After getting married, she spent every night alone in her room; when she asked for a divorce, he kne

Madam Yuan was horrified. "What did you say? You're going to kill Zhu Tao right in front of me?"

"Yes," Xiao Jinghan said. "Don't just stand there, carry out the execution immediately."

Two servants came in, lifted Zhu Tao up from the left and right, and pressed her to the ground.

Zhu Tao was terrified when she saw the torture rod, which was thicker than her arm. She kept pleading with Madam Yuan for help, "Madam! Save me, Madam! I know I was wrong! I will never do it again! I didn't mean it, Madam!"

Madam Yuan clutched the handkerchief in her hand tightly, her eyes wide with shock. "Jinghan, Master Qingxuan just performed a grand ritual at our residence. It's not good to kill at this time."

"Besides, Yan'er wasn't poisoned, and the bamboo peach was an unintentional mistake. Could you please be lenient...?"

"I can't." Before Madam Yuan could finish speaking, Xiao Jinghan said coldly, "This maid dared to harm my Yan'er. I would not be satisfied even if I tore her to pieces. It is already an extraordinary act of mercy and leniency to leave her with a whole corpse."

"Jinghan, you..."

"Execute them," Xiao Jinghan ordered sternly. "Anyone who dares to utter another word will be taken away and beaten as well."

Yuan was dumbfounded, staring blankly at Xiao Jinghan, not daring to utter another word.

The servants took Xiao Jinghan's words as gospel and swung their sticks, striking Zhu Tao one after another.

Zhu Tao cried and screamed, her cries echoing in the solemn and elegant main hall of Yue Wu Courtyard, like a sharp saw tearing at everyone's nerves.

Liu Yuansheng was afraid that Yan'er would be frightened, so he sent someone to take Yan'er back to Chenxiang Courtyard, while he sat quietly in a chair and watched Zhu Tao carry out the execution.

Zhu Tao was initially screaming and begging for mercy, but slowly she fainted and could no longer make a sound.

The wooden stick struck the flesh with a dull, grating sound that sent chills down one's spine. The servants in the courtyard fell silent, not daring to blink. Even Madam Yuan, still seated on the high platform, held her breath, her eyes fixed on Zhu Tao. With each strike of the stick, her eyelids twitched.

This beating was not only a blow to Zhu Tao's body, but also a slap in the face to the Yuan family.

Finally, Zhu Tao died from the blows, lying sprawled on the ground like a rag doll, her lower body covered in blood.

Amidst the horrified gazes of the crowd, Xiao Jinghan slowly rose to his feet. "Alright, the person is dead. Let's consider this matter settled for now."

After saying that, he didn't even glance at the pale-faced Yuan Shi, and left without looking back.

Seeing Xiao Jinghan leave, Liu Yuansheng also stood up, bowed slightly to Madam Yuan, and turned to leave Yuewu Courtyard.

On the way back, Xiao Jinghan walked very fast.

He had long legs and long strides, leaving Liu Yuansheng far behind. Liu Yuansheng assumed that Xiao Jinghan was in a hurry to return to Chenxiang Courtyard to visit Yan'er, so she quickened her pace and followed behind, panting.

Her breathing became erratic, and the stench of blood that had been filling her lungs surged up again, making her feel extremely uncomfortable. She had no choice but to stop, suppress the urge, and then lift the hem of her skirt to chase after Xiao Jinghan.

When she looked up, she found Xiao Jinghan standing in front of her, looking down at her.

That look was truly terrifying, and Liu Yuansheng couldn't help but shiver. He asked cautiously, "Young Master, what's wrong?"

"Are you in such a hurry to be reincarnated?"

Xiao Jinghan said in a sarcastic tone.

Liu Yuansheng was taken aback. "No, I wanted to go back to Chenxiang Courtyard to see Yan'er."

"Ha! And you still care about Yan'er!" Xiao Jinghan said angrily, "I entrusted Yan'er to you, and this is how you take care of him?"

Liu Yuansheng's heart pounded wildly in her chest; she was incredibly guilty. Xiao Jinghan continued to scold her, "You actually sent him to Yuewu Courtyard? Why didn't you send him to the wolf's den? The wolf's den would be safer!"

Xiao Jinghan's anger was truly terrifying. Liu Yuansheng remained silent the entire time, not daring to utter a single word, and did not believe that he could out-argue Xiao Jinghan.

She grew increasingly silent, so silent that she seemed to have become one with the stone bricks beneath her feet, as if she had lost her very soul.

Looking at Liu Yuansheng, who was half-dead, Xiao Jinghan became even angrier.

Just as he was about to scold her a few more times, Ying'er, who had run off to inform him, rushed over anxiously, shouting repeatedly, "Young Master, Miss! What are you doing here? I've been looking for you everywhere!"

After saying that, she threw herself into Liu Yuansheng's arms. When she looked up, she saw that Liu Yuansheng was in a daze, and she knew that she had been wronged.

Ying'er was taken aback, then looked at Xiao Jinghan. Seeing that Xiao Jinghan had a stern face and eyes sharper than ice knives, she decisively chose to shut up.

Although she was a brave and loyal servant, she was also a girl who was afraid of death.

Xiao Jinghan glanced at her and her servant, then turned and left.

Back at Chenxiang Courtyard, Xiao Jinghan gave Li Nanny a severe beating, which frightened her so much that she didn't even eat dinner and stayed in the study to reflect on her actions.

When Li's wet nurse was not in good condition, Liu Yuansheng took Yan'er into her room and patiently looked after her.

After venting his anger in the Agarwood Courtyard, Xiao Jinghan left. As for where he went or what he did, no one knew.

Because of what happened at Yuewu Courtyard, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has been quiet all day.

The courtyard was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, so somber it was oppressive.

Tonight, dark clouds covered the room, making it gloomy. Ying'er lit two extra candles to brighten the room.

Liu Yuansheng was playing with Yan'er, teasing him with a little rabbit she had made. Yan'er was waving his arms and legs excitedly, laughing as soon as the little rabbit got close, kicking his little feet around Liu Yuansheng.

Ying'er sat on a footstool, tidying Yan'er's cradle as she said to Liu Yuansheng with lingering fear, "Miss, today was truly terrifying! If the young master had returned even a moment later, you would have been the one to get beaten!"

She sighed repeatedly, "It's like being at home when disaster strikes out of nowhere; I've been caught in an unwarranted calamity!"

Liu Yuansheng was engrossed in playing with Yan'er when she heard this, and her smile faded, leaving her feeling melancholy.

This is not some undeserved disaster; it is clearly a deliberate frame-up.

Ever since Liu Yuansheng could remember, she had been constantly framed and harmed, and she had become numb to it all. Most of the time, she was too lazy to defend herself, because those people's goal was to harm her, so what was the point of explaining?

If you want to find fault, you can always find a pretext.

But she really couldn't understand why Yuan Shi, who had always kept to herself, would suddenly bare her fangs and try to bite her hard.

What exactly did she do to offend the Yuan family?

Liu Yuansheng couldn't understand it, but fortunately, there were many things in this world she couldn't understand, so she simply stopped thinking about it. She held Yan'er in her arms, rocking her back and forth, trying to coax Yan'er to sleep. "It doesn't matter what happens to me, as long as nothing happens to Yan'er. We must take good care of Yan'er from now on."

Ying'er stared longingly at Liu Yuansheng, whose heart was entirely devoted to Yan'er. "Miss, no matter how cute the young master is, he's not your biological son. Why do you value him so much?"

"Why?" Liu Yuansheng shook her head. "There's no reason."

"So... is Miss angry?"

"Why would I be angry?"

"The young master lost his temper with you today!" Ying'er shrugged. "The young master is usually easygoing and pleasant, but when he gets angry, it's really scary!"

Recalling the events of the day, Liu Yuansheng said, "His child was almost in danger, so it's normal for him to be angry."

"Miss, you're not angry at all, and you don't care at all?" Ying'er asked in surprise.

Liu Yuansheng shook her head, "No."

Ying'er's eyes widened, and she asked again, "Then, on your wedding night, the prince slapped you, and you weren't angry?"

This time, Liu Yuansheng did not answer Ying'er's question.

Ying'er stared intently at Liu Yuansheng. Seeing her fall silent, she said indignantly, "Miss isn't angry, but I am! Speaking of which, after Miss married the Prince, although he wasn't bad to her, he wasn't exactly good either. How to describe it... what's that word again?"

Ying'er rolled her eyes and thought hard, until her eyes were practically sparking with fire, and finally she remembered.

"Outwardly united, inwardly estranged!"

She suddenly raised her voice, and Liu Yuansheng quickly made a shushing gesture at her.

Yan'er was whimpering and was almost asleep in her arms.

Ying'er quickly covered her mouth, her eyes following Liu Yuansheng's movements as she watched Yan'er yawn, smack her lips, and fall asleep.

The baby in the swaddling clothes was white and tender, with long eyelashes, chubby cheeks, and a faint milky fragrance. She was incredibly adorable. Ying'er opened her mouth and pretended to bite Yan'er's face, then, holding Liu Yuansheng's arm, helped her put Yan'er into the cradle.

Realizing he had left his familiar embrace, Yan'er frowned and was about to struggle and cry. Liu Yuansheng quickly held his arm down, gently patted his little bottom, and patiently soothed him until he fell asleep.

Finally, Yan'er fell asleep. Liu Yuansheng, who had been up all day, sighed and said to Ying'er, who also looked exhausted, "Everything's alright here. Go and get some rest."

"And what about the young lady?"

"I'm going to sleep now."

"Sleep now?" Ying'er blinked. "No need to rock the bed?"

"Why would I need a rocking bed?" Liu Yuansheng asked back.

Ying'er became even more puzzled, "Didn't Miss and the Prince always rock the bed before they wanted to rest?"

Liu Yuansheng was taken aback upon hearing this, and then suddenly realized what was going on.

Feeling embarrassed, she didn't intend to explain the matter to Ying'er, who was only fifteen years old and not yet engaged, so she said, "There's no need to shake it today. Go and keep watch outside."

"Oh." Ying'er scratched her braid and went to the outer room with a suspicious look in her eyes, vaguely feeling that something was not quite right.

But where did the young master go in the middle of the night?

Does he come back to sleep?

Xiao Jinghan disappeared for one night.

As night deepens and frost thickens, the rooster crows and dawn gradually breaks.

The sun's golden rays shone on the magnificent roof of the Taiji Hall. Inside, civil and military officials stood in rows on the east and west sides, holding their tablets, their postures solemn, awaiting the emperor's decree.

The throne hangs high in the center of the hall, the emperor sits upright, exuding an aura of authority without anger.

A bright yellow dragon robe was laid out on the sandalwood chair, and strings of jade tassels hung from the front and back of the black crown, shining brightly and showing the majesty of an emperor.

Emperor Jingcheng, Li Zhaoxi, was the ninth son of the late Emperor Li Tao. From an unfavored Prince of Jin, he rose to the throne in one fell swoop.

Now, it is his tenth year in power. Ten years have passed, and his former loyal followers are still stirring up trouble, trying to manipulate the situation, overthrow the court, and destroy the country he has worked so hard to build.

Whenever he thought of those traitors lurking in the land of Great Xia, he felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles, wishing there were no capable and strong men in the court to wipe out those traitors in one fell swoop and eliminate his greatest threat!

"Minister Jin, I ordered you to interrogate Lu Wei. How is the interrogation going?"

Li Zhaoxi, who always kept in mind the elimination of the rebels, looked at Jin Gongzheng, who stood at the end of the civil service, and asked in a cold voice.

Jin Gongzheng stepped forward, holding his tablet, and solemnly reported, "Your Majesty, Lu Wei has consistently refused to admit to colluding with the traitor, however..."

"But what?" Lee So-hee asked impatiently.

Jin Gongzheng said, "However, Lu Wei said that if we are willing to hand over the forbidden books left by Guan Ning from the previous dynasty so that he can take a look, he will be willing to reveal the hiding place of the traitor in the capital."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhaoxi immediately went to see Liu Jingyuan.

"I remember that before Guan Ning fled, he threw those books into Prime Minister Liu's residence."

"Your Majesty's memory is correct; this is indeed the case," Liu Jingyuan said calmly. "Your Majesty has already handed those books over to the Ministry of Justice, and it has been verified that Guan Ning deliberately tried to confuse the matter and implicate me."

"Hmm." Li Zhaoxi nodded. "Then what does Lu Wei need those books for?"

"This humble subject doesn't know either," Jin Gongzheng said. "This humble subject is useless. I have tried everything I can to get Lu Wei to confess, but I have exhausted all my tricks."

Lee So-hee was displeased. "Even you can't do anything about him?"

Jin Gongzheng bowed, about to reply to Li Zhaoxi, when Liu Jingyuan suddenly said, "Your Majesty, I believe it would be better to transfer Lu Wei to the Censorate and have him personally tried by Lord Xiao Jinghan."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhaoxi raised his eyes and looked at Xiao Jinghan, who was also standing at the end of the civil officials' ranks.