Hearing Chu Qing's sudden laughter, the others who were unaware of the truth looked at each other in surprise.
The emperor's words should have made people feel on tenterhooks and couldn't help but wonder what he really meant.
However, the laughter of the Princess of Ning at this moment... suddenly made the solemn atmosphere a bit delicate.
Even though Xu Han had a thick skin, he couldn't ignore the emperor's strange tone at this time. Gathering his wits, just as Xu Han opened his mouth to speak, Chu Qing blinked her eyes and then slowly said:
"Minister Xu, one should have self - awareness."
Being insinuated by Chu Qing, the anger that had been pent - up in Xu Han's heart for a long time finally flared up. Just now, when facing the emperor and the Prince of Ning, although he was no longer as confident as before when dealing with their cooperation. But! Who did this Princess of Ning think she was! How dare she be so rude to him!
So, Xu Han's expression suddenly turned cold, and his tone was full of mockery. "I know that the Princess of Ning has a noble status. However... as a woman, not only does she show herself in front of so many foreign ministers, but she also behaves improperly in front of the emperor and repeatedly speaks rudely! The upbringing of your Chu family is really unflattering!"
Chu Qing opened her eyes wide, with a complex look on her face.
So what if she was a woman? When she was making a name for herself, this man might not even know where he was chasing some girl!
However... Chu Qing was still a bit surprised that the other party suddenly turned the conversation towards her. Just now, the emperor and Wei Ying had spoken to each other quite bluntly. She just made a sarcastic remark, and she was targeted?
So...
Was she the one who looked the easiest to bully?
Thinking of this, Chu Qing secretly gritted her teeth.
Just as she was about to retort, Wei Ying spoke up at this moment.
It turned out that in Wei Ying's eyes, Chu Qing's expression just now was full of grievance. Naturally, Wei Ying wouldn't let Chu Qing be wronged, so he said coldly, "My princess has the same status as me. Minister Xu, could you please tell me where she spoke rudely just now?"
"Yes, yes. I don't think Auntie the Princess behaved improperly at all," the emperor echoed.
He inexplicably had a good impression of Wei Ying's princess. It wasn't the kind of romantic affection, but more like... something deep in his blood.
Therefore, when Chu Qing was targeted by Xu Han, he felt very uncomfortable.
Xu Han looked utterly at a loss.
This time, his confusion was not feigned but genuine.
He... why did he feel that the emperor and the Prince of Ning were both targeting him now?
Thinking carefully about what the two of them had said just now, it seemed that they had been... playing with him?
He could think of the reason for the Prince of Ning's behavior, but why was the emperor so blatantly partial?
Could it be...?
However, Wei Ying didn't give him time to think further and continued to speak coldly, "Lord Xu, these people have all told me something."
Wei Ying didn't elaborate, which made people even more prone to wild speculation.
Especially for Xu Han.
After all, Xu Han had always been on edge, and Wei Ying's casual words became the last straw that broke the camel's back. Just this simple sentence had already made Xu Han panic.
He quickly knelt down in front of the emperor and said, "They're lying! I don't know them! Your Highness, you can't frame an old minister like this! I've always been loyal to the emperor and the Great Yan Kingdom. The heavens can bear witness!"
The emperor, who was suddenly hugged around the leg, frowned in disgust. The guards beside him immediately dragged Xu Han aside.
Chu Qing couldn't stand it anymore and said gently, "Lord Xu, what's wrong with you? The prince didn't even mention that you knew these people. Why do you think the Prince of Ning would think you know them? Could it be that you actually think you do know them?"
Xu Han was so confused by Chu Qing's words that he didn't care about anything else and could only continue to kowtow. "Your Majesty! I've always been loyal to you!"
The emperor leaned back in his seat, and his eyes suddenly became sharp. "Oh? Really? I didn't say you weren't loyal!"
Seeing that Xu Han was on the verge of collapse and his mind was a bit muddled, Wei Ying didn't bother to play games with him anymore and said bluntly in a cold voice:
"Did I say you knew them just now?"
Xu Han, who was led astray by Wei Ying, had a splitting headache, and the madness and ferocity in his eyes were no longer hidden. "Whether you said it or not! I said I didn't! I don't know them! Why does His Highness the Prince of Ning frame me!"
"What did I say just now? How did I frame you?" There was a strange glint in Wei Ying's eyes. If someone looked directly into them, they might feel like they were about to be sucked in.
"You..." Xu Han was speechless.
The emperor rubbed his temples, feeling a bit tired.
Looking casually at the various expressions of the others around, he decided not to beat around the bush with Xu Han anymore.
The emperor cleared his throat, sat up straight, and at this moment, he seemed like a completely different person from before.
"Uncle, let's get straight to the point," the emperor smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
Hearing this, Wei Ying nodded.
At this time, Wei Yi, who had left at some unknown time, walked up to Wei Ying, carrying a包袱 in his hand.
Wei Ying took the包袱 from him, picked up a corner, and directly poured the contents in front of Xu Han.
Xu Han, who had thought he still had a glimmer of hope, completely shut his mouth after seeing these things.
He didn't expect that the Prince of Ning had managed to collect so many things! He remembered that he had clearly destroyed them!
Moreover...
These things were clearly well - hidden at home! How did they suddenly appear here!
"Your Highness the Prince of Ning actually ransacked an old minister's mansion without permission?" Xu Han gritted his teeth. His voice was obviously trembling.
"Searching your mansion was my order. What? Do you have any grievances, Minister Xu?"
Originally, Xu Han still wanted to deny everything, but looking at the cold expressions of the emperor and Wei Ying, he knew that it was useless to say more.
Because just one of the things in front of him could easily put him to death.
For example, the token from the Second Prince of Xiliang was found in the eight - treasure incense burner that the emperor had personally bestowed upon him. He couldn't even explain this one thing.
Because this incense burner was locked in a secret compartment in his study.
Even something hidden so deeply was found by the people of the Prince of Ning.
Xu Han no longer cared whether there was a traitor among his people. His mind was now blank. He couldn't think of any way out.
The emperor said in a deep voice, "Forging letters to frame the Prince of Ning for colluding with the enemy and betraying the country is already a serious crime. Xu Han, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue! I didn't expect that you are the real criminal who defies the law and colludes with the enemy and betrays the country! Where did you get the courage and confidence to frame others? What benefits did that Second Prince of Xiliang give you that made you correspond with him for so many years!" At this moment, there was a cold killing intent between the emperor's eyebrows.