Yuchi Yan and Gu Shixiong were shaken to their core.
This voice they knew all too well—it was Pang Xiao!
Torches suddenly lit up one after another all around, like stars being lit in the night sky.
But in the eyes of Yuchi Yan and Gu Shixiong, they only felt their hearts turn cold, already panicked.
Pang Xiao led over a hundred men in a surrounding formation, encircling them in the middle. Beside Pang Xiao were also two Southern Yan officials.
“This, how is this possible, how could this happen!”
Pang Xiao sighed and said apologetically, “I’m sorry, this commander was a step too late—Prince Zhennan still struck after all. Actually, this wasn’t our sovereign’s intention at all—it was entirely Prince Zhennan’s selfish scheming.”
At this point, Pang Xiao again looked angrily at Yuchi Yan, “His Majesty enfeoffed you as Prince Zhennan and treated you well—was that not enough? Why did you escape here to commit such unconscionable and unrighteous acts!”
The two Southern Yan officials couldn’t help but curse, “You’ve already surrendered to Great Zhou and become Prince Zhennan with endless wealth and glory—why come back to assassinate Southern Yan’s sovereign?
“Just because you had no backbone and surrendered to another country, does that mean you won’t allow people with courage and responsibility to continue Great Yan’s legacy!”
“You despicable wretch, you shame the Great Yan imperial bloodline!”
“This old minister repeatedly urged His Majesty to eliminate the roots early, but His Majesty followed righteousness and insisted on respecting you as the legitimate line. Now look—capable and ambitious people have been brutally murdered, and what can you, this worthless coward, do for Great Yan!”
…
The two Southern Yan officials pointed at Yuchi Yan, venting all their pent-up anger.
Pang Xiao led his men in quietly watching, putting on an appearance of not interfering in Southern Yan’s internal affairs.
Yuchi Yan and Gu Shixiong were protected in the middle by their remaining dozen or so guards, blushing with shame from the scolding.
“I… I didn’t…” Yuchi Yan looked toward Gu Shixiong, as if wanting to gain comfort from him. “I didn’t—you said Yuchi Xujie couldn’t be trusted, especially when he held a banquet but only invited me alone, meaning he had killing intent toward me. I didn’t expect, didn’t expect…”
Seeing that at this crucial moment Yuchi Yan was pushing the blame onto him, Gu Shixiong felt a chill of disappointment in his heart.
But this wasn’t the right time to argue with Yuchi Yan about this matter.
Gu Shixiong gave Yuchi Yan a meaningful look and pulled him into the carriage.
“Hurry! Hurry!”
The guards around Yuchi Yan also hastily mounted their horses, brandishing swords and knives trying to break through an opening.
The coachman shook the reins, driving the carriage at breakneck speed, charging forward recklessly.
The Pingnan Army near the encirclement panicked and immediately scattered in all directions, actually allowing the carriage to break through the siege and head outside.
Pang Xiao called out anxiously, “Quick, pursue them!”
“Yes!”
The Pingnan Army holding torches ran frantically, but two legs chasing four legs ultimately showed their disadvantage.
Pang Xiao then turned to comfort the Southern Yan officials, discussing Yuchi Xujie’s funeral arrangements and Southern Yan’s future.
Everything developed smoothly according to plan.
In just one night, news spread far and wide that the fallen sovereign Yuchi Yan had assassinated Yuchi Xujie for high office and wealth.
This criminal who had handed over Great Yan’s territory to others not only shamelessly became Great Zhou’s Prince Zhennan but also turned back to murder Southern Yan’s emperor.
If he had killed Yuchi Xujie to ascend the throne himself, with the legitimate line taking the imperial seat, that would at least make him a contemporary hero.
But he killed someone and then fled to Great Zhou! Clearly serving at Great Zhou’s emperor’s command!
Such a base wretch who forgot his ancestry—the Southern Yan people all spat in contempt, and Southern Yan’s officials were exceptionally angry.
But ultimately they had lost their backbone. Yuchi Yan had fled, Yuchi Xujie was dead, and the Yan imperial family no longer had anyone capable of taking over this mess. They had no idea what to do.
In the dark room behind Cian Palace’s rear hall, Qin Yining used her long fingernail to carve the final stroke of the fourth “棔 character on the wall.
She had been imprisoned here for twenty days now.
During this time, only the small palace attendant came once daily to deliver food. The Empress Dowager seemed to have lost interest in her—she hadn’t seen her again or arranged for anyone to torture her.
The injuries on Qin Yining’s body had mostly healed, thanks to that small box of miraculous ointment.
But she could only wash her face and hands with water each day, having no conditions for bathing, leaving her extremely disheveled.
Qin Yining didn’t know what was happening outside and felt extremely uneasy. Given the Empress Dowager’s temperament, to not lay a finger on her now clearly meant that tormenting her could no longer arouse the Empress Dowager’s interest—or perhaps her current situation didn’t even warrant the Empress Dowager’s torture?
While deep in thought, the sound of chains suddenly came from outside the hall door.
Qin Yining was somewhat puzzled.
The meal-delivering palace attendant came once a day, and he had already delivered food today—why had he come again?
The double doors opened completely. An elderly nanny from the Empress Dowager’s side walked in, looking at the dignified but disheveled Qin Yining with a cold smile, “Princess Consort, please come.”
Qin Yining frowned, “Where to?”
“By His Majesty’s decree—don’t waste words.”
The old nanny turned and walked ahead to lead the way.
Qin Yining’s heart skipped a beat, instantly feeling that “it’s finally here.”
Walking out the door, Qin Yining squinted uncomfortably, shielding her eyes with her hand for a moment before they adjusted to the light.
Looking at the sky, it was already afternoon.
The old nanny urged impatiently, “Hurry up! Don’t keep His Majesty waiting!”
Qin Yining smoothed her long hair, descended the red steps, and followed expressionlessly behind the old nanny all the way to Cian Palace’s main hall.
Palace servants went in to report, and shortly after came out to escort Qin Yining inside.
Beyond Qin Yining’s expectations, Cian Palace’s main hall was exceptionally lively today.
Li Qitian sat in the place of honor, the Empress Dowager next, then the Empress. On both sides were three rows of seats—one side had Consort Yun, Consort Shun, Consort Yu, Li Helan, and other high-ranking consorts along with noble family women, while the other side had noble officials led by Ji Zeyu.
When Qin Yining entered, everyone’s gaze turned toward her.
Qin Yining looked at this formation and her heart sank to the bottom, but her face remained calm. She respectfully bowed to the Emperor and Empress, then paid respects to the Empress Dowager, her etiquette so perfect that no fault could be found.
Li Qitian’s face was dark as water. Looking down from his high position at Qin Yining kneeling properly, he didn’t tell her to rise but went straight to the point, “Today I summoned all beloved ministers and their families for the matter of Prince Consort Zhongshun’s wife plotting to harm the imperial heir.”
“The Qin family disregarded imperial grace and attempted to harm my legitimate son—such crimes deserve death. According to rules, I should hand her over to the Imperial Clan Court or the Three Judicial Offices. But Pang Zhixi is my pillar minister with great merit in supporting the realm, and also my sworn brother. I truly cannot bear to hand his wife over to outsiders for trial.
“Therefore, today I’ve gathered everyone to witness that my handling of this matter cannot be done secretly—it must be open and clear for everyone to understand.”
Hearing this, everyone responded in unison, “His Majesty is benevolent.”
Qin Yining’s back broke out in sweat. Like the Empress Dowager, Li Qitian had determined her guilt without giving her any chance to argue!