"Guards, take the Crown Prince to the Imperial Clan Court and await my judgment."
The Emperor swiftly imprisoned the eldest prince.
The speed was so fast that An Yuan'er hadn't even had time to react. Even more so, An Yuan'er vaguely sensed that the Emperor's quick imprisonment of the eldest prince was actually a form of protection for him.
The information that Yi Chenxuan's assassins were from the Xinjiang people was obtained from the data that Yi Chenli had previously collected.
Ultimately, the key evidence that determined their victory was Yi Chenli's own. It was just that An Yuan'er found it and used it.
A few days later, the imperial edict punishing the eldest prince was also issued.
The eldest prince was confined to the palace and forbidden from leaving without imperial decree. He was stripped of his title as crown prince and all other honors.
To An Yuan'er's further disappointment, even though the Emperor knew the cause of Yi Chenli's death, he ultimately refrained from announcing it to the public for the sake of the royal family's dignity. He even issued a strict order forbidding anyone from ever mentioning the matter again.
Yi Chenxuan did not pay for Yi Chenli's death; he was simply imprisoned in the palace for life.
Although it was almost impossible for Yi Chenxuan to turn things around, all the people were celebrating. An Yuan'er struck the drum to appeal for justice, and in the end, justice prevailed over evil. Despite being the weaker party, An Yuan'er ultimately won against the Crown Prince.
The story of the weak defeating the strong was written into folk tales and circulated in great detail.
But only An Yuan'er knew the truth: the murderer did not pay for his crime with blood, and An Yuan'er was ultimately disappointed.
However, the imperial power was strong and domineering, even threatening An Yuan'er's father and brother, whom she cared about.
There are too many helpless situations and things beyond one's control in life. Emperor Tiansheng summoned An Yuan'er alone and warned her not to push her luck. What she had received was already the greatest concession the emperor had ever made.
An Yuan'er had family ties to her, and ultimately couldn't ignore them. Although she was unwilling, she had no choice but to accept it.
This matter can be considered closed.
*
It seemed as if everything had come to a conclusion: Yi Chenxuan fell from power, and Yi Chenqi reaped a huge benefit, becoming the most popular candidate for the new crown prince.
The struggles within the royal family never cease, but An Yuan'er has little interest in them.
Sometimes, when the longing became too overwhelming to bear, An Yuan'er would secretly slip away to Chenyang Palace without telling anyone.
After the funeral, Chenyang Palace became an empty palace, and the eunuchs who had served him were reassigned by Li Gui to other palaces.
Only Li Gui remained guarding Chenyang Palace.
But when An Yuan'er went to Chenyang Palace again, even Li Gui was gone.
An Yuan'er inquired everywhere: "Where is Eunuch Li in the palace? He was here yesterday."
The young eunuch shook his head and said, "He committed suicide last night, following his master. He was a loyal servant after all; what a pity."
The young eunuch sighed and left.
An Yuan'er was stunned for a while; another familiar person had left. The empty space in her heart had become fuller.
Sometimes, An Yuan'er even envied Li Gui. At least he could die gracefully with his master and be completely free, while she had to live on carrying his hope.
Those who are left behind are the most exhausted and suffer the most.
An Yuan'er now spends her days in such torment.
Unconsciously, An Yuan'er arrived at the door of Yi Chenli's room and pushed the door open to go inside.
Yi Chenli's room was always simply furnished, with few decorations. In fact, he didn't leave behind many things for An Yuan'er to miss.
An Yuan'er looked up at the center of the room and was startled to find that something was missing.
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