Shen Qingqing chuckled lightly, "Perhaps it should be said that we have implicated you."
If it weren't to save them, they wouldn't have angered the King, leading to a dignified royal Highness also becoming a prisoner.
Pei Lie shook his head, saying nothing.
He was immersed in the blow of his father's distrust and paid no mind to these matters.
Just then, a minister stepped forward and sternly declared, "Your Majesty, I believe this course of action is unfair."
"What do you mean?"
"The eldest prince holds a noble status. To break the law is a greater offense, and his punishment should be doubled!" the minister's words were sonorous and convincing. "Did you not also say that a prince who breaks the law shall be punished the same as a commoner? Why are you only throwing him into the dungeon now? Is it because he is your son, and you cannot bear it?"
"Nonsense!"
The King roared in anger and embarrassment.
The minister quickly lowered his head. Although his voice was soft, it carried firmly, "I do not know why you are favoring the eldest prince, but with so many people watching, this punishment of yours is unlikely to convince the public."
"What do you want?" The King's voice was almost grinding his teeth.
"Your Majesty, you must treat everyone equally."
The implication was that he should be dealt with as he deserved, judged according to the severity of his crime, without any reservations due to his status.
Pei Xi feigned admonishment, "Do not speak nonsense. Are you not forcing your father? He is, after all, his father's child. What father does not cherish his own child?"
His words, though seemingly pleading, served to confirm that the King was unwilling to punish Pei Lie.
For a moment, many gazes turned peculiar.
The King was now in a difficult predicament.
To punish him, he was reluctant.
To not punish him, it was difficult to silence the public outcry.
Shen Qingqing raised her voice, "I say, are you trying to force the King's hand or what? Hasn't a decision already been made on how to deal with him? The eldest prince's mistake is naturally for the King alone to decide. How is it that each of you wants to overstep your authority?"
Her gaze swept over Pei Xi and the minister.
Her words were pointed, instantly making the two the target of public scrutiny.
Indeed, their previous words had the potential to instigate trouble.
As the minister was about to speak, Shen Qingqing added, "Or is this related to the struggle for the throne? Minister, have you taken sides?"
Without giving the minister a chance to reply, she continued,
"I guess you are on the Fourth Prince's side, aren't you?"
In one sentence, all that the minister had said became suspect, and everyone turned to look at him with obvious doubt.
The minister's face flushed with anger, "You, you stop talking nonsense!"
How could this woman's tongue be so sharp!
Just then, he felt the King's gaze, which carried pressure, inquiry, and suspicion.
The minister quickly took a step back, saying with utmost trepidation, "Your Majesty, I have absolutely no selfish motives. Everything I have said is for your own good!"
"If you were truly thinking for the King, you should have rebutted anyone who questioned his decision after it was made. How is it that you were the first to speak out?"
"You in Huaxia have a saying, 'Honest advice may be unpleasant to hear!'"
"Oh, you have some culture." Since Huaxia was well-known to her, Shen Qingqing was even less afraid of him. "Then we in Huaxia also have a saying: 'Borrowing a knife to kill.'"
Cold sweat broke out on the minister's forehead.
Everyone present was intelligent. Whose knife was being borrowed to kill whom was no longer necessary to elaborate.
"I didn't, you are slandering me!" He had lost his composure, and a hint of panic showed on his face.
Useless.
Pei Xi glanced at him with disdain in his eyes, then shielded him and looked directly at the woman surrounded by guards, yet protected by Fu Jing Shu King, the old man, and Pei Lie.
"Miss Shen, you are truly glib-tongued and eloquent. Not everyone can match your words."
"What I said is the truth. Those without reason, of course, cannot match me."
"Is that so?" Pei Xi's lips curled slightly. "After all, you are a prisoner in the dungeon. What is there to talk about with a prisoner like you?"
One sentence shifted the situation.
Only then did the crowd realize. Yes, she was just a prisoner. What she said was surely meant to sow discord and achieve unspeakable ends.
She was completely untrustworthy.
Shen Qingqing said with a half-smile, "Whether I am a prisoner or an immortal, my words are correct. When the eldest prince rendered great service to the royal family, where was the Fourth Prince?"
The smile on Pei Xi's face gradually disappeared.
He had always been skilled at using his own hardships and difficulties to gain the King's sympathy.
But at this moment, when singing praises of Pei Lie's might and achievements, it was obviously inappropriate to bring up those matters.
"Even if you want to arrest him, you should investigate the facts first," Shen Qingqing's gaze swept over everyone, with undisguised mockery.
It was as if...
She was looking at a group of fools.
"Without Pei Lie, what do you think your royal family amounts to?" Her words were quite impolite. "The loyal servant has not yet grown old, and you are already thinking of abandoning him. Only your Kingdom of H would do such a shameless thing. We in Huaxia would not!"
This sentence provoked the anger of many.
But at the same time, it also stirred a hidden sense of shame and concern in their hearts.
Shame for relying on Pei Lie's prestige and protection, yet not speaking up for him when he was in distress.
Concern that after this incident, the eldest prince would likely be disheartened.
For a moment, no one dared to look at Pei Lie.
The King's body stiffened, and he remained silent for a long time. Those words were like heavy hammers striking his heart, making him feel like thorns were digging into his back.
In the darkness of the night, there were dozens of people present, yet not a single one spoke.
The atmosphere was heavy, almost dead silent.
Only the cold wind blew, carrying gusts that sounded like mournful cries.
Just then, Pei Ji arrived in a hurry. He didn't know what had happened yet. Seeing the situation, he thought his father was going to punish his elder brother. Without even catching his breath, he pleaded for his elder brother.
"Father, elder brother has served the royal family faithfully for many years. If not for merit, then certainly for his efforts. You cannot, you cannot deal with elder brother like this!"
But his intervention, instead of helping, was like a needle piercing the King's heart.
Shen Qingqing couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Look, even Pei Ji, a pleasure-seeker, knew that loyal servants could not be killed. Yet, here the King was, seemingly not understanding this principle?
Was it true that the older one got, the more muddled they became?
She hadn't said a word, but her soft laugh was extremely noticeable in the dark night. The King's face instantly turned a faint shade of blue.
"Pei Lie can be spared."
A cold glint flashed in Pei Xi's eyes.
Pei Ji breathed a heavy sigh of relief, "Thank you, Father!"
The King said sternly, "But the others must die."
Pei Ji paused and quickly said, "Father!"
"Pei Ji, your plea is only enough to be used for your elder brother." The King was having the most embarrassing moment of his life tonight and was currently furious. He showed no pleasant expression even to his son. "If you want to save their lives, then you are not allowed to interfere in your elder brother's matter."