Over there, after Li Yuan dealt with the Lin siblings, he turned his gaze to Yunyi and said coldly, “And you, do you also want to say it has nothing to do with you?”
Yunyi bit her silver teeth and lowered her head, saying, “This concubine can swear that summoning Xing Niang to the manor was only to ask if she recognized Talented Lady Yin and the others. Beyond that, there were no other words, and I never fed her poison to fabricate testimony to frame the Crown Prince and others. As for His Highness, he truly knew nothing about this matter. I hope Your Majesty will see clearly!”
“Is that so?” Before Yunyi could say more, Li Yuan was already shaking his head, saying slowly, “Unfortunately, I don’t believe a single word you say!” When he first entered Chang’an, he needed to use Yunyi to demonstrate his loyalty to supporting the Yang clan, using the Yang name to control Chang’an. Now Yang You was dead, he had ascended the throne, and both Chang’an and Western Qin were under his control. Yunyi… had lost her utility, and this incident had aroused his murderous intent, wanting to kill this venomous woman who had caused Xuanba’s death and now sought to harm Jiancheng.
This time, Wan Shi did not speak. First, Xing Niang’s testimony did indeed involve Yunyi; second, she had already reached her limit in protecting Lin Shi – if she spoke more, it would surely backfire.
She had been able to remain by Li Yuan’s side for so many years without losing favor precisely because she understood how to read Li Yuan’s thoughts, knowing when to advance and when to retreat. When she shouldn’t speak, she would never say an extra word.
“Father Emperor, Yunyi is not such a vicious person, she must…” Before Li Shimin could finish, Li Yuanji had already said, “It seems Second Brother is truly bewitched by her, even forgetting how Third Brother died. If she isn’t vicious, I’m afraid there’s no one vicious left in this world.”
Li Shimin said urgently, “One matter is one matter – she is no longer the Yunyi of years past.”
“Rivers and mountains may change, but nature is hard to alter. Once unfaithful, never to be trusted again. Hasn’t Second Brother heard these simple truths?” With that, he bowed to Li Yuan and said, “Father Emperor, Yang Yunyi’s harm to our Yang family not only has Xing Niang’s testimony but also Jiang Caiping as witness – it absolutely cannot be false. This woman has such a serpentine heart that she must not be spared. As for Second Brother, defending her so against his conscience, I’m afraid my previous suspicions have proven true – Second Brother was also involved in this matter!”
Li Shimin looked at Li Yuanji with heartbreak, saying hoarsely, “Fourth Brother, do you really think… I would harm Big Brother?”
Li Yuanji said coldly, “I had doubts before, wondering if I was overthinking, but since Second Brother arrived, every sentence and every word he’s spoken has favored Noble Consort Yang, not once helping Big Brother – how can I trust you again?” Then he shook his head, “What a waste of Big Brother’s constant protection of you!”
Each of his words was like a sharp knife, ruthlessly stabbing Li Shimin’s heart. He never imagined that his own blood brother would view him this way…
Li Shimin struggled to swallow the sob in his throat and said with difficulty to Li Yuan, “Father Emperor, this son can swear that I have never harbored half a thought of harming Big Brother. Otherwise, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death…”
Li Yuanji coldly interrupted him with a laugh, “Anyone can make such empty vows – they’re completely unreliable!”
Seeing him targeting himself at every turn, even Li Shimin’s good temper couldn’t take it anymore, “Yuanji, must you think of me this way?”
Li Yuanji snorted lightly, “I’m just speaking from my heart, unlike Second Brother who appears righteous on the surface but secretly acts disgracefully.”
“You…” Before Li Shimin could speak, Li Jiancheng had already shouted first, “Yuanji, do not speak nonsense. Shimin is not the kind of person you describe.” Then he bowed to Li Yuan and said, “Father Emperor, this son and Shimin were born of the same mother. I trust Shimin – this matter must have nothing to do with him. If Father Emperor wishes to punish Shimin, please punish this son as well!”
“Shimin’s matter will be dealt with later.” As he spoke, Li Yuan’s gaze remained fixed on Yunyi, the murderous intent hidden deep in his eyes making Li Shimin terrified and uneasy, his hands at his sides clenching ever tighter.
After a long time, Li Yuan’s icy voice rang out in the hall, “Yang Shi refuses to reform, conspiring with the Lin clan to frame the Crown Prince and palace consorts. Her crimes are unforgivable. I hereby order… her to commit suicide!”
Yunyi knew Li Yuan wouldn’t spare her, but she hadn’t expected him to truly plan to kill her. Li Yuan, having ascended the dragon throne, had become even more cold and ruthless than before.
Before Yunyi could speak, Li Shimin had already cried out in panic, “No, Father Emperor, please don’t! I beg Father Emperor to spare Yunyi’s life – she… she cannot die!”
“My mind is made up, no more words are needed. Moreover…” Li Yuan stared at him and said, “Killing her is also for your own good!”
Li Shimin desperately shook his head, constantly kowtowing to Li Yuan. He and Yunyi had finally managed to be together, only to face separation in the blink of an eye – how could he accept this?
Though Lin Shi wanted to save Yunyi, her own life had been barely preserved by Wan Shi’s efforts. How could she have the ability to lend assistance? She could only cast pleading eyes toward Wan Shi. Apart from Wan Shi, she could find no second person to offer help, though she still couldn’t understand why Wan Shi had saved her.
Wan Shi naturally noticed her gaze. After lowering her head in thought for a moment, she said, “Your Majesty…” Before she could continue, Li Yuan had already said coldly, “What, you want to vouch for her too?”
“This subject dare not.” Wan Shi curtsied slightly and said, “Though Yang Shi is guilty, the imperial heir in her womb is innocent. With Your Majesty’s decree, it would be two lives lost!”
Li Yuan was startled – he truly hadn’t thought of this point. Indeed, though Yang Shi’s belly didn’t show yet, she was definitely carrying a child of the Li family.
“Yang Shi’s pregnancy predates the Prince of Qin’s primary consort’s. It can be said she carries the Prince of Qin’s first child. This subject ventures to hope Your Majesty will show mercy for the sake of the Prince of Qin’s unborn eldest son!”
Li Yuanji was first to speak, “Since she’s a criminal, what she carries is a criminal’s child – better it not be born at all.”
Wan Shi said calmly, “Fourth Highness is also a father now. How can you have no paternal compassion? Aren’t you afraid this child, dying before birth, will come seeking your life in the middle of the night?”
Li Yuanji’s expression changed, then he said, “Let it come – I’m not afraid!”
Wan Shi said no more to him, looking at Li Yuan who had remained silent, “Your Majesty, that is still the Prince of Qin’s bloodline. Please show mercy.”
Though Wan Shi’s favor had diminished since Yin Shi and the others entered the palace, she still understood Li Yuan best. Under her words, Li Yuan indeed felt reluctant, “Since that’s the case, I’ll follow Imperial Noble Consort’s words and spare her life. However, though the death penalty can be avoided, the living punishment cannot be escaped. From today, her status as the Prince of Qin’s secondary consort is revoked. She is to be sent to Mingyue Nunnery to take vows with her hair, never to return to the Prince of Qin’s manor. After the child is born, it shall immediately be given to the Prince of Qin’s primary consort to raise, and shall henceforth be the primary consort’s child, having no relationship with Yang Shi. Without my command, no one from the Prince of Qin’s manor may privately meet with her at Mingyue Nunnery.”