Li Yanyan abruptly stood up and spoke loudly: “Your Majesty, how much do you despise your daughter-in-law? If you find me offensive to your eyes, if I’m hindering your complete extermination of the Western Liang Li family, you can simply bestow poison wine – I will certainly thank you for the grace. There’s no need to force a green hat on your own son’s head. He is still a son of the Xiao family, a prince appointed by Your Majesty – do you truly wish to see him unable to hold his head high?”

Facing Emperor Youning’s angry expression, Li Yanyan showed no fear. She stared back, chin slightly raised: “As Your Majesty’s sons, who would dare marry in the future? Second Brother’s wife didn’t live many years, Fourth Brother’s wife accompanied him to the Imperial Tomb, Fifth Brother’s wife and I share the same misfortune – her entire family was executed, with poor Fifth Brother serving as the execution supervisor… hah!

Now it’s Azhen’s turn, is it? Because he doesn’t believe his wife is unfaithful, he becomes intolerable to Your Majesty?”

Liu Sanzhi lowered his head deeply. Sometimes he wished His Majesty was a cruel person who wouldn’t tolerate others’ defiance. If so, how would Princess Dai dare speak such treasonous words?

“You are insolent!” Emperor Youning shouted.

“Insolent then insolent! Your Majesty hasn’t planned to let me live anyway. I’m about to die, can’t I speak what’s in my heart? Your Majesty, don’t think I’m like Fifth Brother’s wife, preserving Your Majesty’s face!”

“Guards!” Emperor Youning called harshly, “Take this shrew to the Imperial Clan Court!”

“Your Majesty, Yanyan spoke without restraint, Your Majesty…”

“Take her away!” Emperor Youning didn’t give Xiao Changzhen a chance to plead, and with one command, the guards seized Li Yanyan.

“Let go of me, I’ll walk myself.” Li Yanyan avoided the guards’ touch, adjusted her clothes and shawl, held her head high, and walked steadily in front.

Hearing the news from Mingzheng Hall, Xiao Huayong smiled meaningfully: “Lady Li has escaped too.”

As for Xiao Changtai’s escape, as Li Yanyan said, they weren’t caught in the act. Although someone reported a murder to the Capital Prefecture and blood was seen, without a corpse, it couldn’t constitute a sensitive case. As long as Li Yanyan denied everything, they couldn’t convict her.

“Your Highness, the people arranged at the Imperial Tomb have arrived at the palace gate. Fourth Prince’s crime of secretly fleeing the Imperial Tomb can’t be escaped,” Tianyuan said.

Xiao Huayong shook his head slightly: “Unless we catch Fourth Brother in the act, he still has countermoves.”

If Xiao Changtai dared to come, he must have been fully prepared.

When news of Xiao Changtai’s secret escape from the Imperial Tomb reached the Emperor, Emperor Youning looked at Prince Dai kneeling before him begging for mercy: “Fourth Son is not at the Imperial Tomb.”

Xiao Changzhen lowered his head in silence.

“Raise your head.” Emperor Youning commanded, “Look at me.”

Xiao Changzhen raised his head, meeting the Emperor’s gaze, but remained silent.

Emperor Youning asked in a deep voice: “Tell me you firmly believe the person Lady Li met wasn’t Fourth Son!”

Locked in the Emperor’s imposing gaze, Xiao Changzhen moved his lips, finally saying: “Your Majesty, Fourth Brother’s wife disappeared after meeting Yanyan. Fourth Brother and his wife share deep conjugal love – his concern for his wife leading him to enter the capital to question Yanyan is understandable.”

“Understandable?” Emperor Youning laughed in anger, “Have you forgotten the gatekeepers’ words? This wasn’t their first secret meeting!”

“Your Majesty, Yanyan would not wrong me. Perhaps the residence’s owner happens to be acquainted with Fourth Brother, so he borrowed the place to meet Yanyan. As for Yanyan’s previous visits to the Qian residence, she must have been looking to purchase the property. Yanyan has mentioned to me several times that she wants to buy a residence.”

Emperor Youning looked down at his son, who grew more animated as he spoke, as if believing his own words, with only pity remaining in his eyes.

He naturally knew Lady Li’s secret meetings with Fourth Son weren’t for adultery – Fourth Son still had his eye on the Ye family’s power, how would he dare mess around with his brother’s wife? If not adultery, yet they met frequently, it could only be a conspiracy.

“Do you remember the tomb robbery case?” Emperor Youning reminded him tonelessly.

By now, what didn’t Xiao Changzhen understand? His wife had collaborated with Xiao Changtai – the tomb robbery case was orchestrated by Xiao Changtai, and the two of them had secretly amassed who knows how much wealth through it.

“Your Majesty, I only believe in evidence,” Xiao Changzhen lowered his eyes.

“Liu Sanzhi, go personally, seal the city gates, and arrest Xiao Changtai,” Emperor Youning ordered.

“Yes,” Liu Sanzhi bowed and withdrew.

Xiao Changzhen grew anxious – if Xiao Changtai was caught, it would be ironclad evidence.

“Your Majesty, I…”

“Kneel outside and wait for your evidence,” Emperor Youning commanded.

Xiao Changzhen had no choice but to kneel at the palace gate.

Events in the palace couldn’t be kept from the capital. The officials were confused, as they didn’t yet know about Xiao Changtai’s disappearance from the Imperial Tomb. They felt the matter wasn’t simple but dared not inquire rashly.

Xiao Changqing pieced together the clues: “Fourth Brother has fallen into the Crown Prince’s trap this time – if not death, he’ll be stripped bare.”

“Fourth Brother was the mastermind behind the tomb robbery, Third Sister-in-law covered it up,” Now Xiao Changying knew too.

“His Majesty won’t let Fourth Brother go this time.” The tomb robbery case was an insurmountable barrier that had provoked public anger.

Moreover, being capable of profiting from the dead showed that Xiao Changtai’s character had become intolerable to the Emperor. The previous explosion at the Imperial Tomb – His Majesty would think that was Fourth Brother’s doing too. This saved him quite some trouble.

“Why did the Crown Prince suddenly move against Fourth Brother?” Xiao Changying didn’t understand.

With Xiao Changtai in the Imperial Tomb, even if he made some moves, he couldn’t make waves. If the Crown Prince wanted to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, he shouldn’t have chosen Xiao Changtai.

“Our Crown Prince… never took us seriously,” Xiao Changqing laughed softly. “As long as we behave, he disdains to move against us. Suddenly moving against Fourth Brother must mean Fourth Brother provoked the Crown Prince first, and the Crown Prince doesn’t want him to live.”

Direct assassination wouldn’t be appropriate – the Imperial Tomb’s security was strict, and it would cause a big commotion and casualties.

Better to expose Xiao Changtai as the mastermind behind the tomb robbery case – His Majesty naturally wouldn’t let him live.

Speaking of which, Xiao Changqing glanced at Xiao Changying: “A few days ago, the Crown Prince and Princess Zhaoning encountered tiger attacks while walking – three tigers.”

Xiao Changying didn’t know about this – he now had official duties and spent half his time in military camps. Unlike Xiao Changqing and others, he hadn’t cultivated informants. He just learned of this now: “Fourth Brother set tigers on her!”

Xiao Changying’s grasp of the key point didn’t disappoint Xiao Changqing…

Three tigers certainly weren’t encountered by accident – it must have been deliberate to create such a situation. He was pleased Xiao Changying had thought of this point, but his rushing to stand up and stride out was also within Xiao Changqing’s expectations.

“I wonder if, compared to me, you’re fortunate or unfortunate,” Xiao Changqing watched that flash of red disappear and couldn’t help murmuring. “And I don’t know if my actions are right or wrong.”

He had deliberately informed Xiao Changying, knowing that once Xiao Changying knew, he would certainly go after Xiao Changtai.