Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

"Your Majesty, the incident happened suddenly and with great force that day. I didn't have time to turn around and therefore didn't see who it was."

But... that force was heavy and fierce, definitely not an unintentional shove.

Liu Wenying eventually told the truth.

Even if you have suspicions in your heart, without solid evidence, it is easier to get into trouble if you speak out rashly.

As soon as she finished speaking, someone in the hall spoke, breaking the brief silence.

"Oh? Didn't you see clearly?"

Xiao Chenlin narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze carrying a chill.

"Is this a matter of life and death? Did you genuinely fail to see clearly, or are you staging this yourself?"

Liu Wenying looked up and met his sinister eyes.

"You are just a servant, yet you are able to accompany the hunt. This is already suspicious. I do not believe it if no one instructed you to do so."

"Perhaps you've been bribed to deliberately create chaos, harboring malicious intentions, and aiming to harm the Second Prince and the Pei family's sons."

His words were piercing to the heart.

The two major cases—the murder and blinding of the Second Prince and the serious injury and fall off a cliff by Pei Zeyu—were both pinned on Liu Wenying.

"Your Highness, I did not! I have no grudge against the Second Prince or the Second Master, why would I harm them?"

"Why?" Xiao Chenlin sneered. "You'll have to ask the person behind you."

"I have something to say."

Pei Zeyu propped himself up on the chair, bowed to the emperor at the head of the table, and then looked at Xiao Chenlin.

His left hand was aching from the movement, but his jaw was clenched and his expression remained unchanged.

"Your Highness seems to have misunderstood. I fell while trying to save Lady Liu, not because she harmed me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Chenlin couldn't hold back and was about to retort, but Pei Dingxuan beat him to it.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince, the incident happened suddenly, and I was present at the time but did not see clearly. That is precisely why we cannot make hasty conclusions. Before the truth is clear, no one should be easily convicted."

He paused, then looked in Xiao Chenlin's direction and said, "Your Highness, what do you think?"

Xiao Chenlin raised an eyebrow, a half-smile on his face, "Lord Pei of the Ministry of Justice truly lives up to his reputation."

His sticky, cold gaze swept over the three of them, then he chuckled softly.

"The two young masters of the Pei family, one spoke out to vouch for him, and the other stepped forward to defend him. It is quite strange that they would show such favoritism towards a servant of lowly status. I am truly impressed by the Pei family's conduct."

It was a veiled criticism, and everyone present understood that Xiao Chenlin was implying that the Yuguo Duke's mansion had improper conduct and that the master and servants had an ambiguous relationship.

Pei Dingxuan's expression remained unchanged. "I am merely stating the facts."

Pei Zeyu echoed, "I agree."

"Alright," the emperor said from his throne, silencing the commotion in the hall.

The hall fell silent instantly.

"Yiheng, tell me about what happened that day."

Xiao Yiheng was about to grope his way up to reply.

"No need, you can talk while sitting down."

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your compassion."

Xiao Yiheng sat upright in a mahogany armchair, nodding in gratitude towards the throne.

"After we found the jade pigeon that day, the emperor took it away to report back. There were not enough people left to help, so I rushed back to the camp to try to send more people."

"It was getting late. On my way back, I was ambushed and fell into a trap. More than half of the guards who were protecting me were killed or wounded, and I myself was also... poisoned and injured in the eyes."

The emperor frowned, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his throne.

Pei Dingxuan spoke up at the opportune moment to add to the discussion.

"Your Majesty, after the Second Prince was injured, I and the Commander of the Imperial Guards thoroughly investigated the hunting grounds. Within the hunting grounds, only the trap that the Second Prince stepped on was the most lethal."

Xiao Chenlin chuckled, "Didn't the Northern Barbarian envoy just happen to have set a trap inside the hunting grounds?"

Seeing that the trouble was being shifted eastward, Yelü Yuanjia, the crown prince of the Northern Barbarians, stopped playing with his jade thumb ring.

His eagle eyes flashed like lightning, piercing straight at Xiao Chenlin.

"I dare not accept such a statement."

"The traps set by my Northern Di are all within the designated area, and we have informed your country in advance. Those things are just to entertain the men of Great Wei."

As for anything that could cause death or injury to the eyes, that's not the work of the Northern Barbarians. Your Highness, please be careful with your words, lest you damage our harmony."

Xiao Chenlin had no concrete evidence; he was just making a casual remark to stir up trouble. Once he achieved his goal, he kept quiet.

Silence fell over the hall. Liu Wenying stood there, a chill running down her spine.

Today's questioning was more like a prelude; the real confrontation was with those in the hall.

The gilded bronze incense burner was filled with the rising smoke and curling incense.

The emperor's eyes held a thoughtful expression as he weighed the hidden truths behind the events.

After a while, he raised his eyes and looked at Princess Zhaoning, who was first in line below.

"What are your thoughts on this matter, Your Highness?"

The eldest princess sat gracefully behind the table, and nodded slightly upon hearing this.

"Since Your Majesty asked Zhao Ning, Zhao Ning will speak frankly."

"The Second Prince was injured, and the Second Master and that maid fell off a cliff. The two events happened on the same day. It's too coincidental. There must be something fishy going on. There must be someone behind it."

"As for who is behind this, we only need to know who benefits the most from it to find out."

She remembered the maid who stood in the center of the hall.

On the first day of the autumn hunt, when the snow leopards caused trouble, she held up a torch and stood in front of Madam Pei without any fear.

Afterwards, she personally rewarded him, bestowing upon him gold, silver, and silk.

At that moment, she felt that this woman was not like an ordinary maid; she was brave, resourceful, quick-witted, and decisive.

But now, she's embroiled in such a major affair...

She remained calm and composed in the face of danger, which was quite unlike that of an ordinary maid.

After careful consideration, the eldest princess did not speak up for her and decided to wait and see.

The emperor pondered, and if one were to name a beneficiary, Crown Prince Xiao Chenlin would be one.

If Xiao Yiheng loses his sight, he will have no chance of vying for the throne.

The forces in the court that supported the second prince will all turn to the crown prince and become the crown prince's faction.

The Northern Di are also involved. Whether it is the Second Prince or the Crown Prince who are injured, the Great Wei is in chaos, and the Northern Di can stir up trouble and reap the benefits.

But who could it be?

The emperor's gaze darkened; among all those people, one seemed to have an unclear identity.

Liu Wenying suddenly felt a gaze fall on her, and the next moment she heard...

"By imperial decree, Lady Liu is highly suspicious. Imprison her in the Imperial Prison and await further judgment upon our return to the capital."

Liu Wenying looked up in astonishment, unable to believe what she was hearing.

Upon receiving the order, the guards quickly lifted her up and prepared to take her away.

No, what kind of place is the Heavenly Prison?

If you go in vertically, you can only come out horizontally.

Liu Wenying tried to struggle, but couldn't break free, and watched helplessly as she was taken away.

Pei Zeyu suddenly stood up. His movements were so hasty that the gauze on his hand blew out bright red blood, causing him to groan softly in pain.

"Your Majesty, please wait!" Pei Dingxuan cried out urgently, lifting his robe and kneeling down.

"I have evidence to prove that Lady Liu was also a victim."

…………