Chapter 065

Chapter 65: People have gotten dumb

Everyone turned toward the voice. They saw Yu Jiao Jiao clapping a hand over her mouth, as if she had said something wrong.

Seeing the Emperor also look her way, and his face looking bad, Yu Jiao Jiao felt her heart pound.

She had wanted to pour oil on the fire and pull Yu Zhi Yi down with her.

But that did not mean she was not afraid of the Emperor.

In fact, since she had lived two lives, she knew even better how terrible a ruler’s power could be.

She went pale and knelt at once, already regretting her impulse a little. But it was too late to back out now, so she gritted her teeth and said: “Your Majesty, this humble woman misspoke. Please forgive me.”

Madam Zhang and Madam Meng shot Yu Jiao Jiao a glare, then also apologized: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, Madam Yu was thoughtless…”

Yu Zi Xuan would not have it: “Madam Zhang, that is wrong. Sister Jiao Jiao dared to speak the truth. The prince was clearly not right just now, but none of us dared to step forward. Is it because we could not see the obvious? No, it is because we feared trouble!”

“But Sister Jiao Jiao, though she respects the dignity of Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress, still bravely spoke the truth. That is not being thoughtless. That is courage that should be praised.”

Minister Yu and his wife, along with their four sons, all nodded, agreeing with Yu Zi Xuan’s words.

The Emperor and Empress shared a look. A chill flashed in the Emperor’s eyes: “You are not wrong. Prince Xiao Yao’s state was indeed off. Summon the imperial physician. Investigate this matter thoroughly.”

At such an important event, something this absurd had happened, and the victim was his own brother. How could he not be angry?

Prince Xiao Yao’s trouble was not only a slap at the Imperial Family’s dignity. It also left the Emperor himself embarrassed.

With the Emperor’s words as cover, Yu Jiao Jiao cast a gloating look at Yu Zhi Yi.

But it only lasted a moment. She quickly hid it and looked “worried,” speaking carefully toward Yu Zhi Yi: “Sister, I saw you show hatred toward Prince Xiao Yao. After he drank that cup of wine, you even smiled in a strange way. Can you tell me why?”

Yu Zhi Yi raised an eyebrow.

Everyone turned judgmental eyes on her. The Emperor’s pressure filled the air.

The Emperor asked in a hard voice: “Yu Zhi Yi, is this true?”

Yu Zhi Yi had lived two lives. She had not spent much time in the inner court before, but she had faced enemy armies. That meant she knew how to use her head and her hands.

She did not think she was great at playing with people’s hearts, but she knew this: the more she cried innocence right now, the less people would believe her.

After all, which bad person admits to a bad deed?

The more she denied it, the less they would believe her, and someone would slap a “guilty conscience” label on her.

She bowed slightly and said in a calm, even voice: “Your Majesty, I cannot prove my innocence, just as I cannot prove that what Yu Jiao Jiao said is true.”

This sounded weak, but it was retreating to advance.

Yu Jiao Jiao claimed she saw Yu Zhi Yi provoke Prince Xiao Yao. But who could prove Yu Jiao Jiao was telling the truth?

If both sides could not prove anything, and the Emperor chose to believe Yu Jiao Jiao’s words alone, that would set a bad example.

In the future, if someone wanted to do harm or frame another, would they only need to say they “saw” something and skip evidence to decide a person’s fate?

The Emperor and the court officials heard the meaning under Yu Zhi Yi’s words. After a moment of thought, they agreed.

Chancellor Du stepped forward, bowed, and said in a deep voice: “Your Majesty, we must follow evidence. We cannot judge a person by one side’s words. If we do, wrongful cases will flood our Great Sheng Empire.”

Yu Zi Xuan muttered in protest: “Sister Jiao Jiao would never lie. If she said she saw it, she saw it.”

Yu Zhi Yi did not bother with him and let this fool make a scene.

You Bing Yue looked at Yu Zhi Yi with cold eyes.

She knew better than anyone that this had to be Yu Zhi Yi’s doing.

Because that cup of wine was meant for her!

But that woman did not drink it. After hurting Prince Xiao Yao, she even dragged You Bing Yue into the mud.

She could feel the nobles’ scorn and disdain around her.

Hatred burst in her chest. She pushed Du Zi Heng aside, walked to the center of the hall, and met Yu Zhi Yi’s eyes: “I also saw you smile at Prince Xiao Yao, and it was after he finished the wine.”

“If this was not your doing, why did you do that?”

Her anger was so strong that she lost her reason for a moment.

Yu Zhi Yi smiled: “Why would I raise my cup and smile at Prince Xiao Yao while I was drinking? Tell me, what is my logic?”

You Bing Yue was speechless.

She realized she had acted on impulse and done something dumb.

Yes, logic.

If you hurt someone, you should have a reason.

Yu Zhi Yi and Prince Xiao Yao had clashed before, but the cause was You Bing Yue herself.

And it was You Bing Yue who took Du Zi Heng’s love.

By normal logic, if Yu Zhi Yi wanted to poison anyone, she would target You Bing Yue.

Prince Xiao Yao?

Forget motive. Even the method did not line up.

Ignoring You Bing Yue’s panic, Yu Zhi Yi lifted her head toward the Emperor and Empress behind the dragon desk. Her voice was not loud, but it was firm and clear, reaching every ear:

“Your Majesty, since I was ten, today is my first time entering the palace. I could not possibly command the palace staff. You can investigate that.”

“To find the truth today is not hard. If the wine had a problem, then something was added to it. If someone acted, there will be traces. I believe Your Majesty is wise and just. You will not be fooled by a small trick, and you will not wrong a good person.”

With that crown of “wise and just” placed on him, even if the Emperor sensed something off, he could not smooth it over.

He nodded after thinking: “Rest assured. I will investigate strictly. If this truly has nothing to do with you, I will not wrong you. But…”

His look turned cold again: “If we learn this was your scheme, then no matter your status or your skill, I will not forgive you.”

Yu Zhi Yi answered without servility or pride: “Of course. That is how it should be.”

Seeing her calm, confident smile, the Emperor sighed in his heart.

He had mostly figured out what had happened.

[Brother, years of easy living have dulled you. You have gotten stupid.]

[And you are lovesick.]

He pushed down his annoyance and decided to turn the page.

After all, the main event was still ahead.

Because Yu Zhi Yi was now involved in a case about harming a member of the Imperial Family, the Emperor decided to take back her reward for now. He would wait until the truth came out to decide whether to go on with her unusual promotion to senior official at the Ministry of Justice.

Yu Zhi Yi gladly accepted and even thought it could not be better.

[Delay is good. Canceling would be even better.]