Xue Bozheng had deliberately stayed behind. He must have noticed something long ago, but he was helpless. Still, he chose to silently resist Xie Xiuxian.
Everyone present was a literati. They could tell what was going on at a glance.
"Bring in the jailer from that year," Xu Maozhi ordered.
As the evidence was presented one by one, the expressions on everyone's faces became more and more fascinating.
"Framing!" Duke Xie trembled as he said, "They've joined hands to frame this duke."
He stared fixedly at Yi Qing. He had been willing to die to protect his reputation and interests, but unexpectedly, Yi Qing had saved his life. Yi Qing had done her best to rescue him, only to make him live on and endure this humiliation.
"Really?" Yi Qing looked at Duke Xie, who was still unwilling to admit defeat even when facing certain doom. "Bring the things up."
The servants of the Xiao family carried up the zodiac woodcarvings, which had already been pieced together.
"You're no stranger to these woodcarvings, are you?" Yi Qing stood up. "Do you know what 'Striking the Waters' really means?"
Duke Xie looked at the woodcarvings on the ground. Of course he knew. Back then, Xue Bozheng had left on the condition that he would never use a pen again. After that, he had been making woodcarvings. Duke Xie had even reminded him not to try to write with a carving knife.
Xue Bozheng was a gentleman. Since he had promised, he would surely not break his word. But he had left behind these woodcarvings.
Yi Qing took out the movable woodcarvings in the middle and matched them with "Striking the Waters": "Xie Xiuxian deceived the world, stole fame, and killed the innocent!"
Everyone was shocked. They had never expected that there would be such a secret hidden in Duke Xie's famous work "Striking the Waters".
Duke Xie immediately stood up. He had never expected that Xue Bozheng would have such a trick up his sleeve. He had long known that "Striking the Waters" was a declaration of not yielding to him, but he had coveted Xue Bozheng's talent and still made the work public.
"As for the fraud case back then, it was not Xue Bozheng who was implicated by the students. It was you who designed to kill those students in order to make Xue Bozheng obey you!" Yi Qing pointed at Xie Xiuxian.
Everyone lowered their heads. The evidence of this case was conclusive. With the testimony from the Ministry of Justice back then, Duke Xie had no chance of reversing the verdict. It was not until afternoon that the trial of this case was completed. Due to Duke Xie's special status, while others were directly sentenced, his case would be decided by the emperor. However, he had to be detained first.
"I want to stay in the cell where Xue Bozheng was imprisoned back then," Duke Xie suddenly said as he was being helped away.
Yi Qing glanced at Xie Xiuxian. He had stolen everything from Xue Bozheng, and now he even wanted to stay in the cell where Xue Bozheng had stayed.
"This is the Supreme Court. Xue Bozheng was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice back then," Xu Maozhi rejected Duke Xie's request.
Duke Xie looked disappointed, and he seemed even more haggard.
Those who should be detained were detained, and those who needed to be comforted were comforted. Finally, this matter was settled. Once the notice was posted, Duke Xie would go from being the most respected literati to a despised fraud.
Yi Qing felt relieved. Let's see how the Mu family would cause trouble in the future. This was the consequence of causing trouble with her.
"Come on, let's go celebrate together," Deng Xiao walked up to them.
"My wife is tired and needs to go back and rest," Xiao Jinghan protected Yi Qing.
Deng Xiao felt bored. "I just helped you."
"I remember," Xiao Jinghan appreciated the favor.
Deng Xiao was speechless. "Fine, you go back then."
When Yi Qing reached the entrance of the Supreme Court, she saw Mu Lixue standing there with a group of maids. She subconsciously moved closer to Xiao Jinghan, but Mu Lixue rolled her eyes at her.
Yi Qing didn't know what that eye - roll meant. She deliberately leaned on Xiao Jinghan affectionately, thinking to see if Mu Lixue could still remain calm. But Mu Lixue really ignored them.
She looked back at Mu Lixue, confused about the current situation. "What's wrong with her?"
"What does it matter to us?" Xiao Jinghan saw Yi Qing's curious look.
Yi Qing thought it definitely mattered. So many things had happened between them before, and now Mu Lixue didn't even look at them. The rich really could be capricious.
"Lord Deng!" Mu Lixue happily ran over when she saw Deng Xiao coming out.
Yi Qing's jaw almost dropped. She turned back and stared blankly at Mu Lixue, who looked like a star - struck fan. Had she shifted her target?
Xiao Jinghan directly picked Yi Qing up and put her in the carriage. He glanced at Deng Xiao and then got into the carriage himself.
"What can I do for you, Miss Mu?" Deng Xiao frowned slightly.
"I heard that Lord Deng exposed Xie Xiuxian's true face. You're really amazing. Lord Deng has been busy until now and hasn't eaten yet. I'd like to invite you to dinner," Mu Lixue's eyes curved into crescents as she tried to look cute.
"I need to report to the emperor in the palace," Deng Xiao said and walked away.
"Then I'll go to the palace with you," Mu Lixue followed Deng Xiao.
"Miss Mu, please respect yourself," Deng Xiao couldn't just ignore her like he did with Yi Weiwei.
"I know you're afraid that I'll despise you. Don't worry. I'll definitely stay with you."
Deng Xiao wanted to despise Mu Lixue. "Excuse me." He took the reins, mounted his horse, and galloped away.
Mu Lixue was a bit dejected. She muttered softly, "He must be doing this for my own good. Hurry up and prepare the carriage to go to the palace."
Yi Qing put down the carriage curtain and looked at Xiao Jinghan in disbelief. "Has Mu Lixue really fallen for someone else? What's her taste? How could she fall for Deng Xiao?"
Xiao Jinghan secretly rejoiced. It seemed that this matter had been resolved thoroughly. Now it was Duke Mu's turn to worry. "Deng Xiao is also young and promising."
Yi Qing thought for a while. She felt that Mu Lixue was inexperienced and didn't understand some things. If this matter got out of hand, it would be quite troublesome.
"What are you worried about, wife?" Xiao Jinghan was dissatisfied.
"I'm worried that if Mu Lixue insists on marrying Deng Xiao, and Duke Mu doesn't agree but can't stop her, will he do something bad to Deng Xiao?" Yi Qing analyzed seriously.
Xiao Jinghan grabbed the back of Yi Qing's head without hesitation and started teasing her. He didn't let go until Yi Qing was weak all over and begged for mercy.
"You're actually worried about another man in front of me," Xiao Jinghan whispered in Yi Qing's ear.
Yi Qing thought if Xiao Jinghan could come up with a different reason for being angry. "I, I..." She was too weak to speak.
The emperor finished reading the trial document. He had never expected that a duke of the dynasty would have achieved his status in such a way. Suddenly, he remembered what Yi Qing had said about the Guo family. After thinking for a while, he didn't order an investigation.
The matter of the deposed emperor had just been suppressed. If some unjust cases were discovered, some people would surely be unable to contain themselves.
"Your Majesty, how should we sentence Duke Xie?" Xu Maozhi asked for instructions.
The emperor threw the document on the jade table. "Strip him of his duke title and all his special privileges. Considering his old age and illness, let him stay at home in seclusion. He is not allowed to leave the Xie mansion until his death."
"What about Xue Bozheng..." Xu Maozhi wanted to clear Xue Bozheng's name.
The emperor also had a headache about this matter. "Although Xue Bozheng was used by Xie Xiuxian, he never had any official title in his life. Clear his name."
"I found Xue Bozheng's calligraphy treasures in the secret cabinet of Xie Xiuxian's study. Their level of attainment is unparalleled in the world," Xu Maozhi said directly. "Can those things be returned to his family?"
"Oh?" The emperor was surprised. "Present them for me to have a look."
The emperor knew that Xu Maozhi was a proud man at heart. It was unexpected for him to praise someone like this.