The princess was ordained by Heaven.

Upon arriving at the imperial study, the emperor said, "Tell me your thoughts."

"I have tried it, but those who cannot hear my thoughts cannot speak my mind. It would be better to meet with them one by one and see who cannot hear me."

While it's possible to determine candidates through observation, this method is prone to errors.

Although there are many ministers, it doesn't take too much effort, and most importantly, there's no need to worry about mistaking them.

"Do as you say. Tomorrow, I will give Xun'er a day off to handle this matter properly."

Just as the discussion ended, a young eunuch came in to report that Duan Yunfeng, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review in charge of investigating Chen Zhi, and Grand Secretary Liao had come to see him shortly afterward.

"please come in."

Duan Yunfeng and Grand Scholar Liao came side by side, with two people between them.

Duan Yunfeng said solemnly, "Your Majesty, Chen Zhi is dead."

The emperor was slightly startled: "Investigate!"

Duan Yunfeng readily accepted the order.

He paused for a moment, then hesitated before saying, "Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should."

The emperor nodded, signaling him to report back.

"Can Your Majesty hear the Third Princess's thoughts?"

The emperor affirmed, "That is indeed the case."

"If it was the Third Princess who made the move..."

Duan Yunfeng only said half of what he said, his head lower and lower. The emperor watched, afraid that he would bury his head in the ground.

"Investigate secretly," the emperor thought of something and suddenly looked at Grand Secretary Liao. "Minister Liao, you will assist Yunfeng in investigating this matter. There may be spies in the Court of Judicial Review. This matter is most likely the work of the princess. To avoid trouble, you must keep it a secret."

Grand Secretary Liao respectfully accepted.

However, Duan Yunfeng still had doubts: "How could the Third Princess, a weak woman, sneak into an official's home and commit murder without being heard?"

Liao Daxueshi's lips twitched slightly.

Having been an official for so many years, how come Duan Yunfeng is still so straightforward and honest?

Murder? What murder? He was clearly acting on behalf of Heaven!

He couldn't help but retort, "Lord Duan, is using your brain going to interfere with your investigation? What's so strange about the Third Princess having some unpredictable abilities, given that she can manipulate the heavens?"

Duan Yunfeng: That's right.

He breathed a sigh of relief and then agreed to the emperor's order. Of course, simply agreeing was not enough for him to do more, so he went on to advise, "Your Majesty, if the Third Princess is indeed the murderer, it was only a momentary impulse. Chen Zhi deserves his punishment, and I beg Your Majesty to be lenient."

Scholar Liao: ? ? ?

You think you're so high and mighty, so kind and virtuous, all you have is a mouth that can only eat.

The Third Princess is the Emperor's own daughter, what right do you have to worry about her?

The emperor was helpless: "Xun'er is, after all, my daughter, and I will protect her."

Duan Yunfeng hesitated, wanting to say that the Emperor was really willing to protect the Third Princess, who seemed to be out of favor.

"You should stop worrying about it," Grand Scholar Liao chuckled, interrupting. "If the Third Princess really takes action, she won't be afraid of the difficulties that come with it."

Although the Third Princess is a child, she is not stupid.

The emperor nodded in approval. Duan Yunfeng's words were unpleasant to hear, so he decisively turned to Grand Secretary Liao: "Minister Liao, is there something you wish to report?"

After admitting his guilt, Liao Hongsheng asked, "I wonder if Chang Xiu has found anything out during the interrogation?"

"The bones are very hard; they can only be ground down slowly."

The Brown Kingdom didn't know what kind of spell they had cast on Chang Xiu; they tried every kind of torture, but they still couldn't get anything useful out of him.

Grand Secretary Liao stepped forward: “Your subject is willing to recommend myself.”

"Have you made up your mind?" the emperor asked in surprise.

Liao, a scholar, used to work at the Dali Temple with Duan Yunfeng. At that time, he was somewhat extreme and was a notorious cruel official. Later, as he grew older, he became more and more tactful in his dealings with others.

He offended so many people, so it shouldn't have been easy for him to get away unscathed. But he had good judgment and recognized the emperor's potential before the emperor even showed his talent.

The emperor was adamant and went to great lengths to protect him.

Later, Grand Secretary Liao became adept at navigating officialdom and was kind to everyone, so many people almost forgot about his methods.

Grand Secretary Liao nodded firmly: "I have mastered both literary and martial arts, and it is my duty to serve the court. Your Majesty is benevolent and has granted me this freedom. Although I am humble, in times of crisis, we cannot shirk our responsibilities."

He will once again step into the river he once tried so hard to escape, and he will never turn back.

The emperor walked around the table and stood before Grand Secretary Liao: "Very well! I grant your request, my dear minister. Rest assured, I will never do anything like discarding a useful tool after it has served its purpose. Last time, I was able to protect you, and this time will be no different!"

With tears welling up in his eyes, Grand Secretary Liao immediately knelt down: "I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's favor. I will do my utmost to share Your Majesty's burdens!"

The two held hands and looked at each other with deep affection, like a ruler and his subject. Duan Yunfeng stood to the side with a blank face, but his heart was filled with sourness, as if he had drunk several vats of vinegar.

After seeing the two off, the emperor couldn't help but tease Li Xiaojun: "Liao Hongsheng must have been stimulated by the celestial curtain, he actually managed to move one day."

Li Xiaojun couldn't help but chuckle: "With Lord Liao and Lord Duan working together, they will surely be able to share the Emperor's burdens."

The emperor shook his head and complained, "That blockhead Duan Yunfeng, he's so quick-witted when investigating cases, but how come he's so bad at social interaction and conversation?"

Li Xiaojun laughed and said, "It is precisely this kind of personality that makes him suitable to manage the entire Dali Temple."

The cases handled by the Court of Judicial Review often involve officials in the imperial court. If someone gets close to someone, and something happens, even if they don't participate in the investigation, they will inevitably be suspected of favoritism.

So, who can say that Duan Yunfeng's personality isn't a kind of wisdom?

……

Meanwhile, Lord Xia hurriedly returned home.

He knew full well that his eldest daughter was doomed this time; what she had done was something that not only the Emperor could not tolerate, but he could not tolerate as well.

That's treason!

He simply couldn't understand what she was thinking!

After finishing her household chores, Madam Xia noticed that Lord Xia's expression was not good, so she quickly invited him to sit down: "Master, has something happened?"

Lord Xia, his face grim, waved away the servants and asked in a serious tone, "Do you know what Wan'er has done?"

Madam Xia's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Wan'er's plan to kill the emperor had been discovered?

Wan'er is so foolish!

Lord Xia could tell at a glance that his wife, whose mind was full of wild imaginations, was indulging in wild thoughts again.

"Wan'er dared to confuse the royal bloodline! She took a fancy to the envoy from the Brown Kingdom, not only helping that Brown Kingdom traitor conceal his identity and keep him in Dayong, but also arranging a match between him and Huihui. Now, Huihui's husband, Jize, is that Brown Kingdom dog!"

Madam Xia's face turned deathly pale: "Sir, you're lying to me, aren't you?"

The second son-in-law is so good to Huihui and is usually very filial to them, how could he be a spy?

She didn't believe it, she refused to believe it!

Master Xia said with grief, "She actually strangled her own child, confused the royal bloodline, sent Huihui and Jize's son into the palace, and even attempted to steal the country!"

Madam Xia was both terrified and furious: "Xia Wan, how cruel she is!"

How could her carefully raised daughter be such a selfish and vicious woman who only knows petty love and affection!

Those are her own children and her own sister!

For the sake of a man! She actually did such a beastly thing.

How could she be worthy of being a mother or a wife? How could she be worthy of being a sister or a daughter? How could she be worthy of being a member of the Great Yong!