To verify this matter, the Empress Dowager specially summoned the Prefect of the Capital. Before long, Liang Sheng arrived at the Kunning Palace. Glancing at Yun Xi and the Eighth Princess sitting respectfully aside, he immediately knelt down in deference.
The Empress Dowager offered him a seat and got straight to the point, inquiring about the general course of events. It was exactly the same as what Yun Xi had said.
Thanks to Yun Xi's previous suggestions, Liang Sheng had handled the case with remarkable efficiency. He not only discovered that the opera troupe had been bribed to deliberately alter the script and perform it specifically in front of the Eighth Princess, but he even found a sachet of incense on Yun Ni that matched the unburned incense left in the censer at the Emerald Pavilion!
However, before he could trace the source of the incense, he was urgently summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager.
Although the details of the whole incident still needed further scrutiny, the general facts were laid bare for all to see and were undeniable!
Originally, the Empress Dowager had also summoned the Duke of Xun's mansion for questioning, but news came from the Li family:
Li Ji had been severely beaten and was still on the verge of death. Even if he managed to survive, he would likely be disabled for life!
Enraged, the Duke of Xun immediately had the servant beside Li Ji beaten to death with a cane, while the Duchess fainted from crying and had yet to wake up...
The entire Li family was in chaos, all because of the Eighth Princess's impulsive attempt to act as judge and jury!
Upon hearing this news, the Empress Dowager's head throbbed.
Although she knew that the Eighth Princess was most to blame for this incident, she couldn't bring herself to truly punish her. She merely scolded her in public, ordered her to apologize to Yun Xi personally, and promised that she would no longer make things difficult for Yun Xi in the future. Then she had the Eighth Princess confined to her quarters.
She ordered the Prefect of the Capital, Liang Sheng, to quickly find out who had been manipulating the Eighth Princess within three days!
On the one hand, it was to absolve the Eighth Princess of some of her guilt. On the other hand, the Empress Dowager wanted to personally deal with the audacious person who had dared to use her daughter!
After dealing with the Eighth Princess, the Empress Dowager found herself in a dilemma when it came to dealing with Zhen Bao.
She knew her elder brother, the Duke of Xun's temper well. With his legitimate grandson disabled, regardless of who was right or wrong, the Li family would surely demand an explanation!
If she released the person and didn't pursue the matter further, she would surely offend the Li family. But if she continued to hold the person captive, she wouldn't be able to justify it to either the Zhen family or the Prefecture of the Capital.
After much deliberation, the Empress Dowager finally sighed and said to Liang Sheng,
"Release Miss Zhen and the others for now. After all, they were standing up for justice."
Then, the Empress Dowager's tone turned cold and she said sharply,
"As for the second miss of the Prime Minister's mansion, until the mastermind behind this is found, detain her in the prison cell. No outsiders are allowed to visit!"
"Yes! I will obey the Empress Dowager's decree!"
After receiving the order, Liang Sheng left, and Yun Xi and Mrs. Zhen also walked out of the Kunning Palace.
In the carriage on the way back, Mrs. Zhen let out an involuntary sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness it was just a false alarm."
When she heard in the mansion that her precious daughter had been imprisoned for beating someone, the usually calm Mrs. Zhen had been completely at a loss. Fortunately, Yun Xi had explained the whole incident to her in time, and she had gradually calmed down and followed Yun Xi's plan to meet the Empress Dowager.
She hadn't expected that they would be able to turn the situation around so quickly, which really surprised her.
Facing Mrs. Zhen, Yun Xi couldn't help but feel a bit guilty.
"It's all because of me that Zhen Bao got involved. Otherwise, she wouldn't have had to go through this."
At that time, when she was taken away by Qi Rong, she never thought that Zhen Bao would come looking for her, let alone beat Li Ji up to avenge her. She never wanted Zhen Bao to get into such a predicament because of her!
Seeing Yun Xi like this, Mrs. Zhen didn't mind at all. She lovingly reached out and stroked Yun Xi's head, comforting her.
"How can this be your fault? You don't have the ability to predict the future."
Moreover, this was her daughter's own choice. Although it was a bit reckless to stand up for a friend, it was the Zhen family's way!
Speaking of this, Mrs. Zhen couldn't help but think of another thing.
"Yun Xi, you clearly know who is behind all this. Why didn't you just tell the Empress Dowager and Lord Liang?"
Although there wasn't enough evidence, Yun Xi was certain that this matter was related to Mrs. Jiang.
Because the person with such scheming and means couldn't be the impulsive Yun Ni. But Yun Xi had deliberately pointed the finger at Yun Ni, and Mrs. Zhen didn't understand why she did this.
Facing Mrs. Zhen's question, Yun Xi pursed her lips and smiled.
"As the saying goes, a cunning rabbit has three burrows. Mrs. Jiang has always been sly and leaves no traces. It's difficult to catch her red - handed. If we're not careful, we might even be accused by her instead. It's not worth it."
"But Yun Ni is different. She is impatient but relatively simple - minded, which is why she has been repeatedly used. She is also the best entry point to tear off Mrs. Jiang's disguise!"
Although Yun Xi wasn't completely sure that she could use Yun Ni to draw Mrs. Jiang out, the key figure, Cui'er, was still missing. She had to make two - pronged preparations in advance.
Just like using the investigation results of the Prefect of the Capital, Liang Sheng, to force the Empress Dowager to release Zhen Bao.
Otherwise, the Li family wouldn't let it go easily, and it would be a headache for everyone!
Mrs. Zhen sighed and nodded, looking at Yun Xi with some pity.
"If you need any help in the future, just ask."
She felt that Yun Xi had endured too much. She shouldn't have had to go through such things at this age, which made people feel sorry for her.
"Thank you."
Yun Xi smiled and didn't reject the other's kindness.
In her heart, she was even more determined to help the Zhen family avoid the impending disaster in this life!
After picking up Zhen Bao and Yu Zhu from the prison, the two parties went back to their respective homes.
By now, it was almost completely dark. As soon as Yun Xi's carriage stopped at the courtyard gate, she saw Mrs. Jiang supporting the old lady standing there under two lanterns, looking imposing and ready to seek accountability!
"Miss, it seems they're not here with good intentions!"
Yu Zhu's face was full of worry. She didn't want their young lady, who had just been through a disaster and had been on the go all day, to not even get a moment's rest at this time!
Looking coldly at the people at the gate, Yun Xi sneered and lifted her lips.
"They've come at just the right time. It saves me the trouble of looking for them!"
After all, the reason she had trusted the maid's words and gone to the Emerald Pavilion was, firstly, because the maid Cui'er had delivered messages for Mama Zhang several times, and secondly, because Cui'er was a maid in the old lady's courtyard.
Although Mama Zhang had quietly told her before that Mrs. Jiang had been visiting the old lady's courtyard more frequently recently, and the two seemed to be plotting something.
However, Yun Xi never thought that the old lady would allow Mrs. Jiang to use the people in her courtyard to deceive her and even ruin her reputation!
Either Mrs. Jiang had deceived the old lady, or the old lady had made up her mind to completely destroy her!
Since the other party could so brazenly and openly scheme against her, why should she spare their feelings?
Yun Xi got out of the carriage and walked straight towards the old lady. Before the other could start scolding, she said calmly,
"Grandmother, are you planning to talk here? Of course, I don't mind."