But the Emperor couldn't stand Xie Jingyan's self-righteous attitude. She was the Empress Dowager, someone even he, the Emperor, had to respect. Yet Xie Jingyan showed no respect for the Empress Dowager whatsoever. If he really angered her to the point of illness, even he, the Emperor, couldn't protect him.

The Emperor rebuked, "You can't afford to anger the Empress Dowager to the point of death!"

Shen Wan thought the Emperor had nothing more to say, but his anger only intensified, which startled her.

Xie Jingyan held her protectively in his arms and said to the Emperor, "Why are you shouting so loudly? You've frightened Wan'er."

The emperor's face turned green with anger.

His father, the emperor, did speak a bit too loudly.

But could Princess Ling, who remained unfazed even after falling into the water and being stabbed, be so easily frightened?!

The Emperor looked at Shen Wan, who was furious and secretly pinched Xie Jingyan's waist.

Why did he drag her into his argument with the Emperor?

That bastard definitely did it on purpose.

However, this tactic did work. The Emperor was so angry that he wanted to throw Xie Jingyan out of the palace, but he was also afraid of frightening Shen Wan and causing her to have a miscarriage. So his attitude softened a bit, "You must not interfere in the rest of the matter."

As if he liked to meddle in other people's business, Xie Jingyan said impatiently, "As long as the court pardons the Prince of Yanping in accordance with the law and does not impose another sentence, I will not interfere anymore."

The implication was that if the Empress Dowager, Duke Mao, Duke Du, and others continued to press the matter, he would help the Prince of Yanping to the very end.

He went so far as to forge an imperial pardon to save the heir of the Prince of Yanping. Needless to say, the Emperor knew of his determination.

"Step back."

The Emperor dismissed them.

Xie Jingyan grabbed Shen Wan's hand, didn't even bother to return the courtesy, and left immediately.

Once outside the imperial study, with no one else around, Shen Wan asked, "The Emperor forbade you to handle this matter anymore. Does this mean he still intends to severely punish the Prince of Yanping's residence?"

Xie Jingyan paused for a moment before saying, "The Yanping Prince's Mansion will most likely be stripped of its title."

Shen Wan was startled.

Stripping someone of their title is no light punishment.

In her previous life, the heir of the Prince of Yanping was killed, and the emperor did not pursue the matter further. However, although he did not pursue it, Princess Qinghe married the wrong person in order to save the heir of the Prince of Yanping. The Prince of Yanping moved to his fiefdom and was not allowed to enter the capital without being summoned. In addition, the Prince of Yanping only had one son, the heir of the Prince of Yanping. With the death of the heir of the Prince of Yanping, the Prince of Yanping would be without an heir, and the Empress Dowager would not have to go to such lengths to kill him.

In this life, the Empress Dowager's anger was not appeased, but rather intensified, thanks to the pardon token that saved the life of the Prince of Yanping. In order to appease the Empress Dowager, the Emperor would inevitably impose other punishments on the Prince of Yanping's residence. If he could not take the life of the Prince of Yanping's son, then he would have to take back the wealth and honor bestowed upon the Prince of Yanping's residence.

However, being stripped of his title is better than the execution of the Prince of Yanping. If he loses his life, he's really gone. But if his title is stripped, there's still a chance to get it back. Even if the Emperor doesn't have it, there's Xie Jingyan. As long as he succeeds, given how hard he's worked to save the Prince of Yanping, getting his title back will be a piece of cake.

No sooner had Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan returned to the Ling Prince's residence than news arrived that the Empress Dowager had fallen ill.

Shen Wan didn't know whether the Empress Dowager was angered by them or was feigning illness to put pressure on the Emperor.

It is very likely that both are true.

As the Empress Dowager, whose son is the current Emperor, and whose only grandson was murdered, she cannot demand that the Prince of Yanping pay with his life. How could the Empress Dowager be willing to accept this? However, the death-exemption token had long been in the hands of the Yun family. In order to help the eldest prince, the Empress Dowager had asked the Princess of Yanping to speak well of the Yun family, and many imperial relatives even came to persuade her. Now, she could not voice her opposition. If it weren't for this incident, the Empress Dowager would definitely have demanded that the Yun family hand over the death-exemption token, but in the end, she still could not get her way.

Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan didn't eat lunch. After returning to Moyuxuan, they ate a few pastries. Shen Wan was so tired that she fell asleep and woke up just in time for dinner.

Although the Emperor has not yet officially issued an edict to pardon the Prince of Yanping, he has implicitly acknowledged that the Yun family's pardon is genuine. The Minister of Justice has withdrawn the yamen runners who were guarding the Prince of Yanping's residence to prevent the Prince of Yanping from leaving. This move undoubtedly confirms that the Prince of Yanping has been pardoned and released. However, the Emperor still needs to appease the Empress Dowager's anger and carry out a final punishment on the Prince of Yanping's residence. If the Prince of Yanping is pardoned first, it will be difficult to issue an imperial edict of punishment.

In their efforts to find a way to save the Crown Prince of Yanping, Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan hadn't slept well. Now that everything had settled down, they slept exceptionally soundly that night.

When she woke up the next day, the sun was already high in the sky, and the sunlight outside the window was so bright it was dazzling. Shen Wan threw off the covers and was about to get out of bed when she said, "I still have to go to the Yun family today. Why didn't you wake me up earlier?"

Yinshuang said, "The prince forbids waking the princess, and we servants dare not disobey."

She knew that Yinshuang and Haitang had ignored her words because of Xie Jingyan.

Shen Wan got out of bed, washed up, and the maid brought in the food. Xie Jingyan had already eaten, so Shen Wan ate this late breakfast alone.

Just after finishing their meal, Xie Jingyan returned from his study and accompanied Shen Wan to the Yun family's residence.

The Yun family must be feeling terrible these past few days because their pardon was stolen. She needs to visit her maternal grandparents and congratulate her eldest cousin.

Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan left the inner courtyard and walked towards the main gate of the Prince's Mansion. As soon as they went up the steps, they saw Prince Yanping riding over, followed by a luxurious carriage. Without asking, they knew it must be Princess Yanping and Princess Qinghe.

Seeing Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan emerge, Prince Yanping dismounted and asked, "Prince Ling and Princess Ling, are you leaving the palace?"

They showed up without prior notice, so it couldn't have been someone who greeted them.

Xie Jingyan said, "I was just about to accompany the Princess to the Yun family when Uncle Wang arrived."

Princess Yanping lifted the carriage curtain. She still looked haggard, but much more energetic. She said, "We've come at a very inopportune time. Let's go back first and come to thank you another day."

Her son's life was saved by Xie Jingyan and the Yun family. The Yanping Prince's Mansion could repay the Yun family by marrying off their daughter, but they didn't know how to repay Xie Jingyan's life-saving grace. This kindness was too heavy.

For the sake of their Yanping Prince's Mansion, Prince Ling offended the Empress Dowager, Princess Huyang, and Duke Maoguo. Even if the Yanping Prince's Mansion went through fire and water for Prince Ling, they could never repay him.

Although Shen Wan was in a hurry to go to the Yun family, she was sure to treat her cousin's future in-laws well since they were visiting. Shen Wan said, "Going to the Yun family isn't so urgent. Prince Yanping and Princess Yanping, please come into the mansion to talk."

Princess Yanping then stepped down from the carriage. Xie Jingyan invited Prince Yanping and Princess Yanping to speak in the main hall of the outer courtyard, while Shen Wan and Princess Qinghe walked behind.

Seeing Shen Wan looking at her, Princess Qinghe blushed involuntarily. Shen Wan smiled and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Now, can I call the Princess my future 'elder sister-in-law'?"

Swish.

Princess Qinghe, who was already blushing, turned even redder, her face turning as red as a monkey's bottom.

She regretted coming along as soon as she got into the carriage with her mother, and sure enough, she was right.

She's not even married yet, so how could she be Princess Ling's cousin-in-law...