Chapter 130 The Fourth Prince's Downfall

Chapter 130 The Fourth Prince's Downfall

The Emperor's cough made everyone's hearts clench.

It wasn't until a royal physician, who was always at his service, came and gave the emperor some pills that his cough finally stopped.

"Your Majesty, are you feeling any better?" Consort Wei asked anxiously.

The Emperor's cough was caused by Xie Zhuo.

He pointed at Xie Zhuo, whose face had turned pale, and said in a hoarse voice, "You unfilial son, you betrayed your own brother and now you want to bite back? You're the one who falsely accuses others and framed them."

"Third brother, don't you know what kind of person he is?" The Emperor paused, glancing at Xie Yan. "He wouldn't easily convict you unless he was absolutely certain."

"He has found so many witnesses that he has already firmly established your guilt."

The Emperor's words were like a club, waking Xie Zhuo from the last vestige of hope.

Xie Zhuo knew exactly what he had done.

He glanced at the witnesses and knew he was finished.

His so-called meticulous plan was utterly ineffective against Xie Yan, and was nothing short of a joke.

Almost everyone involved was brought over.

Xie Yan is truly terrifying!!

He looked at Xue Qingning one last time, only to find her eyes lifeless.

A chill ran through me; I knew that this last option was probably hopeless.

Next, Xie Yan almost completely reconstructed Xie Zhuo's framing process, and even the men in black were captured.

Xie Zhuo had no choice but to plead guilty.

The emperor was furious. Xie Zhuo framed his uncle and sister-in-law for adultery, but in reality, he was instigating brothers to kill each other, causing the royal family to lose face and shaking the emperor's authority.

His right to participate in government affairs was immediately stripped, and his current position was to be handed over at once.

This means that Xie Zhuo has completely lost his eligibility to inherit the throne and is no longer qualified to compete for the throne.

Upon hearing the news, Lady Sun came to plead for him, barely managing to preserve his status as a prince.

However, he still couldn't escape the fate of being sent to guard the imperial mausoleum.

No matter how much Lady Sun cried and wailed, the Emperor's power was immense, and his words were law and could not be changed.

With the defeat of the Fourth Prince, his faction collapsed like a mountain.

The Emperor's health was also failing, and there were still unresolved matters to be discussed later.

As the Emperor and Consort Wei departed, Shen Nanzi also left Shengming Palace.

Outside the Shengming Hall, it was already pitch black.

The summer stars shone brightly across the sky.

Shen Nanzi stood on the steps, enjoying the evening breeze.

But could it not dispel the doubts in her heart?

What exactly is Xie Yan's purpose this time?

She had already admitted her mistakes, and was hoping to take the opportunity to break up with him.

Even if it meant losing a layer of skin, she didn't want to stay by his side.

It was also the best time to eliminate her, her brother, and Xie Yu, but why did things suddenly change?

This scene is certainly good; at least for Xie Yu, it's the perfect ending.

They cleared themselves of suspicion of adultery, and Xie Yu was no longer in danger of being kicked out.

Shen Nanzi was still uneasy, feeling that things were not so simple.

"Why aren't you leaving yet?" The voice beside her made Shen Nanzi's lips curl into a slight smile.

She looked at the stars in the sky and smiled with a sense of relief, "I'm so glad we can still be friends."

Recalling Consort Wei's anger, she was very grateful that Xie Yu had preserved their innocence at the last moment.

Shen Nanzi looked at him and said, "You've also saved your life."

Xie Yu looked down at her from his elevated position, a smile playing on his lips. "My mother said something bad about you, didn't she?"

Shen Nanzi smiled faintly, "She is your mother. No mother doesn't want her child to be happy."

"Therefore, she did nothing wrong in trying to protect you, and you must not harbor any resentment towards your mother."

"She didn't say anything, she just told me not to have any more contact with you."

Xie Yu sighed, and looked up at the night sky outside Shengming Palace.

"Although I have left Luoyang, I still sent people to investigate what happened that day."

"Just as we were about to find them, they were all cut off one by one."

He chuckled again, as if it were a bitter laugh, "Third Brother is probably more formidable than we imagined."

How could she not be amazing? She only found out about Lie Feng and some preliminary evidence, and Xie Yan had already dragged out all the people involved.

Just a few days, and only those who have investigated it know how difficult it is.

Mentioning Xie Yan's strength made Shen Nanzi's mood anything but pleasant. Looking at the already empty Shengming Palace, she urged Xie Yu to hurry up.

"It's getting late. Go back and visit Consort Wei and the Emperor."

Xie Yu nodded, "Go down the stairs slowly, your skirt is too long."

He wanted to reach out, but realized that his status did not allow it, and there were many guards watching around, so he silently withdrew his outstretched hand.

Shen Nanzi lifted her skirt, breathing in the cool summer breeze, letting the wind brush against her cheeks and neck, feeling a kind of dazed feeling of escaping death.

She knew that this moment of relief was only temporary.

However, she was still incredibly happy and couldn't help but hum a little tune.

Xie Yu watched her leave with lingering reluctance, her clear and melodious voice still carried on the evening breeze.

The girl he loves must stand in this world pure and innocent.

*

After humming a tune, Shen Nanzi walked to the side gate of the palace.

The night was as dark as ink; if it weren't for the faint light of the lantern, one probably wouldn't be able to see their own fingers.

As soon as Shen Nanzi passed through the gate, someone grabbed her arm.

"Where did you go? Why have you been gone for so long?"

Xie Yan's voice was cold, like a cool early spring morning with a hint of warmth.

Shen Nanzi stopped in her tracks easily when he pulled her, her heart pounding.

He stood in the darkness outside the gate, and his expression was completely obscured.

Shen Nanzi hadn't seen him for two days.

She boasted to Xue Qingning that Xie Yan didn't hold her while sleeping every night.

They only slept together for two nights, and then the person disappeared.

Seeing him in the Shengming Hall today felt rather strange.

She clutched her chest. "You scared me! You're still here?"

Xie Yan looked at her, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

In fact, when he saw her talking to Xie Yu on the steps of Shengming Hall, he felt a surge of bitterness in his heart.

He admitted that Xie Yu was more noble than him, and that he was able to refrain from touching her in order to preserve her reputation.

If it were him, he didn't know if he would have that kind of courage.

Just now, just touching her slender arm, he longed to pull her into his arms.

However, the thought that she no longer had feelings for him made him angry with himself, and he abruptly let go of her.

"I'll be waiting for you." His voice was a little hoarse as he emerged from the darkness.

His tall figure stood beside her under the lantern, their shadows overlapping and stretching extremely long.

Shen Nanzi looked up and glanced at him. "Let's go then!"

The carriage moved quietly back home, swaying gently like a cradle lulling one to sleep.

Shen Nanzi was not sleepy at all; she had many questions to ask Xie Yan.

I want to ask him why he did that?

Why go through the trouble of saving her and Xie Yu?

This is absolutely not how he should act. He should treat Xie Zhuo the same way and nail her firmly to the pillar of shame.

Even if you survive by sheer luck, you'll always feel inferior to others when you go out.

She stared at him, the orange lights in the carriage swaying gently, illuminating his cheeks.

He sat by the window, looking rather dignified.

She hesitated for a moment, and just as he was about to fall asleep, she asked, "Why did you do that?"