When Liu Sanzhi saw Shen Xihe’s unwavering determination, he glanced at the indignant Madam Xie and said, “Princess, please wait while this servant returns to the palace to seek instructions.”

After Liu Sanzhi left, Shen Xihe turned and sat down in an elaborately carved sandalwood chair behind her. She picked up a cup of clear tea and began drinking with elegant poise, displaying the demeanor of someone who had turned from guest to host, leisurely sipping her tea.

Madam Yuan was so angered by her behavior that her chest hurt – this time she was truly so furious she nearly fainted, only managing to stay upright with the support of her maids.

Shen Xihe didn’t even glance at her. After taking a sip of tea, Duanming was brought back by Mo Yu. Shen Xihe gently stroked its fur.

It contentedly crouched beside Shen Xihe, nuzzling against her.

When Liu Sanzhi returned, he brought Duke Xie and an imperial edict authorizing the search of the Duke’s residence.

“My lord…” Madam Yuan’s expression changed as she rushed toward Duke Xie.

Duke Xie steadied her, fixing a cold stare on Shen Xihe: “Princess, I will remember today’s humiliation.”

“Duke Xie, I never humiliate others unless they bring it upon themselves,” Shen Xihe replied with a faint smile.

“Princess, shall this servant lead the Imperial Guards in searching? Does the Princess have any objections?” Liu Sanzhi asked.

“Anyone may search.” On this matter, Shen Xihe was quite magnanimous.

Liu Sanzhi was struck by Shen Xihe’s composure – after all, if they failed to find anything, she would lose her head!

Shen Xihe maintained perfect composure as she and the members of Duke Xie’s household waited in the main hall while Liu Sanzhi led the Imperial Guards in searching the residence, but they found nothing.

Liu Sanzhi’s expression revealed nothing as he reported: “Princess, we did not find it.”

“That’s impossible,” Shen Xihe stated firmly.

“Is the Princess trying to deny responsibility?” Xie Ji questioned with a dark expression.

“Did Sir Liu truly search everywhere?” Shen Xihe ignored Xie Ji.

“Is the Princess suggesting this servant is protecting Duke Xie?” Liu Sanzhi’s expression also turned unpleasant. “The inner quarters were searched by myself and the palace servants, while Commander Qi led the search of the outer courtyard. We searched every inch without exception, overturning even boxes, cabinets, and vases, but found no golden token.”

“I will look for myself,” declared Shen Xihe.

“Is the Princess planning to plant false evidence?” Xie Ji shouted.

Shen Xihe cast him a glance: “Sir Liu may accompany me, as may Duke Xie.”

Liu Sanzhi looked toward Xie Ji, who gave a cold laugh: “The Northwest King wields great power – how dare we not let the Princess satisfy herself? Lest we be accused of conspiring to slander the Princess and plotting her death!”

Shen Xihe paid no mind to his sarcasm. Carrying Duanming, she proceeded toward the inner courtyard accompanied by Liu Sanzhi and Xie Ji. As they passed one courtyard, Duanming jumped down and rushed inside.

Shen Xihe followed, but guards reached out to block her. Xie Ji strode forward: “This is the Xie family ancestral hall!”

Shen Xihe asked Liu Sanzhi: “Sir Liu, was this area searched?”

“This…” Liu Sanzhi hesitated. “Princess, this is where the Duke’s ancestors are enshrined.”

“Which is precisely why it would be the safest place,” Shen Xihe said as she took Duanming from a guard who had caught it.

“Princess, do you intend to disturb the peace of the Xie family ancestors? Are you trying to drive me to my death?” Xie Ji’s eyes were sharp as cold arrows, keen and frigid.

“There’s no need to send people to search. I will enter with Sir Liu and Duke Xie just to take a look,” Shen Xihe said calmly. “If we find nothing here, I will personally apologize before the Xie family’s ancestors.”

Xie Ji laughed bitterly in his extreme anger. He raised his hand for the guards to step aside, speaking through gritted teeth: “Please proceed, Princess.”

Upon entering the hall, Duanming leaped from Shen Xihe’s arms and bounded onto the altar table holding the ancestral tablets. Everyone’s expressions changed dramatically.

Shen Xihe shouted sharply: “Duanming!”

Before Xie Ji could move to catch Duanming, Shen Xihe strode forward and saw a palm-sized golden token gleaming behind one of the tablets. Holding Duanming, her gaze turned cold: “Sir Liu, please come here.”

Liu Sanzhi approached and his expression shifted upon seeing the token. He cast a grave look back at Xie Ji, whose forehead had turned blue with rage: “Duke Xie, my apologies.”

After speaking, he went before the altar, made three bows, and then reached behind the tablet to retrieve the imperially bestowed token.

Shen Xihe had personally let Duanming carry the token inside, intending to drop it anywhere before returning it to her. Only then had she knocked on the Duke’s door, moving quickly to prevent any reaction time.

Even if someone had found and picked it up, they wouldn’t dare throw it outside the residence – who knew if it might hit someone? She had scented the token with incense, so Duanming could find it no matter where it was hidden.

She hadn’t expected the mischievous creature to throw the token in the Xie family’s ancestral hall, but this mistake worked out perfectly, making everything that followed even more natural.

“This is impossible!” Xie Ji looked as if his eyes would pop out.

Shen Xihe had arrived so quickly that there was no time to plant evidence. His household guards were no ordinary men – how could anyone place the imperial token in the ancestral hall without alerting anyone?

A person couldn’t, but…

Xie Ji immediately fixed his gaze on Duanming in Shen Xihe’s arms!

“Meow!” Sensing the hostile stare, Duanming bared its teeth at Xie Ji.

“What does Duke Xie mean by this?” Shen Xihe turned Duanming’s head away. “My cat is particularly attached to my belongings. Does it surprise the Duke that it could find the token? The Duke was quite clever to hide it in such a place – if I hadn’t brought my cat, even coming here today might not have led to its discovery.”

Even Liu Sanzhi had to acknowledge this point – hidden in such a place, who would dare disturb the Xie family’s ancestral tablets?

In that position, they might not have found it even if they had looked directly at it.

“Princess, what a clever move!” Xie Ji calmed down, but his gaze toward Shen Xihe grew even more hostile.

“Hm.” Shen Xihe gave a light laugh. “If Duke Xie objects, he may seek justice from His Majesty. My cat did indeed run about the residence, but never came this way – your servants can testify to this. Surely the Duke isn’t suggesting I had the cat bring the token into your residence?”

But isn’t that exactly what happened?!

Duke Xie felt the blood rise in his throat but forcefully swallowed it back down.

“Duke Xie is, after all, a first-rank duke – how can you be so unwilling to admit your actions?” Shen Xihe spoke somewhat mockingly. “I have no recent grievances or old grudges with the Duke’s household – why would I go to such lengths to frame the Duke? Just to put on a show of arrogance for the capital’s residents?”

“The Princess knows well why she secretly harmed us. Why was the Princess so confident, willing to stake her life?” Xie Ji pressed.

In fact, when Liu Sanzhi had returned to the palace to relay Shen Xihe’s words, Xie Ji had known the matter wasn’t simple. But at this point, if he refused or made excuses, it would be a confession without questioning!