After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

The atmosphere in the Golden Palace was extremely eerie.

Qin Feng's wailing echoed throughout the hall, sounding more real to the court officials than any explanation could.

After all, no man would want to admit such a shameful thing in such a solemn place, in front of the emperor and all the officials.

Xiao Mingyue looked at Qin Feng, who was slumped on the ground, without a trace of pity in her eyes.

She took a steady step forward, cupped her hands, and said:

"Your Majesty, now that the truth is out, how could Liu, a mere village woman, dare to beat the Dengwen Drum to frame an official of the court without anyone instructing her? She even prepared such complete so-called physical evidence and letters."

She turned around, her gaze piercing Xiao Jingchen like a knife.

"Your Highness, Third Prince."

Xiao Mingyue pressed closer and closer, and Xiao Jingchen involuntarily took a half step back.

"I'd like to ask you, why do you believe the accusations of a madwoman so readily?"

"You're even eager to pin the crime of treason on the Princess's household! Are you truly acting in the name of the nation, or are you using this opportunity to eliminate your political opponents?!"

Every word was piercing and resounding.

The prince's involvement in factional strife, and his willingness to fabricate a major case of treason in order to bring down his powerful aunt, is a challenge to the bottom line of imperial authority.

Faced with Xiao Mingyue's overwhelming pressure and the emperor's icy gaze, Xiao Jingchen knew that the situation was out of control.

He couldn't understand why Qin Feng would admit to having a physical defect. How could he face people after that?

But he had no time to think about anything else. His knees buckled, and he knelt down on the gold bricks with a thud.

"Father, you are wise!" Xiao Jingchen burst into tears and cried out in anguish.

"Your Majesty, I am innocent! I have only seen that Your Majesty has been worried and anxious about this case for days."

"Your subject is young and inexperienced, and upon hearing of the Northern Barbarians, he lost his composure, fearing for the safety of our Great Yong Kingdom. That's why he was blinded by the false testimony of that treacherous commoner!"

He cried as he crawled two steps on his knees, looked up at the emperor with a face full of filial piety, but his heart was bleeding with hatred.

Today's battle is a complete defeat. If he cannot awaken his father's affection for him, his time as a prince is over.

The emperor looked at his son kneeling at his feet, weeping bitterly.

Recalling how docile and respectful Xiao Jingchen had been during this period, and how he would occasionally come to greet him, it seemed that he had become more sensible after being confined by his mother.

In addition, he remembered that Tantai Liang had said that Xiao Jingchen looked most like him.

Looking at his current disheveled appearance, it was as if she saw her own helpless self in the past, and the murderous intent in her eyes slightly subsided.

Perhaps she really is naive and has been taken advantage of.

"You're foolish!" the emperor rebuked in a deep voice, though his tone lacked the fury of thunder.

"As a prince, you are so impulsive and easily swayed by rumors, almost causing a major disaster! It seems you've wasted all your education!"

These words sound stern, but in reality, they indicate a willingness to take a hard line and then let things slide.

Xiao Jingchen's heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled back into his stomach, and he was preparing to express his gratitude and accept his punishment.

Just then, a eunuch's shrill voice suddenly came from outside the hall to report.

"Deputy Inspector Xiao Changqi requests an audience outside the palace—"

A hint of surprise flashed across Xiao Mingyue's eyes.

Why did he suddenly come back? Has the situation in the southwest changed?

Shen Jingque also clenched her sleeves, looking towards the door with worry in her eyes.

"Summon them." The emperor frowned, clearly quite surprised.

Before long, Xiao Changqi, looking travel-worn, strode into the Golden Palace.

His usually charming and romantic face was now covered with a layer of frost.

He walked straight into the hall, lifted his robes, and knelt down heavily.

"Your subject, Xiao Changqi, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

He pulled out a stack of files and an oil paper package from his pocket and raised them high above his head.

"Your Majesty, I was ordered to assist Lord Wang in disaster relief efforts in Cangcheng, but I encountered a shocking case and have returned to the capital to report this!"

The emperor looked at the dossier, and his right eyelid twitched inexplicably: "Bring it here."

Zhou Lianhai quickly stepped down the stairs, took the dossier and account book, and carefully placed them in the emperor's hands.

Without waiting for the emperor to review the report, Xiao Changqi loudly announced his arrival, his voice echoing throughout the hall, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

"Prefect Cheng Rui of Yunzhou concealed the floods in the southwest, leading to rampant plague and widespread famine!"

"Not only did he embezzle the disaster relief grain allocated by the imperial court, but last year he even hired bandits to ambush and kill imperial officials who possessed evidence of his corruption!"

The courtiers gasped in shock.

Concealing the extent of the disaster and embezzling government grain are already capital offenses, but hiring someone to commit murder is an even more heinous crime that would result in the extermination of three generations of one's family.

"His Majesty!"

Xiao Changqi raised his head, his gaze fixed on Xiao Jingchen, his words as firm as iron.

"How could Cheng Rui, a mere local prefect, dare to be so audacious without the backing of powerful figures in the capital?"

"Your Majesty, I have investigated and found that the millions of taels of silver embezzled by Cheng Rui, as well as the proceeds from the resale of government grain, ultimately all flowed into the private treasury of the Third Prince in the capital!"

If Qin Feng's infertility was a joke just now, then the account book that Xiao Changqi threw out now was a bolt of lightning striking the Golden Palace.

Xiao Jingchen's mind went blank, as if he had been hit on the head with a blunt object.

He stared wide-eyed at Xiao Changqi, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

It’s over.

Besides the black iron ore that Rong Jing stole, Cheng Rui was a crucial part of his money bag.

Fu Yibai once recommended this person to him, and he took a liking to Cheng Rui's boldness and resourcefulness and recruited him to his service.

He was indeed very capable and a master at making money.

But now, this line has been brought to light.

The emperor's hand stopped on the account book, his fingers trembling slightly.

He read on, page by page.

Every single penny spent was meticulously recorded.

Considering Xiao Jingchen's antics in the court today, and his pretentious concern for the country, the emperor now sees it all as a wolfish ambition to cover up corruption and eliminate dissidents.

What he hated most was others coveting his imperial power.

This person was his son!

"brute!"

The emperor roared and stood up, grabbing the account book and slamming it hard into Xiao Jingchen's face.

The paper tore Xiao Jingchen's forehead, leaving a bloody mark.

Xiao Jingchen, ignoring the blood, rushed forward and hugged the emperor's leg.

"Father! I'm innocent! This is a frame-up! It was the Princess's household that framed me!"

"Framed? Were the seals on these ledgers also forged for you by the Princess's residence?!"

Enraged, the emperor kicked Xiao Jingchen in the chest.

This kick was delivered with all its might, sending Xiao Jingchen sprawling to the ground. He clutched his chest and coughed violently, his face ashen.

He knew that all explanations would seem pale and powerless at this moment.

Father will no longer believe him.

"Guards! Strip this rebellious son of his court robes and hand him over to the Imperial Clan Court for a thorough investigation! No one is allowed to visit him without my decree!"

The emperor, panting heavily, pointed at Xiao Jingchen on the ground and roared.

The imperial guards entered the hall, removed Xiao Jingchen's jade crown, and dragged him out of the hall.

The hall fell silent again, save for the emperor's heavy breathing.

Xiao Mingyue stood still, her back ramrod straight.

His gaze shifted slightly, meeting that of Shen Jingque, who was filled with excitement.

This time, everything was perfectly timed, geographically advantageous, and with the right people.

Jamel Xiao, it’s over.

Just as Shen Jingque was feeling incredibly pleased, an unfamiliar voice rang out.

[The male protagonist has lost all his luck. Congratulations, host, for awakening the female protagonist's support system.]