The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 165 A City in Turmoil (3)

Princess Jianing was stunned, never expecting that she would be threatened by Jing Anle.

Suddenly, a gong sounded, and the sound of a night watchman's drum came from outside the window.

“Aunt, it’s almost dawn. Anle said that after tonight, everything will be null and void.” Jing Anle’s voice was icy cold.

Princess Jianing took a deep breath, as if she had made a major decision. She sat down on the pear wood chair, her eyes calm, and slowly said, "The late Empress did not die of illness."

Upon hearing this, Jing Anle felt a rush of blood to her head. She lost her balance for a moment, staggered a few steps, and finally managed to steady herself by placing her hand on a pillar.

"Back then, when His Majesty personally led the expedition, only the late Empress was in charge of the overall situation in the palace."

“Back then, you were just an infant in swaddling clothes. Who knew that the war was so intense, and a secret report came from the front that His Majesty had died in battle. The late Empress couldn’t bear the shock and fainted.” As she spoke, Princess Jianing raised her head, as if her thoughts had returned to fifteen years ago.

“I was raised in the palace since I was a child. When the incident happened, I was only twelve years old. I saw Consort Yu, who is now Consort Yu, bring a bowl of ginseng soup into Shangyang Palace. Before I could see what was going on, I was taken away by the governess.”

“I also mentioned this to the nanny, but she stopped me and wouldn’t allow me to mention it.”

"The next day, news of the Empress's death came from Shangyang Palace."

After Princess Jianing finished speaking, there was a moment of cold silence in the air.

"And in the afternoon, Father returned to the capital in triumph, only to be greeted by Mother's cold body," Jing Anle continued.

A breeze swept past the window, as if someone was responding.

"That's all I know; I'm completely unaware of the rest."

"Is it Consort Yu?" Jing Anle's mind conjured up that beautiful face.

Princess Jianing shook her head. "I don't know."

"Please, Princess, save Shuran."

Looking at Princess Jianing before her, Jing Anle's lips curled into a cold smile. "Auntie's maternal love is touching, but have you ever considered how my maternal grandmother endured the pain of losing her daughter?"

"Princess!"

“No matter how favored I am now, I was just a minor princess of Yun Guang Palace back then. How could I possibly compete with Consort Yu? Besides, I don’t even know what really happened.” Princess Jianing’s tone was somewhat agitated, her voice rose, and her beautiful face became somewhat distorted.

Even though Jing Anle had been reborn and was no matter how calm she was, she could not possibly let go of the death of the late Empress. After a long pause, she said, "Aunt, it's almost time."

"What?" Princess Jianing's eyes were full of confusion.

“What kind of person is Prince Qing? I’m sure his request must be extremely unreasonable. I think my aunt would naturally be unwilling. It would be better to go to the palace quickly and report to Father Emperor, firstly to show our loyalty, and secondly to ask for his understanding.”

"Is this the method the princess mentioned?" Princess Jianing's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"Otherwise what? Are you really going to hand over the gold mine to someone else? And then be accused of covering it up when things go wrong? Besides, Aunt knows the location of that gold mine better than I do. If we get involved, it's treason!"

The night watchman's drum sounded again outside the window, and Princess Jianing felt terrified.

"Aunt, this is the last chance. If you don't leave now, when Father Emperor goes to court, Prince Qing will be so eloquent, and the county princess's future may really be in jeopardy."

Princess Jianing looked out the window. The hazy night seemed to be fading away. She pursed her lips slightly and walked resolutely toward the door.

"aunt."

Princess Jianing paused in her steps.

"For the sake of the county princess, Anle should still advise her aunt to handle the gold mine matter properly and find a good place for it."

"Thank you, Princess!" Princess Jianing practically spat out those words through clenched teeth.

It was supposed to be a beautiful night with a full moon, but as soon as Princess Jianing stepped out, it started to rain. However, she didn't care about anything else and walked straight out. She walked hurriedly and resolutely.

"Princess, shall we return to the palace?" Afang asked Jing Anle as she came out of the study.

The rain drizzled down, quickly soaking the grass and trees in the yard. Jing Anle looked at the gloomy sky and said calmly, "I'll go back when it's light."

After she finished speaking, she said no more. Afang obediently responded, but Mu Ping looked at Jing Anle with complicated eyes. She had noticed Jing Anle's difference when she came out of the study, but she did not say anything.

……

The residence of the Marquis of Pingchang.

As night deepened, when Murong Peifeng returned to his residence, the wind and rain fell outside the door, and no one noticed his actions that night.

Murong Peifeng returned to his room and closed the door. He leaned against the door, recalling the events of the night. A smile played on his lips as if he were savoring the memory. A moment later, he burst into laughter. However, although Murong Peifeng was laughing, his eyes were like those wrapped in thin ice, dangerous and cold.

"Rou'er, you can only belong to me!" His voice was loud, almost defying the wind and rain outside the window.

……

The next day.

Taiyu Hall.

Prince Qing was in a good mood today, and even when he saw Li Cong, he did not have the grim expression he usually did.

The sunlight fell on Prince Qing's shoulders and didn't disappear until he entered the palace.

Fang Ling noticed something amiss and asked with a forced smile, "Does Your Highness have some good news?"

"Hahaha!" Prince Qing just laughed without saying a word, little did he know that he would soon be unable to laugh.

"Attend court!" Eunuch Wei's shrill voice was as sharp as ever.

Emperor Jing, dressed in a black dragon robe, sat high on the dragon throne, exuding extraordinary majesty.

"I learned something last night: Princess Jia Ning's daughter, Kou Shuran, caught a cold, but the imperial physician prescribed the wrong medicine, causing her to develop hysteria. He even sent someone to push the princess into the water."

After saying that, Prince Qing's smug expression vanished, replaced by a hint of doubt.

"Brother Qing, how is the Princess?"

"Your Majesty, minister..."

Before Prince Qing could finish speaking, Emperor Jing interrupted him again, "Last night, Jianing came to the palace and apologized to me. As her elder brother, you should naturally be lenient. I have already ordered her to send someone to take good care of the princess."

Hearing Emperor Jing's words, Prince Qing knew something was wrong and thought to himself: This Jia Ning is actually playing tricks on me. Naturally, he was unwilling to give up, so he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, although I am the elder brother, I am also a father. Rou'er had a high fever last night and it was really pitiful. I beg Your Majesty to give my daughter and me justice!"

The ministers in the court looked at each other, realizing that this was ultimately a family matter of the royal family, and no one dared to interfere.