"This humble one has eyes but failed to recognize the Princess of Qi. I beg for your forgiveness," said Lai Si, bowing respectfully.
"Enough. You may go," Wen Mian said, having Lai Si escorted away. He then continued, "Princess of Qi, why did you lie? Are you trying to conceal some unspeakable secret?"
Du Yulan swayed as if a delicate flower on a branch, about to fall. Qiao Lan quickly supported her, "Your Highness, are you alright? Minister Wen, my mistress suffered a miscarriage and her health has not yet recovered. Her leaving the manor was due to some private matters of a young lady, seeking treatment from a renowned gynecologist. The Princess lied because she did not wish for her condition to be known!"
"Presumptuous! How dare a mere maid speak in the Golden Hall!" Minister Wen rebuked.
Du Yulan leaned heavily on Qiao Lan, speaking weakly, "On the eighth day, I did indeed leave the manor. After my miscarriage, I suffered from persistent lochia and did not recover despite taking medicine for a long time. I heard of a skilled old woman outside the city who specializes in women's ailments and quietly went to see her. If Minister Wen does not believe me, you may go to Dongshui Zhuang outside the city and ask the old woman Qin, who is skilled in gynecology, to verify if I visited her on the eighth day!"
As she spoke, Du Yulan began to cry, truly a picture of grievance and suppressed emotion. "This is a private matter for women, but for the sake of my innocence, I must speak… Princess Yongning, I know you dislike me, but you cannot instruct Minister Wen to humiliate me like this, can you?"
Xiao Man glanced at her, "Princess of Qi thinks too highly of me. If I had the ability to command Minister Wen, I wouldn't have worn myself ragged searching for my father's killer!"
"Princess of Qi, since you were seeking treatment, why were you seen at Nanluo Mountain Villa, which is in the opposite direction of Dongshui Zhuang?" Minister Wen asked unhurriedly.
"I have never been to the Nanluo Mountain Villa you speak of," Du Yulan choked out, "After I visited Dongshui Zhuang for treatment and medicine, I returned to the Prince's manor. After all, this matter is not something that can be spoken of openly. I was trying to hide it, so how could I possibly run around?"
"However, someone personally witnessed your blue cloth carriage appearing at Nanluo Mountain Villa."
"How many blue cloth carriages are there? How many look similar? How can you prove it was me?" Du Yulan gasped for breath. "I understand now. It is not enough for you to slander Prince Qi. You also want to frame him for the murder of the Great General. Xiao Man, you grew up with His Highness; will you also join these people in bullying him?"
Xiao Man looked at Du Yulan indifferently and said slowly, "Princess of Qi, it was wrong of me to cause your miscarriage during the attack that day, but you don't have to throw all the blame onto me. It was Minister Wen who said you were at the scene of the crime, and it was Minister Wen who suspected you. If I believed him, I would have rushed to fight you long ago and wouldn't be listening to your nonsense here!"
Du Yulan's fingers trembled as she pointed at Xiao Man. She could not believe that Xiao Man was not involved in this. With Wen Mian's cunning, how could he openly oppose the Grand Tutor's manor and Prince Qi's manor? Even though the rumors outside had dragged Prince Qi's reputation to rock bottom, it wasn't as if anyone could simply step on him!
"I have now witnessed the upbringing of the Grand Tutor's manor," Xiao Man said coldly. "The esteemed Princess of Qi, without any proof, is pointing fingers at me. Do you think that because my father is gone, you can bully me?"
"They say Princess Yongning is most skilled at making unreasonable scenes. Today, I have seen it!" Grand Tutor Du stepped forward. "What can you do besides bully those weaker than you?"
"The little ones cannot win, so they call for the old ones. How shameless!" General Xue immediately retorted.
"Indeed. If the little ones cannot win, they go home to call the old ones. Isn't this precisely the tactic Princess Yongning has always favored?"
"Grand Tutor Du, as the Grand Tutor and a model to the officials, speaking such falsehoods with a red mouth and open words is rather laughable," Wen Mohan said slowly. "As everyone knows, the Great General spent most of his years in the army and rarely returned home. Princess Yongning achieved everything through her own abilities. Although she is mischievous, she has never done anything wicked. Unlike some people who repay kindness with enmity and are heartless and unjust."
"I don't know what kind of potion Xiao Man has fed you to have you so bewitched..."
"Enough!" the Emperor rebuked. "What I want is the killer of Xiao Zhen, not to listen to you all arguing! Wen Mian, do you have any evidence proving the Princess of Qi is the murderer?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, no."
"Without evidence, do not speak nonsense. The Princess of Qi is, after all, a member of the royal family!"
"This minister admits his guilt."
"Yongning."
"This minister is here."
"The guards of the Imperial City Battalion are hand-picked. You must not be too harsh with them," the Emperor said earnestly. "Look at how many people have left the Imperial City Battalion during your tenure."
"Your Majesty, the Imperial City Battalion protects the safety of the imperial city. They must be the elite of the elite. How can we be lax?" Xiao Man argued righteously. "Those who can remain in the Imperial City Battalion must be the most outstanding. This minister will not allow anyone to break the rules of the Imperial City Battalion!"
The Emperor opened his mouth, knowing that further persuasion would be futile. He changed the subject, "You are not young anymore. Do you plan to..."
"Your Majesty, my father's remains are not yet cold," Xiao Man interrupted, preventing the Emperor from continuing the topic.
"Enough. Those with a memorial, present it. Those without, withdraw from court," Su Dan Fiction Network.
"Your Majesty, this minister has a memorial," an official from the Hanlin Academy stepped forward. "This minister wishes to impeach Du Xu, the son of Grand Tutor Du, for accepting bribes, disregarding human life, and using a stratagem of 'substituting the plum with a peach' to help a murderer escape justice."
Grand Tutor Du's expression flickered slightly. "This is slander!"
"The evidence is conclusive, both testimony and physical evidence are present and have been submitted to the Ministry of Justice," the official said slowly. "I request Your Majesty to punish him severely, to show your just ear."
Du Yulan stared at Xiao Man. She had been summoned to the Golden Hall for a confrontation, and her father was now being impeached for accepting bribes and disregarding human life. All of this was clearly targeting the Du family. Did Xiao Man know?
"Detain Du Xu and investigate thoroughly. Do not wrong a good person, nor let a bad person escape!"
"Your command is our will."
"Court is adjourned."
Xiao Man turned and left. Wen Mohan followed, watching Xiao Man's hurried footsteps, knowing she was undoubtedly worried about Prince Qin's safety. His heart ached, but he had to follow. Even if Xiao Man had Prince Qin in her heart, he also held a place there.
"Xiao Man!" Du Yulan rushed forward. Grand Tutor Du tried to stop her, but she dodged him. "Was it you?"
Xiao Man turned, leaned towards Du Yulan, and whispered something in her ear. The voice was so low that not only did Grand Tutor Du not hear it, but Wen Mohan did not either. Only Du Yulan seemed struck by lightning, staggering as if she would collapse.