This woman was none other than Lu Shi, Xie Qiyun's wet nurse, and also the personal maidservant who had grown up with Consort Liu Gui since childhood.

Although nominally just a servant, Consort Liu Gui and Xie Qiyun had never really treated her as such.

Lu Shi had often used Consort Liu Gui and Xie Qiyun's influence to throw her weight around. She usually freely entered and exited the palace gates. Therefore, if she had the intention to frame Xie Jin'an, it wasn't impossible.

But… if Lu Shi was the culprit, why were Xie Qiyun and Qiu Shiyi Niang the ones humiliated?

Not only did Yu Qingwu have doubts, but everyone in the hall felt puzzled.

Especially Consort Liu Gui. Hearing Lu Shi take responsibility, she first breathed a sigh of relief, and then sternly questioned her, "Hongying, did you really administer the aphrodisiac? Why would you do this?"

At this time, Xie Qiyun also spoke, asking Lu Shi in confusion, "Wet nurse, why would you want to harm me?"

"Your Highness, the First Prince, this old servant didn't want to harm you."

Lu Shi wiped away her tears and said with a bitter face, "This old servant originally wanted to make His Highness the Crown Prince look bad, but I don't know why the drugged wine ended up in your and Miss Qiu's stomachs."

Lu Shi looked full of remorse. After a pause, she timidly glanced at Emperor Wei Jing, who had a gloomy face on the throne, and stammered to add, "Later, when this old servant saw what had happened, I had a flash of inspiration and… stuffed the aphrodisiac into His Highness the Crown Prince's carriage."

Hearing this, Consort Liu Gui's tense nerves relaxed a lot.

She gave Lu Shi a deep look, her eyes filled with tears, and said with a mix of disappointment and resentment, "Hongying, ah, you… how could you do such a thing!"

"Look, what a misunderstanding this has caused!"

"Empress, you see, this matter is just a misunderstanding. This concubine and Qiyun were also bewitched to wrongly accuse His Highness the Crown Prince." As Consort Liu Gui spoke, she pretended to be relaxed and apologized to Empress Zhou, intending to use the misunderstanding to gloss over the matter.

However…

The next moment, Xie Jin'an snorted coldly, and without waiting for Empress Zhou to speak, interrupted Consort Liu Gui in a deep voice, smiling, "Consort, since this matter is a misunderstanding, then I won't pursue it. Just drag this lowly servant out and beat her to death."

"However, this matter has cleared up the misunderstanding, but how should we deal with the matter of the First Prince's affair with Miss Qiu?"

Xie Jin'an's series of questions caused Consort Liu Gui, who had just calmed down, to freeze again, and Xie Qiyun felt a chill down his spine.

In comparison, You Wanwan seemed much more composed.

She stepped forward and glanced at Xie Jin'an with some displeasure, saying, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, don't wrong people. It's true that this Miss Qiu caused a scandal with the First Prince today, but you can't convict your imperial brother based solely on the words of two maids."

"Furthermore, what proof do you have that what these two maids said is true? Perhaps, as my mother said, they are spies from another country, intentionally provoking your relationship with the First Prince."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, you must not be confused."

You Wanwan's eyes darkened, her tone carrying a hint of threat.

Was she advising him to accept the situation and stop?

Only You Wanwan, as the direct daughter of a great general, dared to threaten the current crown prince like this.

Unfortunately, Xie Jin'an was not one to be threatened, and neither was Empress Zhou.

"Qiu Xue, Qiu Shuang, you keep saying that the First Prince instructed you to frame the Crown Prince. Do you have any evidence?"

As soon as You Wanwan finished speaking, Empress Zhou, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke.

She frowned, her face still gentle and kind, giving Consort Liu Gui a comforting look, and then called out to Consort Liu Gui intimately, "Sister, don't worry. There must be a misunderstanding. You come from a noble family, and Qiyun is the eldest son, personally taught by Liu Guojiu (Liu State Duke) since childhood. This Palace doesn't believe that you and Qiyun would really do such rebellious and despicable things."

These words sounded like comfort, even siding with Consort Liu Gui and her son, but imperceptibly, she emphasized it again, reminding Emperor Wei Jing that Consort Liu Gui was also involved in the monitoring and affair, and also implying that Liu Guojiu had taught Xie Qiyun astray.

Sure enough, Emperor Wei Jing's complexion, which had just improved, immediately darkened again, and he looked at Consort Liu Gui and her son with questioning eyes.

You Wanwan still wanted to say something, but Emperor Wei Jing didn't even give her any face.

He only looked at the sisters Qiu Shuang and Qiu Xue, who were still kneeling on the ground, and questioned, "Qiu Shuang, Qiu Xue, you stated categorically that Consort Liu Gui and the First Prince instructed you, and also said that the First Prince had an affair with Qiu Kui long ago. Do you have any evidence for all of this?"

"Of course, we do." Qiu Xue immediately replied, then raised her head to look at Consort Liu Gui, her eyes becoming more and more angry, and immediately reddened, gritting her teeth and saying, "Your Majesty, we sisters originally didn't want to collude with them. After all, monitoring the crown prince and confusing the imperial bloodline is a capital crime."

"But… Consort Liu Gui threatened us sisters, saying that if we didn't listen, she would kill our whole family."

"We really had no choice but to agree."

"Yes, yes, now our family members are still being held by Consort Liu Gui."

At this time, her younger sister Qiu Shuang also spoke.

She wiped away her tears, knelt forward, glared at Xie Qiyun fiercely, and said angrily, "The small courtyard where our family members are being held is under the First Prince's name. If Your Majesty doesn't believe it, you can send someone to investigate."

"As for the First Prince's affair with Miss Qiu, Your Majesty can send someone to inquire about it in that area, and you will know. The First Prince and Miss Qiu always meet in secret next door to that courtyard. Sometimes, they even have our family members serve them."

"In addition, the First Prince has also given Miss Qiu a lot of property, which were originally the dowry brought by the Princess Consort…"

The previous words didn't count for much…

This last sentence, however, shocked everyone in the hall.

Especially You Wanwan. Her body trembled violently, and she subconsciously glanced at Xie Qiyun. Xie Qiyun's face was pale, and he was too guilty to meet her eyes.

Qiu Shiyi Niang, who was on the side, lowered her head, her body already beginning to tremble.

Seeing the expressions of the two, what didn't You Wanwan understand?

She trembled with anger, and her eyes looking at Qiu Shiyi Niang became more and more fierce.

"Bitch! You bitch!"

She screamed and cursed, and the next moment, she suddenly pounced on Qiu Shiyi Niang, punching and kicking her.

Those fists didn't lose out to the soldiers on the battlefield at all. Two punches made Qiu Shiyi Niang's face full of blood, and with the third punch, Qiu Shiyi Niang's nose bridge was directly broken.

"Ah! Qiyun, save me!"

Qiu Shiyi Niang was completely frightened at the moment. Without thinking, she subconsciously threw herself into Xie Qiyun's arms.

Xie Qiyun didn't like You Wanwan in the first place. Seeing the woman he liked being beaten violently by her, he couldn't bear it any longer. He grabbed You Wanwan's fist and protected Qiu Shiyi Niang tightly in his arms.

"Qiyun, what are you doing?" Consort Liu Gui shouted angrily, signaling Xie Qiyun to let go of Qiu Shiyi Niang.

Xie Qiyun protected Qiu Shiyi Niang even more tightly, raised his eyes and glared at You Wanwan, almost splitting his eyes, "You Wanwan, you are presumptuous!"