Chapter 1 Jiang Chen Visits

Jiang Chen nodded to Xu Changqing, then signaled the prison guard to open the cell.

The sound of iron chains clanked.

Xu Changqing suddenly snapped back to his senses, lunged from the corner, and knelt on the ground, prostrating himself. "Your Majesty, this subject, this subject has failed you!"

"Please, please execute this subject! This subject will have no complaints!"

Seeing this, Jiang Chen felt a pang of compassion and a touch of melancholy.

Just yesterday, he was the majestic Great General, but today, because of Jiang Chen, he had fallen to this state.

Quickly entering the cell, Jiang Chen personally helped Xu Changqing up, reassuring him, "I don't blame you for the Tai Miao (ancestral temple) incident."

"Judging from the current situation, you've likely been framed. Someone in the court probably doesn't want to see me control the Imperial Capital's Four Battalions, so they devised this poisonous scheme and pointed the finger at you."

Xu Changqing breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

However, when he thought of the broken ancestral tablets beside him when he woke up, shame reappeared on his face.

He knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, this subject is grateful for your understanding, but no matter what, this subject disturbed the peace of the late emperors… this crime is unforgivable!"

Jiang Chen patted him on the shoulder. "It's not that serious. You weren't the one who damaged the Tai Miao. Those sacrificial utensils and tablets were likely damaged in advance by the person behind the scenes, to frame you. Just wait a few days, and I will clear your name."

Hearing this, Xu Changqing's tiger eyes welled up with tears.

But thinking of the royal relatives of Great Wei, and that vicious mastermind, he worried, "Your Majesty, are you truly confident you can exonerate this subject?"

"Of course. Since I promised you, I will certainly do it!"

"Don't keep thinking about ending your life, don't always talk about execution and capital punishment… Yun'er, that girl, came to me crying today, afraid that something would happen to you!" Jiang Chen said kindly.

Xu Changqing was overwhelmed with gratitude, feeling that words could not express his excitement.

He immediately kowtowed to Jiang Chen several times, secretly vowing to pull himself together and not let Jiang Chen down!

…

Deep within the forbidden palace, a magnificent palace.

Mei Ruoying wore a black dress, her red lips and snow-white skin were stunningly beautiful, yet carried an aloof and unapproachable coldness.

At this moment, she held a rolled-up note, her phoenix eyes filled with fury!

‘Slap!’

She suddenly turned around and slapped the nearby palace maid hard.

"Useless thing, you can't even handle such a small matter! What use are you?!"

"The Tai Miao is rarely visited, yet you were stupid enough to have your tracks discovered. Now the Emperor is conducting a full search to exonerate Xu Changqing. If your actions cause the plan to fail, this palace will flay you alive!"

The palace maid who was struck was tall and sturdier than Mei Ruoying.

But she showed no resistance. Although her head was ringing from the blow, she remained as docile as a puppy, kneeling on the ground, her face full of self-blame. "Your Ladyship, this servant, this servant is stupid and deserves to die! But I beg you to spare this servant's lowly life, so I can make amends!"

Mei Ruoying stood with her hands behind her back, her pretty face covered in frost, not even deigning to look at the maid on the ground.

"Make amends? How will you make amends?"

"By sneaking into the Court of Judicial Review to kill that witness, or going to the Dali Temple to destroy the portrait? Do you think the Emperor is a fool, unable to anticipate our reactions?"

The maid was stunned by the question, then lowered her head even further, timidly saying, "Your Ladyship, the master just sent a message that the portrait in the Dali Temple is insignificant and someone will handle it. This servant only needs to kill that palace maid in the Court of Judicial Review, and then, then this matter can be resolved!"

"If that's the case, then go do it!"

Mei Ruoying's expression eased slightly, but the coldness in her eyes intensified, as she said eerily, "This is your last chance. Do not disappoint me."

Although she knew that this so-called witness was likely a trap set by the Emperor, the matter was of great importance. Even if the risk was high, they had to step into this trap!

Otherwise, it would be a minor matter if the Emperor found evidence to exonerate Xu Changqing, but if he followed the clues to their identities, that would be a major disaster!

Thinking of this, Mei Ruoying's beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she added with a hint of threat, "Even if you die, you must silence that maid!"

Just as Mei Ruoying and her servant were plotting, Jiang Chen had already left the imperial prison and gone to the Shufei (Noble Consort Shu)’s residence.

He knew Shufei's character; this fragile woman needed companionship the most right now.

Inside the elegant palace, Shufei was staring blankly at the bronze mirror with a tight frown, her eyes filled with unyielding sorrow.

Although she had received Jiang Chen's promise and knew that the Court of Judicial Review had found a witness who would soon clear her brother's name, her worry for her relatives was beyond her control.

As long as she thought about her brother being imprisoned in the imperial prison, she couldn't help but feel sad and wanted to weep.

Beside her, Xu Jiaying was trying to comfort her.

Perhaps out of empathy, having experienced the pain of losing a loved one, Xu Jiaying did not show her usual acrimony towards Jiang Chen. Her delicate face was filled with concern as she gently consoled Shufei.

This scene greatly improved Jiang Chen's impression of her.

This was a woman who clearly distinguished between love and hate, and was not completely blinded by hatred. When facing innocent people, she still retained a kind heart.

Perhaps, years later, after she adapted to life in the palace and regarded it as her second home, she would gradually let go of the hatred in her heart.

Earlier in the day, the Imperial Guards had reported that Xu Guifei (Noble Consort Xu) had visited the Exotic Beast Garden in the evening and exchanged a few words with Xu Changqing, making her a suspect as well.

However, seeing the warm scene before him, Jiang Chen silently dismissed the idea. He didn't believe that Xu Jiaying would participate in the evil act of framing others.

"Yun'er, I've come to see you!" Jiang Chen said softly.

Shufei trembled upon hearing this, then put away the melancholy on her face and bowed with Xu Jiaying beside her, "This concubine greets Your Majesty!"

"You may rise."

As Jiang Chen spoke, he strode into the room and personally helped Shufei up.

Of course, he did not ignore Xu Jiaying beside her and gave her a smile.

However, Xu Jiaying scorned Jiang Chen's gesture and simply turned her face away.

Jiang Chen was not surprised by this, calmly withdrew his gaze, and sat down with Shufei at the round table.

"Yun'er, why are you still sad? Didn't I promise you that I would clear Xu Changqing's name within seven days?"

Shufei hurriedly put on a smile and explained, "Your Majesty, of course, this concubine believes you, but when I think of my brother being framed by villains and suffering in the imperial prison, I can't help but worry."

Jiang Chen smiled upon hearing this and reassured her, "Alright, don't worry. Xu Changqing is doing quite well in the imperial prison. The jailer knows that he is the Noble Consort's brother and is giving him a lot of care. He's having a very comfortable time."

As he spoke, Jiang Chen looked at Xu Jiaying across from him.

He had not summoned her since that night.

Now that he saw her again, he was somewhat surprised to find that her delicate and sweet face had gained a few hints of a married woman's charm, which was especially alluring.

Not minding her rudeness earlier, Jiang Chen said gently, "Ying'er, stay and dine together."