He led the Xu family to support the Crown Prince so that the Emperor would not suspect the Xu family and would not take action against them.
But if this powder really was made by the Emperor, does that mean the Emperor is already preparing to take action against the Xu family?
Xu Ding grew increasingly alarmed as he thought about it. If it were someone else trying to harm the Xu family, he could resist. But what if that person was the Emperor? What would he do then? His current power was insufficient to overthrow the Emperor.
Xu Ding's expression was solemn. He glanced at the Crown Prince and then thought that he might be overthinking things. The Emperor probably wouldn't take action against the Xu family.
However, once the seed of doubt is planted, it will inevitably take root, sprout, and grow into a towering tree.
Meanwhile, He Liufeng also received a message that when the Emperor summoned Xu Ding and Xu Xingfeng to the palace that day, someone saw the eunuch who was giving them directions accidentally bump into Xu Xingfeng and seemed to have sprinkled something on him.
He Liufeng leaned back slightly. The Emperor had summoned Xu Ding and Xu Xingfeng to the palace to verify whether the person from that night was indeed Xu Xingfeng.
If this news is true, it means that the Emperor also sprinkled powder on Xu Xingfeng. What was his purpose? To take action against the Xu family?
Thinking of this, He Liufeng felt a chill run down his spine. His imperial brother actually had such deep schemes and thoughts.
Therefore, even if he didn't send someone to sprinkle powder on Xu Xingfeng, Xu Xingfeng would still have powder on him, because the Emperor wanted Xu Xingfeng to be the one to enter the Crown Prince's residence that night.
All these years, it turns out he had never truly seen through his elder brother, the emperor.
He Liufeng clasped his hands together, leaned back in his chair, tilted his head back slightly, and closed his eyes.
Since that's the case, even if he does nothing, the Emperor will find a way to pin the crime on Xu Xingfeng, making him seem rather presumptuous. He Liufeng smiled sarcastically.
That's fine, that's fine...
That very evening, the Prime Minister's men discovered a woman who had secretly escaped from Yichun Tower, and she was quickly brought to the Prime Minister's residence.
So the next day, right after the morning court session, a woman was taken to a palace to meet the emperor.
"This servant Liu Xing greets Your Majesty." Liu Xing knelt on the ground. Although she had met him once yesterday, she still felt fear in her heart when she saw him sitting in the high seat today.
"Liu Xing? What brings you here?" The Emperor saw Liu Xing appear and immediately understood her purpose, asking casually.
"Your Majesty, this servant deserves to die. This servant lied before Your Majesty yesterday. This servant has come today to atone for my crime." Liu Xing kowtowed to the ground, not daring to get up.
Not hearing a response from above, Liu Xing continued, "Your Majesty, I lied. On the night of October 28th, although Young Master Xu Xingfeng was in my room, he suddenly left in the middle of the night and returned about an hour later. He instructed me not to tell anyone about this, or I would be killed without a burial place. I was afraid, so I didn't tell the truth immediately."
"Where did he go after he left?" A glint of light flashed in the Emperor's eyes as he continued to ask.
"This servant does not know, and this servant dares not inquire."
"You were afraid yesterday, so you're not afraid today?" The Emperor chuckled, his voice carrying an air of authority without anger.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I thought about it all night yesterday, and the more I thought about it, the more frightened I became. I shouldn't have lied to Your Majesty. I shouldn't have deceived you. I'm also worried that Young Master Xu Xingfeng has done something he shouldn't have. I don't want to get involved in anything. I just want to live." Liu Xing spoke humbly and softly.
"This servant knows she was wrong, please spare this servant's life, Your Majesty." Liu Xing said, and then kowtowed repeatedly.
The emperor stared at the person on the ground in silence for a long time, then looked at the prime minister.
Qu Lianhai also stepped forward, "Your Majesty, last night this old minister discovered that this woman was acting suspiciously, so he sent someone to arrest her. Then she told this old minister about this matter and begged this old minister to bring her to the palace to see Your Majesty. She only has one request, which is to spare her life."
"Very well, Liu Xing, as long as you tell the truth and testify to this matter, I will spare your life out of respect for the Prime Minister and pardon your crime of deceiving the Emperor."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty." A hint of joy flashed across Liu Xing's face. What that person said was right. As long as she said that, the Emperor would definitely let her go.
"Laifu, go and fetch Lord Xu and Xu Xingfeng to come here." The Emperor turned and gestured to Laifu.
Soon, the Xu father and son walked in.
When the two saw clearly the person kneeling on the ground in the hall, their expressions changed drastically. Liu Xing was actually alive?
Xu Ding glanced at Xu Xingfeng, inwardly cursing Xu Xingfeng for being unreliable, and then quickly bowed to the Emperor.
"This old minister greets Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, this humble subject greets you." Xu Xingfeng, regaining his senses, quickly bowed to the Emperor.
"Rise," the Emperor said authoritatively.
Xu Ding noticed Qu Lianhai standing calmly to the side, and then glanced at Liu Xing on the ground. He had a thought in his mind: since the Prime Minister had saved Liu Xing, this matter could not be easily let go.
"I wonder why His Majesty has summoned this old minister?" Xu Ding pretended to be ignorant, even though he knew the answer.
"Xu Xingfeng, do you know what crime you have committed?" The Emperor looked at Xu Xingfeng sternly.
Xu Xingfeng had just stood up when he immediately knelt down again. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I am foolish and dull."
"Hmph, you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin." Seeing Xu Xingfeng still pretending to be stupid, the Emperor snorted coldly and turned to look at Liu Xing, "Say what you just said again."
“Yes, on the night of October 28th, Young Master Xu Xingfeng did stay in my room, but he went out in the middle of the night and didn’t return for about an hour.” Liu Xing repeated what she had just said, her head bowed.
"Liu Xing, don't talk nonsense." Xu Xingfeng was furious. He turned to look at Liu Xing threateningly, his eyes full of murderous intent.
Liu Xing was startled when she received Xu Xingfeng's threatening look. She had never seen Xu Xingfeng like this before. Sure enough, people are selfish and will do anything for themselves.
Liu Xing instinctively flinched, but she felt no remorse. If Xu Xingfeng could kill her for her sake, then he shouldn't blame her for being ruthless.
"Insolence!" The Emperor was furious when he saw Xu Xingfeng threatening the witness in front of him.
"Your Majesty, I dare not." Xu Xingfeng had no choice but to lower his head again, then put on an innocent look and looked at the Emperor. "Your Majesty, please investigate. I am innocent. This lowly maid is lying. I did not leave that room at all that night."
"This servant dares not lie, Xu Xingfeng did indeed leave for an hour." Liu Xing also lowered her head and spoke solemnly.
Both sides stuck to their own versions of events, and the situation remained deadlocked.
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