As he spoke, he pointed to the bright yellow figure on the other side of the lake.
Xie Pi was only twenty-five years old and was the second son of Xie Qian, the former second-in-command of the cabinet.
In the spring of the year before the late emperor passed away, Xie Pi, at the age of twenty-three, was appointed as the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examination and served as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy.
For a time, they were unparalleled in popularity.
His father, Xie Qian, was the top scholar in the imperial examination back then.
The fact that "father and son both achieved top honors" is an unprecedented honor in the history of the imperial examinations.
Two months ago, Xie Pi was dismissed from his post.
More than ten years of hard study, a bright future in sight, ruined in one day.
Yang Zhen paused, then frowned slightly.
Thinking back to the time at Danyan Tower, Lu Zhao's inexplicable hostility towards him.
He summoned the geisha who was holding a pipa and casually wrote a short ballad for her: "Sing it out."
The geisha's voice was melodious and graceful as she sang while playing the pipa.
"...Wealthy pavilions and dancing halls, now desolate ruins and abandoned tombs. All things turn to dust in retrospect, only the green hills remain unchanged..."
The singing and pipa music traveled across the shimmering autumn waters to the opposite shore of the lake, adding even more charm.
Yu Ji couldn't help but stand on tiptoe and look out: "Yang Zhen's 'West River Moon' is indeed well-deserved of its reputation."
Lu Xingjian followed her gaze to the distant waterside pavilion, his narrow eyes slightly narrowed, his expression cool.
Yang Zhen's figure and demeanor were truly outstanding; even from a great distance, he recognized him at a glance.
Yu Ji twirled around, her bright red dress drawing a beautiful circle in the air, looking absolutely stunning.
As she walked backwards, she asked coquettishly, "This song is nice, but the lyrics are a bit old-fashioned, oh dear..."
The Emperor didn't seem to like that talented scholar Yang very much, so she quickly tried to make amends by flattering him as much as possible.
He just tripped over something and was about to fall backward.
Lu Xingjian took a long stride and reached out to support her.
Taking advantage of the moment, Yu Ji grabbed his collar and leaned into his arms. Her bright and flamboyant face turned red with embarrassment, but a sly glint flashed in her eyes.
With so many people watching, and him hugging and cuddling her, she couldn't shirk responsibility even if she wanted to.
She never expected to have such good fortune today, to gain the emperor's favor.
Gu Ziyu arrived just in time to witness this scene.
He felt sorry for Su Wanwan.
With such a charming and loving nature, why bother getting involved with Sister Wanwan?
Isn't she suffering enough?
...
Xiao Bin watched as the emperor's carriage hurriedly left the Liu family, suppressing the urge to follow.
The emperor arranged for many highly skilled guards to surround her.
However, the current situation cannot be solved simply by having guards.
His appearance might even bring her unnecessary trouble.
He was about to choose another path to follow when someone called out to him.
"Lord Xiao, may I return to the Zhou family?" Zhou Wanxiu walked over with a smile.
She arrived before the luncheon, but had been chatting with some familiar girls and hadn't shown herself much, so Su Wanwan didn't even know she was there.
The Zhou family lived near Shichahai, not far from Deshengmen, so Xiao Bin did not refuse.
...
Princess Chun'an did not make things difficult for Su Wanwan.
Instead, he had his guards take Su Wanwan's carriage to the address Xie Di's servant had given him.
The plaque above the entrance reads "Laundry Bureau" in large characters.
Su Wanwan instinctively sensed something was wrong.
Of the twelve directorates, four offices, and eight bureaus of the imperial palace, only the laundry bureau was not located within the imperial city.
She thought of the old friend surnamed Zheng that Xie Di had mentioned, and the rumor that the emperor's birth mother was imprisoned in the laundry department.
I feel like an invisible hand pushed me here today.
What role did Shedy play in it?
Does the Xie family behind him have some grudge against him?
What happened to my father? How did his seal end up in Xie Di's hands?
An unfamiliar eunuch came out of the laundry department and greeted Su Wanwan with a smile: "Miss Su, please come in. Her Majesty the Empress is waiting for you."
Xia Xueyi?
Su Wanwan's pupils contracted sharply, and she quietly clenched her fists.
She looked at the empty streets and the few guards around her, hesitated for a moment, and then walked into the laundry department.
Xia Xueyi's face was stern, her expression stubborn: "Su Wanwan, you've finally arrived."
"Your Majesty the Empress wishes to see me. What brings you here?" Su Wanwan bowed respectfully.
Xia Xueyi didn't waste any words: "Zheng Jinlian is, after all, your wet nurse who raised you. Don't you want to meet her?"
Su Wanwan remained completely calm: "If I don't want to see them, can I just choose not to?"
Xia Xueyi forced a disdainful smile: "Of course not."
The Empress Dowager ordered her to kill Zheng Jinlian.
How could she possibly do it herself?
It would be perfect to drag someone down with you.
If Zheng were to die at Su Wanwan's hands, how could the Emperor possibly still favor Su Wanwan in the future?
A strategy that kills two or even three birds with one stone is exciting to think about.
Xia Xueyi lowered her eyelids, gently stroking her lower abdomen with her palm, a cruel smile appearing on her lips.
"I summoned you here so that you would obediently confess to the crime of poisoning Zheng Jinlian."
Su Wanwan's body trembled violently.
He poisoned the emperor's birth mother and framed her for it...
Xia Xueyi was far more ruthless than she had imagined!
What if I say no?
Xia Xueyi stared intently into Su Wanwan's eyes and threatened:
"Don't you want your father's and cousin's lives?"
A sharp glint flashed in Su Wanwan's eyes, and their gazes clashed, almost sparking.
"If I confess, will you let them go?"
Xia Xueyi lowered her gaze and casually straightened her sleeves, a hint of coldness from someone in a superior's eyes curving her lips:
"nature."
After Su Wanwan was rejected by the emperor, what was there to fear from the Su family, who were far removed from the center of power?
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