The witness was also arranged by Shen Xihe, but this person wasn't arranged through others—instead, it was handled through Zhu Sheng. He was the clever young eunuch who had accompanied Huang Zhongsi to greet her that day. Six months ago, he was merely an Inner Servant Bureau Attendant, but now he had been promoted to Inner Servant Bureau Assistant Director—all through Shen Xihe's discreet patronage.
"You're lying—" Princess Yangling's small face turned deathly pale as she sharply rebuked.
"And you, did you see it?" the Youning Emperor asked another eunuch.
This eunuch hadn't been present at the scene; he had been slacking off. Naturally, he didn't dare speak falsely, otherwise his negligence would be exposed. Thus, he could only echo his companion: "Your Majesty, upon careful examination, what this servant saw was indeed the same."
One person might not be sufficient evidence, but surely two people couldn't both be lying?
The Youning Emperor looked at Liu Sanzhi: "What about the traces on the ground?"
Liu Sanzhi glanced at Princess Yangling: "Reporting to Your Majesty, there was accumulated snow on the ground. It appears the princess slipped and fell into the water."
"I have further evidence to prove the princess is lying." At this moment, Shen Xihe added fuel to the fire. "If not for this young eunuch mentioning it, I would have forgotten that I grabbed the princess's arm. The princess has delicate skin, and in my panic, I must have scratched her wrist."
Princess Yangling seemed to recall something and instinctively pulled her hand back. Her reaction undoubtedly revealed her guilt.
"Pingling, pull your fifth sister's wrist out!" the Youning Emperor commanded.
Princess Pingling had no choice but to step forward, apologetically saying to Princess Yangling, "Fifth sister, I must beg your pardon."
Princess Yangling tried to struggle, but having caught a chill, she was no match for Princess Pingling's strength. Soon her sleeve was pulled back, revealing a red mark on her wrist.
The Youning Emperor's face turned livid with rage.
Princess Yangling tearfully crawled up and knelt by the bed: "Your Majesty, it's not like that, not like that... It's Zhaoning, she... she planned everything from the start. She did it on purpose, she deliberately meant to torment me..."
The Youning Emperor said sternly, "You keep saying Zhaoning meant you harm. Then tell me, why would Zhaoning want to harm you?"
Princess Yangling's sobbing ceased momentarily before she quickly replied, "She... she listened to third sister's nonsense, falsely accusing me of instigating fourth sister to harm her. That's why she's targeting me everywhere."
"That's a lie!" Before Shen Xihe could refute, Princess Anling, who had just arrived, rushed forward. "You're slandering me! Zhaoning and I have never met privately. How could I have falsely accused you?"
"Your Majesty, I'm not lying, I truly am not lying. Fourth sister was killed by Zhaoning. She hated fourth sister for causing her to fall from the horse, so she took revenge by throwing fourth sister into the river, making her die so miserably. She will harm me too. If I were to die tragically one day, it would definitely be by her hand, wuwuwu..."
Princess Yangling broke down into uncontrollable sobbing, her cries filled with sorrow, fear, and helplessness.
The Youning Emperor felt somewhat softened by her weeping. Although he didn't value his daughters highly, they were still his own flesh and blood. Moreover, he had always harbored doubts about Changling's death. But at this moment, since Shen Xihe showed no apparent suspicion, even if he had reservations, he couldn't reveal them.
"Chief Imperial Physician, the princess is delirious from fever after falling into the water. Prepare a calming medicinal broth for her." Having given this order, the Youning Emperor flicked his sleeves and strode out of Princess Yangling's bedchamber."Your Majesty, Your Majesty, don't leave! Your daughter isn't delirious with fever, every word I speak is true! Zhaoning disregards the law, she harms the royal family! I am your daughter, you cannot let me die miserably at her hands, wuwuwu..." Yangling Princess cried out shrilly. Seeing the Youning Emperor walk away without looking back, she immediately turned and grabbed Princess Pingling. "Sixth Sister, Sixth Sister, you must help me! Zhaoning won't spare you either! She hates all us royal women..."
Before Yangling Princess could finish, Noble Consort Rong rescued her daughter and hurried out after the Emperor, shielding her.
"You've truly gone mad." Princess Anling thought Yangling Princess had genuinely lost her mind and quickly fled as well.
The bedchamber was suddenly left with only the palace maids, the Chief Imperial Physician, along with Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe.
Xiao Huayong gave a light cough and walked out. The Chief Imperial Physician, who was his man, immediately followed, pretending to advise, "Your Highness must take care of your health..."
The palace servants remained kneeling on the floor, not having been permitted to rise. Yangling Princess shrank into the corner of the bed, her tear-filled eyes staring at Shen Xihe as if seeing a ghost, while Shen Xihe smiled gently at her.
"Your Highness must rest well and recuperate. We have plenty of time ahead..." Leaving behind a meaningful and somewhat enigmatic smile, Shen Xihe gracefully departed.
Her smile terrified Yangling Princess like a demon crawling out from hell, yet it was imprinted in her mind, making her clutch her head and scream heartrendingly, "Aaaaaah—"
Yangling Princess didn't scream for long before the Chief Imperial Physician knocked her unconscious with a silver needle.
Outside, the Youning Emperor turned and watched everyone emerge in an orderly manner, then spent quite some time comforting Shen Xihe again.
Only after Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong had left did he ask Princess Pingling and Princess Anling, "Has Zhaoning ever shown you any disrespect?"
The two exchanged glances, and Princess Anling spoke truthfully, "Your Majesty, Zhaoning rarely interacts with us. She doesn't associate with any young ladies in the capital; she greatly prefers tranquility. When we meet at banquets, Zhaoning is always perfectly courteous."
Princess Pingling also nodded. "Your Majesty, Zhaoning has a cold temperament. She maintains a polite distance from me and has never been offensive."
She even felt that if possible, Shen Xihe would prefer never to interact with them at all. This aloofness didn't stem from dislike but rather seemed due to her apparent difficulty in socializing.
Hearing this, the Youning Emperor nodded and left.
"What act are you putting on this time?" Xiao Huayong asked in a low voice as he escorted Shen Xihe out of the palace.
He had never understood where exactly Yangling had offended Shen Xihe. Since Shen Xihe asked him not to interfere, he hadn't investigated.
If Yangling had caused her great harm, she probably wouldn't still be toying with her like a cat, occasionally tormenting her—she would have taken Yangling's life long ago. Shen Xihe was decisive by nature, as Xiao Shi's death best proved.
If Yangling hadn't caused her much harm, she wouldn't keep holding a grudge either.
"Was she instigated by someone to harm you? Are you trying to force her to reveal the truth?" Seeing Shen Xihe smile without answering, Xiao Huayong voiced his speculation.
"If I said yes, would Your Highness capture her for interrogation under torture?" Shen Xihe countered.
Xiao Huayong looked at her with a smile. "If that is Youyou's wish, I will surely strive to fulfill it."
"Your Highness, she is your own sister," Shen Xihe reminded him.
Xiao Huayong reached out and brushed the snow from her shoulder. "In the royal family, there are no fathers and sons, let alone brothers and sisters? The path you and I are walking will inevitably be stained with the blood of more of my so-called closest relatives in the future."Anyone who contended with him for the throne would end up as a soul in his grasp.
"Your Highness, I do not like my half-sister. But as long as she does not harm me or my father and brothers, I will not allow others to harm her, nor will I harm her myself," Shen Xihe said.
Xiao Huayong understood her meaning and asked, "If one day your half-sister harms me, what would you do?"
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