TICIEC Chapter 31.2

In the main hall of the imperial palace, Helian Qi flew into a rage and swept a pile of memorials off the table with a flick of his sleeve.

Wang Degui knelt on the ground, trembling, only daring to say the good news, “Your Majesty, please calm down! Imperial Physician Zhao said that although Shun Pin was unwell, fortunately, it was discovered in time, so the pregnancy has been saved!”

“Prepare the carriage and return to the palace!” Helian Qi said coldly.

The matters concerning the summer hunt had been completed in the past two days, and they were scheduled to depart for the palace tomorrow anyway.

“Yes! Then what about Shu Fei’s request for permission…” Wang Degui inquired.

Helian Qi’s eyes flashed with a fierce light: “Let her interrogate her carefully.”

He had already investigated the case thoroughly. Since Qiu Xia refused to confess even at the cost of her life, there were only two possibilities: either she was framed, or she was utterly loyal to her master, Tang Miaoling.

But for the Emperor, it is better to kill the innocent than to let the guilty go free.

No one is more important than a dragon’s offspring.

“Your Majesty, Ning Meiren requests an audience.” The eunuch on duty outside the door reported.

Helian Qi’s irritation deepened.

“She still comes to see me at a time like this. Isn’t she afraid of being accused of being in cahoots?”

He paused, also curious about how much Ning Wanyin knew about Tang Miaoling’s affair, and said: “Let her in.”

…

Ning Wanyin entered the main hall and immediately noticed the scattered memorials on the floor.

Helian Qi sat expressionlessly on the dragon throne, coldly looking at her, “What are you doing here?”

“This concubine heard about Shun Pin’s near-fatal attack and has come to petition Your Majesty not to subject Tang Meiren to severe torture.” Ning Wanyin knelt on the ground, frank and open.

Wang Degui gasped in shock.

Good heavens, she really came to plead for Tang Meiren.

You dare to get involved in something like this? Others would be too busy clearing their names.

“Why do you want me to refrain her from torture? Do you think she’s innocent?” Helian Qi’s narrow eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly seeking her opinion, his expression unreadable.

What made you so sure she was innocent?

Unless she reported everything she did to you?

So, was today’s incident orchestrated by you?

Although Ning Wanyin protected Shun Pin’s unborn child last time, it didn’t mean she would never plot against it.

Different situations call for different choices; friend or foe can change at any time.

Ning Wanyin was well aware that if she dared to speak out in defense of Tang Miaoling, she herself would be implicated in the matter of Shun Pin.

His Majesty dotes on her, but he also suspects her and everyone in the harem.

“This concubine doesn’t know if Tang Meiren is innocent, but this concubine knows that she’s cowardly and spineless. Whatever the charge, she’ll confess under torture. If she’s not the mastermind, wouldn’t that be wrongfully killing an innocent person and letting the real culprit escape?” Ning Wanyin answered calmly.

From the moment she decided to plead for Tang Miaoling, she had already mentally rehearsed these words three times.

“Then who is the real culprit you’re talking about?” Helian Qi countered.

Ning Wanyin calmly replied, “This concubine does not know. But this concubine has heard that Shun Pin is unharmed, and the person behind it has not yet achieved their goal and is very likely to make another move. This concubine dares to ask Your Majesty to allow this concubine to take care of Shun Pin, to wait for the culprit to come to the trap, and to catch the real culprit.”

“This concubine is willing to protect Shun Pin with her life! If this concubine fails to find anyone suspicious, Your Majesty can then deal with Tang Meiren.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Helian Qi’s eyes.

“You want to care for Shun Pin? If the dragon fetus suffers any harm, do you know you cannot bear the responsibility?”

“This concubine will certainly do her utmost, and if there is any mistake, I am willing to accept punishment.” Ning Wanyin knelt and bowed.

 

 

 

 

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