Chapter 127 Witnesses Catching Adultery

Chapter 127 Witnesses Catching Adultery

Xue Qingning reached out and touched her face with her slender middle finger.

She gracefully touched the stain on her cheek, a hint of mocking smugness in the corner of her eye.

A slight smile played on his lips as he glanced at Shen Nanzi.

He withdrew his gaze and performed a curtsy to Consort Wei, saying, "Your subject obeys and will take his leave first."

No sooner had Xue Qingning left than a palace servant came to report that Consort Wei and Shen Nanzi should hurry to Shengming Palace.

*

The atmosphere inside the Shengming Hall was solemn.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne, looking at the people who had been urgently summoned.

Consort Wei was given a seat on the right, and below her stood Prince Jing, Xie Yan, and the Fourth Prince, Xie Zhuo.

The fifth prince Xie Heng, the sixth prince Xie Yu, their respective wives, and a number of relevant officials.

"Now that everyone is here, let's begin!"

The fourth prince, Xie Zhuo, walked to the center of Shengming Hall, cupped his hands, and announced: "Father, I hereby report that Imperial Censor Zhang has failed in his supervisory duties."

“Deliberately omitting the memorial impeaching the Sixth Prince and Princess Jing for their misconduct.”

Consort Wei clenched her hands tightly in front of her, her face solemn.

Shen Nanzi knew it was related to this matter and glanced at Xie Yan across from her unintentionally.

His face was solemn, and he exuded a heavy aura, which made people feel pity for him.

In the eyes of others, he was the direct victim of this incident.

However, Shen Nanzi did not pity him; this was perhaps the moment he had been longing for.

Finally, an opportunity arose for him to request a divorce.

Looking at Xie Yu again, his usually relaxed brows were now slightly furrowed.

Shen Nanzi felt a little guilty, as this matter would make his future path even more thorny.

In the eyes of others, he was already like Xie Yan, a prince of questionable character.

He doesn't yet possess Xie Yan's strength, making things even more difficult.

Shen Nanzi couldn't help but worry about him.

In contrast, Xue Qingning, standing to the side, had her eyes lowered and the corners of her mouth turned upwards.

No matter how well they try to hide their schadenfreude, it will still betray them in the slightest expression.

Shen Nanzi withdrew her gaze and looked at the Emperor above.

The Emperor frowned and looked into the hall: "Imperial Censor Zhang, come out and speak."

Censor Zhang, dressed in court attire, strode to the center of the court, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, what the Fourth Prince said is true; there are indeed people impeaching the Sixth Prince and the Princess Consort of Jing.”

"However, I believe this matter is merely speculation and there is no concrete evidence."

"Your Majesty, I have a duty to supervise. I have already sent someone to write a reply, and I ask the person who is impeaching me to produce evidence and present it to Your Majesty."

"I merely postponed the submission of the memorial; it was not an intentional omission."

The Emperor nodded, indicating that Imperial Censor Zhang's actions had not violated any rules, and then asked Xie Zhuo, "Fourth Prince, what do you have to say about this matter?"

Xie Zhuo said, "Father, the place where Xie Yu and Princess Jing often met in secret was located halfway up the mountain outside the city, in the former Imperial Beast Garden."

"Isn't this evidence evidence?"

Xie Zhuo took out the evidence in his hand and presented it with both hands.

"This is a record of the whereabouts of the Sixth Prince and Princess Jing for more than ten years. The dates and places of their private meetings were all within the Imperial Beast Garden."

The crowd gasped in hushed tones, "More than ten years!!"

Princess Jing and the Sixth Prince have actually been friends for so long!

“This is not enough to prove that they overstepped the bounds of their relationship as uncle and sister-in-law,” said Imperial Censor Zhang.

"As far as I know, they are feeding small animals that were abandoned years ago."

"Two compassionate people are bound to meet. Although this journey may not be understood by outsiders, the small animals are all beneficiaries, which cannot be denied."

"I believe this is still insufficient to constitute evidence of adultery."

"Imperial Censor Zhang, this is clearly cover-up and condoning," Xie Zhuo accused. "This isn't even evidence? Do we have to catch them in the act to count?"

Imperial Censor Zhang looked at the Fourth Prince, his expression clearly indicating that he needed to "catch them in the act."

Shen Nanzi's heart pounded as she listened from below, and her gaze met Xie Yu's unintentionally.

This was the first time the two had met since that incident, and Shen Nanzi felt both embarrassed and guilty.

She had a lot to say to Xie Yu, but she had promised Consort Wei that they would never see each other again.

Even when meeting, one must restrain one's words and actions.

She could only look away and swallow all her words.

This scene, witnessed by Xie Yan, sent his heart plummeting to the bottom of the sea.

Shen Nanzi's eyes seemed to hold a thousand words, yet she couldn't express them.

Xie Yu's personality has always been unrestrained, carefree, and spontaneous.

Xie Yan saw a deep sadness in him, as well as an unconcealable tenderness in his eyes.

It was as if his freedom and capriciousness had become a thread, handed over to Shen Nanzi, allowing her to guide him.

Wherever she is, that is where his desire lies.

Xie Yan's straight back bent slightly in defeat; he stood between them like a shameful voyeur.

He was like an abrupt third party who forced his way between them, no matter how much he wanted to hold her hand.

Her gaze and heart would no longer fall upon him.

Xie Yan's heart felt as if it had been crushed to pieces by an iron hand.

The phrase "caught in the act of adultery" felt like a hammer constantly chiseling at his body.

It caused him excruciating pain in every part of his body.

This feeling has been haunting him for the past few days; whenever he calms down, the image of them together fills his mind.

It tormented him repeatedly, as if trying to drive him mad.

Xie Yan didn't know how to calm the pain in her heart.

Inside the Shengming Hall, the scene quieted down.

Princess Su Muyun of Xie Zhuo stepped forward and asked, "Father, why isn't my sixth brother getting married? And why did he suddenly decide to take up a post in the court?"

"Although these things seem to leave no trace, upon closer examination, they are all related to Princess Jing..."

"Fourth Princess Consort, stop making wild guesses." Consort Wei interrupted her, "To convict Xie Yu based on a mere speculation is utterly absurd."

Su Muyun remained expressionless and said, "As everyone knows, Prince Jing and Princess Jing have a strained relationship. When Princess Jing is heartbroken, it is easy for her to develop feelings for her sixth brother, who is always by her side."

Xie Yan felt as if needles were piercing his heart upon hearing these words.

Su Muyun continued, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, I am not speaking without evidence; I have conclusive witnesses."

"This proves that on the day of the summer festival, something that should not have happened did indeed occur in the side hall of the Hele Palace between my sixth brother and Princess Jing."

Su Muyun's words sent a chill down the spines of those who knew the truth.

Consort Wei's face had turned ashen, and her usually calm and gentle expression was now tinged with panic.

Su Muyun asked, "Father, may I have a witness come to the main hall to testify?"

The emperor did not speak, and his expression was puzzling.

After a long silence, he said, "Bring the witness up."

Su Muyun's eyes lit up with joy, and she quickly summoned the witness.

A woman walked into Shengming Hall with her head down.

Kneeling on the ground, she said, "Your Majesty, this humble woman pays her respects to Consort Wei."

At the same time, Consort Wei also saw her face clearly.

She reached out and pointed at the woman below, somewhat incredulous.