Chapter 259 - 259: Punishment

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Before Emperor Qi Ming could speak, Xue Ru spoke first.

She had clearly put those letters in the study room. She had personally tucked them into the book. How could it possibly be missing?

Xue Ru’s eyes were filled with anxiety, but she didn’t notice that everyone from the General’s mansion was looking at her.

Doubt and anger were evident in the eyes of the people of the General’s mansion. Only Jiang Peihuan looked at Xue Ru with a cold expression.

“Who are you?”

Hearing Xue Ru’s voice, Emperor Qi Ming’s attention landed on her.

Seeing Emperor Qi Ming in bright yellow robes, excitement filled Xue Ru’s eyes. She stepped forward and knelt, fervently saying, “Greetings, Your Majesty. 1 belong to the Xue family. 1 am carrying the child of Prince Qing.”

Upon hearing Xue Ru’s words, everyone, including Emperor Qi Ming, was stunned.

Emperor Qi Ming’s gaze briefly passed over Xiao Junhao, and with a complex expression, he asked, “Prince Qing, is what she said true?”

The moment Xue Ru spoke, Xiao Junhao regretted getting involved with her. He thought she was too foolish.

However, hearing the Emperor’s words, he had no choice but to reply, “Yes Imperial Father, it’s true that Miss Xue carries my child.”

“So, has the Xue family already promised their daughter to you?”

“Your Majesty, our Xue family is not aware of this matter.”

The one speaking was Xue Yan.

Xue Yan had some affection for Xue Ru, her only niece. However, today’s events completely changed her perception.

She was no fool, otherwise, she wouldn’t have followed Jiang Hong on the battlefield for years.

Seeing Xue Ru’s current state, Xue Yan instantly understood.

After Emperor Qi Ming’s words, Xue Yan directly spoke up, explaining the Xue family’s position. She continued, “Your Majesty, my mother has said that Xue Ru has nothing to do with our family anymore.”

Her voice was soft, but it was filled with an endless chill.

Hearing this, Emperor Qi Ming gave Xiao Junhao a meaningful look and said, “You told me the General has been in contact with the Northen Border. I trusted you and came here personally. Now tell me, what proof do you have?”

“My apologies, Imperial Father. 1 too was deceived…”

“It seems Prince Qing wasn’t deceived but was looking for a scapegoat.”

Before Xiao Junhao could finish, someone interrupted him.

Xiao Nanye quickly appeared before the crowd. Dressed in a pale moon-white robe, he had no cloak on, and despite the snowy weather, sweat was visible on his forehead.

When entering the courtyard, Xiao Nanye’s gaze instinctively landed on Jiang Peihuan.

She looked back at him. Meeting her gaze, he nodded slightly.

Seeing his nod, Jiang Peihuan sighed in relief.

For some time after, Jiang Peihuan looked at Xiao Junhao with a mocking expression.

Such drama was familiar to Jiang Peihuan. In her past life, a similar event had taken place in the General’s mansion, but it was Meng Yi who had hidden the letters.

In this life, Meng Yi was already dead, and Jiang Peihuan thought that such an event would not happen again. But this time, it was Xue Ru.

Today, Jiang Peihuan wanted Xiao Junhao to experience the indescribable feeling of this situation.

“Why are you here?”

“Imperial Brother, in a few days, Huan Er and I will be married. The General’s mansion will become my in-law’s place. With such a big incident occurring here, I naturally wanted to come and see.”

“Moreover, 1 came today because there’s something I wanted to show you.”

“What is it?”

“You’ll know when you see it.”

As he spoke, Xiao Nanye pulled out a letter from his sleeve. This was the same letter that Jiang Peihuan had taken from Jiang Hong’s study.

Upon seeing that letter, Xiao Junhao’s face instantly changed, while Xue Ru’s eyes were full of confusion.

“Outrageous!”

After reading the letter in his hand, Emperor Qi Ming’s eyes were filled with gloom.

He looked at Xiao Nanye and said coldly, “Where did you get this letter?”

“Coincidentally, I found this letter in the Prince Qing Mansion.”

“Qing Mansion?”

Upon hearing Xiao Nanye’s words, Emperor Qi Ming instinctively looked at Xiao Junhao. His eyes were filled with a mix of scrutiny and suspicion.

Facing Emperor Qi Ming’s gaze, Xiao Junhao hastily kowtowed, “Imperial FATHER, I am wronged. I…”

“You don’t even know what’s inside this envelope and you are already claiming innocence. Could it be that you already know the contents of this letter?”

Xiao Nanye interrupted Xiao Junhao’s words again. Hearing this, Xiao Junhao tightly clenched his fist, not daring to utter another word.

After a long silence, Xiao Junhao, with gloom in his eyes, looked at Xiao Nanye, “Imperial Uncle, may 1 ask why you suddenly went to my Qing Mansion and coincidentally found this letter?”

When he said the last sentence, Xiao Junhao’s eyes clearly showed suspicion.

Yet facing Xiao Junhao’s suspicion, Xiao Nanye’s expression remained calm. He directly replied, “Our weddings are on the same day. Originally, I wanted to see if you needed any assistance.”

“But 1 didn’t expect to find this letter on the desk in your study.”

This is nonsense.

Xiao Junhao almost blurted out. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Emperor Qi Ming and said, “Imperial father, 1 truly am wronged. If the letter really came from me, how could I let others find it so easily?”

“You know very well whether you are innocent or not.”

“Prince Qing, we will settle your matter later. But now, how do you explain falsely accusing the Jiang family based on fake information?”

Upon hearing Emperor Qi Ming’s words, Xiao Junhao’s eyes revealed a hint of mockery.

When he relayed the news to Emperor Qi Ming, he clearly remembered the excitement in his beloved father’s eyes.

However…

After a moment of silence, Xiao Junhao kowtowed to Emperor Qi Ming, “It’s all my fault. I beg for your punishment, Imperila Father.”

Seeing Xiao Junhao kneeling before him, Emperor Qi Ming remained silent, then turned to Jiang Hong.

He stepped forward, personally helping Jiang Hong up from the ground, and then whispered, “1 apologize for today’s unjust treatment.”

“Your Majesty, you’re being too kind.”

Avoiding Emperor Qi Ming’s hand, Jiang Hong stood up directly.

Seeing his movement, a hint of complexity flashed in Emperor Qi Ming’s eyes, but he said nothing.

Looking at the other members of the Jiang family, Emperor Qi Ming softly said, “All of you, please stand up.”

Hearing this, the Jiang family members stood up.

“For falsely spreading information, Prince Qing is to be severely beaten with thirty boards and is confined to his mansion.”

Upon Emperor Qi Ming’s command, Xiao Junhao was immediately taken away by the guards..