Long Live the Empress

royal palace, royal study

The old emperor looked at Song Xinghuai kneeling on the ground covered in blood, and his breathing became heavier. "My dear Minister Song, everyone says that you advocate frugality and are a role model for all officials in the country. So, can you tell me where the 200,000 taels of silver for repairs went?"

Song Xinghuai was also full of regret at this time. The emperor evaluated him like this, but he ignored the lives of the people for his own selfish desires. But now he could only do it to the end, "I am ashamed of the emperor and the people of Hechang County! It was my poor supervision that allowed those people to tamper with the dam... I ask the emperor to convict me of negligence and remove me from the post of county magistrate..." He said while unbuttoning his official uniform.

This was a very nice statement. Song Xinghuai did not admit that he had embezzled the money for repairs. Instead, he explained to the emperor that someone had acted privately and he was only guilty of negligence.

The old emperor looked at the bloody Song Xinghuai and turned his head away in disgust. "How did the Ninth Prince investigate?"

Yan Liyuan also respected the old emperor very much. "Your Majesty, I have brought a witness with me. I am willing to confront Lord Song face to face!"

"Oh? Bid!" The old emperor immediately became alert when he heard there was a witness.

Song's wife was so frightened by Yue Jinghao that she still walks unsteadily. When she entered the room and saw a bloody man kneeling on the ground, Song's wife almost fainted.

Seeing how rude Song's wife was, the chief eunuch shouted angrily, "How dare you! You don't even kneel down before the emperor!"

Song's wife was still dazed. Suddenly she felt a pain in her leg and was kicked to her knees. "Your Majesty, I...your Majesty, pay my respects to you!"

"Look who's next to you?" Yan Liyuan sat below the old emperor, leaning sideways and looking at Song Xinghuai.

Song Xinghuai had already recognized the Madam's voice and was horrified, "She doesn't know anything, why did the Ninth Prince bring her here?"

When Song's wife heard the familiar voice, she saw that the bloody man kneeling on the ground was actually her husband! "Master...how are you?..." Her hands trembled slightly, and she felt distressed but did not dare to touch the hideous wounds on Song Xinghuai's body.

"Don't be afraid, madam. I am fine! The emperor will definitely catch the person who framed you and me. Don't worry, madam!" Song Xinghuai hinted to his wife that he had explained to the emperor that he was framed and everything had nothing to do with them. All she had to do was refuse to admit it.

Song's wife nodded slightly, feeling a little more confident, "Your Majesty, I can testify that Song Xinghuai is..." innocent.

Before he could say anything, Yan Liyuan blurted out the four words "Ling's Medical Clinic".

Song's wife stopped talking abruptly, and looked at Yan Liyuan suddenly. After a moment, she immediately lowered her head. "Your Highness... I don't know what the Ninth Thousand Year Old Master is talking about..."

"Oh? Madam Song didn't know? Then how about I ask Boss Ling to come and meet Madam Song?"

Song Xinghuai was also confused at this time. Why did the Ninth Prince mention the clinic at this time? Could it be that the lady let it slip when she was seeing the patient?

"No!" Mrs. Song's fierce reaction made Yan Liyuan smile coldly. "Then Mrs. Song, tell me what you know!"

Song's wife didn't dare to look at Song Xinghuai's scrutinizing eyes. She dug her palms hard with her fingers. She was hesitating whether to say it or not...

Jiu Qian Sui didn't have the patience to keep thinking with her, "Someone, come, Xuan Ling..."

"The subject says, the subject says..."

"Madam..." Song Xinghuai called out, hoping that his wife could come to her senses.

"Master, now that things have come to this, we should confess..." Song's wife knocked her head heavily on the ground, "Your Majesty, Song Xinghuai took a total of 30,000 taels of silver for repairs, 10,000 taels were used on the dam, and the remaining 160,000 taels were divided among the upper-level officials..."

"Pa!" The old emperor was able to slap a dragon case, "Do you have any evidence for what you said?"

"Yes! Song Xinghuai hid the real account book in the chicken coop. Your Majesty, please send someone to search! The 30,000 taels of silver are buried under the chicken coop." Song's wife told everything she had secretly seen...

Song Xinghuai prided himself on being smart, but he didn't expect that his wife had already known everything. Now he just hoped that the emperor's people couldn't find the account books...

But things don't always go as planned. The guards in the palace are really amazing. They are even faster than the second prince's secret guards! When he came back, he also took an account book.

The old emperor only glanced at it briefly and closed the account book. "Have you seen it, my Lord?"

This matter is too serious, but the old emperor still wants to protect the second prince and let Song Xinghuai take all the blame. So let's go along with the old emperor! "I have seen it. All of this was done by Song Xinghuai alone. Please ask the emperor to confiscate the county magistrate's office and sentence him to death!"

Song Xinghuai sat on the ground, how come he was the only one who did it? The second prince and other officials were not hurt at all, how could this be possible? It was all because of this bitch's nonsense! Thinking of this, he went to strangle Song's wife's neck, "I love you so much, but why do you want to hurt me! Tell me! What is your intention?"

Song's wife had tears in her eyes. She regretted it so much. She shouldn't have given in to the temptation and had an affair with Boss Ling, which allowed Jiu Qiansui to catch her! She was a woman. She could be implicated for Song Xinghuai's crime, but she couldn't go to hell for the crime of being unfaithful to her husband...

"Master, now that things have come to this, we should just accept it. Don't be afraid of the road to the underworld, I will be with you." Song's wife stroked Song Xinghuai's thin face, feeling very guilty.

Song Xinghuai didn't expect his wife to say this, and he understood something in his heart. He grabbed his wife's hand and said, "Okay! I will lead you on the road to the underworld. We will still be husband and wife in the next life!"