245 Whats My Crime? (1/2)

Wen Jinkai was not the only person who entered the Throne Room. He was accompanied by a sour-faced Duke Li Shenyang who glowered at the Emperor the second he walked in.

Duchess Wang Qixing saw the glint in her husband's eyes. He seemed out of breath as if he had rushed here. What was he planning?

Duke Li Shenyang stared up at the man he grew up with. The Emperor was the Duke's first friend. It would only be fair if Duke Li Shenyang was the one who would end everything.

Duke Li Shenyang found it ironic that the Emperor didn't realize history was repeating itself. Li Xueyue was taking the heat in place of Li Wenmin, it was just like when they were children and the Duke shouldered the Emperor's punishments. What a petty ruler. The Emperor must've been furious that his power and authority were challenged when he did nothing to deserve his position.

”What are you doing here, Prime Minister? You're supposed to oversee the packing of the carriages. Are you neglecting your duties?” Emperor Fadong snapped when he saw his friend enter.

Duke Li Shenyang forced a pleasant smile. So he was right. The Emperor was mad at him but was taking his frustration out on someone who couldn't argue back—Li Xueyue. The Emperor was deliberately targeting the Li Family's only weakness.

”You've summoned my wife and my daughter in such awful weather. The least I could do as their husband and father, respectively, is to ensure they're not bullied by you, Your Majesty,” Duke Li Shenyang said in a humorous tone, despite the warning in his message.

”I was merely questioning your daughter about the heinous crime she committed against an innocent servant of the Second Prince. My son was furious to find out that his servant was mistreated. An offense towards his servants is an offense to the Crown,” Emperor Fadong gritted out.

Li Xueyue found that the Emperor's words were a bunch of lies. Since when were the lives of servants cherished in the Palace? She thought that there were probably enough discarded servants to form a human mountain before the palace grounds. Her eyes flashed. There was so much she could retort to that but she'd rather not fall into his trap and speak out of turn.

”Really now?” Duke Li Shenyang said, turning to Li Xueyue. ”How do you answer such charges, Xueyue?”

Li Xueyue bowed her head. ”If the Emperor is implying that a servant's life could ever equate to the blood of a royal, then I have no choice but to accept this unjustified rule.”

The court fell into another silence. A wise move, but bold and accusing. Her words were like a sword concealed by silk. She was deliberately targeting not only the Emperor for his words but his mentality. By suggesting the servant's life was that important, it only raised suspicions.

There was a murmur among the Court Ministers and eventually, one of them stepped forward.

Li Xueyue instantly recognized him. Marquis Ning, who was known to have a great influence over the opposing faction of the courts.

”Your Majesty, I hate to step in, but my faction would like to share their opinion. We believe it's audacious to think a servant's life would even be that important. I'm sure the Princess did not mean to offend the Crown or the Second Prince. Undisciplined servants shouldn't be walking around freely in the Palace,” Marquis Ning commented.

Duchess Wang Qixing made a mental note to tell Li Chenyang that Ning Huabing's father defended Xueyue. Maybe that way, he wouldn't make such a grouchy face whenever Ning Huabing was invited for ”tea” on the exact day he would be off from work…

Wen Jinkai raised a brow. He threw an irritable glance towards the Emperor. ”Is this why Li Xueyue was summoned before a full court of Ministers as if she had committed an unspeakable crime? She bullied a servant? How laughable. We all know she wouldn't do such a thing.”

Emperor Fadong narrowed his eyes at his son. He had caught wind of the commotion that happened in his wife's sleeping quarters. The details were vague, but he knew there was a reason she refused to see him. The Empress claimed she was bedridden and wanted to be left alone, but that sounded like mere excuses.

”You're also being accused of mistreating the same servant, Commander Wen,” Emperor Fadong seethed. ”You've gotten bold so as to forget to use a title before you address me.”