Following the maid's pointing finger, all eyes fell upon Ye Chutang.
Clad in bright red wedding robes, her beauty was ethereal, unlike any mortal.
The Emperor's gaze was glued to Ye Chutang, his breathing growing heavy.
He could clearly feel his own desire, yet his body remained unresponsive!
What divine physician? Clearly a quack!
Seeing the Emperor entranced, Eunuch De gave a light cough.
The Emperor snapped back to attention and coldly questioned Ye Chutang.
"Princess Consort Chen, your dowry maids claim to have seen letters of treason from Prince Chen. Is this true?"
The corner of his lips lifted slightly as he waited for Ye Chutang to seal the verdict on Qi Yanzhou's rebellion.
Instead, Ye Chutang shook her head.
"This humble consort has not seen any letters. As for whether the maids have seen them, I do not know."
These words enraged the Emperor. "Do you know that deceiving the sovereign is a capital offense?"
He deliberately emphasized the word "capital," intending to remind Ye Chutang that her life was in his hands—she should not seek death!
"This humble consort knows and would not dare deceive the sovereign."
The Emperor, looking at the disobedient Ye Chutang, was nearly driven mad with fury.
He vented all his anger on the two maids.
"Speak! Why did you deceive the sovereign?"
Terrified out of their wits by the Emperor's wrath, the two maids didn't know why Ye Chutang wasn't cooperating. They could only grit their teeth and persist in implicating Qi Yanzhou.
"Your humble servants did not deceive the sovereign! The Prince Chen's residence truly harbors treasonous letters!"
"Your Majesty, the Princess Consort must be afraid of being implicated, which is why she lies!"
Ye Chutang rebuked angrily, "Nonsense!"
"From entering the Prince Chen's residence to the wedding chamber, I kept my head covered with the veil. What could I see besides the tips of my own feet? If you're going to lie, you should at least fabricate a plausible story."
Her words were persuasive, and someone spoke up for Qi Yanzhou.
"Your Majesty, these two maids are certainly lying. Prince Chen reclaimed the Southern Border at the risk of his life nine times over; he could not possibly commit treason!"
Once one person spoke, others chimed in.
"Indeed, Your Majesty, you cannot suspect Prince Chen, who has risked life and limb for the Beichen Kingdom, based solely on the words of two maids."
"Your Majesty, the Qi family are founding contributors who take guarding the realm as their duty. They would never commit treason!"
"These two maids must have been instigated to slander the loyal and patriotic Prince Chen's household. Their intentions are condemnable!"
The Emperor mentally noted each official who spoke in defense of the Prince Chen's household.
Furious, a vein throbbed at his temple as he glared at Ye Chutang.
"Princess Consort Chen, did you truly see nothing?"
If this wretch dared defy him, she need not expect the antidote!
Ye Chutang nodded affirmatively. "This humble consort remained in the wedding chamber the entire time and truly did not see any so-called treasonous letters."
The maid glared furiously at Ye Chutang and shouted,
"Princess Consort, you saw them! Why lie and deceive the sovereign? In the courtyard of the Tangzhou Courtyard, someone from the Prince's household accidentally dropped the letters, which were later stored in the treasury."
After speaking, the maid kowtowed heavily to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, whether treasonous letters exist can be known simply by searching the treasury."
Eunuch De added, "This matter concerns the rise and fall of the Beichen Kingdom. Your Majesty, we implore you to thoroughly investigate the matter of the treasonous letters!"
No official residence could withstand a thorough search; if searched, evidence would surely be found!
The Emperor thought the same.
He looked at Qi Yanzhou, who stood ramrod straight, and asked, "Prince Chen, is your conscience clear?"
"This subject's conscience is clear!"
"Then do you dare let Us search the treasury of the Tangzhou Courtyard?"
"Of course. This subject requests Your Majesty to conduct a thorough investigation to clear this subject's name!"
The Emperor stood up and said to Eunuch De, "Keep watch over everyone. We will conduct the search personally."
"Your servant obeys!"
The Emperor looked at Ye Chutang. "Princess Consort Chen, lead the way!"
"This humble consort obeys."
With that, Ye Chutang left the main hall and headed towards the Tangzhou Courtyard.
The Emperor followed closely behind, trailed by two hundred Imperial Guards in a grand procession.
Once they were sufficiently far from the front courtyard, the Emperor berated Ye Chutang, who was leading the way.
"Halt!"
Ye Chutang obediently stopped, turned, and faced the Emperor, who was seething with rage.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This humble girl has done everything you instructed."
Hearing this, the Emperor's fury subsided somewhat.
He asked suspiciously, "Truly?"
Ye Chutang's expression was sincere.
"Of course. This humble girl's life is in Your Majesty's hands. Naturally, I would not do anything to defy you."
The Emperor snorted coldly. "Then what were you doing earlier?"
"Your Majesty, please forgive this offense. This humble girl dared not let Qi Yanzhou know I betrayed him, otherwise his men would surely kill me."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor's anger completely dissipated, and he looked at Ye Chutang with appreciation.
"You considered things very thoroughly. Where did you place all those items?"
"In reply to Your Majesty, the weapons are in the treasury, the letters are on the beam in the wedding chamber, and the voodoo doll is in the secret room of the wedding chamber."
"The locations you chose are all excellent. Lead the way!"
The Emperor looked at Ye Chutang, growing more and more satisfied.
Beautiful, intelligent, knowledgeable in medicine, and knowing which way the wind blows.
Taking such a woman into the imperial harem would greatly benefit him.
Ye Chutang stood still without moving.
She reminded him, "Your Majesty, it would be best to select a few reputable officials to accompany you to search the Tangzhou Courtyard. Otherwise, even if the Imperial Guards find evidence, Prince Chen will slander Your Majesty, claiming you framed him."
The Emperor nodded in agreement.
"You are quite right. If only Our people go to the Tangzhou Courtyard this time, even if We find evidence of Qi Yanzhou's rebellion, it will not convince the officials and the common people."
He looked at the commander of the Imperial Guards.
"Summon the Chancellor, the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, all the Ministers, and the Censors. Bring Qi Yanzhou as well."
He would make Qi Yanzhou an infamous traitor for all eternity right before the officials' eyes!
"This subject obeys the decree!"
The Imperial Guard commander soon returned, bringing all the people the Emperor requested.
The group proceeded to the Tangzhou Courtyard.
The officials were no fools. When the Emperor heeded the words of two maids and decided to search Prince Chen's treasury, they knew the Emperor was moving against the Qi family.
But now they were utterly confused, completely unable to discern the direction of events.
Judging by the Emperor's demeanor, he was confident of victory over the Qi family.
Yet, judging by Prince Chen's expression, he showed no worry at all about potential trouble.
They soon arrived at the Tangzhou Courtyard.
Ye Chutang said, "Your Majesty, this humble consort has just married into the Prince Chen's household and does not yet know where the treasury is."
Qi Yanzhou took over her words, pointing with his hand.
"This is the treasury."
The treasury was locked. The Imperial Guards directly removed the door.
The Emperor feigned goodwill and instructed, "Fifty of you entering is sufficient. Be careful when searching for the letters; do not damage Prince Chen's belongings."
Since Qi Yanzhou had not been convicted yet, they could not go too far.
The Imperial Guards chorused, "Your subordinates obey!"
With that, fifty Imperial Guards filed into the treasury in an orderly stream.
The remaining one hundred and fifty Imperial Guards stayed in the courtyard to protect the Emperor.
The Emperor glanced at the festively decorated wedding chamber, a flash of cold killing intent passing through his eyes.
The weapons placed in the treasury were not hidden very securely and were quickly found by the Imperial Guards.
"Your Majesty, there are many weapons in the treasury!"
Upon hearing this, Qi Yanzhou immediately acted very surprised.
He retorted loudly, "Impossible! The treasury only contains gold, silver, jade, antiques, calligraphy, and paintings collected by this prince, as well as the dowry brought by the Princess Consort."
As soon as his words fell, Imperial Guards emerged carrying swords, spears, bows, and arrows.
