He had already sent word to his confidant to return through the back door ahead of Liu Sanzhi, having the guards protecting the ancestral hall conduct a search first to confirm nothing was found before letting the Imperial Guards and Liu Sanzhi’s men search.

The only thing Xie Ji hadn’t anticipated was Shen Xihe’s audacity – to use a mere animal to frame them, not fearing that the slightest mistake could cost her life!

He had just witnessed how this creature moved quick as lightning and light as a feather, evading the ancestral hall’s guards without their notice – they still believed no one had entered the hall!

“I said before that my cat is familiar with my belongings. It led me to Duke Xie’s residence – why else would it struggle to rush inside as soon as we entered?” Shen Xihe gently stroked Duanming’s fur again. “I have no wish to argue with Duke Xie. His Majesty will determine right from wrong.”

With those words, Shen Xihe took the golden token and left carrying Duanming.

This time she went to the palace voluntarily. There she encountered Hong Yu who was waiting. Zhenzhu approached Hong Yu while Shen Xihe entered the palace with Biyu and Mo Yu. Duke Xie and Madam Yuan were also brought inside.

She had done everything she needed to do – conducting an overt search of Duke Xie’s residence and bringing the two heads of the household to be detained before His Majesty.

The rest was up to Xiao Huayong. If the Prince of Xun escaped again this time, she would have to question Xiao Huayong’s capabilities.

“Your Majesty, this subject does not know why the imperial token was in my residence. As the Princess said, we have no prior grievances,” Xie Ji immediately knelt upon seeing Emperor Youning. “Moreover, under heaven only the Princess possesses such an imperial token – it would be useless even if I stole it.”

“In the capital, everyone knows the token belongs to the Princess,” Tao Zhuanxian had rushed to seek an audience as soon as he heard Shen Xihe had led troops into Duke Xie’s residence, ready to fight for his granddaughter even if unreasonable. “But outside the capital, it could be quite useful.”

Local officials wouldn’t care who originally owned the token – they would only verify its authenticity before following orders.

It was as if the Emperor himself were present – how dare they be negligent? Even if they were deceived into wrong actions, they couldn’t be blamed. The responsibility would fall on whoever lost the token.

Xie Ji choked: “Your Majesty, the Xie family has produced heroes for generations – this subject is loyal!”

“You just claimed there was no token in your residence?” Tao Zhuanxian countered. “Yet wasn’t the token found there? Now you claim absolute loyalty – your heart is in your body, how can we know if it harbors disloyalty?”

Shen Xihe gave a slight tug – her grandfather truly lived up to his role as Chief Censor.

“Your Majesty, this subject did not steal the Princess’s token.” Xie Ji could only kowtow deeply – everyone heard the clear thud.

Emperor Youning looked at Xie Ji without speaking, then turned to Shen Xihe: “Zhaoning, was the imperial token truly stolen by Duke Xie?”

Meeting the Emperor’s unfathomable gaze, Shen Xihe remained composed: “Your Majesty, the imperial token was likely not stolen by Duke Xie.”

Everyone was slightly startled, not expecting Shen Xihe to say this.

“If Duke Xie didn’t steal it, why was the imperial token found in the Xie family ancestral hall?” Emperor Youning asked.

“That’s a question for Duke Xie,” Shen Xihe cast a calm glance at the still-kowtowing Duke. “Your Majesty surely knows that my improving health is thanks to a physician – none other than Doctor Qi, who severed ties with Duke Xie and took his mother’s surname. If not for treating me, Doctor Qi would never have returned to this heartbreaking place.

Recently I witnessed Duke Xie arguing intensely with Doctor Qi, even bringing servants to forcibly take him away. But my condition had just begun improving and I couldn’t do without Doctor Qi. Yet I couldn’t let him face oppression and bullying while caring for me.

So after much consideration, I temporarily gave Your Majesty’s imperial token to Doctor Qi…”

At this point, Shen Xihe added an explanation: “I meant no disrespect. Doctor Qi grew up under Your Majesty’s watch – you know his character well. Even if I valued my life, I wouldn’t entrust the imperial token to protect just anyone.”

Xie Yunhuai – Emperor Youning had once personally praised him: “Dragon bearing, phoenix countenance, with a nimble mind.”

The Emperor nodded slightly, and Shen Xihe continued: “With the imperial token in his possession, Doctor Qi would come every three days to check on my condition. Today he missed his appointment, and I was certain he had been detained.”

Casting a meaningful look at Xie Ji, Shen Xihe said: “Doctor Qi has an ethereal bearing and often travels in and out of the city. The gate guards all know him. When I inquired, they said he entered the city with Duke Xie’s servants three days ago and hasn’t left since.”

Shen Xihe naturally couldn’t directly accuse Xie Ji of stealing the imperial token. Though this trap was perfect, Emperor Youning was no fool – lacking evidence didn’t mean he lacked judgment.

If she accused Xie Ji of the unfounded crime of stealing the imperial token, the Emperor would grow suspicious of her for recklessly targeting important court officials.

Her current explanation was more reasonable.

After a pause, Shen Xihe sighed softly: “Perhaps the imperial token meant less to Duke Xie than family ties. Or perhaps Duke Xie’s longing for his son led him to bring Doctor Qi back forcibly.”

Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, Teacher – the Sovereign came before Parents. If Xie Yunhuai had shown the imperial token and Xie Ji still detained him, that would be contempt for imperial authority. It didn’t matter if the charge of stealing the token didn’t stick – this was just as serious.

“Xie Ji, is this true?” Emperor Youning asked sternly.

After his exchange with Shen Xihe, Xie Ji turned his thoughts carefully. This girl not yet of age was no ordinary maiden – her thoughts ran deep and meticulous, not to be underestimated.

“Your Majesty, I did bring my unworthy son home and wished to resolve our father-son conflict, but I did not force him to stay, nor did I see the imperial token. I would never dare disrespect Your Majesty.” Xie Ji’s response left room for maneuver.

Even if they found Xie Yunhuai in his residence, he had admitted to inviting him – there was no forced detention, perhaps Xie Yunhuai stayed willingly.

“Duke Xie’s words greatly contradict your wife’s,” Shen Xihe said leisurely. “When I first entered your residence seeking Doctor Qi, your wife insisted she had never seen him and didn’t know him.”

“Your Majesty, my unworthy son bears many grievances against my wife. I didn’t inform her of privately bringing him home, so she was unaware,” Xie Ji explained quickly.

Shen Xihe gave a short laugh but said nothing.

Hearing this, Xie Ji added: “Your Majesty, Sir Liu, and Commander Qi have already searched my residence and found no trace of my son, proving I did not force him to stay.”

“Who knows if your residence has secret chambers?” Tao Zhuanxian interjected. “The Princess gave her token to Doctor Qi – how would the token end up behind an ancestral tablet in your family shrine? Behind the ancestral tablets…”

Xie Ji chose not to argue, to avoid saying too much: “Your Majesty, this subject does not know.”