Chapter 117 : The Emperor’s Methods

Jiang Hua, standing among the crowd, felt a sudden panic in her heart.

How could this be happening?

Was it the Concubine of King Xuan who reported her?

Jiang Hua glanced at the person beside her.

The person received the signal and boldly spoke, “This servant dares to ask His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to oversee the matters of the Eastern Palace, and have His Highness investigate the lawless person.”

The chief eunuch, however, remained unmoved: “His Royal Highness is ill and cannot see bloodshed. Since we have received the emperor’s orders, today’s matter shall be handled by us.”

Jiang Hua’s heart sank.

They had cut off their retreat.

With the Crown Prince unable to intervene, who could protect them?

Although she was standing in the sunlight, Jiang Hua felt her hands and feet turn cold.

She looked around and nearly fainted from shock.

…The Crown Princess!

The Crown Princess had been brought out!

The Crown Princess was coldly staring at her, with a faint smile on her lips.

As long as the Crown Princess didn’t point her out, everything would be fine. Yes, it would be fine. The palace servants wouldn’t dare to accuse her, after all, they still had to serve the Crown Prince in the future.

Who didn’t know her position in the Crown Prince’s heart?

She had been with the Crown Prince for seventeen years!

Just as Jiang Hua’s thoughts reached this point…

“No one is willing to answer?” The chief eunuch sneered. “Then let’s choose two to be punished.”

The chief eunuch raised his hand and pointed at them one by one, “Let’s see who we choose.”

This method was truly torturous.

Everyone feared being chosen.

Finally, someone couldn’t take it any longer and collapsed to the ground, crying, “This servant knows! It’s Jiang Hua, who serves by the Crown Prince’s side!”

Jiang Hua felt as if struck by lightning, standing frozen in place, unable to move.

It wasn’t until someone came forward to restrain her that she came to her senses, struggling wildly and shouting, “I’m innocent!”

Since the Crown Princess hadn’t said a word from the beginning to the end, Jiang Hua couldn’t even claim that the Crown Princess had wronged her.

She couldn’t call for the Crown Prince’s help either, because that would confirm their illicit relationship.

Jiang Hua could only shout, “It was the Concubine of King Xuan! It was King Xuan! Yes, King Xuan disregarded familial bonds and tried to frame the Crown Prince, instructing his Concubine to wrong me…”

The chief eunuch was puzzled, “What nonsense are you speaking? What does this have to do with the Concubine of King Xuan? What is King Xuan’s identity? Why would he frame a mere servant? This is pure nonsense!”

The chief eunuch found her words about “hurting family” too distasteful.

He immediately swung his hand and slapped Jiang Hua’s face, saying in a deep voice, “Shut her up. Forty strikes with the rod, and send her to the imperial prison.”

Jiang Hua was so frightened that she nearly lost her life.

She and the Crown Prince had been deceived!

The Concubine of King Xuan must have done something behind the scenes…

But she was silenced, unable to say anything more.

She was pushed to the ground.

The cold blue bricks felt like ice.

When the rod came down, she saw stars before her eyes.

She would die like this! She would die!

The Crown Princess let out a heavy sigh.

Aunt Huizhu asked, “If you feel the bloodshed is too much, I’ll help you back.”

The Crown Princess stood there like a withered bamboo, her thin body unwavering. “No, I want to watch carefully.”

A wall separated them.

The Crown Prince closed his eyes, his face looking as grim as possible.

In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince was the supreme ruler.

But once the emperor intervened, he became nothing.

…

Perhaps because King Xuan would be gone for a long time, Xue Qingyin felt that this “sleep” really lasted too long.

She was so tired that her legs were shaking.

It was broad daylight, and after finishing, she realized she was hungry.

The palace servants quickly brought up the evening meal.

Xue Qingyin touched her flat stomach, turned over to get out of bed, and almost fell flat on her face.

King Xuan quickly caught her, and for the first time, a hint of apology appeared on his usually cold and ruthless face.

“It’s my fault,” he whispered.

Xue Qingyin wasn’t angry. She let King Xuan hold her and take her to the table to eat.

King Xuan helped her sit down and was about to feed her himself.

Xue Qingyin didn’t blush at all, sitting there as if she had no limbs, obediently allowing him to feed her.

“Tomorrow, I’ll set off,” King Xuan said in a low voice.

“Already?” Xue Qingyin thought about how she should sleep more, since King Xuan was big and vigorous, a rare find.

“Yeah, the Imperial censor Xu Hao, who was captured by the Anxi Army, has now been executed.”

Xue Qingyin froze for a moment.

The Anxi Army is that strong?

Normally, shouldn’t they have taken someone as a hostage? They just executed him directly? That means they’re completely going against the court, with no room for reconciliation!

This battle… is definitely going to end with total annihilation.

“This happened suddenly, I didn’t inform you beforehand,” King Xuan added.

“Oh, no matter,” Xue Qingyin thought to herself, she wasn’t really that concerned.

“You’re alone in the residence…” King Xuan paused.

“I’m not alone. The palace is full of people, it’s quite lively.”

King Xuan continued, “If something happens…”

“I know, I’ll go tell His Majesty!” This was something she was very good at!

King Xuan narrowed his eyes. “I’ll be gone for two or three months…”

“It’s fine, Your Highness, you can go with peace of mind.” She would ride horses tomorrow, go fishing the day after, play cards with Princess Jinque the day after that, and accompany her mother to the Daoist temple for a worship ceremony in a few days…

King Xuan: “…”

Suddenly, Xue Qingyin realized that King Xuan had stopped feeding her, and he wasn’t speaking anymore?

She quickly turned her head to look.

She saw King Xuan silently staring at her, his gaze deep.

Xue Qingyin adjusted her clothes and quietly asked, “…One more time?”

King Xuan: “…” “Don’t you feel the slightest bit reluctant to part?”

Xue Qingyin suddenly understood.

Ah, sorry, I forgot. I wasn’t acting convincing enough.

Xue Qingyin squeezed out two drops of tears and weakly said, “Of course I’m reluctant… but if I say it, wouldn’t it make you feel uneasy, Your Highness? I hope you won’t have any worries in your heart, and that this journey will be smooth, without a single injury.”

That sounded really good, even I’m moved, Xue Qingyin thought.

King Xuan’s face indeed showed some signs of being moved. He softly called her name, “Qingyin,” and then pulled her into his arms.

Xue Qingyin was stunned for a moment before she wrapped her arms around his waist.

After hesitating for a moment, she said, “How about… one more time?”

King Xuan: “…” He pressed her lower back.

Xue Qingyin: “Ouch, sore.”

King Xuan said in a deep voice, “So Qingyin should rest well.”

But Xue Qingyin became energized. “What’s the big deal? Consider it practice.”

King Xuan furrowed his brows. “…Practice?”

Xue Qingyin nodded. “Yes. After riding with you, I’ll be much better at riding horses.”

King Xuan: “…………”