Did you hear anything that night?
"Yes." Qu Qingxi nodded firmly. "In the middle of the night, the prince was woken up by the people in the manor. They said that something seemed to have happened outside, but I don't know the specifics. The prince didn't tell me at the time."
"What time was it when you heard the noise?" The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly.
"This humble woman does not know," Qu Qingxi shook her head.
"Don't know?"
"I don't know." Qu Qingxi nodded sincerely. "I was woken up by the noise and was not fully awake, so I don't know what time it was."
Qu Qingxi's answer was flawless, and the Emperor couldn't tell whether Qu Qingxi was lying or not.
Then, the Emperor looked at Ren Nuanyun.
Seeing this, Qu Qingxi knew that her statement was correct and should be completely consistent with He Liufeng's. She breathed a sigh of relief. Last night before going to bed, she had even guessed with He Liufeng what questions he would ask today.
It now seems that their guesses were not far off from the Emperor's question today.
With the Crown Prince and Ren Nuanyun both present today, and her answer seemingly flawless, what else could they have prepared? Qu Qingxi glanced at Ren Nuanyun casually, only to see Ren Nuanyun and the Crown Prince exchange a look, as if they were communicating.
Qu Qingxi lowered her head, adhering to the principle of "I will not move unless the enemy moves," and remained silent.
"Princess Consort of Nanqing, do you know why I summoned you here today?" the Emperor suddenly asked.
Qu Qingxi shook her head in confusion, "This humble woman does not know."
“Princess Mingxiu said that you were the one who broke into the Crown Prince’s residence on the night of the incident.” After the Emperor finished speaking, he stared straight into Qu Qingxi’s eyes, trying to see something in them.
Qu Qingxi was stunned at first, then knelt down in fear. "I am wronged! I am just a weak woman who can't even kill a chicken. How could I have such abilities?"
"I later heard from the Prince about what happened at the Crown Prince's residence that night. He said the man was extremely cruel, and I don't know why Princess Mingxiu would say that."
Qu Qingxi paused for a moment, then continued, "I don't know when I offended Princess Mingxiu, that she would hold such a grudge against me and pin this unfounded crime on me."
As Qu Qingxi spoke, she looked up at Ren Nuanyun, her eyes full of questioning and innocence.
"You have not offended me." Ren Nuanyun glanced down at the person kneeling on the ground, her eyes full of contempt and disdain. If Qu Qingxi really was someone with a system, she was truly ashamed. She had lived in an era of equality and freedom, but now, under imperial power, she was so timid and cowardly, kneeling down at the drop of a hat. She had truly disgraced modern people.
Regardless of whether Qu Qingxi has a system or not, and regardless of whether she is a transmigrator or not, Ren Nuanyun will not let her off this time. After all, Qu Qingxi was the one who suffered that night, and Ren Nuanyun will remember the humiliation of that night for the rest of her life.
"If I have not offended Princess Mingxiu, then why would she frame me like this?"
“I was at the Crown Prince’s residence that night, so of course I recognized you,” Ren Nuanyun said confidently.
"Why was Princess Mingxiu at the Crown Prince's residence that night?" Qu Qingxi asked sincerely. Even though the two were engaged, they were not married. Even during the day, a woman was not allowed to go to the man's house, let alone at night.
"I..." Ren Nuanyun choked, not expecting Qu Qingxi to not rush to prove herself, but instead ask her a question, and she didn't know how to answer for a moment.
Ren Nuanyun had been here for a while and naturally knew the rules. She was furious inside, but couldn't say anything.
It was late at night, and everyone knew about Ren Nuanyun's presence at the Crown Prince's residence, but no one had brought it up openly. However, Qu Qingxi insisted on bringing it up and making it public.
"Why isn't Princess Mingxiu speaking? I'm just curious. I heard that the assassin entered the Crown Prince's residence in the middle of the night. Isn't Princess Mingxiu and the Crown Prince's wedding date next March? Could I be mistaken?"
The Imperial Study was silent. No one spoke, but they all glanced at Ren Nuanyun, even the Emperor glanced at her, but said nothing.
"Qu Qingxi, you should answer Nuanyun's question first." Upon seeing this, the Crown Prince quickly shielded Ren Nuanyun behind him, as if Qu Qingxi's question had greatly insulted her.
"Your Highness, this is your imperial aunt. Where is your manners?" Before the Crown Prince could finish speaking, He Liufeng stepped forward and looked at him reproachfully. "How dare you address Qu Qingxi by her name so casually?"
"I...I didn't mean that." Seeing He Liufeng step forward and stare at him indifferently, the Crown Prince's arrogance immediately dissipated by half.
"Your Majesty, isn't it inappropriate for Qingxi to be kneeling here and being questioned by a mere princess?" After reprimanding the Crown Prince, He Liufeng looked at the Emperor.
"I was in such a hurry that I forgot. Princess Consort of Nanqing, please get up." The Emperor smiled, not finding He Liufeng's actions improper.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Qu Qingxi slowly stood up, her face showing no reluctance, but in her heart she was cursing the emperor to the core. This damned emperor, she, a grown man, had been kneeling here for so long, and he just casually said he forgot.
What's worse is that even though I knelt on the ground for so long because of him, I still had to thank him. It was utterly absurd and ridiculous.
“Aunt, please answer Nuanyun’s question. You said you were at the Prince’s residence at that time, so why did Nuanyun say she saw you at the Crown Prince’s residence?” The Crown Prince is afraid of He Liufeng, but he is not afraid of Qu Qingxi.
"I really can't answer that question, because I didn't leave the palace at all that night. I don't know why Princess Mingxiu insists that I was the assassin," Qu Qingxi said calmly, without the slightest panic.
After speaking to the Crown Prince, Qu Qingxi turned her gaze slightly and looked at Ren Nuanyun, "Even if Princess Mingxiu is the future Crown Princess, she cannot speak recklessly and say whatever she wants. Please provide evidence to prove Princess Mingxiu's absurd speculation."
“We can’t just accept whatever the princess says without any evidence. If that’s the case, I’ll have to say that the person that night was Princess Mingxiu.”
“You…” Ren Nuanyun stepped out from behind the Crown Prince and looked at Qu Qingxi angrily. She originally wanted Qu Qingxi to prove her innocence herself, but she didn’t expect that Qu Qingxi would have to produce the evidence herself.
She didn't fall into the self-justification trap!
However, even if she fails to prove her innocence today, Ren Nuanyun still has other things to prove that Qu Qingxi was the person from that night.
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