Qiann Yan raised her eyes, "Then what do you think I should do? Help cover up this matter? Jing Lingyu proposing to marry me is nothing but revenge. Should I help hide all the evidence to match your ideal image of a woman?"

"I am not out of my mind."

Jing Xiyu paused and said, "You’re right, I was wrong. Third Brother bullied Third Sister-in-law; you have no reason to protect him. Because of Third Brother, you were forced to part with someone you like; you should hate him instead."

"I also didn’t expect Third Brother to help Chen Country."

"There are many things you didn’t expect, and soon Second Brother will no longer be the Crown Prince. Aren’t you happy about that?" Qiann Yan asked.

Having two formidable competitors gone for nothing should make one happy.

Jing Xiyu came to gather information, not expecting Qiann Yan to speak so straightforwardly, and for a moment didn’t know what to say. He lowered his voice, "Third Sister-in-law, what do you mean by this?"

"The Crown Prince is the heir, but sometimes also the scapegoat."

Jing Xiyu wasn’t a fool; he instantly understood and trembled inside.

He had long known that the Emperor didn’t value them as much as they thought, but he didn’t expect Second Brother, the Crown Prince, to be made the scapegoat just like that. He couldn’t be too conspicuous and show himself too early.

"Thank you, Third Sister-in-law."

Jing Xiyu looked at Qiann Yan with less suspicion and more earnestness, "Third Sister-in-law, you are so wise. Second Brother and Third Brother have been blind. If I had met you first, I definitely wouldn’t let you be wronged like this; I would treat you well."

"Third Sister-in-law, do I still have a chance now?" In his heart, Jing Xiyu believed that such an intelligent woman, who seemed to foresee everything, would be a great help if she could be by his side.

The other party’s unparalleled appearance and talent were indeed quite captivating.

Qiann Yan glanced at Jing Xiyu dismissively, "Daydreaming is not good."

"Since Third Sister-in-law is unwilling, so be it." Jing Xiyu wasn’t too persistent, knowing from their interaction that she wasn’t someone easily swayed.

He harbored a vague ambition, thinking that such a talented and beautiful woman should be his. Why couldn’t he have her?

He wasn’t afraid of her being formidable, as long as he was stronger, no matter how sharp her claws were, he could tame her.

Qiann Yan vaguely sensed Jing Xiyu’s thoughts but didn’t pay much attention.

When the other party left, she continued her practice.

The Emperor, sitting on his dragon throne, faced the ministers’ perplexed looks with a darkened face.

Before he could speak, the court ministers all knelt down, "We beseech Your Majesty to clear General Lin’s name."

The Emperor was quite angry inside, realizing that this had surely been pre-planned.

Fortunately, he had devised a plan, not to be pressured by these ministers to make a slip of the tongue. He recounted the previous events clearly and logically.

Jing Yunzhou sensibly knelt on the ground, looking as if he acknowledged his mistake.

"The Crown Prince actually didn’t want to cause chaos in Great Zhou, but I was too late to stop it, and before I could come up with a countermeasure, that childhood betrothed of Lin Xinghuai heard the rumors spread by the Crown Prince, panicked, and thus this whole incident occurred."

"The Crown Prince is still young, lacking foresight, and it was also my oversight in teaching him."

The ministers understood well that the Emperor’s words were certainly to clear General Lin’s name. The matter was almost resolved. As for the Crown Prince being made the scapegoat, he could only chalk it up to bad luck.

These matters were originally managed by the Crown Prince himself, so taking the blame was not unfounded.

"The Crown Prince will write a letter of apology, and I will also write a letter of repentance. Additionally, I will immediately vindicate General Lin’s wrongful case."