Chapter 267 A Letter of Divorce to Sheng Xiyue
The atmosphere inside the hall was so stiff it was suffocating.
Sheng Chunfang's face turned pale. She looked at Jiang Shi and Sheng Xiyue in disbelief, and could tell from their guilty expressions that the matter was true or false.
He had to break the suffocating silence, "Your Highness, there must be some misunderstanding here..."
Pei Siyan said with a sullen face, "I also thought there was a misunderstanding, and that this was a family matter. Fine, let's have Lord Shen from the Ministry of Justice come over."
His voice was very calm, yet it carried the thunderous majesty of an emperor.
Dou Wenyi raised her eyebrows slightly, suppressing a laugh, "Your Highness, please calm down. The imperial physician said you should not get too angry."
"How can I not be furious? One is my concubine, and the other is my aunt, my closest relatives! This time it was aphrodisiacs, what about next time? Will they prepare poison for me? How dare they be so audacious? Who gave them the audacity?"
Duke Wen's face was cold and stern as he glared fiercely at Wen Jingchu, "..."
Sheng Chunfang also looked extremely embarrassed.
Who else could it be? It's just that one of them is from a powerful and influential family and wants to advance further, while the other is relying on blood ties and wants to take advantage of someone's kindness. They each have their own agendas.
Duke Wen's expression was solemn as he tentatively spoke, "Your Highness, family scandals should not be aired in public! The situation in the court is treacherous, so it's best not to cause too much of a commotion. Wen Jingchu is audacious and has committed heinous crimes. Perhaps we could punish her by sending her to Cuifeng Nunnery to copy scriptures?"
Pei Siyan already knew about these things. The reason he made the two of them spend their busy schedules studying the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty was to give them a warning.
Wen Jingchu refused to comply, crying helplessly, "Big brother, are you trying to force me to my death? Lin Ge'er is still so young. He cries and makes a fuss when he doesn't see me at night, you know that!"
"Shut up! If you keep making a scene, I'm not going to get involved anymore. Anyway, you're already married, so let Sheng Runeng take care of you!"
Wen Jingchu was heartbroken, but she knew now was not the time to be stubborn. She would just sneak back later.
Pei Siyan couldn't possibly send anyone to follow her.
Seeing that the Wen family was serious, Sheng Chunfang also had to correct his attitude. He only regretted that his daughter had the means but no brains.
If you're going to do something dirty, you shouldn't leave any evidence against you.
But Sheng Xiyue was, after all, the child he had raised with his own hands. If he couldn't protect her, he would be unworthy of being a father.
If he tries to argue further, it will only backfire. In any case, he must protect Sheng Xiyue's engagement with the royal family and must not ruin the marriage.
Since the Sheng family is in the wrong, at this moment, they can only admit their mistake in humiliation.
Sheng Chunfang cupped her hands and said, "Your Highness, while Sheng Xiyue is certainly at fault for creating this situation, it would not have turned out this way if it weren't for the instigation of those around her. Drag Granny and Yuzhu out first, and give them each fifty lashes as a warning to others!"
If those fifty strokes of the cane were actually delivered, both of them would almost certainly die. Sheng Xiyue instinctively wanted to stop it. Yuzhu deserved to be punished for betraying her, but Granny Yao had not betrayed her.
Seeing the sharp warning in Jiang's eyes, she swallowed back her words of pleading.
The servants of the Sheng family immediately dragged Granny Yao, Yuzhu, and others away and beat them.
Outside the palace, shrill screams rang out, sending chills down Sheng Xiyue's spine. The sound of whipping seemed to strike the faces of the Sheng family members. Executions were being carried out openly in the Eastern Palace, and the dignity and reputation of this century-old family were destroyed in an instant.
Soon, a strong smell of blood filled the air.
Dou Wenyi raised her hand to stop her, "Lord Sheng, you should severely punish the servants of the Sheng family and bring them back to the Sheng family for a lesson. Don't let the Crown Prince's Palace suffer unnecessary bloodshed."
Sheng Chunfang nodded, "The Crown Princess is kind-hearted and spared their lives. I thank you on their behalf."
Dou Wenyi was thoroughly disgusted by him. He truly was a seasoned veteran in the court, adept at using others to climb the social ladder.
Sheng Chunfang's expression was solemn. Suddenly, she knelt down and spoke with deep emotion, "My daughter has committed a heinous crime. I have no face to face Your Highness. Back then, Xiyue was also kind and sensible. When she encountered a mudslide, she knew to run to inform Madam Wen. That's why Empress Wen treated her differently and had the intention of arranging a marriage between them."
"If Empress Wen could know this in the afterlife, she would surely not want to see Your Highness turn against the Sheng family, becoming enemies instead of becoming in-laws... Your Highness, may I take my daughter back to my residence and discipline her strictly?
Dou Wenyi glanced at Sheng Chunfang. He and Jiang were indeed family; each of them was more cunning than the other.
He put on a humble act, but wasn't he just trying to morally blackmail Pei Siyan?
What's most despicable is that he actually brought up the late Empress Wen to plead for him; it's utterly disgusting!
Ultimately, they still think this is just a trivial matter, and they don't mention how to punish Sheng Xiyue. They think that if the Crown Prince pretends to be confused, he will let them off the hook.
Unfortunately, none of them will escape unscathed this time!
Dou Wenyi picked up the conversation directly, her voice clear and loud, "I was deeply moved by what Lord Sheng said today..."
She suddenly gave a mocking laugh, "But Empress Wen dotes on His Highness the most. If she finds out that someone is plotting against her own son and using every means possible, no matter who it is, she will probably be the first to not let them off the hook!"
Sheng Chunfang's face turned ashen. He had been navigating the political landscape for many years, and very few could out-argue him. Yet she had struck at his weak point and delivered a scathing rebuke. No wonder Sheng Xiyue was no match for her.
Suppressing the agonizing pain in her heart, Sheng Chunfang gritted her teeth and said, "Xiyue is confused and has committed a terrible mistake. Why not lock her up in Cuifeng Nunnery to pray for His Highness?"
Sheng Xiyue swayed precariously, almost unable to stand, "Father, I don't want to go to Cuifeng Nunnery!"
Sheng Chunfang turned her face away, hardening her heart to not look at her at all.
Sheng Xiyue knelt down in front of Pei Siyan with a thud, tears streaming down her face. "Your Highness, I was confused for a moment and shouldn't have listened to my fourth aunt's slander... That's why I made such a big mistake. I know my sins are grave and I can't shirk my responsibility."
“The Sheng family also has a Buddhist shrine, so I can pray for Your Highness at home. I will definitely repent and reform myself. I beg Your Highness for mercy!”
Pei Siyan smiled slightly, "Instead of going to Cuifeng Nunnery, do you want to go to the Ministry of Justice prison?"
They were so certain that they didn't want to touch the Wen family that they acted recklessly and repeatedly trampled on his bottom line.
That laugh sent chills down everyone's spine, and Sheng Xiyue felt utterly ashamed and embarrassed.
Dou Wenyi lowered her eyes and composed herself, saying slowly, "The imperial physician said that the medicine was too strong and may have damaged His Highness's constitution. He still needs proper care. Last time, Little Fairy Doctor predicted that His Highness would have difficulty conceiving, and His Majesty was aware of this. Now that something like this has happened again, alas, I fear he may have difficulty with sexual intercourse in the future..."
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces turned ashen, like charcoal. What nonsense was she spouting?
Is Pei Siyan no longer capable?
Wouldn't Sheng Xiyue and Wen Jingchu be harming the foundation of the nation and damaging the future emperor's self-esteem as a man?
If that's the case, then there's a big problem.
No man would tolerate the perpetrator getting away with it if he encountered something like this.
Pei Siyan will never let this go!
Facing the gossipy and questioning gazes of the crowd, Pei Siyan coughed lightly and added in a very calm tone,
"The Crown Princess was not exaggerating. Fortunately, my poisoning was not severe, and I still have a chance to recover. Uncle, does Lord Sheng think I lack tolerance?"
Sheng Chunfang's expression changed drastically. Pei Siyan was relentless. Did he really want to break off the engagement?
Pei Siyan's sharp gaze swept over Sheng Xiyue. "You've been pampered since childhood, so it's understandable that you don't want to be punished. Unfortunately, you're wicked, and there's no place for you in the Eastern Palace anymore."
"I will give you a letter of divorce, and from now on you will have nothing to do with the Crown Prince. I will not pursue this matter any further."
Sheng Xiyue smiled enigmatically, her face streaked with tears.
"Does Your Highness really intend to be so heartless? Ever since I learned that Empress Wen intended to arrange a marriage, I have been overjoyed. For more than ten years, I have been looking forward to becoming your wife every day!"
Her youth was entirely influenced by Pei Siyan; we cannot deny her sincerity just because she made a tiny mistake.
"You can't treat me so cruelly just because you only have the Crown Princess in your heart!"
"I, Sheng Xiyue, am yours in life and in death..."
Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly stood up and slammed herself against a pillar in the hall...
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