Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?

Yu Wenquan’s brows immediately knitted together.

He gave a slight wave of his hand, and Eunuch Yu at once came forward, holding that torn piece of cloth as he squatted down. After carefully comparing it, he said, "Emperor, this scrap of cloth was indeed torn from his garment."

Sun Xianyue panicked as well, and hurriedly said, "Th-this robe was given to me when I entered the palace. They said that once inside, I could no longer wear my own clothes, and only gave me one change of clothes. When I received this robe, it was already damaged, but I—"

By the end, his voice grew lower and lower, probably realizing that no one would believe this even if he said it.

And Yu Wenquan’s gaze grew ever colder.

He suddenly asked, "You are not originally of the Imperial Sacrificial Worship Temple. Why did you enter the palace to perform on this occasion?"

Sun Xianyue was stunned for a moment, but seeing the situation, he did not dare conceal anything further. Lowering his head, he said in a deep voice, "Replying to the Emperor, this humble commoner has long been under the care of my honored master and constantly thinks of repaying him. This time, while traveling alone through the Central Pass, I learned that the Pei Family had been convicted. This humble one volunteered to enter the Imperial Sacrificial Worship Temple to perform in the palace, originally intending to use this opportunity to plead for Vice Minister Pei, and beg the Emperor to show mercy to the Pei Family; tonight, this humble minister wished to go to Qianqiu Palace to see the Princess also for this matter. Emperor, the Pei Family has always been loyal to the Emperor, without the slightest disloyalty."

Shang Ruyi, at the side, suddenly widened her eyes.

She had not expected that Sun Xianyue’s entry into the palace to dance had actually been with such a purpose. Pei Yunshen roamed the lands like a carefree crane and idle cloud, caring nothing for court affairs; he likely still did not know that Pei Xingyuan had been found guilty, carried off by Jiang Xian and the others, much less that the Pei Family had already lost favor. Yet his disciple, while traveling in Chang An, had learned of this and, for the sake of his master’s family, was willing to risk his own life.

Only, he had not expected to fall into this...

At this moment, Han Yuhui immediately knelt down and said, "This servant did not know he harbored such intentions. I beg the Emperor’s forgiveness."

Yu Wenquan had been silent all this time, but when he heard Sun Xianyue bring up the Pei Family, his expression grew somewhat complicated.

He said coldly, "Whether the Pei Family is loyal or not, I know better than you."

"Emperor..."

Sun Xianyue still wanted to say something, but when he lifted his head and met that sharp, icy gaze, all words stuck in his throat. He could only tremble and lower his head.

Yu Wenquan’s gaze slowly shifted to Shang Ruyi, who was standing to the side: "Princess Qin, do you have anything to say?"

Shang Ruyi bit down on her teeth, then raised her head to look at him, saying in a low, steady voice, "Father Emperor, your daughter had no knowledge of Sun Xianyue’s purpose, nor has she ever been acquainted with him. Your daughter has never done anything that would wrong Feng Chen or the Royal Family."

"..."

"That letter was not written by your daughter; tonight, your daughter absolutely did not secretly meet with him."

She thought for a moment, then added, "Your daughter suspects that someone stole a piece of your daughter’s writing and imitated her hand to write that letter. That scrap of cloth that appeared in the rear courtyard of Qianqiu Palace was also deliberately placed by someone, all for the purpose of framing your daughter."

Yu Wenquan asked, "Then do you have any evidence?"

"...No."

"Or can you guess who is framing you?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Shang Ruyi’s gaze turned toward Han Yuhui.

She had no doubt that tonight’s trap had been set by Han Yuhui. Of course, it was not only her; from what had happened at last night’s banquet, it was clear that the Crown Princess Consort had also had a hand in planning this.

Only, to name her outright, at the moment, would be too far-fetched.

She had merely chosen a swordsman with an outstanding Sword Dance to perform for the Emperor. If there was fault, it would be that Sun Xianyue had actually committed some wrongdoing in the palace, and only then would it implicate her. But she herself must categorically deny this false accusation, and thus there was no way to drag Han Yuhui into it.

As for the stolen sheet of calligraphy, and that scrap of cloth—

In such haste, she could not produce any evidence.

Seeing Shang Ruyi fall quiet, seemingly without words to respond, Yu Wenquan’s expression gradually grew colder. But as he looked at Shang Ruyi, his brows were tightly furrowed, and he still said nothing.

The entire Liangyi Hall sank into a strange silence.

Han Yuhui cautiously lifted her eyes to glance at him. At such a moment, when the Princess Qin couldn’t even manage a proper defense, what should naturally follow was the Emperor punishing this unchaste daughter-in-law. Yet Yu Wenquan seemed somewhat hesitant.

Just then, a little palace maid suddenly hurried to the great hall’s doorway. She peeked inside, then shrank back in fright. It was Cailan, another little palace maid who served at Han Yuhui’s side.

Yu Wenquan raised his head and said, "What is it?"

Cailan quickly entered and knelt down, saying, "Emperor, word has just come from Qianqiu Palace: Young Master has been crying without stop, and no one can soothe him."

"What!?"

On hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately stepped forward. "How could that be?"

Yu Wenquan also frowned. "What happened?"

The little palace maid stepped around Shang Ruyi and reported to Yu Wenquan, "It seems he was frightened tonight."

Shang Ruyi instantly panicked and turned to Yu Wenquan. "Father Emperor—"

She still wanted to say more, but before the words left her mouth, Han Yuhui at the side quickly said, "It is all this servant’s fault. Had this servant not carelessly chosen this Sun Xianyue to enter the palace, and then kept him, intending to have him perform for the Emperor at next month’s birthday celebration, he would not have done such things tonight, nor would he have frightened Young Master. It is all this servant’s sin. I beg the Emperor to punish this servant!"

Yu Wenquan’s face grew even gloomier.

The atmosphere inside Liangyi Hall grew increasingly taut, almost suffocating. After an unknown length of time, Yu Wenquan raised his head and spoke instead to Yu Mingli: "Immediately summon people from the Imperial Medical Bureau to examine Yuan Qian!"

Eunuch Yu said, "Yes."

He quickly walked out. As he passed by Shang Ruyi, he hesitated for a moment, but still hurried on.

Shang Ruyi turned her head, watching his back disappear beyond the hall, then hastily looked back at Yu Wenquan. "Father Emperor, please allow your daughter to return and take care of Yuan Qian!"

Yu Wenquan did not speak. When his ever-colder gaze fell on her again, it was entirely devoid of warmth. He said icily, "If you were a good mother, you would not have made such a scene tonight, nor would you have allowed Yuan Qian to be frightened."

"...!"

Shang Ruyi’s heart sank abruptly.

She already sensed what Yu Wenquan intended to do, and immediately fell to her knees with a thud. "Father Emperor, your daughter has absolutely not done anything to wrong Feng Chen, nor has she ever disregarded Yuan Qian’s safety. All of this is someone framing your daughter. I beg Father Emperor to see clearly!"

Yu Wenquan said, "Naturally, I will see clearly."

"..."

"But before I have uncovered everything, you are not to return to Qianqiu Palace to see Yuan Qian again!"

Shang Ruyi stared at him with wide eyes.

Could it be that Yu Wenquan intended to throw her into the dungeon?

As Princess Qin, to have a scandal break out about secretly meeting a man in the dead of night—if she were imprisoned in the dungeon now, then regardless of what the investigation later revealed, her reputation as Princess Qin would already be utterly ruined!

She held her breath, anxiously watching Yu Wenquan.