Ruan Jiu gave Qin Shuang a meaningful look.
Following Ruan Jiu's prior instructions, Qin Shuang immediately spoke up, "Your Majesty, if this woman is truly my adopted daughter, I would naturally be happy for her to become a concubine in the prime minister's mansion.
However, the prime minister took her into his mansion without ever informing the Shen family. This is quite puzzling!"
Gu Kexing tried to suppress the panic in his eyes.
He replied, "That's because Xi'er was already abandoned by the Shen family!"
Shen Ruoxi quickly chimed in, "Yes, Your Majesty. The Shen family is heartless. They ignored our decades - long bond and cruelly drove me out!
They even lied and claimed that I had passed away just to get Shen Wenshan out of prison.
How could I possibly tell the Shen family that I had become a concubine in the prime minister's mansion!"
Hearing this, Qin Shuang sneered, "Absurd! Everyone in the capital knows that although Shen Ruoxi was just an adopted daughter of the Shen family, my husband and I have always doted on her.
My husband was so grief - stricken when he heard the news of his beloved daughter's death that he fainted before even entering the mansion."
Seeing that Qin Shuang was determined to deny her identity as a Shen family adopted daughter,
Shen Ruoxi anxiously said to the emperor, "I've lived in the Shen family for many years. Your Majesty can summon some noble ladies from prominent families to testify. They can prove whether I'm really Shen Ruoxi, the eldest daughter of the Shen family!"
Before the emperor could say anything,
Ruan Jiu looked at Shen Ruoxi and asked, "Are you really going to claim the identity of Shen Ruoxi?"
"I am Shen Ruoxi!" Shen Ruoxi glared back at Ruan Jiu.
Ruan Jiu was in no hurry.
She smiled.
Suddenly, her expression changed, and she said coldly, "Your Majesty, out of respect for my late adopted sister, I didn't intend to expose all the things she had done in the court.
Since the prime minister and this young lady are so insistent, I have no choice but to ask Your Majesty to seek justice for me!"
After saying that, Ruan Jiu slowly rolled up her sleeves,
shocking everyone present.
Seeing this, the emperor frowned and asked with a solemn expression, "What is this?"
Ruan Jiu thought to herself, isn't this just playing the victim?
I can do it too.
So, her beautiful peach - blossom eyes drooped.
Then, her eyes turned red, and a mist quickly covered them.
Her nose twitched, and she choked with sobs, "Actually, after my adopted sister abducted me that day, it was far more than just insults and beatings. She had a water dungeon built and tied me to a wooden stake. The water rose above my neck.
Even more terrifying, she put dozens of snakes in the pool. Those snakes bit my skin, but I didn't dare to struggle!
Because as soon as I struggled, the water in the pool would rush up and invade my mouth and nose, choking me!
Just like this, I was trapped in the water dungeon and tortured for three whole days!
If my brother hadn't sent someone to find me, I'm afraid I would have been tortured to death!"
Ruan Jiu described the scene vividly.
Everyone gritted their teeth, as if they were there in person.
Although the wounds on Ruan Jiu's arms had healed, the dense scars were enough to tell everyone present how brutally she had been tortured.
Even the usually calm and self - composed emperor couldn't help but gasp.
All the ministers present cast disdainful glances at Shen Ruoxi.
Such cruel methods were truly abhorrent to both gods and men!
Ruan Jiu put down her sleeves and sniffed.
Frowning, she looked at Gu Kexing, "I'd like to ask the prime minister, is the seventh concubine in your mansion really my cruel adopted sister?"
Two lines of tears slid down Ruan Jiu's grief - stricken face at the right moment.
Gu Kexing froze on the spot.
His eyes widened.
What a meticulous mind!
One question after another, luring him step by step into the trap.
First, he was made to admit that Shen Ruoxi was a concubine in his mansion, and then the matter of Shen Ruoxi's torture was revealed.
If he still insisted on confirming Shen Ruoxi's identity at this moment, he would undoubtedly drag himself into the mud as well.
Gu Kexing narrowed his eyes, clenched his fists,
took a deep breath,
and then walked towards Shen Ruoxi.
"Slap!"
A heavy slap landed hard on Shen Ruoxi's face.
"You vicious woman! How dare you deceive me by pretending to be the eldest daughter of the Shen family!" Gu Kexing roared at Shen Ruoxi.
Shen Ruoxi was knocked to the ground.
Then she propped herself up and sat up, covering her swollen cheek. There was still a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth.
She looked extremely pitiful.
"My lord, I didn't deceive you!" Shen Ruoxi helplessly grabbed Gu Kexing's robe and shook her head repeatedly.
Gu Kexing's eyes were filled with hatred, and he kicked Shen Ruoxi away.
Meeting Gu Kexing's cold and heartless eyes, Shen Ruoxi was already desperate.
Gu Kexing knelt in the hall and pleaded with the emperor, "Your Majesty, I was deceived by a villain! I didn't mean to frame the Shen family! Please show mercy!"
Immediately afterwards, many court officials in the hall stood up to speak on Gu Kexing's behalf.
The emperor found it a bit noisy.
He closed his eyes and concentrated.
After a moment, the emperor slowly opened his eyes.
"In that case, immediately throw this woman who has deceived the emperor into prison. Prime Minister Gu was negligent this time. Go back to your mansion and reflect on your actions."
The emperor's tone was calm, revealing no emotion.
Although Gu Kexing wasn't overly implicated in this matter,
fortunately, the Shen family had cleared their name and dispelled the emperor's suspicion. They no longer had to leave the capital.
As soon as they stepped out of the palace, Shen Yu couldn't help but praise Ruan Jiu,
"You're truly amazing, A Jiu. You remained calm in such a big situation. You don't know, I was almost scared to death just now!"
After hearing this,
Ruan Jiu loosened her clenched fist and wiped it on her dress.
Wasn't she just as nervous?
Shen Yu continued, "The emperor is truly a wise ruler. He not only cleared the Shen family's name but also bestowed the good medicine from the palace for treating scars on A Jiu."
If it weren't for what had happened today, he wouldn't have known that the scars on Ruan Jiu's body were so appalling.
Which girl didn't want her skin to be fair, smooth, and delicate? With so many mottled scars, she must have been extremely distressed.
But she never mentioned it even once.
Thinking of this, there was a touch of pity in Shen Yu's eyes as he looked at Ruan Jiu.
Ruan Jiu smiled, "Do you think the emperor would believe our nonsense?"
"Why?" Shen Yu asked puzzledly.
"This is just the emperor's art of balance."
Hearing Ruan Jiu's answer, Shen Yu still looked confused.
Shen Wenshan raised his hand and tapped Shen Yu on the head, "If only you were as smart as your sister. We'd save a lot of worry."
After a pause, he continued to explain, "The emperor saw how the prime minister's faction supported Gu Kexing in the court today. The emperor is well aware of the power struggles in the court. He will never allow any faction to become too powerful.
Just like before, the emperor was wary of our Shen family because he was afraid that the Shen family would collude with one of the factions and threaten his throne. As long as the Shen family is only loyal to the emperor, the Shen family will be safe.
So, whether Shen Ruoxi is really an adopted daughter of the Shen family doesn't matter.
What the emperor wants is to give Gu Kexing a good warning."
Suddenly enlightened, Shen Yu said, "So that's how it is!"
Shen Wenshan frowned and pinched Shen Yu's ear, "I don't know where all the books you've read over the years have gone!"
Shen Yu covered his ear and kept shouting,
"It hurts! Mother, save me quickly!"
"A Jiu! Save me! Sister, save me quickly!"
...
The figures of the family playing and joking grew longer and longer.
It was warm and peaceful.