Chapter 231: Evidence as Iron

Xiao Mingshu was stripped of her title, and the impeachment of the Xiao Family in the court instantly calmed down. The Dog Emperor was raging in Yangxin Hall.

After all, Huang Hu was found, but he was already covered in scars; the imperial physician said that from now on he would likely be unable to fight on the battlefield. The Dog Emperor was already irritated, but unexpectedly, Huang Hu revealed a huge secret: he said he had been imprisoned, and when he escaped he beat a person to death and carried that person's corpse back.

Good fellow, it's one thing if the Emperor doesn't look. But look, isn't this just the Imperial Guard that the Xiao Family borrowed to protect the Emperor? These Imperial Guards, aside from the Emperor, can only be used by the Xiao Family. Now that the Emperor needs Huang Hu, it certainly isn't his own doing.

Are you kidding? Does the Dog Emperor willingly become a puppet? The Xiao Family has been pointing fingers in front of the Dog Emperor for over a decade, and the Dog Emperor has already reached his limit.

Otherwise, how could the deposed Empress be removed so smoothly this time! It would be fine if the Xiao Family behaved, but they also decided to cause a commotion.

Enough?

Wan Tang's heart harbored a cold laugh.

In Chu Yunzheng's eyes, how could it even be called a statement?

Inside Yangxin Hall.

Minister of Revenue Xiao Sihai, even before the throne, did not display much deference,

He sat on the purple sandalwood chair at the lower end, massive and with eyes sharp as a hawk.

He exuded the arrogance and oppressive aura of one who has long held a high position and controlled the treasury.

Chu Yunzheng perched high upon the Dragon Throne, his expression calm, showing no joy or anger; only his fingertips tapped the armrest lightly, revealing a barely perceptible calculation.

In the center of the hall, Xiao Shunzi was bound with coarse ropes and thrown onto the ground, his clothes tattered, his exposed skin covered with whip marks and bruises, clearly having endured severe torture.

His breath was weak, his head deeply bowed.

Wan Tang stepped into the hall, her gaze sweeping over Xiao Shunzi's wretched state; her heart felt as if it had been gouged with a harsh knife, and the hand in her sleeve instantly clenched, nails digging deep into her palm.

She silently vowed that this would be the last time she let this child endure such suffering for her.

Yet she showed no hint on her face, stepping forward steadily, kneeling and bowing with graceful poise.

Her voice calm and even: "Subject, may I see the Emperor."

Before Chu Yunzheng could speak, Xiao Sihai let out a cold snort.

His voice boomed like a great bell: "Virtuous Consort, your arrival is perfectly timed."

"This Dog Nubi has already confessed; he acted on your orders to frame the inner palace. What else do you have to say?"

The pressure instantly bore down entirely on Wan Tang, who was kneeling on the ground.

Inside Yangxin Hall, the air seemed to solidify.

Xiao Sihai's voice boomed like a great bell, each word laced with a lethal intent to put Wan Tang to death: "Emperor, the Virtuous Consort is likely more than just framing the inner palace."

"I suspect she has colluded with forces outside the palace; her motives are inscrutable, and she may harbor intentions to harm the Holy One!"

Chu Yunzheng slightly furrowed his brows, his tone tinged with impatience: "Xiao Qing, you are overthinking."

"Wan Tang is merely a…"

He intended to say "orphan girl," but before finishing, his expression subtly shifted, as if he suddenly recalled something, and he abruptly stopped.

Xiao Sihai observed the Emperor's subtle reaction, a smug cold smile curling at his mouth as he pressed forward: "Emperor, you know well that she is not some orphan girl; she is the daughter of the Mo Family!"

"She is the bloodline of the traitorous Mo Zisuan!"

The three characters "traitor" burned like a red‑hot branding iron into Wan Tang's heart.

She felt a sharp humiliation; her fists clenched tightly inside her sleeves, nails nearly digging into her flesh, her jaw clenched, and she forced herself not to roar.

She wanted to shout a rebuttal: her grandfather was not a traitor!

But she knew she could not.

Denying the Mo Family's crime would be tantamount to questioning the Late Emperor's verdict, which is an even greater capital offense.

Xiao Sihai, seeing her silence, grew even more fervent: "A person of such lineage, lurking beside the Emperor, I cannot help but suspect."

"Is she seeking revenge for the Mo Family, or emulating her ancestor to commit treason again!"

"Enough!" Chu Yunzheng's voice was icy: "The Mo Family is the Mo Family; she is she."

"I believe she is innocent."

"Innocent?" Xiao Sihai sneered, pointing at the barely living Xiao Shunzi on the ground: "The evidence is conclusive."

"This Xiao Shunzi is her confidant, right?"

"Lately he has been frequently entering the palace forbidden area, moving covertly!"

"I have captured him and subjected him to harsh interrogation; he confessed many things."

"The Virtuous Consort has been transmitting messages with forces outside the palace, spying on state affairs— is that true?"

He wore an expression as if victory were assured.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze finally settled on Wan Tang; the look was not interrogative but rather a lofty, almost mocking scrutiny.

Wan Tang lifted her tear‑clouded face, full of grievance and bewilderment.

Her voice trembled: "Emperor, with your clear discernment, I truly do not understand what Master Xiao is saying."

"Xiao Shunzi may have erred, but how can he baselessly slander me as having rebellious intent?"

"My loyalty to the Emperor is as evident as the heavens and earth!"

Xiao Sihai, seeing Wan Tang merely crying and feigning ignorance, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes, stepped forward, his voice even more aggressive: "Since the Virtuous Consort cannot explain, let me ask clearly."

"You sent Xiao Shunzi to frequently frequent the Capital's establishments where the three teachings and myriad sects gather, such as the Fried Chicken Shop and Jiuming Milk Tea, for what purpose?"

"Could it be…" he elongated the tone, casting a meaningful glance at the Emperor on the Dragon Throne, "Those establishments that cannot appear on the official stage—are their owners all you, Consort?"

The words caused even Chu Yunzheng's brows to faintly knit.

If a concubine of the Imperial harem truly ran so many enterprises outside, regardless of purpose, it would be no small matter, violating Palace Rules and easily attracting public criticism.

Wan Tang's face appropriately showed a hint of difficulty and panic; she glanced timidly at the Emperor, then quickly lowered her head.

Her hands fidgeted nervously with the scarf, her lips muttering a few times, as if struggling to speak.

Xiao Sihai took in her "guilty" demeanor, his momentum growing, his voice echoing through the Grand Hall: "Emperor! You have seen everything, haven't you?"

"A concubine, not only a descendant of a traitor, but also running so many shady enterprises outside the palace."

"May I ask, Emperor, even the deposed Empress, when she was the mother of the realm, would never dare such conduct outside; is this not harboring ill intent?"

Chu Yunzheng remained silent, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest of the Dragon Throne, his gaze shifting between Wan Tang and Xiao Sihai.

Wan Tang seemed driven to a desperate corner, inhaled deeply, as if having made a certain resolve.

She raised her head, tears in her eyes, yet with a reckless stubbornness: "Emperor, I… I sent people to those shops, not for any unspeakable purpose."

Her voice trembled, embarrassed, "I only heard that you have been overworked by state affairs lately, your appetite poor; although the Imperial Kitchen's dishes are exquisite, they inevitably become greasy and tiresome."

"I thought perhaps I could learn some novel outside foods, prepare them for you to taste, maybe it would stimulate your appetite."

Chu Yunzheng raised an eyebrow slightly: even in the Cold Palace, does she still keep herself in mind?

Indeed, after Chu Yunzheng first tried Fried Chicken burger, it was truly unforgettable.

He still craves that flavor to this day.

Only that he is the Emperor, how could he possibly think of street snacks?

Even Li Defu failed to notice the Emperor's oddity.

This remark left Xiao Sihai stunned at first, then as if he had heard the biggest joke.

He couldn't help but throw his head back and laugh wildly, his laughter full of sarcasm: "Hahaha, absurd!"

"Emperor, you are a body of ten‑thousand gold; what delicacies of mountain and sea have you not seen? How could you fancy those trash foods from the alleys?"

"Imperial Concubine, your excuse is far too clumsy!"

The crudeness of the method matters not; as long as it can make the Emperor believe, it's sufficient.

Wan Tang seemed not to hear his mockery, and instead whispered to the standing Xiao Dongzi beside her: "Sir, please go to my palace and retrieve that rosewood box from the Sleeping Hall drawer."

Xiao Dongzi looked toward the Emperor, and Chu Yunzheng nodded slightly.

In a short while, the box was obtained.

Wan Tang opened it publicly; inside was not gold, silver, jewels, or a Secret Letter, but a stack of thick xuan paper.

She took the sheets out and presented them with both hands.

"Emperor, please look," Wan Tang's voice returned to calm, "these are the recipes I had Xiao Shunzi taste and inquire about everywhere, then record in detail."

"There are methods for marinating chicken to be crispy outside and tender inside—'Fried Chicken' recipe, a method for mixing milk with tea—'Milk Tea' recipe, and various snack preparations…"

"I am foolish, can only rely on such clumsy ways, hoping that if I can make something to the Emperor's taste, it will be my blessing."

Xiao Sihai stepped forward, snatched several sheets, skimmed them quickly; indeed they were densely filled with ingredient ratios and cooking steps, essentially a detailed cookbook.

His manic grin grew wider, pointing at the papers, he shouted to the Emperor: "Emperor! Do you see?"

"She is incriminating herself without a word."

"An Imperial Concubine, who does not guard feminine virtue, yet spends all day delving into these merchants' lowly trades, employing strange tricks to tempt the holy heart."

"What a disgrace!"

"The Imperial Kitchen has thousands of famous dishes; which one is not superior to these?"

Wan Tang no longer paid heed to Xiao Sihai's clamor, merely bowed gracefully, lifted her head toward Chu Yunzheng, eyes filled with pure worry and a hint of grievance: "Emperor, I know this act may be improper, but I only… only saw your decline and felt anxious."

"If the Emperor does not like it, I will never dare again."

Chu Yunzheng's gaze lifted from the recipe‑laden papers and fell back onto Wan Tang's pitiful face.

In the depths of his eyes, that hint of mockery gradually turned into an indescribable profundity.

In a daze, it seemed to return to when he and Wan Tang walked hand in hand on the Capital streets, husband and wife affectionate.

He spoke slowly, his voice revealing no emotion: "Beloved Consort… you have intention."

【Tangtang is so cute, she even shifts the blame onto the Dog Emperor.】

【Serves him right, the Dog Emperor doesn't handle affairs; what's wrong with shifting the blame?】

【Support Tangtang.】

【But who is Xiao Sihai? Since he brought Xiao Shunzi, it can't be that simple.】

Indeed!

Of course it isn't that simple.

Alright, this is the continuation, intensifying Xiao Sihai's sinister nature and the tension of the scene:

Xiao Sihai, seeing that he could not grasp any leverage over Wan Tang regarding the "industry" matter, showed little frustration on his face.

Instead he sneered, his tone mocking: "Hehe, I never expected that in Yangxin Hall we could witness such a 'imperial consort deep love' scene, truly moving!"

His tone suddenly shifted, becoming as sharp as a blade, directly pointing at Wan Tang: "Since Virtuous Consort keeps proclaiming love for the Emperor…"

"Then I must ask, why do you plot and harm my sister, the Central Palace Empress!"

Wan Tang's heart tightened, yet her face remained composed and bewildered: "Sir Xiao, where does this come from? I do not understand."

"Do not understand?" Xiao Sihai's eyes flashed coldly, he kicked the crouching Xiao Shunzi on the ground, shouting, "Then let this eunuch tell you!"

Xiao Shunzi let out a muffled groan from the kick, curling in pain.

Xiao Sihai stopped looking at Wan Tang, instead drew from his sleeve a paper stamped with a fresh red handprint, raised both hands, and presented it to Chu Yunzheng.

His voice, heavy with sorrow and indignation: "Emperor! Please peruse!"

"The lowly eunuch could not endure the torture; he has already been instructed by Virtuous Consort to spread rumors and forge evidence within the palace."

"Step by step, he framed the Empress, aiming to destabilize the nation and harm our Xiao family; all these crimes have been confessed!"

"On white paper, black ink, the handprint as proof!"

He abruptly turned that "Confession Letter" toward Wan Tang, allowing her to see the blurred characters and the glaring handprint.

His tone, brimming with assured triumph and cruelty: "Virtuous Consort, now that both testimonial and physical evidence are present, what else do you have to say?!"