Yun Chu’s eyes were deep and contemplative.

The Intelligence Bureau she had previously established, combined with Chu Yi’s Earth Bureau—both organizations that investigated information—had merged into one and uncovered many secrets of the capital.

Ever since Marquis Boyuan’s wife had multiple private contacts with Su Ziyue, she had her subordinates begin focusing their investigation on the Marquis Boyuan residence.

This investigation actually turned up something.

Marquis Boyuan had six legitimate elder sisters above him, not to mention the illegitimate daughters—the entire household was full of young ladies.

Finally, a son was born. He was immediately granted the title of heir apparent, and when the old Marquis Boyuan died at age twelve, the heir inherited the title and held it until now.

The current Lady Marquis Boyuan was his cousin. In the second year after marrying in, she gave birth to a legitimate son… In reality, that legitimate son had been adopted from a collateral branch of the Marquis Boyuan family, brought over on the very first day after birth…

Why adopt? Because the young heir who inherited the Marquis Boyuan title was actually a woman. How could two women produce a child?

After learning this intelligence report, she actually quite admired Marquis Boyuan. A woman who, after inheriting the title, propped up a half-dead marquis residence, secured a position in the Grand Secretariat, raised an excellent child, and led the entire Marquis Boyuan residence into higher circles…

Admiration was one thing.

But when the two stood on opposing sides.

When it was time to strike, Yun Chu would not hesitate for a moment.

However, considering the other party was a woman—a woman in her thirties—she only had her brother remove the outer garment and pour water, rather than doing anything more excessive.

“The esteemed Marquis Boyuan is a woman!” Yun Chu said sternly. “For a woman to hold the title of marquis and serve as an official is utterly absurd. Someone, go fetch the Old Lady of the Marquis Boyuan residence, the Lady, and their clan members. Have them enter the palace immediately!”

Though the Crown Prince had died.

Before a new sovereign was established, Yun Chu was still the Crown Princess.

Her orders still carried some weight.

Moreover, at a time like this, everyone wanted to know what was really going on, so no one raised objections. They quickly left the palace to fetch the people.

As for Chu Rui, after his face darkened for half a moment, he immediately returned to normal, presenting a refined and scholarly appearance.

The Emperor had passed away. The bell had tolled for a long time, and everyone in the entire capital knew of it. The people of the Marquis Boyuan residence wore mourning hemp and were ready at any moment to enter the palace to mourn, so they were quickly summoned to the palace.

The Old Lady of the marquis residence led the clan members to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Just as they were about to begin mourning, they suddenly sensed something was wrong.

The members of the marquis residence didn’t know why something was wrong and hastily knelt to pay respects: “We pay our respects to all the noble ladies and all the ministers…”

“Old Lady, raise your head and take a look.” Yun Chu spoke calmly. “Is this person Marquis Boyuan?”

Only then did the Old Lady notice that among the crowd stood a woman in white undergarments with disheveled hair.

When she saw the woman’s face, the Old Lady was struck as if by lightning. Her body shook like chaff, nearly fainting to the ground.

Over thirty years ago, she had made a decision while holding the youngest legitimate daughter of the marquis residence—to raise this girl as a boy and have her inherit the marquis residence!

For these thirty years, she had always celebrated making the most correct decision in history, because the marquis residence had indeed gotten better and better, even rivaling the prince residences in the capital…

She had married a wife for the marquis—a cousin from her maternal family—and promised various benefits to that family. Naturally, the cousin wholeheartedly devoted herself to the marquis residence and even adopted a child.

That child, adopted from a collateral branch, was exceptionally obedient and sensible. He now studied at the Imperial Academy, deeply favored by his teachers, and would have great prospects in the future.

Everything was clearly developing in a good direction. How could it suddenly…

“Why does the Old Lady not speak?” Yun Chu enunciated each word. “The esteemed Marquis Boyuan is actually a woman. Does the Old Lady have nothing to say?”

“He, she… I… the marquis residence…”

The Old Lady was caught completely off guard and had no idea what to say.

A bloody sweetness surged in her throat. She exerted all her effort to control it, barely preventing herself from vomiting blood and fainting in this great hall.

National Teacher Ding Yiyuan asked coldly: “Did the entire Marquis Boyuan residence of over a hundred people jointly deceive the court, or did this person impersonate the Marquis Boyuan residence and disrupt the court?”

Marquis Boyuan, standing beside Yun Chu, trembled all over.

Pressed down by Yun Ze’s hand on her shoulder, unable to move, she could only use her eyes to signal her grandmother, gently shaking her head.

The Old Lady understood this look. Immediately tears streamed down her face as she broke down: “She is not… not Marquis Boyuan! This old woman doesn’t know who she is either. How dare she, a woman, impersonate the marquis! Crown Princess, she impersonated a court official and disrupted the court—her crime… deserves death! Please, Crown Princess and Prince Regent, seek justice for the marquis residence!”

Having spoken, the Old Lady closed her eyes.

If she admitted this person was indeed from the Marquis Boyuan residence, then the entire marquis residence would be guilty of deceiving the sovereign.

At such a sensitive moment as the late Emperor’s passing, the crime of deceiving the sovereign could result in exterminating three or even nine generations of the clan. Even the lightest punishment would be exile…

Sacrificing one person could save the entire clan.

Even if this person was her most prideful young granddaughter, she had to be sacrificed…

Yun Chu’s expression showed understanding.

Regardless of the outcome, as long as it could be proven that Marquis Boyuan’s identity was false, then the decree was false.

“I am guilty!” Marquis Boyuan knelt heavily on the ground, head lowered, having lost all dignity. “I murdered the real Marquis Boyuan, took his place, and seized the marquis residence! This decree was also forged by me! I am willing to die to atone for my crimes!”

Having finished speaking, she suddenly charged toward the nearest pillar.

Yun Ze blocked her in one swift move and said coldly: “You forged the decree to let the Prince Regent ascend the throne—on whose orders! Without a full confession, how can you die so easily!”

“Minister Yun oversteps his bounds.” The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review stepped forward. “Interrogating criminals is the responsibility of my Court of Judicial Review. What business is it of yours!”

Yun Ze’s eyes darkened.

After Chu Rui had poisoned His Majesty with the venomous insects, besides promoting people from the Lin and Feng families, he had also replaced Chu Yi’s trusted Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

The current Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was just Chu Rui’s dog.

“Does this even need interrogation?” Marquis Pingjin couldn’t help but speak. “Whoever benefits most from this false decree is the one who ordered it!”

In an instant, all eyes fell on Chu Rui.

He spoke coolly: “I was just wondering why Imperial Uncle would have me inherit the throne. I admit I was initially ecstatic, but after calming down, I realized someone must be framing me!”

Yun Chu continued: “Although this Marquis Boyuan is an imposter, it may not be unrelated to the entire marquis residence. I believe we should detain everyone from the entire marquis residence and interrogate them one by one. Transmitting a false imperial edict is no light crime—we must investigate thoroughly!”

Upon hearing this, Marquis Boyuan’s entire body trembled.

The Crown Princess clearly knew her true identity, knew she was of the marquis residence bloodline, and was therefore threatening her with the entire marquis residence.

If she didn’t confess, the entire marquis residence would disappear from the capital along with her!

But if she did confess, the Prince Regent would never spare the Marquis Boyuan residence either…

She bit her tongue and spoke: “It was… it was the Prince Regent’s consort who ordered me to forge the imperial edict!”