The emperor and the Prince of Ning spoke up simultaneously, making Xu Xin blush to the roots of her hair. Her once innocent, watery eyes were now bloodshot and looked hideous and ferocious.
What had she just heard?
Her father had begged for a letter of divorce for her?
And the Prince of Ning had actually said in person that he wanted to divorce her?
What had she done wrong?
Why did they all treat her like this?
She had only... harmed Chu Qing. Why did she have to end up like this?
The more Xu Xin thought about it, the stronger the hatred in her eyes became. Chu Qing watched as she suddenly rushed to Xu Han's side and shook her father's shoulder forcefully, shouting hoarsely, "Father! Why did you do this?"
Her shrill voice made those who didn't know the situation feel extremely heart - wrenching.
At this moment, Xu Xin was also immersed in the role of a pitiful and aggrieved woman whose father had personally destroyed her happiness. She completely forgot what she had been thinking before she came.
Originally, the Prince of Ning had already been her discarded piece. Whether to keep him or not had been up to her mood.
However, now it seemed that everything had been turned upside down. Her previous thoughts were like a fleeting dream.
Chu Qing originally didn't want to say anything, but seeing Xu Xin's sticky glances at Wei Ying from time to time, she felt as if something was blocking her heart, and she felt extremely stuffy.
"Your Majesty! Please take back your decree!" Xu Xin suddenly shouted at the emperor.
Everyone present, including Xu Xin's father, Xu Han, didn't expect that she could still say such a thing at this moment.
Seeing that Xu Xin's tone was not respectful, the emperor didn't want to argue with her. He just replied lazily, "Are you trying to force me to take back my decree?"
Xu Xin was so blocked that she didn't know how to respond. She cast a pleading look at Xu Han, but to her surprise, her father, who had always doted on her, didn't even look at her!
Anger instantly welled up. Her father had lied to her to come home and even forced her to divorce the Prince of Ning?
She would rather not have such a father!
However, she couldn't ignore the emperor's question. So Xu Xin had to reply timidly, "I wouldn't dare, Your Majesty."
"Do you know what crime Xu Han has committed? He framed a royal relative and colluded with the enemy! " After saying the last four words, the emperor even wiped away the perfunctory smile on his face completely.
Chu Qing watched Xu Xin, who was standing there in a daze, coldly, without the slightest hint of soft - heartedness.
She had always been very hard - hearted. Xu Xin had schemed against her before, but before she could fight back, this whole family had managed to get themselves into this mess.
The emperor ordered Eunuch Li to prepare pen and paper. With a wave of his hand, he wrote something in a bold and flowing manner.
Time passed slowly, and everyone was very quiet. In the entire main hall, the only sound that could be heard was the rustling sound of the emperor writing.
Just when Chu Qing was so tired that she almost fell asleep, Eunuch Li received the order and read out what the emperor had just written:
"Since Xu Han, the Minister of Revenue, has disregarded the law and privately corresponded with the royal family of another country for many years, his intentions must be treacherous. Also, because Xu Han, the Minister of Revenue, has immoral conduct and privately fabricated letters to frame the Prince of Ning for colluding with the enemy, this act is extremely heinous. Therefore, he is demoted to a commoner and will be beheaded in autumn. Xu Han's wife, Lady Wang, and his daughter, Xu Xin, will have their lives spared but will not escape punishment. From today on, the two of them will be demoted to the status of slaves and exiled to the border."
Hearing that her father would be beheaded in autumn was already a huge shock to Xu Xin. After hearing that she would be demoted to the status of a slave, she couldn't bear this news any longer and immediately fainted.
And her mother, Lady Wang, had already fainted after hearing that Xu Han would be beheaded in autumn.
Chu Qing felt no waves in her heart regarding the fates of the three members of the Xu family.
However, she was still a little surprised at the emperor's punishment of Xu Xin.
Was he avenging her?
Although she knew their relationship, the emperor didn't know her true origin.
Could it be... that this brat had feelings for her?
Thinking of this, Chu Qing quickly shook her head vigorously. What was she thinking about!
It was different from her relationship with Wei Ying! Yuan Rui, the emperor, was truly related to her by blood! Even if she had a different body, some things were still deeply engraved in her soul.
She couldn't think about it anymore! Why was her mind full of such messy things.
...
Finally, Xu Han was dragged away in despair, and Xu Xin and Lady Wang were also taken away.
Finally, everything was over, and the others finally heaved a long sigh of relief.
After walking out of the court hall, they felt as if they had just gone through a great ordeal. Especially those from Xu Han's faction, they still felt extremely uneasy. They were afraid that the emperor would suddenly fly into a rage and investigate them as well. Naturally, they didn't dare to collude with the enemy.
However... some people had more or less embezzled some money or done some things relying on their power.
They hoped that this storm would pass as soon as possible!
...
Finally, only the emperor, Wei Ying, and Chu Qing were left in the court hall.
After Wei Ying said a few more words to the emperor, he turned to Chu Qing and said, "I'll have someone take you to the queen's place to rest for a while later. I still have some things to take care of. I'll come and pick you up when I'm done."
Seeing that Wei Ying was worried about her, Chu Qing replied with a smile, "You can go and do your things. Don't worry about me."
Seeing that Chu Qing understood, Wei Ying felt relieved. He took another look at her before turning around and leaving.
Chu Qing watched Wei Ying's back as he left, and the smile on her lips never faded.
The little meatball sensed Chu Qing's emotional fluctuations and joked, "Boss, are you in love? By the way, the prince's favorability towards you is getting higher and higher. Boss, you have to keep working hard!"
Chu Qing pouted. Suddenly, she remembered what the little meatball had said about "dou" and "peng" before, so she asked again.
The little meatball paused for a moment and then explained, "Well, it's... probably the meaning of two people acting in harmony to make people laugh... I'm not really sure either! I heard from other systems. I heard that in the world it went to, there was such a thing."
Chu Qing still didn't quite understand. Just as she wanted to continue asking, she heard a sudden voice behind her.
"Princess of Ning?"
"Ouch..." Chu Qing gasped, and then slowly turned around as if in slow - motion.
She had actually forgotten that the emperor was still here!
At this moment, there was a sparkle in the other person's eyes. Chu Qing thought that if she wasn't mistaken, this sparkle might be called excitement.
Humph! This brat!
Chu Qing suddenly smiled wickedly. If this kid really did something out of line, she definitely wouldn't be soft - hearted. She would beat him to his knees!
Not to mention anything else, at least she was still his imperial aunt. Coveting an elder was dirty and deserved a beating!
Chu Qing walked towards the emperor with a smiling face, but her hands were tightly clasped behind her back, just waiting for him to act foolishly so that she could punch him and make him cry!
Don't say that an imperial grandmother was bullying a child!