Chapter 332: Chapter 333 What Witnesses

“Brother An, what are you talking about? Men in black? Harm to children? I don’t understand a word,” she said.

Xia Zhaohe was utterly shocked by the sight of the deceased men in black, but she quickly masked the expression in her eyes and feigned innocence.

When Pei Huaian saw people nearing him, he stepped back to maintain a certain distance and continued, “Are you saying these people weren’t sent by you?”

Stunned by his actions, Xia Zhaohe spoke with a sad face, “Brother An, I truly did not. I have a witness.”

“What witness?”

“At the time of the fire, I was with the one you call Doctor Shao. She is my best witness, isn’t she?” Xia Zhaohe looked towards Shao He, unable to hide the hatred in her eyes.

“True, you were undoubtedly with me at that time, but you didn’t need to act personally, you only had to arrange it beforehand.”

Xia Zhaohe grabbed her sleeve in haste and explained, “Brother An, I really don’t know what happened, it must be her trying to frame me!”

Pei Huaian focused on the sleeve gripped tightly by Xia Zhaohe, a trace of disgust flickering in his deep eyes before returning to indifference as he coldly asked, “Nobody is trying to frame you, it’s all your own doing.”

“I…”

Xia Zhaohe paused mid-sentence, bit her teeth and with a desperate expression, said enduringly, “Ever since I entered the mansion, I have been talking to Eldest Princess Huimin and Xu Han, never once did anyone come in contact with me.”

Yet, her statement aroused even more suspicion, as if she was deliberately creating an alibi for herself.

Pei Huaian stared at her for a long time, then approached the man in black, searched him, and subsequently pulled out a token and tossed it over.

“Is Princess Ninghe familiar with this item?”

When Xia Zhaohe received the token, it was like a hot potato, “This, this is not Prince Jing’s Mansion’s token.”

“Indeed, why would Prince Jing’s token be found on these men in black, and why do the symbols on their bodies belong to Prince Jing’s Mansion Shadow Guards?”

Pei Huaian pressed her step by step, his piercing eyes seemingly trying to decipher her face.

Xia Zhaohe bit her lip, wondering how to respond now!

“All these are someone’s deliberate trap.”

She could not admit these deeds were hers or else she would be accused of rebellion.

“Framed?”

Pei Huaian chuckled lightly, “I wonder who would have the ability to steal a shadow guard’s token from Prince Jing’s Mansion to frame you?”

Seeing Pei Huaian’s certainty, Xia Zhaohe turned and knelt down in the courtyard with a thump, her hands touching the ground and forehead striking the stone pavement heavily.

“Your Majesty, I am wronged! This must be someone’s intentional framing; my father has no disloyal intentions!”

The Emperor stared at the kneeling figure, and after a moment, clenched a fist to his mouth and coughed softly twice.

“Summon Prince Jing.”

As Xia Zhaohe looked up, a look of horror crossed her face, jealous at the sight of the child the Emperor cradled in his arms.

Why could Shao He have everything good, yet she got nothing? She just wanted a glance from Brother An. She just wanted approval from the Emperor.

Now, all these favours were granted to Shao He, especially why the Emperor adored the child so much that he even slept with him.

What a high favor!

The Empress Dowager noticed Xia Zhaohe’s gaze fixed on the child in the Emperor’s arms, knowing that in such a scene the Emperor continuing to hold the child would lead to misunderstandings.

Catching the Empress Dowager’s displeased look, Shao He immediately stepped forward, “Your Majesty, Xiao Linzhang has already fallen asleep. Perhaps I should take him back to the room first?”

“No need,” the Emperor declined very bluntly.

Thinking of the little fellow’s plump cheeks now bearing a scar, a pang of pain shot through him, as if a knife were twisted in his heart.

“Your Majesty, you are still not fully recovered. Perhaps let the commoner girl do it,” Shao He asked again tentatively.

She feared that continuing this way would cause extreme dissatisfaction from the Empress Dowager; it would be better to take the child back sooner.

As Shao He hesitated on how to take the child from the Emperor’s arms, a guard suddenly reported, “Prince Jing has been brought and is waiting outside.”

The Emperor waved his hand, motioning to bring Prince Jing inside, then turned to Shao He, “Shao He, go and check on Prince Jing.”

“Yes,” Shao He said, stepping forward. As she reached Prince Jing and was about to extend her hand, she saw a figure moving swiftly.

Nevertheless, she precisely touched Prince Jing’s wrist, forcing him to sit down. After a moment, she withdrew and said, “Prince Jing is very healthy, he has no illness at all.”

“Impossible, you are simply a quack,” Prince Jing said furiously.

Shao He was fearless, “Any Imperial Physician or Doctor who hasn’t been bribed would say the same as me.”

This statement clearly implied that Prince Jing was using silver to make other doctors claim he was ill and could not attend the Emperor’s birthday.

Knowing he could not argue further, but seeing the Shadow Guards dead on the ground,

he sighed deeply, losing so many talented people he had nurtured.

He couldn’t say it didn’t hurt him at all, but what could he possibly do now?