Chapter 417: Xie Yuanjiu Files an Imperial Complaint

Chapter 417: Chapter 417: Xie Yuanjiu Files an Imperial Complaint

The prison guard stood to the side and said, "She was already foaming at the mouth when we found her. Alas..."

With trembling fingers, Xie Yuanjiu lifted the white cloth. Just as she expected, she saw Second Madam Xie’s ghastly pale face.

Tears streamed down her face. She covered the body again and collapsed to the floor, sobbing.

The prison guard asked, "Miss Xie Si, what should we do now? Will you take her with you, or should we notify the family at the Xie Mansion?"

Xie Yuanjiu choked out, "My mother suffered her entire life, and now she ends up like this! I should have been a dutiful daughter and given her a grand burial, but now... it seems I can’t even go home. My father won’t have me, and he certainly won’t care whether my mother is dead or alive."

Wiping her tears, she sobbed, "Please, just make the proper arrangements for her."

She then took out a silver ingot and placed it in the prison guard’s hand. Seeing the guard’s confused expression, she assumed it wasn’t enough money.

So, Xie Yuanjiu left another silver ingot before stumbling away in tears, supported by her maidservant.

「A few days later.」

The sky was overcast, with heavy winter clouds obscuring the heavens.

The Emperor had just stepped out of the Imperial Study Room when he heard the sound of a drum, growing louder as it approached, each beat making one’s heart tremble.

He whirled around, his brow furrowed. "What is happening?!"

This was no ordinary drumbeat. It was the Petition Drum.

The so-called Petition Drum was a massive drum set up outside the Imperial Palace. If anyone wished to present a grievance directly to the Emperor, they could strike it.

Legend had it that the Petition Drum was created by the founding emperor of Cangyun Country. The emperor had once hunted a seven-colored yak, which collapsed at his feet and spoke in a human voice. It told the emperor that if he made a drum from its hide, he would be able to hear of all the injustices in the land and thus become an enlightened ruler.

Even so, the Petition Drum was a symbol of imperial authority. To strike it was tantamount to summoning the Emperor himself, and no one had dared approach it for a long time. Since the country’s founding, the Petition Drum had only been struck four times.

Each time was related to major affairs of state, battles on the border, or the deaths of imperial kinsmen.

And now, it had sounded again.

The resounding beats were like a sharp, prodding blade, and the Emperor’s brows knitted tightly together.

Commander Lu hurried forward and cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, it is Miss Xie Si of the Xie family, Xie Yuanjiu, who struck the Petition Drum. She has a grievance to report."

The Emperor recalled the absurd incident where Xie Yuanjiu had made birds defecate all over the palace, and a look of impatience crossed his face.

"What is she up to now? How dare she strike the Petition Drum so recklessly? Is she not afraid I will punish her?"

Commander Lu hesitated for a moment before lowering his head to reply. "She claims her mother was brutally murdered in prison by Second Master Xie and General Fang. She begs Your Majesty to intervene and deliver justice for the deceased Second Madam Xie."

The Emperor was stunned.

If this were a common affair, it would be one thing. But the people Xie Yuanjiu was accusing were a female general with a brilliant military record and a former pillar of the court.

What’s more, it was a daughter accusing her father of murdering her mother for an old flame. If word of this got out, there was no telling what kind of gossip it would stir up.

The Emperor waved his hand. "Summon Xie Yuanjiu. And while you’re at it, have the Prime Minister come as well."

After a moment’s thought, he added, "Summon Xie Dizhi and Fang Qingdai to see me, too."

Commander Lu immediately went to carry out the orders.

With a grim expression, the Emperor sat down on the Dragon Throne to await their arrival.

But at that moment, Mo Lingwei led Shen Ningning into the room.

The little girl skipped in cheerfully and paid her respects to the Emperor.

The Emperor’s stern expression faltered. "Why have you two come at a time like this? Do you have business with me as well?"

Shen Ningning blinked her big eyes but didn’t speak. Mo Lingwei answered for her. "We heard the Petition Drum just now. Shen Ningning said that in all her life, she’s never seen anyone strike it, so she came to see what all the excitement was about."

The Emperor let out a short laugh.

"Little Ningning, you’re only five and a half. Of course you don’t understand how serious this drum is. However, it’s probably not appropriate for you to be here. Today’s matter concerns your second uncle and your cousin. Ling Wei, you should take Ningning back for now."

But Shen Ningning said in her sweet, childish voice, "Uncle Emperor, then I should stay even more! Don’t look down on me because I’m small. I’m a member of the Xie family now, you know!"

The Emperor’s expression grew serious, and he seemed to hesitate.

’He was afraid the scandal Xie Yuanjiu was about to reveal would be too sordid for her to hear.’

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Ningning scampered over. She boldly grabbed both of the Emperor’s hands, her small ones enveloping his large ones, and swung them back and forth.

"Uncle Emperor, I wish you peace and good health! Please just let me stay and listen! Besides, I have a little something to tell you, too!"

The Emperor looked at Shen Ningning. The little girl was wearing a bamboo-green dress, her hair done up in two small topknots. As she swayed, the silver bells on her wrists chimed crisply.

She was simply adorable, so fair-skinned and exquisitely delicate that the Emperor’s heart softened.

"Alright, alright. Since you want to stay, you can listen in. But later, you little rascal, you must not cause any trouble. Your Uncle Emperor has his own way of handling things. No matter what orders I give, you’re not allowed to cry."

Shen Ningning agreed at once.

"Okay!" she said, beaming.

’But inwardly, she was already a little worried.’

’The Emperor hadn’t even seen her second uncle yet, but he was already thinking about punishing him.’

’After all, the past romance between Second Master Xie and Fang Qingdai was common knowledge. And now, his own daughter was filing an imperial petition, accusing him of killing his wife for his old flame.’

’Regardless of the truth, once the story got out, people would only believe what they wanted to believe.’

Mo Lingwei had someone bring over the long crown prince chair and pulled Shen Ningning to sit on it with him.

He arranged for a eunuch to serve snacks and tea, not forgetting to lower his gaze and ask Shen Ningning in a low voice, "Is this enough for you?"

Shen Ningning grabbed a handful of melon seeds and nodded obediently. "This will last me until evening!"

Mo Lingwei’s eyes crinkled as he smiled softly.

A short while later, Xie Yuanjiu was led into the hall by Commander Lu. She was dressed in plain white mourning clothes with a mourning ribbon tied in her hair, looking as pitiable as a white camellia in a storm.

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty, and to His Highness, the Crown Prince." She raised her head, and her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Shen Ningning.

Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow. "Are you not going to pay your respects to Her Highness, the Princess?"

Xie Yuanjiu lowered her head. "I... pay my respects to Her Highness, Princess Funing."

CRACK. Shen Ningning cracked open a melon seed, ignoring her completely.

Xie Yuanjiu was about to pour out her grievances to the Emperor, tears already welling in her eyes, but the Emperor raised a hand, stopping her.

"Don’t be in such a hurry to speak. I have summoned your eldest uncle, your father, and General Fang. Wait until they have all arrived before you explain the situation."

Xie Yuanjiu wiped away the tears she had just managed to squeeze out and lowered her head meekly. "Yes, Your Majesty."

In less than the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, the brothers Xie Suzhi and Second Master Xie arrived one after the other. Fang Qingdai arrived looking rushed, still in her military uniform. She must have been training on the practice grounds when she received the Imperial Decree and came at once.

Shen Ningning, still cracking melon seeds, saw her daddy and grinned as cute as a little hamster.

"Daddy, Second Uncle, Aunt Qingdai!" she chirped, waving her small hand as if she were in her own home.

Xie Suzhi saw his daughter sitting on the crown prince chair—and right between the Emperor and the Crown Prince, no less!

His brow twitched.

He wanted to go forward and carry his daughter away, but the Emperor spoke first, addressing Shen Ningning in a gentle voice, "Ningning, you just promised your Uncle Emperor you’d stay quiet, didn’t you? Uncle Emperor is about to question them."

The little girl let out an "ah-oh" and quickly covered her mouth, nodding apologetically.

She was indicating that she would be good.

The Emperor smiled, satisfied.

’This child gets cuter every time I see her,’ he thought.

Mo Lingwei whispered to Shen Ningning, "I’ll shell the seeds for you."

’Xie Suzhi felt that anything he said now would be superfluous. Besides, Ningning sitting on the crown prince chair wasn’t the most important issue at hand.’

’The real issue was that he’d heard Xie Yuanjiu was going to accuse Second Master Xie.’

Just then, the Emperor’s expression turned severe as he looked down at the four people kneeling in the hall.

"Miss Xie Si, you may speak now," the Emperor said.

A wail was the first thing to escape Xie Yuanjiu’s lips as she knelt on the floor, weeping bitterly.

Yet when it was time for her to speak, every word was crystal clear.

"Your Majesty, I wish to accuse my father, Xie Dizhi! In order to reunite with his old flame, General Fang, he cruelly poisoned my mother while she was in prison!"

The hall erupted in an uproar.

Fang Qingdai’s head snapped up, and she spoke in unison with Second Master Xie, "What did you say?!"

Xie Suzhi’s brow furrowed, his cool eyes darkening ominously.

Xie Yuanjiu wiped her tears. "I have evidence."