"Do you hear that? Even the Prince of Xuanning said that the evidence is conclusive. You are the real culprits! I can't protect you..."
"Quite a coincidence," Feng Linyuan interrupted calmly. "Your Majesty, I also have witnesses and evidence here to prove that our Dingyuan Marquis Mansion is not the real culprit."
"Hmm?" Feng Linche was taken aback.
Feng Jingye had already jumped up. His eyes were bright as he said, "Then hurry up and call the person in!"
He didn't have as many ulterior motives as his father. He just felt that now that he was tied to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, if the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion could be exonerated, then he could also clear his name.
Feng Linyuan nodded slightly and waved his hand towards the door. A young girl in pink walked in from the side door with her head down. She knelt on the ground and said clearly, "Greetings to Your Majesty."
Bai Sheng's mouth twitched involuntarily, and a dull pain began to throb at the back of her head.
It was her.
Feng Linche stared intently at the pink - clad woman kneeling in front of him. He couldn't figure out whether this newly - emerged person was here to dig a pit or fill one. But since the person was already here, he couldn't just ignore her. He could only ask coldly, "Who are you?"
"Your Majesty, I am Sheng Qinrong, the younger sister of Sheng Yan, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites. I dare to come and see Your Majesty today, pleading with Your Majesty to uphold justice for my elder brother."
As Sheng Qinrong spoke, her voice was tinged with a sob.
Feng Linche sneered and said impatiently, "Fine, another one coming to ask me to uphold justice!"
Sheng Qinrong trembled imperceptibly and simply prostrated herself on the ground.
"Your Majesty, Miss Bai of the General's Mansion captured my elder brother, Sheng Yan, the minister of the Ministry of Rites. She threatened me with his life, forcing me to deceive the Lady of the Dingyuan Marquis to go to the storeroom during the banquet and knock her out.
She promised me that as long as I did this well, she would release my elder brother. But now, my elder brother is still being held in the General's Mansion and she refuses to let him go!"
Sheng Qinrong's voice trembled, filled with anger and grievance. It didn't seem like she was faking it.
First, there was a witness saying that Feng Jingye had colluded with the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. Now, there was another witness saying that Bai Sheng had framed the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion...
The plot had taken such a sudden turn that everyone present was stunned.
Feng Jingye and Queen Chu, however, regained hope in their eyes upon hearing this news.
Especially Queen Chu, who had experienced such ups and downs, was overjoyed. She regained her spirit and said to Feng Linche, "Your Majesty, the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion is innocent, so is Ye'er! It's all these villains who have framed the Crown Prince, trying to shake the foundation of the Great Zhou. They have evil intentions, Your Majesty!"
Bai Sheng's shocked expression froze on her face. Her heart was in turmoil.
How was it possible? Sheng Yan was still in her hands. How dare Sheng Qinrong come to the court to complain? Didn't she fear that Bai Sheng would fly into a rage and order someone to kill Sheng Yan?
Just by looking at Bai Sheng's expression, Bai Zheng roughly guessed what her elder sister was thinking.
She shook her head secretly.
Now that the Third Prince's Mansion was under strict martial law, what ability did Bai Sheng have to send out a message to order someone to kill Sheng Yan?
It was only natural. From the very beginning, Bai Sheng had never expected that Feng Jingxuan would be burned to death or that the Third Prince's Mansion would be sealed off by Feng Linche.
Truly, man proposes, God disposes.
Sheng Qinrong had already thrown caution to the wind. She kowtowed to Feng Linche and said loudly, "Yes, Your Majesty. The Lady of the Marquis didn't go to the storeroom to burn the Third Prince to death. She was lured there by me and then knocked unconscious with a club before being taken there by Miss Bai!
All of this is Miss Bai's slander of the Lady of the Marquis and the Crown Prince. It's all Miss Bai's conspiracy!
It was Miss Bai who set the fire, and the Third Prince died at Miss Bai's hands!"
Sheng Qinrong said firmly.
As soon as these words were out, before Feng Linche could react, Bai Sheng rushed over, wishing to tear Sheng Qinrong to pieces. "You bitch, what are you talking nonsense about! How dare you slander me? I'll tear your mouth apart!"
Fortunately, the maids beside Queen Chu reacted quickly. Without saying a word, they rushed forward and quickly grabbed Bai Sheng.
Sheng Qinrong was so frightened that she took several steps back and shrank behind the chair where Feng Linche had been sitting. She was trembling all over. Queen Chu glanced at her and stepped forward to comfort her personally.
Feng Linche was stunned. The sudden new testimony had overturned all the previous conclusions.
So the real arsonist was actually Bai Sheng, who had been crying "stop thief" all along?
Zhuo Lingxiao's heart skipped a beat. The sudden appearance of Sheng Qinrong also caught him off - guard.
Once the truth of Bai Sheng's arson was revealed, how long could he, who had also been at the arson scene, protect himself?
Zhuo Lingxiao was in a complete mess. Looking at Bai Sheng, who had fallen into madness and was constantly scolding Sheng Qinrong, he felt extremely vexed.
The more he said, the more mistakes he would make. He couldn't let Bai Sheng say any more.
He quickly calmed himself down and took a big step to stand in front of Bai Sheng. "Your Majesty! Miss Bai is naturally high - minded and proud. She can't stand being slandered, so she lost her composure for a moment.
The assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites is an official of the court. Miss Bai is always very sensible. She wouldn't be so stupid as to kidnap a court official, let alone frame her own cousins. This humble prince thinks there might be some misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?" Feng Linyuan sneered. His voice was as cold as if it was covered with thick frost. "Miss Bai first said that my wife was a thief, and then said that the Crown Prince had bribed my wife and me to harm the Third Prince. Just because she brought so - called witnesses, she kept saying that the evidence was conclusive.
Well, now that I've brought out my witness, it's a misunderstanding when it comes to her?"
These words made Zhuo Lingxiao's face turn green and then white. He gritted his teeth secretly and couldn't help regretting that he had agreed to help Bai Sheng get rid of Bai Zheng. So what if Bai Zheng had opened five shops and could make money and become a great help to Feng Linyuan?
As long as he could defeat the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion on the battlefield, what could Feng Linyuan be arrogant about?
Now, he was with this stupid woman, trying to use intrigue to burn Bai Zheng to death. But what was the result?
This stupid woman, Bai Sheng, had done such a sloppy follow - up job. She didn't even investigate the nature of the person she threatened, which made Sheng Qinrong turn against her and even put him in an unjust position!
Zhuo Lingxiao's cold black eyes darkened sharply. He had wanted to pull Feng Jingye down, but now, it was even uncertain whether he could get out unscathed.
Sheng Qinrong regained her composure under Queen Chu's comfort. She found her determination again. She knelt in front of Feng Linche, straightened her body, and pleaded earnestly.
"Your Majesty, I'm willing to swear on the lives of the thirty - eight people in the Sheng family that every word I've said is true! I only hope that Your Majesty will take into account that my elder brother has served the Great Zhou for so many years. Even if he has no merits, he has put in hard work. Please uphold justice for the Sheng family and rescue my elder brother!"