Chapter 235 Rong Ning Returns to the Capital
Emperor Jingping was furious: "You bastards! Who gave you the audacity to do such a thing!"
Vice Envoy Zhao trembled with fear, his heart skipping a beat, and stammered, "Your Majesty, I had no choice... That King of Xijiang is clinging to the fact that Princess Rongning is not His Majesty's biological daughter, refusing to fulfill the agreement. I argued with Envoy Xue, but King of Xijiang remained cold and unyielding. Left with no other option, I had to listen to Envoy Xue and return first, leaving Envoy Xue behind—"
"Leave him here to help Princess Rongning kill King Xijiang?" Emperor Jingping asked coldly.
Vice Envoy Zhao was stunned.
What did he hear?
Did Xue Han cooperate with Princess Rong Ning to kill King Xi Jiang?
Impossible, that's absolute nonsense. Who's talking nonsense?
Oh, it's Your Majesty.
Ah, it's His Majesty!
Vice Envoy Zhao suddenly realized why these people in the court viewed him that way.
They're really looking at the dead!
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty has misunderstood!" Vice Envoy Zhao cried and explained, "I only returned to report to you on Xijiang's breach of contract, as arranged by Envoy Xue. I knew nothing else!"
"You mean you didn't know about the killing of King Xijiang?"
"I truly do not know, I swear—"
God, please send down a bolt of lightning and kill that brat Xue Han!
Emperor Jingping suppressed his anger: "Tell me everything that happened after you arrived in Xijiang. Do not hide a single word."
Vice Envoy Zhao dared not conceal anything and recounted every detail of the matter.
After listening, Emperor Jingping said calmly, "Zhao Qing has failed in his duties. He will be imprisoned in the Imperial Prison for now, and dealt with later when Princess Rongning and the others return."
Vice Envoy Zhao's eyes widened suddenly, completely unable to accept this outcome: "Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, please forgive me! I traveled day and night, and even when I was feeling unwell, I dared not stop. I may not have made any great contributions, but I have certainly endured a lot of hardship..."
Emperor Jingping remained unmoved, watching as Vice Envoy Zhao was dragged out, and said wearily, "Dismiss the court."
After leaving the council hall, Emperor Jingping went to see Consort Yu.
The incense in Yuchen Palace is changed daily, sometimes fresh and light, sometimes rich and subtle.
Consort Yu smiled and pulled Emperor Jingping to sit down: "Is Your Majesty still troubled by Xi Jiang's matter?"
"Zhao Qing, who was appointed as the deputy envoy today, has returned. He knows nothing about the killing of the King of Xijiang. What a fool."
He appointed Zhao Qing as deputy envoy because he thought Zhao Qing was cautious and not reckless. He didn't expect that Zhao Qing was too cautious. When he encountered setbacks, he ran back first and did not play any role.
Consort Yu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry because of Vice Envoy Zhao. Xue Han and Princess Suiyun have a good relationship and are very resourceful. I don't think Vice Envoy Zhao would have a chance to know about any of his plans."
Emperor Jingping's heart stirred.
Could it be that Rong Ning killed King Xijiang at the instigation of Qiu Liu?
Emperor Jingping closed his eyes, and Qiu Heng's image appeared in his mind, with her eyes being the most memorable.
Bright, clear, and brimming with vitality. It was a wild energy that was both attractive and intimidating, making one worry that she might do something unconventional at any time.
If it really was she who instigated Rong Ning to kill the King of Xijiang, creating such a huge mess for the Great Xia Dynasty—Emperor Jingping thought, his eyes turning cold.
Not long after Vice Envoy Zhao returned, Princess Rongning and her entourage finally returned, weary from their journey.
They encountered the Imperial Guards who were there to pick them up on the way, and as soon as they entered the city, they were taken to meet the Emperor.
"Rong Ning greets Your Majesty." Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Princess Rong Ning slowly bowed down.
She had been traveling almost non-stop, and was already exhausted. But ever since she met the guards sent by her cousin Lingyun, she knew that a tough battle awaited her after returning to the capital.
Having narrowly escaped death, she crossed the border between Xijiang and Daxia and set foot on Daxia territory, thinking she was going home, but it turned out she wasn't.
But Princess Rongning still held some hope when she knelt down.
Killing the King of Xijiang will certainly bring some trouble to the Great Xia, and it's normal for the Emperor Uncle to blame him for it. Perhaps it's not as serious as my cousin guessed; their actions have also vented the anger of the Great Xia and made the people of the Great Xia stand tall.
Emperor Jingping stared at Princess Rongning for a long time before finally speaking: "Rongning, did you really kill the King of Xijiang?"
Sensing the coldness in Emperor Jingping's tone, Princess Rongning pursed her lips slightly and said, "Yes."
"Who told you to do this?"
Princess Rongning looked up at Emperor Jingping.
The kind and gentle uncle she remembered now only had the majesty and anger of an emperor on his face.
That sliver of hope vanished without a trace.
“It was Rong Ning who wanted to do this.” Princess Rong Ning knelt with her back straight. “King Xi Jiang used Rong Ning as an excuse to break the contract and treated my Great Xia like a fat sheep with no temper. I couldn’t swallow this, so on my wedding night, I seized the opportunity and stabbed him to death.”
"You—you are truly audacious!" Emperor Jingping shouted sternly.
Prince Fu knelt down: "It is all my fault for failing to properly educate my daughter. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
Princess Rongning lowered her eyes, her heart filled with sorrow.
If she had known this would happen, why did she abandon Ah Heng and the others to escape alone, causing so many maids and guards to lose their lives because of her? Even Commander Hu lost an arm while desperately protecting her.
She should stay.
That way, even though her body remained in Xijiang, her heart could return to her homeland. Instead of feeling utterly hopeless like she does now.
Emperor Jingping ignored Prince Fu and stared intently at Princess Rongning: "Prince Xijiang is strong and skilled in martial arts. Can you kill him by yourself?"
Princess Rongning suddenly felt that the gazes falling on her were insignificant, and said with a sneer, "A bride always has the opportunity to kill the man sleeping next to her on her wedding night. Does Your Majesty want to hear the details?"
"Rong Ning, shut up!" Prince Fu was both embarrassed and angry.
Emperor Jingping was also surprised that his niece would speak so bluntly. Suppressing his anger, he asked again, "How did you escape?"
"After killing Queen Xijiang, they set a fire. The palace servants and guards were busy saving people and putting out the fire, so they took advantage of the chaos to escape."
Emperor Jingping sneered: "You can't do without Xue Han's cooperation, can you?"
Princess Rongning said calmly, "Lord Xue was unaware of the situation at first. He went to investigate when he saw the palace on fire and only then did he offer his help when he encountered us fleeing."
Emperor Jingping remained silent for a moment, unsure whether he believed it or not, before asking calmly, "And what about Princess Suiyun?"
Upon hearing Emperor Jingping inquire about Qiu Heng, Princess Rongning's eyes welled up with tears. She forced back her tears and said, "After we escaped the city, Lord Xue stayed behind to cover our retreat, and Aheng stayed behind as well..."
Emperor Jingping shook his head almost imperceptibly.
Whether Xue Han and Qiu Heng were the masterminds or forced to participate in the killing of King Xijiang, it seems that Rong Ning will not be able to get any information out of them.
However, considering the fate of those who would cover the rear, Emperor Jingping decided not to investigate further for the time being.
If someone dies, how can they be punished?
As for whether or not their relatives and friends should be punished, that depends on the impact of the killing of King Xijiang on the Great Xia Dynasty.
"Prince Fu, take Rong Ning back to the palace and settle her in properly."
Prince Fu readily agreed, knowing that this arrangement meant placing the person under house arrest.
"The people Rong Ning brought back will be temporarily placed under the care of the Dali Temple."
Princess Rongning listened blankly and was taken back to the Prince's mansion by Prince Fu.
(End of this chapter)
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