Her hair was cloud-like and beautiful! She opened her eyes and found herself back in the third year

The two sisters, one after the other, completely exposed Fang Shixin's true colors.

Considering that she was on good terms with Princess Yizhen and called her sister, yet she harbored such disgust for her, it's clear what a hypocritical and despicable person she was.

Song Ke was surprised that Qin Yizhen was setting a trap for Fang Shixin, and his expression changed slightly.

He simply didn't know how to defend Fang Shixin's actions.

Could it be that there really is such a miraculous medicine in the world that has reversed Fang Shixin's likes and dislikes, which is why he is saying such crazy things?

He said, "Princess, the most important thing right now is to find out who caused trouble at the palace banquet. This matter concerns the safety of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty, and this is of utmost importance."

He avoided the main point and changed the subject.

Qin Yizhen said, "The safety of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty is naturally the most important thing. I believe that others are sincere when they say these things, but I do not believe what Imperial Censor Song said."

Perhaps in Imperial Censor Song's view, the safety of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty was secondary; the safety of Miss Fang and the Fang family was of paramount importance.

"Princess, please do not falsely accuse me. I had no such intention."

"Whether or not this intention exists, Imperial Censor Song's mind is as clear as a mirror."

"Alright," Empress Dowager Cheng said, looking down at the two and stopping their pointless argument.

She looked at the Imperial Censor Song and the Fang family kneeling below, and then said, "In that case, let's investigate this matter today. Go and see if that Miss Fang has regained consciousness. If she has, bring her here."

"Yes."

An attendant took the order and left. Empress Dowager Cheng glanced around and gave Qin Yizhen a faint look. Qin Yizhen lowered her head and dared not utter a sound.

Empress Dowager Cheng glanced around and said to everyone, "It's a small matter. Everyone, please return to your seats. Tell those dancers to perform another song. Don't ruin today's palace banquet."

At Empress Dowager Cheng's command, the song and dance that had stopped resumed, and once again a scene of peace and prosperity unfolded. However, faced with the delicacies and fine wines on the table, everyone hesitated and dared not touch them.

Empress Dowager Cheng took all of this in stride, lowered her eyes, took a sip of tea, and said nothing more. As for the Fang family members and Song Ke kneeling in front of her, she did not tell them to get up.

Cheng Yan replaced the soup with a meatball and placed it in front of Qin Yizhen. The delicious soup contained a meatball the size of a lion's head, and the steaming aroma wafted out, smelling wonderful.

Qin Yizhen shook her head, feeling she had no appetite.

The singing and dancing continued, the banquet continued, and it was still a lively and peaceful scene, as if the farce that had just happened had never occurred.

About two incense sticks' worth of time (30 minutes) later, the Imperial Guards brought Fang Shixin over.

At this point, Fang Shixin had long lost her previous composure.

She had changed into a loose-fitting palace maid's dress, and the gold hairpins and precious ornaments on her head were gone; her hair was also wet and messy.

The makeup on that face looked like it had been washed off with water, hastily wiped off, but not completely cleaned, leaving patches of it that looked very unsightly.

When she was brought up and forced to kneel before Empress Dowager Cheng and Emperor Jing'an, her pale and disheveled face was filled with resentment and unwillingness. She looked up at Qin Yizhen with eyes full of hatred. If the imperial guards hadn't held her down, she would have rushed over and attacked her.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, Greetings, Empress Dowager." The accompanying imperial physician bowed and said, "I have investigated and confirmed that Miss Fang was indeed drugged. The drug was a kind of hemp vine from the sacred mountain of Southern Qi."

"Nepeta cataria?"

"This vine is only three feet long and as thin as a melon vine. It is not poisonous, but if it is ingested, it will cause madness. If too much is consumed, it may cause one to be insane for life and never be lucid again."

At present, the four kingdoms are in a tripartite balance of power. The Western Liang is just a bunch of barbarians, while the Southern Qi is the most superstitious. Its territory is full of mountains and forests, mostly uninhabited deep mountains, and there are many strange and unusual medicines.

"Empress Dowager, she's the one who ruined me!"

Fang Shi thought about how ugly and pathetic he had been when he went mad, and how he had almost gone insane himself. Without thinking, he raised his hand and pointed at Qin Yizhen.

"It's her! Qin Yizhen is the one who ruined me!"

When the spearhead suddenly turned to her, Qin Yizhen was stunned for a moment, then understood.

Song Ke immediately bowed and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, now that the truth has come to light, please restore Miss Fang's innocence and punish the culprit."

"Innocence?" Cheng Yan sneered. "I have no idea what innocence Miss Fang has? Even if she suddenly went mad because she was framed, it is a fact that she insulted and disrespected the princess. Are you suggesting that I am wronging her?"

"Disrespecting the royal family is also a serious crime."

"Furthermore, Censor Song, although you are not from the Court of Judicial Review, you are still from the Censorate. Miss Fang merely spoke up, without any evidence, yet you claim the truth has come to light. That's truly a joke!"

"Do you even deserve to be called an incorruptible and righteous censor?"

Princess Huizhen laughed out loud: "Why should my uncle be angry? Perhaps in the eyes of Imperial Censor Song, whatever Miss Fang says is the law of heaven and earth, and right and wrong can be judged without needing evidence."

Song Ke's face stiffened slightly, realizing he had been too hasty. He quickly tried to defend himself:

"Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, please forgive me. I acted hastily and did not think things through. I beg Your Majesty and Empress Dowager to investigate this matter thoroughly."

Empress Dowager Cheng's gaze swept over them, and finally she asked Qin Yizhen, "Yizhen, what do you have to say?"

Qin Yizhen replied, "Your Majesty, you know my character. Your Majesty and I are hosting a banquet to celebrate the Marquis's triumphant return and the peace of the world. How could I possibly cause any trouble at this banquet?"

That's true.

This princess was very concerned about the royal family's reputation, and she had never caused any trouble since she was a child. The only thing people talked about about her was probably her marriage to Cheng Yan.

“Miss Fang says that I harmed her, but I want to ask her what evidence she has. Empty words and no proof are slander.”

Qin Yizhen stared at Fang Shixin, her gaze somewhat cold. "Your subject has been falsely accused for no reason. If she does not produce evidence, your subject will not let this go."

The implication of these words is that she denies the charges, and if Fang Shixin has no evidence, then she should await Fang Shixin's revenge.

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a chill and looked at Fang Shixin with pity.

"Evidence? What evidence do you need!" Fang Shixin glared at her, her eyes practically spitting fire. "I know it was you! Who else could it be but you?! Who else could it be but you?!"

It's really strange that she's so fixated on someone without any evidence.

Qin Yizhen shook her head: "If it's not me, then I don't know. That's your concern."

The appellant must provide evidence; whoever they want to sue, they must provide evidence.

Otherwise, I would be wrongly accused by you and have to find out the truth for you in order to clear my name.

How ridiculous!