Honored Consort Ya's carriage entered the Lord Guardian's Manor right after Prince Yi's carriage. One could assume that she was deliberately tailing him. The Emperor had sent her here to keep an eye on him and Honored Consort Xia. He said that Honored Consort Xia, apparently Prince Yi's spy, might pass him a message at the manor.
Honored Consort Ya had always been wary of Honored Consort Xia. On the day she, Honored Consort Shu, and the Empress questioned Honored Consort Xia, the latter kept her veil on even in front of the Empress. This made them feel provoked.
However, she had already received the Emperor's order. She couldn't very well bring up the incident again.
Honored Consort Xia was able to keep her veil on, revealing only a pair of eyes, in front of the Empress. She also enjoyed the Emperor's protection. Truth to be told, Honored Consort Ya was jealous of her.
Thus, the Emperor's order to visit the Lord Guardian's Manor an
How could Princess Yi be here? Didn't Honored Consort Ya say that Prince Yi was rendezvousing with Honored Consort Xia? Her words suggested that they weren't only having an affair, but also plotting to murder the Emperor. So how could Princess Yi be nearby?Everyone was stupefied. They looked at Honored Consort Ya, then at Ning Xueyan. For a while, no one said anything.Honored Consort Xia, who had been putting up a struggle, was also dumbfounded. When she came here, Ao Chenyi was the only one she saw. That was why she was able to say such things. How could there be someone hiding behind the rockery?Honored Consort Ya was also stunned but she quickly recovered her senses and looked Ning Xueyan up and down with a dark expression. She had experienced so much, after all. Besides, Honored Consort Xia was the one who spoke of such private matters here without noticing a second person. Her shock was bigger to find out that there was another person h
Honored Consort Ya was starting to panic under Ning Xueyan's sharp interrogation but she quickly harped on one key point. She said angrily, "Do tell, Princess Yi, what it could be if not poison inside this? Should we ask the physician at the Lord Guardian's Manor to examine it?" She was certain that the powder was poison, so she wasn't afraid of anyone examining it.The Madam Dowager of the Lord Guardian's Manor, who had been standing on the side, nodded at a trusted older female servant. The servant then ran out to summon the physician. It seemed that, come hell or high water, the medicine powder would be tested today. Since the matter happened at the Lord Guardian's Manor, they had no way of escaping involvement."Won't we have to ask Honored Consort Xia that? Honored Consort Ya, do you dare to remove the handkerchief in Honored Consort Xia's mouth and let her speak for herself?" Ning Xueyan asked, raising her head. Since Honored Consort Ya had attacked P
Before Honored Consort Ya left the palace, the Emperor had already warned her to detain and gag Honored Consort Xia without saying anything the moment she saw her in the Lord Guardian's Manor. Then, she would have to find the poison and accuse Ao Chenyi and Honored Consort Xia of rendezvousing. Her work would over once she accused them of secretly poisoning the Emperor as well.The rest wasn't hers to worry about; all she had to do was hold on until the Emperor's decree came. By then, those in the palace would have discovered that the Emperor was poisoned and Ao Chenyi would be finished in that confrontation. As for Honored Consort Xia, well… The Empress would deal with a palace consort who had committed a crime.Every layer of trap had been set. The entire scheme was quite an ingenious one. Knowing that the Emperor was beginning to attack Ao Chenyi, she was more than happy to lend him a hand. After all, it was obvious from the current situation that her so
Some said the Emperor found a lady that resembled Second Young Lady Hua to frame Prince Yi.Some said Honored Consort Xia was only a mysterious figure because the Emperor had wronged his younger brother.Some said Honored Consort Xia colluded with the Emperor to frame Prince Yi all those years ago and steal the throne that was supposedly his...Regardless, it became an undeniable fact that Honored Consort Xia was once Second Young Lady Hua.The rumor emerged from Lord Guardian's Manor, traveled throughout the capital, and then made its way out toward Annan...The Emperor was furious! Outraged!He had consumed a small amount of medicinal powder, enough to fake his poisoning. His body wasn't all that healthy lately, so he wouldn't dare to take too much poison. Little did he expect there would be such a change in the situation.He was lying in his residence when it happened, looking like he had b
Once the Emperor made sure that his face was free from the powder, he became enraged that a mere woman had tossed powder on him in front of so many people. He opened his eyes the second that he could and screamed at Honored Consort Xia. "Servants! Servants! Take this wench away and turn her…"Knowing that the Emperor wanted to turn her into mincemeat, Honored Consort Xia interrupted him with a slight sneer. "Your Majesty, if the powder is poisonous, you would have already swallowed some from all that talking. Are you sure you're okay?"Her words prompted the Emperor to shut his mouth. Even now, he felt the powder was poisonous. The sudden incident caught him off guard, and he was also aware that he had given Honored Consort Xia poison. That was why he lost his composure so badly."Your Majesty, please explain why the second lady of the Hua family, Prince Yi's fiancee, is in your harem." Several old ministers and their wives knelt together.
The news of Prince Yi's appointment as the Crown Prince sent a shock throughout all levels of society. No one thought that the Emperor would appoint a Crown Prince out of the blue.It had been so many years. The Emperor's intention was apparent to everyone, and it was clear that he was enemies with Prince Yi. To suddenly appoint Prince Yi as the Crown Prince was the Emperor's show of weakness. Moreover, the news from the Lord Guardian's Manor had spread. Nearly everyone in the capital found out that the Emperor had stolen his minister and younger brother's wife.It was an unethical crime that made the perpetrator look worse than a beast. To think that the Emperor would conduct himself like this! It was unbefitting of a monarch.Thus, the stubborn court officials submitted an official complaint of misconduct, though they didn't dare to impeach the Emperor. They first impeached Chief Hua of the Imperial Academy of poor character. He had failed to
Sure enough, it didn't take long for Commandery Princess Xianyun to send someone to invite Ning Xueyan to her place. Ning Xueyan didn't put up airs. She went over with Xinmei and Qingyu."Princess, can I meet the Empress? The Empress said there's follow-up business about my second sister's business. She's still my sister. I'm also partially responsible for her current state. I've wronged her."Commandery Princess Xianyun went straight to the point the moment she saw Ning Xueyan. Her eyes were red when she spoke. She had one hand pressed on her chest, looking sorrowful.She couldn't hide the fact that the Empress had sent someone for her. Ning Xueyan, as Princess Yi, had an iron-grip over the backyard of the manor. Ning Xueyan was the last person she could conceal the matter from.Her words were wrought in emotion and sincerity, as well as her guilt toward Yun Luoluo. Those who knew the truth of the matter realized that Yun Luoluo h
"Commandery Princess Xianyun couldn't make it?" the Empress asked angrily, slamming her hand on the table. She didn't expect Ning Xueyan to be so domineering and defy her order. Had this happened in the past, Ning Xueyan would have been beheaded for her crime, but things were different now. The Emperor was very ill and all the authority was in Ao Chenyi's hands. Her words were no longer useful.She had planned to wait for Commandery Princess Xianyun to bear a son and find a way to make the princes and Ao Chenyi face-off until they lost their lives. Then, she would adopt Xianyun's son and make him the next Emperor. She would become the Empress Dowager, instead of the biological mother, Xianyun. A mere prince's consort couldn't be compared to her.Since the new Emperor would be young, she would be able to govern behind the curtain and take on the role of a regent. She would raise the child on her own, making him into an obedient adult thankful for her role in
"What will you do now?" Ning Xueyan had to take two quick steps to catch up with Ao Chenyi's pace. "Destroy the nine barbarian states alongside Wen Xueran?""No." Ao Chenyi raised an eyebrow and smiled mysteriously. "I'll negotiate with Wen Xueran."Confused, she repeated, "Negotiate?""The people of the nine barbarian states have always been different from those of the central plains. They're valiant and barbaric. For many years, they have wanted to invade us. If it weren't for the princes of Annan holding down the front, the nine barbarian states would have attacked us a long time ago. Annan troops have fought the nine barbarian states more than our troops did, and they have a better chance of winning too."Ao Chenyi said calmly. He didn't like the nine barbarian states in the slightest. If it weren't his father forbidding him from going to the faraway hinterland of the nine barbarian states, where death was almost certain, he wo
It didn't take long for Qingyu to return from the Lord Protector's Manor with a new piece of news. It was said that there had been a haunting in the prayer hall of the manor.Rumor had it that an older maid became ill from the fright of seeing a ghost.A long time ago, the Cloud Reflection Courtyard was said to be haunted too. No one dared to come close at that time, not even during the day. Even though the rumors died down later on, a few people who were deeply affected by the events said that the situation was still grave then.Therefore, even though only a maid had seen the ghost, the rumors spread like wildfire in the manor.The prayer hall used to be Madam Dowager's favorite spot. It was later used to imprison Madam Ling for some time. Now that Madam Ling was dead, everyone feared that she was the ghost. It was said that Madam Ling was an evil woman when she was alive. Even in death, she might become a malicious ghost. The sit
Ao Chenyi was so close that his handsome face was all that Ning Xueyan could see, and he didn't look all that happy. Then, she realized that she had been holding tightly onto a strand of his black hair.She flung her hand and hastily released the strand of hair in her hand. She even caressed the hair on his temples with a wide smile. "Why are you here? When did you come? Why didn't you wake me up?"Ning Xueyan looked truly confused as if she really didn't know that she had grabbed Ao Chenyi's hair until it hurt."Playing dumb, huh?" he said coldly, frowning at her. His slender fingers reached out and lightly pinched the wing of her nose."Ouch!" Ning Xueyan held her nose pitifully. Her limpid eyes seemed glazed over as if brewing tears."Now you know it hurts!" Ao Chenyi's thin lips were curved into a smile. He was satisfied to see her not daring to voice her frustration.Ning Xueyan nodded firmly without
"Can you remember it now?" Ao Chenyi narrowed his eyes and knocked on their table with his slender fingers. His voice sounded a tad threatening."I… I really can't remember." Ning Xueyan felt like she had thought of all the possible answers but she was still coming up empty. She had no choice but to admit her fault."You really can't remember?" His beautiful eyes curved into a charming arc and his expression was sinister. Sure enough, this was a bad situation to be in. She didn't even hesitate to grab his hand with a bright smile on her tender face."Even if I can't remember, you can still remind me, right?" She knew it would pay well to cajole this man.Ao Chenyi wasn't polite with her either. He turned his hand over and pinched her soft face. His expression had improved considerably. There was a faint smile on his face as he asked, "If I tell you, can you really understand and remember what it is?""Of course I can!"
It seemed that at this point of the letter, the Empress couldn't continue anymore. There were only tear stains on the paper, followed by wide empty spaces.Then, the Empress said how reassured she was that Madam Ming would be taking care of her newborn. Madam Ming would be a fine mother. She had also asked someone to watch over Madam Ming and the newborn. Their statuses in the previous dynasty had vanished like smoke. Time was always moving forward and the changing of imperial dynasties was inevitable.The only tragedy was the eternal separation of her from her husband, and of her from her daughters.The only reason she had written the letter was that she couldn't help herself. If she never said anything, her child would never know the truth. That would have been for the best. Yet, she couldn't accept this, so she would hand the letter to the person who would be looking after Madam Ming. If Ning Ziying's identity was revealed to the world one d
The news of Ning Zu'an's death shocked everyone in the Lord Protector's Manor. Even though the title had been passed onto Ning Huaijing, Ning Zu'an was the patriarch of the family. Even without the title, he was still the most authoritative figure in the manor.Madam Dowager collapsed as soon as she heard the news of his death. She became ill and bedridden, unable to get up.Ning Xueyan couldn't leave the palace freely due to her status as the Empress. She sent Qingyu and Mother Han to the manor and had them inquire about Madam Dowager's health in her place. Mother Han returned to Prince Yi's Manor afterward while Qingyu entered the palace to report to Ning Xueyan.It was inconvenient for Mother Han to live in the palace because she had a son to take care of. Instead of entering the palace with Ning Xueyan, she stayed in Prince Yi's Manor as the housekeeper. Ning Xueyan was prepared to release her from the manor when the situation stabilized in
"The Empress discovered a secret tunnel under Chenyuan Palace by accident. She never told anyone about it. She even killed the maid that discovered the tunnel with her and accompanied her in walking through the tunnel. In other words, she was the only one who knew about it," Ning Xueyan explained.This was the Empress' secret. To prove it, she used Yun Luoluo's incident as an example. When Ning Xueyan was drugged in Chenyuan Palace, the Empress wanted to take her to a room. There, a man would sneak into the palace through the secret tunnel.If Ning Xueyan woke up and discovered herself in disheveled clothes in the presence of another man, she would surely panic. To protect her secret, she would surely agree with whatever the Empress wanted. The Empress wanted to use Ning Xueyan to force Ao Chenyi into accepting his "affair" with Yun Luoluo.Unfortunately, Ao Chenyi had appeared all of a sudden. She didn't dare to do anything with him around, so
Ao Chenyi didn't try to persuade her this time. This had bothered her for so long that she would continue to suffer for it if she didn't cry it out now. He held her tighter and allowed her to wet the front of his robe. She didn't brawl. All she did was close her eyes and let her tears stream down her face. When her tears finally dried, she sat quietly in Ao Chenyi's embrace for a long time.It was so quiet inside the room that she could finally calm down.Her hands were being held so tightly in Ao Chenyi's hand that she could feel the callus in his palm. He was Prince Yi, the late Emperor's beloved prince who grew up to be the infamous Demon King. Those who mentioned his name would often be frightened and alarmed. Only she knew how difficult his life had been.Ao Chenyi was still young when he drew his elder brother's jealousy and suspicion. He was framed, imprisoned, and nearly died. His fiancee abandoned him at his lowest point, sought shelte
"It was and wasn't an accident. He could only blame himself. No matter what, he was the one who forced my hand and cornered me to this state. He ruined my everything. Him dying in my hands could be considered as his retribution."The Empress began to look calm again. She turned her head and stared at Ning Xueyan with a trace of sadness in her eyes. "I invited you here to ask you to let go of my family. It's all my fault and has nothing to do with my family. They're just a small and useless noble family. In exchange for their safety, I'll tell you a secret."Her voice had lost her previous agitation and anger, leaving only a sense of helplessness. She had never put any hope in her family. She thought that she would be able to help her people after gaining power but now that she was in trouble, she was worried that her family would be implicated and sentenced to death.She had resented her family countless times for marrying her off to the Empero