Chapter 15 A Desperate Gamble

Xie Jin'an sneered inwardly, but his face remained impassive. After speaking, he followed Wei Jingdi and Empress Zhou's gestures, pulling Yu Qingwu to sit on a chair to the side, facing Xie Qiyun and Qiu Shiyi Niang.

Today, not only did Qiu Shiyi Niang look radiant, but Xie Qiyun's eyes also revealed a hint of joy, and he occasionally stole glances at Wei Jingdi.

Wei Jingdi's expression was somber, his eyes constantly scrutinizing Yu Qingwu.

Finally, he called out to her in a deep voice, "Fifth Son's wife, I heard… before you studied at the Xiao family, you studied at a Yang family's manor in Shu. Is this true?"

Casting a cold glance at Qiu Shiyi Niang across from her, whose eyes were filled with smiles, then raising her eyes to meet Wei Jingdi's seemingly calm and unperturbed gaze, which was actually subtly sharp, Yu Qingwu felt a chill in her heart.

Judging from the situation, Qiu Shiyi Niang must have told Empress Zhou and Wei Jingdi about her killing the Yang family man in Shu. Madam Wang's leading her daughter into the palace was probably to testify to this.

It seemed that the Shen family and the Qiu family were panicking and, disregarding Xie Jin'an's warning, were eager to put her to death.

In that case, she had no choice but to fight to the death.

Clenching her fist, Yu Qingwu stood up, her face devoid of the panic that Qiu Shiyi Niang wanted to see, and instead full of composure. She bowed gracefully to Wei Jingdi and said calmly, "Replying to Father Emperor, this subject did indeed work as a floral apprentice at the Yang family manor for a while. However, I didn't stay there for long, only about two or three months, before seeking another master."

Hearing her answer, the sharpness in Wei Jingdi's eyes did not diminish. He glanced at her and asked, "Why did you seek another master for no good reason?"

"Because…" Yu Qingwu lowered her head, biting her lip tightly, a hint of guilt flashing between her delicate eyebrows. She stammered, "Because this subject…"

Yu Qingwu clenched her fist, not continuing.

This reaction caused Wei Jingdi to be stunned, his eyes filled with disappointment.

Could it be that, as the Qiu family and the Shen family said, this Yu woman had killed her master? And abandoned the body in the wilderness?

The Crown Prince's consort could be of humble origin, but she must not have the stain of disregarding human life…

Thinking of this, Wei Jingdi's face became even more gloomy, his eyes fixed on Yu Qingwu, as if signaling her to continue.

Meeting Wei Jingdi's questioning gaze, Qingwu still lowered her eyes, feigning a terrified appearance.

This reaction pleased Qiu Shiyi Niang greatly.

She stole a glance at Wei Jingdi and, before Wei Jingdi could speak, she impatiently pressed, "Because of what? Why doesn't Liangdi Yu continue?"

Yu Qingwu glanced at Qiu Shiyi Niang, still not speaking.

Qiu Shiyi Niang was even more triumphant, sneering, "Because you killed someone! You killed that Yang family man who treated you like his own daughter."

Heh, like his own daughter? The Qiu family and the Shen family were quite good at distorting the truth.

Yu Qingwu looked at Qiu Shiyi Niang, watching her become increasingly rampant, with a smug look on her face. She couldn't help but mock, asking, "Aunt Qiu says I killed that Yang Cheng. Do you have any evidence?"

"Of course, I do. The witness will arrive soon." Qiu Shiyi Niang was full of arrogance, thinking that she would soon be able to send this merchant's daughter to the execution ground. She didn't pretend anymore, adding in an extremely provocative tone, "Liangdi Yu, people are watching what you do. Even if you destroy the evidence, one day the truth will come out."

"Yes, people are watching what you do. Even if you destroy the evidence, one day the truth will come out."

"However, I would like to ask Aunt Qiu, you keep saying that my wife killed someone. May I ask, what was the motive for the killing?"

Xie Jin'an hooked his lips, resting his cheek on his hand, leaning against the low table. His cold phoenix eyes held a hint of mockery, and he sharply questioned on Yu Qingwu's behalf.

Hearing this, a trace of panic flashed in Qiu Shiyi Niang's eyes.

Her father had told her the reason why Yu Qingwu killed Yang Cheng, saying that if the real reason were revealed, her father wouldn't have enough heads to be chopped off.

Qiu Shiyi Niang pursed her lips, feigning calmness as she looked at Xie Jin'an, replying according to what her father had taught her, "What else could it be? It's because Liangdi Yu couldn't endure hardship. The Yang family man reprimanded her a few times, and she held a grudge…"

"Oh, that's strange. Master Xiao often reprimands A-Wu, and sometimes A-Wu's deportment is not correct, and she is often whipped. Why doesn't A-Wu want Master Xiao's life?" As soon as Qiu Shiyi Niang finished speaking, Xie Jin'an interrupted her sarcastically.

Raising an eyebrow, he looked at her, word by word, "May I ask Aunt Qiu, what kind of discipline would make my gentle and virtuous Liangdi kill someone?"

Xie Jin'an smiled, every word filled with doubt.

That's right, Master Xiao's attacks were not light, but Yu Qingwu didn't seem to resent it. What exactly did Yang Cheng do that would make an eleven-year-old girl stop at nothing to take his life?

In an instant, Qiu Shiyi Niang was stunned.

She bit her lip, stammering, "I… I also heard it from Madam Wang. I don't know exactly how he disciplined her…"

"You came to slander my A-Wu without knowing anything. Aunt Qiu, what are your intentions?" Xie Jin'an interrupted her again as Qiu Shiyi Niang was stammering, then smiled at Wei Jingdi, "Father Emperor, you wouldn't easily believe such baseless slander, would you?"

Wei Jingdi was actually very satisfied with this daughter-in-law, Yu Qingwu. Seeing Qiu Shiyi Niang's expression at this moment, he immediately focused his questioning gaze on her.

Qiu Shiyi Niang felt guilty, and her heart couldn't help but flutter when Wei Jingdi looked at her like this.

Seeing this, Xie Qiyun quickly interjected, glaring arrogantly at Xie Jin'an, and snorted coldly, "Fifth Brother, didn't Shiyi Niang just say that the witness is already on the way? What are you anxious about?"

"Your Majesty, Madam Wang and her daughter have arrived."

As they were talking, Yu Qi walked in from outside the hall.

That delicate and handsome face was still dignified and steady, but whether it was an illusion or not, Yu Qingwu always felt that Yu Qi looked at her for a moment, and his eyes were faintly worried.

But soon, she had no time to think about it.

In the huge Zichen Hall, only Wei Jingdi's cold voice rang out, instructing Yu Qi, "Go, bring them in."

"Yes." Yu Qi nodded, glanced at Yu Qingwu again, and turned to leave.

A moment later, Madam Wang and Xu Chun'er followed Yu Qi into the Zichen Hall.

As soon as she entered, she pulled her daughter to kneel on the ground, her face smeared with rouge, filled with flattery, and shouted to Wei Jingdi and Empress Zhou, "This commoner, Wang, kowtows to Your Majesty and pays respects to the Empress. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, may Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years, may the Empress live a thousand years, may the Empress live a thousand years, a thousand times a thousand years."