Lady Fan sighed, recalling the words Zhou Fukang had given her when she first arrived. With a hardened heart, she declared, "Your Majesty, everything Madam Zhou said is true, not a single word is fabricated."
Madam Zhou felt that even if her mother-in-law disliked her, she wouldn't harm her. Now, she saw that wasn't the case; some people who disliked you would also plot against you.
"Old Madam Zhou, you must speak with a clear conscience," Shen Yunxuan stated, his words cold and measured.
Lady Fan avoided Shen Yunxuan's gaze, feeling a pang of guilt. She knew that after speaking thus, her relationship with her daughter might be irrevocably broken.
However, both her palms were flesh. Her daughter was already married, and Madam Sun was still part of the Zhou family. Thus, she had no choice but to sacrifice her daughter's well-being.
Despite saying this, Lady Fan still felt a sense of unease.
"Mother," Madam Zhou suddenly spoke.
Lady Fan instinctively looked up, only to see Zhou's unwillingness and sorrow.
Lady Fan lowered her head and said, "Daughter, your mother can only speak the truth. The truth is unpleasant, but Mother Fan cannot let you continue down the wrong path."
"My wrong? My wrong? Mother, when you say this, have you asked your own conscience?"
"Sister, your words displease me, Sister-in-law. Could Mother lie in front of Your Majesty?" Madam Sun quickly intervened, trying to stop Madam Zhou and Lady Fan from speaking. She wasn't afraid of what Madam Zhou might reveal, but rather feared that Lady Fan might soften.
Xue Zining glanced at Shen Yunxuan. Shen Yunxuan's expression was not good. She slowly said, "Old Madam Zhou, Madam Zhou, since you both claim everything was done by Madam Zhou, do you have any evidence?"
Old Madam Zhou looked at Madam Sun. Madam Sun knelt on the ground and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, my cousin, Fan Yunxiu, can serve as a witness."
"Summon her!" Xue Zining commanded.
Soon, a slender figure walked in, graceful as a willow in the wind. She approached, knelt, and kowtowed, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Rise and speak," Xue Zining said.
Fan Yunxiu stood up. Xue Zining asked, "Did Madam Shen frame you?"
Fan Yunxiu suddenly knelt on the ground, "I implore Your Majesty to mete out justice."
"Rise and speak."
Fan Yunxiu expressed her gratitude to the Emperor and stood up. Facing Madam Zhou, she tearfully confessed, "This commoner knows that my cousin dislikes me. This commoner admires Master Shen, but I have never intended to replace my cousin."
"So, you have feelings for Master Shen?" Xue Zining inquired.
Fan Yunxiu nodded. "This commoner admires Master Shen. Aunt, Cousin-in-law, and Cousin all know this. I thought Cousin had agreed for me to become Master Shen's concubine…
However, I never imagined that Cousin would hate me so much, and even wish to ruin me."
"Little Madam Fan, is this true?" Xue Zining asked.
Fan Yunxiu nodded. "Everything this commoner says is true, not a single word is false. If any word is untrue, this commoner is willing to be struck by heavenly lightning and die without a burial place."
Lady Fan shed tears. "Yunxiu, you do not need to curse yourself like this. Mother believes you."
Xue Zining raised an eyebrow and said indifferently, "If oaths were useful, I would not need to establish the Ministry of Justice."
Everyone was startled. Xue Zining continued, "Since you claim Madam Shen framed you, could you recount the events?"
Fan Yunxiu bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Fan Yunxiu narrated the events. Madam Zhou's heart sank. It seemed Madam Sun had come prepared, and with this going on, she might not be able to make herself understood.
She looked up at the Empress seated above. She knew the Empress was the most crucial factor. If the Empress was willing to help her, then everything would be manageable. But would the Empress help her?
She did not know.
"Your Majesty, this subject believes that the evidence of Madam Shen framing my elder brother is sufficient. I implore Your Majesty to punish Madam Shen."
"Madam Shen is your sister, is she not?"
Madam Sun was taken aback. She didn't understand why the Empress suddenly asked this and was momentarily stunned.
"Your Majesty is asking you a question," Lady Fan quickly nudged Madam Sun. Madam Sun instinctively replied, "Yes."
"I thought you were not, I thought you were enemies. Only enemies would try so hard to condemn each other."
"Your Majesty…" Lady Fan and the others, terrified, immediately knelt to beg for mercy.
Xue Zining rose from her chair and walked to Fan Yunxiu. "Are you now a member of the Zhou family?"
Fan Yunxiu replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Isn't this a happy ending for everyone?"
Madam Sun was stunned and looked up at Xue Zining, disbelief etched on her face. "Your Majesty… you… how can you…"
"Madam Sun," Lady Fan was the first to speak, stopping Madam Sun from continuing.
Madam Sun looked at Lady Fan. Lady Fan shook her head, signaling her not to say anything further.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Xue Zining looked at Fan Yunxiu. "You admired Master Shen first, and then wished to become his concubine. However, after an unfortunate turn of events, you became a member of the Zhou family."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Fan Yunxiu lowered her head.
Xue Zining walked to Madam Sun and said lightly, "I have heard that you once sent your sister to the Shen mansion with the intention of having her become Shen Yunxuan's concubine?"
Madam Sun trembled all over. How did the Empress know about this? "Your Majesty…"
"I do not wish to hear unnecessary words. You only need to answer yes or no."
Madam Sun grit her teeth and replied, "Yes."
"But your sister not only failed to become Master Shen's concubine but was instead sent back home. You harbored resentment?"
"Your Majesty…"
"I told you to answer yes or no."
"No." Madam Sun's heart sank so low she didn't know where it was. How could the Empress know everything?
"Is that so? It is understandable if you do not wish to admit it. I had people investigate, and everything I say is true, without falsehood. Madam Zhou, you framed Master Shen first. After Madam Shen discovered this, she switched the pillars and beams, leading to the illicit affair between Lord Zhou and Little Madam Fan.
I believe this is a case of good being rewarded and evil being punished."
Madam Sun collapsed onto the ground. The Empress knew everything? Then what proof did she have of her own innocence?
What innocence did she have left?
"Old Madam Zhou…" Xue Zining looked at Lady Fan.
At that moment, a powerful aura overwhelmed everyone present, making it impossible to look directly at her.
Madam Zhou knelt on the ground, her heart filled with shock. This was the Empress's majesty.
She admired her greatly and understood why Shen Yunxuan had fallen for the Empress in the first place.
The Empress was worthy of everyone's affection.
"This subject is here." Lady Fan knelt on the ground, trembling all over.
"Madam Zhou is your child. They say even tigers do not eat their cubs, but Old Madam Zhou's actions have shown me that all of this is not false.
To protect the family's interests and the peace of the Zhou mansion, you chose to sacrifice your own daughter. Old Madam Zhou, do you know that if I had not learned the truth in advance today, Madam Zhou might have genuinely been punished? Would you not feel any remorse?"
Lady Fan's tears streamed down her face. "This subject admits her guilt!"