's residence. I will not sit idly by."
Xu Huixin buried her head in his chest, her voice blank: "Hengnian, now you are the only one I can trust and rely on. I'm so scared, so scared that this is the trouble that my insistence on marrying you has brought to the Prime Minister's mansion."
Si Hengnian sneered: "The royal family is suspicious. No matter what we do, it will be wrong. Huixin, don't put yourself under pressure."
"I wish I could see my mother."
Driven by Xu Huixin's wish, Si Hengnian planned to break into the Prime Minister's residence again in the middle of the night. However, this time he had only reached the street corner when the First Prince appeared behind him: "Prince Xun, is there official business to attend to in the middle of the night?"
Si Hengnian turned around abruptly, surprised that he hadn't noticed a thing. If it had been the Lady of the Marquis's Mansion last time, it would have been understandable that she would have been waiting there. But what about this time? Just how many secrets does the First Prince hide that he doesn't know about?
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