“It’s the Dengwen Drum.”
Eunuch Shi, the emperor’s attendant, was the first to react.
Emperor You’an suppressed his anger. “Go and see what’s going on.”
Hearing grievances through the Dengwen Drum was proof of an emperor’s paternal love for his people. No matter the circumstances, the Son of Heaven had to personally receive the petitioner.
Eunuch Shi accepted the order and hurried to the palace gate. When he saw Shen Xiyue, hammer in hand, striking the drum with vigor, his voice trembled with shock:
“Oh dear—County Princess… it’s the County Princess! You’re… you’re all right? That’s wonderful! This old servant was scared half to death…”
Was this still the same County Princess Huayang, the most delicate and cherished young lady in the entire capital from his memory?
The woman before him had her clothes burned full of holes, her face marred with injuries, utterly devoid of her former breathtaking beauty… Eunuch Shi couldn’t help but think to himself that the Qi father and son deserved every bit of the criticism they were getting—they truly had no conscience.
Shen Xiyue set down the drum hammer and smiled faintly. “Please lead me inside, Eunuch Shi.”
It seemed Shuangye’s makeup job was truly excellent—perfect for deceiving people.
When she walked into the main hall, all the civil and military officials were stunned.
How could the one beating the Dengwen Drum be a woman… and a woman whose face was so severely injured, barely recognizable beneath the tattered red cloth draped over her, which faintly resembled a wedding gown.
Chancellor Song recognized his niece at a single glance, unable to bear looking further. Imperial Censor Song’s eyes reddened. “Cousin Xiyue? How did you end up like this?”
“Uncle… Cousin…”
As soon as Shen Xiyue spoke, a wave of emotion choked her voice.
Her uncle and cousin were still alive, not implicated and imprisoned because of the Shen family. It was truly wonderful.
Emperor You’an narrowed his eyes, letting out a slight sigh of relief.
Even though her face was ruined, as long as she was alive, Shen Jianshan could still guard the western frontier for him, and Song Zhijian could stabilize the court on his behalf.
As for Qi Xun, when he saw Shen Xiyue’s disfigured face, he immediately collapsed to the ground in terror. “You… you…”
Shen Xiyue stood just a step away from Qi Xun, looking down at him from above, feeling as though a lifetime had passed. She had almost forgotten what he looked like.
So, he had an elegant, almost ethereal appearance—it was this very facade that had bewitched her, leading to the deaths of her and her entire family.
But now, looking at him again, all she saw was a face filled with terror and wretchedness, like a stray dog, utterly repulsive.
Qi Xun was also staring at her, trembling with fear. How could she still be alive after such a massive fire, with the entire house burned to the ground?
How had she survived?
If she was alive, what about the Crown Prince?
Qi Xun quickly scanned the court before realizing—the Crown Prince never attended court sessions.
His mind raced with confusion and dread. What on earth had happened?
Emperor You’an took in Qi Xun’s expression before turning to Shen Xiyue with a gentler tone. “Child Xiyue, yesterday was your wedding day. Tell us, what exactly happened?”
Shen Xiyue lifted her sleeve to wipe her eyes, her eyes reddening as tears began to fall, one after another. “Your Majesty… save me. Yesterday was my wedding day. I don’t know what happened, but after drinking a cup of tea, I fell unconscious. Later, I was fortunate enough to be awakened by thick smoke. Realizing something was wrong, I took advantage of the chaos to escape the marquis’s estate, barely managing to save my life…”
The entire hall erupted in murmurs, and everyone’s gaze turned like knives toward the Qi father and son kneeling on the floor.
"I did not!" Qi Xun hastily denied, then turned to Shen Xiyue: "Xiyue, you've misunderstood me! You are the one I hold dearest in my heart—how could I ever harm you!"
Yet Shen Xiyue did not even glance at Qi Xun.
What a joke—she had come today precisely to tear off this scoundrel's mask and ensure he could never rise again.
Love to put on an act, do you? Watch me out-act you to death today!
She rubbed her eyes again, tears falling even more freely, and her accusations flowed more smoothly than ever: "Your Majesty, it was only this morning when I saw those notices plastered all over the city that I learned… that the Heir had long since shifted his affections elsewhere…
Your Majesty, I am not an unreasonable person. Whether the Heir wished to break off the engagement or take a concubine, I would have had no objection. But the Heir wanted me dead, Your Majesty!
Without a word of explanation, he tried to burn me to death… Your Majesty, I am only seventeen years old. I did not want to die…"
She wept until she could hardly catch her breath, and combined with her pitiful appearance, she looked like a tormented soul from hell.
"The fire was so fierce, it burned my face to ruin. Look, Your Majesty, it hurts so much…"
"I dared not cry out, so I fled through the back window. While escaping, I saw that among all the people in the Marquis Manor, not a single one went to fight the fire. They watched, wanting me to die…"
"…I dared not stay in the Marquis Manor any longer. In the dead of night, with nowhere to go, I could only hide in a broken basket by the roadside, waiting for dawn to come so I could come and strike the Dengwen Drum…"
Shen Xiyue's voice was delicate and soft, weeping as she spoke, making her tale sound more tragic with every word.
Which family among the assembled civil and military officials did not have daughters or sisters? To see a good young lady suffer so terribly on her wedding day—who would not feel heartache?
Moreover, many court ministers had witnessed the fire in the bridal chamber at Wenyuan Marquis Manor yesterday. The Qi family had indeed been busy seeing off guests, not rushing to fight the fire…
When Heir Qi had sought to marry County Princess Huayang back then, hadn't he fawned over her like a dog? Now that his affections had shifted, he wasn't even acting like a human anymore?!
Censor Song clenched his fists in anger: "Heir Qi, what do you have to say for yourselves?"
Qi Xun, panicked and frantic, tried to explain: "…No, I did not, I did not set the fire…"
It was true he had a woman on the side, but he had never set any fire!
…And even if he had drugged someone, it was the Crown Prince he had drugged! What nonsense was this woman Shen Xiyue spouting?!
He opened his mouth to explain, "…We did fight the fire! At first, we were shocked, overwhelmed with grief, there were many people in the courtyard, and the fire in the room spread too quickly. Later… after the guests left, we started fighting the fire… Ah!"
Censor Song, young and hot-tempered, hearing this, delivered a heavy kick to Qi Xun's shoulder.
Marquis Qi still wanted to protect his son: "Song Cang, how dare you commit violence before His Majesty!"
Censor Song lifted his leg and kicked Qi Xun in the face: "Was fighting the fire important? Or was seeing off guests important? Your Qi family never intended to save my cousin! Even if you didn't set the fire, you never wanted her to live!"
"I…" Only then did Qi Xun realize that, in his panic, he had left a gaping hole in his own words.
Chancellor Song was also furious, veins bulging on his forehead: "Xiyue was the woman you knelt for a day and a night to win. Before you shifted your affections, did you forget how you once strained on tiptoe just to reach her? Even if you no longer care for her now, a clean break would suffice. Do you think my niece is so desperate that she must cling to you?"
"I truly wish to know what kind of woman could bewitch you, Heir Qi, into losing your senses and insisting on driving my niece to her death?"
Qi Xun was scolded until his face flushed crimson, the shame and anger magnified by the footprint still imprinted on his cheek.
He truly hadn’t intended to kill her at first—why was it so impossible to explain now!
Emperor You’an’s expression darkened severely: "Lady Gu, which family does that wretched woman belong to?"
Qi Xun hesitated, still wanting to deny it, but Emperor You’an lifted his hand and hurled the paperweight from the desk at him, roaring furiously: "Speak!"