In the Golden Hall.
"Those with matters to report may step forward. Those without may retire from court."
The shrill voice of the chief eunuch echoed.
Gu Kexing stepped forward slowly.
"I, your humble subject, would like to accuse the Shen family of the crime of deceiving the emperor."
His voice was calm and firm, resounding throughout the entire hall.
After a moment, the emperor's sharp eyes stared at the Shen family members kneeling on the ground in unison.
Obvious anger welled up in his eyes.
He never expected that right after releasing Shen Wenshan from prison, the Shen family would cause such a stir again.
"Shen Wenshan, you have a lot of nerve!" the emperor roared. "I took pity on you for losing your beloved daughter, so I released you from prison. But I never thought you would dare to deceive the emperor!"
What a despicable Shen family!
Relying on their wealth that could rival the state, they had repeatedly despised imperial power!
He hadn't bothered to settle scores with the Shen family for the previous incident, but this time they actually fabricated the news of the eldest daughter of the Shen family's death in order to get Shen Wenshan out of prison as soon as possible.
It was truly abominable!
After hearing this, Shen Wenshan bowed respectfully and said, "Your humble subject is wronged! The Shen family has absolutely no intention of deceiving the emperor!
My daughter, Shen Ruoxi, really passed away! She was buried the day before yesterday. Everyone in the capital knows this!" His tone was firm.
"Could it be that Prime Minister Gu is framing you?" The emperor's gaze instantly shifted to Gu Kexing.
Gu Kexing stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Every word I say is true. I hope Your Majesty will investigate clearly!"
The Minister of the Secretariat also stepped forward and said, "The Shen family previously persecuted the common people. Your Majesty is kind - hearted and spared the Shen family. But unexpectedly, the Shen family has shown no sign of repentance and even dared to deceive Your Majesty. Their intentions are truly despicable!
I hope Your Majesty will severely punish them to serve as a warning to others!"
As soon as he finished speaking, all the officials of the prime minister's faction echoed in unison, "I hope Your Majesty will severely punish them to serve as a warning to others!"
The emperor's face turned ashen, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
These people were quite united.
Just then, Ruan Jiu's unassuming voice rang out, "Your Majesty, this commoner has something to say."
Hearing the voice, the emperor's eyes immediately shifted to Ruan Jiu.
Looking at this somewhat familiar face, the emperor kept recalling in his mind.
He asked in confusion, "Aren't you from the Xie family in Qinzhou?"
"This commoner is indeed from the Xie family, but I'm also the commoner who was persecuted by the Shen family as the Minister of the Secretariat just mentioned." Ruan Jiu replied.
Hearing this, a sly glint flashed in Gu Kexing's eyes.
Could it be that the Shen family was going to drag Shen Ruoxi into this?
Ruan Jiu's words, however, made the emperor even more confused.
Today, enraged by the Shen family's crime of deceiving the emperor, he immediately ordered all the Shen family members to be brought to the hall for his personal trial.
But now, why was this woman here?
Could it be to seek justice for herself?
"What do you want to say?" the emperor asked.
"Previously, it was said that the Shen family colluded with powerful officials and persecuted the common people. In fact, there is another story behind it." Ruan Jiu replied.
The emperor instantly became interested. "Oh? Tell me."
Ruan Jiu began to tell her story slowly. "Back then, Shen Ruoxi, the eldest daughter of the Shen family, had a conflict with me in Qinzhou. So she sent people to secretly kidnap me and insult and beat me.
After I was rescued, Young Master Shen deeply felt that his sister shouldn't have done such a bad thing, so he personally sent Shen Ruoxi to the prison in Qinzhou.
But after Master Shen and his wife learned that Shen Ruoxi had been imprisoned, they immediately rushed from the capital to Qinzhou. Everyone knows that although Shen Ruoxi was just an adopted daughter of the Shen family, Master Shen and his wife doted on this daughter very much.
They couldn't bear to see Shen Ruoxi suffer in prison, so they repeatedly begged me to plead with the government office to spare Shen Ruoxi's life."
Hearing this, the emperor couldn't help interrupting. "Because you refused to agree, the Shen family forced the governor of Qinzhou to release Shen Ruoxi with their power."
In this way, the matter of Zhou Chang accusing Shen Wenshan before could be explained.
But the charges of colluding with powerful officials and persecuting the common people seemed a bit too serious.
After hearing this, Ruan Jiu shook her head with a smile. "No, it was my own decision to spare Shen Ruoxi."
"Why?" the emperor asked in confusion.
This also puzzled everyone present.
"Because I'm the biological daughter of Master Shen and the younger sister of Young Master Shen."
As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar among the people present.
Ruan Jiu paused for a moment and then continued, "Back then, my mother accidentally lost me and searched for me for many years. Although I suffered an unwarranted disaster, God had mercy on me. I was blessed in disguise and reunited with my long - lost relatives."
The emperor never expected to hear such a strange story with his own ears.
It was even more exciting than the operas in the palace.
So he motioned for Ruan Jiu to continue.
"Later, after Shen Ruoxi was released from prison, she learned my true identity and felt extremely ashamed. As a result, she was depressed and died of illness not long after returning to the capital!
So the Shen family definitely didn't deceive the emperor. I hope Your Majesty will investigate clearly!"
After saying that, Ruan Jiu knelt down and kowtowed respectfully.
Although Ruan Jiu seemed sincere and calm on the surface.
In fact, her palms were already covered with a thin layer of sweat.
Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, Gu Kexing immediately stepped forward, pointed at Ruan Jiu, and scolded, "This woman is glib - tongued and full of lies! Your Majesty must not believe her one - sided words!"
At this time, the emperor sitting on the dragon throne leaned back.
He narrowed his eyes, making it hard to guess what was on his mind.
After a moment of silence, the emperor looked at Gu Kexing and said in a solemn voice, "Since it is you, Minister Gu, who accused the Shen family of deceiving the emperor, do you have any evidence?"
"Your humble subject naturally has evidence." Gu Kexing paused for a moment, and a sly glint flashed in his eyes. "Because the eldest daughter of the Shen family, who they claim has passed away, is now in my mansion!"
After a while.
Shen Ruoxi was brought in.
She knelt on the ground, crying and sobbing, "Your Majesty is wise! I'm just an adopted daughter of the Shen family. But who would have thought that after they found their biological daughter, they would heartlessly abandon me.
Now they even take advantage of Your Majesty's kindness and claim that I'm dead so that Shen Wenshan can be released from prison earlier.
Please, Prime Minister and Your Majesty, seek justice for me!"
The emperor frowned tightly.
This sobbing voice really gave him a headache.
After hearing this, Ruan Jiu smiled faintly. "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. It's natural for you to seek justice from Your Majesty. But why do you ask the prime minister to seek justice for you?"
Hearing this, Shen Ruoxi's crying suddenly stopped, and her eyes were flustered.
Gu Kexing glared at Shen Ruoxi kneeling on the ground.
He thought to himself, What a stupid woman!
He had no choice but to say, "Your Majesty, previously Shen Ruoxi was driven out of the Shen family and was in critical condition. By chance, I saved her. Now she is my concubine in my mansion.
I did this to seek justice for my beloved concubine. I beg Your Majesty to seek justice for me!"
Ruan Jiu lowered her eyelids.
Hiding the slyness in her eyes.
Good.
Suddenly, she looked up at Gu Kexing seriously and asked, "According to what you said, Prime Minister, this woman is Shen Ruoxi, the adopted daughter of the Shen family. Then why did you take her as your concubine without telling the Shen family?
As everyone knows, Prime Minister, you attach great importance to etiquette. Even the Sixth Concubine, who came from a brothel in your mansion, was welcomed in with ten full boxes of betrothal gifts.
Why did you have an affair with the eldest daughter of the Shen family without a matchmaker?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Gu Kexing's eyes darkened instantly.
He thought to himself that something was wrong.
He had accidentally fallen into this girl's trap!