“Yes.” A middle-aged woman stepped forward and grabbed Han Yan with great force, causing the kneeling girl to stumble. Han Yan shook her head frantically, crying out in terror, “No, I won’t go! Ah!” The matron beckoned, and several tall palace maids immediately came forward, dragging Han Yan behind the screen.

The Emperor watched Han Yan being dragged away by the servants with a complex expression. He thought about how Fu Yun Xi would react if he knew how he and the Empress Dowager were treating his young princess consort, and what trouble it might cause. However, he also had a nagging feeling that Chen Guifei’s matter was indeed suspicious. The Empress Dowager had never deceived him, and since she was so suspicious of Han Yan, this Princess Xuan Qing might truly be questionable.

Cries came from behind the screen, causing the Emperor to frown. “Those people are being too rough.” After all, she was a delicately raised young girl who hadn’t even come of age yet and probably had never encountered such treatment. If she was truly wrongly accused, this would be a lifelong humiliation.

“Your Majesty is too soft-hearted…” the Empress Dowager said calmly. “Besides, I can see that Princess Xuan Qing is quite bold. She won’t take this small physical discomfort seriously.”

The Emperor detected hidden meaning in the Empress Dowager’s words and suddenly felt that this usually Buddhist and merciful mother seemed unfamiliar. Her methods of dealing with this young girl today showed absolutely no mercy.

Behind the screen, Han Yan was held down by several strong palace maids, unable to move. As the lead matron Li removed her outer garments, Han Yan struggled and shouted, “Let go of me, don’t touch me!”

Matron Li, who had served the Empress Dowager for many years and was known for bullying those beneath her, saw Han Yan’s non-compliance and said with a cold smile, “Princess, with your delicate skin, it’s best not to struggle. This old servant’s eyes aren’t what they used to be, and if I were to accidentally harm you…”

Han Yan spat at her fiercely: “You insolent servant, how dare you threaten me! Release me at once. When the Prince finds out, he’ll have your heads!”

Hearing this, Matron Li merely smiled and said softly, “If the Prince learns that the Princess is unchaste, he probably won’t want you anymore. Since your affair with another man is already a fact, why would such a handsome and distinguished Prince want a worthless woman like you?”

She spoke quietly so the Emperor outside couldn’t hear, but when Han Yan saw her expression while speaking of Fu Yun Xi, she couldn’t help but shudder. Could it be that even this old woman harbored feelings for Fu Yun Xi, and that’s why she was tormenting her so? Nevertheless, the show must go on, so Han Yan angrily shouted, “I didn’t do anything!”

As Matron Li removed the final inner garment, she smiled and said, “Princess, why deny it…” But she froze when she saw what was revealed.

There on the snow-white delicate arm was a bright red mark, like a freshly bloomed plum blossom, elegant yet alluring, clearly indicating her maiden status.

In the ensuing silence, Han Yan burst into loud sobs.

Just then, someone suddenly burst in behind the screen. The surrounding palace maids cried out in shock. The person arrived covered in dust from travel, still carrying the cold air from outside. He lifted Han Yan, who was only in her undergarments and wrapped her tightly in his great cloak. His expression was ice-cold, making anyone who saw him shiver. His handsome features were tinged with a faint murderous intent, but when Fu Yun Xi looked down at Han Yan, his gaze became infinitely gentle: “It’s alright now.”

Han Yan clutched his collar, staring dazedly at this god-like figure who seemed to have descended from heaven. In his warm embrace, she felt a sense of security she had never known before.

Fu Yun Xi carried her out with large strides. The Emperor in the Golden Hall seemed at a loss – Fu Yun Xi had just burst through the doors without a word and gone behind the screen, and now he was carrying his princess consort. If he were to demand an explanation, how would they handle it?

The Empress Dowager just watched Han Yan in Fu Yun Xi’s arms. Han Yan was completely wrapped in his cloak with only her head visible, her eyes brimming with tears as if she had suffered great trauma and fright. Matron Li and several palace maids came out.

“Matron Li, what was the result?” the Empress Dowager asked, her eyes darkening.

Matron Li was confused. Hadn’t they said the Princess’s cinnabar mark would surely be gone? Yet now it had inexplicably appeared. After how she had just offended the Princess if the Prince were to take offense, she could lose her head. Thinking this, she remained silent.

“Matron Li, We ask you, what was the result?” the Emperor pressed urgently, seeing Fu Yun Xi’s increasingly dark expression. He too was very concerned about the outcome. Finally, Matron Li spoke with difficulty: “The Princess… is still a maiden.”

At these words, the Empress Dowager’s teacup slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. The splashing water stained the hem of her skirt, but she paid it no attention, only staring fixedly at Han Yan.

Han Yan burst into loud sobs: “I told you I didn’t do such things! Since the Empress Dowager and Emperor don’t believe me, I might as well die. Now I’ve brought shame to the Zhuang family and the Prince… wuu…”

Her words were completely childish, but the Emperor heard them with trepidation. If Fu Yun Xi didn’t pursue the matter, that would be fine, but if he did, Han Yan’s words were like adding fuel to the fire. Fu Yun Xi probably wouldn’t let this go easily.

Indeed, Fu Yun Xi gave the Emperor and Empress Dowager a cool look and said coldly, “I wonder what the Princess has done to make Your Majesty and Mother so suspicious?”

The Empress Dowager knew she couldn’t do anything to Han Yan now, so she said, “Yun Xi, I did this for your good. If your Princess were unchaste, you would also lose face…”

Han Yan struggled in Fu Yun Xi’s arms: “Why listen to the words of a prisoner? Such filthy accusations – I can’t bear them. I have no face left now. Prince, please divorce me.” Her impromptu performance was becoming more theatrical, and seeing the Emperor’s ashen face gave her the urge to laugh. The Empress Dowager’s expression was even more interesting – what she had thought was foolproof had suddenly gone awry, and who knew how she felt about that?

Fu Yun Xi comforted her softly for a few moments, his gentleness leaving the Emperor staring in disbelief. Unfortunately, when he raised his head to face the Emperor, the gentleness vanished, replaced only by killing intent.

“Mother has keen insight, and I also find Chen Guifei highly suspicious. Why don’t I investigate this case? I believe after some severe interrogation, Chen Guifei will have a different story to tell. For instance, about what happened on her birthday.”

“Yun Xi, you’ve never handled such matters before. Leave it to the Ministry of Justice,” said the Empress Dowager lovingly, while her hand at her side unconsciously clenched into a fist.

“Mother need not worry,” Fu Yun Xi said flatly. “I spent many years in military camps. I know one hundred and eight ways to make enemy prisoners tell the truth.”

Han Yan did not doubt that if Fu Yun Xi were to employ torture, he would make people wish for death but be unable to die. Chen Guifei had always lived a pampered life and surely couldn’t withstand torture. If she confessed, the Empress Dowager would likely be implicated. Fu Yun Xi’s relentless pressure caused the Empress Dowager’s expression to change.