The sun gradually rose from the east.

It was a blazingly sunny day. In the early autumn season, this kind of weather was called the “autumn tiger.”

Many people in the capital were discussing the assassination incident at Yanshan. There were far fewer street vendors than usual, creating an atmosphere of panic and unease.

The Xie family members were all gathered in Xie Jingyu’s study, each wearing a grave expression.

“Has Prince An’jing gone mad? Why would he try to assassinate the current Emperor!” Xie Zhongcheng ground his teeth as he spoke. “He’s not the Crown Prince—he ranks fourth. What benefit would killing the Emperor bring him? If he wants to die, he should hurry up and die. Why drag our Xie family down with him!”

Yuan Shi paced anxiously in circles: “What’s done is done. We need to quickly think of how to resolve this problem!”

Xie Jingyu slumped in his chair, his temples throbbing painfully.

However glorious it had been to become Prince An’jing’s father-in-law, that was how desperate he felt at this moment.

Once Prince An’jing’s crime of treason was confirmed, everyone connected to Prince An’jing’s household would be implicated.

Although he wasn’t actually one of Prince An’jing’s people, his status was what it was. No matter what he did, he couldn’t change this fact.

“The Court of Judicial Review handles cases based on evidence,” Yun Chu said in a calm voice. “As long as the Xie family hasn’t colluded with Prince An’jing, there’s no need to worry too much.”

Yuan Shi’s face was full of anxiety: “What about Ping’er? She’s Prince An’jing’s bedfellow. Will she be affected?”

The study fell silent.

The Xie family might perhaps escape unscathed, but Xie Ping, as the dignified Princess Consort, would probably…

At that moment, a young servant came running hurriedly from outside. Standing at the bottom of the steps by the doorway, he called out loudly: “Master, they’ve finished raiding Prince An’jing’s manor…”

Xie Jingyu shot to his feet.

But he rose too abruptly. His head spun, and he fell back down again.

Xie Shi’an was quicker, striding outside: “Did they find any evidence?”

“I heard that Prince Gongxi discovered a large quantity of letters in the manor, and brought them all into the palace,” the young servant said, scratching the back of his head before continuing. “This servant also heard that when Prince Gongxi led people to raid Prince An’jing’s manor, over ten concubines from the rear courtyard knelt filling the entire yard, begging Prince Gongxi to save them… The common people are all saying these concubines were all respectable young women that Prince An’jing had forcibly abducted to his manor over the years. The most pitiful one had been locked in the manor by Prince An’jing for a full six years.”

“Prince Gongxi immediately released those respectable young women without charges…” The young servant paused before continuing. “The Shi side consort who previously married into the manor alongside the eldest young miss somehow became a concubine, and was also released by Prince Gongxi.”

Yun Chu breathed a sigh of relief.

Excellent—her actions hadn’t brought catastrophic disaster upon Miss Shi.

Yuan Shi anxiously asked: “What about Ping’er? Where is she?”

The young servant answered: “The eldest young miss entered the palace together with Prince Gongxi.”

Xie Ping had been brought into the palace by Prince Gongxi.

Upon reaching the entrance to the Imperial Study, she saw Consort De kneeling there, her face ashen as death. Her knees went weak, and she also knelt beside Consort De.

Prince Gongxi, carrying a chest of letters, climbed the steps and entered the Imperial Study.

Very soon, the Emperor’s furious roar could be heard: “Traitorous son! Send more men, keep searching. I’ll have him cut to pieces while still alive!”

Xie Ping’s heart trembled, and her whole body involuntarily prostrated on the ground.

The next moment, she felt someone grab her long hair and yank it up. Immediately after, a vicious slap landed on her face.

“This is all your fault!” Consort De had completely lost control. Slap, slap—several more blows struck. “If you had come to tell me when the Fourth Prince left the tent last night, he wouldn’t have been framed for attempted murder and rebellion. As the principal consort, you failed to fulfill your duties. You deserve to die, you deserve to be cut into a thousand pieces!”

Xie Ping was beaten until she was dizzy and disoriented, instinctively trying to explain: “No, it has nothing to do with me…”

Consort De always gave her cold looks—how would she dare to seek out Consort De?

Consort De vented all her grievances and fury on Xie Ping. Xie Ping felt her face was about to swell up from the beating.

It wasn’t until the Imperial Study door opened and Prince Gongxi emerged that Consort De stopped her actions, crying out loudly: “Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince is innocent. Someone must have framed him. Please, Your Majesty, don’t jump to conclusions so quickly…”

Prince Gongxi gestured for the eunuch at the door to close it. Looking down at Consort De from his superior position, he sighed: “In Fourth Brother’s study, there was a large quantity of correspondence with people from the martial arts world. He began planning this Yanshan assassination half a year ago… Father Emperor is currently very sad and upset, and won’t see anyone. Consort De should return to her own palace first.”

Xie Ping couldn’t believe it.

Prince An’jing had begun planning rebellion half a year ago, and she—she had become engaged to Prince An’jing four months ago, and became Princess An’jing just one month ago.

If only she had known earlier…

But there were no “if only” in this world.

This was the path she had chosen herself. Having reached a dead end, she had brought it upon herself.

But she was so unwilling to accept it… She clearly knew nothing. She was only thirteen years old. She and Prince An’jing hadn’t even consummated their marriage. Why should she suffer the consequences…

“Second Prince, the Fourth Prince has always been close to you. Won’t you plead for him?”

Consort De could no longer care about her dignity as an imperial consort. She reached out and grabbed the hem of Prince Gongxi’s robe, her voice hoarse as she pleaded.

Prince Gongxi bent down, gently supporting Consort De’s arm: “Once we find Fourth Brother first, I will naturally plead for him.”

When he spoke, he was extremely gentle, but a trace of coldness flashed through his eyes.

If it weren’t for the Fourth Prince stumbling upon his secret plotting with his subordinates, he wouldn’t have moved against him so early…

“Thank you, Second Prince.”

Consort De continued kneeling on the ground.

No matter what, she had to kneel here, hoping to soften the Emperor’s heart and receive lenient treatment.

Xie Ping could only kneel alongside her.

From daybreak she knelt until nightfall, from nightfall until dawn broke again.

People occasionally went in and out of the Imperial Study entrance, while the two of them seemed to have been forgotten.

Xie Ping felt exhausted, hungry, and thirsty. She desperately wanted to escape… but Consort De knelt motionless, so she dared not say or do anything…

Around afternoon, Chu Yi led a group of people into the Imperial Study.

Consort De slowly raised her head to look. When she saw four guards behind him carrying someone in, her heart suddenly constricted.

She dared not look further. Opening her lips, she asked with difficulty: “Third Prince, have you found the Fourth Prince?”

Chu Yi didn’t speak. He stepped up the stairs and entered the Imperial Study.

Before long, the Emperor emerged from the Imperial Study, his sharp eyes looking toward the person lying on the ground, covered with a gray cloth.

“Father Emperor, this is Fourth Brother,” Chu Yi’s voice was somewhat heavy. “Your son had a coroner examine him. Fourth Brother died approximately around the hour of the dragon today.”

“No!!!”

Consort De let out a piercing shriek.

She suddenly stood up and rushed over, but having knelt too long, her legs were stiff. She immediately fell to the ground. She used both her feet and hands to crawl toward the person on the ground.

She reached out her hand, trembling as she lifted the gray cloth, then saw a face covered in bloodstains.

“My son…”

Consort De cried out heartbrokenly, throwing herself forward, touching her son’s face as tears poured forth like a spring.