Madam Zhang said indignantly, “Sister and I both come from respectable families. How could we possibly be courtesans? If you don’t believe us, you can go to Zhang Family Village in Huayin County, Fufeng Prefecture, and ask around. Everything will be crystal clear.”

Li Yuanji said coldly, “How could they not know this? What they care about is not your origins, but how to eliminate you and elder brother. Their hearts… are truly terrifying!”

Seeing the doubt that had appeared in Li Yuan’s eyes because of her words gradually fade away, Madam Lin hurriedly said, “Fourth Prince, don’t speak nonsense. This palace absolutely never thought of eliminating anyone. They really…” Before Madam Lin could finish, Li Yuanji had already said sarcastically, “The facts are already laid out before us. Does Noble Consort still want to make excuses?”

Madam Lin said solemnly, “What facts? This is completely someone deliberately framing us, using Xing Niang’s mouth to slander us.”

“Noble Consort truly shows no remorse. Harming people like this, aren’t you afraid that one day you’ll face retribution?”

Madam Lin pointed hatefully at Xing Niang, “If there really is retribution, it should first fall on this lying madam. Also, this palace wants to ask, Fourth Prince, you keep speaking in favor of this madam. What exactly are your intentions?”

Li Yuanji stiffened his neck and said firmly, “I speak from the heart, absolutely not favoring anyone!”

Knowing that arguing with him was useless, and that Li Yuan’s attitude was most crucial now, Madam Lin said, “Your Majesty…”

“Shut up!” Li Yuan stared at Madam Lin without any emotion. After a long while, he said slowly, “Do you know your crime?”

These words made Madam Lin’s scalp tighten. Li Yuan… Li Yuan actually believed Xing Niang’s words and thought she had deliberately harmed Madam Yin and the other. In his heart, was she not even as trustworthy as a Xing Niang?

This thought caused Madam Lin’s heart to ache. She bit her lip hard, raised her head to look at Li Yuan’s face that was so gloomy it seemed water might drip from it, and said, “Your subject knows of no crime!”

Li Yuan nodded slowly, squeezing out words through gritted teeth, “What fine words—’knows of no crime!'” Taking a deep breath, he said again, “Lin Miaoyin, I give you one last chance. As long as you confess truthfully, I will certainly deal with you leniently!”

“Your Majesty!” Madam Lin burst into tears, sobbing, “Your subject has accompanied Your Majesty for many years. Am I truly not worth Your Majesty believing even a single word?”

Li Yuanji said angrily, “Just because you’ve accompanied His Majesty for a long time, your words must be believable, and because Talented Lady Yin and the others haven’t accompanied His Majesty long, their words must be unbelievable? Is there such logic in the world? And there’s elder brother—he is Father Emperor’s flesh and blood, and Father Emperor watched him grow up. Are his words also false?”

Before Madam Lin could speak, Li Jiancheng had already knelt down, “All this is your son’s fault. Your son is willing to accept Father Emperor’s punishment!”

Li Jiancheng’s sudden statement surprised not only Li Yuan, but also Yunyi and the others. Could it be… that Li Jiancheng suddenly had a change of conscience and decided to reveal the truth?

As soon as this thought appeared, Yunyi dismissed it. Since Li Jiancheng had set up this trap, how could he possibly expose it himself? Conscience… in Li Jiancheng’s eyes, it probably wasn’t worth mentioning at all.

Meanwhile, Li Yuan was already asking in confusion, “What fault do you have?”

“If Father Emperor hadn’t happened to encounter Talented Lady Yin and the others when you came to your son’s palace to enjoy the flowers, thus bringing them into the palace to serve at your side, it wouldn’t have caused unrest in the harem, and today’s events wouldn’t have happened. Everything originated because of your son, so your son should rightfully be punished!”

Before Li Yuan could say anything, Li Yuanji had already said, “Elder brother, you did nothing wrong. Why are you pleading guilty? Get up quickly!”

Li Jiancheng ignored him, only kowtowed and said, “Please dispose of me as you see fit, Imperial Father!”

Li Yuan said in a deep voice, “Yuanji is right. You did nothing wrong and need not plead guilty. Get up.”

“Father Emperor…” Li Jiancheng had only said two words when Li Yuan coldly interrupted, “I told you to get up!”

Seeing his anger, Li Jiancheng had no choice but to swallow the words on his lips, stand up, and retreat to one side. Ha, his purpose had already been achieved. From now on, he only needed to watch the show.

If Li Yuan knew what was in Li Jiancheng’s mind, he would surely be heartbroken by this son’s calculated schemes against him. Unfortunately, he didn’t know, still thinking that Yunyi and Madam Lin had deliberately framed Li Jiancheng and Madam Yin and the other.

He stared at Madam Lin, who was sobbing quietly, and said, “Miaoyin, won’t you speak yet?”

Madam Lin choked out, “The Crown Prince using courtesans to bewitch Your Majesty—your subject has already told Your Majesty about this long ago. What else does Your Majesty want your subject to say?”

“You!” Li Yuan was so angry his teeth clenched. The next moment, he bent down and grabbed Madam Lin’s chin, saying hatefully, “Do you really think I won’t deal with you?”

Before Madam Lin could speak, he turned his angry gaze to Yunyi, “And you, the Noble Consort wasn’t like this originally. You must have instigated her to do such absurd and excessive things.”

“Your subject is wronged! Noble Consort is wronged!” Faced with Yunyi’s cries of injustice, Li Yuan sneered, “The evidence is complete. You can’t deny it. That day, I truly shouldn’t have been soft-hearted and let you marry Shimin, allowing you to approach Miaoyin as Prince of Qin’s side consort and manipulate her.”

Madam Lin said excitedly, “No one manipulated your subject! Imperial Consort Yang is not as Your Majesty thinks. The Crown Prince really…”

“Really what?!” Li Yuan harshly interrupted her words, saying with pain and indignation, “Miaoyin, I’ve given you chances repeatedly. Why are you so obstinate? You… truly disappoint me greatly.”

“The one who should be disappointed is not Your Majesty, but your subject. You used to be so wise and mighty, able to distinguish right from wrong, but… ever since Madam Yin and the other entered the palace, everything changed. You favor and trust only them, and won’t listen to a single word from others. You…”

“Presumptuous!” Li Yuan’s face darkened as he stopped Madam Lin’s remaining words, “Are you implying that I am incompetent and immoral?”

Madam Lin struggled to hold back the tears in her eyes, not letting them fall freely, “Whether you are incompetent or not, doesn’t Your Majesty know in your heart?”

“You!” Li Yuan angrily raised his hand and slapped Madam Lin hard across the face, saying coldly, “It seems I’ve truly spoiled you too much these years, making you forget even the most basic concepts of hierarchy!”

Madam Lin stared blankly while touching her cheek. This was the first time Li Yuan had hit her, and it was for… two courtesans who bewitched the ruler. She… truly felt heartbroken.

The moment he slapped Madam Lin, a trace of reluctance also appeared in Li Yuan’s eyes. He did have feelings for Madam Lin after all, but this time, she had truly disappointed him too much.

Li Yuanji secretly exchanged a glance with Li Jiancheng, then said, “Father Emperor, your son has something to say, but doesn’t know if it’s appropriate.”

“Speak!” Faced with Li Yuan’s impatient words, Li Yuanji lowered his head and said, “Yang Shi is merely a woman. Your son feels she couldn’t possibly conspire with the Noble Consort alone to set up such a large scheme. You must know that this scheme involves not only Talented Lady Yin and the other, but also elder brother, who is the Crown Prince!”