Great, it's just a lackey, we're saved!

Chapter 221 The net of Heaven is vast, its meshes are wide, yet nothing escapes it!

He beat his chest and stamped his feet, wailing loudly, but not a single tear appeared on his face.

Wang Shu's acting was so fake that even his colleagues couldn't stand it anymore.

One person tugged at Wang Shu: "Lord Wang...you must maintain your dignity in court!"

Wang Shu feigned ignorance: "Lord Qi, how am I being dishonorable? I am heartbroken. If I had investigated properly, I wouldn't have wrongly accused the villagers. Alas, I regret my actions!"

After speaking, Wang Shu bowed sincerely to Bai Xiaoxiao: "Imperial Noble Consort, I accept all of General Zhou's impeachment against me. I did not believe the people under my jurisdiction and thought that the beast tide was just their imagination."

"I know I have made a mistake and I am willing to make amends. I will go and investigate the matter of the beast tide in detail, so that the people will not be wronged."

As Wang Shu spoke, he was about to get up, looking as if he was about to go and handle the case immediately.

Bai Xiaoxiao glared at him. "Lord Wang, the Grand Court Assembly is not over yet. No matter how anxious you are, you have to wait a little longer."

Wang Shu listened to advice very well. Before Bai Xiaoxiao had even finished speaking, he stopped in his tracks, as if he wasn't the one who had been in such a hurry just moments before.

"What the Imperial Noble Consort says is true. Then I will wait a little longer. However, General Qian's statement about the beast tide is true, which makes me think of something. I wonder if I should say it?"

The prince's forehead veins twitched; he had already guessed what Wang Shu was about to say.

He immediately spoke up to stop him: "Lord Wang, this is a grand court assembly. Let's not talk about unimportant matters anymore."

Wang Shu nodded, appearing to accept the instruction, but what he said was, "Your Highness is right, but if I don't speak up, how will the Imperial Noble Consort know whether it's an important matter?"

The eldest princess lowered her head and chuckled softly, marveling at Wang Shu's remarkable character.

No wonder he was able to remain in the position of Prefect of the Capital for so many years!

“Then Lord Wang, don’t waste any more time,” Bai Xiaoxiao said, rubbing her forehead as if she were a little tired. “Hurry up and tell us what’s going on so that all the ministers can hear.”

"Yes!"

Wang Shu took out two newspapers from his bosom. The Crown Prince recognized them at a glance as the best-selling women's newspapers in the capital.

The crown prince narrowed his eyes slightly, and his hand unconsciously rested on A Bao's head, clearly harboring murderous intent towards Wang Shu.

Wang Shu presented the two newspapers and then said, "Your Highness, a newspaper called 'Women's Newspaper' has been published in the capital these past two days."

"The people in the government office saw it as something new and bought it. When I had some free time, I looked through it and found a story about a beast tide inside."

"I initially thought it was a fabrication and didn't take it to heart. But after General Qian's reminder, I realized that the story in the newspaper might also be referring to the beast tide in the suburbs of Beijing?"

Bai Xiaoxiao took the newspaper presented by the eunuch and read it carefully.

After a long pause, she said, "This newspaper is nothing new. I also enjoy reading Bai Xiaosheng's Jianghu Gazette. However, the stories in this Women's Gazette are so dramatic that they are somewhat unrealistic."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince immediately echoed Bai Xiaoxiao's words: "What the Imperial Noble Consort says is true. But these are all just sensationalist things, using exaggerated words and stories to attract the people. How can they be taken seriously?"

After saying that, he gave Wang Shu a reproachful look.

"As the Prefect of the Capital, Lord Wang is already busy with official duties. How can he waste his time on such things?"

Wang Shu bowed, showing no sharp edge.

"Your Highness is right. I was just trying to make amends in my desperation, and in my haste, I was grasping at straws. I happened to think of a story I read in the newspaper and wondered if it was related to the people filing complaints?"

"If there is indeed a connection, then perhaps the story in this newspaper can provide me with some clues?"

"After all, this story is much more detailed than the complaints filed by ordinary people! The common people know nothing about the identity of the villain, but the newspaper says that he is a high-ranking and powerful person!"

At this point, Wang Shu subtly glanced at Zhou Wei and the Princess.

He has said all he could!

However, Wang Shu dared not say that the villain was actually the Crown Prince, nor should he be the one to say it.

After all, he had no evidence and making baseless accusations against the Crown Prince could backfire.

In the imperial court, a large number of officials still favored Jiang Yueshan and believed that if the crown prince had no faults, it would be best not to depose him.

Before the atmosphere in the Fengtian Hall could become awkward, Qian Tao, who had spoken earlier, stood up again.

"Your Highness, I personally experienced the beast tide and am still shaken. At that time, the mountains and forests trembled, and the ferocious beasts attacked like a flood, unstoppable!"

"Even those of us skilled in martial arts are struggling to keep up, let alone the unarmed civilians. The consequences of a beast tide passing through a village are truly unbearable to describe..."

Before Qian Tao could finish speaking, Wang Shu immediately added, "Lord Qian's concerns are not without merit. I saw in the petition from the village head of Lijia Village that the villages in front of Lijia Village suffered heavy losses from the beast tide, with virtually no survivors!"

"They were fortunate to be rescued and escaped disaster."

Bai Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "Oh? Even General Qian said that the beast tide was unstoppable. So, who saved the people of Li Family Village?"

This time it was the turn of the impatient Feng Polu.

Although Lao Feng wasn't as quick-witted as Qian Tao, he could still see that Wang Shu's mention of the beast tide was clearly aimed at the Crown Prince.

This game is all for the Crown Prince!

What's the point of all this nonsense?

The princess saved their lives; now is the time for them to charge into battle.

Feng Polu waved Qian Tao aside and said casually, "Hey, Qian, you're talking too much nonsense! The beast tide is a matter of great importance. Why did you have the Imperial Concubine ask questions? Hurry up and tell us everything that happened that day!"

Qian Tao smiled helplessly, and Feng Polu said again, "Alright, alright, stop dawdling, let me, Old Feng, do it."

Feng Polu spoke very quickly, as if afraid of being stopped, and vividly recounted the events of that day's beast tide.

When the court officials heard that the Princess and Zhou Wei not only used heavy bows to kill the ferocious beasts and buy time for the generals, but also decisively ordered the generals to climb trees to take cover, they were full of praise.

Even Chen Wenyu's gaze towards the Princess revealed a hint of admiration!

Knowing that the generals escaped the beast tide is one thing, but hearing about the thrilling process is quite another.

Even seasoned generals were somewhat flustered and at a loss when the beast tide came.

Jiang Yueli, a princess raised deep in the palace, possessed such courage to lead the generals to safety.

How could this not amaze everyone?

Chen Wenyu couldn't help but praise, "The princess truly has the makings of a great general!"

Bai Xiaoxiao's expression remained calm, making it difficult to discern her emotions.

Once the court officials had calmed down, she asked, "After General Feng said so much, I understand now. The Princess is indeed brave and resourceful. Without Yue Li, our Great Zhou's military would have suffered heavy losses!"

"So, were the villagers of Lijia Village also rescued by Yue Li and Zhou Dianjun?"

Feng Polu immediately nodded in agreement: "Your Highness, after the princess and General Zhou escaped danger, they noticed that the beast tide was rushing out of the mountains and forests and seemed to be heading towards the village. They disregarded their own safety and chased after the beast tide at full speed, but unfortunately they were a step too late."

Wang Shu, who had been listening intently, hurriedly asked, "Oh dear, General Feng, why didn't you say so sooner?"

Feng Polu glanced at Wang Shu with disdain, wondering what he was up to now.

What difference does it make whether we say it sooner or later?

Wang Shu replied, "If I had known earlier that the Princess and Commander Zhou had encountered the beast tide, I would have simply asked them who the villain was."

"Given the princess's and Zhou Dianjun's skill in riding and archery, they must have seen the villain who led the beast tide, right?"

Wang Shu's question made the Crown Prince's scalp tingle, and he couldn't help but clench his hand that was stroking A Bao's head.

His eyes were fixed on Wang Shu, the troublemaker, but Wang Shu seemed oblivious.

He looked at the Princess and Zhou Wei with an eager expression.

Zhou Wei smiled and said, "Lord Wang is half right. Although the princess and I encountered the beast tide, we did not see the villain who led it..."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince relaxed and was about to take a deep breath to calm himself down.

Then Zhou Wei said, "However, although we didn't see the villain, we unexpectedly learned his identity!"

As she spoke, she turned to look at the Crown Prince: "Your Highness, don't you think this is what they mean by 'The net of Heaven is vast, yet nothing escapes its meshes'?"