The Empress received Li Weiyang in a side hall—this audience was clearly beyond Li Weiyang’s expectations.

On both sides, over a dozen eunuchs in identical blue-green brocade robes stood with hands clasped respectfully. Li Weiyang walked calmly past them, stepping on tiptoe up the stairs. The great hall was permeated with a fragrant scent. Having once lived in the palace, she knew this was the sandalwood incense that could only settle and condense from those who spent long periods worshipping Buddha. And regarding this Empress, Li Weiyang still had some understanding of her. The time she spent before Buddha didn’t mean she was a compassionate person.

Li Weiyang didn’t raise her head but bowed low. After the bow, she kept her eyes lowered without moving. “Your subject Weiyang greets the Empress.”

“Raise your head.” A dignified female voice pierced her ears—this voice was so clear and cold, so hard, exactly like cold jade.

Li Weiyang raised her head. The Empress appeared over forty years old with a rather small frame, yet possessed an imposing domineering aura. Compared to Consort Zhang De, Consort Rou, and others, her appearance was only mediocre. Perhaps to disguise this fact, every time Li Weiyang saw her, she felt the Empress’s makeup and adornments were particularly grand. Today was no exception—though merely receiving a subject’s daughter, her hair was adorned with a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin trailing pure red-gold tassels that trembled and chimed softly as she spoke.

Li Weiyang quickly lowered her gaze. Staring into someone’s eyes for too long was extremely rude, especially toward someone like the Empress.

The Empress sat upright in her seat, her gaze toward Li Weiyang noble and cold. Upon seeing her excessively calm countenance, the Empress’s exquisitely painted brows couldn’t help furrowing slightly. She carefully inquired about Li Weiyang’s age and name—seemingly useless family conversation, but actually testing whether her thinking was sharp, whether her speech was articulate, even inferring her character. Those who truly understood how to judge people could determine what kind of person she was just from hearing her speak.

Li Weiyang showed not a trace of timidity, answering each of the Empress’s questions very composedly. Her speech was slow, her attitude respectful, yet absolutely not servile.

“Very good. Previously I only heard His Majesty mention you. Seeing you today, you truly are a clever girl…” The Empress smiled and nodded, though her mouth said “clever,” her face remained full of dignity.

Li Weiyang only said, “Thank you for the praise, Your Majesty. This subject doesn’t dare accept such praise.”

The Empress suddenly came out with a very suspicious statement. “I heard something happened yesterday.”

Here it comes. Li Weiyang smiled. “I wonder what matter Your Majesty is asking about?”

The Empress smiled slightly but didn’t answer. The already small hall became extremely quiet for a moment—only the orioles outside could be heard calling lazily from time to time. In the oppressively hot afternoon light, the Empress’s regular attire was extremely thin purple silk, the left lapel embroidered with a peony of layered delicate beauty—the national beauty and heavenly fragrance. The Empress’s smile slowly disappeared, her voice calm as water, slowly enunciating word by word: “Someone falsely accused Fourth Young Master Jiang of abducting the Li family’s fifth young lady. Is this matter true?”

The two words “falsely accused” had already established the Empress’s attitude toward this matter. Li Weiyang felt overwhelming cold ice assault her face-on, from heart to body, even her soul felt ice-cold. She slowly raised her face, her eyes concealed beneath her lashes so her expression couldn’t be discerned. The corners of her lips drew up in a trace of an almost imperceptible cold smile as she replied lightly, “Your Majesty is correct—Fourth Young Master Jiang abducted my younger sister.”

She omitted the two words “falsely accused.” The Empress’s eyes suddenly widened, staring at this seemingly calm young girl before her with some disbelief. Yet Li Weiyang seemed to have no fear—those jet-black eyes flowed with rapidly shifting light, so fast that the Empress’s heart suddenly sank.

She’d summoned her to make her shut her mouth and stop mentioning that matter, but clearly, the other party seemed completely unable to understand her hints and hadn’t changed her original intention at all.

After noon, the weather was strangely oppressive. Outside the hall was still tolerable, but inside there wasn’t even a trace of wind—hot as blazing fire. The Empress’s mood grew even more irritated because of this. She laughed coldly and said, “With such a thing happening, your sister will have difficulty marrying out. Do you still want to persist stubbornly?”

So the Empress wanted to settle this privately, hoping the Li family would swallow this loss and then marry their daughter to the other party as a concubine. This was clearly identical to Jiang Nan’s original thinking. After all, no one could completely disregard their own face and reputation. If this blew up, no one would benefit. Jiang Nan was certain Li Weiyang was a clever person who couldn’t possibly be willing to become a nun or commit suicide—she would definitely prefer being a concubine. So he’d brazenly done this. But he hadn’t anticipated Li Weiyang would drag out Li Changxi. For someone like Li Changxi who’d been abandoned by the family, the situation was completely different.

“Your Majesty, it’s not that Weiyang is being stubborn, but there were truly too many people who witnessed this matter at the time.” Li Weiyang said softly.

The Empress was speechless. Of course she knew this matter was difficult to handle. If it weren’t difficult, the Duke’s wife wouldn’t have come to beg her while forcing herself despite her illness. Thinking of this, the Empress’s dark, deep pupils stared at Li Weiyang unblinkingly: “You’re a clever person. As long as you change your story, this matter can be resolved.”

Li Weiyang wasn’t angry but smiled gently at the Empress. “Your Majesty, this subject will naturally do as Your Majesty instructs, but what about Magistrate Yao? What about his officials? You know, Magistrate Yao is someone who stubbornly refuses to listen even to His Majesty’s words. If the testimonies don’t match up then, His Majesty will think this subject is deceiving the sovereign—how could this subject bear such a crime?”

The Empress’s brows immediately furrowed tightly, her expression severe, nearly rising to anger: “You mean to say, if you’re to change your story, Magistrate Yao Changqing must also relent?”

Li Weiyang said aggrievedly, “Your Majesty, this subject is speaking truthfully. Otherwise, whatever Your Majesty tells this subject to say, this subject will do.”

The Empress stared at her, momentarily not knowing what to say. To say she was defying her own decree—she hadn’t said a single word refusing. To say she was compliant—she fundamentally hadn’t agreed to anything. This girl was truly just as the Duke’s wife said—like a slippery loach. She couldn’t help directly piercing through that thin veil: “Can you not comprehend my intention? I’m telling you to say your sister and Jiang Nan were having a tryst! Do you understand?!”

A tryst, not an abduction! That was the Empress’s meaning.

Li Weiyang appeared extremely surprised. “A tryst? Fifth Sister and Fourth Young Master Jiang were having a tryst? This subject had no idea at all! Oh my, this girl is really too bold—to actually call a tryst an abduction!”

The Empress stood up, suppressing her anger. The purple-gold phoenix-patterned hem of her skirt dragged with an extremely subtle rustling sound. The female officials at her side quickly bowed down, not daring to raise their heads. The Empress stared at Li Weiyang with an unfriendly expression, saying slowly, “Don’t deflect and evade! I’ll say it once more—when His Majesty asks you, you should know what to say!”

Li Weiyang bowed respectfully. “This subject respectfully obeys Your Majesty’s sage decree.”

After Li Weiyang left, the Empress pressed her hand to her forehead. She began to feel confused—was this girl truly foolish, or pretending to be confused? If she could sway that stubborn bone Yao Changqing, would she need to make her change her story? As long as the witnesses could change their testimony, everything could still be salvaged…

The female official at her side, seeing her mistress’s headache, couldn’t help shaking her head. In these two years, the Empress had exhausted her heart and energy for the Crown Prince to the point where she couldn’t even see through such a young girl clearly. The other party clearly hadn’t promised her anything, yet she still thought her objective had been achieved…

From beginning to end, Li Weiyang went along with the Empress’s words, even repeating them, but fundamentally hadn’t expressed a single sentence meaning she would change her story. And the Empress had clearly misunderstood.

In the Emperor’s main hall, the Jiang family members, the Li family members, Yao Changqing, Jiang Nan, Li Changxi, the Crown Prince, Third Prince Tuoba Zhen, Fifth Prince Tuoba Rui, and Seventh Prince Tuoba Yu were remarkably all present without exception. Clearly, this news had gradually spread. Li Weiyang slowly walked in. The Duke’s wife stared at her with cold eyes, as fierce as if she wanted to devour her, though her body leaning on a cane had already betrayed her outward strength concealing inner weakness.

Li Weiyang glanced at the Duke’s wife, and the smile on her face deepened. She’d long guessed this old woman would come, and just as she’d originally predicted, she was seriously ill.

The Emperor sat in the main seat and said solemnly, “Originally this case should be jointly tried by the Ministry of Justice and the Capital Magistrate, but both your families are the foundation stones of our Great Li, so I will personally hear this case. Standing below are so many people, so many eyes watching—no one will be wronged! The Duke’s wife is advanced in years—grant her a seat. Capital Magistrate, continue trying the case.”

The Duke’s wife wore the attire of a first-rank lady, appearing especially aged and decrepit as she tremblingly gave thanks and sat.

Jiang Nan’s face was expressionless, looking at no one. Li Changxi kept her head lowered in an appearance of excessive grief. To outsiders, it seemed the shock she’d originally received had now passed. Only Li Xiaoran’s expression was extremely strange—he didn’t understand how Li Changxi had suddenly stopped being mad. Actually, there was nothing strange about this matter. Previously Li Changxi had suffered a huge blow from that incident and her mind had become temporarily disturbed, but Li Xiaoran had already sealed the mouths of everyone who knew at the time. Now people outside only knew the Li family’s fifth young lady had gone away to recuperate from illness—they didn’t know what illness, much less the truth of the matter. Later, Fourth Aunt had quietly invited physicians to examine her, and Li Changxi’s madness wasn’t that severe to begin with, so she’d slowly recovered.

Yao Changqing said coldly, “Jiang Nan, did you forcibly abduct Miss Li?”

Jiang Nan looked coldly at Yao Changqing without answering. In his heart, Jiang Xu wanted nothing more than to give him two hard slaps, but on his face he had to show a pained expression, saying, “Alas, it’s this subject’s fault for not teaching my son strictly. Previously when my niece Li Changle fell ill, I ordered this unfilial son to visit her. Who knew he would encounter the Li residence’s fifth young lady there… With one thing leading to another, if this subject had heard even a whisper of it, I definitely wouldn’t have allowed this unfilial son to commit such a scandalous act!” As he spoke, he actually broke down in tears. “Younger sister, I truly wronged you! Even in death, I could hardly face you below ground.” His behavior naturally aimed to establish that these two had been conducting an illicit affair rather than a forcible abduction—there was a strict distinction between these!

“Miss Li, did you have any romantic involvement with Fourth Young Master Jiang!” Yao Changqing asked.

Li Changxi seemed frightened, her speech stuttering: “I… I’ve never even seen him before. How could there be romantic involvement!”

Jiang Xu immediately said, “Changxi, at this point don’t hide it anymore! We’re family after all. Since you and Nan’er have feelings for each other, why didn’t you say so earlier? Uncle would definitely have fulfilled your wishes!”

Li Xiaoran’s expression was uncertain—clearly he no longer wanted to manage this mess. After Li Weiyang’s words last time, he absolutely didn’t want to make another match with the Jiang family! Not to mention that if there really was romantic involvement, Li Changxi could only be a concubine! Since they’d created this situation themselves, let them solve it themselves if they had the ability!

Li Weiyang said coldly and mockingly, “Uncle, though you now hold the position of third-rank general, His Majesty sits above us presently, the presiding Magistrate Yao is also here, the Crown Prince and all the other princes are here—how is it Uncle’s turn to make judgments and claim there was romantic involvement? Could it be Uncle has transformed into the presiding judge!” Disregarding Jiang Xu’s increasingly ugly expression, her eyes bright as jewels looked toward the Emperor as she said loudly, “Your Majesty, this subject has something to say!”

“Speak.” The Emperor nodded.

In Li Weiyang’s clear, beautiful eyes flashed a trace of cold light. She sighed, “Originally this subject didn’t want to speak the truth, but now seeing Uncle putting on such an act, and Fourth Young Master setting up a series of poisonous schemes intending to ruin my reputation and name—this subject’s humble life matters little, but I pity Fifth Sister who was innocently implicated. If I don’t speak and let this rot in my belly, even if this subject is shattered to pieces, I could hardly face her!”

The Emperor nodded. “Speak.”

Li Weiyang said slowly, “Your Majesty, both Fifth Sister and I are concubine-born. This subject was unfortunately born in February and from childhood was considered inauspicious by my legitimate mother, so I was sent to the countryside to be raised.” At this point, Li Weiyang revealed a silent expression. “At age six, the family that raised me criticized me for not working well—a pair of scissors was hurled at my arm. Even now there’s still a faint scar. Though this subject lived poorly, I didn’t dare harbor resentment. I could only hold onto hope, looking forward to when Father and my legitimate mother might remember me and bring me back home to live.”

Tuoba Yu looked at Li Weiyang, thinking of when she’d initially toyed with everyone by the pig pen. He couldn’t help being shocked—so she’d lived so miserably before. And Li Xiaoran’s face already showed an embarrassed expression. He didn’t want Li Weiyang to bring out these matters, because he saw that even the Emperor’s face showed surprise.

Disregarding everyone’s shocked expressions, Li Weiyang continued, “What this subject says next harms the Li family’s reputation. Unless absolutely necessary, this subject would rather let it rot in her heart than speak it outside. This subject hoped and hoped, finally hoping Father would remember me and bring me back to the capital to be raised. I acknowledged Father and my legitimate mother as well as the sisters in the household, and thought from then on I could live well. Later, rumors said Eldest Sister Changle had great fortune and would be matched with an imperial prince. At that time, this subject only took it as a joke in passing. After Eldest Sister presented her strategy to His Majesty, this subject vaguely heard people say Eldest Sister’s marriage prospects had fallen through—but what did this have to do with this subject! No one expected that my legitimate mother would blame this fault on Weiyang, claiming Weiyang refused to give the disaster relief strategy to Eldest Sister one step earlier, instead letting her embarrass herself before His Majesty and lose a good match!”

“You’re lying! My daughter isn’t such a petty person!” Hearing this, the Duke’s wife finally couldn’t control herself and shouted loudly, her face hideously terrifying. She didn’t dare acknowledge it, couldn’t acknowledge it. If she did, Jiang Rou’s harsh reputation would be established!

But Li Weiyang showed no fear, coldly asking in return, “Grandmother, if Mother had a clear conscience, why would she end up going mad from fright and dying?”

The Duke’s wife seemed to suddenly have her tongue cut out. Her face swelled blue-purple, her gaze seemingly able to devour people. She couldn’t deny it, because Jiang Rou had indeed committed many evil deeds and frightened herself to death!

“Because of this matter, my legitimate mother constantly made things difficult for this subject in every way. Not only me—even the concubine-born Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister in the household were like servants! Fourth Sister to this day is still clumsy in speech and manner, like a maidservant, while Fifth Sister was frightened by her to the point of constant anxiety, unable to sleep peacefully, and had no choice but to be sent to a separate estate to recuperate! Perhaps because she’d done too many evil deeds, my legitimate mother said the household feng shui was bad and looked everywhere for people to examine it. She also said ghosts and demons constantly haunted her day and night preventing sleep. She said the concubines and sisters in our household were all harbingers of doom. But no matter how my legitimate mother blamed us, this subject cared for her day and night without the slightest negligence—the entire family saw this… My legitimate mother’s heart illness had long existed. Even the imperial physicians can testify that she became ill from her own excessive scheming. But Grandmother felt we hadn’t cared for her properly and forcibly took her back to the Jiang family. Who knew that in barely a month, she was gone. Grandmother grew extremely angry over my legitimate mother’s death, insisting it was because our Li family didn’t care for her properly and harmed her daughter. Later the accusations pointed even more directly at this subject, saying I was born in February and killed her through cosmic opposition. But actually, this subject’s father, birth mother, and the grandmother in our household are all healthy and free of illness or disaster. If we’re talking about cosmic opposition, how could I have instead killed my legitimate mother through opposition?”

Li Weiyang’s eyes reddened slightly, her face pale, her lips without the slightest trace of blood. Tears and anger both seemed contained in her eyes—even the Crown Prince showed an expression of sympathy.

The Duke’s wife said furiously, “Shut up! Shut your mouth!”

But the Emperor said coldly, “No! Continue speaking!” Jiang Xu’s expression was also extremely ugly, but before the Emperor, he strove to control himself.

Li Xiaoran couldn’t help sighing. When it came to eloquence, he was probably inferior even to this girl. This passage was half true and half false—you couldn’t say it was completely untrue, because every word was factual. You couldn’t say it was completely true either, because there always seemed to be something strange about it. After all, the First Lady framing Li Weiyang was true, being harsh to concubine-born daughters was true, her suspicious mind breeding dark ghosts was also true, but—outsiders didn’t know that Li Weiyang had never actually suffered any losses!

Li Changxi kept her head lowered, finally understanding the gap between herself and Li Weiyang. She only knew how to be arrogant and domineering blindly, but Li Weiyang understood how to use the greatest resources to work for herself. Just this ability alone was beyond her reach.

Though rebuked by the Emperor, the Duke’s wife still couldn’t help saying angrily, “You… are slandering us with vicious lies! Your Majesty, you absolutely must not believe what this girl says! She is completely slandering us!” As she spoke, she suddenly stood up and quickly walked several steps to strike Li Weiyang with her cane. But Li Weiyang nimbly dodged and hid behind Yao Changqing. Seeing the cane miss its target, Tuoba Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief. Jiang Xu’s heart cried out in alarm as he hurried to support the Duke’s wife.

Seeing this scene, the Emperor, who’d only believed thirty percent, now believed fifty percent! Because the Duke’s wife was truly too domineering! Daring to strike out so casually even before him—what more behind his back? At this moment, he hadn’t yet thought that Li Weiyang had deliberately provoked the Duke’s wife. The Emperor’s face finally showed anger, and he couldn’t help saying coldly, “Duke’s wife, at your age, your temperament is still so fierce. This is the great hall, the court—not your Jiang family’s back courtyard!” His voice was incomparably cold, carrying a trace of chill.

The Duke’s wife froze, immediately understanding she’d fallen into a trap. The more agitated she appeared, the more others would believe Li Weiyang’s words. Actually, what Li Weiyang said wasn’t even embellished—it was indeed the truth. But she really couldn’t swallow this grievance. She almost wished she could directly beat her to death! Supported by her son, she could barely stand, only fixing her eyes poisonously on Li Weiyang.

Li Weiyang lightly lowered her eyes and continued, “Grandmother and my uncles guessed and guessed, and could only guess at this subject—because this subject was the one who suffered abuse, this subject was the one who always suffered hardship. They felt this subject’s resentment toward my legitimate mother hadn’t dissipated, so I deliberately made things difficult for her, causing her to fall ill and die. But how could this subject, a weak woman, accomplish such a thing? Ordinarily I only embroider in my own courtyard, going at the proper times to pay respects to my legitimate mother. I could only greet her from outside—I couldn’t even approach her daily living quarters. How could I harm her? But Grandmother was convinced, and how could anyone be allowed to argue otherwise? You should know, even heaven’s secret matters can have walls with ears, let alone such unconscionable deeds. If this subject truly did it, how could there not be a clear-sighted and wise-hearted person who could see through it? Why does Grandmother insist on identifying this subject as the enemy without giving even half a chance for explanation?”

The Duke’s wife knew Li Weiyang was provoking her anger but found it difficult to control her temper accumulated over many years. Almost purple-faced with rage, she shook off Jiang Xu’s hand and rushed up to slap Li Weiyang. However, Yao Changqing stood before Li Weiyang and naturally moved to block her. Who knew the old lady wouldn’t care—with a “smack,” that slap actually landed on Yao Changqing’s face. Seeing this, the Emperor now believed one hundred percent in this old woman’s arrogant tyranny. People are like this—willing to believe what they see with their own eyes. Precisely because of this, he also completely believed what Li Weiyang said.

Jiang Xu hurriedly went up to restrain the Duke’s wife, apologizing repeatedly to Yao Changqing: “Magistrate Yao, I’m truly sorry. My mother was momentarily agitated—”

Yao Changqing wasn’t good-tempered to begin with, but right now this was before the Emperor. He could only forcibly suppress his anger, saying, “Forget it!”

The Duke’s wife had a problem. This problem ordinarily seemed like nothing, but at this moment it became her fatal weakness—that was protecting her own, extremely protecting her own! Especially since this person was stubborn and narrow-minded. She’d decided Li Weiyang had killed her daughter, so no matter what kind of person the First Lady was or how many harmful things she’d done to others, the Duke’s wife would turn a blind eye, only feeling others had harmed her daughter! Now hearing Li Weiyang say these words, how could she not fly into a rage? It was also her fault for being too successful all these years—her husband and sons were all incomparably outstanding, so her strong character had been maintained throughout. However, in the past this was her good fortune, but now it was her death warrant. Just from saying a few words, she was already gasping for breath, almost unable to even stand steadily.

Li Weiyang looked at her coldly. Don’t blame her for being ruthless—this old lady had Jiang Nan come to marry her, clearly harboring the thought of quietly disposing of her once in the Jiang family. You’re unkind, I’m unrighteous. You do one, I do fifteen—just returning the favor!

Jiang Xu said coldly, “Li Weiyang, why say these things! This is our family matter! Right now we’re discussing this case!”

Li Weiyang slowly stared at Jiang Xu, completely without the slightest fear: “Does Uncle think Weiyang is willing to bring this up? Is it glorious for Father to marry such a wife! Is household discord and sisters living in anxiety glorious! What reason do I have to air family dirty laundry to outsiders! Isn’t it because you’ve pushed people too far! Uncle keeps calling this a family matter. Weiyang asks one question—when Grandmother schemed to frame me, did she ever consider Weiyang as your family! When Fourth Young Master wanted to ruin Fifth Sister’s chastity, did he ever consider Fifth Sister as family!”

Even though Li Changxi harbored resentment toward this Third Sister in her heart, now she couldn’t help applauding her. This bearing, this black heart, completely surpassed everyone, suppressing the original attempt to distort this matter into a romantic affair that had existed beforehand… As Li Changxi thought this, she suddenly saw Li Weiyang glare at her and immediately understood. She cried out mournfully, “Your Majesty, please deliver justice for this subject!” She was extremely agitated, her voice shrill, carrying ten parts desolation and nine parts grievance, making people’s hearts involuntarily turn cold.

Jiang Nan knew Li Weiyang would attack with full force, which was why he’d been restraining his temper all along. But now his hands almost dug into his palms—if not for being bound hand and foot with no way to move, he would have long since rushed up to cut Li Weiyang down with one sword! He twisted his head, enraged to the extreme: “Li Weiyang, your mouth is full of nonsense!”

His father Jiang Xu had no choice but to suppress the anger in his heart, crying out his innocence loudly. He prostrated on the ground, stretching his neck upward to look at the Emperor and argue, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this is only these two girls’ one-sided story. Weiyang this child has always been narrow-minded and petty. The world puts filial piety first, Your Majesty governs through filial piety. This is the first time this subject has seen someone openly criticize their legitimate mother in public. This subject, this subject doesn’t know why she harbors so much resentment toward this subject’s family. Originally I didn’t want to bicker with this junior, but what she’s saying is too intolerable. Your Majesty, you absolutely must not be deceived by her!”

With one cap of “disrespecting the legitimate mother” pressed down, it almost suffocated people. Li Weiyang laughed coldly and said, “Your Majesty, of course Weiyang knows about filial piety! Since Weiyang returned home, I went to pay respects to my legitimate mother every day without a single day’s delay! Later before Grandmother, Weiyang said my legitimate mother was seriously ill and shouldn’t be moved, but you insisted on taking her away. Have you forgotten? I understand human ethics and principles, but my legitimate mother may not! Uncle, Weiyang dares ask one question—is being filial to one’s mother-in-law the principle for being a daughter-in-law? Is caring well for concubine-born children the legitimate mother’s responsibility? Is treating concubines well the wife’s duty? Forgive my bluntness, but my legitimate mother not only was harsh toward concubines but repeatedly persecuted Father’s offspring, and even paid respects to Grandmother only occasionally! Whether it’s His Majesty or the various princes, all are people who value filial piety and cherish offspring. Put yourself in their shoes—which family would dare marry such a woman? Such a woman who doesn’t respect elders, is harsh to children, jealous by nature—she’d already violated the seven grounds for divorce. To our Li family, she nearly brought the disaster of family extinction! To the palace, if she were once favored, she might recreate the calamity of the jealous empress from the previous dynasty!”

As Li Weiyang’s words fell, the Duke’s wife had reached the extreme of fury, her face flushed bright red, trembling so much she couldn’t speak! Jiang Xu said angrily, “Nonsense! I see you’re young and ignorant, so I don’t want to blame you too much, but I didn’t expect your mouth to be full of lies, slandering the Jiang family to this extent. Moreover, after all you’ve said, it has nothing to do with the case at hand…”

Li Weiyang didn’t even glance at him, saying loudly, “Your Majesty, where there’s a cause, there must be an effect. It’s precisely because bad blood has formed between our two families that this scandal occurred! Today, the truth is that Weiyang went to the estate to bring Fifth Sister to see Physician Lu. Fourth Young Master originally intended to abduct Weiyang for revenge, but who knew he mistakenly abducted Fifth Sister instead. If Weiyang and Magistrate Yao hadn’t arrived in time, Fifth Sister’s chastity would have already been ruined! Not only that, Fourth Young Master was ordered by His Majesty to reflect at home in seclusion, yet wandered about everywhere and forcibly abducted an official’s daughter. This is no longer a family matter—this is violating national law! This is defying imperial decree!”

Jiang Xu hadn’t expected Li Weiyang to be so sharp-tongued. He immediately said, “Li Weiyang! Whether Jiang Nan is guilty, His Majesty naturally knows in his heart. How is it your turn to interrupt!”

Li Weiyang looked at him and said slowly, “Uncle, no matter how silver-tongued you are, you cannot change the world’s justice! The ancients said: Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, Teachers. Sovereign comes before parents. His Majesty expanded territories, accomplished great military feats, governed diligently—the bearing of a renowned sovereign of a generation. The Jiang family holds high positions in court, occupying the general’s position, yet doesn’t remember the friendship between the Jiang and Li families. For personal gain, you set up this poisonous scheme to ruin a woman’s reputation, putting me in a position of utter ruin! Not to mention indulging your son’s violence, you even toyed with His Majesty! You don’t even understand the most basic loyalty—what qualifications do you have to discuss filial piety?”

The Emperor’s face appeared impossible to read for joy or anger, but those familiar with him would know His Majesty was already enraged. Jiang Nan’s actions had truly exceeded his bottom line!

Jiang Nan suddenly stood up from the ground, the fury in his voice almost breaking through the roof: “Li Weiyang, you’re spouting nonsense! Your mouth is full of lies! This is slander! When did I ever toy with His Majesty? I was only—” He couldn’t continue. Indeed, he should have been reflecting at home in seclusion, yet at this time he was caught by others with irrefutable evidence!

Yao Changqing immediately rebuked angrily, “Before His Majesty, why doesn’t the criminal kneel!”

But Jiang Nan stubbornly refused, only staring at Li Weiyang with eyes that wanted to devour her.

“Fourth Young Master, you only thought what you did was flawless, but little did you know—the net of heaven is vast and lets nothing through.” Li Weiyang said in a low voice, “There’s no such thing as an impenetrable wall in this world! My fifth sister has been recuperating at the estate all along and has never seen you. Everyone in the Li household up and down can testify to this! Since you’ve never met, where does talk of romantic involvement come from! At that time, the medicine hall’s boy servant, the carriage driver, your Jiang family guards—they all personally saw my fifth sister board your Jiang family’s carriage. A handkerchief was even left in the carriage—that was my sister’s personal belonging. If she wasn’t being coerced, how could she possibly leave her personal item in your carriage!”

Jiang Nan said harshly, “That was you setting me up!”

Li Weiyang laughed. “All the witnesses have already been detained by Magistrate Yao. Under severe interrogation, they all confessed that you abducted my fifth sister! If you say I set you up, then wouldn’t I have had to bribe the medicine hall boy, bribe the carriage driver, and also bribe your Jiang family guards! Right, I also had to make you voluntarily send a carriage to pick someone up, and also help you select a suitable place for the crime! That small courtyard was your Jiang family’s property! Most importantly, I also had to agree with my fifth sister to use her chastity to frame you, Fourth Young Master!”

The Duke’s wife was already seriously ill to begin with. When angered, she trembled, a glob of phlegm blocking her throat. She only stared poisonously at Li Weiyang. If she had the strength, the first thing she’d do would be to kill this vile woman! Pitifully, she couldn’t even speak, much less realize her wish. But Li Weiyang was eloquent, shedding tears while speaking, performing magnificently. Her final heartbroken appearance was indescribable—even Li Xiaoran stared at her in amazement. Here, even he had no room to contribute… absolutely—none!

Li Weiyang looked at the Emperor. “Your Majesty, though Fourth Young Master Jiang has meritorious service, his character is corrupt, he’s arrogant and conceited, he doesn’t respect Your Majesty—he’s a person of unforgivable evil. Please, Your Majesty, severely punish him!”

Hearing this final statement, the Duke’s wife clutched her chest and spat out a mouthful of heart’s blood. With a heart-rending cry of “vile woman,” she fainted backward. Jiang Xu also disregarded impropriety before the sovereign, rushing over to hold the old lady, beating his chest in grief.

The Emperor looked at this scene in shock. The Crown Prince and the various princes also found it hard to believe—the Duke’s wife had actually coughed up blood?

Li Weiyang quietly coughed once. Li Changxi immediately understood and said at once, “Your Majesty, it’s true this subject was implicated because of Third Sister, but today every word Sister spoke was entirely to seek justice for me. So I can no longer just watch her bear the blame for my sake. Uncle and Grandmother say I had romantic involvement with Fourth Young Master—this subject is willing to die to prove my innocence!” As she spoke, she quickly stood up and rushed toward a pillar. Everyone present froze. Yao Changqing had been watching her expression all along. Seeing something amiss, he immediately rushed up and caught her!

At the critical moment, Yao Changqing grabbed her and pressed her down to sit on the ground. Li Changxi continued sobbing. Though Yao Changqing was stern, he was ultimately a man. Aside from irritation, he couldn’t help feeling some pity. But his tone was extremely severe: “Self-harm in the palace is a grave offense. What troubles do you have that you dare attempt suicide before His Majesty? Aren’t you afraid of bringing bad luck to the palace!”

Li Changxi wore only a plain white long dress. Originally the scars on her face were covered with thick powder, making that face appear even more bloodless. Crying inconsolably, looking pitifully forlorn, she announced to the world that she’d just been pulled back from the gates of hell. She sobbed and whimpered: “Please forgive this subject, Your Majesty. This subject didn’t mean to offend. It’s truly that Uncle’s family has pushed people too far! This subject is insignificant in words and deeds, my fate thin as paper. Besides dying to prove my innocence, what other method could there be?”

If she continued staying at the estate, it would be a dead end. Li Weiyang had given her this one chance—she absolutely had to seize it! The Jiang family was forcing her to admit romantic involvement with Jiang Nan, which meant she’d have to become a concubine! No! She absolutely didn’t want to be a concubine! Li Changxi looked timidly at Yao Changqing with a soft, weak appearance that melted Yao Changqing’s heart.

He’d been widowed three times, and the women he’d married were all fierce and formidable, all because others said his fate was hard—only that type of woman could suppress it. But today seeing Li Changxi so pitifully forlorn and helplessly weak, this great household’s young lady stirred a different kind of feeling in his heart…

Li Weiyang’s face carried grief: “Fifth Sister, if you belittle yourself and carelessly destroy your own life, wouldn’t you be failing Father’s love for you? Rest assured, His Majesty will definitely deliver justice for you. Why must you harm yourself this way?!”

Li Changxi cried even more mournfully, making everyone else look at each other in bewilderment. This pair of sisters, one singing the hero and one the villain, revealed an indescribable strangeness.

Li Xiaoran was the most puzzled. These two daughters had always been enemies—how were they so unified today, leaving him completely unable to speak, not even knowing what to say anymore!

The Emperor was slightly stunned and about to speak when he saw a flash of cold, brilliant green silk at the hall entrance. Consort Lian stood there gracefully. She had palace maids attend to removing her cloak, her voice ice-cold: “If this subject were Miss Li and heard such gossip, I too would feel unable to go on. A perfectly good young lady who provoked no one still gets rumors spread about her having romantic involvement with someone. How many girls in this world could bear such a thing?”

Jiang Nan whipped his head around harshly: “Your Majesty! Please watch your words and actions!”

Consort Lian showed a frightened appearance: “Your Majesty—this subject’s heart is filled with trepidation…”

The Emperor flew into a rage, shouting, “Jiang Nan! You’re simply refusing to repent!”

Jiang Xu quickly knelt to plead for mercy. Jiang Hai, who’d originally not dared make a sound, also desperately kowtowed. However, the Emperor said coldly, “This son violated the imperial decree and forcibly abducted an official’s daughter—his crime is truly extreme and he should be beheaded according to law! Take him away!” He’d already tolerated the Jiang family once—he really couldn’t tolerate them a second time! Forcibly abducting Li Changxi was secondary. Ordering Jiang Nan to reflect at home in seclusion yet he wandered about everywhere, completely disregarding his imperial decree! No—perhaps it was the Jiang family who didn’t regard him, the Emperor, with any respect!

Before Jiang Nan could even resist, he was forcibly taken away by the Imperial Guards.

Li Xiaoran said slowly, “Your Majesty, this matter—” He seemed about to plead for mercy.

The Emperor said coldly, “Whoever dares plead for mercy will be punished with the same crime!” Though the Emperor’s tone was cold, his gaze was even sharper, yet it only circled over Jiang Xu’s face, forcing cold sweat to break out all over him.

Yao Changqing glanced at Li Changxi, his face full of pity. “Your Majesty, this matter involves Miss Li’s reputation—”

The Emperor relaxed his breath. “Miss Li has been wronged. However—” Having executed Jiang Nan, Li Changxi should also commit suicide or spend her life as a Buddhist nun…

Li Weiyang glanced at Consort Lian, who immediately smiled. “Your Majesty, people say a hero rescues a beauty—isn’t there a ready-made match right before our eyes?”

The Emperor looked at Yao Changqing and nodded. “Indeed so. Changqing, are you willing to take her as your wife?”

A woman who’d been forcibly abducted—if not suicide then becoming a nun, but there was still one choice: in the situation of being rescued in time, she could marry her savior. However, the other party had to be willing to marry her. Though Li Weiyang had been first to rush in and rescue her, the Capital Magistrate was the second to arrive—he could barely count as a hero rescuing a beauty.

Yao Changqing glanced at Li Changxi’s eager eyes. Hesitating in his heart, he ultimately couldn’t bear for a young lady to meet such an untimely end, and nodded. “This subject obeys the decree.”

Poor Yao Changqing—how could he know that Li Changxi had been targeting him from the very start? Of course, in Li Changxi’s heart, she’d indeed considered becoming a concubine in the Jiang family, but using this method to marry in—what good result could there be? Though she wasn’t clever enough, she hadn’t reached the point of stupidity to walk into a trap herself. Moreover, if she arbitrarily changed Li Weiyang’s script, who knew what tragic end she might fall into—she wasn’t that foolish!

Jiang Xu could no longer care about Jiang Nan. His expression pained, he said, “Your Majesty, please allow this subject to withdraw.”

The Emperor glanced at the unconscious Duke’s wife and said lightly, “To have such a son is truly the family’s misfortune.” He felt the Jiang family was taking revenge on Li Weiyang and ended up abducting the wrong person, completely disregarding his imperial decree. This family was truly too arrogant!

Jiang Xu and Jiang Hai left with the Duke’s wife. The Li family members also withdrew one after another. Only after walking out of the great hall did the Crown Prince breathe a sigh of relief. “Fortunately I didn’t plead for mercy on the Jiang family’s behalf, otherwise today even I would have been rebuked by Father Emperor!” The several princes today were all here for this matter. In the end, not one of them could get a word in—they’d been wooden stakes for a full hour. It was truly too inconceivable. No one would believe it if told!

Tuoba Zhen, who’d watched the entire play from beginning to end, laughed coldly. “Imperial Brother, do you now appreciate Li Weiyang’s formidability?”

The Crown Prince shook his head repeatedly. “I’ve never seen such an aggressive young girl! She’s really too—” He couldn’t think of any adjectives. This girl was even fiercer than his mother the Empress! Just now it wasn’t that he didn’t want to speak—it was that his instinct told him to avoid her sharp edge. No, it was more accurate to say he couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Most fatally, this girl insisted Jiang Nan was neither loyal nor filial and violated the imperial decree. That was the reason His Majesty wanted his life today. The Crown Prince pondered: “Do you think this matter can still be salvaged?”

Tuoba Zhen shook his head. “You know Father Emperor’s temperament. The year before last when Fourth Imperial Uncle’s grandson committed a crime, Father Emperor had him executed and even forced Fourth Imperial Uncle to give thanks. Even the Empress Dowager’s pleas were useless…” The implication being that this Emperor was an extremely strict sovereign who absolutely wouldn’t forgive those who wronged him.

But Tuoba Yu looked in the direction Li Weiyang had departed, gently shaking his head. Risky—this girl had been far too risky this time!

Because Li Changxi’s mourning period wasn’t complete, Yao Changqing promised that once three years were fulfilled, he’d come to formally propose marriage. Li Xiaoran wasn’t worried he’d go back on his word. Though Li Changxi’s appearance was flawed and she was concubine-born, outsiders didn’t know about the previous incident. She was still the Prime Minister’s residence’s daughter after all. For a man who’d already killed three wives, what was there to be picky about? For Li Changxi, this was also an extremely satisfactory marriage—of course, only if her fate was hard enough. Li Xiaoran deeply knew today’s events had created an irreparable rift between the Li family and Jiang family. He couldn’t spare time to blame Li Weiyang and had to busy himself presenting his case to His Majesty, so he remained in the palace.

Li Changxi still had to return to the estate to recuperate. When she made this request, Li Weiyang looked at her with slight surprise. Li Changxi looked at her coldly: “I’m not helping you today—I’m helping myself! Moreover, if I return to the Li residence, who knows when you’ll harm me again. I never want to see you anymore!”

In her tone, a trace of fear faintly leaked through—clearly she’d been frightened by Li Weiyang in today’s great hall.

Li Weiyang smiled slightly, completely unconcerned: “As long as you don’t come looking for trouble with me, naturally I’ll still treat you as a good sister.”

Hearing her gentle tone, Li Changxi involuntarily shivered and turned to leave. For the rest of her life, she never wanted to see this person again! Too terrifying! Simply an evil spirit! No—being targeted by her was ten thousand times more terrifying than being haunted by an evil spirit!

Li Weiyang watched Li Changxi board her carriage and depart without looking back, smiling slightly: “Have you seen enough? Why don’t you come out?”

Li Minde walked out from a side palace gate, smiling. “You’re letting her off this easily?” Truthfully, he didn’t want to give Li Changxi such a good match.

“Do you think I’ve forgiven her?” Li Weiyang turned her head and smiled. “Marriage is one’s own. Marrying over doesn’t mean there’ll be good days ahead. If she doesn’t restrain her temper and character, will Magistrate Yao tolerate her? So whether it’s good or bad depends entirely on her own abilities. Of course, there’s also whether heaven grants her a sufficiently strong fate.” Yao Changqing’s fate of killing wives was absolutely true, and his temper was definitely not easy to provoke. But this path was chosen by Fourth Aunt and Li Changxi themselves—no one else could be blamed.

“I think I understand why you chose her—to make the Li family and Jiang family completely fall out?”

“This isn’t just as simple as falling out. I think now the Jiang family not only hates me but also thoroughly hates my father. This is the result of him trying to straddle two boats.” Li Weiyang smiled gracefully, her smile carrying three parts mockery.

Li Minde’s smile looked especially handsome in the sunlight: “By executing Jiang Nan, have you achieved your objective?”

Li Weiyang smiled, smiled, and smiled again: “What do you think?”

Her objective had never been solely targeting Jiang Nan, but rather the chain of evil consequences this incident would trigger. Of course, at this moment, the Jiang family fundamentally hadn’t realized this point. By the time they thought of it, everything would already be too late…