Chapter 975: 454 The Truth (Second Update) Chapter 975: 454 The Truth (Second Update) The Dragon Shadow Guard would not lay a hand on someone who was inept at martial arts, but Long Yi… he was a rogue, a fake Dragon Shadow Guard.

In other words, he did not adhere to the rules set by the late emperor for the Dragon Shadow Guard.

The scene was truly shocking, to the point where even the birds in the Imperial Garden dared not chirp!

Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Study Room, the emperor was still unaware of the drastic turn of events in the Imperial Garden, and he was recounting the actions of Prince Ning to Princess Xinyang.

Why he used the word “recount” was something that puzzled the Emperor himself.

It was a sister, not an older sister, that scared him to death!

In the end, the Emperor blamed his son for causing the death of Princess Xinyang’s son, feeling both guilty and remorseful.

The Emperor had initially avoided mentioning the conflict between Prince Ning and the East Palace, simply stating that the fire four years ago was no accident but the work of Prince Ning, and as a father, he felt deeply ashamed and guilt-stricken about raising such a son.

“How did Your Majesty know it was Prince Ning?” Princess Xinyang asked.

“This…” the Emperor opened his mouth and said, “I’ve interrogated his subordinates, and they have confessed to framing Ahen.”

Princess Xinyang questioned with doubt, “Why would Your Majesty investigate Prince Ning out of the blue?”

Wasn’t it because of the quarrel between Prince Ning and the East Palace, which almost led to the Crown Prince’s murder, that he gradually discovered Prince Ning’s feelings for Wo Linlang and eventually unearthed the truth about the incident four years ago?

No, aren’t you missing the point a bit?

The Emperor, reluctant to expose family disgrace, revealed a trace of deep resentment in his eyes.

Princess Xinyang just quietly watched the Emperor, showing no intention of bypassing this issue and moving on, which confused the Emperor. Don’t you care about how your own son died? Why are you concerned about all these trivial matters concerning my son?

Helplessly, the Emperor had no choice but to talk about his discovery in the Inn–that Prince Ning had attempted fratricide.

Princess Xinyang was still befuddled: “Just because he wanted to kill the Crown Prince, Your Majesty suspects that Xiao Hen was killed by him too? If a person is bad, is every wrongdoing committed by him?”

The Emperor: …Really, let’s not talk about this, we can still be siblings.

No, why aren’t you wondering why Prince Ning would attempt to kill the Crown Prince now?

Is your focus always so elusive?

Forget it, if face is to be lost, so be it. The fact that one’s own son has committed fratricide is already shameful enough.

The Emperor then went into the tangle between Prince Ning and the Crown Prince’s Consort in great detail.

Princess Xinyang made an “Oh” sound: “So, they were caught in the act by the Crown Prince?”

The Emperor: Could your focus be any more off the mark?!!!

“Um, something like that,” the Emperor said vaguely.

Princess Xinyang fell silent.

Seeing her silence, the Emperor did not know how to comfort her. After a moment of hesitation and with a sigh, he said, “I’m very sorry and saddened about Ahen’s death. Prince Ning has committed an unforgivable crime. As his father, it’s my fault for not raising him properly. I do not expect your forgiveness, but I hope you won’t be too hard on yourself. You always thought that it was your lack of vigilance that led to Ahen’s death in the fire. Now that the truth has been revealed, it was someone… it was my son who did it with intention, it’s my fault, it’s Prince Ning’s fault, not yours.”

These words were heartfelt from the Emperor. Since Xiao Hen’s death, Princess Xinyang had been in a state of despair, even leaving Capital City, the place of heartache. Although the Emperor’s relationship with Princess Xinyang was not as close as with Princess Ning An, she was still a sister closer to him than other princesses.

He hoped she would not be too saddened.

“Your Majesty, may I see Prince Ning?” Princess Xinyang suddenly spoke up.

The Emperor was stunned.

As the victim’s family member, her request to see the perpetrator seemed both reasonable and natural; the Emperor had no grounds for refusal.

“I… will strip him of his princely status, banish him from Capital City, and send him to the bitter cold lands, if…” The Emperor could not utter a word without feeling a pang of pain in his chest. This was his own son, his eldest son whom he had raised by hand. To cast him aside was easier said than done; who could bear it?

Yet because he had experienced this “grief of losing a son,” he could empathize even more with the hurt that Princess Xinyang had suffered, and he found it impossible to ask for her forgiveness on behalf of Prince Ning.

Even if Princess Xinyang wanted to draw her sword and kill Prince Ning, what could he say?

Was it only permissible for Prince Ning to kill her son and not for her to avenge her child?

The Emperor’s eyes reddened, and he said with restraint, “I will ask Eunuch Wei to take you there.”

Princess Xinyang stood up, bowed slightly to the Emperor, and followed Eunuch Wei to the side hall where Prince Ning was held.

In the pitch-black side hall, Prince Ning was unkempt and disheveled, with a pale blue circle around his mouth and a blank, indifferent look in his eyes.

“Your Highness, please,” Eunuch Wei stood outside the door and gestured to Princess Xinyang.

Princess Xinyang stepped inside.

Yujin followed her, planning to join her.

“Wait outside,” Princess Xinyang said to Yujin.

Yujin paused, “Yes.”

Yujin and Steward Wei waited outside.

Watching Princess Xinyang walk towards Ning Wang in the corner, Steward Wei intended to remind her not to get too close, but he swallowed the words before speaking.

If Ning Wang really wasn’t afraid of death, he could take Princess Xinyang hostage. If he did so, not even the Emperor could save his life when Count Xuanping sought accountability later.

Ning Wang sat on the ground in the corner, leaning against the wall, his face enveloped in a layer of shadows.

His eyes slightly closed, he either hadn’t heard the footsteps of the approaching person, or he had heard them but didn’t care.

Princess Xinyang stopped in front of him and looked down at Ning Wang, “Who were those people?”

Ning Wang, who had been held in Huaqing Palace until numb in both body and mind these past few days, didn’t bother with anyone and didn’t plan to bother with yet another palace maid who had suddenly come to question him.

However, when he heard the familiar voice, he instinctively opened his eyes and indeed saw Princess Xinyang’s cold and frosty face.

The face of Princess Xinyang was half bathed in sunlight and half shrouded in shadow, looking somewhat severe and eerie.

Ning Wang could ignore anyone else, but he couldn’t ignore Princess Xinyang.

His gaze lingered on Princess Xinyang’s face for a moment, before he lowered his eyes, “I don’t understand what my aunt is talking about.”

“You don’t understand? Well then, your aunt will take her time until you do understand. After all, your aunt has plenty of time,” Princess Xinyang sat down on the chair opposite him and looked at him from a distance, “Do you really have the guts to kill Xiao Hen?”

Ning Wang gave a faint smile, “It seems my aunt knows everything. Whether I have the guts or not, hasn’t he already been killed? Is my aunt here to seek justice? Kill or slice, it’s all up to my aunt.”

Princess Xinyang watched him unwaveringly, “You killed Xiao Hen, and then what? Was it just to benefit the Crown Prince?”

Ning Wang said, “I originally planned to make her my concubine.”

Princess Xinyang scoffed, “Really? Can you?”

Of course… he couldn’t.

His maternal grandfather wouldn’t agree, and neither would the Empress Dowager nor the Emperor.

He wasn’t like the Crown Prince, who would rather give up his title than not marry Wo Linlang; having been unable to persuade her son, the Empress had no choice but to convince the Emperor and Count Xuanping to agree to the marriage.

From the beginning, he knew that killing Xiao Hen wouldn’t help matters; Wo Linlang could only ever remain hidden in the shadows with him.

Princess Xinyang analyzed for him, “You indeed harbored the intent to kill Xiao Hen, but to kill Qin Chuhan, the most beloved legitimate son of Count Xuanping and me, for a clandestine relationship–Your aunt doesn’t underestimate you, but you don’t have the courage, nor are you that foolish. Unless—”
Stopping at that point, Princess Xinyang paused, and Ning Wang’s fingers tightened as well.

Princess Xinyang continued, “Unless you knew he was not Count Xuanping and my legitimate son, but a bastard pretending to be the legitimate son, and moreover a bastard I would be glad to eliminate.”

Given Count Xuanping’s womanizing nature, there were two acknowledged bastards in the house, but that was with her consent.

As for whether there were any bastards outside, she didn’t care, but Xiao Hen’s life was traded for her son’s.Once she learned the truth, Xiao Hen’s life or death had nothing to do with her.

Moreover, it might even lead Count Xuanping to think she was responsible, which would allow Ning Wang to easily hide from the conspiracy.

“Who told you about Xiao Hen’s birth?” Princess Xinyang asked steadily.

Ning Wang took a moment to recover from the shock of Princess Xinyang’s piercing insight, then turned his face and said after a while, “Investigation.”

Princess Xinyang let out a huff, “Why would you investigate Xiao Hen’s birth for no reason?”

Ning Wang fell silent.

Princess Xinyang said indifferently, “Don’t tell me you found out by accident. There aren’t that many accidents in the world, and you’re not that lucky.”

Ning Wang suddenly remembered what the Grand Tutor had told him—in the royal family, you can look down on anyone but never underestimate Princess Xinyang; she is a princess who has never suffered without the protection of a mother.

“I don’t know,” Ning Wang said.

“What do you mean by ‘don’t know’?” Princess Xinyang frowned.

After some thought, Ning Wang said, “It means, I don’t know who those people are, but they knew me. They initially approached me pretending to align with me, to work as strategists in my house, and indeed they did find me some very useful information, which led me to start valuing and trusting them. A few months later, they said they’d found a clue that could bring down Count Xuanping. I was very tempted, for if Count Xuanping, the biggest support of the Empress and the Crown Prince, were to fall, I would be one step closer to the position of Crown Prince.”