Chapter 149: Why Is She Wasting Words on Such an Idiot?

Countless thoughts flashed through Fang Ran’s mind. ’Li Wei is to be beheaded, so he must have committed a terrible crime. If I say I have nothing to do with it, I can get out of this scott-free.’

’But Li Wei has performed such great service. How could the Emperor possibly kill him?’

’Could this be a test?’

’If I’m willing to live and die with Li Wei, won’t that prove my feelings for him? He’ll surely be moved by me then.’

Fang Ran clenched her fists tightly. Steeling her heart, she declared loudly, "General Li and I are in love! We will follow each other in life and death."

She decided to take the gamble!

The crowd: Ooh!

Although they couldn’t speak, it didn’t stop everyone from gasping in amazement.

Xiao Lv asked, "Then have the two of you ever shared a bed?"

The question was, admittedly, a bit awkward.

Fang Ran didn’t dare to say yes, but she gave a barely perceptible nod.

Xiao Lv continued, "When, and where?"

Fang Ran, looking like she might die of shame and indignation, cried, "Must I speak of such things? You might as well just kill me."

Xiao Yang tapped the armrest. Xiao Lv raised his hand and said, "If you refuse to answer, then we’ll have to be indelicate."

Nanny Yang came out with two other elderly nannies, pulled Fang Ran away directly, and brought her back a moment later.

Nanny Yang reported, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Princess Anning is indeed no longer a virgin."

Just moments ago, Fang Ran had been acting indignant, but now she had an air of desperate defiance. "I’ve long since been General Li’s woman."

A slight twitch touched Xiao Yang’s brow as she turned to Li Wei. "You may speak now."

Li Wei didn’t even turn his head, his gaze fixed on Xiao Yang. "I did not. She is slandering me."

He knew it would be difficult to prove his innocence and was struggling to control his rage, trusting that Your Majesty would uncover the truth.

Xiao Yang’s gaze fell upon Fang Ran. "Your word alone is not enough to convict him."

Xiao Lv questioned the two women who attended to Fang Ran. "When did General Li assault Miss Fang?"

Things had developed to this point, and the two old servants were completely bewildered, but they could still answer the question.

"Never. We don’t know anything about this. Although the Commandery Princess visited the General Mansion a few times, she was always with Lady Lin. The one time she saw General Li, he sent her away."

"However, ever since the day General Li sent her away, the Commandery Princess has been crying constantly. Whenever someone asked, she would say General Li was cold, heartless, and ungrateful."

Xiao Lv finally turned back to Fang Ran. "Miss Fang, do you have any other evidence?"

Fang Ran looked at Li Wei with a heartbroken expression. "How else can I prove it? I’m already his woman. He’s heartlessly cast me aside. What else can I do...?"

Seeing this, Nanny Yang walked over to Xiao Yang’s side, bowed, and reported something in a low voice.

Upon hearing her words, Xiao Yang closed her eyes. This whole farce today was truly infuriating.

Her eyes filled with disappointment, Xiao Yang said, "Fang Ran, We bestowed upon you the title of Commandery Princess, a mansion, wealth, and servants—enough for you to live a life without worry. Li Wei has already rejected you in no uncertain terms. Why must you insist on forcing yourself on him like this?"

Fang Ran’s expression faltered. "This subject does not understand what Your Majesty is saying."

Xiao Yang sneered. "You really won’t give up until you’re at death’s door."

Nanny Yang stepped forward. "Fang Ran, you have given birth."

Before Fang Ran could argue, Nanny Yang continued, "The marks on your body are very faint. The child must have been premature. Based on your age and the marks, you gave birth no more than half a year ago."

All eyes in the hall fell upon Fang Ran.

Fang Ran’s face turned deathly pale in an instant, and she collapsed to the floor.

’She had thought everyone from Bafang City was dead, that no one would know about these things. Little did she know that some traces are carved into the body and simply cannot be erased.’

Xiao Yang had no desire to say anything more. Since ascending the Dragon Throne, this was the first time she had been this furious.

"Thus far, there is only Fang Ran’s one-sided testimony and no one to corroborate her claim that Li Wei assaulted her. The charge against Li Wei is not established."

"Fang Ran has slandered a Great General of the court and committed the crime of deceiving the sovereign. Her title of Commandery Princess is hereby revoked, and she is demoted to a commoner. She is forbidden from remaining in the capital and will be sent back to her hometown."

Luo Zheng, ignoring the order for silence, spoke out frantically, "But this doesn’t prove Li Wei didn’t do anything wrong, does it? Your Majesty is being so arbitrary! You’re clearly shielding him!"

Even now, he refused to give up, determined to pin the crime on Li Wei.

Xiao Yang’s gaze turned sharp and piercing. "We hadn’t even gotten to you yet, and you’re already jumping out. You have no evidence, making baseless accusations to slander Li Wei and causing a disturbance in Jinluan Palace. Do you know your crime?"

Luo Zheng had yet to realize the gravity of the situation. "It was Li Wei who did something sordid! Are people not allowed to talk about it? Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Miss Fang wouldn’t have accused him for no reason."

Xiao Yang lowered her eyes. "Enough."

’Why am I wasting my breath on such an idiot?’

She raised her hand.

BANG!

History repeated itself. Luo Zheng’s forehead burst open, and his life was extinguished in an instant.

The vast Jinluan Palace was instantly plunged into dead silence.

The Little Emperor’s cold, sharp voice rang out, neither hurried nor slow. "Unreasonable, unable to comprehend plain language, and contemptuous of Imperial Power. We have no need for such a minister."

Fang Ran glanced back, her already pale face turning even more ghastly. However, as someone who had witnessed the brutal massacre of Bafang City, she could withstand this level of shock. It was the Emperor’s command that terrified her more.

’She couldn’t marry Li Wei, she’d lost her title as a Commandery Princess, and she was being sent back to her hometown?’

As she was being dragged away, she came to a sudden realization. "Your Majesty, I was wrong!"

Realizing that it was useless to keep insisting that Li Wei had assaulted her, she only wanted to hold on to everything she had now.

She struggled free from the guards and prostrated herself on the floor. "Your Majesty, I was wrong! It was I who was bewitched and wanted to marry General Li! It was my fault! I beg Your Majesty, for the sake of my grandfather who sacrificed his life for the country, to spare me this once! I beg for Your Majesty’s mercy...!"

Xiao Yang hadn’t expected her to have the gall to mention her grandfather. "If not for our consideration for Fang Wenkai, you would already be a dead woman."

The honor Fang Wenkai had left her, won by defending the border with his life, was being used for this. If he knew, he would never be able to rest in peace.

Fang Ran was truly terrified now. She had only been a Commandery Princess for a few days, but she had gotten a real taste of wealth and glory.

Such a magnificent mansion, even bigger than the old Fang Family estate, now all hers. And all that treasure, those servants.

If she were sent back to her old home, she would have nothing left.

The more Fang Ran thought about it, the more her heart ached. She wailed, her tears and emotions genuine this time.

But she could not escape the fate of being dragged away.

Watching her being dragged out the doors, Xiao Yang’s face was ice-cold. She rose and left.

"Court is dismissed."

Xiao Yang returned to Zichen Palace, closed the great doors, and refused to see anyone.

Xiao Lv glanced at the Regent King, Min Shu, and his own father, who were all blocked at the door, and sent someone to summon Xie Liuzheng.

Only after arriving did Xie Liuzheng learn what had happened from Xiao Lv. ’What a disgusting piece of gossip,’ she thought. ’No wonder Your Majesty is angry.’

Xie Liuzheng wasn’t sure if the Emperor would see her, but she could only go forward and try.

To her surprise, she was actually allowed in.

"Your Majesty~~ I’ve come to keep you company~~~"

Xie Liuzheng entered, walked around the screen, and saw Xiao Yang drinking. One cup after another—she was clearly drinking to quell her anger.

"Your Majesty, please don’t drink anymore."

Xie Liuzheng was quite bold, even daring to reach out and grab the Emperor’s cup. "Your Majesty, it’s not worth ruining your health over someone like that."

Xiao Yang swallowed the burning liquor in her mouth.

Suddenly, she asked, "Do you want to go to a hot spring?"

Xie Liuzheng answered in a heartbeat, "Yes!"

And so, the Emperor took her out of the palace.