Having many handsome men means no worries; pampering them all keeps me in good spirits.

Lu Nian originally planned to go to the Ning residence alone to deal with the family members, but Jiang Qingyan insisted on going with her.

She wanted to see the environment in which Ning Ruyu had lived since childhood, as well as the room she had lived in.

Only after the emperor's entourage arrived were the gates of the Ning residence slowly opened by the soldiers...

All 120-plus people in the mansion knelt on the ground, kowtowing and bowing to Jiang Qingyan.

Jiang Qingyan coldly scanned the crowd, her gaze finally settling on the stiff, pale corpse in the corner.

Beside Ning Ruyu's body, a slender young man in white was kneeling, his back to Jiang Qingyan.

Remembering Ning Ruyu's dying wish that she spare her younger brother, Jiang Qingyan asked the crowd, "Is that young man the second young master of your Ning family?"

The concubine Liu, kneeling in the first row, hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, that bastard is Ning Ruyu's younger brother. He has been eccentric since childhood and doesn't even come to pay his respects when Your Majesty arrives."

Jiang Qingyan narrowed her eyes, walked to the stone bench and sat down, asking with great interest, "Oh? Ning Ruyu is a slut? Her brother has a strange personality? Tell me, how are those two siblings sluts? How are they strange?"

That day, Ning Ruyu suddenly returned to the mansion. After many inquiries, everyone learned that the Emperor had released her from the palace. They assumed that Ning Ruyu had offended the Emperor in the palace and was therefore expelled from it.

So at this moment, he made no attempt to hide anything and told her everything he had done to Ning Ruyu.

Aunt Liu coughed twice and stretched her neck to say, "That Ning Ruyu was not well-behaved when she was still in her boudoir. She often dressed up in a flamboyant way and danced in the courtyard, just as shameless as her dead slut! After I disciplined her many times, she began to restrain herself and changed her clothes to the most elegant white."

Jiang Qingyan clenched her fists. So Yu'er didn't actually favor the white-clad woman; it was because she was tormented by this vicious woman...

At this moment, the young man in white suddenly rushed over, slapped Aunt Liu hard across the face, and shouted angrily, "You are not allowed to insult my mother and my sister!"

Aunt Liu was startled by the slap. She covered her burning face and pointed at the white-robed boy, cursing, "Ning Rufeng! You damned bastard! You caused your mother's death at birth, and now you've caused your father and sister's deaths too. What are you pretending to be, a filial son?"

A cold glint flashed in Ning Rufeng's eyes. Just as he was about to raise his hand to slap her again, a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old rushed over and punched him hard in the face.

Ning Rufeng was caught off guard and fell straight to the ground, struggling several times but unable to get up.

He was already frail, and after Ning Ruyu's body was brought back, he knelt by her side every day, guarding her without eating or drinking for many days.

That one punch alone was enough to take half his life.

The boy glared at him fiercely, gritting his teeth as he said, "You bastard, how dare you hit my mother! It seems I haven't taught you enough lessons!"

Aunt Liu said smugly with a crooked mouth, "Your Majesty, you see, Ning Rufeng lives up to his name. He's a madman. I am his stepmother, after all. How dare he lay a hand on me in broad daylight? It's outrageous!"

Jiang Qingyan glanced at the crowd on the ground again, only noticing a look of heartache on the face of an old woman in the last row.

Jiang Qingyan beckoned to the old woman, signaling her to come forward, and asked, "Tell me, what kind of people are Ning Ruyu and Ning Rufeng?"

Aunt Liu's heart tightened, and she quickly said, "Your Majesty, this Liu is the lowest-ranking servant in this household. Wouldn't it be an offense to Your Majesty's ears to hear her speak?"

Jiang Qingyan glanced at Aunt Liu with annoyance and said coldly, "Shut up!"

Aunt Liu immediately covered her mouth, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Jiang Qingyan nodded to Liu, signaling her to speak her mind boldly.

Liu glanced at Consort Liu and her son, who were glaring at her fiercely, gritted her teeth, and mustered her courage to say, "Your Majesty, the eldest young lady and the second young master are extremely kind and filial people. After the lady passed away, Consort Liu often mistreated them, but they never mentioned a word to the master, for fear of making him worry about them. The servants in the mansion are always opportunistic. Seeing that Consort Liu was in charge of the household affairs, they followed her in bullying the eldest young lady and the second young master, but they are very lenient and have never punished the servants."

As she spoke, Liu's eyes grew even more moist. How could such a good person as the eldest young lady have died...

Jiang Qingyan's eyes trembled slightly, and she gestured for Liu to step back.

Then she asked the crowd, "Aunt Liu and Madam Liu's words are quite different. Tell me, which one of them is telling the truth?"

Everyone quickly replied, "Your Majesty, what Consort Liu said is true!"

Jiang Qingyan took a deep breath. She hadn't expected that among so many people in the manor, only Liu Shi truly cared for Yu'er...

And it was she who pushed Yu'er back into the abyss...

Liu was already sobbing uncontrollably. She pointed at the crowd and yelled, trembling, "How good Madam was to you all when she was alive... How could you slander the eldest young lady and the second young master like this... Have you all lost your conscience?"

Aunt Liu curled her lip and glared fiercely at Liu Shi, "You filthy hussy, get out of here right now! Just wait till I get my hands on you!"

Jiang Qingyan slowly stood up, walked to Aunt Liu, pinched her chin, and asked, "Are you aware of the plot to rebel?"

Aunt Liu's eyes darted around, then she quickly shook her head, "No...this servant doesn't know..."

Jiang Qingyan chuckled lightly, "If you're not being honest, then kill me."

As soon as she finished speaking, Aunt Liu's head rolled out and landed right at her son's feet.

Lu Nian wiped the bloodstains off the knife and took another step forward with Jiang Qingyan.

Concubine Liu's son was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, trembling as he backed away, his hands shaking as he covered his neck, begging for mercy: "Your Majesty, spare my life... I... I know about my father's rebellion... but I'm still young... I didn't collude with him..."

Jiang Qingyan sneered, "Oh? So it's because you're still young that you haven't gone along with them! Then you shouldn't grow up, just kill them."

Along with his head, his hands, which were covering his neck, also rolled to the ground.

The others were terrified at the sight and kowtowed, begging for mercy.

With each calm "Kill" from Jiang Qingyan, only Ning Rufeng and Liu Shi remained alive in the entire mansion.

Liu huddled in the corner, chanting "Amitabha" repeatedly, seemingly trying to pray for her own salvation in advance.

Jiang Qingyan's tone was exceptionally calm, "Liu, are you willing to take care of Ning Rufeng from now on?"

Liu's eyes were full of surprise. Did the Emperor mean... to release her and the second young master?

She quickly kowtowed and said, "This servant is willing! This servant is willing!"

Just as Jiang Qingyan was about to turn and walk towards Ning Rufeng, a sword suddenly rushed towards her from behind...