Yes, among everyone here, who could hate Yu Liangdi more than she, Qiu Shiyi Niang, did?

In an instant, all eyes focused on Qiu Shiyi Niang.

Especially Emperor Wei Jing. Even without obvious emotional fluctuations, the Emperor's mere gaze made Qiu Shiyi Niang's heart flutter with panic.

Her eyes darted around, no longer daring to look at Emperor Wei Jing. Facing the increasingly approaching Yu Qingwu, she subconsciously retreated, stammering, "Yu Liangdi, what nonsense are you talking about? What grudges could I possibly have with you?"

What grudges?

How could Qiu Shiyi Niang even ask that question?

Looking at her feigned innocence, Yu Qingwu couldn't help but laugh, sneering, "Aunt Qiu, your memory is terrible, isn't it? Not long ago, you ran to the Crown Prince's residence, wanting to stir up a quarrel between me and Miss Gao. Then, you tried to deceive the Crown Prince into marriage. And what has your Qiu family done? Don't you know?

"If you don't know, then why would you be so eager to help the Wang mother and daughter sentence me to death today without even listening to my defense? You are so impatient and spare no effort to put me to death. Do you think no one can see that?

"Qiu Kui, when you are in the Qiu residence, in front of those who fawn over you, they may be deceived. However, I am not one of your admirers, and no one here is a fool. No one will risk their lives for you based on a few words."

In the end, Yu Qingwu showed no mercy to Qiu Shiyi Niang. She not only called her by her full name but also exposed how she used her reputation as a talented woman to manipulate the young masters of various families.

Qiu Shiyi Niang was already speechless from the questioning. By the time Yu Qingwu finished, she was utterly embarrassed.

Turning her head, she looked at Xie Qiyun, who was kneeling silently. Startled by the daggers in his eyes, she hurriedly waved her hands, her large, tearful eyes protesting, "Brother Qiyun, don't listen to her nonsense. I... I'm not like that. I have never asked anyone to risk their lives for me…"

"Really? Then why don't I bring Young Master Xu here and ask him how his family's luminous pearl went missing?" Xie Jin Yan suddenly sneered before Qiu Shiyi Niang could finish speaking.

Instantly, Xie Qiyun's already unpleasant expression turned even worse, and Emperor Wei Jing's face darkened as well.

Qiu Shiyi Niang bit her lip tightly, unable to hide the panic in her eyes.

She had indeed been ambiguous with Young Master Xu, making him do many things for her, even stealing his family's luminous pearl and giving it to her.

Young Master Xu was infatuated with her, so she wasn't afraid of being betrayed, but the rest of the Xu family might not be so forgiving.

Thinking of this, Qiu Shiyi Niang became even more frightened, and she couldn't say a word.

Xie Jin Yan hooked his lips, scanning her mockingly, and laughed, "Your Qiu family really likes to steal things from a young age, from stealing people to stealing jewels from people's homes. Your family's ancestral skills are quite impressive…"

"Alright, Jin Yan, what's the point of bringing up all this for no reason?" Seeing Xie Jin Yan's words becoming increasingly harsh, Empress Zhou stopped him in time, a rare sternness appearing on her face as she said gravely, "Stick to the matter at hand."

"Alright, alright, Mother Empress wants me to show some face to this dirty woman, so I'll give her a little face."

Xie Jin Yan spread his hands, looking helpless and unwilling.

Qiu Shiyi Niang knelt on the ground, feeling extremely ashamed and indignant at being called a 'dirty woman.' Xie Qiyun, beside her, was even more enraged. He couldn't stand being slapped in the face like this by Xie Jin Yan, but he was too preoccupied with his own problems to say much. He could only glare at Xie Jin Yan resentfully.

Although Emperor Wei Jing was disgusted with Qiu Shiyi Niang, he still cared about the imperial family's reputation. Seeing that Xie Jin Yan was going too far, he shot him a glare, warning, "Fifth, this is not your Crown Prince's residence. Don't just say whatever comes to mind. Act with some restraint."

The truth isn't allowed to be spoken?

Xie Jin Yan raised an eyebrow, dropping the topic. He turned his phoenix eyes back to Qiu Shiyi Niang, sneering, "Aunt Qiu, let's not talk about anything else. Just consider that Young Master Xu stole the luminous pearl for you and was beaten by his father so badly that he couldn't get out of bed for over ten days. Yet you refused to return the pearl, claiming you weren't familiar with him. If you dare to tell such a lie, what's impossible about framing my Crown Princess?"

Wasn't that the truth? Young Master Xu suffered so much, yet she wouldn't say a word for him, let alone return the luminous pearl.

That was enough to prove that she was a woman full of lies and a malicious heart.

What wouldn't such a woman do to frame someone out of spite for previous grievances?

Xu Chun'er's eyes darted around, and she immediately thought of a good plan to save her own life. Her eyes reddened as she raised her voice, blurting everything out and pointing at Qiu Shiyi Niang, crying, "Your Majesty, Empress, I confess, it was Qiu Shiyi Niang, along with the Qiu family and the Shen family, who instructed my mother and me to frame Yu Liangdi.

"The Shen family even said that as long as we could force Yu Liangdi to death, they would take me in as a Shen family adopted daughter and recommend me to enter the palace as the Crown Prince's consort. Even if I couldn't become the Crown Prince's consort, I could still become a side consort! I didn't originally aspire to wealth and glory, but I really wanted to escape from my mother and my family.

"Since I was a child, my father sent me to brothels to earn money for the family. They originally wanted to sell me to an old rich man in the city as a concubine in order to get betrothal gifts for my younger brother. Just then, the Rongguo Duke's wife found me, saying that as long as I was willing to help frame Yu Liangdi, I could escape this predicament. I was momentarily blinded by greed and…"

At this point, Xu Chun'er stopped speaking and only covered her face and sobbed.

Wang Shi hadn't expected her daughter to reveal such things. She was immediately dumbfounded, then consumed by anger. Seemingly forgetting where she was, she raised her hand and slapped Xu Chun'er, scolding sharply, "You little wretch, are you looking for death!"

"Stop!" Wang Shi was shouting fiercely when Yu Qi grabbed her arm, saying fiercely, "Do you know where you are? How dare you act so presumptuously?"

Scolded by Yu Qi, Wang Shi suddenly woke up and hurriedly stopped speaking. While secretly pinching Xu Chun'er, she looked at Emperor Wei Jing, her eyes filled with fear. She stammered, "Your Majesty, don't listen to this girl's nonsense. She's an ingrate. What parents don't want the best for their children? Why would any parents be willing to send their daughters to do such things? This Chun'er is just frightened. She is innocent…"

"Shut up. Who wants to know if your daughter is innocent?" Yu Qi interrupted her coldly, then looked at Xu Chun'er, asking, "You said that the Shen family's wife instructed you and your mother to do this. Do you have any evidence?"

Hearing this, Xu Chun'er immediately raised her head, looking at Yu Qi eagerly. "Yes, the Xu family gave us some silver. That silver is all from Qingfeng Silver Bank. Your Majesty and Empress only need to send someone to investigate, and you can find out that Xu Shi personally withdrew the silver from the silver bank. Besides that, the Qiu family also gave us a sum, also withdrawn from Qingfeng Silver Bank."