These two naturally had no idea that their meeting was made possible only through the joint efforts of Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong, who ensured their contact within the deep palace remained undetected by others.
When Yangling Princess saw Munuha's face instantly turn pale, she turned to leave immediately.
She could ally with anyone, but that person had to be one of their own people. No matter how flawed she might be, she was still a princess, the biological daughter of His Majesty. Even if mistakes occurred, her crimes would not warrant death. However, the Turkic prince was different. If their plans were exposed, regardless of their intentions, even as a princess, His Majesty would not be able to protect her!
"Your Highness, wait a moment," Munuha spoke in fluent Han language.
Yangling Princess was slightly startled as Munuha blocked her path. She grew somewhat angry: "Prince, this is the palace! If I were to shout just once, do you know what would happen to you?"
Munuha stepped back and performed a sincere Turkic salute: "Your Highness, please forgive me. I have no intention of offending you. I boldly requested your presence today because we share a common enemy."
"I don't know what nonsense you're speaking. We cannot possibly have a common enemy." Yangling Princess retorted in a low, angry voice before stepping around Munuha and striding away.
Munuha turned to watch her retreating figure: "Your Highness, this is your only chance to eliminate Shen Xihe!"
Yangling Princess's footsteps faltered. She twisted the handkerchief in her hands, her eyes slightly reddened, then suddenly turned around, gritting her teeth: "I hate her, I wish I could tear her to pieces, but I will not join forces with foreigners against her. Not because I am noble, but because I don't want to face eternal damnation."
If she allied with Munuha today, who knew if this would become leverage for Munuha to threaten her? Once she boarded this ship, would she ever be able to disembark?
"Your Highness is cautious. Please don't rush to refuse. Why not hear what I have to say before making a decision?" Munuha approached. "Your Highness is wise enough to judge whether I am trying to harm you."
Yangling Princess felt somewhat tempted but didn't speak, instead warily sizing up Munuha.
Recognizing her thoughts, Munuha said: "I want to make the Northwest King's beloved daughter my woman."
Yangling Princess's eyes widened in shock, and she even let out a cold laugh: "Are you mad? Do you want to start a war between our nations?"
"Don't your Han women treat chastity as their life? Would she rather die to prove her innocence?" Munuha didn't find this particularly unbelievable. "I sincerely seek to marry her, offering substantial benefits. I believe His Majesty will certainly grant my request."
This was the best method to remove the Northwest King from the northwest. He could persuade his father to offer cities as betrothal gifts. As long as the northwest wasn't guarded by the Shen father and son, they could first concede one or two cities, lure the enemy in, and then make a comeback...
What Yangling Princess considered was that even if Shen Xihe and Munuha actually became intimate, the Northwest King would not accept it. The northwest was impregnable under his control. Would he prematurely ignite conflict between the two nations, using the suppression of rebellion as pretext to take revenge against the Turks?
But Munuha claimed His Majesty would consent, and she suddenly recalled His Majesty's wariness toward the Northwest King. If His Majesty was pleased to see this happen, the Northwest King probably wouldn't dare act recklessly. Otherwise, giving His Majesty leverage would be equivalent to digging his own grave.
Her heart began pounding wildly. She actually felt a flicker of anticipation.
If this succeeded, Shen Xihe would either commit suicide to preserve the Northwest King's military authority, or obediently marry and move to the northwest.This was truly her only way out. Shen Xihe's intent to kill her was already evident, and Shen Xihe had too many methods at her disposal. The mystery surrounding Liang Zhaorong's death remained unsolved, and she had no desire to become the second Liang Zhaorong.
Yangling Princess looked at Munuha, still somewhat uneasy and suspicious. "Why do you wish to marry her? Are you enamored with her?"
"Hahahaha..." Munuha chuckled softly. "I have never met her to this day. Whether she is beautiful or ugly matters not, as long as she is the daughter of the Northwest King."
These words unmistakably conveyed to Yangling Princess that Munuha's target was the Northwest King—who also happened to be a thorn in His Majesty's side.
Yangling Princess wavered uncertainly. Munuha took out a small medicine bottle and placed it on the stone table beside them. "Princess, this is a secret potion from my royal court. After... intimate relations, even the finest physicians would be unable to detect any traces of drugging."
After setting down the bottle, Munuha left with a confident smile.
He couldn't linger long in the palace. He had used the excuse of visiting the toilet to slip through a small window, while his subordinate remained in the toilet, mimicking the voices of two people as cover. Staying too long would inevitably raise suspicions.
Yangling Princess stood alone in place, her gaze fixed on the ordinary-looking small bottle on the table. A struggle flickered in her eyes for a long while, but in the end, she gritted her teeth and took the bottle.
Even after obtaining the potion, she didn't fully trust Munuha's words. Instead, she secretly administered it to a newly assigned palace maid. Her previous maid had failed to protect her properly yesterday and had even implicated Shen Xihe. To make his stance clear, His Majesty had severely punished the maid and sent her to the Side Court Palace.
The newly arrived maid carried herself with an air of arrogance and was not aligned with her interests, so it was only natural to secure leverage first.
After catching the maid in a compromising situation with a guard, Yangling Princess summoned a trusted imperial physician to examine her. The physician confirmed that the potion worked exactly as Munuha had claimed—as long as... it would be undetectable.
With her mind settled, Yangling Princess, despite still feeling weak and fatigued, took gifts and openly went to the residence of the Princess Consort of Dai.
Naturally, she informed the Princess Consort of Dai that Shen Xihe might have been responsible for Liang Zhaorong's death, as the Prince of Dai was not in the residence.
"Princess, do you have any evidence for these claims?" Li Yanyan casually adjusted the ruby pomegranate gold hairpin in her hair and asked nonchalantly.
"I have no evidence. These were Shen Xihe's own words yesterday," Yangling Princess replied, meeting Li Yanyan's gaze with unwavering sincerity.
Li Yanyan leaned back lazily, propping her chin with one hand, her eyes exuding boundless charm. "Oh? Why would Zhaoning County Princess say such things to you?"
"I know Third Sister-in-Law doesn't believe me, but every word I speak is true," Yangling Princess declared resolutely. "To be frank, Fourth Sister's resentment toward Shen Xihe was indeed stirred up by me. I don't know how she found out, but she is determined to deal with me. Yesterday, she asked to meet with me. I was unwilling to go, so she had her maid relay the message: 'Do you know why Liang Zhaorong died?' Fearing for my safety, I went to see her."
Li Yanyan's fingers, which had been lightly toying with the gemstone beads hanging from her hairpin, stilled. She gave Yangling Princess a thoughtful glance. "Princess, what is your purpose in telling me all this?"
"My conflict with her has reached a point of life and death. She is cunning and manipulative, and I refuse to endure her bullying any longer," Yangling Princess said through gritted teeth. "Tomorrow, during Third Sister-in-Law's birthday banquet, I plan to deal with her. I don't ask for your help—only that you turn a blind eye."
"Tomorrow is my birthday banquet. Even if this matter has nothing to do with me, if anything were to happen to her in my residence, how could your Third Brother and I explain it?" Li Yanyan chuckled lightly."Third Sister-in-law, rest assured. Yangling guarantees this matter will never implicate Third Brother or you," Yangling Princess vowed earnestly.
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