She Was Written to Die, So She Seized the Throne Instead

"Your Majesty, we did not see Princess Xuanyang at Fuyun Building." This was the reply from the Patrol Camp soldiers.

"Your Majesty, Princess Xuanyang is unwell and recuperating in her mansion. An Imperial Physician has just left the Princess Mansion." This was the reply from the Imperial Medical Bureau.

"Your Majesty, Princess Xuanyang has not left the Princess Mansion at any point." This was the reply from the commander of the Imperial Army detachment the Emperor had sent to protect Xiao Li.

The Emperor frowned, his gaze falling coldly upon Xiao Jingzhao. "Who did you say hit Jia Ruo?"

Xiao Jingzhao was already suppressing a bellyful of rage, but now he was so furious he felt he could spit blood.

"These people are telling blatant lies! They are all providing a false alibi for Xuanyang! I implore Your Majesty to see the truth!"

Xiao Jingzhao’s greatest folly was perhaps hoping the Emperor would actually see the truth.

The Emperor was self-assured. He trusted his Imperial Army, his Imperial Physicians, and his Patrol Camp.

While Xiao Li was certainly capable of hitting someone, he was convinced these people would not dare deceive their Emperor.

Since Xiao Jingzhao was creating such a scene, the Emperor had no choice but to ask, "Why would Xuanyang attack Jia Ruo?"

Xiao Jingzhao was temporarily at a loss for words. He had been leaving with Xue Zhi in his arms when he noticed someone acting strangely. He had Jia Ruo go back to check, and then the fight broke out.

There was nothing inherently wrong with that story, but Xue Zhi’s identity could not be revealed.

The Emperor ’understood.’ ’He hasn’t even thought of a good excuse yet.’

"Xuanyang is unwell. She’s fallen into deep sleeps and has been difficult to rouse several times. The Nanqi King and you have been back for many days, and I have sent for her repeatedly, yet she refuses to come out. How could she possibly have run off to this Fuyun Building, only to be conveniently spotted by you?"

Xiao Jingzhao was frustrated. ’How was I supposed to know it would be such a coincidence?’

The Emperor continued, "It’s been years. I almost didn’t recognize Jia Ruo. How did you all end up in a fight?"

Xiao Jingzhao fumed. ’She went after Xue Zhi first!’

The Emperor sighed. "You met, so you must have spoken. What did she say to you?"

Xiao Jingzhao was indignant. ’Every word out of her mouth was a humiliating insult. I can’t repeat it.’

With a ’wise’ look that saw through everything, the Emperor asked, "You were there, as her brother. She was hitting Jia Ruo and you didn’t stop her?"

Blood trickled from Xiao Jingzhao’s lips. ’I tried to stop her. And then she beat me to my knees.’

The Emperor said, "I know Xuanyang and Jia Ruo don’t get along, but that was years ago. Jia Ruo is a grown woman now, why is she still so unreasonable? If someone bullied her, she should just tell me. I would never fail to stand up for her. Why resort to lying and framing Xuanyang?"

Xiao Jingzhao was not ready to give up. "My guards can all testify to it! And Prince Wei—he was there, too!"

The Emperor’s expression grew even more peculiar. "You knew I sent Prince Wei to fetch Xuanyang, and you’re implicating him in your story as well?"

And that was the killing blow.

As Xiao Jingzhao left the Imperial Study Room, he was so overcome with rage that halfway down the path, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

He steadied himself against a wall, refusing to collapse to his knees, his eyes filled with a dark, violent fury. "Xiao Jingyun... Xiao Xuanyang... You’ve pushed me too far!"

Not far behind him, the hem of a dark purple robe paused for a moment. After watching him stumble away, it turned and vanished.

The Emperor was completely baffled. ’Why are Prince Yanping and Jia Ruo so intent on framing Xuanyang? They mentioned her a few days ago, but there wasn’t this much hatred.’

The Emperor didn’t doubt his own people; he just couldn’t make sense of it. With a wave of his hand, he commanded, "Guards! Go and summon Prince Wei."

Xiao Jingyi left the Princess Mansion with a stern expression, looking for all the world like a respectable gentleman.

PFFT!

He quickly clapped a hand over his mouth. ’No, I can’t laugh. It’ll be hard to fool my Brother if I do.’

’But Imperial Sister is truly incredible.’

’She threw Prince Yanping and Princess Jia Ruo from the upper floor. While the Patrol Camp rushed to check on the two of them, her people scattered and vanished. Meanwhile, she had slipped into a carriage and left through the back entrance. By the time the Patrol Camp found the rear gate, she was long gone.’

’She didn’t even use the main gate to return to the Princess Mansion, instead taking a secret passage. Everyone, inside and out, thought she was still at home.’

’And the Imperial Physician’s testimony was even easier to explain. Those physicians were pulled in to develop various medicines. They saw Xiao Li when they arrived, and saw her again when they left.’

’No one asked what happened in between...’

’While he was still trying to figure out how to take the fall for her, his Imperial Sister had confidently asserted that they had no evidence and His Majesty would never believe them.’

’And it turned out to be true. Imperial Sister’s plans were flawless; she controlled the entire situation. It was as if she had thought of everything before she even stepped out the door...’

Xiao Jingyi’s smile faded slightly as he gazed out of his sedan at the snow-filled sky.

’Imperial Sister...’

----

"This subject greets Your Majesty."

"Dispense with the formalities."

The Emperor sat by a game board, beckoning to Xiao Jingyi. "Come, play a game with me."

Xiao Jingyi looked troubled. "Brother, you know how much I hate playing Go."

The Emperor smiled. "I’ll give you a two-stone handicap."

Xiao Jingyi could only bow with his hands clasped. "Then it would be impolite of me to refuse."

Xiao Jingyi had just picked up a stone when the Emperor asked impatiently, "You went to see Xuanyang today. How is her health?"

Xiao Jingyi placed a stone with feigned nonchalance. "Imperial Sister is fine. She just needs to rest and recuperate."

The Emperor feigned anger. "Then why does she refuse my summons?"

Xiao Jingyi chuckled. "Her constitution is weak and she fears the cold, so she’s reluctant to go out. You should see it, Brother. Her room has underfloor heating and charcoal braziers. It’s so warm you could wear a single thin robe. Her maids say she hasn’t stepped out of the room for days."

Xiao Li had been unconscious for a full month, and then again just a few days ago. She had lost a great deal of weight. It was only natural that her weakened body couldn’t withstand the severe cold.

The Emperor said, "I sent you to persuade her to come out and meet with the Nanqi King’s party. Why were you gone for several hours?"

Xiao Jingyi replied smoothly, "Imperial Sister had the Imperial Physicians concocting medicines for her guards. I was curious, so I stayed to watch. And, incidentally..." He coughed.

He didn’t finish, but the Emperor understood immediately. He had undoubtedly helped himself to some of the goods.

The Emperor’s eyes were filled with amusement. "You two are certainly close," he mused. "Not like Prince Yanping and Jia Ruo. For no reason at all, they insist that Xuanyang went to Fuyun Building and assaulted him."

He spoke casually, but his eyes were fixed on Xiao Jingyi’s face, trying to gauge his reaction.

But unexpectedly, Xiao Jingyi’s eyes lit up. "Who did Imperial Sister hit? Our second brother or Jia Ruo?"

There wasn’t a hint of guilt, no concern about Fuyun Building—just delighted surprise that someone had gotten beaten up.

The Emperor frowned. "They got beaten, and you’re this happy?"

"Of course I am..." Xiao Jingyi said with a smile, but it was tinged with a hint of sorrow. He fell silent for a long moment before speaking again.

"Brother, you probably haven’t noticed, but I’m actually terrified of Prince Yanping..."

Stone after stone landed on the board with a crisp, clear sound, accompanying Xiao Jingyi’s calm narration, revealing to the Emperor a past he had never noticed.

Xiao Jingzhao was a malicious bully who abused his own brothers. Jia Ruo, resentful that Xuanyang had become the legitimate princess, tortured others wantonly. The two of them worked together, their methods so cunning that their victims could only suffer in silence, swallowing their teeth along with their blood.

By the time Xiao Jingyi had finished his tale, the game was also nearing its end.

Xiao Jingyi said with a grim smile, "Imperial Sister and I couldn’t fight back before. But she’s fierce now. She might actually hit them if she had the chance."

The Emperor’s brow was tightly furrowed, whether from the past Xiao Jingyi described or the idea that Xiao Li would resort to violence, it was unclear.

"You were at the Princess Mansion the entire time today?"

"Brother, you ask..." Xiao Jingyi looked up, a flash of understanding in his eyes, and smiled serenely. "Why don’t you just summon someone from the Princess Mansion and ask them? Then you’ll know."

At this point, the Emperor was utterly convinced that Prince Yanping and Jia Ruo had done this on purpose. Just as in the story Xiao Jingyi had told, the two siblings were masters of framing others and making baseless accusations. Even if Jia Ruo was truly injured, it was likely due to something else. They had probably just thought of Xuanyang and decided to pin the blame on her as a matter of convenience.

Utterly despicable and completely unrepentant.

Xiao Jingyi placed the final stone. "Your Majesty," he said calmly, "I believe I’ve won."

The Emperor was distracted and didn’t care about the outcome of the game. Xiao Jingyi had won, but he didn’t feel much joy either. The process of baring his heart to another was not a pleasant one.

Xiao Jingyi rose to take his leave. Just before departing, he hesitated and said, "There is one more thing... I’m not certain, so I haven’t dared mention it to Your Majesty. You must have heard that Prince Yanping brought a woman with him on his journey. I have seen her a few times, and I always feel an indescribable sense of familiarity... It’s as if... as if she is our Fourth Imperial Sister-in-law..."

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