After the divorce, I was adorned in a phoenix robe, while my ex-husband's entire family dug up

"Alright, alright. Changming, let's get this straight: you'll have to pay for the betrothal gifts yourself!"

Li Changming stammered with excitement, "I...I will definitely treat Ashu well, grow old together with her, and never waver until death!"

Thinking of this, Shen Shu finally couldn't hold back anymore. Her eyes filled with tears, and she asked desperately, "Li Changming."

"Don't you know how my parents treated you? Do you truly feel no remorse for saying these words today?"

His Majesty watched coldly, when Li Changming, as if possessed, shouted, "How have you treated me? How dare you try to morally blackmail me?"

"Prince Duan and Princess Duan are two hypocritical and deceitful people!"

"Ask yourselves honestly, has your family ever respected me?"

"If you truly respected me and treated me well, why did you make me pay for my own betrothal gifts when we married? Isn't that just mocking me for living off your family and being poor?!"

"If Prince Duan truly valued me, why would he make me start from a low-ranking position? Why must I do everything myself? Which noble son-in-law doesn't rise to prominence quickly and smoothly? Why is it that I, of all people, need to be tempered?"

As he spoke, a hint of grievance even appeared on his face.

"If Princess Duan truly valued me, why would she still send me clothes and fabrics from time to time? What, does she think I can't afford them and is afraid of mistreating her daughter?"

"And you!"

"If you truly respect me, why do you always yell at me? Do you really consider me your husband? In your eyes, I'm nothing more than a lowly, poor scholar who was saved by your father and should be your family's slave for life!"

Shen Shu's lips trembled as she looked at the heart-wrenching accusations made by the person in front of her, her heart filled with complex emotions.

Wei Zhaoning then spoke up, "What a fine story of the farmer and the snake."

Even His Majesty couldn't stand it anymore; in fact, everyone present probably couldn't stand it anymore either.

Anyone with eyes can see that Li Changming is insatiable and ungrateful, yet he still has the nerve to act like a victim and play the victim here.

Everyone shook their heads, their faces filled with disdain.

Lu Jieshuang was different; she felt very sorry for Li Changming.

"Brother Changming, things have come to this, what's the point of saying so much? They will have to pay the price for their mistakes!"

Li Changming regained his senses and said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty! I beg you to heed my words and investigate this matter. Prince Duan is not as kind and obedient as he appears on the surface; deep down, he has long harbored rebellious intentions!"

His Majesty rubbed his temples and ordered the Grand Eunuch to investigate.

The information he found about this matter was incomplete. Wei Zhaoning's letter only mentioned that someone was recruiting soldiers in the suburbs.

He sent people to investigate in the suburbs and had them follow Li Changming. They discovered that it was Li Changming who did it, but he couldn't be completely sure whether Prince Duan was behind it.

Throughout history, there have been many instances of brothers fighting amongst themselves. Once you're in this position, it's natural to prefer killing the innocent rather than letting the guilty go free.

My father-in-law returned quickly, but he didn't look too good.

Some of the scrolls had many blasphemous words written on them.

His Majesty's vision went black.

Li Changming curled his lips and said, "Your Majesty, I dare not lie. These things were all left behind by Princess Duan whenever she came to the Princess's residence to take care of Shen Shu."

"Looking at these things, I couldn't sleep at night. Today, I'm satisfied that I've been able to personally tear away this mask of hypocrisy and let Your Majesty know the truth."

Shen Shu's heart pounded. What was His Majesty's reaction? Wei Zhaoning was also somewhat flustered upon seeing this.

She clearly already tampered with it!

His Majesty's originally calm expression first showed a barely perceptible shadow of gloom, his brows furrowed slightly, and the temperature in his eyes instantly cooled.

In a short while, the dark clouds grew thicker and thicker, and his expression darkened at a visible speed.

His usual calm and indifferent demeanor gradually turned into a terrifying, deathly pale blue.

His jawline tightened even more, his thin lips pressed into a cold, hard line, and the veins on his forehead throbbed faintly, revealing a suppressed anger.

Li Changming knew he had made the right bet and continued, "Ashu, we were husband and wife. Although I have wronged you, I still have feelings for you."

Now that things have come to this, it's best to tell His Majesty the truth. This matter has already been discovered, and if we keep it a secret, the consequences will likely be even more dire!

Although our relationship has ended, we've spent so much time together, and I hope you can do better..."

"That's enough!"

His Majesty suddenly roared.

Everyone in the hall was startled and knelt down.

"Li Changming, I think we should have let you starve to death on that road back then!"

After saying that, he slammed the scroll in his hand down on his head with great force, so hard that even Lu Jieshuang was hit.

Two large bumps were visibly raised on their foreheads.

Li Changming, incredulous, picked up the scroll, muttering, "What's the problem?"

After reading it, he was dumbfounded. The handwriting on it was clearly his own!

He stared at His Majesty in astonishment. "Your Majesty, this wasn't written by me! This wasn't written by me! Someone is trying to harm me!"

He looked at Shen Shu, "It was you? You knew all along? I never imagined that after serving you, the Prince Duan's mansion, for so many years, you wouldn't appreciate it at all, and would only think of killing me!"

Shen Shu sneered, "Li Changming, you're right about one thing: people have to pay the price for their mistakes."

Our family tried to save you, only to be met with a heartless wretch like you. We were wrong, and we've paid the price.

Li Changming grew increasingly terrified as he thought about it.

"Do you think I don't know who's been in charge of those troops in the suburbs?"

"You staged this whole thing yourself, deceiving the emperor! What else do you have to say?"

His Majesty was so angry that he personally came down to the scene and kicked Li Changming hard.

After all, he was a martial artist. How could Li Changming, with his frail body, withstand such an attack? Before he could even speak to explain, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Seeing this, Lu Jieshuang didn't dare to speak, and just buried her head, trembling.

The Grand Eunuch stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the crime of deceiving the Emperor is punishable by death according to the law."

Li Changming mumbled incoherently, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty! Please let me explain!"

At that moment, His Majesty's cold gaze filled him with despair.

He suddenly saw Shen Shu in the crowd, and there seemed to be a look of regret in her eyes.

As if grasping at a straw, he suddenly pushed Lu Jieshuang away.

He said to Shen Shu, "Shu, shall we live a good life together from now on?"

Please help me, please help my husband, Your Majesty, you cannot live without your husband.

If you lose me, you'll be remarried, and no one will truly accept a divorced woman. We can have another child in the future, please help me!

I don't love Lu Jieshuang. She seduced me. She's shameless!