After marrying the heirless prince, I gave birth to three children

Zhang didn't dare look at Xie Yao when she said this, and she even regretted it right after she finished speaking...

I feel empty inside, as if I made a huge mistake.

Xie Yao... could she really be tricked so easily?

Is she too impatient?

But the words had already been spoken, and with so many people present as witnesses, Zhang had no chance to regret it.

Although there was silence all around, the sound of people gasping for air was particularly obvious.

Xiao Ning raised her eyebrows slightly, and glanced at Xie Yao with a smug look, "Now, what else do you have to say, sister-in-law?"

Xie Yao lowered her eyes slightly and said in a resounding voice, "Since there's something fishy about my father's illness, as his daughter, I must investigate thoroughly!"

Empress Yongle frowned and said, "That being said, today is the Crown Princess' birthday."

"There's no need to rush into verification..."

Xiao Ning had just started to feel suspicious because of Xie Yao's powerful words, but when he heard what Yongle said, he immediately became excited.

"Aunt, you're wrong." Xiao Ning disagreed. "As a child, if it were me, I wouldn't even bother celebrating my birthday if I didn't find out the truth."

As soon as Xiao Ning said this, someone immediately echoed, "That's exactly what the princess said."

"We are all children, so we can naturally understand the filial piety of the Crown Princess." This person was none other than the wife of the eldest son of the Lin family of the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion.

Lin Panpan's biological mother.

Although she had a smile on her face at the moment, there was no warmth in her eyes. Thinking of her daughter Lin Panpan who was sent away because she offended the prince and his wife, she felt only hatred in her heart!

Of course, all the hatred was directed at Xie Yao.

Her daughter Lin Panpan was destined from birth to be either the queen or the imperial concubine in the future. Knowing that the prince was not favored, she had never sent her to the prince's palace.

But a while ago, he allowed the Crown Prince to enter the court, and even intended to choose a concubine for him...

Their Lin family has already humbled themselves and would rather accept the position of concubine, but Xie Yao refused to tolerate even that.

What is Xie Yao’s identity?

In the past, he wasn't even worthy of carrying her daughter's shoes!

Relying on his sudden rise to power, he actually dared to go against the Duke Dingguo's Mansion! He had no chance before, but this time, the Crown Prince's wife would naturally not let such an opportunity go.

After the wife of the Crown Prince of Duke Dingguo's Mansion spoke, several other ladies followed suit.

Xie Yao glanced at everyone and finally said, "What you ladies said is correct."

Xiao Ning said impatiently, "Why don't you go and invite Father?"

"No need." A cold voice sounded from outside, "Your Majesty has arrived."

Everyone immediately knelt down and saluted.

The person who spoke was Concubine Shu.

"Stand up." The emperor strode in, accompanied by Concubine Shu and Concubine Li, and behind them came Eunuch Li and the third prince.

The third prince has returned to Beijing?

Xie Yao was slightly delighted. This meant... Pei Chen and Sister Ying should have returned to Beijing as well.

As she was thinking, she and Xiao Ji stepped aside and gave the main seat to the emperor.

The emperor sat down and said, "I have heard about what happened today."

"This involves an official appointed by the imperial court. We must investigate thoroughly." He looked at Zhang. "Madam Xie, please tell me what is so strange about Lord Xie's stroke."

Although Zhang had met the emperor before, this was the first time she was so close to him.

At this moment, the emperor's majestic eyes only swept across her lightly, and Zhang couldn't help but shrink back.

"Madam Xie," Xiao Ning said, "Don't be afraid. Just tell me the truth. Father will definitely make the decision for you and Master Xie."

Upon hearing this, the emperor glanced at Xiao Ning and frowned slightly.

Zhang spoke slowly, "I feel that... my husband's accident happened suddenly, and before this... he had always been in good health."

Zhang hugged her daughter, who had calmed down, tightly in her arms, and her voice gradually became steady.

"Actually, at the beginning, my husband was able to say a few simple words, but now... the situation is getting worse."

"The Crown Princess personally arranged for the imperial physicians and others to take medicine with me, three times a day, without missing a single meal."

"A few days ago, after the Crown Princess returned to the Xie family... she ordered someone to take over the care of my husband and forbade me, nor anyone else, to set foot in his courtyard."

"A few days ago, I was really worried about my husband, so I went to take a look secretly, but..."

Zhang's eyes were red, tears falling down, she choked and said, "But I actually saw my husband lying in bed, no one taking care of him. He couldn't take care of himself, so..."

There was no need for Zhang to make her words too clear, as everyone could imagine that scene, and many of them immediately showed disgust and aversion on their faces.

Zhang sobbed and said, "I checked and found that his body was covered with bedsores, some of which were even rotten..."

"My husband used to be such a respectable and neat man. He and I have been together for many years, but now... I am useless and can't even protect my husband."

As Zhang spoke, she hugged Xie Yujiao and sobbed softly.

Xie Yujiao in her arms cried much more loudly. She curled up in Zhang's arms and cried heart-wrenchingly, her cries mixed with the sound of calling for daddy.

Everyone felt sad when they heard it.

Xie Cheng has not taken a concubine or a maid for many years. He only has Madam Xie Zhang by his side. Many people in the capital know this.

Many people have envied Zhang, and now seeing Zhang and Xie Yujiao crying like this, it is natural that they can't help but empathize with them.

But more importantly...

Concubine Shu snorted, "You mean, all of this was arranged and ordered by the Crown Princess?"

"Your Majesty..." Zhang subconsciously looked at Xie Yao, as if afraid, and whispered, "Your Majesty just has doubts..."

"Your Majesty, please make the decision."

Zhang knocked heavily to the ground. Seeing this, Xie Yujiao also followed Zhang's example and knelt down.

Xie Yuru's eyes also turned red after hearing this. She knelt beside the two of them and said, "Your Majesty, Jing'er has also been missing since my father's accident."

"When I sent someone to look for her, the people at the academy said that someone had gone to the academy to look for Jing'er after my father's accident."

"I'm worried that something may have happened to Jing'er... Your Majesty, please help me!"

The emperor's face darkened slightly, and his stern gaze passed over the three people kneeling on the ground and fell on Xiao Ji and Xie Yao. "What do you think?"