The witness had been arranged by Shen Xihe, though not through others but through Zhu Sheng, the clever palace servant who had accompanied Huang Zhongsi to welcome her. Half a year ago, he was just a worker in the Internal Service Bureau, but now he was a clerk there – all due to Shen Xihe’s secret promotion.

“You’re lying—” Princess Yanling’s pale face contorted as she sharply rebuked.

“And you, what did you see?” Emperor Youning questioned the other palace servant.

This servant hadn’t been present – he had been slacking off. He dared not makeup lies, as that would reveal his negligence, so he could only agree with his companion: “Your Majesty’s discernment is wise. What I saw was the same.”

One person’s testimony might be insufficient, but surely two people couldn’t both be lying?

Emperor Youning turned to Liu Sanzi: “What about the traces on the ground?”

Liu Sanzi glanced at Princess Yanling: “Your Majesty, there was snow on the ground, showing where the Princess slipped and fell in.”

“I have more evidence proving the Princess is lying,” Shen Xihe added fuel to the fire. “If this servant hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten that I tried to grab the Princess. Her skin is delicate – in my panic, I must have scratched her wrist.”

Princess Yanling remembered something and instinctively withdrew her hand, her reaction undoubtedly revealing her guilt.

“Pingling, pull out your fifth sister’s wrist!” Emperor Youning ordered.

Princess Pingling could only step forward, apologetically saying to Princess Yanling: “Fifth Sister, forgive me.”

Princess Yanling tried to struggle but weakened by her cold, she was no match for Princess Pingling’s strength. Soon her sleeve was pulled back, revealing a red mark on her wrist.

Emperor Youning’s face turned ashen with anger.

Princess Yanling, tears streaming, crawled to kneel by the bed: “Your Majesty, it’s not like that, not like that… it was Zhaoning, she planned everything, she did it deliberately, she deliberately meant to torment me…”

Emperor Youning spoke gravely: “You keep saying Zhaoning means you harm. Tell me, why would Zhaoning harm you?”

Princess Yanling’s crying stopped abruptly, and she quickly said: “She… she listened to Third Sister’s nonsense, falsely accusing me of instigating Fourth Sister against her, so she targets me everywhere.”

“You’re lying!” Before Shen Xihe could refute this, Princess Anling, who had just arrived, rushed forward. “You’re spewing vicious lies! Zhaoning and I have never met privately – how could I have falsely accused you?”

“Your Majesty, I’m not lying, I am not lying. The fourth Sister was killed by Zhaoning. She hated Fourth Sister for causing her to fall from her horse, she took revenge by throwing Fourth Sister into the river. She died so tragically, and she’ll harm me too. If one day I die tragically, it will surely be her doing, wuwuwu…”

Princess Yanling wept uncontrollably, her cries filled with grief, fear, and helplessness.

Emperor Youning’s heart softened somewhat at her crying. Though he didn’t particularly value his daughters, they were still his flesh and blood, and he had always harbored doubts about Changling’s death. But at this moment, Shen Xihe was clearly above suspicion – even if he had doubts, he couldn’t show them.

“Imperial Physician, the Princess is delirious from falling into the water. Prepare a decoction to clear her mind,” Emperor Youning ordered before striding out of Princess Yanling’s chambers.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty don’t go! I’m not delirious, every word is true! Zhaoning shows no respect for the law, she harms the royal family! I am your daughter, you can’t let me die tragically at her hands wuwuwu…” Princess Yanling shrieked. Seeing Emperor Youning leave without looking back, she immediately grabbed Princess Pingling. “Sixth Sister, you must help me! Zhaoning won’t spare you either, she hates us royal ladies…”

Before Princess Yanling could finish, Noble Consort Rong rescued her daughter and hurried after His Majesty with her daughter in tow.

“You’re truly out of your mind,” Princess Anling thought Princess Yanling had really gone mad and quickly fled as well.

The chamber suddenly emptied except for the palace maids, the Imperial Physician, Xiao Huayong, and Shen Xihe.

Xiao Huayong coughed lightly as he walked out. The Imperial Physician was his man and immediately followed, pretending to advise: “Your Highness must take care of your health…”

All the palace servants remained kneeling, while Princess Yanling huddled in the corner of her bed, her tear-filled eyes staring at Shen Xihe’s gentle smile as if seeing a ghost.

“Princess should rest well. We have plenty of time ahead…” Leaving behind a meaningful yet mysteriously unsettling smile, Shen Xihe departed gracefully.

Her smile, like that of an evil spirit crawling from hell, terrified Princess Yanling. Yet it remained imprinted in her mind, causing Princess Yanling to clutch her head and scream heart-rendingly: “Ah—”

Princess Yanling didn’t scream for long before the Imperial Physician knocked her out with a silver needle.

Emperor Youning turned outside to watch everyone exit in order and spent quite some time comforting Shen Xihe.

After Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong had left, he asked Princesses Pingling and Anling: “Has Zhaoning ever shown disrespect to you?”

The two exchanged glances, and Princess Anling spoke truthfully: “Your Majesty, Zhaoning rarely associates with us. She doesn’t interact with any ladies in the capital – she greatly values her solitude. When we meet at banquets, Zhaoning is always properly courteous.”

Princess Pingling nodded: “Your Majesty, Zhaoning is cold by nature, neither distant nor close to me, and has never offended.”

She even felt that if possible, Shen Xihe would prefer never to associate with them. This aloofness wasn’t due to dislike – it seemed she simply wasn’t skilled at social interaction.

Emperor Youning nodded upon hearing this and left.

“What game are you playing now?” Xiao Huayong asked softly as he escorted Shen Xihe from the palace.

He had never understood exactly how Yanling had offended Shen Xihe. Since Shen Xihe didn’t want him involved, he hadn’t investigated.

If Yanling had severely harmed her, Shen Xihe, being decisive by nature, would have already taken Yanling’s life rather than toying with her occasionally like a cat with a mouse – Xiao Shi’s death was the best proof of this.

If Yanling’s offense wasn’t severe, Shen Xihe wouldn’t keep dwelling on it.

“Is she acting under someone’s instructions to harm you? Are you trying to make her reveal the truth?” Xiao Huayong asked about his suspicions when he saw Shen Xihe smiling without answering.

“If I said yes, would Your Highness capture and torture her?” Shen Xihe asked in return.

Xiao Huayong smiled at her: “If that is Youyou’s wish, I would certainly strive to fulfill it.”

“Your Highness, that is your sister,” Shen Xihe reminded.

Xiao Huayong brushed snow from her shoulder: “In the royal family, there are no fathers and sons, let alone brothers and sisters. The path we must walk will be stained with the blood of many I call close kin.”

Anyone who competed with him for the throne would become a ghost by his hand.

“Your Highness, I dislike my half-sisters. But as long as they don’t harm me or my father and brothers, I won’t allow others to harm them, nor will I harm them,” Shen Xihe said.

Xiao Huayong understood her meaning and asked: “If one day your half-sister harms me, what will you do?”