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The Emperor had already ascended the throne for 18 years. He had the aura of a true royalty. Ordinary people would feel their legs go weak even if they stood at the side.

At this moment, seeing the Emperor’s unchanging expression, even Duke Yong did not dare to look straight at him, but Qin Huai was not afraid.

Qin Huai replied, “In the second year of Minghua, the Emperor decreed: Those who have achieved success without relying on favors and blessings can meet officials without kneeling. Your Highness, as the Emperor, is the highest official in our Great Chang. This commoner is not talented. This spring, 1 just passed the county level imperial exam and am now only a county scholar.”

This decree implied that if someone has achieved success through their own hard work and merit, they do not need to show subservience or deference to officials. Therefore, he could choose not to kneel.

When the imperial court first promulgated this decree, it aimed to open up more paths to officialdom through favors, so that more scholars could rely on their own abilities to clear the corrupt practices within the court.

In the beginning, scholars enjoyed this benefit. Later on, everyone gradually did not dare to act rashly.

After all, other than the 20 people who entered the imperial civil service examination every two years, it was impossible for other students to come before the Emperor.

Everyone naturally had to kneel to the Emperor.

“You’re quite interesting.” The Emperor looked at Qin Huai. “You’re Duke Yong’s grandson. You’re indeed not bad. You already have an extraordinary bearing at such a young age. How old are you this year?”

“Replying to Your Majesty, this commoner is eight years old this year.”

Unlike the West Wind Nation, the people in Great Chang usually reported their actual age instead of the lunar age.

“You became a county scholar at the age of eight. Looks like you’re quite extraordinary. Do you know why I called you here today?”

When Eunuch Xi heard this, he hurriedly retreated and closed the door of Qinxin Hall, leaving only the three of them inside.

“This commoner doesn’t know. Your Majesty, please enlighten me.” Qin Huai was neither servile nor overbearing.

The Emperor stared at Qin Huai for a long time and kept saying “how alike”.

Duke Yong’s scalp tightened, and he did not dare to ask who he was referring to.

“You’re very similar to your Aunt. Not only do you look alike, but your personality is also very similar. No wonder your Aunt is eagerly giving you the fruits she obtained.” The Emperor pointed at the chair beside him. “Duke Yong, Qin Huai, go and sit. Let’s sit and talk.”

At this point, the Emperor asked Qin Huai if he had any words if he had a personal name. Qin Huai replied that he had never been given one, but only had a courtesy name bestowed by his elders, “Huai”. He was not accustomed to being called by it.

“Qin You Huai?” The Emperor casually repeated it and did not dwell on this question. He asked about his goal this time. “The leader in charge of the Imperial Jail came to report that you tortured and killed a serious criminal. Is that true?”

Duke Yong hurriedly stood up and said, “Where did this come from? Our Huai’er was born weak. We never let him go to a place like the Imperial Jail, let alone allow him to torture a criminal to death! He’s only eight years old. How can he know these things? Is Your Majesty mistaken?”

In the end, before Duke Yong could finish talking, Qin Huai admitted it.

“Yes,” Qin Huai said. “She deserved to die.”

She had sent people to assassinate the weak All Yu time and time again. She even wanted the Blood Rain Pavilion to slaughter the Hu Family Village at all costs.

No matter which crime it was, it was an unpardonable death sentence.

Since her value had been used up, Qin Huai naturally would not let her live.

“Do you know that there are still many statements that I haven’t obtained from that felon?”

Qin Huai frowned. “I don’t know what Your Majesty wants to know. 1 only know that that woman has provoked me too many times for no reason and secretly colluded with King Xiaoyao to harm our Duke Yong Manor—”

“Hey, hey, hey, kid, don’t spout nonsense!” Duke Yong wished he could slap Qin Huai unconscious. What nonsense was this kid talking about in front of the Emperor?

Although Duke Yong Manor and Duke An Manor were not on good terms, there was no one who would blatantly slander the other party in front of the Emperor.

Moreover, this was something without evidence. How could they casually talk about King Xiaoyao?

Offending the other party was a minor consequence. But if the Emperor investigates this matter in the future, wouldn’t he ruin himself?!

“Everything this commoner says is true.” Qin Huai stood up and walked in front of the Emperor. He knelt down and said without any fluctuation in his tone, “1 beg Your Majesty to investigate!”

The Emperor had indeed heard the report from his subordinate, which was why he called Qin Huai over.

Originally, he had no impression of this child who grew up in Duke Yong Manor. After all, Duke Yong’s family had too many children.

Although Duke Yong’s family was his in-laws and the current Empress was also from Duke Yong Manor, in order to avoid the wagging tongues of others, the Empress asked the children from Duke Yong Manor to call her Aunt. She took the initiative to cut ties with them so that the children from Duke Yong Manor would not use this opportunity to show off.

He originally thought that the child had killed the prisoner in the prison only because Duke Yong had asked the child to do it and take the blame for him. The person who really wanted to kill that person should be Duke Yong.

After all, how could a child who was not even io years old have so much killing intent?

Moreover, how could the Imperial Jail be so easy to enter?

Now that he saw this child with his own eyes, the doubts in the Emperor’s heart dissipated.

He looked like an extremely intelligent child, and there was a coldness in his eyes that he thought he had hidden very well. This was definitely not the gaze of an ordinary eight-year-old child.

Could it be that Duke Yong had reprimanded him? That was why he had hatred?

Now, he even wanted to oppose Duke Yong Manor and King Xiaoyao in front of him. Who was behind this?

He did not know who the child’s father was. Perhaps if he dug out the child’s father, he would know what was going on.

It was easier for the Emperor to investigate a person. But strangely, when he became interested in this child, His Father-in-law told him that this child’s mother was a daughter of Duke Yong. Everyone called her Madam Qin.

Madam Qin usually lived in seclusion and never participated in noble banquets, so not many people had seen her before.

It was said that the child’s father was unknown. He was afraid that it was some rich family who had taken Madam Qin in as a mistress.

The rich family was naturally their royal Qin Family. After all, this child’s surname was the same as his.

It was precisely because they could not find anything that the Emperor, who originally felt that it did not matter, summoned Qin Huai to take a look in person.

Unless the people in the prison were extremely special, the prisoners would die inside and never have the chance to come out.

Most of them had committed serious crimes and were sentenced to death. They were either extremely vicious or had unusual identities.

It was normal for one or two serious criminals to die. Not everyone could withstand the punishment of the Imperial Jail.

The Emperor naturally did not intend to punish Qin Huai severely. In any case, he already had a copy of the information on Xie Changting.

“Forget it, you’re still a child. I’m afraid you don’t know how serious it is.” The Emperor originally wanted to punish Qin Huai. After all, he wanted to establish the dignity of his authority.

However, looking at Qin Huai’s stubborn eyes, the Emperor thought of his wife in the harem who had not looked at him properly for years.

He waved his hand and said, “It’s rare for you to come to the palace. Go and see your Aunt. Treat it as a visit to thank her for the fruits she gave you previously.”

Since he was a child who she was willing to give fruits to, his wife might like to see him.

Qin Huai bowed. “Yes.”

He followed the palace maid’s guidance and walked for another half an hour before he saw a towering hall.

Just as he reached the entrance of the hall, he saw a familiar person.

“Madam, why are you here?” Qin Huai looked at Madam Qin, who was dressed like a noblewoman, and his eyes narrowed..