Seeing Zhang Yu's dilemma, Bai Chuxiao smiled slightly, "While the Drunken Heart Poison isn't fatal if it's not too severe, it still damages the brain. I believe Aunt Xie wouldn't want to see her son like this. When Bai Haoyun was brought back earlier, I had Lanxin secretly examine him. The symptoms were indeed those of the Drunken Heart Poison, but in reality, Bai Haoyun was just unconscious and showed no signs of poisoning. Yet, the imperial physician insisted it was the Drunken Heart Poison. And Aunt Xie's abilities are clearly insufficient to bribe the physician. The person behind this..."
Bai Chuxiao drawled out the last syllable, looking at Chu Tianyou at the head of the table with a half-smile.
Chu Tianyou's eyelids twitched, but this matter had nothing to do with him.
"Perhaps the imperial physician's skills were not refined enough, and he made a misdiagnosis..."
Chu Tianze nodded, "Your Majesty is right. However, whether he was bribed or spoke nonsense due to incompetence, that imperial physician deserves to die. I have already ordered his arrest..."
Chu Tianyou's face stiffened. It was clear that the Seventh Prince and Princess Changning had come prepared today. If he were to exonerate Xie Shi again, who knew what else these two might implicate... Oh well, with his two children out there, he could probably figure out what Xie Shi knew, what she should say, and what she shouldn't say...
"Seventh Brother, everything is up to Lord Zhang. Who are you going to arrest?"
Chu Tianze spoke calmly, "Your subject will bring the person to Lord Zhang for trial."
Seeing that sovereignty had returned to his hands, Zhang Yu said in a deep voice, "I'm sorry to trouble the Crown Prince and His Highness Prince Yan, but Xie Xianglan caused trouble at the examination hall, framed the princess, and even showed contempt of court. Her crimes are heinous! Guards! Take Xie Xianglan away!"
He understands what happened today perfectly well. It's fine if you fight in your own residence, but you insist on causing trouble in the examination hall and making things difficult for him. So don't blame him for being impolite...
Madam Xie hurriedly cried out in a panic, "How dare you! I am the wife of the Left Prime Minister, how dare you..."
Seeing her continue her arrogant remarks, Zhang Yu was furious and said sternly, "Take her away!"
With the assassination attempt on the Crown Prince and the incident at the Imperial Examination Hall in the capital this year, his year-end evaluation was essentially over, so he didn't care about anything else. He didn't believe Bai Xiang would have any reason to cause him trouble...
Madam Xie was still gesticulating wildly, trying to say something, but Chu Tianyou glared at her fiercely, and Madam Xie dared not shout anymore... Her son and daughter would still have to rely on Chu Tianyou, the Crown Prince, in the future...
Xie was taken away, and Chu Tianyou, not wanting to linger any longer, snorted coldly and left.
Zhang Yu nodded slightly, "Thank you for your trouble today, Princess."
Bai Chuxiao smiled slightly, "Lord Zhang, you're too kind. It is I who should thank you for handling the case impartially."
She had already become suspicious when Xie came to her for medicine, and had sent people to monitor Xie's every move long ago. Xie's whole commotion was under her control.
Since the Xie family and the Crown Prince both want to take this to the authorities, imprisoning her and ruining her reputation, she will do as they wish. However, it is the Xie family who is going in now, not her. Of course, once she is in, it is impossible for her to get out...
Originally, Xie was destined to die, but she hadn't decided how she wanted to die. Now, going with the flow, dying in prison isn't so bad...
Chu Tianze also spoke calmly, "Thank you for your trouble, Lord Zhang."
Zhang Yu quickly cupped his hands in greeting, "It's my duty, Your Excellency."
Although the Bai family and the Crown Prince's Palace had tried their best to suppress the matter, after the autumn imperial examinations, news broke that Madam Bai, out of jealousy for her eldest daughter born to her first wife, had poisoned her own son in an attempt to frame the eldest daughter of the Bai family. Her scheme failed, and she was imprisoned, causing a huge uproar.
There are countless sordid affairs within the homes of the wealthy and powerful, but most of them are kept behind closed doors; it's rare for them to escalate to the point of involving the authorities.
When news of Xie's imprisonment reached the Bai residence, Bai Linan remained much calmer than anyone had expected. He merely wrote a letter of divorce, declaring that the Bai family did not have such a vicious matriarch.
In the main hall, the old lady frowned slightly. "My lord, if Xie Shi really bears such a crime, what will happen to Haoyun in the future? What will others think of him? We should try to get Xie Shi out of trouble."
Although she had never liked Xie, Xie was, after all, the mother of her beloved grandson. If Xie's crimes were proven, it would inevitably affect her grandson's career.
Bai Linan, however, did not take the old lady's worries to heart. "Mother, there's no need to worry. Xie Shi wasn't a proper mistress anyway, and her crime won't affect Haoyun."
Standing below, Consort Lan and Consort Sun kept their heads bowed. The Bai family was truly about to undergo a major upheaval, but even if Madam Xie fell from power, it wouldn't be their turn. They were aware of this much.
Bai Chuxiao was somewhat surprised, as Bai Linan's words seemed to imply something. "Father, could it be that a new candidate for the matriarch has already been chosen?"
Upon her return, she discovered that the relationship between Xie Shi and Bai Linan wasn't as deep as she had imagined. Why had Bai Linan insisted on marrying Xie Shi back then? Perhaps it was to spite his mother, but why Xie Shi? Now, Bai Linan seemed completely indifferent to Xie Shi, which certainly raised suspicions…
Bai Linan's eyes flickered slightly, and he said calmly, "No, it's just that the Bai family is in a mess under Xie's management. It's time to find a stable and dignified matriarch."
The old lady had no suspicions. "What the master says is true!"
Bai Chuxiao lowered her eyes. It seemed that Bai Linan was still hiding many secrets, and the Xie family must know something. She still had to go to the dungeon...
When Bai Haoyun woke up and learned that Xie Shi had been imprisoned in the dungeon, he felt as if the sky had fallen. How could this have happened? He had no idea that he had been poisoned or anything like that. He only knew that his mother had told him to remember to take half a pill after he went to the examination hall...
"Sister, please find a way to save Mother," Bai Haoyun tugged at Bai Chuwan's sleeve and shook it.
Bai Chuwan sat by Bai Haoyun's bedside, a hint of resentment in her eyes. "His Highness the Crown Prince has already promised to save Mother, but Prince Yan and Bai Chuxiao are obstructing things... Mother won't be able to get out anytime soon, and even if she does..."
Bai Haoyun asked, puzzled, "What's wrong, sister? It's a good thing that Mother is out..."
Bai Chuwan bit her lip slightly, "Brother Yun, Father has already divorced Mother and no longer cares about her. Even if Mother gets out..."
"How could this happen? How could Father be so heartless? I'm going to find Father..." Bai Haoyun's eyes were filled with panic.
If Madam Xie is no longer the matriarch of the Left Prime Minister's household, then what is he? If his father remarries, will he still have a place in the Bai family?
Bai Chuwan quickly grabbed him, "Father has already written the divorce papers, it's too late for you to go now..."
Bai Haoyun slumped onto the bed, her eyes vacant. "Sister, will Father stop caring about us from now on?"
Bai Chuwan gently comforted him, "No, you are Father's only son and the sole heir of the Bai family. That will never change. Your sister will not let anyone take what's yours away. You must pull yourself together... and show Father what you've got..."
Bai Haoyun perked up and nodded emphatically, "Don't worry, sister, Haoyun will do her best."
Regardless, his grandmother still favored him as her grandson, and his sister was also the Crown Prince's concubine. With these two powerful backers, even if the Bai family had other children in the future, they would surely not surpass him...
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