Chapter 572 Overwhelming Strength! (First Update)
The imperial guards who had been rushing towards Princess Xinyang were almost instantly blasted away by a terrifying internal force. No one saw how the man who suddenly appeared made his move. By the time everyone reacted, they had all fallen to the ground next to Princess Ning'an.
Keep in mind that these were all experts brought from the borderlands. Although they were not as powerful as the Dragon Shadow Guards, they were by no means ordinary people. Yet they were so easily defeated by the other side.
Princess Ning'an was so surprised that she couldn't speak.
In a moment, she recognized the Dragon Shadow Guard mask on the other person's face.
But isn't that strange?
She had seen all four of the Emperor's Dragon Shadow Guards, and none of them were as tall and swift as them. Moreover, one of the four Dragon Shadow Guards was already dead, and the other three were still recovering from their injuries, so it was impossible for them to be mobilized.
So where did this Dragon Shadow Guard come from?
Few court officials had actually seen the Dragon Shadow Guards, and for a moment no one recognized them as the legendary and fearsome Dragon Shadow Guards, simply assuming they were one of Princess Xinyang's secret guards.
The ministers didn't know much about the martial prowess of the experts, but seeing him easily take on four opponents, they couldn't help but think he was incredibly skilled.
"So capable, they must be secret guards sent by Marquis Xuanping?"
"It should be."
Some of the ministers began to whisper among themselves.
Out of fear of Long Yi, no one dared to step forward and help the injured Princess Ning'an up.
Princess Xinyang descended the steps one by one, her face covered with red rashes, yet her aura remained undiminished.
Princess Xinyang stopped on a step in front of Princess Ning'an, looking down at her: "You say I'm fake? Open your eyes and see, am I fake?"
Princess Ning'an's gaze was fixed on Princess Xinyang's face, and after a long while, it shifted to the face of the little maid.
Princess Xinyang raised her hand and beckoned with her finger.
The young maid understood and silently came to Princess Xinyang's side.
Princess Xinyang said calmly, "You suspect that my maid is wearing a human skin mask, then I'll have someone remove it for you to see." After saying that, she looked at a nearby eunuch and said, "Come here."
The eunuch swiftly approached and said, "Let's get started."
"Yes." The eunuch walked up to the maid and said politely, "I apologize for the inconvenience."
He reached out and touched the maid's facial contours and behind her ears. After touching her face, he carefully examined it and turned to Princess Xinyang and Princess Ning'an, saying, "Your Highnesses, it is her own face."
Princess Ning'an's expression changed: "Impossible!"
Yesterday, this young maid was with the imposter Princess Xinyang. Her actions were strange, and she even took the emperor's pulse.
It's clearly Gu Jiao!
Princess Xinyang instructed, "Yu'er, go over there yourself and let Princess Ning'an see your face."
"Yes." The maid called Yu'er walked up to Princess Ning'an, squatted down, and brought her face close to Princess Ning'an's.
Princess Ning'an raised her hand and touched her face.
That's definitely my face.
She opened her eyes wide in disbelief.
Princess Xinyang asked coldly, "Ning'an, why did you do this?"
Princess Ning'an glanced at the ministers with complicated expressions and explained, "It's...it's because someone saw Princess Xinyang causing trouble in the street with this little maid, and she revealed that she wasn't Princess Xinyang, so I..."
Princess Xinyang snorted coldly: "So that's why you neither went to Kunning Palace to report to the Empress, nor to the East Palace to report to the Crown Prince, nor even to my residence to verify with my servants, but instead brought me to justice in public! Are you so desperate for merit that you've gone mad? Or are you deliberately trying to obstruct my regency?"
Princess Ning'an gritted her teeth, avoiding the pointed remark at the beginning, and tried to bring the focus back: "If I wasn't sure you were a fake, would I have come to expose you? You're just setting me up."
Princess Xinyang remained unfazed: "Even if I set a trap for you, you have to be willing to walk into it. You're overstepping your bounds. The Empress and the Crown Prince are both here. Who are you to expose the fake princess in the Golden Palace?"
That's because Empress Xiao protected Xiao Liulang. If she had known that one of the imposters was Xiao Liulang's wife, Gu Jiao, she might have suppressed the matter.
Once the matter reaches the imperial palace, there is no room for maneuver.
"What happened?" Empress Xiao and the Crown Prince arrived, and it was Empress Xiao who asked the question.
Princess Xinyang recounted what had just happened to the Empress: "...The Empress saw my face yesterday and knows how serious my condition was. If my face hadn't healed so quickly, I'm afraid no one would recognize me today. She might say, 'If you are innocent, won't the truth come out in a few days once your rash disappears?' The problem is, while I'm in prison waiting for the rash to subside, won't I be targeted by someone who plots against me?"
These words were so flawless that even Empress Xiao felt that this method of framing someone was feasible.
If Princess Ning'an's goal was to kill Xinyang in prison, then her actions in the Golden Palace today would be understandable.
Princess Ning'an was furious; she truly hadn't expected someone to be able to fabricate such a flawless lie.
"But haven't you forgotten something? I have no reason to harm you!"
She had no reason to frame Xinyang.
Next, she wanted to see how Xinyang would continue to fabricate stories.
Princess Xinyang curled her lips in a mocking smile: "Do you really think His Majesty didn't tell me anything?"
Princess Ning'an frowned. She couldn't understand what Princess Xinyang was saying, but instinctively she sensed something was wrong.
Princess Xinyang said, "There are some things His Majesty has kept from you out of consideration for your reputation, and I never intended to expose them. But you insist on not admitting your mistakes until you see the coffin, so don't blame me for announcing your and your daughter's crimes to the world!"
Princess Ning'an's temples throbbed!
She knew what Princess Xinyang was about to say, but unfortunately, she reacted too late and it was too late to shut Princess Xinyang up.
Princess Xinyang glared angrily at Princess Ning'an: "My son was poisoned near Renshou Palace when he was five years old. The mastermind behind it all was your mother, Abbess Jing'an! Not only did she poison my son and frame the Empress Dowager, but she also drugged His Majesty and sowed discord between him and the Empress Dowager! She even hired people to assassinate His Majesty and kidnap the Empress Dowager! Her crimes are numerous and countless! Such a vicious and wicked person deserves to be punished by Heaven. It's laughable that you actually believe she was forced to her death by our conspiracy!"
Princess Ning'an: "You!"
Princess Xinyang said coldly, "What do you mean, 'what about me'? What did I say wrong? Or did I say nothing wrong, and you're so guilty that all you can do is stare at me?"
Princess Ning'an couldn't utter a single word for a long time.
It was at this moment that she truly realized she had been crushed.
Whether it's the truth or a lie, Xinyang crushes them completely.
"You're talking nonsense! I didn't! Sister-in-law! You have to believe me!" Princess Ning'an couldn't argue with Princess Xinyang, so she could only turn her hopes to Empress Xiao.
Empress Xiao and Princess Xinyang had always been at odds.
When asked which princess Empress Xiao disliked the most, the answer was none other than Xinyang.
However, most people only see Empress Xiao giving Princess Xinyang the cold shoulder, but they don't know that these are all trivial matters. When Empress Xiao really wants to scheme against someone, she will not show her emotions on her face.
Empress Xiao said solemnly, "I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Guards, take Princess Ning'an away. She is not to leave Bixia Palace without my permission."
This means Princess Ning'an is to be placed under house arrest.
"Yes." Eunuch Su replied, and called two capable eunuchs to drag the battered Princess Ning'an away.
"Go to court," Empress Xiao said to Princess Xinyang.
Princess Xinyang nodded and reminded him, "Don't let her get close to His Majesty again."
Empress Xiao was taken aback.
Princess Xinyang said nothing more, put the bamboo hat handed to her by the maid again, and turned to walk towards the Golden Palace.
Everyone, including Empress Xiao, was stunned for a long time.
"Did Consort Jing really do those things...?"
"cough!"
The Grand Censor had just muttered something under his breath when the Minister of War nudged him with his elbow. Minister Xu of War coughed lightly, signaling his old friend to shut up.
"Mother..." The Crown Prince glanced at Empress Xiao with concern.
"Mother is alright, you may go to court." Empress Xiao was greatly shocked. She was not heartbroken for Consort Jing. She actually knew some things about Consort Jing, but not all of them.
She didn't feel sorry for Princess Ning'an.
She was still a little disoriented.
Empress Xiao patted her son on the shoulder: "Go quickly, don't delay the affairs of state, your mother has other matters to attend to."
Crown Prince: "Oh."
Empress Xiao closed her eyes, and although she was very reluctant, she still gave a word of advice: "Listen to...listen to what your Aunt Xinyang says."
“He wouldn’t dare disobey; Long Yi will beat him up.” Princess Xinyang didn’t turn around.
What Long Yi heard was—"Hehehehe, beat him up."
Long Yi flashed in front of the Crown Prince!
The prince's hair stood on end. "Hey! Why am I getting beaten up even though I'm obedient?!"
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(End of this chapter)
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