Chapter 287 Confusion of black and white

Xia Chunyu was not idle this morning. He first inquired about the departure time of Shopkeeper Deng and Li Erniang, rushed to the dock to see them off, and then went to the Jingzhao government office. As expected, Xiao Jing had already made a call, implying that the prince attached great importance to this case. Now that the court is vigorously rectifying official discipline, if they can follow the clues and catch a few more corrupt officials, it will be a credit, so the Jingzhao prefect did not refuse.

However, Xia Chunyu was well aware of the struggles in the officialdom, and it was not that Minister Mu only wanted to drag Prefect Wei into the water. I am afraid that this time, the Ministry of Revenue will be shaken. Most of the people in the Ministry of Revenue are supporters of Prince Yu, especially the Minister of Revenue, who has some relatives with Concubine Shu's family.

Xia Chunyu had a headache. Emotionally, he was inclined towards the crown prince. After all, the crown prince was the eldest son of the emperor. Although his ability and decisiveness were not as good as those of Prince Yu, he was more kind and filial. In addition, because of Helian Xuan's relationship, he hoped that the crown prince would win the battle for the throne.

But the emperor's thoughts were hard to figure out. As far as he knew, when the Ministry of Justice was trying the case of Minister Mu, the emperor summoned the Minister of Justice many times. Afterwards, Minister Mu did not give out his accomplices, and the Ministry of Justice also chose a sentence that was neither too light nor too heavy, exiling him to Mobei, which was considered to have saved Minister Mu's life. Was this the emperor's instruction? It was hard to say.

If the Ministry of Revenue suffers a heavy blow, and Xiao Jing helps push it, it is hard to guarantee that Prince Yu will not launch a fierce counterattack, which will inevitably disrupt the current relatively peaceful situation.

It would be worthwhile if this move could completely defeat Prince Yu, but the problem is that it cannot. Once Prince Yu counterattacks and Helian Xuan, the prince's greatest helper, has not returned yet, it is unknown who will win.

Xia Chunyu felt it necessary to have a good talk with Xiaojing.

Fortunately, Xia Chunyu acted quickly and found Xiaojing before Mu Qinchu submitted the complaint.

At that time, Xiao Jing had just met Ye Jiayao.

After listening to Xia Chunyu's analysis, Xiao Jing suddenly realized that he had been thinking things too simply.

According to Xia Chunyu's idea, a compromise could be made by letting Minister Mu give out some insignificant people, which could not only reduce his crime but also avoid touching Prince Yu's core power. This level of power would make Prince Yu feel humiliated but would not require him to counterattack. Moreover, as for the vacant position in the Ministry of Revenue, it would be difficult for Prince Yu to ask to arrange his own people to fill it. The Crown Prince could take this opportunity to recommend his own people to the Ministry of Revenue and slowly eat away at this fat piece of meat.

Xiao Jing clapped his hands in admiration, saying, "My brother always said that Xia Chun was an old fox, and it turned out to be true."

Xia Chunyu calculated the time when Ye Jiayao's get out of class would finish and he had to hurry back to continue pretending to be sick, so he said goodbye in a hurry.

However, when he returned home, he realized that something big had happened.

Somehow, the Queen Mother found out about Liuli's punishment and was furious. She summoned both his father and mother to the palace to question them. He and Yaoyao were also summoned. The servants had already gone to the training class to find Yaoyao, and she was probably already in the palace by now.

Xia Chunyu untied Dahei's reins and ordered Song Qi to go to Helian Palace to report the news quickly. The Queen Mother, that old woman who protects her child, is sometimes completely unreasonable. This time, he had to trouble Princess Yide.

Inside the Ninghe Palace, the Queen Mother was so angry that her entire body was shaking. Her cloudy old eyes glared at the Marquis of Jing'an and his wife, as well as Ye Jiayao, almost spitting fire.

When she heard the news, she still didn't believe it. How could the Marquis of Jing'an have the guts to ask Liuli to kneel in the ancestral hall? But when she saw Liuli's pale face, bruised knees, and unable to stand up, she felt so distressed that she asked Liuli, but Liuli refused to say anything with tears in her eyes and begged her not to pursue the matter. How could she not pursue the matter? When she asked Xiaoya, Xiaoya also hesitated and said that she had some unpleasantness with the second young lady and had been kneeling for two days on and off. She was immediately furious.

She treated her like a treasure, and never made her kneel or even yell at her. She handed over this precious jewel in her palm and the flesh of her heart to the Marquis of Jing'an's Mansion, but she treated him so harshly. How could she not be angry? She was so angry that she almost vomited blood.

Even if Liuli committed a serious mistake, she would not be punished so severely. It was not murder or arson.

The Queen Mother's eyes, as sharp as ice knives, swept back and forth over the three people several times, and she threatened in a cold voice: "Liuli is my most beloved granddaughter. I handed her over to you in the hope that you would treat her well, not abuse her. Today, you must give me an explanation."

The Queen Mother was angry and drank so much that Youshi's heart was pounding. However, when she saw that the Marquis and Jinxuan on the side had calm expressions, she calmed down. What was there to be afraid of? This time they were on the right side. The royal family was powerful, so they couldn't be unreasonable!

Youshi calmed down and said, "Your Majesty, it would be better for you to ask Liuli about this matter."

This answer made the Queen Mother even more angry: "Liuli has been oppressed by you like a little wife, and she still dares to say that? Youshi, Youshi, you really have a good way."

Ye Jiayao sneered in her heart. Liuli didn't dare to say it. She was in the wrong! She was afraid that her ugly deeds would be publicized. This confused old woman insisted on getting to the bottom of it here.

You's face changed. "I am terrified. I have always been very tolerant towards Liuli and have protected her openly and secretly. For this reason, I have caused my eldest and second daughters-in-law to suffer a lot. If the Queen Mother does not believe me, you can ask the people in the Marquis' Mansion and ask Liuli herself."

"The Queen Mother knows Liuli's temper better than I do. If she is not wrong and has really been wronged, she would have complained to the Queen Mother long ago, let alone admitting the punishment." The Marquis said indifferently.

Ye Jiayao thought: Lord Marquis, this is a good answer. The Queen Mother was speechless for a while. Lord Marquis was right. Liuli was very willful and strong-willed. She knew it best. If Liuli was really wronged, she would definitely tell her. But the question is, can Liuli be compared with ordinary people? Even if she was wrong, couldn't the Jing'an Marquis's Mansion bear more responsibility?
"That's why I want to ask you. I want to see whether your treatment is fair. It takes two to tango. Is it all Liuli's fault? Ye Jinxuan has done nothing wrong?" The Queen Mother cast a cold gaze at Ye Jiayao.

In the final analysis, it was all because of this Ye family. Liuli and she became sworn enemies.

Ye Jiayao met the Queen Mother's gaze calmly. The Queen Mother was going to use her to punish her. No matter who was right or wrong, the Queen Mother would find a way to make her take responsibility so as to vent her anger for Liuli.

Youshi said, "I originally promised Liuli that I would not mention this matter again, but the Queen Mother insisted on investigating, so I had no choice but to tell her the truth."

"In fact, it's nothing but some old grudges. The Queen Mother is also aware of these grudges. Jinxuan has been tolerant, but Liuli can't let go of this knot in her heart. She colluded with Jinxuan's sister, forged other people's handwriting, and drugged Jinxuan to destroy her innocence..."

As Youshi spoke, her expression became more serious: "Queen Dowager, as a woman, the most important thing is to be innocent and have a good reputation. Liuli is doing this to force Jinxuan to death. Where will the reputation of the Marquisate be put?"

The Queen Mother secretly gasped. Has Liuli's hatred for Ye Jinxuan reached the point where she has to be punished immediately?

"Where is the evidence?" the Queen Mother asked arrogantly. She would not believe it without evidence.

"We have all the evidence and witnesses. Does the Queen Mother want to summon witnesses and see the evidence?" asked Youshi.

The empress dowager was startled again. No wonder this family looked so calm. It turned out they were fearless. Liuli, Liuli, you are so useless. If you want to do something, you must do it quickly and without leaving any trouble behind!
The Queen Mother snorted coldly: "Evidence? Physical evidence? Who knows if someone bribed others, forged evidence, fabricated facts, and bit back?"

Ye Jiayao almost vomited blood. Damn, old woman, this is not the way to protect your child! It turns out that Liuli inherited her rudeness from the old woman.

This made the Marquis very angry: "Your Majesty, I am not so old and stupid that I can't tell right from wrong, and can't tell truth from falsehood."

The Queen Mother's eyes were stern, and she said sternly, "My Lord, are you accusing me of being old and stupid?"

The Marquis was so angry, but he didn't dare to contradict him. He said angrily, "I dare not."

The Queen Mother shocked the Marquis of Jing'an. She looked at Ye Jiayao and sneered coldly, "Liuli colluded with your sister. She is your sister. How could she collude with Liuli? Who would believe it if you told others? If I summon your sister to confront you, can you get the truth? You talk nicely about witnesses and physical evidence. You are just trying to scare Liuli. It's useless. You are still a little naive to deceive me."

Ye Jiayao was completely speechless. What a stupid old woman! She could even turn black into white. How could she argue?
"Empress Dowager, right and wrong, justice is in the hearts of the people." Ye Jiayao said.

The Queen Mother sneered again: "This is a very high-sounding statement, seemingly justified, but it is the most useless statement. I only look at the facts."

"So what does the Queen Mother think is the truth?" Ye Jiayao asked back.

The Queen Mother's eyes were sharp, and she said in a deep voice: "The fact is that you are not willing to accept that Liuli always suppresses you, and you want to get rid of her as soon as possible. You deliberately framed Liuli and made her suffer in silence. Ye Jinxuan, even the Emperor admires your wisdom, but you didn't use it in the right way."

Ye Jiayao laughed out of anger. She had never seen anyone who could confuse right and wrong and make such convincing arguments.

"The Empress Dowager is so wise. She didn't summon any witnesses and didn't look at any evidence. She was able to make the whole thing clear with just a few words. I am so impressed by her. I'm sure those officials in the Jingzhao government, the Dali Temple, and the Ministry of Justice would be so ashamed that they would hang themselves after hearing about it." Ye Jiayao retorted.

It's really funny.

The Queen Mother's face darkened and she angrily shouted, "How dare you mock me."

Seeing that the situation was not good, the Marquis quickly took over the conversation: "This old minister begs the Queen Mother to look carefully. Jinxuan is tolerant and self-disciplined. She never provokes Liuli, but always responds to Liuli's requests."

Youshi also said, "If the Queen Mother says so, our Jing'an Marquisate cannot afford it. Liuli has already admitted her mistake in front of the whole family. Jinxuan has already been wronged enough."

The Queen Mother said angrily, "She is wronged? Has she lost her virginity? Has she lost a piece of flesh? She is standing here in good health, yet you dare to speak nonsense and disrespect me. Is this wronged? The one who is wronged is Liuli. She has never suffered a little bit of hardship since she was a child, but you made her like this."

(End of this chapter)