"Your Highness..."
Xue Zi Ning looked up and saw Yan Zhao arriving, startled, "Why are you here?"
"Your Highness, I was worried and came to see you," Yan Zhao said.
Xue Zi Ning smiled, "As you can see, I am fine."
"Your Highness, I know you are innocent. I will definitely clear your name."
"Yan Zhao, you don't have to do so much for me," Xue Zi Ning said slowly.
"Your Highness..." Yan Zhao looked at her in confusion.
"I did it on purpose," Xue Zi Ning said softly.
Yan Zhao was stunned, "Your Highness, are you... trying to do something?"
"Yan Zhao, I want to go to the imperial mausoleum." Xue Chang Jun's words at that time made her even more certain that she had to go to the imperial mausoleum.
But how to get there, how to succeed became a problem. How could she hide it from Xue Chang Jun?
As for Xue Chang Jun's self-righteous trap, thinking it could hold her, it actually gave her an opportunity. So, she played along, coming to this imperial prison, a place no longer under Xue Chang Jun's control.
She had hinted to her father, asking him not to interrogate her yet, to give her time. Her father would surely understand.
"Your Highness, can you take me with you?" Yan Zhao looked up at her, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"This journey might be fraught with many difficulties and dangers, even..."
"I have no regrets," Yan Zhao interrupted her, saying each word clearly.
"Good." Xue Zi Ning nodded. She would try her best to protect Yan Zhao and keep him from any danger.
Xue Zi Ning looked at the person brought by Xue Lian, who resembled her, and gave Xue Lian a few instructions.
Xue Lian said, "Your Highness, please rest assured, this servant will wait here for your safe return."
Xue Lian did this to prevent anyone from discovering that the person in the imperial prison was not Princess Chang Ning. By staying here, Xue Lian would appear loyal to her mistress, and no one would suspect anything, thinking she was simply reluctant to part with Princess Chang Ning.
"Xue Lian, thank you." Xue Zi Ning hadn't expected Xue Lian to have already devised such a perfect plan for her.
"Your Highness, this servant awaits your safe return!" Xue Lian said.
Xue Zi Ning glanced at Xue Lian. She knew that this departure might be their final parting. She took off the jade pendant that had accompanied her since childhood and handed it to Xue Lian, "Xue Lian, this is for you."
Xue Lian was stunned and looked up at her. "Your Highness, it is too precious. I cannot accept it."
"Take it!" Xue Zi Ning forcefully placed it into Xue Lian's hand, then turned and left.
Fearing discovery, Xue Zi Ning and Yan Zhao rode their horses, leaving the imperial palace under the cover of darkness.
Shu Palace
"Mother Consort, you sent Xue Chang Ning into the imperial prison?" Xue Chang An had been with Hua Yun Jin for the past few days. Upon returning to the palace, he heard this shocking news and found it hard to believe.
Who was Xue Chang Ning? She was someone he had been at odds with multiple times and had always been at a disadvantage. How could she possibly have been tricked by his mother consort and imprisoned?
No matter how he thought about it, it seemed impossible.
"Chang An, your brother's obstacle is now gone," Imperial Consort Yan smiled very relaxedly.
Heaven knew how much time she had spent trying to remove Xue Chang Ning, but she had never succeeded, solely because His Majesty doted on Xue Chang Ning too much, and because Xue Chang Ning had never interacted with her.
It seemed that as she reached a certain age, her thoughts became more active, leading Xue Chang Ning to develop some restless ideas.
The throne should have belonged to Chang Jun from the beginning. Once Chang Jun ascended the throne, the position of Empress would be nothing in her eyes.
The position of Empress Dowager was what she should pursue.
"Mother Consort, are you sure Xue Chang Ning fell for the trap?" Xue Chang An felt something was strange. Would Xue Chang Ning fall for a trap? She still found it hard to believe.
"My son, do you not believe me?" Imperial Consort Yan seemed displeased.
Xue Chang An said, "Your son merely feels that there is something peculiar about this. Chang Jun has been ill for so long, yet she has not come to visit him..."
"She can't help herself," Imperial Consort Yan said with a cold laugh.
The throne, what a great temptation! Who wouldn't covet it?
"Has Mother Consort sent people to monitor the imperial prison?" Xue Chang An asked.
Imperial Consort Yan said, "His Majesty has already sent people to guard the imperial prison, preventing anyone from seeing Xue Chang Ning. My people cannot get in."
Upon hearing this, Xue Chang An frowned and said coldly, "If that is the case, how can Mother Consort be so sure that Xue Chang Ning is indeed in the prison cell?"
Imperial Consort Yan was taken aback. She wanted to retort, but the words got stuck in her throat. Because Chang An was right, why was she so certain Xue Chang Ning was in prison?
Her people couldn't get into the imperial prison, and she didn't know the situation inside. What if Xue Chang Ning wasn't in prison?
Thinking of this, Imperial Consort Yan's gaze gradually turned cold. She looked at Xue Chang An and asked, "Chang An, tell me, have you learned something?"
Xue Chang An casually found a place to sit down and took a sip of tea. Just as Imperial Consort Yan was getting anxious and about to speak, she put down the teacup and said, "I heard someone leaving the imperial prison last night. That figure looked somewhat like Xue Chang Ning."
Imperial Consort Yan was surprised, then quickly said, "I will go to the imperial prison now to check. If Xue Chang Ning is not in her cell, her crimes will be even greater."
Xue Chang An watched Imperial Consort Yan rush off and said with amusement, "Mother Consort, do you think Father knows about this?"
Imperial Consort Yan was startled and looked at Xue Chang An, asking, "Chang An, what do you mean by that? Are you suggesting that Xue Chang Ning escaped from prison and that your father knows?"
"Otherwise?" Xue Chang An retorted. "Do you think Xue Chang Ning has the capability to escape from the imperial prison? And more importantly, without anyone knowing?"
Imperial Consort Yan frowned. "Then what should we do now?"
Xue Chang An said, "Mother Consort, you should still make a fuss, but know when to stop. Leave the rest to me."
Imperial Consort Yan looked at Xue Chang An suspiciously. "Is this enough?"
Xue Chang An nodded. "Yes, this is enough."
Imperial Consort Yan nodded. "Then fine, I will go to His Majesty now and make a scene."
After Imperial Consort Yan left, Xue Chang An drank another cup of tea and then said, "Having listened for so long, shouldn't you come out and see me?"
A figure emerged from the corner. The young man's face was still somewhat pale, and the掐痕 on his neck were clearly visible.
Xue Chang An clicked her tongue twice. "Imperial brother, you truly were ruthless to yourself."
Xue Chang Jun sneered, "In the royal family, how many are not ruthless?"
Xue Chang An nodded. "You are right, but your method, though ruthless, may not be a fatal blow."
"I never intended for Xue Chang Ning to die," Xue Chang Jun said slowly.
"It seems Chang Jun is still hiding something from me," Xue Chang An played with the teacup in her hand, then looked up and asked coldly.
"It is much better for some things to remain unknown to Older Sister," Xue Chang Jun said.
"But I still want to know," Xue Chang An said, word by word.
Xue Chang Jun sneered, "Sister is going to the imperial mausoleum. Are you going too?"