Everyone in Chongyun Hall instinctively held their breath.
Under a sea of gazes that said, "Let's see what nonsense you can come up with," Pan Jifeng calmly spoke.
"I have heard that rumors have been spreading among the common people of late, claiming that Noble Consort Rou has the heart of a snake and scorpion, and that she secretly took the Eleventh Princess to a house of pleasure. Such insidious slander ruins a person's reputation. Countless people repeat it, and repeated bans have failed to stop it."
"Noble Consort Rou has wept to me several times, yet I have been unable to devise an effective solution." He bowed low. "I beseech Your Majesty to show compassion and lend your aid."
The court officials, who had been rubbing their hands together and preparing to refute him at any moment: "..."
Jiang Yingcheng, whose eyes had shone with excitement as she eagerly waited for Pan Jifeng to reveal his true colors: "..."
Well, this-
An indescribable silence settled over the court.
They did seem to be a little in the wrong this time, didn't they?
The officials' gazes involuntarily drifted toward the screen that had suddenly been erected on the Golden Terrace again, as though trying to pierce through it and see the little girl's expression.
The hazy silhouette cast against the screen remained motionless. After a long while, the little girl whistled a lilting tune in her mind, sounding faintly guilty.
The officials: "..."
Got it.
She felt guilty.
Jiang Yanchuan glanced at the little girl with a hint of helplessness.
Though his expression did not change, the favoritism and doting affection in his eyes were unmistakable to every official present, even from that distance.
"Minister Pan," he said in a low voice, unwilling to take the bait so easily, "how