Chapter 67: Protected by the Emperor

Ning Wanyin’s fingers, hidden beneath her sleeve, clenched involuntarily.

She had always known that no one could win forever. Even if she was at a disadvantage, she would find a way to fight back.

The most important thing now was…

How to make sure she didn’t lose too badly, leaving a little room for maneuver.

Ning Wanyin’s mind raced through a dozen strategies in an instant.

The next moment, Helian Qi had already opened the triangular talisman, unfolded it, and laughed instead of getting angry:

“Li Rao, what kind of joke are you playing on me? This says a prayer for my long life and good health.”

“What?” Li Rao couldn’t believe it.

Helian Qi held the unfolded talisman in his hand, the side with the writing facing everyone:

“I can’t read, or can’t you read?”

Everyone was stunned.

It was indeed a talisman for praying for peace and safety.

It clearly stated a prayer for the emperor.

“This is impossible… That’s right, it must have been switched, he must have switched it.” Li Rao’s face turned pale.

Ning Wanyin had entered the palace…

It was normal for Song Chengyi to throw away the marriage charm.

Li Rao thought of this, and his face turned ashen.

Song Chengyi was truly shocked. How did his marriage charm turn into a talisman for peace?

But he reacted quickly…

“I only wish for Your Majesty’s long life and good health. I have only loyalty to Your Majesty. I am innocent with Concubine Ning. I have been wronged!” Song Chengyi kowtowed, finally relieved.

Ning Wanyin, however, did not relax. The fist hidden under her sleeve was still clenched tightly.

Because she suspected that this talisman for peace…

Was the one she had prayed for.

The prayers on the talisman for peace are usually written by monks. If you don’t specifically write it yourself, then the talismans for peace prayed for at Bifeng Temple are all exactly the same.

But at this delicate moment, it was too coincidental.

Just like that, Song Chengyi also prayed for a talisman for peace for the emperor? Why didn’t he just open it and prove his innocence?

Instead, he was flustered and confused.

The emperor sat behind the desk, with the large dragon chair blocking both sides, taking out the talisman for peace from his pouch would not attract attention.

He only needed to hold the talisman for peace in his palm beforehand, and then pretend to take it out of the pouch…

With his sleeves covering it, he wouldn’t leave a trace.

Was the emperor helping to cover it up?

This seemed strange at first, but on second thought, it was very likely.

Today was His Majesty’s birthday, in front of all the officials, in plain sight, the crime of a concubine having an affair, even if it was true, the emperor would definitely not want to admit it.

He would definitely prove it was false first.

Then he could just execute her for another crime later.

“Li Rao slandered the concubine and the official, a heinous crime, execute him. Those who forged false evidence will also be executed.” Helian Qi said coldly.

Li Rao was still unwilling, shouting, “Your Majesty, please investigate this matter clearly, this is all true, it’s true…”

Li Rao was dragged away by the imperial guards.

Master Duan told the truth and was spared. The rest of the servants and maids were dragged away and executed.

This storm left the people in the palace bewildered, one wave after another.

They had no chance to speak.

At this moment, Xue Meiren finally came to her senses, looking suspicious:

“Since the pouch contains a talisman for peace, why didn’t Lord Song open it directly to prove his innocence? Instead, he was flustered, which caused misunderstanding.”

Tang Miaoling also just came to her senses, and said in a puzzled tone:

She came to her senses and immediately retorted, “Isn’t it normal to be scared and confused when someone is falsely accusing you? Your Majesty has already proven my cousin’s innocence. What does Concubine Xue mean by saying these things?”

“It’s just that I feel there are some suspicious points.” Concubine Xue’s eyes narrowed slightly. What kind of status does Tang Miaoling have, daring to speak to me like that?

Wei Yingya seized the opportunity to show off, speaking up for Ning Wanyin: “Your Majesty has already ruled on the case. Concubine Xue still has doubts. Do you think Your Majesty’s judgment is inappropriate?”

Concubine Xue was even angrier.

Your current status is not even as good as Tang Meiren, you are even less qualified to speak to me!

But Wei Yingya had brought up the emperor, so she could only say, “I was just saying it casually. Your Majesty is naturally wise.”

“Concubine Ning has been wronged. I have investigated this case thoroughly. If anyone dares to spread rumors about this matter in the future, they will be executed.” Helian Qi said coldly.

Concubine Xue shut her mouth completely.

…

After the birthday feast.

Helian Qi went to the Qianxin Palace to handle government affairs.

Ning Wanyin immediately went to pay her respects, kneeling down and bowing:

“This concubine greets Your Majesty—”

Helian Qi’s expressionless face, revealing no joy or anger, threw the pouch at her.

“Take a look—”

He had already opened it and looked at it. It was indeed a marriage charm.

Ning Wanyin picked up the pouch and saw that the marriage charm had a prayer written on it, wishing for her and Song Chengyi to tie the knot and live happily ever after.

She hadn’t guessed wrong.

Ning Wanyin’s mind flashed back to the strategies she had prepared earlier.

If this marriage charm was exposed in public…

Ning Wanyin would definitely insist that she was being framed.

Then she would pretend to die to prove her innocence, stabbing herself in the heart, but missing by an inch, leaving herself with a breath of life.

To die and then be reborn.

She was so virtuous that people’s doubts would be suppressed by seven or eight points, and the emperor would spare her life, sending her to the cold palace, instead of executing her.

This way, she could still rise again.

But now they were confronting each other in private…

The emperor had switched the talisman beforehand, obviously seeing through everything, just like her, from Song Chengyi’s involuntary reaction.

Instead of arguing that she was being framed, it was better to honestly admit that she knew nothing.

Ning Wanyin pretended to be shocked, just the right amount, and kowtowed:

“This concubine had never met Song Chengyi before entering the palace. I didn’t know he had such feelings for this concubine… Because of this concubine’s trouble, I almost damaged Your Majesty’s reputation. This concubine is guilty.”

“Because of this concubine’s chess puzzle, he had other thoughts. This concubine will be careful and cautious in the future.”

Ning Wanyin deliberately mentioned the chess puzzle.

She learned chess to prepare for entering the palace.

Whether it was genuine admiration for the emperor or greed for wealth, she was determined to enter the palace, so it was unlikely that she would have an affair with a man before entering the palace, affecting the draft.

During the summer hunt, she hadn’t seen Song Chengyi, and the emperor knew this.

But before entering the palace, there was no evidence to prove that they had met, but there was also no evidence to prove that they hadn’t met.

People in this era were very superstitious. She could make Song Chengyi go and pray for a marriage charm…

People would inevitably guess that there must be something between them.

Ning Wanyin’s current situation was a bit dangerous.

She couldn’t prove that she hadn’t met him without evidence.

But she could start from another direction, making the emperor think that it was less likely for her to do such a thing.

Helian Qi’s eyes flickered slightly. He thought the same as Ning Wanyin.

First of all, this evidence, whether it was love poems or marriage charms, regardless of whether they were real or fake, did not involve Ning Wanyin. It was Song Chengyi’s wishful thinking.

And the only thing that could prove her affair was a fabrication.

Having known Ning Wanyin for a while, he also had some understanding of her. She was a smart person, and Helian Qi didn’t think she would be stupid enough to commit the capital crime of having an affair with a lover before the draft.

Either she wouldn’t participate in the draft, or at least she would do it after the draft.

“You are not to blame for this.” Helian Qi looked at her and said in a deep voice. He wasn’t here to question her about her crime.

Ning Wanyin breathed a sigh of relief. The emperor believed her, so…

Ning Wanyin instantly understood.

She looked at Helian Qi with gratitude and kowtowed:

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s protection. If it weren’t for Your Majesty, this concubine would have had to die to prove her innocence! Your Majesty’s great kindness, this concubine is deeply grateful and will keep it in mind.”

Helian Qi’s thin lips curled up in a faint smile, “Get up. You are innocent, and I will naturally protect you.”

“Your Majesty, you are so kind to this concubine…” Ning Wanyin’s eyes instantly filled with tears, her face full of sweetness.