Yin Shi knelt and said, “Your Majesty, we sisters are merely of humble status. It matters not if we are wronged, but the Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation, the heir apparent of the Great Tang. How can you allow villains to harm him!”

“Father Emperor, this son did not…” Li Shimin had only spoken a few words when Li Yuan coldly interrupted him, “I have my own considerations, you need not say more!”

Being shouted at this way, Li Shimin could only helplessly stop his words of defense. He understood in his heart that given the current situation, not to mention saving Jixiang, he himself might be in danger.

Li Yuan stared at Marquis Lin for a moment, then said coldly, “The Lin clan has received imperial grace, yet not only did they fail to think of repaying the sovereign’s kindness, they instead plotted to harm the Crown Prince and palace consorts – their crimes are heinous. They should all be executed, but considering their past service to the Great Tang, their death sentences are commuted. They are demoted to commoners, and among the nine degrees of kinship, none may serve as court officials again.”

Upon hearing this, Marquis Lin kowtowed heavily, crying out in anguish, “Your Majesty, this subject is wronged, wronged!”

His cries of injustice only earned Li Yuan’s disgust, “I have already shown you leniency, do not be ungrateful. Go!”

Li Yuan’s ruthlessness filled Marquis Lin with despair. Though his Lin clan had never produced great generals or talents, they had always been loyal to Li Yuan with unwavering devotion. Even this time, though they had concealed some things, their original intent was for Li Yuan’s benefit. How could they have expected such an outcome… how heartbreaking!

Just as he was about to be dragged away, Marquis Lin suddenly said, “This entire matter was done by this subject alone, it has nothing to do with Noble Consort Shu or Noble Consort Yang. Please Your Majesty do not implicate the innocent!”

Since he could not escape punishment, he might as well take all the blame upon himself. At least this way he could secure safety for the Lin clan and Yunyi, and perhaps leave a glimmer of hope for the Lin clan to clear their name.

Li Yuan stared at him for a moment, then said coldly, “Drag him away!”

When Marquis Lin was dragged to the palace entrance, Li Yuan turned his gaze to the continuously weeping Lin Shi, “You have followed me for many years, yet you committed such outrageous acts. Your crime is truly unforgivable. I hereby order…”

“Your Majesty!” With this sudden voice, a woman dressed in a purple robe with phoenix and zhai patterns entered, supported by her attendants.

“This subject pays respects to Your Majesty!” As Wan Shi curtsied, the gold-inlaid red jade droplet hairpin ornaments on her double-ring immortal-gazing hairstyle swayed gently.

“Rise.” Li Yuan’s brow furrowed slightly as he stared at Wan Shi, “Why have you come?”

“This subject heard there was trouble in Ganlu Palace, so I came to see.” With that, she glanced at Lin Shi kneeling on the ground and said, “When I entered just now, this subject also heard some things. Though Noble Consort Shu entered the household a few years later than this subject, she has accompanied Your Majesty for nearly ten years. This subject knows her character somewhat – she would not commit such harmful acts.”

Lin Shi raised her tear-stained face, looking at Wan Shi in astonishment. She never imagined that Wan Shi, who had fought with her for over ten years, would speak up for her at such a time.

Yin Shi also hadn’t expected that Wan Shi, who had always been at odds with Lin Shi, would suddenly intervene. Fearing the situation might change, she secretly glanced at Zhang Shi, who understood and said, “This matter has solid evidence. Xing Niang personally testified – how could it not be Noble Consort Shu’s doing?”

Wan Shi glanced at her and said unhurriedly, “Your Majesty, may this subject listen to what Xing Niang has to say?”

“As you wish.” After receiving Li Yuan’s permission, Wan Shi walked to the only unfamiliar person in the entire Ganlu Palace. She knew this person must be Xing Niang, “Tell this palace in detail.”

Xing Niang responded and repeated what she had said before. When she finished, Wan Shi said, “Have you said everything? Is there anything omitted?”

Xing Niang thought carefully, then shook her head, “No more.”

“Good.” Wan Shi nodded slowly and said to Li Yuan, “Your Majesty, what Xing Niang just said was very clear. All along, the one who met with her and spoke to her was Marquis Lin, and Marquis Lin…” She turned to look at Lin Xiang who had stopped outside the palace, “also admitted that everything was done by him alone, and has nothing to do with Noble Consort Shu.”

Yin Shi’s expression changed slightly. She had always thought this Wan Shi was nothing special, but now she realized this person’s sharp wit hidden beneath her graceful exterior far exceeded her expectations, silently clearing Lin Shi of her crimes.

Zhang Shi also noticed this. Not as composed as Yin Shi, she immediately said, “But Noble Consort Shu personally admitted just now that she had Marquis Lin investigate our backgrounds, which shows…”

“Shows what?” Wan Shi’s beautiful eyes turned cold as she stared at her, “His Majesty has a body worth ten thousand gold. Every person around him must be carefully investigated to ensure their background is clean and they harbor no intent to harm His Majesty. In this matter, Noble Consort Shu not only did nothing wrong, but should be commended.”

Zhang Shi was rendered speechless by her words, her face alternating between pale and flushed. Yin Shi took over, “If it were truly just investigating our backgrounds, naturally there would be nothing wrong. But she conspired with Marquis Lin to fabricate facts, frame the Crown Prince and us two, deceiving Your Majesty – is this also not wrong?”

Wan Shi smiled slightly with her sleeves gathered, “Talented Lady Yin always speaks more appropriately than Precious Lin Zhang. How is it that now you’ve also become lacking in propriety? Marquis Lin personally admitted this matter has nothing to do with Noble Consort Shu, and Xing Niang’s testimony also involves no mention of Noble Consort Shu. On the contrary, you – as a Talented Lady, you commit the crime of a subordinate slandering a superior by falsely accusing Noble Consort Shu. What should your punishment be!”

Yin Shi hadn’t expected her to attack so suddenly and was momentarily struck speechless by the questioning. Her wariness of this woman deepened even further in her heart – this woman… was truly difficult to deal with.

Over there, seeing Wan Shi’s assistance, Marquis Lin knew this was the best opportunity for Lin Shi to escape. He urgently called out, “Your Majesty, this matter was truly done by this subject alone, it has nothing to do with Noble Consort Shu. I beg Your Majesty to see clearly!”

Wan Shi walked to Li Yuan, who was pondering in silence, and said gently, “Your Majesty, Noble Consort Shu is gentle, respectful, and modest. This subject can vouch for her – she must have nothing to do with this matter.”

Li Yuan looked at Lin Shi kneeling on the ground with complex emotions. After all, she had been with him for so many years and had borne him children, so naturally he couldn’t be completely without feelings. His harsh words earlier were spoken in momentary anger. Now, hearing Wan Shi’s words, he was gradually calming down.

“Drip, drip!” In the sound of the water clock dropping one drop after another, Li Yuan finally spoke, “Since Imperial Noble Consort vouches for you, I will trust you this time. Conduct yourself well in the future and do not betray my trust, otherwise I will not be lenient!”

Betray… haha, who exactly betrayed whom?

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s great kindness.” Though Lin Shi felt immense bitterness in her heart, she knew this outcome was already quite good. If not for Wan Shi’s timely appearance, she would likely have been demoted by now.

Li Yuanji hadn’t expected Lin Shi to escape and felt unwilling to accept this. He wanted to speak up, but just as he opened his mouth, Li Jiancheng’s cold, stern gaze fixed on him, forcing him to reluctantly swallow his words.