Upon hearing Hai Ling's inquiry, Minister of Justice Wu Shangyi hurriedly replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Xi family has made no move. However, Prince Zhaoyang actually sent his steward to the Ministry of Justice. Not only did he not help Princess Zhaoyang, but he also accused Princess Zhaoyang of poisoning two concubines in the Zhaoyang Prince's Mansion. He has now identified them all."
"It seems this woman is being pushed around by everyone now that she's fallen from grace. She's really not likable normally, otherwise why would no one care about her, and why would her husband even kick her while she's down?"
She was so pathetic that even Hailing felt sorry for her. Instead of helping her, her husband took the opportunity to push her into the water.
However, the fact that Prince Zhaoyang was able to do this shows that he is also a ruthless character. They should be careful and keep an eye on him. On the day the fake emperor issued an edict to bestow the throne, although Prince Zhaoyang refused, there was a look of joy on his face. This shows that he also wanted to ascend to the throne, but he just had no opportunity and kept quiet. In addition, there are many women in Prince Zhaoyang's mansion. Maybe he was just using this as a cover.
Hailin started to think about it and decided to send someone to keep an eye on the movements of Prince Zhaoyang's residence.
"Since Xi Yan has taken several lives, then let's deal with her however we see fit."
"Yes, Your Excellency obeys."
Wu Shang accepted the order and left, heading back to the Ministry of Justice to handle the case.
Soon, the case was settled. Princess Zhaoyang, Xiyan, had instructed her maid to poison someone's life and was to be executed at the Meridian Gate. On this clear and sunny day, Xiliang entered the palace early in the morning and excitedly dragged Hailing out of the palace to see the execution of Princess Zhaoyang.
"Ling'er, do you know? Today, the streets and alleys were full of people. Everyone went to see Xi Yan being beheaded. You know, I didn't know how hateful that woman was before. Now that she's been beheaded, many people are clapping and cheering. It shows how unpopular that woman was."
Hai Ling looked at Xi Liang with a smile and reminded her, "Are you all ready? I told the Emperor about your situation, and he has already sent someone to Nanling Kingdom. News will be back soon."
Upon hearing Hai Ling mention her, Xi Liang blushed with embarrassment and then smiled, saying, "My mother manages everything at home; I don't need to lift a finger."
"Oh, I see."
Hai Ling glanced at Xi Liang with a smile, making Xi Liang even more embarrassed, and quickly changed the subject.
"Ling'er, are you going to see the excitement today?"
Hai Ling glanced at her belly. Her belly was quite large, and she couldn't possibly squeeze in with others. However, she could go out of the palace for a walk to clear her mind.
"Alright, let's go for a stroll outside the palace."
As soon as Hailing spoke, Shimei disagreed: "Your Highness, there are many people on the streets today. You'd better not leave the palace. What if you accidentally get jostled?"
Xi Liang chimed in, "It's alright. My family owns a teahouse right where west Yan's prison van passes by. We can just sit in a private room and watch from there, without going to the main entrance."
Shi Mei fell silent, but Hai Ling's interest was piqued: "Let's go, let's go."
"But what if the Emperor finds out?"
“He won’t know,” Hailing waved her hand, signaling Shimei to hurry up. Shimei had no choice but to order the carriage to be prepared. The Empress was going to leave the palace, but she also ordered several guards to change into civilian clothes and follow her. She and Shilan followed closely behind.
The group quietly left the palace and followed Xi Liang into the Xi family's teahouse.
The street was indeed bustling with people. Hai Ling and Xi Liang sat in a private room on the second floor of the teahouse, watching the commotion below.
Soon, the prison cart arrived, and inside sat a woman in a white prison uniform, her hair disheveled, her eyes glazed over. Who else could it be but the proud and domineering Xi Yan of the past? At this moment, Xi Yan no longer possessed the pride of a Xi family woman. Since her arrest, not a single member of the Xi family had come to see her, nor had anyone from the Zhaoyang Prince's Mansion. It was clear how much of a failure she had been as a person. How laughable that she had once been proud because of the Xi family. It turned out that it was all a lie. As west Yan thought this, she shouted in the prison cart.
"Father, Mother, Father, Mother, where are you? Please come and save Yan'er! Please come and save Yan'er! Yan'er doesn't want to die! I don't want to die! Please come quickly!"
The crowd erupted in murmurs, mostly mocking Xi Yan. They said the Xi family wasn't above the law, and what were her parents anyway? She had taken a life, so naturally she should pay with her own.
On the second floor, Xi Liang scoffed disdainfully, "This woman is really naive. She actually fantasizes that Lord Xi will save her. How capable is her father to save her?"
Hai Ling frowned slightly, her eyes deep in thought. Although west Yan deserved to die, the Xi family was also puzzled as to why no one had shown up from beginning to end. Even if the Empress Dowager had spoken, shouldn't the parents have come to see their daughter off? Why did they remain unmoved?
In the private room, Xi Liang noticed that Hai Ling hadn't spoken, so he turned to look at her curiously: "Ling'er, what's wrong?"
"I just find it strange that none of the west family members showed up. Even if they couldn't help west Yan, shouldn't they have seen her off? And shouldn't they be in great pain? But they didn't show up at all."
After Hai Ling mentioned it, Xi Liang also noticed the matter.
"Yes, that's true. The west family really didn't show up at all from beginning to end. Logically speaking, they should have made some efforts. Regardless of whether they could save their daughter, parents shouldn't be so cold and indifferent."
Both of them were puzzled, then turned to look out the window. The prison van had already passed by on the street. Xi Yan stopped screaming, like a pitiful little animal that had been abandoned and was desperate and helpless. She had brought herself to this state.
Hailin sighed, stopped looking out the window, and started drinking her tea.
The private room was quiet. Footsteps and voices could be heard from the corridor, drifting into the room. People outside could be heard talking.
"Why do you think the west family didn't appear at all from beginning to end?"
It seems that many people are just as strange as they are, Hailing thought.
Then someone outside spoke up again, in a low, mysterious voice: "I'm telling you this, but you must never tell anyone."
The person speaking seemed to know some secret and lowered their voice, but Hai Ling Xi Liang still heard it. The person said, "According to reliable sources, this Xi Yan is not actually a young lady of the Xi family. She was just adopted and raised by Madam Xi, which is why she is so indifferent."
"I see."
Those people walked away as they talked. In the private room, Hai Ling and Xi Liang looked at each other, then understood. So that's how it is.
However, even if Xi Yan was being carried, what they did was still too much.
"The west family is truly shameless. Even if west Yan was carried, they shouldn't have done this."
As Xi Liang spoke, Hai Ling didn't offer any opinion. She was thinking about something else. If she remembered correctly, the Empress Dowager wanted Xi Yan to marry Ye. If Xi Yan was still a concubine, why would the Empress Dowager let her marry Ye instead of letting Xi Yuan marry the Emperor? Shouldn't it be best for her to marry her own son? The more Hai Ling thought about it, the more alarmed she became. She didn't even drink her tea and got up to return to the palace.
"We're back at the palace."
Xi Liang noticed something was off about Hai Ling's expression and asked in surprise, "Ling'er, what happened?"
Hai Ling shook her head, wondering how she could discuss such a matter with Xi Liang.
"I'm tired, so I'm going back to the palace first. You should also hurry back to the Cangwang Mansion. The people who went to Nanling Kingdom will be back soon, so you should get everything ready quickly."
"I see."