Qin Yiliu's eyes were bloodshot, her voice desolate and filled with resentment, looking utterly mad.

At least, in the eyes of Song Yilan and Song Guan, she had completely lost her mind.

"That Qin woman is truly shameless to the extreme, calling every man she sees 'husband'!"

Song Yilan scoffed, showing no sympathy for the crazed Qin Yiliu. She wasn't a saint to begin with. If she felt compassion for Qin Yiliu after the woman had tried to harm her, that would be abnormal.

Thinking about it, if she hadn't been lucky, she might already be a pile of bones.

Qin's fate was well-deserved.

Frowning, Song Yilan glanced at Qin Yiliu again before looking away.

She said again with disgust, "Drag them away! Drag these adulterous dogs away immediately! Let Father and the elders of the clan decide their fate."

Now that things had reached this point, she had gotten back everything she was owed.

Seeing that these two wouldn't survive anyway, she didn't need to waste any more time on them.

And so, the Saintess revered by the people of Qingzhou, and the once infinitely glorious son-in-law of the Tusi (local chieftain), fell from heaven to hell.

When Song Yan valued them, they were naturally honored.

But now, both of them had lost their usefulness, and they also carried the blame for plotting against Song Yilan. Who knew how many secrets of Song Yan they held? Song Yan certainly couldn't let them off easily.

As the Tusi of Qingzhou, Song Yan could elevate Qin Yiliu to the highest position, and he naturally had ways to trample her into the mud.

And so, within two days, Qin Yiliu died.

The cause of death was absurd, yet believable.

It was said that she colluded with Song's family's rivals, deliberately infiltrating the Song clan, using witchcraft to create disasters, then feigning to resolve them. She not only betrayed the Song clan, but also used this to extort money from the people, and even used her power as a Saintess to trick innocent women into Feng Hua brothels to make money.

But never did she expect that her scheme to harm Song Yilan, the third young lady of the Song clan, would be exposed. Thus, she and her adulterous accomplice, Shen Ke, fled with the stolen wealth, but due to disagreements over the division of the loot, she was murdered by Shen Ke, beaten to death.

As for Shen Ke, he disappeared after killing Qin Yiliu.

Of course, the people didn't care about his whereabouts.

Because all the curses fell on the former Saintess, the now universally reviled jinx, Qin Yiliu.

One by one, the girls rescued from the Feng Hua brothels cried and accused, completely confirming Qin Yiliu's crimes.

For a time, the people of Qingzhou deeply loathed Qin Yiliu, wishing they could spit on her grave.

As for Song Yan, he only needed to issue a self-reproach and compensate the victimized women, and the people would praise him as a man who cared for the country and its people.

In addition, Song Guan led the Song clan to destroy a hundred or so dens of Southern Yue spies and captured the young prince of Southern Yue. Song Yan was even more beloved by the people because of the saying "like father, like son."

The small Tusis who had previously leaned towards the enemy also defected one after another.

All of this was thanks to the efforts of Xie Jin Yan and Yu Qingwu, coupled with the great changes in the imperial court.

The cooperation between Song Yan and Xie Jin Yan naturally fell into place.

Due to Song Yan's accusations and Gao Minyue's testimony, all of Xie Rufeng's evil deeds in Yunzhou were brought to light.

The court officials who had previously called Xie Jin Yan a Southern Yue mongrel now defected one after another. There were also a few who valued their reputation and remained silent, unwilling to admit their mistakes.

But the one who was most unwilling to speak at this moment was the Jing Emperor.

The day Yu Qingwu and Xie Jin Yan returned to the capital, the weather had completely warmed up.

The bright sunlight shone on the dark red palace walls, seeping into the deep palace paths, as if adding a bit of warmth to this towering and indifferent imperial city, yet also exposing the filth in the depths of the darkness to the sunlight.

Qingwu, dressed in a snow-white dress, followed beside Xie Jin Yan, who was also dressed in a gorgeous white robe, and step by step, entered the imperial city.

Inside the Taihe Hall, the Jing Emperor and Empress Zhou had been waiting for a long time.

"Your son pays respects to the Emperor, and your daughter-in-law pays respects to the Empress."

Qingwu stepped forward, following Xie Jin Yan to greet the Emperor and Empress in the hall.

Hearing this, Empress Zhou only smiled gently.

The Jing Emperor still wore a kind and gentle expression, as if he wasn't the one who had tried to force Xie Jin Yan to his death, giving his beloved son and woman a place.

He slowly raised his hand and smiled, "Rise, there are no outsiders here, no need to be so restrained."

After speaking, he gave a look to a palace servant, who immediately helped the two up, and then brought over two cups of jasmine tea.

Yu Qingwu took the teacup, bowed slightly, and sat down on a chair.

Xie Jin Yan also sat down.

"Father, Mother, seeing that the Buddha's Birthday Festival is approaching, will it still be held as in previous years?"

He smiled, his words no different from usual.

Like the Emperor and Empress, he acted as if nothing had happened.

Hearing this, the Emperor still wore the face of a loving father and smiled, "Of course, the Buddha's Birthday Festival is the most important festival in our Great Wei. Although we don't advocate extravagance and waste, what should be done must still be done."

"However, you don't need to worry about these things."

"Your mother will take care of this."

"But this year, the Crown Princess must also learn a thing or two."

Speaking, the Emperor's gaze fell on Yu Qingwu, and he said with a smile, "Crown Princess, do you have the confidence to handle this matter well?"

"With Mother Empress here, your daughter-in-law is naturally confident."

Yu Qingwu pursed her lips, raised her eyes and smiled at Empress Zhou. Looking at that kind and gentle face, those eyebrows and eyes that seemed to be merciful like Guanyin at all times, Qingwu felt a chill in her heart.

This family were all masters of acting. Although they harbored their own agendas, on the surface, they still appeared to be a happy family.

And she, under such circumstances, had no choice but to choose to be like them.

This time entering the palace, Qingwu's mood was even more solemn and uneasy than before.

The coldness of the imperial family made her uneasy, but what made her even more uneasy was that this time, she did not see Yu Qi serving before the Emperor.

Even after lunch was over, Qingwu did not see Yu Qi's figure.

Could it be that something had happened to Yu Qi?

After coming out of the Taihe Hall, she searched around again, but still didn't see anyone.

For some reason, an ominous premonition rose in her heart.

Because she and Xie Jin Yan had turned the tables too easily, so easily that it felt unreal.

"Your Highness, do you know where Eunuch Yu has gone?"

An incense stick's time later, Xie Jin Yan finished speaking with the Jing Emperor and came out of the hall. Yu Qingwu finally couldn't help but ask.

Hearing this, Xie Jin Yan was slightly stunned, and his eyes flickered slightly.

Although he tried his best to hide it, Qingwu still clearly saw a strange color in his eyes.