Li Xinyue was amused by Bai Yiyi's ability to yield when necessary. She turned around and sat on the grand master's chair carried by Jing Bai. Holding the hot tea offered by the guard, she sniffed the rising steam. After making sure it was hot enough, she poured the whole cup without hesitation.
The scalding tea splashed on Bai Yiyi's face and seeped into the broken skin. The tea leaves clung to the wound, and steam rose from her face.
Bai Yiyi let out a pig - like scream in pain and began to struggle frantically.
Unfortunately, she was tied up tightly and bound together with her servants. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't break free and had to endure it.
Now, she could no longer pretend. She stared at Li Xinyue with a look of hatred.
Li Xinyue thought she didn't want her eyes anymore, so she simply ordered someone to dig them out.
Bai Yiyi was so scared that she almost fainted, but was too intimidated by the guards behind Li Xinyue to pass out.
All of her servants were terrified. Although they were from the jianghu and had seen many more ruthless means, they had never been treated like this. Now, thinking that this excruciating punishment might befall them, anyone would break out in a cold sweat.
Li Xinyue was amused by their expressions. "So you know how to be afraid? But I heard that there were quite a few lives lost at your hands. You who are used to big scenes, are you still afraid of my little tricks?"
Bai Yiyi's vicious servants were deeply stung by Li Xinyue's casual words of "little tricks". They all became obedient, blinking their dull eyes and not daring to show the slightest bit of resentment.
The awakened Bai Yiyi not only didn't dare to show any resentment, but also looked at Li Xinyue pitifully. This time, it was real, not an act.
She prayed that Li Xinyue would spare her for her pitiful state.
But Li Xinyue didn't buy it, because she had already given her a chance.
"The first time I spared you was for Mu Rongxiu's sake. I felt guilty towards him, so I showed mercy to you. This time, I've figured it out. I'll make up for my guilt towards him directly.
As for you - it's better if you disappear from this world!"
Bai Yiyi was so scared that she let out whimpering cries and struggled desperately, but was immobilized by Jing Bai.
Li Xinyue stood up, putting away the mood for play. A look of solemnity appeared on her face.
"Send these people to the Supreme Court for trial. I believe that with the severity of the case in Jiangnan, Bai Yiyi won't escape death! I won't kill you. Let the law punish you!"
"Yes!"
Jing Bai pointed out several guards, who immediately sent the people to the Supreme Court.
Seeing that the matter was resolved, Li Xinyue directly returned to the princess mansion without a single extra word. She didn't even confront Bai Yiyi about the rumors outside, let alone argue about evidence.
She had evidence, and there was a thick stack of it.
From before she went to Jiangnan, to when she was deposed and confined in the princess mansion. During this period, Bai Yiyi had spread rumors about her everywhere. She even used these rumors to get Li Xinyue deposed and forced her to go on a peace - making marriage. Li Xinyue had evidence of all these endless schemes and tricks.
She just disdained to confront such a woman.
It was better to submit the evidence to the Supreme Court and let the chief justice judge!
After this incident, Fu Chengyuan's case followed closely.
Fu Chengyuan's case was secretly handled by Emperor Mingde. The reason was simple. He dared to try to get close to Princess Yuanyang.
So Emperor Mingde casually assigned a crime and quietly wiped out the collateral branch of the Fu family. From then on, there were no more noble Fu families in Jiangnan. For a long time, even ordinary people with the surname Fu didn't dare to claim their surname or say they were from Jiangnan when they were outside.
Although Fu Chengyuan had claimed credit for suppressing bandits before the fall of the Fu family, when Emperor Mingde took action against the Fu family, Chu Junyi also lent a hand.
Since he was now a legitimate husband of Li Xinyue, there was no need to hide their trip to Jiangnan. So he told everything, proving that Fu Chengyuan had no merit in suppressing bandits but only faults.
He had almost burned Princess Yuanyang to death.
Emperor Mingde was so angry that he immediately dealt with the Fu family and deprived them of the credit for suppressing bandits, which was all attributed to Chu Junyi.
Of course, he didn't dare to attribute it to Li Xinyue and Mu Rongxiu.
Otherwise, the fact that Li Xinyue went to Jiangnan for Chu Junyi and Mu Rongxiu went to Jiangnan for Li Xinyue would be exposed.
If the whole world knew about it, it would be a laughingstock.
So, Chu Junyi took a big advantage.
After that, Chu Junyi was assigned important tasks by Emperor Mingde. These tasks were difficult, risky, but offered quick promotion.
In order to catch up with Li Xinyue as soon as possible, he almost never refused any task.
...
In the past few days, Li Xinyue noticed that he was extremely busy, leaving early and returning late every day. She hardly saw him.
Counting the days, since the day after their wedding, when she showed him a cold shoulder because of being deceived, they hadn't seen each other again.
She even suspected that this guy was sulking at her.
Otherwise, how could a small official be so busy? If that was the case, wouldn't high - ranking officials never get to sleep!
Li Xinyue frowned unhappily. In the hot summer, the stuffiness already made it hard to fall asleep. With this matter on her mind, she felt even more stuffy and couldn't sleep at all.
Pa -
The slowly swaying round fan in her hand was heavily slapped on the small table. Li Xinyue closed her eyes distractedly and prepared to sleep on the hibiscus couch.
Lian'er came in with a plate of chilled watermelon.
Li Xinyue lifted her eyelids slightly. After seeing it was Lian'er, she closed them again. "Where is that guy!"
"Who?"
Li Xinyue didn't answer.
Lian'er was stunned for a while before realizing who the princess was asking about. "The imperial son - in - law is busy with official business."
Hearing the words "imperial son - in - law", Li Xinyue frowned even tighter. Did she really have an imperial son - in - law or not!
Which imperial son - in - law was like him? It seemed that the princess was too easy to bully!
"Oh!"
Lian'er was confused and didn't understand the meaning behind this "oh". After waiting for a while and seeing that the princess didn't ask anything else, she gently backed out and closed the door.
Li Xinyue lay on the couch, enjoying the breeze and waiting. She wanted to see if that guy would come back!
Under the long night, in a secluded alley in the capital, Chu Junyi led the yamen runners to surround a civilian house and knocked on the door.
After waiting for a while and not seeing the door open, Chu Junyi immediately kicked the door open and rushed in with his men. Soon, a man with his upper body bare and only wearing underwear on his lower body was dragged out.
When he was dragged out, the man spat at them viciously. There were more than a dozen servants behind him to protect him.
Behind the servants, in an open room, a bullied girl covered her open collar with both hands. Crying, she looked at Chu Junyi and begged the upright official to uphold justice for the people.
Chu Junyi came to his senses, raised his hand and slapped the royal relative. While the man was still in a daze, he ordered his men to arrest him.
The vicious servants behind the royal relative rushed up to fight with the yamen runners, but were captured by Chu Junyi and his capable assistants. They were all tied up together, and the royal relative was also taken away.
When that guy was taken away, he was still scolding vulgar words, reported his family background, and threatened to take revenge on Chu Junyi.