The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

Zhao Yuanzhe thought to himself that even if Pei Yan was half-believing, half-doubting, he wouldn't go to the trouble of going to Suzhou to verify.

Even if someone were to be sent to investigate, it would take at least three to five days.

By the time his men returned, the news had already spread throughout the capital.

For the sake of their reputation, the Pei family will definitely divorce Xue Lingyi or even execute her!

"Okay." Pei Yan nodded slightly, his tone strangely calm.

He turned his head to look at Xiao Da beside him.

"You shall take your men and depart immediately, carrying my official seal, and summon Prefect Zhao of Suzhou, his wife, the matriarch of the Zhao family, as well as the Zhao family's steward, servants, and head maids, to the capital overnight."

"I must see this person tomorrow morning at dawn!"

"Yes!" Xiao Da accepted the order, turned around, and strode out of the hall.

Zhao Yuanzhe's previously manic expression instantly froze on his face.

Bring it back overnight? Tomorrow morning?

He was stunned.

Pei Yan actually used his position as the Grand Secretary to arrest someone for such a trivial matter!

"Since Young Master Zhao is a scholar who has passed the imperial examination, he must be well-versed in the law."

Pei Yan didn't even bother to glance at him again, slowly rubbing Jiang Guo'er's fingers in his palm, his gaze sweeping over the court officials present.

"Today's matter concerns the reputation of the Grand Secretary's wife."

"Gentlemen, what do you think should be done in handling this matter? Should we involve the Court of Judicial Review?"

The court officials all lowered their heads, none daring to take on this hot potato.

Jiang Guo'er hid behind Pei Yan, leaned forward, and brought her red lips close to his ear:

"Your Excellency, shouldn't the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review also be here to offer birthday greetings today?"

Warm breath brushed against Pei Yan's earlobe, bringing a tingling, itchy sensation.

He gripped her soft hand tightly, pinching her finger bones with just the right amount of pressure.

"Steward, go outside and see if the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is here. Please invite him in."

The Xue family steward immediately ran out.

Before long, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, dressed in a scarlet official robe, entered the front hall.

Before I could figure out what was going on, I sneezed because of the blood and stench all over the ground.

"This humble official greets Your Excellency the Grand Secretary."

Pei Yan raised his chin, gesturing for him to look at the puddle of mud on the ground.

"This man has accused my wife of having an affair with him. Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, according to the laws of this dynasty, how should this case be investigated?"

"What should be done if it's a false accusation?"

Having been in officialdom for so many years, how could the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review not hear the murderous intent in Pei Yan's words?

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and stood up straight.

"According to the law, if it is found that there was indeed an affair, the criminal, as well as the Xue family and the Zhao family, will be severely punished according to the law."

"But if it is found that it was fabricated out of thin air and a malicious accusation..."

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review stared intently at Zhao Yuanzhe, his voice suddenly rising in pitch.

"The defendant is being punished for falsely accusing the Prime Minister's wife, a crime punishable by double the severity! The prisoner will be subject to caning, exile, or even hanging!"

"Lord Zhao has failed in his duty to educate his son; he will surely lose his official position!"

With each word spoken by the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Zhao Yuanzhe's face paled a little more.

Although he was a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, he spent his days indulging in drinking, gambling, and whoring, and relied on his family background to act recklessly. He had never studied the law.

He only wanted to drag Xue Lingyi down with him, never expecting his whole family to be implicated!

But by then it was too late to change his mind.

Extreme fear finally overcame his anger, and coupled with the excruciating pain from his wound, Zhao Yuanzhe's eyes rolled back, and with a "clunk," he completely passed out.

"Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, the person is under your care for now."

Pei Yan looked down at the unconscious Zhao Yuanzhe on the ground.

"Out of consideration for Lord Xue's birthday today, this case will not be transferred to the Court of Judicial Review for the time being."

"I will make a decision after I have personally spoken with the Zhao family of Jiangnan tomorrow."

After speaking, he turned his gaze to Minister Xue, who was terrified and had lost his mind.

"Lord Xue."

Minister Xue's knees buckled, and he knelt directly on the ground: "Your humble servant is here..."

"So many adults have come outside, all bringing gifts to celebrate your birthday."

"If we turn everyone away now, people will think that something shameful has happened in the Xue family."

Pei Yan had a very faint smile on his lips.

"Today's birthday banquet will proceed as usual."

Upon hearing this, Minister Xue tasted a metallic sweetness in his throat.

With so many colleagues present, the Xue family's scandal could no longer be kept secret.

Pei Yan actually allowed him to continue hosting the birthday banquet; this was like peeling off his face and roasting it over a fire!

"Your humble servant...yes."

Minister Xue swallowed the blood back down, his entire being seemingly drained of energy in an instant, revealing his aged appearance.

The front yard quickly became busy, and the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air again.

But all the guests were on tenterhooks, and no one's mind was on the meal.

Pei Yan did not attend the banquet.

He took Jiang Guo'er by the hand and Xue Lingyi with him, and went straight to Tingyu Pavilion.

Once the door was closed, the noise outside was shut out.

Lüyi was quick and efficient, and was about to go to the kitchen to bring some exquisite tea and snacks to calm everyone's nerves when Pei Yan raised his hand to stop her.

Pei Yan's gaze swept past everyone and landed coldly on Xu Mama, who was shrinking back into the doorway, trembling like a leaf in the wind.

"Let this unruly servant stay and serve you."

Pei Yan's voice was not loud and his tone was calm, but it carried a suffocating feeling that could crush a person's bones.

Xu Mama's legs buckled, and she collapsed onto the blue bricks with a thud.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

She nervously ran to boil water, brewed a pot of fine Biluochun tea, and tremblingly handed the teacup to Pei Yan.

Pei Yan didn't even lift his eyelids, nor did he reach out to take it.

"The water temperature is off by three degrees, go back and soak it again."

Granny Xu begged for mercy repeatedly and ran back to change.

A short while later, the second cup of tea was served.

Pei Yan reached out, picked up the teacup, and brought it to his nose to smell it.

The next instant, a muffled thud.

The teacup was thrown heavily onto the table, and the tea splashed directly onto Xu Mama's face.

"This kind of inferior, coarse tea is unworthy to be served to me?"

Pei Yan looked down at her, every glance a knife in his eyes.

"Is this the rule of the Xue family that you should use such despicable means to fool me?"

Ignoring the red marks on her face from the burns, Granny Xu kowtowed repeatedly, her cries filled with anguish:

"Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please calm down! This old servant will immediately go and change the water and prepare fresh tea!"

"Wait a minute."

Pei Yan leaned back in his chair and dusted off his sleeves.

"I am a clean person and cannot stand dirty things. There's dirt and grime in the grout lines of these floor tiles, so you don't need to boil water."

"Use your fingers to clean the grout lines between the floor tiles in this room, inch by inch."

"If you can't get it clean, then you can forget about leaving that thing on your neck that you're eating from."

Granny Xu's face turned ashen instantly.

She lay on the cold, icy ground, her buttocks sticking out, using her rough, old hands to pick at the cracks in the blue bricks.

In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the nail split open, and streaks of blood smeared on the floor tiles, a sight that made one's teeth ache.

Jiang Guo'er, standing to the side, was completely stunned.

She was actually a little nervous when she came in.

She was afraid that Pei Yan would blame her and Lingyi when he returned to the courtyard.

But seeing him tormenting Granny Xu like a mouse, he immediately felt relieved.

She nestled affectionately against Pei Yan's shoulder.

"Is Your Excellency deliberately keeping her here to help me vent my anger?"

Pei Yan was washing his hands with a handkerchief when he heard this, and his movements paused slightly.

His gaze fell unabashedly downwards, settling on her slightly swollen red lips, which had been kissed earlier in the side room.

His Adam's apple bobbed slowly. "What do you think?"