"You're spouting nonsense!!"
Princess Leyang shot to her feet, her face twisted in fury. "You lowly wretch, how dare you slander me?! I’ve never even met you!"
Trembling uncontrollably, she knew she could never admit to this crime. Pointing a shaking finger at Cang Lang, she shrieked, "It’s you! You know I have a grudge against Song Tangning, so you tortured this maid into framing me! This is a conspiracy between Song Tangning and the Qian Family to destroy my son and my household!"
Her mind had never been clearer. She turned to the stunned onlookers, her voice shrill with desperation.
"Everyone knows the Bureau of Military Affairs only obeys Xiao Yan! That eunuch dotes on Song Tangning and he’s already targeted noble families for her, why not me? These Black Armor Guards are in cahoots with her! This maid was tortured into lying!"
"They set me up! That Liu Zhi is probably their plant, meant to frame me—!"
The crowd hesitated, eyeing the bloodied maid uncertainly.
Tangning’s expression turned icy. "My sworn brother carries out His Majesty’s orders with absolute impartiality. Yet in your mouth, he becomes corrupt?"
"Princess, you spin lies well. But have you forgotten? The male courtesan didn’t materialize out of thin air. A visit to Chun’en Lou will reveal who hired him. Your entourage isn’t just one person, even if he disguised himself, someone must have seen him."
"Will you submit all your attendants for questioning?"
Princess Leyang’s tension eased slightly.
The man sent to Chun’en Lou was her most loyal retainer and he hadn’t used her name. Every servant here was a lifelong bondsman of her household. Their contracts were in her hands; none would dare betray her.
Feeling smug at Tangning’s stupidity, she lifted her chin defiantly. "Why wouldn’t I dare?!"
"Good." Tangning’s voice was glacial. "Commander Cang, may I interrogate the princess’s people myself?"
"Tangning—!"
Qian Qiyue grabbed her arm. Rong Yue and the others looked equally worried.
But Tangning was resolute. "I’ve never provoked anyone, yet I’m constantly treated as an easy target. If we don’t uncover the truth tonight, both the Fourth Prince’s consort and I will be smeared. The Rong family, Governor Xiao, even the entire Bureau will be tainted by this slander."
"I won’t shy away from confronting this. Commander Cang, let me question them."
After a moment’s consideration, Cang Lang nodded. "Agreed."
Tangning pointed at Princess Leyang. "Then have someone gag the princess and her maidservant."
"How dare you—!"
Before the princess could finish her outrage, Cang Lang signaled the Black Armor Guards. They seized her arms and stuffed a gag into her mouth, doing the same to her maidservant.
Princess Ji slammed the table. "Song Tangning, what is the meaning of this?!"
Tangning remained calm. "Nothing excessive. Since the princess claims the Black Armor Guards and I conspired to torture a false confession, I won’t bear this accusation unjustly. To prevent further excuses, her people will be questioned publicly."
"However, interrogating them may require... persuasive methods. For fairness, the princess will remain silent for now."
"You are insolent! She’s a princess of the kingdom!"
"Even the Son of Heaven is subject to the law. Besides, her crimes extend beyond me. She now slanders imperial officials. If she’s innocent after tonight’s inquiry, I’ll kowtow thrice and nine times to beg her pardon. But if she’s guilty, not even His Majesty will shield her."
Tangning’s gaze sharpened. "Unless Princess Ji wishes to vouch for her?"
Princess Ji’s face twitched.
She disliked Tangning’s arrogance and would gladly see her humiliated but Princess Leyang’s earlier behavior was far from innocent. With the situation still unclear, tying the Ji household to this mess would be idiocy.
If Leyang were later proven innocent, she could still strike at Tangning then...
Making her decision, Princess Ji lifted her chin coldly. "I merely object to your disrespect toward royalty. If this proves false, you’ll pay dearly."
"Your concern is unnecessary." Tangning turned to Cang Lang. "Bring in all of Princess Leyang’s people."
Over thirty attendants, guards, maids, grooms, even the coachmen stationed outside were herded into the hall. Their faces paled when they saw their gagged mistress.
Tangning had the male courtesan’s corpse brought forward, his handsome but lifeless face exposed.
"Has anyone here seen this man before?"
Silence.
Unfazed, Tangning gestured to Princess Leyang. "We have testimony that the princess bribed a male courtesan and the Qian family’s maid to frame me. One of her entourage was this man in disguise."
Her eyes flicked to Liu Zhi.
The maid shuddered, meeting Princess Leyang’s murderous glare. She wavered—but Tangning cut in coldly.
"You’ve already accused the princess publicly. Recanting now is pointless. This matter has escalated beyond personal grudges. If the princess is convicted, your coerced role may spare your life. But if she escapes justice after your betrayal tonight do you think she’ll let you or your family live?"
"Mmmph—!" Princess Leyang thrashed against her restraints.
Tangning stared down at Liu Zhi. "Tell the full truth, and you might survive."
Trembling under that icy gaze, the maid whispered, "I... I was just a lowly sweeper. A month ago, Steward Luo from the front courtyard approached me. He paid me a hundred taels to... to report the young mistress’s movements if she left the manor."
"I thought it harmless, she was grounded, copying scriptures. But on Qixi Festival night..."
Her voice faltered as the damning truth began to spill.
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T/N: Xiao Yan can retire now she is capable
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You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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