Pei Zhiyan tightened his fingers slightly as he listened to the coroner's report. His face was so cold that it was intimidating. Beside him, Wei Qing wore a proper smile with a hint of sarcasm on her lips. "Lord Pei, this was examined by your own people from the Supreme Court. Is there still any problem?"
Pei Zhiyan closed his eyes briefly to steady his nerves, then turned his head to look at Wei Qing. "Although there are no ingredients of the starwort poison, the laxative was indeed made by her. There's no denying this."
Wei Qing was taken aback for a moment. She glared at Du Lingxuan with a look of hatred for her unfulfilled potential. She had prepared everything for her, even the laxative. All she had to do was mix the two drugs.
But unexpectedly, Du Lingxuan hadn't thrown away the remaining laxative, which gave Pei Zhiyan a handle.
Du Lingxuan shrank her head and didn't dare to say a word at this moment. Wei Qing had no way to excuse her for the laxative matter. She could only change her expression and look at Du Lingxuan with feigned grief. "You... How could you be so muddle - headed!"
Du Lingxuan now understood that Wei Qing wanted her to admit to the laxative matter. She could only cry and say, "I don't know either. I just thought that Song Ruotang was so arrogant and unruly when she entered the mansion that day, so I wanted to teach her a lesson..."
Du Lingxuan quickly knelt down and looked at Pei Zhiyan sitting on the high seat with tear - filled eyes. "My lord, your concubine knows she's wrong. Your concubine really didn't mean to harm her..."
Pei Zhiyan knew they were acting, but Wei Qing had done everything flawlessly. He understood that he couldn't bring Du Lingxuan down this time.
He originally wanted to divorce Du Lingxuan on the grounds of her attempted murder, but now the most crucial murder poison, starwort, had nothing to do with Du Lingxuan.
Pei Zhiyan tightened his fingers and looked coldly at Wei Qing and her daughter. "It's a fact that you gave the laxative to Liu'er, which indirectly led to her death. Although the death penalty can be avoided, the punishment for her misdeeds is inevitable."
Wei Qing grabbed Du Lingxuan's wrist and squinted at him. "Lord Pei, this is just a petty quarrel among women in the inner courtyard. Your third wife in the mansion wasn't even injured, was she?"
Hearing Wei Qing's nonchalant tone, a wave of anger welled up in Pei Zhiyan's heart. Wei Qing had calculated that Song Ruotang had no backer, so she didn't take her seriously.
"Speaking of this, Madam Wei may not know yet." Pei Zhiyan sneered. "Du Lingxuan invited a Taoist priest to perform rituals in my mansion and injured Ruotang for no reason. Madam, you didn't mention this at all."
Wei Qing paused for a moment, then pursed her lips. "I wasn't aware of this matter."
"Now you are." Pei Zhiyan looked at her. "Du Lingxuan is so arrogant. Here in the Supreme Court today, she can't escape punishment."
"What are you going to do?" Wei Qing stood in front of Du Lingxuan and glared at him angrily. "She has lived a life of luxury since childhood. She's just a bit lively and willful. She's been married into your Pei Mansion for three years. Even if she has no merits, she has endured hardships. Is this how you treat her?"
Hearing this, Pei Zhiyan smiled faintly. "Very well." He nodded. "Then please, Madam Wei, take her back to the Du Mansion after her punishment. My Pei Mansion is too small to accommodate such a grand lady..."
"No!"
As soon as Pei Zhiyan finished speaking, Du Lingxuan loudly refused. She gave Wei Qing a blaming look. She wanted to step forward but was stopped by the guards of the Supreme Court. She could only look at Pei Zhiyan with tear - filled eyes and shake her head. "My lord, your concubine knows her mistake. You can punish your concubine however you like, but please don't drive your concubine away..."
Pei Zhiyan remained unmoved. Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, Du Lingxuan placed her hope on Wei Qing again. She grabbed her arm and shook it violently. "Mother, mother, say something. Daughter can't be divorced..."
Wei Qing was also a bit shocked. She didn't expect Pei Zhiyan to have this plan, but she really couldn't let Pei Zhiyan divorce Du Lingxuan.
Firstly, if she was divorced, the Du family would lose face. Secondly, the Du family's salt transportation was at a crucial moment. Without Du Lingxuan causing trouble to distract him, Pei Zhiyan would surely target the Du family's salt transportation. Once the Supreme Court intervened, it would be very troublesome for the Du family to deal with.
"Lord Pei, let's talk this over. Although Xuan'er is a bit naughty, she hasn't really done anything immoral. Xuan'er has already admitted her punishment. Lord, please give her a chance, won't you?"
Wei Qing's tone softened, but Pei Zhiyan wasn't swayed. "Du Lingxuan has a bad character. It's really difficult for my Pei Mansion to tolerate her. Please, Madam Wei, take her home."
Wei Qing's face looked a bit ugly, but she didn't show it. She just lowered her stance and bowed to Pei Zhiyan. "My lord, Xuan'er is naughty. It's because we, her parents, have spoiled her. If my lord wants to divorce Xuan'er because of the humiliation of your third wife in the mansion, then please punish me first..."
Pei Zhiyan squinted slightly. Wei Qing was just being unreasonable. He sneered. "I can understand that Madam Wei loves her daughter dearly, but this has nothing to do with you. The punishment she deserves will not be reduced by a single bit."
Seeing that he wasn't swayed, Wei Qing got a bit anxious. Du Lingxuan could hardly stand. She didn't even dare to think about how she would live if she was divorced by Pei Zhiyan. Those ladies who had always disliked her would surely point fingers at her.
She slumped to the ground and cried hoarsely. "My lord, your concubine really knows her mistake. Please don't divorce me..."
Pei Zhiyan looked at her coldly and slowly said, "Du Lingxuan indirectly caused someone's death, injured someone for no reason, and is also a habitual liar. She shall be slapped twenty times and beaten with twenty strokes of the cane as a warning to others."
"Twenty strokes of the cane!" Wei Qing widened her eyes in disbelief. "Xuan'er is as delicate as a flower. How can she withstand twenty strokes of the cane?!" She took a few steps forward and looked at Pei Zhiyan sorrowfully. "You're trying to kill her!"
"I'll present the divorce letter after the punishment." Pei Zhiyan sat on his seat and added indifferently.
Wei Qing immediately fell silent. Du Lingxuan slumped on the ground and crawled forward a bit. "My lord, I'll accept it. I'll accept any number of strokes. Please don't divorce me. Please..."
"My decision is..."
"Lord Pei!"
A loud male voice interrupted Pei Zhiyan. Everyone in the hall immediately looked towards the door. They saw a man in a maroon official robe, followed by a eunuch - dressed person, striding in.
When Wei Qing saw the man's face, her expression immediately relaxed. With a look of surprise, she took a few steps forward. "Ting'er, you're here. Your sister..."
"Mother, don't worry."
The man comforted her gently. He had a handsome face like a jade crown. A pair of phoenix - like eyes made his face look somewhat charmingly alluring. As his expression changed, he seemed like a sly fox, hard to fathom.
This man was Du Yanting, Du Lingxuan's elder brother, who was currently the Minister of Personnel.
"What? Does Minister Du have time to come to the Supreme Court?" Pei Zhiyan watched him calmly. Du Yanting smiled. "I just came back from the palace. His Majesty has something to say to Lord Pei."
Pei Zhiyan tightened his fingers slightly. Then he saw Du Yanting step aside and say to the eunuch behind him, "Eunuch, please."