The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 975

Chapter 975: 454 The Truth (Second Update)

The Dragon Shadow Guard would not lay a hand on someone who was inept at martial arts, but Long Yi... he was a rogue, a fake Dragon Shadow Guard.

In other words, he did not adhere to the rules set by the late emperor for the Dragon Shadow Guard.

The scene was truly shocking, to the point where even the birds in the Imperial Garden dared not chirp!

Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Study Room, the emperor was still unaware of the drastic turn of events in the Imperial Garden, and he was recounting the actions of Prince Ning to Princess Xinyang.

Why he used the word "recount" was something that puzzled the Emperor himself.

It was a sister, not an older sister, that scared him to death!

In the end, the Emperor blamed his son for causing the death of Princess Xinyang’s son, feeling both guilty and remorseful.

The Emperor had initially avoided mentioning the conflict between Prince Ning and the East Palace, simply stating that the fire four years ago was no accident but the work of Prince Ning, and as a father, he felt deeply ashamed and guilt-stricken about raising such a son.

"How did Your Majesty know it was Prince Ning?" Princess Xinyang asked.

"This..." the Emperor opened his mouth and said, "I’ve interrogated his subordinates, and they have confessed to framing Ahen."

Princess Xinyang questioned with doubt, "Why would Your Majesty investigate Prince Ning out of the blue?"

Wasn’t it because of the quarrel between Prince Ning and the East Palace, which almost led to the Crown Prince’s murder, that he gradually discovered Prince Ning’s feelings for Wo Linlang and eventually unearthed the truth about the incident four years ago?

No, aren’t you missing the point a bit?

The Emperor, reluctant to expose family disgrace, revealed a trace of deep resentment in his eyes.

Princess Xinyang just quietly watched the Emperor, showing no intention of bypassing this issue and moving on, which confused the Emperor. Don’t you care about how your own son died? Why are you concerned about all these trivial matters concerning my son?

Helplessly, the Emperor had no choice but to talk about his discovery in the Inn—that Prince Ning had attempted fratricide.

Princess Xinyang was still befuddled: "Just because he wanted to kill the Crown Prince, Your Majesty suspects that Xiao Hen was killed by him too? If a person is bad, is every wrongdoing committed by him?"

The Emperor: ...Really, let’s not talk about this, we can still be siblings.

No, why aren’t you wondering why Prince Ning would attempt to kill the Crown Prince now?

Is your focus always so elusive?

Forget it, if face is to be lost, so be it. The fact that one’s own son has committed fratricide is already shameful enough.

The Emperor then went into the tangle between Prince Ning and the Crown Prince’s Consort in great detail.

Princess Xinyang made an "Oh" sound: "So, they were caught in the act by the Crown Prince?"

The Emperor: Could your focus be any more off the mark?!!!

"Um, something like that," the Emperor said vaguely.

Princess Xinyang fell silent.

Seeing her silence, the Emperor did not know how to comfort her. After a moment of hesitation and with a sigh, he said, "I’m very sorry and saddened about Ahen’s death. Prince Ning has committed an unforgivable crime. As his father, it’s my fault for not raising him properly. I do not expect your forgiveness, but I hope you won’t be too hard on yourself. You always thought that it was your lack of vigilance that led to Ahen’s death in the fire. Now that the truth has been revealed, it was someone... it was my son who did it with intention, it’s my fault, it’s Prince Ning’s fault, not yours."

These words were heartfelt from the Emperor. Since Xiao Hen’s death, Princess Xinyang had been in a state of despair, even leaving Capital City, the place of heartache. Although the Emperor’s relationship with Princess Xinyang was not as close as with Princess Ning An, she was still a sister closer to him than other princesses.

He hoped she would not be too saddened.

"Your Majesty, may I see Prince Ning?" Princess Xinyang suddenly spoke up.

The Emperor was stunned.

As the victim’s family member, her request to see the perpetrator seemed both reasonable and natural; the Emperor had no grounds for refusal.

"I... will strip him of his princely status, banish him from Capital City, and send him to the bitter cold lands, if..." The Emperor could not utter a word without feeling a pang of pain in his chest. This was his own son, his eldest son whom he had raised by hand. To cast him aside was easier said than done; who could bear it?

Yet because he had experienced this "grief of losing a son," he could empathize even more with the hurt that Princess Xinyang had suffered, and he found it impossible to ask for her forgiveness on behalf of Prince Ning.

Even if Princess Xinyang wanted to draw her sword and kill Prince Ning, what could he say?

Was it only permissible for Prince Ning to kill her son and not for her to avenge her child?

The Emperor’s eyes reddened, and he said with restraint, "I will ask Eunuch Wei to take you there."

Princess Xinyang stood up, bowed slightly to the Emperor, and followed Eunuch Wei to the side hall where Prince Ning was held.