As soon as the Empress Dowager spoke, Guo Zhenghai, the Duke of Qi’s son, had no choice but to return to his seat.

The storyteller continued, “This old man already had over ten concubines in his household, many of them respectable women he’d forced into servitude. Worse yet, the matriarch of the household, the old man’s primary wife, was incredibly vicious. Every woman brought into the household was forced to take medicine to prevent them from bearing children. Naturally, this poor girl met the same fate and was nearly poisoned to death by the matriarch just two weeks after entering the household. Needless to say, her life there was nothing short of miserable.”

The crowd was stunned.

Princess Consort Ruyang couldn’t help but ask, “Wait, isn’t this matriarch the same villainous woman from the previous story?”

The storyteller nodded. “The lady is correct. It is indeed the same person. In fact, these two stories are about the same despicable family.”

Understanding dawned on Princess Consort Ruyang, who nodded, “No wonder they’re all so vile! Birds of a feather, indeed.”

The crowd nodded in agreement, and someone muttered, “One’s a lecher, the other’s a shrew—a perfect match for each other!”

Yanshu’s eyes lit up at this summary, barely able to hold back her applause. It was spot-on!

She glanced at Guo Zhenghai and Lady Wei, noticing their faces alternating between pale and flushed, expressions twisted in a mixture of anger and embarrassment. They looked ready to explode but dared not say a word.

Hah, this was just the beginning. After all the harm they’d caused over the years, a few scolding words were the least they deserved.

At that moment, the storyteller continued, “You’re absolutely right, esteemed guests. Let me carry on with the tale. This poor girl, suffering in the heart of the capital, had no idea that the vile old man was also eyeing her younger sister. After two years, when he figured the younger sister was old enough, he once again traveled to her family’s home, pretending to be on a hunting trip, and tried to take her by force.”

The audience’s outrage flared again.

The Grand Princess interjected, “The younger sister must not fall into his clutches! Her parents need to do something!”

The guests echoed her sentiments in agreement.

The storyteller nodded, “Your Highness is correct! Thankfully, the parents sensed the danger and quickly arranged a marriage proposal for their younger daughter, ensuring her protection.”

At this, the audience collectively breathed a sigh of relief, assuming the family had narrowly escaped another disaster.

But then the storyteller added, “Enraged by this, the old man used his influence to frame the father with false charges, throwing him into prison.”

The audience erupted in anger again. “Does this old man have no regard for the law?”

“Exactly! How can he bully people like this?”

The Grand Princess, seething, addressed the storyteller, “I’ve lived a long life, yet I’ve never heard of such injustice! Surely, someone so wicked doesn’t get off scot-free?”

The storyteller reassured her, “Your Highness, rest assured. As the saying goes, the wheels of justice turn slowly but grind exceedingly fine. After two years, the local officials, who knew he was innocent, managed to quietly release him. The family hoped for peace, but word reached the capital, and the old man, displeased, plotted once more to throw the father in jail and punish the official who dared to show him mercy.”

At this point, the listeners were practically livid, their anger spilling over.

“Heavens! How can someone be so depraved?”

“Indeed! Does he think he rules the world?”

The Grand Princess couldn’t help but say, “And this man still lives peacefully? Heaven hasn’t struck him down with lightning yet?”

Hearing this, Yanshu raised her eyebrows, glancing at the Empress Dowager, who quickly nodded in agreement with her sister-in-law.

Yanshu thought to herself that it was no wonder the two of them got along so well; they shared such sound morals!

Meanwhile, Guo Zhenghai and Lady Wei looked as if they wanted to crawl under their seats.

Someone from the audience eagerly asked the storyteller, “What happened next? Surely that poor family didn’t suffer another blow?”

The storyteller replied, “Of course not. Justice prevails, and no one can keep such wicked deeds hidden forever. Eventually, a high-ranking official caught wind of this man’s schemes and, infuriated, reported it to the Emperor. Enraged by such flagrant abuse of power, the Emperor ordered a full investigation.”

“Unexpectedly, this investigation uncovered even more horrific acts by the old man—repeated abuse of his authority, oppressing commoners, tainting the court’s reputation, and even crimes involving death. Such a villain was beyond redemption, and the Emperor ordered his immediate execution. He was dragged to the noon gate and beheaded that very day, granting the people justice at last.”

As he finished, the hall filled with applause, with guests cheering, “Justice has been served! Heaven does not overlook evil!”

“Bravo! Thanks to a wise Emperor for upholding justice!”

Amid the applause, there was a loud thud as something fell to the floor.

Everyone turned to see Guo Zhenghai, the Duke’s son who had claimed to feel unwell earlier, now collapsed on the ground, his face pale and covered in cold sweat.

The crowd looked on, bewildered.

The Emperor spoke, “If Lord Guo isn’t feeling well, perhaps he should consult the imperial physician.”

Though the words sounded concerned, his tone was icy.

Guo Zhenghai, feeling the weight of his guilt, scrambled to his feet, shakily returning to his seat. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. I am fine.”

Yet the audience’s curiosity was still fixed on the story. Someone asked the storyteller, “So, the villain met his end, but what about the poor women he mistreated? And that wicked wife of his?”

The storyteller replied, “As for the wife, complicit in her husband’s crimes, she was exiled to the harsh borderlands, forbidden to ever return to the capital. The court took pity on the innocent women and granted them freedom. At last, the eldest daughter returned to her family, and they were finally reunited.”

Hearing this, some guests nodded, while others sighed in relief.

Princess Ankang wiped her eyes, murmuring, “Such innocent young women, so thoroughly ruined by those vile people. And now, with her health damaged, she’ll likely never marry.”

Hearing this, the guests once again vented their anger, condemning the couple for treating people so heartlessly.

The Empress Dowager spoke, “At least they’ve gained their freedom. For such a devoted family, I believe the young women will find good prospects. And if not, at least staying with their parents is better than enduring more suffering.”

The guests nodded in agreement, and with that, the story came to an end. The storyteller received his reward, bowed, and left.

Guo Zhenghai and Lady Wei, assuming the ordeal had passed, breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear the Emperor’s voice ring out, “What does everyone think of the villain’s actions?”

The guests, still moved by the tale, eagerly shared their thoughts.

Minister Lu of the Ministry of Works, Yanshu’s loyal supporter, was first to speak. “Your Majesty, from what we heard, this man abused his power and shamed the court. Even if he only committed these two crimes—oppressing innocent families and framing court officials—such actions demand severe punishment.”

The crowd nodded in agreement.

The Minister of Justice added, “Judging by his skillful methods in framing officials, he must have committed such acts multiple times. If such a person exists, we should investigate to prevent more innocent people from suffering. We cannot allow someone who tarnishes the court’s name to go unpunished.”

The guests chorused, “Indeed! He must be held accountable.”

The Emperor nodded and then turned to the Duke of Qi, “What does the Duke think of these actions?”

Caught off guard, the Duke quickly stood up and said, “Your Majesty, I believe the story was well told. But it is just a story, after all. Thanks to Your Majesty’s wise rule, the country is at peace, and the people live happily. Surely such things wouldn’t happen in reality.”

Upon hearing the Duke of Qi’s words, Yanshu raised an eyebrow in amusement.

This old man really knew how to talk his way around a situation! Was he implying that if such injustices did exist, it would mean the Emperor wasn’t as wise as he appeared?

Fortunately, Yuwen Lan didn’t fall for it and instead asked, “I’d like to know, Duke of Qi—if this were indeed true, how do you think the matter should be handled?”

The Duke replied, “If, in fact, such a person exists, Your Majesty, he ought to be punished severely.”

“Oh?” Yuwen Lan responded. “But if this wrongdoer belongs to a noble family, should the law grant him leniency?”

Hearing this, Yanshu could barely contain her excitement. The Emperor’s question was brilliantly crafted!

Everyone knew that noble or not, the law applied equally. If the Duke were to argue for leniency, a host of ministers would certainly oppose him, leaving him with no choice but to agree that there should be no favoritism.

And indeed, the Duke, with no room to maneuver, bowed and said, “Your Majesty, it is well-known that the law applies equally to all, noble and commoner alike. Regardless of one’s status, the law should not favor them. However, it is critical to investigate thoroughly so that no one is wrongfully accused.”

The crowd raised their eyebrows, thinking that the Duke must have been out of touch with current affairs if he didn’t know that every story by Xiaoyao Gongzi had some real-life inspiration. And who among them was falsely accused?

But just then, the Emperor spoke, “Recently, I received a report accusing Guo Zhenghai, the Duke of Qi’s son, of abusing his power to take an innocent woman as his concubine and maliciously framing Lin Chengxian, the Right Guard Commander of Lu Prefecture, for embezzlement, leading to two years of wrongful imprisonment.”

The Duke of Qi froze, as did the entire room, all turning to look at Guo Zhenghai.

So that’s why he’d claimed to feel unwell and collapsed earlier—he was the villain in the story!

Under the weight of everyone’s gaze, Guo Zhenghai quickly knelt and said, “Your Majesty, this is nothing but slander! Lin Chengxian is nothing more than a greedy man who forced his eldest daughter on me as a concubine when I visited Lu Prefecture years ago. Later, he even tried to extort me. And he truly did sell the grain; when he begged me to cover it up, I refused, so he has been spreading false accusations against me ever since…”

Hearing this, the crowd couldn’t help but raise their eyebrows.

What?

According to him, a mere commander had somehow blackmailed the son of a duke?

At that moment, the Empress Dowager spoke up, “Quite a story you tell! So you’re saying that an innocent young woman, probably younger than your own son, was somehow forced upon you as a concubine? And you just accepted it? What, did they get you drunk and tie you up?”

A few stifled laughs escaped the crowd.

The Empress Dowager’s words hit the mark!

Yanshu couldn’t help but admire her, then chimed in, “I’ve heard that you have about fifteen concubines and maids. Were they all forced on you as well? It seems you’ve suffered a terrible injustice.”

The crowd struggled to contain their laughter, glancing at Guo Zhenghai, who was drenched in sweat, clearly at a loss for words, and could only stammer, “I… I am ashamed…”

Just then, Yanshu heard Guo Zhaorong’s inner voice seething, “Hmph! How dare she insult my father! I’ll make sure she pays for this someday!”

Oh? A threat, was it?

Yanshu added with a smirk, “By the way, with so many concubines, isn’t it curious that none have borne any children?”

This question drew the crowd’s attention to Lady Wei.

Given that the old lecher turned out to be Guo Zhenghai, it was obvious the villainous wife was none other than Lady Wei.

Who would have guessed? If the rumors were true, she’d left a trail of unborn children and suffering women behind her.

The pregnant Princess Ankang, unable to hold back, muttered, “How could she be so heartless?”

The crowd nodded, whispering among themselves, “With a mother like that, what kind of daughter could she possibly raise? And she actually has the nerve to seek the position of Empress?”

“Exactly! If she becomes Empress, it would bring disaster upon the royal family!”

At this, Lady Wei suddenly knelt and cried, “I am innocent! Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, please see the truth! That storyteller was clearly paid to slander me! I have never done anything wrong! If I had, may I be struck by lightning…”

But Minister Lu, Yanshu’s most loyal fan, couldn’t hold back and declared, “Xiaoyao Gongzi’s stories have never wronged anyone!”

The crowd nodded in agreement.

Just then, a loud thud echoed through the hall.

Everyone turned to see that Guo Jian’guang, Guo Zhenghai’s son, had collapsed to the floor, convulsing and foaming at the mouth.

The scene shocked everyone. Yanshu quietly asked her system, “What’s going on here?”

The system replied, “Oh, that concubine didn’t seduce him for nothing! She slipped him a little something. With the stress and alcohol tonight, the poison finally took effect.”

Yanshu thought, This concubine has guts!

Indeed, the Guo family had provided the night’s most entertaining performance.

The Guo family members were in an uproar, and the Emperor calmly ordered an imperial physician to examine Guo Jian’guang.

The physician approached, examined him, and announced, “Your Majesty, the young master’s health is severely compromised, likely from excessive indulgence.”

The crowd exchanged glances, murmuring amongst themselves.

This young man was already falling apart from overindulgence at such a young age—just how rotten was this family?

The Empress Dowager ordered, “Take him to the side hall and see if he can be revived.”

The servants quickly carried him out of the hall.

Meanwhile, there was still important business to address.

The Emperor announced, “The Ministry of Justice has gathered evidence and witnesses from Lu Prefecture. Guards, arrest Guo Zhenghai, and bring him to trial at once, so justice may be served swiftly.”

The guards responded in unison and escorted Guo Zhenghai out.

As his family members, Lady Wei and Guo Zhaorong were also “invited” to be held under watch.

Seeing this, the Duke of Qi hurriedly tried to speak, “Your Majesty…”

But the Emperor cut him off, “It is rare to meet someone as principled as you, Duke. As you said yourself, once the crimes are proven, punishment will be inevitable.”

Before the Duke could respond, the rest of the court was already exclaiming, “Long live the wise Emperor!”

~~

With the Guo family removed, the hall returned to peace.

The guests, still riding the excitement, asked the attendants to bring the storyteller back to tell a few more tales.

They enjoyed their mooncakes, listening with delight.

Outside, the Mid-Autumn moon rose high, its reflection glistening in the lake, creating a beautiful scene.

This Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, though unusual, held a charm of its own.

Alas, the young ladies who had dressed up and prepared performances that evening never found their moment to shine.