When Emperor Yong heard this, he looked at Tan Hanchi with surprise on his face.

"Lord Tan is attracted to the young lady of the Duke of Yan's Mansion?"

This was also the first time that Qiao Zhongguo heard about this. He immediately lowered his eyes and looked at Tan Hanchi in shock.

They haven't even started matchmaking yet, but Tan has already fallen for An Ning?

This guy is such a thief, and he has a vicious eye!

An Ning is such a great kid that she was picked by him so early!

In response to Emperor Yong's question, Tan Hanchi nodded a little shyly.

"I dare not hide the truth from Your Majesty. That day, I was chosen as the top scholar by Your Majesty's grace. When I was riding a horse through the streets, I caught a glimpse of Miss Zuo upstairs."

"I have been buried in books since I was young, and have never thought about other things. Now that I am a young man, I see that my colleagues around me have married and have children, so I slowly started to think about it."

"It's just that Miss Zuo is the daughter of the Duke's family, and her status is noble. I am of humble origin. Although I am favored by the emperor now, I still have no foundation in the capital, so I dare not marry someone of higher status. I just keep this feeling in my heart."

"Today, the eldest son of the Qiao family got married. His Majesty ordered me to go and congratulate him. I met Miss Zuo again."

"Your Majesty, I don't dare to call myself a gentleman. When I met Miss Zuo today, I may have let out some emotions, which were seen by someone with ulterior motives, so..."

Speaking of this, Tan Hanchi's face showed fear, guilt, and even joy and shame for mentioning his sweetheart.

Emperor Yong saw this and turned to look at the eldest princess.

"is that so?"

The eldest princess was still struggling to survive.

She didn't want to admit her feelings in front of Emperor Yong in person.

As a result, at this moment, Huang Pei's cautious voice came from outside the door.

"Your Majesty, I am back."

Emperor Yong glanced at the eldest princess who was still being stubborn, and his disappointment was evident on his face.

This was the last chance he gave Xian'er. As long as she honestly admitted it, he was willing to believe that the eldest daughter who once made him proud was just bewitched for a while.

But it is obvious that Xian'er will not turn back until she hits the wall!

Thinking of this, Emperor Yong's heart completely hardened.

No one can joke about the reputation of the royal family. If the person who caught Xian'er in the Qiao Mansion today was someone else instead of Zhan'er, the royal family would have lost face long ago!

"Come in!"

Emperor Yong gave a low cry.

Huang Pei pushed the door open when he heard the sound, and saw that he was holding an exquisite little box in his hand.

The eldest princess turned her head to look at Huang Pei. When her eyes fell on the small box, her eyes suddenly widened and even her lips trembled.

She had clearly hidden the box in the most secret compartment. The reason she did not answer her father just now was because she was gambling.

As long as Huang Pei can't find anything, she will deny it to the death!

Huang Pei lowered his eyes and caught a glimpse of the eldest princess's expression, and shook his head secretly in his heart.

Looking at the eldest princess’s expression of disbelief, she probably didn’t expect that he could find it?

Among so many princes and princesses, the only one who never looked down on him was probably the crown prince.

After all, he is of the orthodox lineage and is well versed in the rules and methods of the imperial palace.

As a personal eunuch, he has been with the emperor since childhood. What tricks and strategies has he not seen?

This secret compartment had been played around with when the late emperor was still alive. He could tell where the trick was with his eyes closed!

"Your Majesty, I found this item in Zhaohua Palace. Doctor Zou has examined it and found that it is the same thing as the foul medicine presented by Liu Lian'er."

Huang Pei walked to Emperor Yong and opened the lid. He saw two small porcelain bottles and two small wooden boxes inside, containing aphrodisiac powder and love pills respectively.

Emperor Yong glanced and then looked away. He naturally trusted Huang Pei very much.

"Xian'er, the evidence is irrefutable, what else do you have to say?"

Emperor Yong had grown cold towards the eldest princess, but now he looked extremely calm.

Seeing that the eldest princess' lips were trembling and she couldn't utter a word after opening her mouth several times, Emperor Yong spoke for her:

"Do you still want to argue that this is the senior maid who hid in the palace to frame you?"

Cai Lan's face turned pale. She was about to say this when the emperor stopped her.

The princess knew that now that there was evidence, she could not escape the guilt no matter what, so she admitted her fault with tears in her eyes:

"Father, I am wrong! I really know I am wrong!"

Emperor Yong closed his eyes slightly, and the feeling of dizziness came over him again.

The eldest princess’ childhood seemed to appear before his eyes, pretty and delicate, smiling and calling him father.

Xian'er is his first daughter, and even Yu Liu loves her very much.

But now, she has grown up to be so vicious, frivolous, and insensitive!

If Xian'er really had the ability to plot against Tan Hanchi and frame Miss Zuo, the Duke of Yan, without anyone knowing, he would still look up to her.

But now to put it bluntly, she is just stupid and doesn't even know it!

The eldest princess was still grieving and repenting, but seeing that Emperor Yong was lost in thought and indifferent, she could only start playing the emotional card.

"Father, Xian'er was bewildered for a moment. This was not Xian'er's original intention!"

"Xian'er heard that the Nanli Kingdom's envoys were coming and were interested in forming a marriage alliance with our dynasty. She was so scared!"

"Father, I can't bear to leave you, my mother, and even more so, the land where I was born and raised!"

"Xian'er shouldn't be so arrogant and look down on the prince consort chosen by your father, and you shouldn't have any thoughts about Tan Xiuzhuan, who is favored by your father."

"It's all Xian'er's fault, but she did all this just to stay with her father and mother!"

"Xian'er will never dare to do it again. Please forgive Xian'er this time!"

When Emperor Yong heard this, he suddenly sneered.

"Oh, you don't dare? You went through so much trouble to buy the Nanli Kingdom's foul medicine, and then used such a despicable method. Aren't you trying to force me to submit?"

"You still want to get married?"

"Since ancient times, princesses who marry into the country have been entrusted with important responsibilities. They should understand the greater good and serve the country wholeheartedly. You are so selfish and willful. If I send you to marry into the country, I'm afraid it will bring shame to our Yong Kingdom!"

Emperor Yong's words were really very harsh. The eldest princess turned pale and cried out in panic:

"Father!"

Emperor Yong stopped looking at the princess and glanced at everyone in the room. He said in a cold voice:

"Someone come!"

Four guards pushed the door open and entered.

Emperor Yong's face turned green as he said, "All these slaves shall be executed. Liu Lian'er's right hand shall be cut off and thrown out of the palace!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the imperial study burst into tears.

Liu Lian'er didn't know the rules and cried the loudest.

After all, the people in the palace chopped off her hand and could not give her treatment. They just threw her out of the palace. She was afraid that she would bleed to death on the way!

Isn't this still going to cost her her life?

Seeing this, the guard quickly covered her mouth and dragged her out.

The eldest princess turned her head suddenly and saw Cai Lan not struggling at all, and obediently letting the guards take her away. She suddenly felt extremely reluctant and tears rolled down her face.

Cai Lan watched the palace door close again, feeling grief-stricken, but she still smiled at the princess, as if to say:

The princess doesn't need to feel guilty. Cai Lan was willing to die for the princess...

The eldest princess was terrified when she saw this scene, and could not help but turn her head to plead with Emperor Yong.

"Father, please spare Cai Lan's life! She was only following the orders of her son, she—"

Emperor Yong snorted coldly and interrupted the eldest princess.

"You still have the heart to plead for a slave?"

"You have evil intentions and no shame. You have completely disregarded the dignity of the royal family and even plotted against me and the officials around me!"

"All these things combined are enough for me to depose you from your position as princess!"

The eldest princess widened her eyes in disbelief when she heard this.

At this moment, a panicked voice sounded outside the door:

"Your Majesty, please take back your order!"

The prince's eyes flickered when he heard the voice, and there was a hint of interest on his face.

Listen to this voice, it's Concubine Wan coming...