Nowadays, everyone in the capital knows that Ye Pengcheng has been embezzling money on a large scale by taking advantage of his position and has even dared to meddle in the affairs of the harem. The Supreme Court of Judicature has been investigating this matter vigorously these days, fearing to miss any clue.
According to Yi Yaofeng's words, aren't these people just rushing to offer merits to the Supreme Court of Judicature?
Miss Zhu, who had spoken the most straightforwardly, turned pale with fright. She was afraid that if Yi Yaofeng was unhappy, he would go back and tell Yi Yuan everything. She quickly defended herself:
"I didn't mean that at all. The Ye family deserves its downfall. Young Prince, please don't talk nonsense."
"That's right, that's right,"
Miss Jiang also quickly echoed.
"We were just chatting casually. Prince, please don't misunderstand us."
Seeing their anxious expressions, Yi Yaofeng was even more confused. He blinked his big eyes and looked at Ye Xi, hoping that she could explain it to him. Why did he just ask a casual question and show off the idiom that Ye Xi had taught him after helping Lian Yi some time ago? Why did these aunts look so scared and uneasy?
Wasn't "standing up for the wronged" a good idiom? But Sister Xi had said it was a good word...
While Yi Yaofeng was still confused, Cao Wei thought that it must have been Ye Xi who had taught Yi Yaofeng to say that. After all, Yi Yaofeng was just a child. How could he know anything about court affairs? And he even used it to shut their mouths.
These young ladies from small families were so inexperienced. They were scared like this after just a few words. If it weren't for Ye Xi ruining her eldest brother's reputation, those noble ladies who used to be on good terms with her would not have broken off contact with her. She would never have agreed to the invitation of these young ladies from small families. They were really so ignorant.
Humph - just wait. When her elder brother wins over Miss Yun, she'll see how those snobbish noble ladies will come back on their knees to flatter her; and by then, she hoped that Ye Xi would be so angry that she would die...
Thinking of this, Cao Wei felt a little better. She arrogantly glanced at Ye Xi and sneered:
"What can a child know about standing up for others? It must be someone who has instigated him. As long as no one deliberately frames others, chatting casually won't be that serious."
"Some people are too shy to show their true faces in public. They are even too timid to speak their own minds. They have to use a child as a mouthpiece. It's really ridiculous..."
"Yes,"
Ye Xi forced a smile.
"No one is as straightforward and outspoken as Miss Cao. I just don't understand why you and your elder brother, born of the same mother, are so different. Your elder brother is so insincere and good at distorting the truth and acting secretly.
"Why don't you teach your elder brother a lesson, Miss Cao?"
"You..."
Cao Wei felt a lump in her throat. She glared at Ye Xi angrily but couldn't refute. She could only point at Ye Xi angrily and say:
"Don't think that just because you've hooked up with the Prince of Yu'an, you can be so arrogant. You haven't even married into the family yet! You're just an ordinary person now. Be careful that one day you'll offend someone important and won't even know how you died!"
Ye Xi's eyes suddenly turned cold. She suddenly stepped closer to Cao Wei. Her cold aura made Cao Wei unconsciously take a step back:
"You, what do you want to do? I'm warning you, I'm the daughter of the State Uncle's Mansion. My grandfather is a veteran of three dynasties. The Emperor..."
Ye Xi grabbed Cao Wei's wrist. Cao Wei let out a scream in shock.
Ignoring Cao Wei's panic, Ye Xi leaned closer to her. Her voice was low and cold:
"It's you, isn't it? The one who hired Zai Shuang to kill me. It's you, Cao Wei."
[How do you know!?]
Cao Wei was shocked. She immediately tightened the sleeves of her dress. The words in her heart almost blurted out.
"What Zai Shuang?" Cao Wei turned pale but still refused to admit it.
"I've never even heard of that name. Have you gone crazy from trying to kill yourself? If you're not fully recovered from your illness, go back and get treated. Don't just say whatever you want to slander others."
[Zai Shuang hasn't even taken action yet. Without evidence, as long as I deny it firmly, what can you do to me?]
Cao Wei was fearless and gradually calmed down.
Ye Xi sneered coldly. She didn't intend to do anything to Cao Wei now. She had asked this question just to confirm her suspicion.
Ye Xi calmly let go of Cao Wei's wrist. She took out a silk handkerchief to wipe her hands and said:
"We both know whether it's you or not. Miss Cao really thinks highly of me. You're even willing to hire such an expensive killer group like Sui Yu Bu. You should be glad they didn't take action. If they had, you wouldn't be able to get away with it."
[Sui Yu Bu? What Sui Yu Bu? I hired Huai Xu Bu.]
Cao Wei was stunned. Looking at Ye Xi's gradually disappearing back, a venomous and proud smile slowly appeared on her lips:
[Look, there are more people than just me who want you dead.]
[Since someone else is willing to do the dirty work for me, I'll just sit back and enjoy the benefits.]
Ye Xi, who had let go too soon, didn't know anything about this. She also didn't see Yi Yuan, who had been watching them from afar.
"Your Highness, Miss Xi has left. Should we follow her?"
Lin An asked respectfully.
"Not for now."
Yi Yuan smiled faintly. His cold and clear eyes were like the remaining ice and snow in March melting in the warm sun.
"She has vented her anger. Now she should be going to the cloth workshop. She should be fine on her own territory."
Ye Xi's figure was no longer visible in the distance. Yi Yuan withdrew his gaze and looked at the beautiful painted boat on the lake:
"Has anything been found from Yan Yifan?"
"Just some messy things," Lin An frowned deeply. "There's not a single clue about anything else."
"Humph -"
Yi Yuan's jade-like face showed no emotion:
"Such a large sum of money couldn't just disappear without a trace. There must be records. If we really can't find anything, then we'll have to use extreme measures."
Yi Yuan let out a soft sigh. His black eyes swept around indifferently:
"Why hasn't Mian Xiao come back yet?"
"Cough..."
Lin An was also a little helpless.
"Ling Yan's burn is quite serious. Mian Xiao was really angry. With one punch, he made a big hole in the bed. He won't be satisfied until he has thoroughly played a prank on the wife of the Minister of Rites and Luo Linrui."
"I'm afraid it'll still take a while."
On the other hand, Zhou Zhanlan had a really hard time on her way back.
Sometimes the carriage broke down and she almost fell out of it. Sometimes the horse went crazy and threw her and Luo Linrui around, causing them to bump into each other and get bruised all over. When they finally managed to calm the horse down, she and her grandson leaned against the wall and vomited. Just when they were vomiting so hard that they were dizzy, the birds flying overhead seemed to be against them too.
Each bird would poop on them as it flew by, and all the poop landed on their heads and bodies. Before she could recover from the shock and anger and take any measures, several fierce wild dogs suddenly rushed out from the side of the road. Everyone was so scared that they panicked and screamed.
Zhou Zhanlan had lived a life of luxury for decades, but in the end, she had to hug Luo Linrui and run away from the wild dogs for several streets! She looked so embarrassed and smelled so bad that all the common people on the street and the nobles in the capital saw her! She had lost all her dignity in one day. She fainted before she even reached the Minister of Rites' Mansion.
Only Mian Xiao left quietly after finishing his business, hiding his merits and fame.
As for Ye Xi, when she passed by the Qunying Tower, she saw the bright red silk.