In Hanliang Palace.

  A group of imperial censors were kneeling on the ground and holding the memorials to impeach the Crown Princess.

  Emperor Huilin glanced at the sky outside. “Why haven’t they come yet?”


  Eunuch Quan whispered in the ear of Emperor Huilin, “Your Majesty, when I had someone go to the East Palace to summon them just now, it seemed that the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess were quarreling… And the quarrel seemed to be quite fierce.”


  Emperor Huilin said, “It’s understandable. The Crown Princess has gone too far this time.”


  Hearing this, the imperial censors said one after another, “Exactly! Your Majesty, how could the Crown Princess and the Qiao family have soldiers surround the Duke Qin Mansion?! This is rebellion!”


  “Yes, Your Majesty, while the Qin family was mourning the death of their young madam, the Crown Princess actually had soldiers surround the Qin Mansion, and even the guests who were just offering condolences were locked inside. This is disrespectful to the deceased!”


  Emperor Huilin said, “Why didn’t she use the soldiers of the East Palace? She is already married. Why did she still use her natal family’s soldiers? No wonder Chen’er is quarreling with her.”


  The imperial censors: “…”


  Shouldn’t His Royal Highness be quarreling with the Crown Princess because Qiao Jinniang interfered in the state affairs and even had soldiers surround the Qin family?

  Why did His Majesty think that the Crown Prince was quarreling with the Crown Princess because of that ridiculous reason?

  Lu Chen and Qiao Jinniang entered the Hanliang Palace with their fingers interlocked and saluted the Emperor together.

  Emperor Huilin looked at the two of them and said, “Have you finished quarreling?”


  Qiao Jinniang bowed her head shyly, and Lu Chen said, “Father, we didn’t quarrel. We just got delayed on the way. Sorry for keeping you waiting.”


  Emperor Huilin said to Qiao Jinniang, “Why did you send troops to surround the Qin Mansion?”


  “Father, I have proof that the Qin family is behind the death of my eldest sister, so I don’t want the murderers to escape!” Qiao Jinniang cupped her hands and said.

  The imperial censors all said, “Your Highness, even if you think the murderer is in the Qin family, it should be handed over to the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Penalty for investigation. After all, it is a duke’s mansion. Is it appropriate for you to treat them like that?!”


  “Duke Qin is a hereditary duke! You should show some respect to him.”


  Qiao Jinniang knelt down and said, “Father, although Qiao Ruoyun and I are not blood-related sisters.

  “We are even closer than many biological sisters.

  “My sister is dead, and I must seek justice for her. The Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Penalty can’t even tell that Zhou Sisi is pretending to be retarded. How can I trust them?”


  “My sister was murdered, and I was so sad and angry that I could only have soldiers surround the Qin family to stop the murderer from escaping.”


  Emperor Huilin said, “Can you find the murderer by doing that?”


  Qiao Jinniang said, “Although I can’t, it is enough to make those who have something to hide panic.

  “Besides, I already have preliminary evidence. Today, when I went to the Qin Mansion to offer condolences, Tong Yingying, the daughter of the former imperial censor, Tong Lei, slandered me as the murderer. And not long after she said this, a maid tried to assassinate her.

  “But after I rescued Tong Yingying, to everyone’s surprise, Tong Yingying was killed by Zhou Sisi, Consort Huai, at the door in front of everyone’s eyes!”


  Emperor Huilin said, “Tong Yingying slandered you as the murderer? What does it have to do with the evidence?”


  Qiao Jinniang cupped her hands and said, “Father, have you heard that it’s usually thieves who like to cry ‘Stop thief!’ Thieves are eager to pass the buck to someone else to clear their suspicion.”


  “So, I think that the person who instructed Tong Yingying to slander me is one of the murderers.”


  “Tong Yingying is dead. Have you found out who is behind the scenes?”


  Qiao Jinniang said, “It’s Mrs. Zhou, Tong Shi. Otherwise, why would Zhou Sisi, Consort Huai, kill in public? I have a witness to this matter, who is Tong Xuan, the daughter of the former imperial censor, Tong Lei, and the younger sister of Tong Yingying. She can testify for me.”


  “Summon Tong Xuan, Duchess Wu, and Consort Huai!” Emperor Huilin paused and said, “Equal Consort Huai!”


  Lu Chen helped Qiao Jinniang up.

  The imperial censors looked at each other in shock, not daring to get up.

  The three people arrived at Hanliang Palace in less than two quarters of an hour.

  As soon as she saw Mrs. Zhou, Tong Xuan pointed her finger at her and cried in tears, “Aunt, my sister had always respected you. Why did you murder her? And Zhou Sisi, you look so innocent on the surface, but are actually so vicious! You killed my sister!”


  Tong Xuan’s tears were not entirely fake. Although Tong Yingying always thought too highly of herself and had been speaking ill of her outside, she was still her biological sister after all.

  They grew up together. Even though they were not on good terms, Tong Xuan certainly didn’t want to see her killed at such a young age…


  She felt very uncomfortable and even a bit sad.

  Duchess Wu frowned and asked Tong Xuan, “What nonsense are you talking about? When did I murder Yingying?”


  Tong Xuan said, “You told her to go to the Qin Mansion to slander the Crown Princess for killing Young Madam Qin.”


  Mrs. Zhou frowned and said, “Nonsense! I didn’t!”


  “Aunt, you can deny it, but I heard it with my own ears!”


  Tong Xuan said, “You wanted to set the crown princess up. If not, why did Zhou Sisi have to kill my sister in public?”


  “Didn’t kill, looking for Sister, to play with wood carving.”


  Zhou Sisi smiled innocently. “Wood carving is fun.”


  Lu Chen said, “Father, I think that retarded people should also be executed if they kill someone.

  “Otherwise, if everyone pretends to be retarded or insane and kill at will, where is the authority of law?

  “Besides, Tong Yingying is greatly worshiped and touted by literati. If the murderer is not punished, I am afraid that the literati will be disappointed with the law.”


  Mrs. Zhou hurriedly kowtowed. “It was just manslaughter. Sisi didn’t do it on purpose.”


  Qiao Jinniang said, “Oh? Is manslaughter not killing? Besides, how can there be such a coincidence in the world?

  “Mrs. Zhou, you had just instigated Tong Yingying to slander me, and on the same day, Tong Yingying was killed by your daughter? Do you think we are all stupid?

  “Or did Mrs. Zhou and Zhou Sisi think that Zhou Sisi is Consort Huai, while Tong Yingying is just a commoner, so you can kill her without being punished?”


  Emperor Huilin said angrily, “Zhou Shi, a witness can testify that you instigated Tong Yingying to slander the Crown Princess, and so many people have witnessed that Zhou Sisi killed Tong Yingying!

  “Come, pass on my order, withdraw the title of Duke Wu.

  “Put Zhou Sisi into jail and execute her this autumn. Zhou Shi slandered the Crown Princess and committed heinous crimes. She is condemned to lifelong exile!”


  Madam Zhou listened to the Emperor’s oral decree in disbelief, and kowtowed in despair. “Your Majesty, Sisi is insane. She doesn’t know anything, and the title of Duke Wu…


  Her Majesty…”


  “Please spare Sisi’s life. Sisi had dementia from saving His Royal Highness. Your Royal Highness, please save your cousin!”


  Emperor Huilin said, “How dare you mention the Queen? If it weren’t for the sake of the Queen, how would I have allowed the Zhou family to survive to this day?

  “But you people have no idea who brought you wealth and honor.

  “Instead, you blatantly formed cliques for private gain and treated the Crown Prince with no respect.

  “You even spread rumors in Chang’an that the Crown Prince was deserted by everyone just because you, the Duke Wu Mansion, dumped him.

  “This time, you even dared to frame the Crown Princess. You people’s crimes are simply unforgivable, and I’m being lenient enough to only withdraw the title of Duke Wu!”