My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 109 Suicide out of fear of crime
Lu Jinshi looked up at Rong Yi and said, "Husband, since when did the investigation of murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the Censorate instead of the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review?"

Rong Yi looked at Imperial Censor Chen and said, "Imperial Censor Chen, what the Seventh Prince's Consort said is true. Neither the Court of Judicial Review nor the Ministry of Justice has been able to find out the real murderer. How can you, Imperial Censor Chen, convict the princess based solely on a motive for murder?"

Imperial Censor Chen looked at Emperor Huiyuan and said, "Your Majesty... I dare not convict Princess Wanniang, but in the case of Wanniang's murder, only Princess Wanniang has a motive for killing. If it was not a revenge killing, how could Wanniang have died so tragically?"

Rong Yi looked coldly at Imperial Censor Chen, "You've seen Wan Niang's body? Why do you think Wan Niang's death was tragic?"

Imperial Censor Chen said, "I heard it from the Princess's family. Your Majesty, you are a wise and benevolent ruler. When the Princess's family was imprisoned that night, they shouted 'Long live Your Majesty!' and begged Your Majesty to punish the Princess fairly."

Emperor Huiyuan said in a deep voice, "Chen Feng, you are also a veteran official in the court. You have served in the Censorate for more than ten years. I have always trusted you the most, but you have truly disappointed me today! How could those family members of my stepmother sell her fifteen-year-old daughter to an old man in his sixties as a concubine? And they dare to come to the princess to ask for justice for their dead daughter?"

Imperial Censor Chen said, "Your Majesty... but the tragic death of Wan Niang is also a fact."

Lu Jinshi said, "Who told you that Wanniang died tragically? Wanniang is alive and well!"

Imperial Censor Chen frowned and said, "How could that be? That's impossible."

Lu Jinshi said, "What a fine 'definitely impossible' statement! How do you know it's absolutely impossible? Did you kill Wan Niang with your own hands?"

Imperial Censor Chen said, "Seventh Prince's Consort, how could this old minister dare to kill anyone? It's just that Wan Niang's family is crying so sadly. If Wan Niang were not dead, why would they be crying so bitterly?"

Lu Jinshi said, "Because they came for the money. They don't care about Wan Niang's life or death at all. In their eyes, they have no pity for Wan Niang. That's why they were so sure of causing trouble for the princess without even seeing Wan Niang's body."

"Your Majesty," a eunuch bowed as he entered and reported, "Minister Liu and the Minister of Justice request an audience."

Emperor Huiyuan said, "Summon them."

Liu Siqing and the Minister of Justice came side by side, knelt down and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Emperor Huiyuan said, "No need for formalities, rise. Has the stepmother's family already confessed?"

Liu Siqing nodded and said, "Yes, according to Wan Niang's family, it was a maidservant from Princess Qingyun's side who gave them a large sum of money and asked them to come to the Princess's residence to seek justice for Wan Niang."

They were initially reluctant to come, fearing that offending the princess would lead to a miserable life. However, the maid of the Qingyun County Princess threatened them, saying that if they came, they would receive silver, but if they did not come, the princess, who was already filled with resentment when she killed Wan Niang, would likely take her anger out on Wan Niang's family as well.

"Either way, they'd offend Her Highness the Princess, but coming here would at least get them a sum of money. It's only because Princess Qingyun is protecting them that they dare to cause trouble at Her Highness's door."

Emperor Huiyuan said angrily in a deep voice, "Guards, bring Princess Qingyun here for questioning!"

Princess Yongjia, standing to the side, frowned slightly and said, "Qingyun wouldn't be so ruthless as to kill me for Lu Xiao's sake."

The people sent by Emperor Huiyuan have not returned for a long time.

Emperor Huiyuan said to Imperial Censor Chen: "Your term as Imperial Censor has come to an end today. You impeached the princess without distinguishing right from wrong. Keeping you around is unfair to the court officials. From this day forward, Chen Feng will no longer serve as Imperial Censor, and you all will be dismissed and investigated!"

Chen Feng knelt on the ground and repeatedly cried out, "Your Majesty, although I have failed in my duty of oversight, I only listened to the people's words for a moment. I know I was wrong, and I beg Your Majesty to forgive me!"

"His Majesty!"

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Chen Feng was still shouting as he was being dragged away.

The eunuch sent by Emperor Huiyuan to find Princess Qingyun returned an hour later.

Emperor Huiyuan looked at the eunuch and asked, "Why did you return alone? Where is Princess Qingyun?" "Your Majesty."

Emperor Huiyuan looked at the elderly lady with a full head of white hair who had entered, and he quickly stood up and said, "Aunt, what brings you here?"

The Grand Princess, leaning on her cane, knelt down shakily and said, "Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty to educate my children, allowing Qingyun to commit murder and slander Her Highness out of momentary jealousy. It is all my fault..."

Emperor Huiyuan helped the Grand Princess up, saying, "Aunt, please get up."

The Grand Princess said with tears in her eyes, "I knew that Qingyun was in love with Lu Xiao, but I never knew that she would do such a heinous thing for Lu Xiao... It's my fault, my fault, but she knew that the matter had been exposed, so she hanged herself."

"What?" Princess Yongjia felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen.

Seeing this, Lu Jinshi rushed over and helped Princess Yongjia up, saying, "Royal Sister..."

Princess Yongjia looked at the Grand Princess with tears in her eyes and said, "Qingyun... how could she be so ruthless? She wouldn't do that. She's the kind of girl who would shed tears for a bird when she saw a cat bite it. She would never kill someone to frame me!"

"Sister Qingyun, no way!"

The Grand Princess said, "Alas, it is all because of jealousy that people are harmed. Qingyun, that foolish child, knew that she had caused so many deaths, so she could only commit suicide out of fear of punishment... It is my fault for not disciplining my granddaughter properly. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

Emperor Huiyuan said, "Aunt, please accept my condolences."

Lu Jinshi helped Princess Yongjia up and said, "Sister, your health is not good right now, so you shouldn't be so heartbroken."

Princess Yongjia said with tears in her eyes, "I want to see my sister Qingyun. I absolutely refuse to believe that she hired someone to kill her!"

The Grand Princess said, "Before Qingyun committed suicide, she had already admitted to all her mistakes. We all advised her to sincerely admit her mistakes and we would do our best to save her life. We never expected that she would still be afraid of being punished and would end her own life..."

Lu Jinshi looked at Rong Yi beside him.

Rong Yi also said, "Grandmother, please accept my condolences."

Emperor Huiyuan said, "Yongjia, go back to the princess's residence to rest. Don't be too sad. You are weak, so don't go to places like the mourning hall."

Lu Jinshi helped Princess Yongjia up and said, "Elder sister, let me take you back to your residence first."

Princess Yongjia walked with Lu Jinshi.

Once inside the carriage, Princess Yongjia looked at Lu Jinshi and said, "Seventh sister-in-law, it couldn't be Qingyun. I believe Qingyun is trying to frame me for Lu Xiao's sake, but it's absolutely impossible for Qingyun to have killed someone. She would never kill someone."

Lu Jinshi comforted Princess Yongjia, saying, "Sister, I know it's not Qingyun. She's just being framed... The most important thing for you right now is to protect the child in your womb."

Princess Yongjia placed her hand on her stomach and shed tears.
-
Inside the Prince of Yan's residence.

Inside the Buddhist hall, a beautiful and radiant woman with a stunning figure fiddled with the prayer beads in her hand.

When she saw the Prince of Yan returning from outside, she stood up and slapped him across the face.

"Mother Consort." Yan Wang bowed to Consort Rong in front of him.

Consort Rong said angrily, "Why didn't you leave after confirming that Wan Niang was dead yesterday? You actually left Wan Niang alive. If it weren't for Prince Qingshan being one of our men, and him having Qingyun commit suicide out of guilt, you might have been implicated!"