After the wrong flirtation, I became the villain's favorite

At daybreak, heavy bells rang in the imperial city.

The sound could still be heard clearly even when it reached the imperial prison.

The young man who had not slept all night moved his drooping eyelids, and a thin light from the small window of the cell shone on him.

His reason told him that today was the day to go before the Emperor, and he had a big show to perform with the Sixth Prince. He knew that he couldn't make any mistakes on this day, and he had waited for this day for too long.

I know he should have had a good rest last night and should have forced himself to sleep.

He knows it all, but he can't do it.

Xie Yunji slowly raised his eyes, with bloodshot eyes.

His wife actually went to beat the drum to inform the public.

According to the Dazhao Code, anyone who beats the drum for reporting must be beaten with twenty sticks.

He always thought that everything was under his control and that he could handle it all by himself.

The struggle for imperial power has always been a bloodless war. He thought he could stay out of it and that he was the one in a superior position.

It was not until he was tortured in this dark prison that he suddenly realized that no matter how careful the calculations and plans are, they are powerless in the face of absolute power.

But even so, he was still able to keep calm, because he knew that he had the clan behind him and the good reputation of the Xie family for hundreds of years to guarantee him.

Until the news came that Song Nihuan went to beat the drum to report the incident.

At that moment, he deeply realized that those he relied on and depended on could not even protect a single person.

It is not easy to keep oneself healthy.

He couldn't even protect his wife.

His wife is not Jiang Yao, but Song Nihuan!

Didn't she know that her identity might be exposed? She shouldn't have put herself in danger.

How dare she go and knock on the drum?

Even everyone in the Xie family knew that the person involved in this case was in too high a position to be easily shaken. Even those members of the Xie family who had been in officialdom for many years did not dare to get involved in the muddy water of the struggle for imperial power. They just waited quietly for the day when the emperor would remember him, or some prince would give him a hand?

No one ever thought about how he was doing in prison or what kind of suffering he endured.

Maybe someone had thought about it, but no one was willing to risk their life for him.

What about her? Why did she risk her true identity being discovered to help him break the impasse?

She...loves him.

Xie Yunji raised his head, tears streaming down his face.

After a while, he stood up and slowly walked up the stairs. Something he held on to in his heart quietly changed at this moment.

He took a deep breath to ease the dull pain in his heart. What powerful ministers and counselors, what merits of following the emperor, what calmness and integrity, what the future of the Xie family... In front of her safety, they were nothing. He couldn't wait any longer and said, "Come here, I want to see the emperor."

*

Yuji Palace.

The emperor first tried the corruption case of the Sixth Prince Xiao Shen.

As the case had been delayed for a long time, Xiao Shen had already used this time to perfect the witnesses and evidence and scapegoats. Each of them was a death warrior who had been promised a title of marquis after his death. Together, they put on a splendid drama for the emperor.

The emperor had been in office for many years, and such bizarre cases with hidden secrets were not uncommon to him, so he pondered and said, "Since this is the case, the Deputy Minister of Works and the Left Vice Minister of Revenue colluded secretly, so they should be executed and their families should be exiled to Ningguta. In addition, the Sixth Prince Xiao Shen was not strict in his rule, so he should be fined for half a year and removed from his position as Supervisory Censor."

"Mr. Xie is sharp and observant, and his arguments are well-founded. He is upright and just, and you are commendable for your righteousness. You are appointed as the Left Jindu Censor of the Inspectorate."

The Censorate could directly impeach and advise officials to the emperor.

After saying this, the emperor looked at the young man in blue kneeling in the hall. He hadn't seen him for more than half a year, and he looked different from before. His skin was darker, his eyes were brighter, and the noble air of a young master from a noble family had faded a lot.

The colleague gently touched Xie Yunji's shoulder and whispered, "Xie Hanlin, thank you quickly."

Since Xie Yunji came up from the upper hall, his eyes have been fixed on Song Nihuan.

But she never looked at him from beginning to end, and just answered whatever the emperor asked.

Song Nihuan lowered her eyes calmly, kneeling straight, but trembling slightly in pain due to the injury on her back.

Pinga Fuyu's words last night made her heart grow cold towards Xie Yunji, and thus she became fearless.

If a person has nothing to ask for, he will not be inferior to others.

Although today was her first time entering the palace, the imperial city was majestic and magnificent, and breathtaking. However, because of her fearless attitude and her determination to die, she was not as frightened as she had imagined.

Just looking at the towering palaces, I suddenly thought that Xie Yunji usually traveled to places like this, and the path I had walked might have been walked by him as well.

There is an indescribable feeling in my heart.

Kneeling in the hall, she did not dare to look up. The emperor said little, his voice was solemn and cold, and he could decide the life and death of many people in an instant.

She didn't care. She was supposed to die when the Song family was in trouble. If she could hide it, she would. If she couldn't, forget it. After all, if the truth was revealed, it would only be the Jiang family that would suffer. The Xie family would still be the victims.

Because of this mentality, she was neither humble nor arrogant, which made the emperor look at her differently.

She really does look like a heroic woman who would do something like beating the drum to report a crime to her husband.

The emperor asked, "How old are you this year? What's your name?"

She bowed her head and said, "Your Highness Jiang Yao, I am twenty years old this year."

"Jiang Yao... Jiang Zhong's daughter, right? From Shuzhou?" the emperor pondered.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I am indeed from Shuzhou, and my father is Jiang Zhong, the magistrate of Ningzhou."

The emperor asked again: "Do you know that beating the drum for hearing reports will cause you suffering?"

"I know that beating the drum will answer the ears of Heaven, and my husband also knows that he will be imprisoned first if he sues the royal family. A wife takes her husband as the leader, and the husband is the moral standard. How can I stop beating the drum to complain just because I will be beaten? Your Majesty is wise, and he doesn't know that my husband is still in prison, and the people of the world don't know, and your Majesty doesn't know..." She said quietly.

Xie Yunji's eyes were unspeakably gentle as she spoke.

After listening to this, the emperor was silent for a moment, his eyes fell on Song Nihuan, "Raise your head."

She tightened her fingers in her sleeves and slowly raised her head, with a calm and unhurried attitude.

"They are a talented man and a beautiful woman, and they are a perfect match for Xie Hanlin." The emperor nodded.