He had already sent a message to his trusted subordinate, instructing him to return through the back door faster than Liu Sanzhi, so the guards protecting the ancestral hall could conduct a search first. Only after confirming nothing was found did he allow the Golden Guard and Liu Sanzhi to send people to search.
The one thing Xie Ji had not anticipated was Shen Xihe’s audacity—she actually used an animal to frame him, heedless of the risk that the slightest misstep could cost her her life!
He had just witnessed the creature moving as swift as lightning and light as a feather, evading the ancestral hall guards so seamlessly that they remained completely unaware, convinced no one had ever entered the hall!
“As I said earlier, my belongings are familiar to my cat. It was the one that led me to Duke Xie’s residence. Otherwise, why would it break free and rush inward the moment I entered the estate?” Shen Xihe gently stroked Duanming’s soft fur along its back. “I have no desire to argue with Duke Xie. Right and wrong will be judged by His Majesty.”
With those words, Shen Xihe took the Golden Decree, cradled Duanming, and departed.
This time, she took the initiative to enter the palace. There, she encountered Hongyu, who had been waiting. Zhenzhu approached Hongyu, while Shen Xihe entered the palace with Biyu and Moyu. Duke Xie and Yuan Shi were both brought into the palace as well.
She had essentially completed her tasks: she had openly surveyed Duke Xie’s residence, taken its two heads of household away, and stalled for time with His Majesty.
The rest was up to Xiao Huayong. If Xun Wang managed to escape again this time, she would have to question Xiao Huayong’s capabilities.
“Your Majesty, this humble official does not know why the Imperial Golden Decree was found in my residence. As the princess said, this humble official and the princess have never had any grievances.” Xie Ji knelt immediately upon seeing the Youning Emperor and presented his case. "Moreover, the Imperial Golden Decree under heaven belongs solely to the Princess." What use would stealing it serve me?"Within the capital, everyone knows the Golden Decree belongs to the princess," Tao Zhuanxian retorted. Upon hearing that Shen Xihe had led troops into Duke Xie’s residence, he had rushed to the palace for an audience, ready to fight for his granddaughter even if logic was against him—he would argue reason out of unreason if necessary. “But outside the capital, it could be of great use.”
Local officials care not whom the Golden Decree originally belonged to; they only recognize its authenticity and obey its commands.
It is as if the Emperor himself were present—how would they dare neglect it? Even if they mistakenly trust and act upon it, the blame would not fall on them but on the one who lost the decree.
Xie Ji was momentarily speechless. “Your Majesty, the Xie family has produced generations of heroes and martyrs. This humble official harbors no disloyalty!”
“Did you not claim moments ago that the Golden Decree was absolutely not in the Xie residence?” Tao Zhuanxian pressed. “Yet was it not found there? Now you declare you have no disloyalty, but your heart lies within your body—how could we possibly know if it holds treachery or not?”
Shen Xihe smiled faintly. Her grandfather truly lived up to his reputation as the Censor-in-Chief.
"Your Majesty, this humble official absolutely did not steal the Princess's Golden Decree."” Xie Ji could only kowtow deeply, the crisp thud of his forehead striking the floor audible to all.
The Youning Emperor glanced at Xie Ji but remained silent, instead turning to Shen Xihe. “Zhaoning, was the Imperial Golden Decree truly stolen by Duke Xie?”
Meeting the Emperor’s inscrutable gaze, Shen Xihe replied calmly, “Your Majesty, the Imperial Golden Decree was likely not stolen by Duke Xie.”
Everyone was slightly startled, not expecting Shen Xihe to say such a thing.
“If it was not stolen by Duke Xie, then how did the Imperial Golden Decree end up in the Xie ancestral hall?” the Youning Emperor asked."This matter requires questioning Duke Xie." Shen Xihe cast a faint glance at Duke Xie, who remained prostrate on the ground. "Your Majesty must be aware that Zhaoning's improving health is due to a physician—none other than Doctor Qi, who severed ties with Duke Xie and resumed his mother's surname. Were it not for treating Zhaoning, Doctor Qi would never have returned to the capital, a place of painful memories.
Some time ago, Zhaoning witnessed Duke Xie repeatedly arguing with Doctor Qi, even bringing servants to forcibly take him away. But Zhaoning's condition had just begun to improve and still required Doctor Qi's care. Yet we could not allow Doctor Qi to suffer coercion and humiliation because of his duty to Zhaoning.
After careful consideration, we temporarily entrusted the Golden Decree bestowed by Your Majesty upon Zhaoning to Doctor Qi."
Here, Shen Xihe felt compelled to explain: "Zhaoning meant no disrespect. Your Majesty watched Doctor Qi grow up and surely knows his character. For anyone else, even valuing her own life, Zhaoning would not have used the imperial-bestowed Golden Decree for protection."
Xie Yunhuai—once praised by the Youning Emperor as "possessing dragon's grace and phoenix's demeanor, with exquisite intelligence"—came to mind. The Emperor nodded slightly.
Shen Xihe continued, "The Golden Decree was with Doctor Qi, who was supposed to visit every three days for Zhaoning's follow-up examination. Today he failed to appear, so Zhaoning concluded he must have been detained." She gave Xie Ji a meaningful look. "Doctor Qi, with his jade-like elegance, frequently travels inside and outside the city. The guards all know him. Upon inquiry, they said he entered the city three days ago with servants from Duke Xie's residence and never left."
Shen Xihe naturally couldn't outright accuse Xie Ji of stealing the Golden Decree. Though the trap was well-laid, the Youning Emperor was no fool. Lack of evidence didn't mean he lacked judgment.
If she falsely accused Xie Ji of stealing the imperial decree, the Emperor would become suspicious of her motives—seeing it as her recklessly targeting senior officials.
This alternative explanation was more reasonable.
Pausing, Shen Xihe sighed softly. "Perhaps the Golden Decree means less to Duke Xie than family bonds. Or maybe his paternal longing led him to detain Doctor Qi."
In the hierarchy of Heaven-Earth-Sovereign-Parents-Teacher, the Sovereign precedes Parents. If Xie Yunhuai had indeed presented the Golden Decree and Xie Ji still detained him, that would constitute contempt for Imperial Authority. Even without proving theft of the decree, this charge would be equally serious.
"Xie Ji, is this true?" the Youning Emperor asked sternly.
Xie Ji's mind raced. After clashing with Shen Xihe, he'd grown cautious. This young woman, not yet of age, was no ordinary girl—her mind was deep and meticulous, not to be underestimated.
"Your Majesty, I did bring my son home, hoping to resolve our differences. But I never detained him forcibly, nor did I see any Golden Decree. I would never dare disrespect Your Majesty." Xie Ji's reply left room for maneuver.
Even if Xie Yunhuai were found in the Xie residence, he could claim he'd merely invited him home without coercion—perhaps his son stayed voluntarily.
"Duke Xie's account differs greatly from your wife's," Shen Xihe remarked leisurely. "When I arrived at your residence seeking Doctor Qi, your wife insisted she hadn't seen him and didn't know any Doctor Qi."
"Reporting to Your Majesty, my son holds grudges against my wife. I didn't inform her about privately inviting him home, so she was unaware." Xie Ji quickly covered the discrepancy.
Shen Xihe let out a brief, humorless laugh but said nothing more.Xie Ji then added, "Your Majesty, just now Eunuch Liu and General Qi have searched my residence and did not find my son, proving that I have not forcibly kept him."
"Who knows if the Xie residence has secret chambers?" Tao Zhuanxian interjected. "The Golden Decree gifted by the princess was given to Doctor Qi. How could Doctor Qi have left the Golden Decree in the Xie family ancestral hall? And behind the ancestors' spirit tablets at that—the ancestors' spirit tablets..."
Xie Ji chose not to argue further, fearing that more words might lead to more mistakes: "Your Majesty, I do not know."
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