"Sister, I will never let you leave."
"Xue Chang Jun." Xue Zi Ning frowned, looking coldly at Xue Chang Jun.
Xue Chang Jun, however, smiled. His smile was sinister and terrifying, his gaze filled with ferocity.
Xue Zi Ning froze. Just then, Xue Chang Jun grabbed her hand and pulled it towards his own neck. The words that followed astonished her.
"Imperial Sister, don't kill me. I don't want the throne, I don't want..."
Xue Zi Ning shivered, and then heard a voice from behind, "A Ning, what are you doing?"
Xue Zi Ning looked at Xue Chang Jun. Xue Chang Jun smiled at her, his words still the same: "Imperial Sister, I won't contend for anything, I don't want anything. Please let me go!"
"Xue Chang Ning, release the Third Prince."
Consort Yan rushed forward, shoving Xue Zi Ning aside. She looked at Xue Chang Jun, asking nervously, "Chang Jun, are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Xue Chang Jun trembled with fear. "I'm not contending for the throne. I'm not."
Consort Yan's tears flowed freely. She stood up and walked towards the Emperor and Empress, saying, "Your Majesty and Empress, you didn't believe in Princess Chang Ning's ambition earlier. Now that the evidence is conclusive, will you still show favoritism?"
"A Ning, come here."
Xue Zi Ning stood up. She knew this was all a trap set by Xue Chang Jun, and she had walked right into it.
Xue Zi Ning walked to her father and mother. Her father looked very angry. "A Ning, do you have anything to say?"
"Father, I was framed."
"Framed? You mean Chang Jun deliberately framed you? Princess Chang Ning, you must speak with a clear conscience. Chang Jun is still very weak; how could he frame you?" Consort Yan said with concern.
"Father, I was truly framed."
"With witnesses and evidence, Your Majesty, you cannot show favoritism to Princess Chang Ning out of affection. Chang Jun is also your child..."
"Presumptuous..." The Emperor was angry. "When did I ever say I would favor A Ning? A prince who breaks the law is subject to the same punishment as a commoner."
Consort Yan heard this and said, "If that is the case, I request Your Majesty to punish Princess Chang Ning for the crime of attempting to murder an imperial heir."
"Consort Yan, this Empress knows you dote on the Third Prince, but to condemn A Ning based on the word of the Third Prince alone, this Empress will not agree."
"Your Majesty, you have heard and seen Princess Chang Ning trying to kill the Third Prince. It is all before your eyes. If you cannot punish Princess Chang Ning, then I am not satisfied."
Consort Yan knelt on the ground, speaking each word deliberately.
Xue Zi Ning watched her father look at her for a long time before turning his head away and coldly saying, "Princess Chang Ning is suspected of attempting to murder the Third Prince. She is now to be sent to the Heavenly Prison."
"Your Majesty, you cannot punish A Ning like this! A Ning would never do such a thing!" The Empress was anxious and quickly pleaded for Xue Zi Ning.
"Empress, as you arrived, you saw Princess Chang Ning strangling the Third Prince. Is that not clear enough?"
"This Empress will absolutely not do such a thing. I believe A Ning. Let's see who dares to take A Ning away."
"Mother, don't make things difficult for Father. A Ning believes Father will clear A Ning's name." Xue Zi Ning spoke slowly from behind the Empress.
The Empress turned to look at her. "A Ning..."
"Don't worry, Mother. A Ning promises you, nothing will happen."
After comforting the Empress, Xue Zi Ning walked to her father's side. "Father, A Ning absolutely did not do this. I implore Father to clear A Ning's name."
With that, Xue Zi Ning left with the palace attendants.
"Your Majesty, this matter requires an explanation for the Third Prince. Otherwise, I cannot be at peace."
"Consort Yan, A Ning has already been escorted to prison. Do not be so overbearing." The Empress said with a cold expression.
Consort Yan heard this and looked at the Emperor, saying aggrievedly, "Your Majesty, look at the Empress. She still threatens me. All I am doing is what I should do. Your Majesty also said that a prince who breaks the law is subject to the same punishment as a commoner. You cannot be lenient just because the one who committed the crime is Princess Chang Ning, can you?"
"You..."
"Empress, that's enough." The Emperor stopped the Empress.
The Empress glanced at Consort Yan and said coldly, "My A Ning does not deign to do such things."
With that, the Empress left.
Consort Yan looked at the Emperor's somber face and pretended to be very wronged. "Your Majesty, look at the Empress. She looks as if she wants to devour me. I am so afraid."
"You should indeed be afraid." The Emperor said coldly.
Consort Yan froze, feeling wronged. "Even Your Majesty defends the Empress?"
The Emperor pushed Consort Yan away and said coldly, "You should think about what will happen to you if things are exposed."
"Your Majesty, what are you saying? What 'things' are to be exposed?" Consort Yan asked, frowning in confusion.
"I know what kind of child A Ning is best. She would never harm Chang Jun for the throne."
Consort Yan trembled. "Your Majesty, are you implying that I am lying? Your Majesty, I know you dote on Princess Chang Ning, and naturally, you won't believe she would do anything for this position. But don't forget, everyone desires this position."
"Consort Yan, it is you who desires it, but not A Ning."
"Your Majesty, I know you won't believe me, but I must tell you, if you were to place the throne before Princess Chang Ning, she would not refuse it."
"She would refuse it," the Emperor stated with certainty.
This time, it was Consort Yan's turn to freeze. "Your Majesty, you..."
"Do you think I am blindly confident?"
Consort Yan did not speak. She simply felt that His Majesty was too sentimental.
"Consort Yan, I once truly offered the throne to A Ning, but A Ning said she did not want it, that it was for Chang Jun. I gave it to her, and she refused. Why would she harm Chang Jun to obtain the throne?"
"Your Majesty..." Consort Yan was utterly shocked. She was shocked that the Emperor had actually considered passing the throne to Princess Chang Ning.
It seemed Princess Chang Ning truly could not be kept.
"So, Consort Yan believes A Ning would really harm Chang Jun for the throne? I don't believe it."
"Your Majesty, but the facts are before our eyes."
"Yes, precisely because the facts are before our eyes, and A Ning has no way to defend herself, I had no choice but to send A Ning to the Heavenly Prison."
Consort Yan narrowed her eyes. "Your Majesty, perhaps when Chang Jun recovers, I can ask him about the incident."
The Emperor nodded.
In the prison, Xue Zi Ning sat on a chair. Perhaps someone had given orders, as her cell was not a true prison cell but rather resembled a guest room.
"Your Highness, please command me. I will prepare anything you require."