Chapter 40
The royal guards dispersed the crowd and surrounded the courtroom. Yan Heng, observing the attire of the newcomers, returned to the Phoenix Palace under their escort.
"Phoenix Ascends"
Upon seeing his mother, Yan Heng couldn't hold back his tears and knelt down beside Huang Shang.
Huang Shang tenderly helped her son up, unable to bring herself to be harsh with Yan Heng.
"Heng'er, you've suffered so much."
"Mother, Heng'er..."
Large tears streamed down her face, accompanied by sobs.
Huang Shang gently comforted Yan Heng.
"Heng'er, what exactly happened? Why did you leave the palace?"
"I...I don't know either. I fell asleep after taking the medicine, and when I came to my senses I was in a very dark alley, I..."
"Heng'er, rest assured, your mother will tear that man to pieces!"
"No, Mother."
Yan Heng stopped crying and looked at Huang Shang solemnly.
"The county constable has already dealt with the matter according to the law."
Huang Shang's voice rose several octaves, revealing an undeniable rage.
"Mother will never let Heng'er suffer any injustice."
Yan Heng hugged Huang Shang and kept shaking his head.
"Mother, you can't do that. The emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners. Heng'er doesn't want Mother to make a grave mistake for my sake."
After listening to Yan Heng's words, Huang Shang gradually calmed down.
"Heng'er, who exactly took you out of the palace?"
"Heng'er doesn't know either, but she vaguely smelled a fragrance on that person. The scent was so familiar, just like..."
"Like what?"
Yan Heng's voice trembled slightly, but he still spoke out fearlessly.
"It smells like the palace of my mother."
What? These words struck Huang Shang like a thunderbolt, causing her to freeze. Though she found it unbelievable, she couldn't help but think of her.
In the entire Phoenix Palace, only he and the eldest princess enjoyed burning ambergris.
The first time Huang Shang looked at Yan Heng, there was a hint of doubt in her eyes.
"Heng'er, please rest well first. I will send someone to investigate right away."
"Um"
Yan Heng nodded obediently.
As soon as they stepped out of the room, Huang Shang gave the orders.
"The matter concerning the Phoenix today is to be kept secret throughout the city. No one else should know about it."
Then, they quickly headed towards the Grand Princess's Palace.
"Your daughter greets Your Majesty."
The Empress ordered everyone to leave.
This time it's a confrontation between a mother and her daughter.
Why does Mother look so pale?
Huang Shang looked at Yan Yuan, who was kneeling down.
Although she and the second princess had always been at odds, if the second princess hadn't brought trouble upon herself, she would never have been able to win in this lifetime. The only person the second princess was close to was Heng'er, and even if she was stupid, she would never harm her most beloved son.
"Rong'er, as your mother's first daughter, I now ask you, have you done anything heinous to Heng'er?"
The name Rong'er brought Yan Yuan back to her childhood. Rong'er was Yan Yuan's childhood nickname, a name personally chosen by the Emperor. Because Yan Yuan always felt like a big kid, she didn't want her parents to call her by her childhood nickname, so this nickname was little known.
Yan Yuan knew what it meant for his mother to call him by his name, and he anxiously explained.
"Although my daughter and her younger sister have never gotten along, she has never had any complaints about her younger brother Heng. Although she is very close to her sister, Rong'er has never thought of hurting her younger brother Heng."
Although Huang Shang had long suspected that this matter had nothing to do with her, she still needed to come here to hear it with her own ears to feel at ease.
Do you know why you've always been inferior to her since childhood?
Yan Yuan shook his head.
"Although you two have studied and written together since childhood, and your studies have been equally matched, her thinking has always been one step ahead of yours. I thought she would always keep you under her thumb, but she has taken the initiative to challenge the laws of our country. Therefore, those ministers have now turned their support towards you."
Yan Yuan knew he could never be as good as her, so the moment she made a mistake, he seized the opportunity and vowed to suppress her and never let her rise again.
"My daughter knows."
"You'll never be as ruthless as her. Even though you see her as an enemy, you've never done anything to harm her. That's what I value most about you."
Will my daughter lose?
The only response she received was endless silence and an empty room.
Yan Yuan's mind kept replaying things from her childhood.
They were always first in their studies. Over time, she became jealous and studied every night. Finally, one day, she defeated her and went to her side, feeling smug. But from then on, it was as if she was always letting her win, and she lost to her by a very small margin every time.
When Huang Shang began to give them important positions, she offered her own insights and gained Huang Shang's approval. She was always able to offer Huang Shang new ideas. Over time, she became a little obsessed and always fell behind in trying to keep up with Huang Shang.
Every time I think of her gentle face that's always so kind to everyone, I feel nauseous.
It seems that nothing can affect her emotions. Even when praised, she wears a fake expression. Others may not be able to tell, but she can tell at a glance.
That's disgusting!
It's like a nemesis I created specifically for her; I must defeat her, then lock her in the Phoenix Palace, making her watch my glorious moments day and night.
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