Teasing the Princess Is a Capital Crime? Then I'll Take the Empress Too - Chapter 8:

Chapter 8: The Truth Revealed, Audacious Beyond Measure, Stunned the Entire Court!

“Prime Minister Xu, you’re using double standards.”

Listening to Wu Yi and Long Yayin echoing one another, Xu Xian’s eyes trembled with fury. But in the end, he took a deep breath, forcefully suppressed his rage, gritted his teeth, and bowed stiffly.

“Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. This old minister dares not.”

Long Qiyue let out a cold snort. “Good. Then watch carefully. If anyone dares to interfere again, don’t blame me for showing no mercy.”

As the Empress, how could she not see that this entire matter was a trap laid by Xu Xian against the Wu family? This was exactly why she hadn’t sentenced Wu Yi to death right away.

First, Wu Yi wasn’t someone who could be easily killed—killing him would be the same as declaring war on the Duke of Dingguo’s household. Second, she also intended to use this incident to remove some hidden threats.

So far, Wu Yi’s performance had exceeded her expectations.

Pfft—

“Ah!”

At that moment, Wu Yi sliced off Xu Yangshuo’s left arm with another swing of the sword. The intense pain jolted him awake from unconsciousness, and he let out a miserable scream. His face turned deathly pale, drenched in cold sweat, and his body convulsed on the ground.

Wu Yi grinned, a cruel smile spreading across his face. “Regret it now? Too late.”

With both hands gripping the sword, he drove it straight into Xu Yangshuo’s abdomen. The sharp blade easily pierced through the soft armor, destroying his dantian.

With his dantian ruined, his cultivation was crippled. Even if Xu Yangshuo survived, he’d be a useless wreck for the rest of his life.

But Wu Yi always believed—if you’re going to kill, make it absolute. Leave no future threat.

He crouched down and looked at Xu Yangshuo, whose entire body trembled from the pain, his face filled with terror and despair.

“You dared to frame me? When a horse gets skinny, its hooves grow fat. Don’t you even know who I am?”

“But before I kill you, I need to extract the truth.”

As he spoke, he switched the Hammer of Boundless Merit to a different function.

“Seventh Strike: Heart and Words Aligned.”

This strike functioned like hypnosis—it could make someone speak the secrets buried in their heart. However, it consumed a large amount of mental energy.

Clang—

[Merit +1]

With that strike, Xu Yangshuo’s once vicious and angry gaze turned blank and stupid. He even gave a goofy smile. But due to the immense pain, his tongue had been bitten to a bloody pulp, and his mouth was filled with blood. That twisted smile looked terrifying.

“Good grandson, look at me. I’m your grandpa now.”

“Grandpa’s going to ask you some questions. You have to answer honestly.”

Long Qiyue: “…”

Duke Wu An: “…”

Civil and military officials: “…”

Xu Xian clenched his jaw, his fists so tight that his knuckles cracked.

In a dazed tone, Xu Yangshuo said, “You’re not my grandpa. You’re Wu Yi. Xu Xian is my grandpa. I am the grandson of Prime Minister Xu, second son of Duke of Pingxi Xu Jinghua, and Hanlin Academy scholar, Xu Yangshuo.”

Wu Yi gave a satisfied smile and looked at the Empress. “Your Majesty, as you’ve seen, he’s still capable of distinguishing right from wrong. I’ve only prevented him from lying.”

After a short pause, he turned to look at the now dark-faced Xu Xian. “So from this moment on, every word Xu Yangshuo says… is the truth.”

Long Qiyue maintained a calm exterior, but waves of shock surged inside her. Today, Wu Yi had surprised her again and again.

That idle, wasteful second-generation heir was completely gone. Now, he was like an unsheathed blade—sharp and dangerous!

Wu Yi asked loudly, “Xu Yangshuo, tell me—how did you control me yesterday?”

As he asked the critical question, Xu Xian’s face twitched, and his heart pounded rapidly. If this was exposed, it would mean death!

Long Qiyue glanced at Xu Xian coldly, saying nothing, only fixing her piercing eyes on Xu Yangshuo.

Still under hypnosis, Xu Yangshuo obediently answered, “I used a soul control secret technique I acquired by chance. It can temporarily control another’s soul, making them follow my will. Once the control ends, the controlled person’s soul is eventually erased and dies.”

The entire hall erupted in shock.

Wu Yi narrowed his eyes. Just as he had suspected. He continued questioning, “Xu Yangshuo, was it you who made me harass the Ninth Princess and say that I wanted Her Majesty to join in a threesome?”

Without the slightest hesitation, Xu Yangshuo replied, “Yes!”

Long Qiyue’s expression turned frosty, and her phoenix-like eyes flickered with killing intent.

Wu Yi glanced at Xu Xian, then continued asking, “It wasn’t just me you wanted to frame—you wanted to frame the Ninth Princess too. You planned to make it seem like she killed me, then provoke a conflict between the Duke of Dingguo’s household and Her Majesty. Wasn’t that your goal?”

Xu Yangshuo nodded again. “Yes!”

At that moment, the entire court was shaken. The Golden Luan Hall fell into an earth-shattering silence.

The truth had been laid bare.

No one had expected Wu Yi had truly been framed by Xu Yangshuo.

Xu Xian’s faction was drenched in cold sweat, realizing this was a complete disaster.

Although the Empress’s face remained calm, everyone could feel the storm of fury building in her heart. No one dared to speak.

Xu Xian slowly closed his eyes and sighed deeply in his heart. It was over.

Attempting to murder Wu Yi, framing the Ninth Princess, insulting the royal family, provoking imperial authority…

Any one of these crimes was enough to see Xu Yangshuo executed.

No one could save him now.

But unexpectedly, Wu Yi once again stirred the pot with an earth-shattering question.

“Tell me—was it Prime Minister Xu who instructed you to frame me? Did he plan to work with Duke of Pingxi to destroy the Duke of Dingguo’s household and seize control of the military and political power in an attempt to rebel?”

BOOM—

Every word from Wu Yi was like a sledgehammer slamming into the hearts of everyone present.

This—

This kind of thing could be said aloud?!

Was this guy really not afraid of escalating things?

Only Long Yayin was visibly thrilled. His eyes glowed with worship as he looked at Wu Yi.

“Incredible… Truly incredible!”

“I’ve always blamed myself for not causing enough chaos. But now it’s clear—I need to keep training.”

He had always believed he was bold—frequently trying to stir up big trouble. But compared to Wu Yi, he wasn’t even close.

To accuse the Prime Minister and Duke of Pingxi of treason? If it turned out to be true, it would shake the entire Empire.

That was real chaos!

Xu Xian’s heart pounded wildly. This was his worst fear realized. He roared furiously, “Insolent! You impudent brat, don’t you dare slander me!”

Duke Wu An, though shocked by Wu Yi’s boldness, quickly shouted, “Yi’er, watch your words!”

Long Qiyue’s gaze trembled slightly. She took a deep breath and coldly rebuked, “Enough, Wu Yi!”

“Prime Minister Xu is the pillar of our empire, loyal to Longhua through and through. Duke of Pingxi has made countless contributions to the Empire over the years. Their loyalty is not something you have the right to question or doubt!”

Wu Yi turned to look at the Empress. In that brief moment when their eyes met, he understood.