Both worlds are like dreams

"Your Majesty," Xue Huang said with a smile, "Do you think this matter should be investigated thoroughly?"

Emperor Ling looked at the maid and said, "Come here, lock her up in the Dali Temple and interrogate her strictly."

Two soldiers immediately walked into the hall. Upon seeing this, the maid showed a look of determination on her face, and suddenly fell down before anyone could react.

When Xue Huang heard the scream, she immediately went forward to check. There was a trace of black blood at the corner of her mouth and her face was ashen, which showed that she had taken poison beforehand.

I was careless. Xue Huang felt extremely regretful. I should have checked it earlier.

If she were alive, she might be able to find out some of Shen Congfeng's lackeys and bring them to justice, but now all the clues are gone.

Emperor Ling's face was not looking good either. On the one hand, this was enough to prove that Mo Ruilin had colluded with the remnants of Beiyuan to frame him, and on the other hand, he had lost the clue.

Xue Huang turned her head to meet Mo Yunchen's gaze and found that there was a hint of a smile in his eyes that made her spine chill.

He only said two sentences from beginning to end, but the ending seemed to have been under his control.

Two soldiers dragged the body of the maid out, and everyone in the court had different expressions for a moment.

Shen Congfeng and his party also fell silent and looked at Shen Congfeng involuntarily. At this point, they had already lost.

But at this time, the Minister of War spoke again, "Your Majesty, I think the people around the Fifth Prince must be investigated, so as to clear the Fifth Prince's name."

The Minister of Punishment also said: "Princess Changle privately changed the river course to save people, and pointed the sword at Minister Du's daughter to protect herself. Both of these are excusable, but it is still a fact that Princess Changle privately brought weapons into the palace. If I am not mistaken, the sword hidden around the princess' waist is a magic weapon. According to the law, she should be punished with fifty lashes."

Xue Huang glanced at the two of them. Oh boy, they are determined to keep harping on this point, aren't they?

"Your Majesty," Jingguo said publicly, "Princess Changle is a princess of two countries. Even if she brought weapons into the palace without permission, she should not be caned."

"Princess Changle is indeed a princess of Dongchu, but she is also a princess of Beiling. No matter which country a princess is from, she should not bring weapons into the palace without permission when she enters our court. This is a crime of great disrespect." Du Shangshu said.

"That's enough!" Emperor Ling slammed the table, "You guys are never going to stop arguing, are you?"

No one else dared to speak, but Shen Congfeng spoke up, "Your Majesty, I also think that the Fifth Prince's case has not been fully investigated, and he should be temporarily detained and handed over to the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple for strict investigation. As for Princess Changle, although she has made meritorious contributions, the country has its own laws. If she is not punished, who will be punished in the future? Considering that she tried her best to save people this time, the fifty lashes can be reduced to twenty."

As soon as he said this, his followers immediately agreed. The Second Prince and Mo Ruilin's group were of course unwilling to do so. Seeing that the court was about to quarrel again, Mo Ruilin suddenly knelt on the ground and said, "Father, I am willing to be detained and cooperate with the investigation of the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple."

"Just tell me who that person is, and I won't pursue the matter."

"Father, please forgive me for having something to hide, but please believe me, I have absolutely no selfish motives."

Shen Congfeng said coldly: "If the Fifth Prince has a clear conscience, why doesn't he dare to reveal the identity of that woman?"

Mo Ruilin did not answer, "I am willing to accept the punishment, but I still need your approval for one more thing."

"You say." said Emperor Ling.

"Changle grew up in the martial arts world and is unfamiliar with the royal etiquette. She brought weapons into the palace unintentionally. Father, please consider that she was seriously injured while saving the people and let me take on her twenty lashes."

"Fifth brother." Xue Huang frowned, "No."

"Please grant me your permission, Father!"

Emperor Ling hesitated for a moment and said, "Okay."

"Wait a minute." Xue Huang stepped forward and said.

Shen Congfeng immediately stopped her and shouted: "How dare you!"

Xue Huang pulled out a scroll from her sleeve, "Your Majesty, do you still remember this?"

Everyone couldn't help but look at the palm-sized bright yellow scroll in her hand. It was a silk scroll only owned by the royal family and specially used by the emperor.

How could she have it in her hand?

"Send it up!"

The eunuch immediately stepped forward to take it and handed it to Emperor Ling.

"Three years ago, an envoy from Xiyue came, and the two countries became friends through military force. I fought against Lan Ruofeng at Xuanyuantai, and His Majesty personally named me Princess Changle of Beiling, and gave me a handwritten letter of pardon." Xue Huang said slowly.

Emperor Ling unfolded the scroll in front of everyone, "Indeed."

Shen Congfeng frowned. The canonization of the princess was decided in the court, but the letter of exoneration was not mentioned. He glanced at the kneeling Mo Ruilin and instantly realized that this was his handwriting again, and he had kept it secret.

"Changle is willing to return this handwritten letter to Your Majesty today, and only asks Your Majesty to pardon all the crimes of the Fifth Prince. As for the flogging, Changle is willing to bear it myself." Xue Huang also knelt on the ground. She couldn't let Mo Ruilin be detained by the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice. Most of the people there were Shen Congfeng's people. If he really fell into their hands, it would be like falling into a spider web and he would not be able to escape easily.

Mo Ruilin looked at Xue Huang, frowning slightly, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Xue Huang didn't say anything. She knew that if this contest didn't come to a conclusion today, Shen Congfeng would never give up.

Emperor Ling looked into her determined eyes. Despite her young age, she had such a sense of responsibility and broad-mindedness. She was not afraid of power, life or death.

Considering her identity as a Dongchu, he would never torture her. But he never expected that she would take out this handwritten letter to exonerate Mo Ruilin.

This letter of exemption is different from the golden medal of immunity from death. The golden medal of immunity from death can exempt one from the death penalty, but this letter can exempt one from all crimes except treason. With these two things in her hands, she can walk around Bei Ling with impunity and use them to save others.

How rare! He couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Emperor Ling glanced at the faces of Shen Congfeng and his cronies, and decided to let him, the emperor, clean up the mess in the end.

So he covered his chest with his hands, a look of pain appeared on his face, and he looked like he was very angry.

"Father!" The second prince stepped forward immediately, "What's wrong with you?"

The court officials were also in chaos and came forward to show their concern for their emperor.

Only Mo Ruilin had a smile in his eyes, "Father may have been too excited earlier, and his anger has taken a toll on his heart."

"Call the imperial physician!" the second prince shouted.

"I'm fine," Emperor Ling said weakly, "I'm angry because of you today. What are you still kneeling here for? Go back to my house and stay under house arrest. Don't be an eyesore here!"

Upon hearing this, Duke Jingguo quickly took advantage of the chaos to pull Xue Huang and Mo Ruilin up, and walked quickly out of the palace, "In compliance with the imperial decree of His Majesty, this old minister volunteers to escort the Fifth Prince and the Princess back to their residence and put them under house arrest. They will not be allowed to step out of the house."

Emperor Ling was also helped back to the palace by the Second Prince, and no one cared about impeachment or punishment anymore.

Shen Congfeng twitched the corners of his mouth and clenched his hands tightly in his sleeves. It was outrageous that he couldn't move them at all even in this situation!

"There is a long way to go." Mo Yunchen left a word indifferently and walked out of the hall.

Shen Congfeng snorted coldly, "Your Majesty is so calm, as if this matter has nothing to do with you."

"If I hadn't poisoned that maid beforehand, what do you think she would say next?" Mo Yunchen asked calmly.

"The lives of her family are in my hands. If she dares to tell the truth, she won't just be the one to die."

Mo Yunchen raised the corner of his mouth slightly, with a hint of sarcasm in his smile, "What if she knew that her family had been killed by you a long time ago?"

Shen Congfeng's eyes turned cold and he didn't say anything.

"If she hadn't died from the poison, with Wei Xuehuang and Mo Ruilin's brains, do you think they would not be able to pry her mouth open?"

"This Wei Xuehuang is indeed a trouble!" Shen Congfeng said coldly. "She has ruined our plans time and again. Since she refuses to change sides, then she should be prepared to be our enemy."

Mo Yunchen left the hall without saying anything.