Chapter 174 Defection, Siblings Kill Each Other
The Imperial City Guards immediately came out and tried to detain Xie Guidu.
Xie Guidu suddenly looked up, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Stop! Who dares? I am the heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan, an official of the court. You cannot detain me like this!"
"Lord Shen, these charges are all fabricated. May I ask if you have any evidence?"
Dou Wenyi's tone was unfriendly, "How could Xie Guidu not have evidence? You just admitted to yourself that you sent Xie Mengyao to jail, and we all heard it clearly. Do you think you can erase this fact with a few sophistry?"
Chen Yanzhou's face remained calm as water. "Of course I do."
At this moment, the cell door creaked open, and Xie Mengyao, covered in filth, barely managed to walk in front of everyone. Her legs were stiff, and stepping on the ground felt like being pricked by a thousand needles, causing her to burst into tears from the pain.
That day, after she was rescued, she remained unconscious. Xie Guidu first took her to his private residence. The doctor said she was fine, so he ordered his men to tie her up tightly, stuff cotton cloth in her mouth, blindfold her, and throw her into a sack to be sent to prison.
Xie Mengyao actually woke up as soon as she was sent to Dali Temple. She was curled up in the sack, having cried all her tears.
In her daze, Xie Guidu's cold words made her even more desperate, "...She is a maid who made a mistake in the manor. Let her be locked up for a few days to suffer and learn a lesson."
She was a beautiful and noble lady who was betrayed by her lover Wei Yuanzhen and inexplicably sent to prison by her brother whom she had respected for more than ten years.
The naked gazes of the men in the prison, their filthy hands groping her body...
Thinking of this, Xie Mengyao was almost on the verge of collapse.
She trembled uncontrollably, her swollen eyes filled with despair, and she called out, "Brother."
Xie Guidu's heart skipped a beat, and he almost lost his balance.
He didn't know if Xie Mengyao had heard his conversation with the clerk. He could only hope that she wouldn't be foolish enough to drag him down with her by harming herself, out of consideration for their blood ties!
His eyes flashed with coldness as he said in a deep voice, "Xie Mengyao, there's a limit to your temper. Don't let others instigate and slander me. We are siblings connected by blood. Don't be misled and used by others. They are all people with ulterior motives!"
"When your brother learned that you had been wrongly imprisoned, he rushed over overnight to rescue you. Your brother will take you back now."
Upon hearing this, Pei Siyan's narrow eyes narrowed slightly. A mocking smile played on his lips. Even though he had long witnessed Xie Guidu's hypocrisy, he was still shocked by his shamelessness.
Did he also try to morally blackmail Xie Mengyao in the name of family ties?
Unfortunately, Xie Mengyao suffered greatly in prison, and in order to get revenge, she will definitely tear him out!
Xie Mengyao dragged her heavy steps toward him, finally stopping in front of Xie Guidu.
"Smack—"
In front of everyone, Xie Mengyao actually slapped Xie Guidu across the face.
Caught off guard, Xie Guidu's cool and elegant face was instantly swollen and red from the blow, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Xie Mengyao, you are unfilial and disrespectful!"
A fierce hatred flashed in Xie Mengyao's eyes, and she suddenly sneered, "Brother, didn't you personally order them to teach me a lesson? I can't be mistaken about your voice. You even took away Wang Cuihua, the female prisoner who was originally imprisoned in the prison."
Dou Wenyi and Pei Siyan exchanged a knowing glance, and the dog-eat-dog drama truly began.
The air was frozen, and all was silent.
It wasn't until Shen Yanzhou's slightly louder voice rang out, "Xie Guidu, isn't this evidence conclusive?"
Xie Guidu was shocked. Xie Mengyao was the person involved, and also his own sister. Her accusations undoubtedly confirmed his guilt.
Is she an idiot?
"Xie Mengyao, you've been locked up and confused. Don't say things you shouldn't!"
A surge of satisfaction welled up inside Xie Mengyao, as if she had finally gotten her revenge. "Brother, are you still going to deny it? Don't you like prison? You'll stay in there from now on!"
Xie Guidu looked horrified, his shoulders slumped, he shook his head and laughed helplessly, "Xie Mengyao, you are hopelessly stupid."
Once his crime of framing Dou Wenyi is proven, he will have to take all the blame by himself. Even if he has Prince Rui and Prime Minister Meng behind him, he cannot implicate them, otherwise the entire Dingyuan Marquis's mansion will suffer an even worse fate!
He glanced up at Dou Wenyi, the wife who had once been completely devoted to him, now standing forever on his opposite side, watching him crumble step by step. She had not only joined forces with Shen Yanzhou, but had also managed to summon Eunuch Feng. Perhaps his hasty arrival at the Dali Temple prison today was all part of her carefully orchestrated plan.
In her previous life, she was already a highly skilled doctor, able to cure him even with such difficult poisons. If I'm not mistaken, she poisoned herself in the Plum Garden, interfering with her mind and judgment, which is why he walked right into her trap.
She's not that meticulous; Pei Siyan must be helping her devise a plan behind the scenes. How despicable!
Could it be that they have already reached a mutual understanding?
Even knowing that Dou Wenyi had been his wife, did Pei Siyan have no resentment at all?
Xie Guidu felt a sharp, persistent pain in his heart. They couldn't be husband and wife; did they have to become mortal enemies from now on? It was he himself who had willingly become a slave to love, lost his judgment, and driven himself into a desperate situation.
One wrong step leads to another...
I know that longing is futile, but my melancholy is a kind of unbridled madness!
That's enough!
Xie Guidu seemed to have made up his mind. His lingering gaze fell on Dou Wenyi again, and he smiled, "Yes, I am in love with the future Crown Princess—"
"Shut up!" Several voices shouted in unison, but they couldn't stop his foul language.
Xie Guidu paused for a moment, then said, "My sins are unforgivable, Eunuch Feng. This sinful subject begs to see His Majesty."
Dou Wenyi's eyes betrayed her disgust and disappointment. Xie Guidu was too despicable. Did he think that by bringing this matter into the realm of romance, he could drag her down with him?
"Young Master Xie, you should save your shallow and laughable affection for your third sister, Dou Mingyan. After all, His Highness the Crown Prince still has evidence of your deep love for her!"
"Yi'er—"
"Guards! Temporarily imprison him in the Dali Temple Prison." Shen Yanzhou raised his hand.
The Imperial City Guard immediately detained him and dragged him away.
Shen Yanzhou turned to look at Eunuch Feng and sighed, "Young Master Xie seems to be possessed, talking nonsense. Just now he even dragged Prince Rui into it. What do you think, Eunuch Feng?"
Eunuch Feng understood immediately and laughed, "Yes, young man, you're so impulsive. Don't worry, I'll return to the palace now and report the truth to His Majesty. Lord Shen, you've worked hard. Crown Princess, now that the truth is out, you can relax and go back to rest."
If this matter is investigated further, it will inevitably involve factional strife, leading to another catastrophe.
Therefore, they have reached a consensus.
Eunuch Feng reassured her that Xie Guidu's arrogant words would not reach the Emperor's ears.
Therefore, even though Prince Rui was behind this case, in the end only Xie Guidu was convicted.
Stepping out of the Dali Temple gate, the cold wind was biting. Pei Siyan naturally put the white fox fur cloak on Dou Wenyi, making her look as elegant and refined as a lotus flower, with graceful and charming eyes that were impossible to look away from.
This scene caught Shen Yanzhou's eye, and he walked straight to 'Crimson Flame's' side.
Shen Yanzhou lowered his eyes and said calmly, "Your Highness, your good health is a blessing to the Great Zhou. It's just that the Crown Princess has suffered an undeserved calamity!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
