Sun Zhiyuan trembled, and everyone was startled. Madam Zhou chuckled softly, "You see this is fake, it's broken."
"How dare you, wicked woman, to damage evidence." Sun Zhiyuan bowed to the Empress and said, "Your Majesty, this kind of wicked woman should be punished."
"Why is Lord Sun in such a hurry? The real jade pendant is with me." Madam Zhou, under everyone's attention, took out the jade pendant.
Sun Zhiyuan was stunned and looked at Sun Wanyue. Sun Wanyue pointed at Madam Zhou's jade pendant and said, "Yours is fake."
"Sun Wanyue, how can you distinguish between the real and the fake? Shouldn't Lord Shen distinguish between the real and the fake?" Madam Zhou said word by word to Sun Wanyue.
"You did it on purpose." Sun Zhiyuan was so angry he almost jumped up. He never expected Madam Zhou to suddenly attack and break the jade pendant.
"If Lord Sun says this, then this official's wife is not willing to listen. If this official's wife did it on purpose, wouldn't Lord Sun have done it intentionally?"
"You..."
"Talking more is useless. Sir, tell me, is the jade pendant in my hand the one you gave me back then?"
Shen Yunxuan paused. He knew that the one in Madam Zhou's hand must be fake, and the real one had been smashed by Madam Zhou. But he still took it, glanced at the jade pendant, and his expression was a little shocked.
Madam Zhou's heart tightened, and she quickly said, "My lord, this is one of the betrothal gifts you gave me back then."
"Lord Sun, what should we do?" Sun Wanyue was a little uneasy. If Shen Yunxuan said it was real, this game would really be unplayable.
Lord Sun sneered, "Madam can rest assured about this. Since Lord Shen has taken the position of Minister of Justice, it is destined that he cannot lie, otherwise..."
He didn't continue, but looked at Shen Yunxuan and said, "Lord Shen, as the Minister of Justice, you cannot break the law."
Shen Yunxuan looked up at Sun Zhiyuan and said coldly, "Since I am trusted by Your Majesty, I will naturally not disappoint Your Majesty."
"Good, with Lord Shen's words, I am relieved. Now I kindly ask Lord Shen to say whether this jade pendant is real or fake?"
Madam Zhou's heart was pounding, and Wen Yuxi, standing beside her, also looked at Shen Yunxuan with some unease. No one understood Shen Yunxuan better than him, and his loyalty to the Empress was beyond compare.
Loyalty means not lying at any time or place.
Shen Yunxuan fiddled with the jade pendant in his hand, his dark eyes bright, "It's real."
Madam Zhou breathed a sigh of relief. Sun Zhiyuan trembled, "Lord Shen, you are lying."
"Why should I lie?" Shen Yunxuan looked at Sun Zhiyuan.
Sun Zhiyuan was furious, "That is clearly fake, yet Lord Shen insists it's real. I am heartbroken by Lord Shen!"
"Lord Sun, it seems that what Lord Shen says is not acceptable according to your demands? How can Lord Shen not distinguish his own jade pendant?" Madam Xiao Min couldn't help but blurted out.
"What if Lord Shen says it's fake?" Sun Zhiyuan retorted.
Madam Xiao Min, ignoring Shi Lang's obstruction, said, "Then this official's wife is willing to atone with her death."
"Madam Xiao Min." Shi Lang shouted.
Madam Xiao Min glanced at Shi Lang and walked to Madam Zhou's side, saying, "I believe Madam Shen, and I believe Lord Shen."
Madam Zhou was startled and felt a pang of guilt. Just as she was about to speak, Madam Xiao Min shook her head at her.
Madam Zhou was not stupid. She knew that arguing further was meaningless, especially since Shen Yunxuan had already confirmed the jade pendant was real.
"Your Majesty, I am not convinced." Sun Zhiyuan bowed to the Empress.
"Lord Sun, Lord Shen has already identified the jade pendant as real. What reason do you still have to object?" Wen Yuxi spoke from the side.
Sun Zhiyuan knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Shen is lying."
Wen Yuxi was about to speak, but unexpectedly the Empress behind the curtain spoke, "You think Lord Shen is lying, Lord Sun, do you have evidence?"
Sun Zhiyuan looked up, his eyes flashing with shrewdness. Wen Yuxi's heart sank, and he felt a strange sense of unease.
Sun Zhiyuan said, "I have someone who can discern whether Lord Shen's jade pendant is indeed a Shen family jade pendant."
"Lord Sun, you are being too overbearing." Madam Zhou was furious.
Lord Sun sneered, "Why, Madam, are you already guilty?"
"I... why would I be guilty?" Madam Zhou turned her face away.
Lord Sun sneered, turned towards the Empress, and said, "Your Majesty, if it is proven that Lord Shen is lying, should Your Majesty punish Lord Shen?"
"Sun Zhiyuan." Wen Yuxi frowned and said coldly.
Sun Zhiyuan glanced at Wen Yuxi and said, "Lord Wen, some matters are not within your jurisdiction."
As Wen Yuxi was about to speak, Shen Yunxuan stopped him and said coldly to Sun Zhiyuan, "Lord Sun, as the saying goes, guilt does not extend to family. If you have something against me, come at me, it has nothing to do with others."
"My lord, this wife has shared hardship and bitterness with you..." Madam Zhou knew very well that Shen Yunxuan said this to distance himself from her, not wanting to implicate her. But she couldn't stand idly by. Even if she had to go to prison, she would follow him.
"Foolish." Shen Yunxuan was angry for the first time.
Madam Zhou smiled, "This wife is willing to be with you."
Shen Yunxuan's eyes deepened, and he couldn't help but say, "Fool."
"This wife is willing to be that fool." Madam Zhou looked up at Shen Yunxuan.
Shen Yunxuan turned his face away, "You shouldn't have..."
"This wife is willing, this wife is truly willing." Madam Zhou choked back her sobs.
If they could die together, she would be content.
Shen Yunxuan turned his head. This might be the first time he had ever truly looked at Madam Zhou.
"My lord..."
Shen Yunxuan took her hand, "Alright, I will be with you."
Madam Zhou smiled and nodded. This was the first time Shen Yunxuan had said such a thing, and she was very happy.
"Lord Sun, where is your evidence?" Shen Yunxuan looked at Sun Zhiyuan coldly.
Lord Sun sneered and ordered an official beside him. Soon, led by guards, an old lady walked in, leaning on a cane.
Shen Yunxuan trembled and looked at Sun Zhiyuan with anger, roaring, "Sun Zhiyuan, how can you forcibly bring my family here?"
"Yunxuan? Is it Yunxuan?" Madam Shen, leaning on her cane, her eyesight was already poor, and she saw people blurrily.
Shen Yunxuan quickly stepped forward to help Madam Shen, but someone else rushed to take her. "Lord Shen, Madam Shen is my witness. You cannot take her away."
"Sun Zhiyuan." Shen Yunxuan gritted his teeth and squeezed the name out word by word.
Lord Sun sneered, "Lord Shen, don't be anxious. After Madam Shen proves whether the jade pendant is real or fake, I will naturally not stop Madam Shen."
"Sun Zhiyuan, you are truly despicable and shameless." Shen Yunxuan said through gritted teeth.
"Why should Lord Shen be angry? Do you, knowing that the jade pendant is fake, insist it is real? In that case, Lord Shen, you are guilty of deceiving the emperor." Sun Zhiyuan said slowly.