Chapter 74

Princess Xinchang overheard Jiang Yuan’s words as she stepped into the hall. She quickened her pace and scolded loudly, “Jiang Yuan, in front of His Majesty and Her Majesty, you must not speak nonsense!”

Everyone turned their heads and only then noticed that the Emperor and Empress were approaching side by side.

After the formal greetings, the Emperor asked, “What exactly is happening?”

Han Ling stepped forward before anyone else could speak, “My son is mischievous and has disturbed Your Majesty’s enjoyment of the hunt. I am deeply ashamed and beg for Your Majesty’s punishment.”

Impatient with such talk, Emperor Jing interrupted, “Get to the point.”

Han Ling rambled on, mixing up the details, causing the Emperor a headache. He turned to Pei Jian, “Shizhang, you speak.”

Han Ling immediately fell silent.

Pei Jian bowed and spoke in a deep voice, “Miss Jiang of Marquis Xindu’s residence and Young Master Han were seen under a ginkgo tree, behaving intimately and in disheveled clothing. According to Miss Jiang, her wild behavior was due to being drugged, and the one who drugged her was none other than Princess Xinchang.” His summary was concise and impartial, covering the entire incident.

After hearing this, the Emperor and Empress Lu had yet to respond.

Xiao Nanyi could no longer contain herself and stepped forward, slapping Jiang Yuan across the face. “I have always treated you like a sister; why do you slander me so? Do you know the severity of falsely accusing a royal family member?”

Jiang Yuan, already distraught, became even more flustered under Xiao Nanyi’s harsh questioning. The princess’s low threat echoed in her ears, “Who is really trying to harm someone? Don’t make me expose everything!”

Her legs weakened, and she was about to kneel and admit her mistake when a clear male voice came from outside the hall, “Princess, whether Jiang Yuan is falsely accusing or not, an investigation will reveal the truth.”

Immediately, Gu Ci strode in.

“Greetings to Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress. I apologize for my abruptness. Please forgive me.”

“Cousin!”

Gu Ci’s sudden appearance was like a ray of sunlight, dispelling the gloom in Jiang Yuan’s heart. His encouragement and support were even more significant than Pei Jian’s earlier.

This was her cousin, who had played with her since childhood and always yielded to her in everything!

Her cousin from Duke Zhen’s residence was here to back her up!

“Cousin, save me!”

Emperor Jing had always been lenient towards the younger generation, and Gu Ci was the martial arts champion he had personally appointed. Seeing him standing upright and dignified at the front of the hall, as solemn as a pine tree, alongside Pei Jian, one literary and the other martial, both outstanding, the Emperor couldn’t help but feel pleased.

“Why are you not at your post in the capital but at the hunting grounds?”

Gu Ci bowed and replied, “Your Majesty, I am on my day off and came to the hunting grounds… to deliver horses.”

This response amused Emperor Jing, “The Qu Zuo Hunting Grounds have tens of thousands of horses, and you need to deliver more?”

Gu Ci stammered, his ears turning red. Empress Zheng, kind-hearted, came to his rescue, “Your Majesty, please don’t tease him anymore. Young love is natural, and Your Majesty should just wait to enjoy the wedding wine from Duke Zhen’s residence.”

Emperor Jing laughed heartily, clearly in a good mood. After laughing, he turned to Han Ling, “Since they were seen together, and both are unmarried, let them be a pair and set a date for the wedding.”

“Your Majesty!” The exclamation came from three people simultaneously.

Han Ling had no objections. However, Han Gaojie and Jiang Yuan were mutually repulsed and refused to be paired together.

Since Gu Ci entered the hall, Jiang Yuan felt she had gained a powerful ally. She was, after all, Marquis Xindu’s legitimate daughter and the niece of Duke Zhen. Royal princesses might be noble, but she was not someone to be easily trampled upon!

Having already fallen out with Xiao Nanyi and having just been slapped by her, Jiang Yuan decided it was time to bring everything to light and settle old and new grudges!

Feeling emboldened, she no longer feared Xiao Nanyi and knelt directly before Emperor Jing and the Empress: “At a banquet hosted by Princess Xinchang, I only had a few drinks before feeling dizzy and losing my senses. I have been educated in the classics and have always adhered to the virtues and precepts of women. If I had not been framed, I would never have done something so shameful to my family!”

“I beg Your Majesty and Her Majesty to investigate this matter to prove my innocence.”

Now, Jiang Yuan did not make wild accusations but firmly believed that Xiao Nanyi was the one who had harmed her. Otherwise, how could the drug intended for Wen Nianxi have affected her? Ultimately, she trusted the wrong person and believed Xiao Nanyi’s words, which brought about this disaster!

If she were going to suffer, Xiao Nanyi wouldn’t get off scot-free either.

Gu Ci also chimed in, “I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly to clear my cousin’s name and restore the dignity of Marquis Xindu’s residence.”

Xiao Nanyi never expected that Jiang Yuan, in her madness, would turn on her. It was Jiang Yuan who had begged her to help get rid of Wen Nianxi. How could she have known that Jiang Yuan would end up in such a compromising situation with Han Gaojie and be seen by so many?

Xiao Nanyi hadn’t taken the matter seriously at first. Wen Nianxi was just the daughter of a fourth-rank official, insignificant as an ant. Ruining her meant nothing to Xiao Nanyi. She had only helped Jiang Yuan out of her affection for Jiang Lang, extending a hand to his sister. But she never imagined it would backfire so spectacularly.

The matter couldn’t withstand scrutiny. The secret drug was administered by her orders, the banquet was arranged by her, and the food and drink were prepared by her palace staff.

Xiao Nanyi broke into a cold sweat. Should she claim that the drug was meant for Wen Nianxi, but the servants mixed it up and mistakenly gave it to Jiang Yuan?

That would only make things worse. She was momentarily speechless, unable to defend herself.

Emperor Jing and Empress Lu, seated high above, observed Xiao Nanyi’s faltering expression and understood everything without needing further investigation. She had already confessed without being asked. But matters concerning royal dignity couldn’t be publicly exposed.

Empress Lu coughed lightly, her dignified face filled with sympathy, and signaled the matron beside her to help Jiang Yuan up, “Good child, rise quickly.”

“We know you’ve been wronged; don’t kneel on the ground anymore. It’s autumn, and the floor is cold.”

Jiang Yuan, helped up by the palace maid, was still dazed, “Your Majesty believes me? You know I’m innocent, don’t you!”

She didn’t understand, but everyone else in the hall was sharp.

Even Han Gaojie caught on. He, too, was a victim of Princess Xinchang’s drugging, losing his purity and dignity just like that madwoman Jiang Yuan.

“Uncle, I don’t want to marry her.” He pointed at Xiao Nanyi and declared loudly, “I’m the most innocent in this mess. Whoever caused the trouble should bear the consequences!”

Xiao Nanyi’s face turned pale, not daring to look up at the Emperor and Empress.

“I still have the scratches from that madwoman on my neck.” Han Gaojie tilted his head to reveal several deep, flesh-revealing scratches running down to his collarbone, “My mother would never allow such a violent person into our family.”

By invoking Princess Changping, Emperor Jing’s sister, who is known for her fierce temper and unreasonable nature, Han Gaojie made it difficult for the Emperor and Empress. If they forced the marriage, Princess Changping might cause a scene in the palace.

Moreover, Han Gaojie’s words weren’t without merit.

Observing the Emperor and Empress’s expressions, Han Ling seized the moment to interject softly, “Gaojie, don’t be rude.”

Han Gaojie responded promptly, he and his father working in concert. With a self-satisfied glance at Jiang Yuan—whose gaze was seething with anger—he continued: “In broad daylight, being seen embracing Miss Jiang would indeed damage her reputation. How about this? Let her join my family as a concubine. That would preserve her dignity.”

“Han Gaojie!” Jiang Yuan roared in fury, feeling deeply humiliated. As the legitimate daughter of Marquis Xindu, she could not believe she was being treated with such disdain!

Her heart ached with an overwhelming sense of injustice and anger, her eyes almost brimming with tears of blood. Instinctively, she looked toward Gu Ci. He was the one person she trusted and relied upon in the entire hall—her only pillar of support.

“Cousin…”

Gu Ci was already looking at her. His usually clear and bright eyes were now dark and unreadable. He smiled faintly at her, yet it filled Jiang Yuan with an inexplicable sense of unease.

Then, she heard her cousin’s clear and steady voice, unhurriedly saying, “What the heir of the Han family says is entirely reasonable.”