Tangli Fried Snow

Upon hearing this, Yin Tong's eyes darted around, and he cursed his subordinates inwardly for their incompetence, for using some random, inferior materials to make do.

Before Yin Tong could speak, Duan Xueyao added, "For the sake of the Empress Dowager, why not treat her leniently?"

Sherry and Ruyi knelt on the ground, neither daring to speak, waiting for the Empress to make the final decision.

The Empress exhaled and said, "The death penalty can be waived, but punishment is inevitable..."

Just as she was about to have the maid dragged away and given twenty lashes,

The eunuch's shrill voice came again from the doorway: "General Jin Cheng has arrived!"

All the women in the room felt a stirring in their hearts.

The Empress was delighted, Xue Li was excited, Duan Xueyao was filled with hatred, and the other palace maids and eunuchs admired her.

A handsome young man, dressed in magnificent robes, strode into the main hall. His phoenix eyes were bright, and his brows were full of spirit, making him unforgettable.

His tall and straight figure exuded confidence and pride.

As soon as Jin Cheng entered the room, he saw the little fairy lying on the ground with blood on her face. Just as he was shocked, he glanced at her and saw her sitting properly next to her sister, looking at him with complicated eyes. For a moment, his mind went blank.

For a moment, you could hear a pin drop in the main hall.

Empress Jin was the first to react. She stood up from the couch with a smile and said happily to him, "You're back!"

Jin Cheng then came to his senses and bowed to his sister, saying, "This humble general greets Your Majesty the Empress."

He gave a deep bow, taking the opportunity to glance at Sherry on the ground. Sherry had already recovered and was looking down at the ground, continuing to play the quail, avoiding eye contact with him.

The Empress's worries vanished, and she smiled as she invited Jin Cheng to sit on her other side.

Jin Cheng sat down, and the three of them exchanged a silent glance.

Sherry was somewhat familiar with this situation; it was like another joint trial.

Jin Cheng remained calm, smiling slightly at Duan Xueyao, revealing two rows of perfectly white teeth. This contrasted sharply with his sun-tanned skin, like the sun breaking through the clouds on a cloudy day. He exuded a heroic and unrestrained air, displaying an extraordinary demeanor.

Duan Xueyao stared blankly for a moment, thinking to herself that this famous Northern Army general, Jin Hu, really had a special captivating charm. With her beautiful eyes looking up, she also gave Jin Cheng a slight, polite nod.

Jin Cheng thought to himself that the little fairy's appearance seemed to have changed again. Her acting skills were superb, and she really acted well. Her expression and eyes made it seem like she was seeing him for the first time.

Seeing the two staring at each other with a smile, the Empress introduced them first.

“Jin Cheng, you haven’t met Princess Yaoguang before, have you? This is Duan Xueyao, the daughter of Prince Duan and the Crown Prince’s fiancée.”

A storm raged in Jin Cheng's heart, and the sharp light in his eyes could pierce right through the person opposite him. Duan Xueyao had never made eye contact with a young man like this before, and her heart began to pound nervously. Her eyes involuntarily lowered to hide her inner unease.

Empress Jin looked at Duan Xueyao again and said with a smile, "Xueyao, this is my younger brother, Jin Cheng, who is quite capable." Her eyes were full of pride, and her heart, which had been shrouded in gloom these past few days, seemed to have been injected with a stimulant and gained strength.

Duan Xueyao raised her head, her pretty face forcing a calm expression, and said with a faint smile, "Xueyao greets Lieutenant General Jin."

Jin Cheng looked at her humble and polite appearance. Her expression was focused and aloof. The contours of her profile seemed to be exquisitely sculpted. Her skin was smooth and delicate, a healthy pink that was radiant and youthful. Her beautiful pink neck, like a swan, was revealed from her clothes, making him unable to help but think of her captivating body beneath him, singing sweetly and enchantingly.

He mustered the formidable composure he had honed through countless battles to calm the burning passion in his heart, and replied with four words: "Princess Yaoguang." He was speechless with rage.

The atmosphere became unusually eerie.

Empress Jin knew that her younger brother had always been a fussy and picky boy who never suffered a loss. She guessed that he was still holding a grudge about the humiliation of being captured by her brother for several months.

Jin Cheng must have been unhappy to see Duan Xueyao.

She couldn't help but mentally curse him for being childish, and stopped paying attention to their flirtatious exchange.

She scolded Yin Tong, "Why aren't you dragging him away and giving him a beating? He's blocking our conversation."

Just as Yin Tong was about to order his men to drag Xue Li away, Duan Xueyao snapped out of her daze and gently said to him, "Wait."

She smiled gently at the Empress and said softly, "Your Majesty, these witnesses and evidence are suspicious. Why not give her a chance to investigate thoroughly before using torture?"

Jin Cheng glanced at Xue Li on the ground. From the front, her face was covered in blood and her appearance was not clear at all, but he felt as if he knew her. He immediately sensed something was wrong, and his eyes became as sharp as a hawk.

Ruyi also knelt and took a few steps forward, pleading, "Your Majesty, this physical evidence cannot prove that this is witchcraft. The witness testimonies are contradictory. Muyan must have been wronged. Please give Muyan a chance."

After listening to the two men's conversation, Jin Cheng, though he had only been back for a few days, had already heard about the "witchcraft and curses" in the capital and palace. Looking at the ridiculous "evidence" in front of him, he guessed something. He said thoughtfully to Empress Jin, "Your Majesty, why don't you let me interrogate the person?"

Duan Xueyao and Empress Jin stared at him in astonishment. Yin Tong stepped forward, bowing and scraping as he said, "General, this is unreasonable. How can we let you personally get involved in this sordid matter? Why not send her to the Imperial Prison and have her interrogated by the palace officials?"

Jin Cheng coldly laughed and said, "This concerns His Majesty's health and the fate of the Song Kingdom. I am fighting bloody battles with my soldiers on the front lines, and someone is actually doing such a despicable thing by the Emperor's side. I must find out the truth."

"Her Majesty the Empress is busy with important military and national affairs every day, as well as the trivial matters of the inner palace. She also has to attend to His Majesty's illness and take care of the young princes and princesses. You servants don't do your jobs properly for her and instead cause her trouble all the time."

"Hand the people over to me, and I'll give you an explanation in just one day!"

The Empress, not wanting to offend her younger brother, who was a great contributor, nodded slightly in agreement.

Yin Tong stood to one side, torn between his inner turmoil, and finally lowered his stance, remaining silent.

Jin Cheng shouted, "Men, bring him to me and lock him up!"

Two guards entered the hall and dragged Xue Li away, leaving Ru Yi staring at her in terror. Ru Yi felt as if a stone was stuck in her throat, unable to utter a word, and collapsed to the ground, watching helplessly as Xue Li was dragged away by the two men.

Sherry thought to herself: Good job, lad! He really is the man I've got my eye on!