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Rui Wangfei had no idea what was happening in the East Palace and why the Empress was summoning her.
Moreover, it was unusual that she was summoned to the East Palace instead of the Empress's Kunning Palace.
Coincidentally, Rui Wang wasn’t at home. With no one to consult with, Rui Wangfei had to take the carriage sent by Eunuch Su herself.
By the time Rui Wangfei arrived at the East Palace, Empress Xiao, following the threads of Ning Wang and Wen Linlang, had found out the cause of Wen Yang's death.
Wen Yang's case had been handled very cleanly, to the point where even Empress Xiao couldn't find any flaws.
But sometimes, the absence of flaws was the biggest flaw.
Rui Wangfei was a prince’s consort, and Empress Xiao wouldn't use torture on her, especially considering that she was pregnant. Empress Xiao went straight to the point and asked her about the Crown Princess and Ning Wang.
Rui Wangfei was puzzled, "Eldest brother-in-law? What does she have to do with eldest brother-in-law? The man behind the artificial rockery is her elder brother, Wen Yang."
A woman's intuition could be frighteningly accurate, even though Empress Xiao hadn't explicitly mentioned what had happened between the two, Rui Wangfei instinctively connected it to the scene behind the artificial rockery.
She felt that the Empress was referring to something scandalous.
Empress Xiao looked at her with grace and gentleness, "Qianqian, tell me the whole story from start to finish."
Before Rui Wangfei could speak, Empress Xiao added, "Including your friend."
Rui Wangfei hesitated, "..."
Empress Xiao was truly astute; she could tell when something was amiss.
Rui Wangfei didn't dare to conceal anything and recounted what she had heard behind the artificial rockery, "At first, I thought it was the State of Chen's hostage prince because I saw he had injuries on his face. Eldest brother-in-law advised not to act rashly, and he went to gather evidence. Later, when the evidence was found, it turned out that the State of Chen's hostage prince was innocent. The person having a secret meeting with the Crown Princess was Wen Yang. Wen Yang extorted money from the Crown Princess and behaved improperly towards Chunying, so he knocked Chunying unconscious."
Chunying had confessed to this incident long ago.
It was Ning Wang who had knocked her unconscious.
The testimonies matched up.
Chunying didn't lie, and neither did Rui Wangfei. Rui Wangfei simply didn't know the whole truth.
"Imperial mother, could it be that on that day..." After confessing, Rui Wangfei suddenly had a bold guess in her heart.
Empress Xiao smiled faintly and said neither fast nor slow, "You're due to give birth soon, right? Don't overexert yourself. This Empress really likes you and the third prince. Come to Kunning Palace more often when you have time."
This was an olive branch extended to Rui Wang and Rui Wangfei.
In terms of ability, Rui Wang and Rui Wangfei didn't have much, but in terms of their maternal lineage, Du Qianqian's maternal grandfather was Duke Luo. Even if her mother was only a concubine-born daughter of the Duke, it was still a connection.
Furthermore, what Empress Xiao found particularly puzzling was that the young couple seemed to have good luck. They inadvertently saved people during the hanging bridge incident and, by chance, managed to save face in front of the State of Liang's envoys.
If Ning Wang had really encountered trouble, Rui Wang and Rui Wangfei, who were close to Ning Wang, would inevitably be implicated. At this point, Empress Xiao stepping in to protect them was like a timely lifeline.
It all depended on whether Rui Wang and Rui Wangfei were willing to align themselves with Empress Xiao.
Empress Xiao continued her investigation until late into the night before heading to Huaqing Palace.
Imperial Consort Zhuang received the news later than Empress Xiao and had just arrived at Huaqing Palace, running into Empress Xiao.
"Empress..." Imperial Consort Zhuang intended to ask Empress Xiao what had happened to the Crown Prince and Ning Wang.
But before she could finish her sentence, Empress Xiao raised her hand and slapped her across the face!
Imperial Consort Zhuang was stunned on the spot!
The two imperial wives had never gotten along, and while Empress Xiao held the title of Empress, Imperial Consort Zhuang had the support of Empress Dowager Zhuang in the harem and didn't show any weakness.
Neither side could do anything to the other.
This was the first time Empress Xiao refused to give Imperial Consort Zhuang any face.
The palace servants on the side were all terrified and knelt down together.
Imperial Consort Zhuang covered her swollen cheek and looked at Empress Xiao in shock and anger.
Empress Xiao coldly glared at her, showing no remorse or fear for hitting her, "What a good son you’ve raised!"
With that, she left Imperial Consort Zhuang behind and entered Huaqing Palace.
Empress Xiao handed over all the evidence and testimonies to the Emperor; the witness was Chunying, "This matter is of great significance, and it may seem like a one-sided statement from this consort. Your Majesty might also consider questioning Rui Wangfei and the Sixth Prince of the State of Chen. They are important witnesses as well."
The Emperor hadn’t expected the situation to be so extensive, involving even the Sixth Prince of the State of Chen. Naturally, he decided to question them.
As for Rui Wangfei, the Emperor didn't summon her. Instead, he called for Rui Wang.
The Sixth Prince of the State of Chen readily admitted to drugging Ning Wang and the Crown Princess. But he only acknowledged his involvement this time, not in previous incidents.
"It was him who initially hired someone to kill me. I just retaliated in a minor way, I didn't do anything to harm him..." Yuan Tang muttered.
The Emperor was so exasperated by Yuan Tang's words that his eyes almost rolled backwards.
Ning Wang had been pinned down and beaten against a wall. How could this be considered not harming him?
If the State of Zhao had Xiao Ji, then the State of Chen had Yuan Tang. Both of them were shameless individuals to the core!
Rui Wang was also aware of what happened behind the artificial rockery. He explained everything in detail, including the incident at the palace gate where Rui Wangfei mistook Yuan Tang for someone else and expressed her suspicions of his involvement to Ning Wang and him.
Mainly because the Emperor was also being cunning, he didn't even mention Ning Wang’s name. Hence, Rui Wang assumed that the Emperor only had suspicions regarding Wen Yang's death.
Rui Wang had a deep affection for Ning Wang, and if he had known the truth, he might never have spoken up.
Subsequently, the Emperor interrogated Chunying as well.
Combining the testimonies of all these individuals, along with the money Ning Wang and Yuan Tang had given to Chunying, it was clear that Ning Wang couldn’t escape the charges of adultery and murder.
The Emperor was deeply pained, struggling to accept the harsh reality about his eldest son's ruthlessness.
He then summoned Ning Wangfei, hoping to gain some additional insights from her side.
The Emperor couldn't quite put into words what he was expecting, but he understood that the charges against Ning Wang were essentially confirmed.
"Do you know..." The Emperor began, but before he could continue, Ning Wang, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up, "She doesn’t know. She knows nothing."
The Emperor gave this son a faint sidelong glance.
Empress Xiao, Imperial Consort Zhuang, and the others had all left for the side hall, leaving only the Emperor, Ning Wang, and Ning Wangfei in the study.
After being mute for the entire night, he was willing to speak now?
Ning Wang knelt on the ground, his eyes lowered as he said, "Imperial father, whatever you wish to ask, ask this son. Chu Yue knows nothing."
Ning Wangfei didn't look at him as she knelt beside him with a straight and slender posture.
The Emperor gazed solemnly at the two of them.
"Your Majesty, Imperial Consort Zhuang and Empress Xiao have started a dispute." Eunuch Wei hurriedly entered the room and whispered to the Emperor.
The Emperor furrowed his brows and told Ning Wangfei, "You may leave."
"Yes." Ning Wangfei stood up, bowed respectfully, and waited until the Emperor left the study before turning to leave.
"Suxin." Ning Wang called her, hesitating for a moment before asking, "That umbrella from back then... Did you have someone send it to me? Why didn't you deliver it personally?"
Ning Wangfei, who was facing away from Ning Wang, didn’t turn around. She smiled in the moonlight and said, "Your Highness dare not even say that person's name?"
Ning Wang was at a loss for words.
Finally, Ning Wangfei turned to look at him. There was a self-deprecating smile on her lips as she said, "If I send it myself, would Your Highness have noticed me?"
Her face was far less beautiful than the number one beauty, Wen Linlang.
She had appeared in Ning Wang's line of sight many times, but he had never once paid attention to her. Ning Wang only remembered that Wen Linlang had given him the umbrella, but did he know that she had been with him in a pavilion to seek shelter from the rain before giving him the umbrella?
She was accompanied by her servant girl at the time.
Ning Wang spared a glance for her servant girl but not her.
As Ning Wangfei walked away, Ning Wang stared at her retreating figure for a long time without finding his voice.
He asked himself, if she had personally given him the umbrella that day, would he have noticed her?
The answer was a resounding no.
He might not be as wanton and promiscuous as his fourth brother, but plain-looking women were indeed hard for him to notice. Marrying Ning Wangfei had been Grand Preceptor Zhuang's idea. He believed that when marrying, one should choose a virtuous wife, and he considered the unassuming Chu Yue to be far more outstanding than the mediocre daughters of the capital's noble families.
Wen Linlang was indeed outstanding, but there were several reasons why she wasn't chosen as Ning Wangfei. Firstly, she was still young. Secondly, her family background wasn't prestigious enough. Thirdly, and most importantly, she had a prior engagement with Xiao Heng.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang would never allow Ning Wang to be as foolish as the Crown Prince.
Marrying a woman who had been previously engaged to someone else, did he think his distance from the throne wasn’t far enough?
Ning Wang respected Chu Yue because she was his legitimate wife and it was something he should and must do.
However, when he was drugged and lying on the inn's bed, his mind was filled with thoughts of Chu Yue. When Wen Linlang mistook him for Xiao Heng and said, “Let’s live a good life from now on," he mistakenly believed it was Chu Yue speaking to him.
So, he responded by holding "her" tightly and saying, "Okay."
......
In the middle of the night, Yuan Tang returned with significant news. He informed the Emperor that Ning Wang was responsible for Xiao Liulang's disappearance, and that he had hired members of the Dual Blade Sect to assassinate him.
"Why would he harm Xiao Liulang?" The Emperor was puzzled.
Yuan Tang smiled and explained, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten who Xiao Liulang resembled? Ning Wang might have been worried that the Crown Princess, upon seeing someone who resembled the Little Marquis, would develop feelings for him too. So, he preemptively tried to eliminate his rival in love."
The Emperor hadn't considered why Ning Wang hadn't acted earlier.
His mind was in disarray and he hadn't thought about this aspect until now.
If Ning Wang had taken action because Xiao Liulang resembled Xiao Heng, then what about the real Xiao Heng?
The Emperor involuntarily recalled the massive fire from four years ago, and a chill crept into his eyes...
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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