The face of the Emperor of Dongling was far from looking good. There was a veiled anger simmering beneath the surface. Everyone present at today's horse - racing competition knew that this was a special event held by the emperor to select concubines for the three princes. However, during such a grand occasion, a noble lady had fallen off her horse, and there were suspicions that she had been deliberately harmed.
This incident was undoubtedly a stinging slap in the emperor's face.
Prime Minister He was a veteran of three dynasties, having served in the court for decades. He had countless disciples, though only a few of them had entered officialdom, and they were all upright and uncorrupted officials.
Although Prime Minister He was a low - key person who never formed cliques for personal gain, he still enjoyed great prestige in the court.
He Yimeng was the daughter Prime Minister He had late in life, and she had been cherished like a pearl in the palm since childhood. When had she ever suffered such humiliation? Moreover, Prime Minister He was already over sixty years old. Seeing him kneeling on the ground, the Emperor of Dongling just couldn't bring himself to refuse.
But everyone had witnessed what happened on the racetrack. Throughout, only Wu Qihuan had been closely beside He Yimeng. There was a high probability that she was involved.
Today, the Emperor of Dongling had to choose between Prime Minister He and General Huaihua.
A long sigh escaped the emperor's lips. "Fine! Fine! Whose fault this is, shall be judged as it is! I cannot let down my loyal and aged official."
Many thoughts flashed through the emperor's mind, and finally he said, "Prime Minister He, please rise quickly. I will surely punish those responsible for today's incident severely!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!" Prime Minister He replied loudly.
"Someone! Go and lead that horse here. Also, summon all those who participated in the horse - racing to come before me. I will personally investigate this matter today to see who dared to play tricks right under my nose!"
The emperor's cold and stern eyes were fixed on the crowd on the racetrack.
Soon, all the noble ladies who had participated in the horse - race arrived. Even He Yimeng was carried here by her third elder brother, He Chuanzhe. Many others also followed to watch the commotion.
The emperor first stepped down from the viewing stand and ordered the groom to examine the horse. He learned that apart from the wound on its face, the horse was in good condition. Then he stepped forward to inspect the wound on the horse's face himself.
"Before the horse was startled, who among you was closest to Miss He?" The emperor's strict gaze swept across the other seven noble ladies.
Without hesitation, Wu Qihuan stepped forward and said clearly, "Your Majesty, I was the closest to Miss He at that time. However, my horse was still some distance in front of Miss He's. Even if I had whipped my horse, I couldn't have reached Miss He's horse!"
"Oh? Some distance? How far exactly?"
"Your Majesty, it was at least three or four meters away!"
The emperor's scrutinizing gaze landed on Wu Qihuan's face. She remained as calm as ever, standing there unflinchingly, allowing the emperor to size her up.
Wu Qihuan's composed and innocent appearance might make others think she was blameless. But in her past life, Shen Li had clashed with Wu Qihuan more than a dozen times and was well - aware of her nature.
Wu Qihuan was the kind of person who would maintain a calm and innocent face even when there was evidence proving her wrongdoings.
That was why, in her past life, even though Shen Li had caught Wu Qihuan red - handed several times, in front of Xiao Hanzhi, Wu Qihuan managed to make Xiao Hanzhi believe that Shen Li was framing her, causing Shen Li to suffer in silence on several occasions.
In Shen Li's view, if Shen Miao in her past life was a venomous snake lurking in the dark, waiting for the right moment to strike, then Wu Qihuan was a wild wolf with sharp teeth, never hiding her ambition and motives.
The Emperor of Dongling, seeing Wu Qihuan remaining calm even under his imposing gaze, softened his expression slightly and asked, "You were the closest to Miss He. Do you know how the wound on the horse's face came about?"
Hearing this, Wu Qihuan frowned and thought for a moment before saying with a look of distress, "It was very noisy on the racetrack at that time. There were sounds of whips lashing the horses everywhere. I don't know how the horse got hurt!"
Wu Qihuan's words were very clever. She not only indicated that she didn't know the origin of the wound on the horse's face but also implied that with the chaotic situation on the racetrack, it was possible that He Yimeng herself had whipped the horse.
The emperor gave Wu Qihuan a long, deep look.
Wu Qihuan remained unmoved, standing there.
He Yimeng had been allowed to sit on a stool. He Chuanzhe, the youngest son of Prime Minister He who had carried her here, glanced in Wu Qihuan's direction upon hearing this.
"What do you mean, Miss Wu? Are you suggesting that my sister whipped her own horse and then deliberately fell off to frame you?"
"If so, why did my sister use her own body to pull the startled horse in another direction just now? Wouldn't that be an overly elaborate and costly act to stage a play?"
Although He Chuanzhe's voice still carried a hint of a jest, his words were a retort to what Wu Qihuan had just said.
"Silence!"
He Chuanzhe's words were a bit impolite when directed at a young lady. But Prime Minister He was also angry at Wu Qihuan's performance, so he just gently scolded his son and said no more.
Wu Qihuan's face turned pale with anger at He Chuanzhe's words.
She had only heard before that He Chuanzhe was a dissolute person, but she never expected that he would openly mock her in front of so many people.
"Master He, if you suspect me, you can ask the other participants. See if they saw me harming Miss He's horse?"
Then she knelt down and said to the emperor, "Your Majesty! I really have no idea about the incident of Miss He's horse being startled. Please investigate and clear my name!"
The emperor looked at Wu Qihuan, who even when kneeling, still held her back straight and looked upright and determined. Then he looked at He Yimeng, who was sitting there, pale - faced, weak, and pitiful. His heart was caught in a dilemma.
The emperor then turned his gaze to Princess Heyuan and asked, "Heyuan, did you see how the horse was startled?"
Princess Heyuan quickly recalled in her mind and then shook her head helplessly. "Your Majesty, I didn't see it!"
"However, after the horse was startled, it almost fell towards me. If Miss He hadn't taken timely action, I might have been injured!"
Princess Heyuan's words were indirectly in praise of He Yimeng.
Hearing this, the emperor turned to the others and asked, "Among you, who was behind Miss He?"
Duan Chuchu also stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, it was I. I am the daughter of the vice - minister of the Ministry of Revenue!"
"Did you see how the horse was startled?"
The emperor looked at Duan Chuchu and asked.