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He held the hilt of his sword with a trembling hand, yet still defiantly said, “Xie Yunchu, don’t get too proud! Today I only…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Young Master Wang’s sword was suddenly knocked away by a powerful internal force. He staggered back a few steps, his eyes wide in disbelief.
Xie Huaiyuan, with a grim expression, strode up to Young Master Wang and said in a deep voice, “Young Master Wang, I will give your father an explanation for today’s events. Please return home and rest for now.”
Knowing he was in the wrong, Young Master Wang dared not act further. He shot a fierce glare at Xie Yunchu before turning to leave the banquet hall.
The guests exchanged glances, none of them expecting this farce to end in such a manner.
Xie Huaiyuan ignored the crowd and walked directly to Xie Yunchu, looking at her with complex emotions. He asked solemnly, “Yunchu, who taught you your swordsmanship?”
Xie Yunchu lowered her gaze to hide her emotions and replied softly, “Father, Yunchu just practiced on her own without any master’s guidance.”
Xie Huaiyuan looked at her deeply as if wanting to say something but ultimately remained silent. He sighed lightly and said, “Come with me.”
Xie Yunchu silently followed Xie Huaiyuan through the banquet hall to a secluded study.
“Sit down,” Xie Huaiyuan gestured for Xie Yunchu to take a seat while he walked to the desk and picked up a brush, writing a few characters on rice paper.
Xie Yunchu stole a glance and saw that the paper read “Conceal the Edge.”
Setting down the brush, Xie Huaiyuan turned to face Xie Yunchu with a hint of appreciation mixed with concern in his eyes. “Yunchu, I am pleased with your performance today. You are not merely weak; you have your own brilliance and the ability to protect yourself.”
Xie Yunchu lowered her head and remained silent.
“However,” Xie Huaiyuan’s tone shifted to seriousness, “the strength you displayed today far exceeds what is expected of an ordinary young lady. You should understand that ‘a tree that stands out in the forest will be toppled by the wind.’”
Xie Yunchu suddenly raised her head, shock and confusion filling her eyes. “Father, do you mean…”
Xie Huaiyuan approached her and gently patted her shoulder, speaking earnestly, “Yunchu, you are the daughter of the Xie Family and bear its responsibilities. There are some things you do not need to know yet; just remember to conceal your brilliance and not easily reveal your talents.”
Xie Yunchu was silent for a moment before quietly asking, "Father, what secrets does the Xie Family have?"
Xie Huaiyuan looked at Xie Yunchu, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. Ultimately, he shook his head and said, "You will understand when the time comes."
Xie Yunchu wanted to ask more, but seeing her father's expression, she swallowed the words back down.
She knew her father must have his reasons.
"It's getting late; you should go back and rest," Xie Huaiyuan said. "Tomorrow I will send someone to deliver the Xie Family's cultivation methods to you. Make sure to practice diligently and do not be negligent."
"Yes, Father." Xie Yunchu stood up, bowed to Xie Huaiyuan, and turned to leave the study.
Watching Xie Yunchu's departing figure, Xie Huaiyuan's eyes were filled with worry and helplessness.
He wished for his daughter to live as carefree as other young ladies from prominent families, but some matters were beyond his control...
As Xie Yunchu stepped out of the study, she looked up at the pitch-black night sky, her heart filled with confusion and unease.
Her father's words stirred up turbulent waves within her.
What secrets did the Xie Family hold?
What fate awaited her?
Xie Yunchu took a deep breath and clenched her fists.
No matter what, she had to become stronger; only then could she protect herself and her family and unravel all the mysteries!
Xie Yunchu turned and walked toward her courtyard.
Returning to her courtyard, night had fallen deeply. The yard was quiet, with only a few lanterns casting a warm glow that elongated her shadow.
She pushed open the door, and a familiar faint fragrance wafted in; it was the incense she often used to calm her mind. Xie Yunchu let out a gentle sigh of relief as she walked to the table and poured herself a cup of tea, slowly sipping it.
"Miss, you have returned." A deep voice suddenly sounded from behind.
Xie Yunchu was startled and quickly turned around, only to see a figure in black standing respectfully behind her, having appeared in her room without her noticing.
"Li Yun, you scared me!" Xie Yunchu said, patting her chest with a hint of reproach. "How did you get in? Didn't I tell you that you are not allowed to enter my room without my permission?"
Li Yun knelt on one knee, lowering his head as he spoke. "This subordinate is at fault for disturbing the Miss. It was an urgent matter that compelled me to come."
Xie Yunchu set down her teacup, her brows slightly furrowed. "What happened?"
"This subordinate has just received news that Young Master Wang has not given up. He has secretly arranged a group of people around the Xie Residence, preparing to take advantage of the night to harm the Miss," Li Yun said gravely.
A glint of cold light flashed in Xie Yunchu's eyes as she sneered. "It seems he won't shed tears until he sees the coffin!"
Li Yun raised his head, looking at Xie Yunchu with concern. "Miss, Young Master Wang is well-prepared this time; we cannot let our guard down. Perhaps it would be better for you to hide temporarily until I ascertain the situation."
Xie Yunchu pondered for a moment and shook her head. "No, hiding is not a solution. Since he wants to play, I will play along with him!"
Li Yun appeared anxious. "But Miss..."
"Rest assured, I know what I'm doing," Xie Yunchu replied confidently with a smile. "Help me spread the word that I am afraid and have hidden in the rockery of the Xie Residence's garden, and that I have prepared some special 'gifts' for Young Master Wang."
Although Li Yun did not understand Xie Yunchu's intentions, he nodded in agreement. "Yes, this subordinate will take care of it." With that, he vanished from the room like a gust of wind.
Xie Yunchu walked to the window, opened it, and gazed at the bright moon in the night sky, a sly smile curling at the corners of her mouth.
"Wang Jing, oh Wang Jing, tonight you will experience my prowess!"
---
Xie Yunchu set down her teacup, stood up, and walked to the weapon rack in the corner of the room. Her slender fingers gently brushed over a row of sharp swords and blades before finally resting on a lightweight soft sword. This soft sword had been personally gifted to her by her father, the current Prime Minister Xie Tingjun, on her birthday. The blade was soft and light yet incredibly sharp; she usually wore it as an ornament at her waist and rarely used it.
"Tonight, let me take you for a walk." Xie Yunchu drew her soft sword, the cold light flashing in a sharp arc under the dim candlelight. She sheathed the sword and turned to leave the room, heading towards the garden of the Xie Residence.
As night fell, the Xie Residence garden was silent, with only the occasional chirping of insects breaking the stillness of the night. Xie Yunchu hid behind a tall tree, peering through the dense branches to clearly observe the situation around the nearby rockery.
Wang Jing, dressed in black and with a sullen expression, was lurking near the rockery with several burly men who looked like servants. They were glancing around cautiously while he whispered, "Search carefully! That woman, Xie Yunchu, is cunning; she must be hiding nearby!"
"Yes!" The servants responded and began to spread out, meticulously searching around the rockery.
Wang Jing looked at the familiar rockery with a sinister smile on his face.
"Xie Yunchu, this time I want to see where you can run!"
He tightened his grip on the sword hilt, took a deep breath, and signaled for the servants behind him to follow as he crouched low and moved deeper into the rockery.
"Young Master, this Miss Xie really knows how to hide. We've been searching for quite a while and haven't seen a trace of her," one servant complained softly while wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Shut up!" Wang Jing shot him a glare. "If you can't find her, keep looking! That woman is full of tricks; she might be hiding in some corner watching us laugh at our efforts!"
"Yes, yes..." The servant shrank back at his shout, too frightened to say anything more and obediently continued searching.
The interior of the rockery was cramped and dimly lit. Wang Jing and his group cautiously made their way forward, afraid of missing any corner.
"Ah!" Suddenly, one of the servants at the front exclaimed and stumbled backward, stepping into thin air and falling to the ground.
"What happened?" Wang Jing hurried over to check. He saw that the servant's face was pale as he pointed toward a dark hole ahead, stammering, "Young Master, there seems to be something over there..."
Wang Jing followed the direction of the servant's finger and saw that the hole was pitch black, leading who knows where. A chilling dampness emanated from it, sending shivers down his spine.
"What are you afraid of? It's just a hole!" Wang Jing suppressed his unease and feigned calmness as he scolded. "It might just be a den for stray cats or dogs; let's go in and take a look!"
After saying that, he took the lead and walked in. Although a few servants were scared, they could only brace themselves and follow.
The cave entrance was much deeper than they had imagined. Wang Jing and the others walked for quite a while before reaching the end.
In the dim light, Wang Jing discovered that this was a spacious stone chamber. In the center of the chamber stood a stone table with an oil lamp flickering on it, casting a dim yellow light that illuminated the chamber in a wavering glow.
Sitting beside the stone table was a woman in white, her back to them, making it impossible to see her face. However, from her slender silhouette and long black hair, it could be inferred that she was likely a young woman.
“Xie Yunchu!” Wang Jing instantly recognized the woman. A flash of wild joy crossed his eyes as he abruptly drew his sword from his waist, pointing it at her and gritting his teeth as he said, “You finally dare to show yourself!”
As soon as Wang Jing finished speaking, he eagerly chased after the white figure, fearing that Xie Yunchu would pull some trick again. The servants quickly followed suit, and soon they all disappeared deep into the rockery.
Xie Yunchu's lips curled slightly, a glint of cunning passing through her eyes. She deliberately slowed her pace to lure Wang Jing and the others deeper into the garden. Moonlight filtered through layers of leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground, enhancing the surrounding silence and depth.
“Miss, ahead is the trap you set,” came a low voice from behind, belonging to the man in black, Li Yun.
“Mm.” Xie Yunchu nodded slightly, her steps becoming even lighter, like a butterfly dancing gracefully among the rocks.
“Why is it so quiet here?” one of the servants asked nervously, rubbing his hands together and looking around warily.
Wang Jing also sensed something was off, but he was blinded by hatred. He snorted coldly, “That woman Xie Yunchu is right ahead; don’t let her escape!”
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a “crack,” and suddenly Wang Jing felt his footing give way; he fell straight down.
“Ah!” Wang Jing exclaimed in surprise. Before he could react, he was caught in a huge net and hung in mid-air.
“What’s going on?!” The other servants were horrified at the sight. Before they could react, they were surrounded by Li Yun and several Shadow Guards who appeared out of nowhere.
“Who are you?!” one servant shouted threateningly while waving his knife.
Li Yun ignored him and coldly glanced at Wang Jing trapped in the net. He signaled to the Shadow Guards behind him. Understanding his cue, several Shadow Guards stepped forward and lowered Wang Jing from the net.
Wang Jing clumsily got up from the ground, looking at the unfamiliar black-clad figures around him with a terrifyingly dark expression. "Who are you? Do you know who I am?"
Li Yun stepped in front of Wang Jing, looking down at him with a cold tone. "Who we are is not important. What matters is that you should never have laid a hand on my young lady!"
Wang Jing was taken aback for a moment, then his face turned even uglier as if he realized something. "Are you one of Xie Yunchu's people?"
Li Yun did not answer but merely sneered coldly, drawing his sword and pointing it directly at Wang Jing's throat.
"What... what do you want?" Wang Jing stammered, backing away in fear, only to find himself cornered against the wall with nowhere to escape.
"My young lady wants to know why you tried to capture her," Li Yun said ominously, his eyes glinting with cold light.
Wang Jing forced himself to calm down and sneered, "Xie Yunchu has humiliated me; of course, I must take revenge!"
"Revenge?" Li Yun laughed as if he had heard a joke, sneering, "You think you can?"
Wang Jing was enraged by Li Yun's contemptuous tone. He held his head high and said threateningly, "Don't get too smug. My father is the Minister of Revenue. If you dare touch a hair on my head, he will never let you go!"
"Minister of Revenue?" Li Yun scoffed as if he had heard something amusing, curling his lip in disdain. "Do you think I would be afraid of him?"
With that, he thrust his sword forward sharply, the tip just an inch away from Wang Jing's throat.
"You..." Wang Jing's face turned pale with fear, unable to utter a word. Feeling the icy touch of the sword tip, he finally realized that he had truly kicked a steel plate this time.
At that moment, a clear voice suddenly rang out from outside the rockery. "Stop!"
Everyone turned to see Shen Qingyi hurriedly running in from outside the rockery. Upon seeing the scene before her, she froze in shock.
"Qingyi, why are you here?" Wang Jing exclaimed as if he had found a lifeline.
Shen Qingyi ignored Wang Jing and quickly walked up to Li Yun, anxiously saying, "Li Gege, what are you doing? Let him go!"
Li Yun glanced at Shen Qingyi with surprise in his eyes but did not relax his grip on the sword. "Miss Shen, this matter does not concern you; please do not interfere."
"How is this not related to me?" Shen Qingyi exclaimed anxiously. "Young Master Wang is my friend; you can't hurt him!"
"Friend?" Li Yun scoffed. "Miss Shen, are you sure he is your friend and not just using you?"
"You..." Shen Qingyi was left speechless by Li Yun's words. She glanced at Li Yun and then at Wang Jing, who was being held captive by Li Yun, unsure of what to do.
"Qingyi, don't listen to his nonsense; I am not using you!" Wang Jing quickly explained. "We are truly friends!"
Shen Qingyi looked at Wang Jing and then at Li Yun, her eyes filled with confusion and disbelief.
"Enough! Wang Jing, how long are you going to keep deceiving Qingyi?" Xie Yunchu's voice suddenly came from the rockery, cold and cutting.
Everyone looked up to see Xie Yunchu in a white outfit standing atop the rockery, the moonlight casting a silver veil over her, making her appear even more ethereal and noble.
"Yunchu..." Shen Qingyi was surprised to see Xie Yunchu, followed by deep concern. "Are you okay?"
Xie Yunchu smiled slightly, signaling her to relax. "I'm fine."
"Xie Yunchu!" Wang Jing's eyes flashed with resentment upon seeing her. He gritted his teeth and said, "How dare you scheme against me!"
Xie Yunchu slowly descended from the rockery, looking down at Wang Jing with a cold smile. "Scheme against you? You really overestimate yourself."
"You..." Wang Jing's face turned pale with anger at Xie Yunchu's words, but he had no retort.
"Young Master Wang, I will ask you one last time," Xie Yunchu said coldly. "What is your relationship with the Azure Cloud Sect?"
Wang Jing's expression changed slightly at her words, but he quickly regained his composure and sneered. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Not shedding tears until seeing the coffin!" Xie Yunchu snorted coldly and gestured for Li Yun to search him.
Li Yun understood and stepped forward to search Wang Jing.
"What are you doing?!" Wang Jing struggled to resist but was easily subdued by Li Yun.
Li Yun fumbled around Wang Jing for a moment before finally retrieving a jade pendant from his waist.
The pendant was entirely emerald green, intricately carved with a vividly lifelike Azure Cloud, which was the emblem of the Azure Cloud Sect.
"What is this?!" Shen Qingyi exclaimed upon seeing the pendant.
Wang Jing's face changed drastically as he attempted to snatch the pendant back, only to be caught by Li Yun, who grasped his wrist firmly.
"Do you have any explanation for this pendant?" Xie Yunchu picked up the pendant and coldly stared at Wang Jing.
Wang Jing's face turned pale; his lips moved, but he couldn't utter a word.
Shen Qingyi gazed at the familiar pendant, and fragments of memories suddenly flashed through her mind, causing her face to turn ashen.
Xie Yunchu threw the pendant at Wang Jing's feet, the crisp sound of impact echoing clearly in the silent night. "The Azure Cloud Sect colluded with court officials, intending to rebel. This pendant is evidence of your conspiracy with them!"
Wang Jing hurriedly shook his head, incoherently explaining, "No... it's not what you think... I found this pendant!"
"Found it?" Xie Yunchu raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Young Master Wang, do you take us for three-year-olds? Would you carelessly discard such an important token?"
Wang Jing opened his mouth to argue further but was interrupted by Xie Yunchu. "Save your words for the Ministry of Justice!"
Seeing Wang Jing's panicked demeanor, the last shred of hope in Shen Qingyi's heart shattered. She trembled as she asked, "Wang Jing, are you really colluding with the Azure Cloud Sect?"
Wang Jing abruptly looked up at Shen Qingyi, a flash of pain crossing his eyes before being replaced by malice. "So what if I am? You all forced me into this!"
Shen Qingyi took a few steps back in disbelief, her face pale and tears welling in her eyes.
"Qingyi, believe me, I am innocent!" Wang Jing reached out to grab Shen Qingyi's hand, but she recoiled away from him.
"Wronged?" Xie Yunchu sneered, pulling a letter from her sleeve and throwing it in front of Wang Jing. "You take a look at this letter. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Wang Jing hurriedly picked up the envelope, opened it, and his face instantly turned even paler. The letter inside was unmistakably correspondence between him and the Azure Cloud Sect!
"This... this is impossible!" Wang Jing exclaimed in disbelief. He had clearly burned this letter; how could it possibly be in Xie Yunchu's hands?
"There is nothing impossible!" Xie Yunchu said coldly. "Do you really think that what you've done can be hidden from everyone?"
Wang Jing slumped helplessly to the ground, knowing that it was all over for him.
Shen Qingyi looked at Wang Jing, her eyes filled with disappointment and pain. She trembled as she asked, "Wang Jing, why did you do this? Why did you lie to me?"
Wang Jing forced a bitter smile as he looked at Shen Qingyi, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "Lie to you? I approached you just to use you, to use the the Shen Family!"
Shen Qingyi felt as if she had been struck by lightning, unable to believe what she was hearing. Tears finally spilled from her eyes. "How... how could you..."
Seeing Shen Qingyi's pained expression stirred an inexplicable irritation within Wang Jing. He suddenly stood up, pointing at Xie Yunchu and shouting angrily, "It's all your fault! You ruined everything for me!"
Xie Yunchu coldly regarded Wang Jing, her eyes showing no sign of emotion; she dismissed his accusations entirely.
"Come in!" Xie Yunchu called out toward the door, and two guards entered promptly.
"Take Young Master Wang into custody and escort him to the Ministry of Justice Prison for further proceedings!"
"Yes!" The two guards complied and moved forward to apprehend Wang Jing.
Wang Jing struggled and roared in defiance, but ultimately he was dragged away by the guards, disappearing into the night.
Shen Qingyi stood there in a daze, tears blurring her vision. She could never have imagined that the person she had treated sincerely had been using her all along.
Xie Yunchu walked over to Shen Qingyi, gently patting her shoulder and speaking softly, "Qingyi, don't cry anymore; it's all over now."
Shen Qingyi looked up at Xie Yunchu, her eyes filled with gratitude and reliance. She threw herself into Xie Yunchu's embrace and began to cry uncontrollably.
Xie Yunchu gently stroked Shen Qingyi's hair, a hint of heartache flashing in her eyes. She knew that Shen Qingyi needed time to calm down.
Xie Yunchu softly patted Shen Qingyi's back, her tone gentle yet firm: "Qingyi, don't be afraid. I will always be here for you."
Shen Qingyi lifted her head, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at Xie Yunchu, her voice choked: "Yunchu, I..."
"Don't say anything," Xie Yunchu interrupted Shen Qingyi, handing her a silk handkerchief. "Wipe your tears. Let's just let tonight's events pass."
Shen Qingyi took the handkerchief and gently wiped her tears, her gaze gradually clearing. She looked at Xie Yunchu, filled with gratitude and guilt—grateful for Xie Yunchu's righteous help and guilty for not recognizing the true nature of people, almost being used by Wang Jing.
Seeing the change in Shen Qingyi's expression, Xie Yunchu knew she was slowly emerging from the shadows, feeling somewhat relieved. She turned to look around; the once lively banquet hall had quieted down, and guests were watching them with unusual glances.
"Qingyi, let's go," Xie Yunchu said softly, wanting to avoid further attention.
Shen Qingyi nodded and walked alongside Xie Yunchu as they exited the banquet hall. Their figures disappeared into the night, leaving behind the guests who continued to murmur among themselves.
In a corner, Xiao Jinyu, dressed in white, watched as Xie Yunchu and Shen Qingyi left, a meaningful smile curling at the corners of his mouth. Beside him, a man in black appeared silently and asked in a low voice: "Master, do you need me to..."
Xiao Jinyu raised his hand to stop the man in black and said: "No need. Just observe the changes."
The man in black bowed his head in acknowledgment and then vanished into the darkness.
Xiao Jinyu withdrew his gaze and picked up a wine glass from the table, gently swirling it as an inexplicable light flickered in his eyes. This banquet was far more exciting than he had anticipated.
A few days later at the morning court session, the atmosphere in the Golden Hall was solemn. The civil and military officials stood on either side but remained silent with their heads bowed. Dressed in plain clothes, Xie Yunchu stood in the center of the hall holding a thick stack of documents in her hands. Her voice was cold yet resolute: "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present!"
The Emperor sat majestically on the Dragon Throne, his authoritative gaze fixed on Xie Yunchu as he asked in a deep voice, "Miss Xie, what matter do you wish to present?"
"I wish to accuse the Wang Family of colluding with underworld forces and plotting rebellion!" Xie Yunchu suddenly raised her head, her sharp eyes directed at the members of the Wang Family.
The crowd from the Wang Family erupted in an uproar, and Wang Jing's face changed dramatically. He pointed at Xie Yunchu and shouted angrily, "Xie Yunchu, do not slander us! My Wang Family has been loyal for generations; how could we commit such treasonous acts!"
"Young Master Wang, why are you so agitated?" Xie Yunchu sneered. "Whether I am slandering or not, just look at this!" With that, she threw the case file in front of Wang Jing.
Wang Jing hurriedly picked up the file and flipped through it. It detailed evidence of the Wang Family's collusion with underworld forces over the years, including letters regarding Wang Jing's unauthorized mobilization of troops. His face turned pale, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
"This... this is all fake! Someone is deliberately framing my Wang Family!" Wang Jing forced himself to remain calm, throwing the file to the ground and loudly defending himself.
Xie Yunchu ignored Wang Jing's excuses and continued, "Your Majesty, I also have evidence of the Wang Family's secret accumulation of wealth and disregard for human life over the years. Please see for yourself!"
With that, she took out a ledger from her sleeve and handed it to a nearby eunuch. The eunuch accepted the ledger and quickly walked to the Emperor, respectfully presenting it.
The Emperor opened the ledger and examined it closely. It was filled with shocking records of the Wang Family's deeds over the years. His expression grew increasingly grim until he slammed the ledger down on the armrest of the Dragon Throne and shouted angrily, "The Wang Family has such audacity! How dare they act so lawlessly; their crimes are unforgivable!"
Seeing this, the members of the Wang Family turned ashen and collapsed to the ground. They knew that this time, the Wang Family was truly finished.
"Come forth! Arrest all members of the Wang Family and await their punishment!" The Emperor ordered furiously.
The guards immediately stepped forward, surrounding and escorting the members of the Wang Family away.
"Miss Xie, thanks to you, the conspiracy of the Wang Family has been exposed. I must reward you well!" The Emperor looked at Xie Yunchu with admiration in his eyes.
"Your Majesty flatters me. As a citizen of Da Zhou, it is my duty to expose traitors and uphold justice," Xie Yunchu replied respectfully, her demeanor calm and composed.
"Excellent! Well said!" The Emperor was greatly pleased. "Miss Xie, tell me what reward you desire; I shall certainly grant it!"
Xie Yunchu pondered for a moment before looking up at the Emperor and slowly saying, "Your Majesty, I have one request..."
Shen Qingyi stood among the crowd, watching Xie Yunchu speak confidently in court and expose the crimes of the Wang Family. She felt both shocked and impressed. She finally understood that everything Xie Yunchu had done in recent days was for this moment.
"Xie Yunchu, who exactly are you?" Shen Qingyi looked at Xie Yunchu's back, filled with confusion.
"Your Majesty, I am not a daughter of the Xie Family, but..." Xie Yunchu took a deep breath and said with determination, "I am the Former Dynasty Princess!"
Xie Yunchu's tone was steady, but her words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up waves. The court erupted in an uproar, with officials exchanging glances and whispering among themselves. The Emperor suddenly stood up, his teacup slipping from his hand, scalding tea splashing onto his dragon robe without him noticing. "What did you say?!" He stared at Xie Yunchu, disbelief filling his eyes.
Xie Yunchu raised her head unyieldingly, meeting the Emperor's gaze as she spoke clearly, "I am the Former Dynasty Princess, an orphan." She slowly took out a jade pendant from her sleeve and presented it with both hands. "This jade pendant was given by the late Emperor and is proof of my identity."
The Emperor took a deep breath and gestured for the eunuch beside him to take the pendant. The eunuch trembled as he accepted it and quickly approached the Emperor to present it. The Emperor examined the jade pendant carefully; its texture was smooth and warm, intricately carved, indeed a royal item. His gaze fell on the character "An" engraved on the back of the pendant, and memories from years ago flooded his mind as his hand holding the pendant trembled slightly.
"You... what evidence do you have to prove your claims?" The Emperor's voice was hoarse, as if he was suppressing the turmoil within.
Xie Yunchu smiled slightly and turned to point at Wang Jing, whose face had turned pale. "Lord Wang, what do you say?"
Wang Jing's eyes flickered as he avoided Xie Yunchu's gaze and hurriedly lowered his head. "I... I don't know..."
"Lord Wang," Xiao Jinyu, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. He pulled out a letter from his sleeve and threw it in front of Wang Jing. "Do you remember this letter?"
Wang Jing hurriedly picked up the envelope and opened it; his face turned ashen. The letter clearly stated that the Wang Family had colluded with remnants of the former dynasty to plot rebellion. He looked up in terror at Xiao Jinyu, his lips trembling but unable to speak.
Xiao Jinyu snorted coldly and turned to the Emperor, cupping his hands in respect. "Your Majesty, while investigating the Wang Family case, I unexpectedly discovered this letter. The contents are sufficient to prove that the Wang Family colluded with remnants of the former dynasty with ulterior motives. For many years, the Wang Family has secretly suppressed the Xie Family to cover up this secret."
The Emperor took the letter handed over by the eunuch and read it carefully before slamming it heavily on the table in anger. "The Wang Family is so bold! They dare to collude with remnants of the former dynasty and plot rebellion! Guards, arrest all traitors of the Wang Family!"
Upon receiving the order, the guards rushed forward to surround Wang Jing and others, escorting them away. As Wang Jing was dragged out by the guards and passed by Xie Yunchu, he suddenly stopped, glaring at her with resentment and gritting his teeth as he said, "Xie Yunchu, don't be too pleased! Even if my Wang Family falls, you won't have it easy!"
Facing Wang Jing's threat without any fear, Xie Yunchu merely smiled faintly and replied, "Lord Wang, those who commit unjust acts will bring about their own demise; this is your own doing."
With that, Wang Jing was taken away. Only Xie Yunchu remained in the Golden Hall along with all the officials. Xie Yunchu slowly turned to face the Emperor again and knelt down once more. "Your Majesty, I earnestly request that you thoroughly investigate this matter and restore justice for me!"
The Emperor remained silent, sitting quietly on the Dragon Throne, his deep gaze fixed on the jade pendant in his hand, as if trying to see through it. In his mind, he replayed Xie Yunchu's words and the long-buried memories from years ago.
"Your Majesty..." The Eunuch softly reminded him, breaking the heavy silence in the hall. The Emperor came back to his senses, took a deep breath, and gently placed the jade pendant on the table. His eyes swept over Xie Yunchu, who was kneeling below, and the various ministers with their differing expressions, before slowly speaking: "As for the matters of the previous dynasty, I will investigate thoroughly and bring the Xie Family Justice."
A surge of joy filled Xie Yunchu's heart as she bowed in gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After a moment of silence, the Emperor added, "You may rise for now."
Xie Yunchu stood up quietly, waiting for the Emperor's next instruction.
"What... are your plans?" The Emperor's tone carried a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.
Xie Yunchu was momentarily taken aback but soon understood what the Emperor meant. He was asking her if she intended to restore her status as a princess.
"I... I only hope to uncover the truth and bring comfort to my ancestors' spirits," Xie Yunchu replied, lowering her eyelids. Her tone was calm, but inside she was already stirred by turbulent emotions. She knew that restoring her identity as a princess would mean she would be completely drawn into this whirlpool of power.
The Emperor looked at Xie Yunchu quietly, a glimmer of appreciation flashing in his eyes. After pondering for a moment, he declared loudly: "Let it be known that I restore Xie Yunchu's title as Princess and grant her residence in Yong'an Palace. So it is decreed!"
Xie Yunchu knelt down to express her gratitude: "I thank Your Majesty for your great kindness!"
"Do any of Your Excellencies have objections?" The Emperor surveyed the room with sharp eyes.
The ministers exchanged glances, none daring to provoke his wrath at that moment, and they all replied in unison: "Your Majesty is wise!"
"Dismissed!" The eunuch's sharp voice echoed throughout the hall.
As Xie Yunchu walked out of the Golden Hall with the crowd, sunlight poured down on her but could not dispel the gloom in her heart. She knew this was just the beginning; the road ahead would be long and arduous.
She looked up at the sky; it was clear and cloudless, with blinding sunlight.
"Princess, where shall we go now?" The man in black, Li Yun, approached Xie Yunchu and asked softly.
"Return... to Yong'an Palace." Xie Yunchu smiled faintly, but there was a hint of bitterness in the smile.
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