Chapter 61 Xie Yan Exposes the Lies

Chapter 61 Xie Yan Exposes the Lies

Shen Nanzi found it strange and couldn't help but turn around.

He was dressed in riding attire, his physique clearly visible—broad shoulders and a narrow waist—and he held a leather whip in his hand. Combined with that face…it truly disgusted her.

He had turned a deaf ear to the countless times she had been bullied outside, but these past two days he had been constantly getting close to her.

They really won't give up! A weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken—who are they trying to impress?

Not wanting him to affect her mood, Shen Nanzi calmly got up and chased after Cheng'er against the wind.

Xie Yan watched her leave without a word, avoiding him at all costs, his face showing a hint of disappointment.

Lin Ruyi watched as Nan Zi walked away, then clasped her hands at her sides, bent her knees, and bowed respectfully.

"Please forgive me, Prince Jing. I will be more careful with my words and actions in the future and will no longer quarrel with Princess Jing."

Xie Yan's eyes were cold and indifferent, his fingers pressing down on the leather whip, his aura so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

"Lady Hou really doesn't learn her lesson. It seems I must punish her a little today as a warning."

Lin Ruyi listened to his slow and pleasant voice, yet he uttered words that sent chills down her spine.

She recalled the knife wound on her neck, and could almost feel the coldness of the sword cutting through her skin, forcing a fearful smile.

He still harbored a sliver of hope: if Prince Jing disliked Princess Jing, he would at most give her a warning and wouldn't actually punish him.

"The weather is fine today, Prince Jing, please calm down and don't be upset because of me."

Xie Yan looked at her, his tone nonchalant, but his eyes held a hidden ruthlessness.

“After this, your son will no longer be eligible to come to this archery range.”

Lin Ruyi trembled and almost lost her balance. The children of officials who could come to the Royal Archery Range were subject to strict selection criteria.

Entering this place signifies entering the core circle of future power, and countless officials would do anything to send their children here for training.

Horseback archery occupies a significant portion of children's education from initiation to adulthood.

Many officials' children formed friendships and acquaintances during this period, laying a solid foundation of trust for their future careers.

In the small world of children, cliques and nascent groups will also form, and behind this is always the instruction of their parents.

Her child was only able to come here because she begged the half-dead marquis to kneel before the emperor.

However, since the training here is for members of the royal family, their safety is of paramount importance, and any reason could easily lead to the deprivation of a court official's child from a place.

Prince Jing had the right to dismiss him.

Lin Ruyi's husband is now paralyzed, and there are several adult sons in the Marquis's mansion vying for the title of heir.

She was a second wife, and her son was still young. It was unlikely that she could obtain the position of heir apparent. The only way for her son to succeed was to fight for his future in the power circle.

Xie Yan deprived her of more than just a shooting range spot; she deprived her of the rest of her life and her son's future.

Lin Ruyi fell to her knees with a thud, supporting herself with her hands, almost crawling on the ground, her voice filled with panic.

"Your Highness Prince Jing, please calm down. I know I was wrong. I will never dare to offend Princess Jing again. I only beg Your Highness to have mercy and spare my young son."

Prince Jing glanced coldly at the other women, who were all terrified and kept their heads down, afraid that Prince Jing would recognize their faces.

"Effective immediately, your children are disqualified from entering the archery range for six months."

They all gasped, their faces turning extremely pale, yet they had no choice but to bow in gratitude.

"Thank you for your mercy, Prince Jing. We will remember your teachings and never repeat this mistake."

Lin Ruyi had no other choice. She grabbed Xie Yan's robe and cried, "Prince Jing, please spare me!"

"Let go!" Xie Yan felt the pulling and his face showed disgust.

"Prince Jing, please spare my child, for the sake of the fact that I once admired you!" Lin Ruyi cried, tears streaming down her face, filled with regret.

“If it weren’t for Princess Jing’s medicine, which caused me to accidentally ingest it, I wouldn’t be in this miserable state now.”

Xie Yan kicked her away, saying, "Madam, watch your words. Don't think I don't know that the medicine you drank back then was prepared for me."

Lin Ruyi fell to the ground, her body stiffened, her face ashen. How did he know?

She shook her head again, in anguish, "Prince Jing, no, you have wronged me."

"Do you think that with something so serious happening, I wouldn't investigate?" Xie Yan retorted.

"I still think that Princess Jing is as easy to frame as you think. If she doesn't admit it, you will be stuffed into Prince Jing's mansion, while she will at most be confined for half a year."

The other women were all surprised when they heard the secret, as they had all heard about it.

When the old master of the Lin family turned seventy, everyone went to offer their congratulations.

For some reason, Lin Ruyi took off her clothes in the banquet hall, running around in only her undergarments.

There was an imperial physician present at the time, who diagnosed that Lin Ruyi had drunk an aphrodisiac mixed with fruit wine.

They immediately administered acupuncture to awaken her from her daze.

After regaining her senses, Lin Ruyi became furious and pointed at Shen Nanzi, saying that she had acted this way because she had drunk the fruit wine that Shen Nanzi had given her.

Shen Nanzi confessed her crime on the spot, apologized, and was punished by Prince Jing.

I felt something was off about the whole thing at the time, and the ending was rather rushed.

It now appears that the Lin family actually knew that Lin Ruyi herself had taken action for the sake of the marriages of the other girls in the household.

Having no other choice, Lin Ruyi, who disregarded the family's honor, was hastily given an apology to settle the matter and not pursue it further.

After that, her marriage became a problem, and she could only marry the Marquis as his second wife.

She was clearly the instigator, infatuated with Prince Jing, attempting to drug him and offer herself to him, willingly becoming his wife.

He happened to encounter the jealous Princess Jing, who retaliated in kind, injuring him with a boomerang.

In the end, it was Shen Nanzi who gained a bad reputation. However, because of this incident, she won the sympathy of the public and repeatedly made trouble for Princess Jing.

Everyone stole glances at Lin Ruyi with disgust. Such despicable methods, harming others without benefiting herself, how could she still have the face to beg Prince Jing, dragging them all down with her.

Lin Ruyi finally understood, and dared to smile bitterly. It turned out that Xie Yan had known all along.

He had been watching her performance, watching everyone bully Shen Nanzi, his fingers unconsciously clenching the dry, withered grass on the ground. This person was truly cunning.

Just then...

"Uncle Prince Jing," a childish voice called out.

Everyone looked up.

Xie Hongrui jogged over and took Xie Yan's hand.

Xie Yan chuckled lightly, "You're late, kid."

Xie Hongrui chuckled, took Xie Yan's hand, and left.

Lin Ruyi looked at the child, a strange smile appearing on her lips.

The others watched this scene, and they really couldn't understand Prince Jing now. They thought that his relationship with Princess Jing had improved, which was why he took action for her.

Now it seems that things are not as simple as they appeared.

He completely ignored the rumors and gossip, and his relationship with the Second Princess remained ambiguous.

*

Xie Yan rode with Xie Hongrui for an hour, passing by Lie Feng and Cheng'er several times.

The child would always coldly look away, which reminded him of his younger self.

It was also in this archery range that the Emperor would ride his horse, leading each prince or princess in turn, but he would never ride with him.

At first, he would wait and long, but later he would pretend not to care, calmly watching everything, not letting anyone see his sadness.

He could turn a blind eye before, but now he can no longer forgive himself for his actions.