Just as she returned to the Prince's Mansion, before she could even take a sip of tea, Shang Ruoyi was summoned to the main hall. As soon as she entered, a teacup shattered at her feet.

"You little slut! So, you married into our Dingguo Prince's Mansion to be a spy," Concubine Zhang screeched. "You actually resorted to framing and incriminating us."

"Concubine Zhang, what are you talking about?" Shang Ruoyi looked at Concubine Zhang, puzzled.

"Hmph! You know exactly what I'm talking about!"

Impatience now showed in Shang Ruoyi's eyes. "Concubine, there's no need to play riddles. Just say what you have to say directly."

"Ruoyi, our He family has never mistreated you. Why would you do such a thing?" The Consort of the Prince's eyes were red. "Although you're a concubine - born daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion, since you married into our Prince's Mansion, no one has ever looked down on you. Why did you plant those forged letters in the study?"

Forged letters?

What on earth were they talking about?

"Mother - in - law, what are you all talking about?"

The old Consort of the Prince furrowed her brows deeply and said in a solemn voice, "Your father went to the Emperor today with a letter, accusing our Dingguo Prince's Mansion of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country. And this letter..." She looked at Shang Ruoyi, her eyes full of scrutiny. "Your father said you found it in the study."

What? "How could this be possible? I don't even know which way the door of the Prince's Mansion study opens. How could I have rummaged through letters?" Shang Ruoyi looked at the old Consort of the Prince and said in a solemn voice. "Besides, since I've married into the Dingguo Prince's Mansion, what good would it do me to do such things?"

"Then what's the deal with these letters?"

"It must be that old scoundrel, Shang Nian!" Shang Ruoyi finally understood why Shang Nian was willing to hand over all of her mother's dowry just to marry her into the Dingguo Prince's Mansion.

It was to frame them with a legitimate excuse. On the day she returned to her natal home, he would present these pre - prepared letters.

A complete frame - up plan was thus accomplished.

Just then, an imperial eunuch arrived at the Prince's Mansion, carrying an imperial edict.

"All in the Dingguo Prince's Mansion, receive the imperial edict."

Shang Ruoyi's heart sank.

It seemed that the Emperor in the palace had a deep - seated hatred for the Dingguo Prince's Mansion and was eager to eliminate everyone in it.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor's decree states: He Yuwen, the Dingguo Prince, has colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, resulting in the tragic death of thousands of soldiers on the battlefield. His crime is unforgivable. He Yuwen, the Dingguo Prince, is stripped of his title. His current whereabouts are unknown. When he is found, he will be beheaded immediately. His family members are to be exiled three thousand li and are never to set foot in the capital again. All the property of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion is to be confiscated and put into the national treasury. Thus."

The eunuch put away the imperial edict and sneered. "Old Consort of the Prince, receive the edict!"

The maid beside helped the old Consort of the Prince stand up. But before she could steady herself, she fell back onto the ground.

"Old Consort of the Prince!" The maids around her were immediately in chaos.

"Hmph! This servant still needs to return to the palace to report to the Emperor. Is there anyone in your Dingguo Prince's Mansion to receive the imperial edict?"

"Give it to me!" A jade - like hand reached out.

Shang Ruoyi said coldly, "You may leave. No need for farewells."

"The Second Miss of the Shang family has just been married for a few days," the eunuch looked at her, a mocking expression on his face. "Yet she has already suffered such a misfortune. Truly lamentable."

As he left the Prince's Mansion, he said to the guards behind him, "Guard the main gate of this Prince's Mansion. No one is allowed to enter or leave."

The main gate of the Prince's Mansion closed with a loud bang, and chaos ensued inside the mansion. The old Consort of the Prince sat in the chair, murmuring, "It's over, all over. The century - old foundation of our Dingguo Prince's Mansion is gone."

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The Consort of the Prince kept wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. "Just now, someone sent a message saying that Zuiheng was detained as soon as he returned to the military camp this morning. He already has trouble moving, and now we don't know how much he's been tortured."

Concubine Zhang's side was busy packing up gold, silver, and valuables, trying every means to hide them on their persons.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Shang Ruoyi quietly went to the backyard and opened the treasury filled with her dowry. In a moment, the treasury was empty, not even a single leaf remaining, as everything was taken into her space. She then visited several treasuries where the Prince's Mansion's precious items were stored.

After she left, the entire Prince's Mansion was emptied.

"Even if these things were to be thrown away, they must not fall into the hands of that unjust and muddle - headed Emperor," she said, looking at the space filled with treasures. Then, contentedly, she returned to the main hall.

Just then, a group of soldiers rushed into the Prince's Mansion. The leading captain said coldly, "Men, take them away! Strip them of their fine clothes, put them in prison carts, and send them out of the city immediately!"

Shang Ruoyi furrowed her brows slightly. How impatient was this Emperor?

The group changed into prison clothes, had shackles put on their hands and feet, and were directly herded onto prison carts.

At this time, Shang Ruoyi saw a pool of blood under the front - most prison cart, with fresh blood still dripping drop by drop.

Her pupils dilated slightly. It was He Jingheng!

The Consort of the Prince saw this scene and stumbled towards the prison cart, her fingers trembling as she grabbed the cart. "Heng'er! Heng'er! Open your eyes and look at Mother! Heng'er!"

Just then, two soldiers stepped forward and roughly grabbed the Consort of the Prince's arms, saying in a deep voice, "Get on the cart quickly. There's no time for you to talk here. When you reach the outskirts of the city and meet up with the other exiled prisoners, you'll have plenty of time to cry. Move!"

The Consort of the Prince was pushed and fell to the ground. She stumbled to her feet, dragging the shackles on her feet, and walked towards her prison cart, looking back step by step.

The prison carts had to pass through the busiest street in the capital. In the past, the people on these prison carts were either corrupt officials or criminals who had committed murder and were all despised by the common people. When passing through this street, people would throw stones and even set fires. But today, as the prison carts passed through the street, the common people were all in tears, and some even knelt and kowtowed on the ground.

Shang Ruoyi witnessed all this. Although she had lamented her poor fate more than once, being innocently implicated and exiled right after time - traveling, seeing how the people of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion, who were so beloved by the common people, were being treated so unjustly just because of the Emperor's suspicion and their high achievements intimidating the sovereign, she gritted her teeth. It seemed that she had to save these people.

He Jingheng's leg was already injured. Although she hadn't seen the wound, she could smell the ointment that had been used on his leg before, which was for treating broken bones and damaged sinews. But his current leg injury seemed rather serious.

Concubine Zhang kept chattering in the prison cart, "Shang Ruoyi, you jinx! It's all your fault! Your horoscope must be in conflict with that of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion. Otherwise, why was everything fine before you married in, and as soon as you came in, such a huge disaster befell our Dingguo Prince's Mansion?"

Shang Ruoyi didn't want to pay her any attention. But Concubine Zhang was too persistent. "You little slut, can't you hear me when I'm talking to you?"

"Alright, stop talking," the old Consort of the Prince looked at Shang Ruoyi and said in a deep voice. "Ruoyi, if Zuiheng divorces you now, you can regain your freedom and won't be burdened by our Dingguo Prince's Mansion. Are you willing?"

When Concubine Zhang heard this, her face instantly changed. "Old Consort of the Prince, how can we let her leave just like that? We've all been harmed by her!"