Chapter 138 Become My Concubine
Ah Ying knew that she couldn't escape this disaster, and Su Yin was clearly setting a trap for her.

However, she didn't expect that Su Yin would join forces with Sheng Daoan.

"Miss Huo, please come in. This time we are not at the Sheng Mansion, nor the Marquis' Mansion, but at the Xuanming Palace of the current emperor. If you tell any lies again, you will be beheaded!" Sheng Daoan said to Aying with a smug look on his face.

Ah Ying was not afraid and walked straight forward.

When the Marquis' Mansion received the news, there was an uproar.

The Marquis' Mansion can no longer withstand any more turmoil.

Xie Chongkun's eyes, which were originally somewhat depressed, became even more obscure, but since Xie Chengyi had not yet woken up, he had to do something.

Xie Chenglin also returned home from the Ministry of Justice.

He had no right to take care of his mother and brother, so he begged his eldest brother late at night and got his eldest brother's promise. After confirming that his mother and brother would not be in danger of their lives, he lived in the Ministry of Justice.

But it was different with Aying. Xie Chenglin knew very well that if anything happened to Aying, the Marquis' Mansion would be in trouble. So, he could only try his best to protect Aying.

Zhan Li was in distress, and Xie Chenglin rushed over, "Where's my brother?"

Zhan Li told the second young master about the situation. Xie Chenglin looked at Xu Kuang and asked, "Is there any other solution?"

Xu Kuang's expression darkened, "There is another method, but it is a bit harmful to your body."

Xie Chenglin concentrated and asked: "How is it harmful to the body?"

Xu Kuang whispered in his ear.

After listening to this, Xie Chenglin frowned, looked at his elder brother, and murmured: "If anything happens to Ah Ying, I'm afraid that my elder brother will blame me when he wakes up..."

"Give me acupuncture!" Xie Chenglin ordered.

Xu Kuang looked at Xie Chenglin and nodded helplessly.

Imperial Palace, Xuanming Hall.

In the main hall were Xiao Wenzhang and Sheng Xinlan.

As soon as Ah Ying was brought up, he saw Huo Zhongqiao kneeling in the main hall.

At this moment, Huo Zhongqiao huddled in a corner, trembling all over, with his head lowered very low.

At this point, Aying no longer had any concerns in her heart. If her own father wanted to kill her, no matter how exquisite the words were, they would not be able to describe the despair and heartache she would feel.

Sheng Xinlan looked disdainful and her eyes were fierce.

Xiao Wenzhan had a blank expression on his face, and the look he gave Ah Ying was intriguing.

Sheng Daoan bowed and said, "Your Majesty! This man is called Huo Zhongqiao, and he claims to be Huo Aying's father. He was detained in Lin'an by Xie Chengyi. A few days ago, he finally escaped by luck. He originally wanted to go to Beijing to look for his daughter, but he heard that Huo Aying had claimed to be from Qingzhou. He met me when he was asking around for information about his daughter. I hope Your Majesty will severely punish Huo Aying for this unfilial and disloyal behavior!"

Huo Zhongqiao crawled on the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, I am really Huo Aying's father, I am not lying!"

"Huo Aying, do you admit that you deceived the emperor?" Sheng Daoan asked sternly.

Ah Ying looked at his father, then looked at Xiao Wenzhang quietly, "Your Majesty, this man is indeed my father."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was confused.

Sheng Xinlan and Sheng Daoan thought that Huo Aying would never admit it, but they didn't expect that she would admit it without any effort.

Sheng Xinlan then turned sideways and looked at Xiao Wenzhang with sparkling eyes, "Your Majesty, Huo Aying has come to the palace several times without any guilt. Isn't it obvious that she was instigated by someone? Otherwise, how could she, the daughter of a gambler, be so bold?"

Xiao Wenzhang had a blank expression on his face. "Then according to what my beloved concubine said, what should we do?"

"The Xie family who sheltered Huo Aying should also be punished!" Sheng Xinlan's eyes were sharp.

Xiao Wenzhan did not refute.

Gao Pan observed his expression and said, "Tell Xie Chongkun!"

As soon as the voice fell, Xie Chongkun came in cautiously and kowtowed with a solemn face: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you! I pay my respects to the Imperial Noble Consort!" "Stand up." Xiao Wenzhan said in a calm voice.

Xie Chongkun immediately stood up.

"Huo Aying, do you admit your guilt?" Sheng Daoan asked sternly.

Ah Ying looked at Sheng Daoan fearlessly and asked loudly, "What crime?"

"Deceiving the emperor!" Sheng Daoan said sternly.

Ah Ying smiled faintly, then looked at Xiao Wenzhang, "Your Majesty, are you interested in listening to a story Ah Ying can tell?"

Sheng Xinlan immediately rebuked: "How can you speak nonsense in the hall!"

Xiao Wenzhang was very interested, "You say."

Sheng Xinlan was surprised and looked at Xiao Wenzhan suspiciously.

Ah Ying knew that no matter how cunning or scheming she tried in front of the emperor, it would be in vain, and the only thing she could gamble on was His Majesty's sincere words.

"The man in front of you is indeed my father, named Huo Zhongqiao. I also have an uncle named Huo Boqian, who was a juren in the 23rd year of the Tianqi reign. He was very famous in Lin'an at that time!" Ah Ying's eyes turned red when he first said this.

Unexpectedly, Huo Zhongqiao, who had just shivered, seemed to be struck in the heart. He immediately darkened his face and said, "Shut up!"

Gao Pan immediately looked at Huo Zhongqiao, "How dare you! His Majesty hasn't said anything yet, why are you roaring here!"

Huo Zhongqiao accidentally caught a glimpse of Gao Pan's eyes, and felt as if frost had fallen all over his body. He immediately crouched even lower.

"Anyone who can pass the imperial examination must be a person of extraordinary talent." Xiao Wenzhan really didn't expect that the Huo family had such a past, and sighed slightly.

"My uncle studied hard for twenty years and finally passed the imperial examination. He thought that all the hard work had paid off, but he became addicted to gambling. Only three months later, my uncle was hacked to death in the suburbs because he owed gambling debts. My grandparents didn't want to tarnish my uncle's reputation, so they told people that he died of illness. My father, the one in front of you, threatened to vent his anger on his brother's behalf and insisted on competing in the casino. What's even more tragic is that not only did my father squander all the family fortune, but he also sold my mother, who had suffered with him all her life, to a brothel, where she hanged herself on the same day." Ah Ying couldn't stop crying when she talked about her mother.

This pitiful yet still pretending to be strong feeling of brokenness made Xiao Wenzhang feel a little touched, "What happened next?"

"On the day my mother died, my brother was sold by my father. I tried my best, selling smiles, singing songs, and learning literature, hoping that my father would keep me. But I didn't expect that half a year after I came of age, my father sold me for one thousand taels..." Ah Ying looked back at Xiao Wenzhan with tears in her eyes and smiled helplessly.

"If the lady of the Marquis's Mansion had not bought me out of compassion when she saw my pitiful life when she traveled to Lin'an, I would have suffered all the pain in the world. The lady not only helped me change my identity, but also found someone to look after my father, only asking him not to disturb me so that she could spend her old age in peace. Your Majesty, isn't this in line with the love of a great country that you advocate?" Ah Ying shed tears, looking confused.

"No! Your Majesty, Huo Aying entered the Marquis' Mansion just to please Uncle Li!" Sheng Daoan immediately questioned.

Ah Ying looked at Sheng Daoan in confusion, "Sir Sheng, have you ever seen Sir Xie do such shameful things? Didn't His Majesty bestow Dingyang on Sir Xie because he was upright and peaceful? Why, does a woman entering this mansion have to please others?"

Sheng Daoan was obviously stumped.

Ah Ying looked at Xiao Wenzhang's expression and had an idea in mind. "If you ask me, Your Majesty should not only not punish the Xie family, but also reward them generously. Only with such a broad mind can the spirit of 'the king serves the people and the people serve the king' as Your Majesty said."

Sheng Daoan was almost laughing at Huo Aying, but everything Huo Aying said made sense and he had no arguments to refute.

After Xiao Wenzhang heard about Ah Ying's life story, he looked at Ah Ying, who was as tough as a wild flower, and for the first time he felt something different in his heart...

"Is this your excuse for deceiving the emperor? Wrong is wrong!" Sheng Xinlan stopped Aying from speaking in time.

Ah Ying said innocently, "Royal Concubine, the reason you are so extreme is not only because you were born into wealth, but also because His Majesty has always loved you. If your life is threatened, can't I be flexible?"

Sheng Xinlan was speechless after hearing what Huo Aying said, "You——"

Sheng Daoan immediately kowtowed, "Your Majesty! Huo Aying has always been good at making excuses, you must not be fooled by her!"

Ah Ying immediately covered her mouth in astonishment, "Master Sheng, what are you talking about? Your Majesty is a famous emperor throughout history. He will naturally be able to see through everything and help the common people solve their problems. How could he be so foolish as to be deceived by me?"

Sheng Daoan was so anxious that he realized that he had said something inappropriate, and immediately said, "That's not what I meant!"

"Enough!" Xiao Wenzhan was a little impatient.

Then, he slowly walked off the stage.

Seeing Ah Ying's fearless expression, he admired her very much. After walking closer, he whispered, "Save your life or become my concubine, which one would you choose?"