After swapping bodies with the princess, this prince slaughtered his way through the court and becam

On the way to Hanlu Palace.

Eight female officials walked in the middle of the road, their expressions solemn.

The lady-in-waiting at the front gave the order to those behind her:

"Send someone to summon Qiao'er, Granny Li, and the other two maids to Hanlu Palace."

"Yes!" The two female attendants nodded and turned to the laundry department and Shaoguang Hall.

Four high-ranking female officials and four accompanying female officials were on their way to Hanlu Palace.

The four senior female officials were Shangyi, Sizan, Sibin, and Tongshi.

The head lady at the front holds the final say on matters.

The scribe and the scribe are respectively responsible for etiquette instruction and correction and incident investigation.

Tongshi was specifically responsible for recording.

The four female officials had differing opinions on Wei Xinyan's assault.

First of all, Wei Xinyan was not favored by the emperor, so it was not wise for her to offend Consort Ming for her sake.

However, Consort Ming's sister was at odds with the Empress.

Showing too much favoritism towards Consort Ming could very likely incur the Empress's displeasure.

At this point, Sibin, who was in charge of the investigation, expressed his opinion:

"The Fourteenth Princess behaved inappropriately, beat palace maids, and forced servants to bark like dogs."

The evidence is conclusive, and the princess's behavior was extremely inappropriate. She should be severely punished to set a good example for the imperial harem!

The chaplain in charge of etiquette education, however, objected:

"The Fourteenth Princess has always been gentle and virtuous. Since the Consort Ming's maid provoked her first, her retaliation is understandable!"

"Hmph, would a gentle and virtuous woman force her servants to bark like dogs?"

In addition to investigating cases, the Sibin was also responsible for receiving guests and bestowing rewards at court audiences and banquets.

Because the Empress did not give birth to a prince, the relationship between the Sibin and the Empress was not close.

The Sizan was responsible for teaching princesses and concubines etiquette and chanting.

If the princess is deemed to have acted inappropriately or rudely, the Sizan may be held accountable for any wrongdoing afterward.

Tong Shi, who was at the very back, remained silent. She was only responsible for taking notes and did not need to express her opinion.

The lady-in-waiting at the very front said coldly:

"This matter has not yet been investigated. We cannot believe Consort Ming's one-sided account. Once we have witnesses and examine the injuries, the truth will come to light!"

"Yes!" The three senior female officials nodded in agreement.

"The female official from the Bureau of Ceremonial Affairs has arrived—"

After the four female officials arrived at Hanlu Palace, they didn't even knock on the door. After announcing their arrival, they filed directly into the palace.

At this moment, Wei Xinyan and her maid Zhu'er stood trembling with fear at the entrance of the hall.

For Wei Xinyan, who was bullied by everyone and tried her best to become invisible.

It was still quite frightening that a female official from the Imperial Ceremonial Bureau personally came to investigate the case.

Before the female officials could pay their respects, Princess Wei Xinyan bowed and greeted them first.

"Xinyan greets all the elder sisters."

Wei Xinyan's behavior caused the female officials to exchange glances.

This doesn't seem like the kind of person who would beat a maid or force someone to bark like a dog.

Could it be that Consort Ming really framed the princess?

The female officials quickly bowed to Wei Xinyan:

"This servant greets the Fourteenth Princess!"

After completing the ceremony, Shangyi stepped forward and said coldly:

"Fourteenth Princess, I have received news that you have beaten Consort Ming's maid and Granny Li without cause, and even forced them to bark like dogs. Is this true?"

Wei Xinyan was startled upon hearing this.

So that's why they came here—because of what happened yesterday.

Thinking about this, Wei Xinyan felt wronged.

She may have been the one who hit him, but she wasn't the one with the soul!

It's all that troublemaker Ren Jingxing's fault!

If you're going to hit someone, just hit them. Why make them bark like a dog?

Wei Xinyan was so aggrieved that she was almost in tears, and she stammered, unable to speak.

Now, the palace maids were even more convinced that Consort Ming was framing Wei Xinyan.

Shangyi sighed and said softly:

"Fourteenth Princess, please don't worry."

If you simply tell the truth, I will definitely find a way to give you justice.

If Consort Ming intends to threaten me, then I will report this directly to Her Majesty the Empress!

Wei Xinyan was conflicted, not knowing what to say.

At this moment, the two palace maids who were responsible for finding witnesses returned.

"Lady Shangyi, the witness has been brought back."

Shangyi glanced at Wei Xinyan, then looked towards the door.

Only Li Mama and Qiao'er were standing in the courtyard; the other two palace maids were nowhere to be seen.

Moreover, Granny Li and Qiao'er are truly stunning in appearance.

Qiao'er's face was swollen like a pig's head, and the eyelid of one eye bulged out, as if she had been stung by a bee.

Li Mama suffered even more.

She not only had a white cloth wrapped around her head.

His arms and legs were also braced with wooden boards, causing him to walk with a limp.

The female officials glanced at the two of them, then looked at Wei Xinyan.

If it really was the Fourteenth Princess who did it, then she is truly a woman of great hidden talent.

Shangyi frowned:

"Why are there only two witnesses? Where are the other two maids?"

The maid, Qiao'er, quickly curtsied and explained:

"Reporting to the Lady Shangyi, the other two maids... were beaten to death by Consort Ming."

Upon hearing that the palace maid had been beaten to death, Wei Xinyan and Zhu'er turned pale with fright.

The female official, Shangyi, had a gloomy expression.

The palace maid was beaten to death, possibly because she embarrassed Consort Ming by barking like a dog, and Consort Ming vented her anger by beating her to death.

It's also possible that the murder was committed to cover up the truth and silence witnesses!

"Guards, strip them both of their clothes!"

"yes!"

The four accompanying female officials publicly ripped open the clothes of Granny Li and Qiao'er.

The two people's physical condition was even more frightening than it appeared on the surface.

Qiao'er's body was almost entirely covered in bruises and welts.

Granny Li's clothes were forcibly removed, which aggravated her wounds, causing her to bleed and writhe in pain, her face turning pale.

Shang Yi abruptly turned her head, stared at Wei Xinyan, and asked sharply:

"Fourteenth Princess, what on earth is going on?!"

Wei Xinyan was terrified.

She was always timid and submissive, having washed clothes in the laundry department for countless years, and even her meals consisted of leftovers from the palace maids.

I finally got to experience ten days of family warmth at the Marquis of Xuanwei's residence.

As a result, I faced this predicament as soon as I returned.

She finally couldn't hold back anymore, tears welled up in her eyes, and she waved her hand, her face pale.

"I...I don't know, I didn't do it..."

Seeing Wei Xinyan crying so aggrievedly and miserably.

Granny Li and Qiao'er's eyes were bloodshot with rage.

That fourteenth princess is such a show-off!

When we fought them, they were like brutes from the Great Wei army!

When the result was denied, she cried like a timid wife!

"Nonsense! You did it!"

"My lord, it was this lowly servant who did it!"

"If you don't believe me, you can check!"

That wretched maid borrowed a solid wood broom, but when we arrived, she took the broom apart and used the broom handle to beat us.

"The broom must have been broken when it was returned, sir! Please investigate carefully!"

The more Shangyi listened, the more her brows furrowed.

On one hand, the princess was so frightened that she turned pale and cried out in denial.

On the other hand, the two maids actually dared to call the princess a lowly servant!

"Zhu Sibin, immediately investigate the return of the broom yesterday, and whether the two palace maids whom Consort Ming executed by beating had any injuries!"

"yes!"

At this point, Shangyi had completely sided with Wei Xinyan.

The attitudes of both sides pretty much say it all.

However, the message from Sibin made Shangyi hesitate again.

"Reporting to Lady Shangyi, one of the brooms returned yesterday was indeed broken, and there was blood on the stick."

As for the two maids who hadn't been buried yet, their bodies were covered in bruises from being beaten!

Shangyi then turned to look at Wei Xinyan.

Could it be that this Fourteenth Princess is really that scheming? Or is it all an act?

So Shangyi finally set her gaze on the nervous Zhu'er:

"Come here, you speak!"