“This humble woman Liu Yu, father… the late Marquis of Pingyang, mother Yu Chen, a resident of the capital…” Yu Sangzi spoke with despair, almost in tears.

“I seem to recall the legitimate daughter of the Pingyang Marquis died two years ago saving the commoner Xiao Changmin,” Emperor Youning’s voice was laced with ice.

That incident had caused quite a stir. When Xiao Changmin was attacked, Yu Sangzi stepped forward to save him. This was why Yu Sangning, a concubine’s daughter, qualified to replace the legitimate daughter and marry Xiao Changmin, who was then the Prince of Zhao.

“Your Majesty, please hear me out. I was in love, so I bribed some wandering knights and took the opportunity to fake my death. Everything was my reckless doing. I deserve death a hundred times over for my crimes,” Yu Sangzi steeled herself and took all the blame.

Emperor Youning laughed in extreme anger: “What a fine Marquis of Pingyang, truly my loyal minister and general!”

Regarding the Minjiang incident, thanks to Shen Xihe’s last-minute move of writing an early letter to the Military Commissioner of Jiannan on Yu Xiang’s behalf, Yu Xiang’s death had instead made him appear a loyal minister – one whose good strategy Xiao Changyan had failed to adopt. Emperor Youning had restored Yu Xiang’s title, just waiting for Yu Sangning’s brother to complete the mourning period before inheriting it.

Now the crime of deceiving the emperor was unavoidable!

“How did you manage such deception that day? Confess truthfully! If there’s even one false word, I will execute your Yu clan down to the ninth degree of kinship!”

Emperor Youning was truly enraged. How dare Yu Sangzi conceal anything?

Yet she still hadn’t realized everything was orchestrated by Yu Sangning from behind the scenes. Even the fake death drug that Yu Sangning had provided, she claimed she had discovered it by chance at Yu Sangning’s place and demanded it from her.

Emperor Youning felt he had underestimated this concubine’s daughter of the Yu family. Indeed, being raised outside had given her access to endless tricks and devices!

The fake death drug – Yu Sangning still had some. Emperor Youning directly sent people to search the Yu residence, finding more than just the fake death drug.

However, Emperor Youning didn’t care about the rest. He held the bottle containing the fake death drug: “Today was originally to investigate Lady Li’s strange death in the Eastern Palace…”

Emperor Youning briefly recounted the important points of Li Yanyan’s matter, finally saying: “Lady Li’s death remains a mystery, and the letter in her possession relates to the assassination attempt. Ministers, how do you think I should judge this?”

The ministers exchanged glances. First examining Yu Sangzi’s fake death, then holding the fake death drug – the emperor’s thoughts were obvious.

The emperor suspected the Crown Prince had also faked his death. Just like Yu Sangzi, a fake death could allow one to be with a lover, avoid the clan’s punishment for disobeying imperial orders, and maintain wealth and glory.

Wasn’t the Crown Prince’s death also entirely advantageous to the Eastern Palace?

With Yu Sangzi’s precedent, the ministers dared not openly object. Moreover, doubt in the emperor’s heart was like a thorn – if not removed now, its later eruption could be more serious.

But they also dared not agree to open the coffin. After all, this was the Crown Prince. If the coffin truly contained the Crown Prince, how could this be resolved?

No one could bear the consequences of opening the coffin!

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince died from a sword wound in full view of everyone. If this were fake, wouldn’t the Eighth Prince have to be complicit? Otherwise, how could that sword strike have left room for survival?” Tao Zhuanxian always protected his granddaughter. “Could all the Imperial Physicians have been fooled? The Eastern Palace held the body for seven days, with palace servants watching day and night. How could a living person lie in a coffin for seven days and survive?”

A healthy person couldn’t do it, let alone someone severely wounded, especially someone as frail and sickly as the Crown Prince!

“Your Majesty, Lord Tao speaks the truth,” Minister Xue Heng agreed. “This matter has many suspicious points. Why did the Third Prince’s wife ask Lady Yu to testify? Coincidentally today, Young Lady Yu, who had fled nearly two years ago, is brought before Your Majesty. It seems too convenient.”

This was orchestrated!

“Even if orchestrated, for what purpose? Merely to disturb the Crown Prince’s spirit?” Emperor Youning countered.

This…

Even Tao Zhuanxian couldn’t say the perpetrator’s intention was simply to open the coffin once just to upset the Crown Princess.

It was highly possible someone had obtained some information but lacked concrete evidence. Given the gravity of the matter, they dared not report directly, so they created this huge incident to make His Majesty open the coffin.

Just as when Xiao Huayong had set up Xiao Changmin – knowing someone was behind it didn’t mean Xiao Changmin could clear his suspicion and guilt. Those who set him up merely exposed his crimes.

The situation had reached an impasse.

“What’s so difficult about this?” When everyone was silent, no one expected Prince Xin, Xiao Changqin, to step forward.

The news of Li Yanyan being poisoned by Shen Xihe had been spread throughout the palace by Li Yanyan’s maid. Xiao Changqin had come with Xiao Changying, arriving even earlier than the ministers, but hadn’t spoken until now.

“Since everyone has doubts, why not open the coffin,” Xiao Changqin said righteously. “I believe the Crown Prince wouldn’t want posthumous unclear speculation. Though this act would prove the Crown Prince’s innocence, it does disrespect the dead. The Crown Prince died saving Your Majesty, to prevent Your Majesty from future criticism by commoners and officials. Your Majesty might as well decree that if this matter proves false, the Crown Princess’s unborn child will be established as Crown Grandson, showing Your Majesty’s strong father-son bond with the Crown Prince that cannot be provoked.”

“Fifth Brother speaks well, I second this!” Xiao Changying hurriedly agreed.

Emperor Youning’s face instantly darkened without disguise.

Establishing a Crown Grandson – even Xiao Huayong dared not easily suggest this despite sacrificing his life, lest the favor be excessive and lose propriety. He could only settle for second best, asking for a different name for his son, subtly expressing his hopes.

Yet Xiao Changqin openly stated this. However, such compensation could indeed silence the masses.

The ministers naturally had few objections. Tao Zhuanxian stood with Shen Xihe but couldn’t speak up on this matter, lest he be accused of manipulating the emperor.

Other ministers would prefer a young ruler in the future. Only a young ruler would be easy to manipulate, giving them room to guide state affairs, especially now with so few princes left in the royal family and no close ties to them.

That was Shen’s flesh and blood!

Emperor Youning was so angry his face twitched. His sharp gaze pierced Xiao Changqin like a knife.

At this moment he even suspected this was either Shen Xihe’s doing or Xiao Changqin’s – the former’s goal only to secure her unborn son’s position!

The latter purely wanted to anger him to death! Knowing how much he disliked the Shen family, yet still helped Shen’s son become ruler. After opening the coffin, if Xiao Huayong lay inside, he would be the cold-hearted father who lost all face!

No wonder they waited until after the coffin was sealed and buried to cause trouble!

His Majesty’s fury was no longer restrained or hidden. Shen Xihe naturally knew Xiao Changqin did this deliberately to mislead His Majesty.

It seemed Xiao Changqin had guessed the coffin didn’t contain Xiao Huayong, or perhaps those behind the plot had more moves and had switched the coffin.

“Your Majesty, Lady Li is not dead,” Shen Xihe stepped forward and said.