"What happened?" The Fifth Prince, who was passing by, pushed through the crowd of onlookers and came over. The erotic scene caught his eye, and he was momentarily stunned. His handsome face turned red, and his eyes flickered, unsure of where to look. "In broad daylight, you actually... Guards, pull them apart!"
The guards pulled Mu Zhengnan away, and Shen Yingxue quickly stood up, pulling at her clothes to cover her exposed skin, crying pitifully, "Fifth Prince, you must seek justice for me! Mu Zhengnan and Shen Lixue have conspired to ruin my reputation..."
The Fifth Prince frowned in displeasure: "Miss Chen, don't make false accusations. Just now, there were only you and Mu Zhengnan on the ground."
Large tears slid down Shen Yingxue's beautiful eyes, making her look even more pitiful with her innocent, doe-like gaze: "Fifth Prince, Shen Lixue has been hiding behind the artificial hill, spying on everything here!" It was Shen Lixue who caused her to be in this state, and now that she's in trouble, she wants to drag Shen Lixue down with her.
"Really?" The Fifth Prince was skeptical as he slowly walked behind the artificial hill.
Several curious guests followed. Mu Zhengnan stood still, his large hand clenched into a fist, staring coldly at the artificial hill behind him. His expression was dark and uncertain. When he was knocked away, his acupoints were also pressed, and he was pinned to Shen Yingxue's body, unable to speak or move. After being pulled apart, the acupoints on his body were automatically released.
The person who saved Shen Lixue possesses unfathomable martial arts skills; it's best to avoid provoking him for now.
Shen Lixue stood behind the artificial hill, her snow-white eyes narrowing slightly. The artificial hill was only a small section; if she tried to escape now, she would definitely be discovered. The Fifth Prince was getting closer and closer, and if she were caught by him, it would be tantamount to indirectly confirming the charges against her by Shen Yingxue…
A faint scent of pine resin lingered in the air. Shen Lixue looked up and met Dongfang Heng's unfathomable eyes, her breath catching in her throat for a moment...
Just then, the Fifth Prince, accompanied by several guests, gracefully walked behind the artificial hill...
049 The scumbag goes to jail
Standing behind the artificial hill, the Fifth Prince frowned slightly, glanced at Shen Yingxue, and said coldly, "Miss Shen, why don't you come and see for yourself!"
"Yes!" Shen Yingxue's beautiful eyes filled with tears as she walked forward, her angry gaze piercing through the artificial hill. Shen Lixue had made her lose face; once she found her, she would definitely teach her a lesson...
Behind the artificial hill, there was no sign of Shen Lixue's panicked face, but rather an empty space, not a single person in sight. Jagged rocks were piled up one after another, forming various strange shapes.
"Shen Lixue isn't here?" After a brief moment of surprise, Shen Yingxue quickly regained her composure and hurriedly looked around. The courtyard wasn't large, and Shen Lixue couldn't have hidden far. If she wasn't behind the rockery, then she must be...
Shen Yingxue's eyes lit up, a crazed ruthlessness flashing in them: "The artificial hill is connected to the small house over there, Shen Lixue must have hidden in the small house, Fifth Prince, you must send someone to catch her..." That bitch, does she think she can hide somewhere else and I won't be able to find her? Daring to scheme against me, she's courting death...
The Fifth Prince remained silent, his brows furrowed deeply. This daughter of the Prime Minister's family was so suspicious of her own sister...
"What happened?" A cold female voice came from behind the crowd. Shen Yingxue's sharp accusation stopped abruptly. She slowly turned around and saw Shen Lixue, dressed in blue, walking over through the crowd with a bright smile on her beautiful face.
"Shen Lixue!" Shen Ying's almond-shaped eyes widened in shock. It took her a long time to come to her senses. She should have been hiding in the hut. How did she end up coming from the opposite direction?
"I was passing by and heard my sister's voice, so I came over. Is she alright?" Shen Lixue smiled slightly, her eyes full of concern.
Shen Yingxue snorted coldly and said irritably, "You only care about me after you've harmed me, Shen Lixue. Do you think I'm stupid enough not to see through your hypocrisy?"
"My sister is confused. I was summoned to Yongning Palace by the Empress Dowager and just got back. How could I have had time to scheme against you?" Shen Lixue retorted calmly, the starlight in her clear, cold eyes revealing a strong provocation in Shen Yingxue's eyes.
Shen Yingxue gritted her teeth in anger. Her scheme to outwit Shen Lixue had become a shield for her to escape punishment. She was furious! "Mu Zhengnan, tell me, were you two having a secret rendezvous just now? I just happened to be passing by." With Mu Zhengnan as a witness, let's see how Shen Lixue can still deny it.
Shen Lixue raised her eyebrows slightly. Shen Yingxue knew that she hadn't gone to Yongning Palace, but she hadn't exposed her. The opportunity to strike a heavy blow against her had been missed. It seemed that she was most likely an ally of Mu Zhengnan. Making a big fuss about falsely conveying the imperial decree would not do them any good, so they dared not make a fuss...
Mu Zhengnan's eyelids darkened. Shen Lixue's ability to use martial arts was beyond his expectations. However, her martial arts skills were not high and she was not a threat. On the contrary, the person who rescued her was of noble status and unfathomable, and should not be offended easily...
Mu Zhengnan's silence showed that everyone had nothing to say. Shen Lixue glanced at his broken wrist. Was he afraid of Dongfang Heng for not speaking up to testify?
Dongfang Heng's moves were as swift as the wind, and his lightness skill was superb. The moment the Fifth Prince stepped into the artificial hill, she saw Dongfang Heng's deep, obsidian-like eyes. In surprise, her waist tightened and relaxed, and she and Dongfang Heng were already standing at the back of the crowd...
"So my sister likes Young Master Mu. You should have said so earlier. We are sisters. Even though Young Master Mu almost killed me, I can still consider sparing him for my sister's lifelong happiness..." Shen Lixue said calmly, her dark eyes unfathomable. Lei Shi and Shen Yingxue were determined to kill her, so why should she be polite to them?
Everyone suddenly realized with a start: Wasn't Mu Zhengnan imprisoned? How did he end up here? Had he escaped?
"Stop spouting nonsense! Who likes this scumbag? He was manipulated by you to molest me! You should tear him to pieces!" Shen Yingxue cried out in alarm, her eyes burning with fury that seemed to consume Shen Lixue. "But before you kill him, I want to ask him, what did you promise him that made him so devoted to helping you frame me?"
At the crucial moment, Mu Zhengnan actually betrayed Shen Lixue and sided with her. What a despicable man! He's just as hateful and deserving of death as Shen Lixue.
Mu Zhengnan's face was ashen, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. His tall body trembled slightly as he tried his best to suppress his anger. He had to endure it!
Shen Lixue sneered. Even now, Shen Yingxue still wanted to push the blame onto her. She was really overestimating herself. If she wanted to die, she would grant her wish.
As Shen Lixue parted her cherry lips slightly, about to retort, a charming female voice rang out first: "Yingxue, you misunderstood Sister Lixue. She really did go to Yongning Palace just now."
Shen Lixue was taken aback and turned to look. Su Yuting walked over with a smile. Her beautiful face and noble temperament were captivating.
"Su Yuting, even you are helping Shen Lixue?" Shen Yingxue's anger intensified. She was the most beautiful woman in Qingyan, while Shen Lixue was just a wild girl from the countryside. Why were all these people busy helping her and not helping her?
“Yingxue, I’m not taking sides, I’m just telling the truth!” Su Yuting’s gaze was gentle and her tone soft: “I saw Sister Lixue outside Yongning Palace, and we talked for a long time. She didn’t have time to frame you, right, Sister Lixue!”
Shen Lixue smiled slightly and did not speak. Her dark eyes narrowed slightly. Su Yuting was actually helping her to make false evidence. Was she up to no good, or did she have other plans?
Many people knew that Shen Lixue had been summoned to Yongning Palace by the Empress Dowager. Coupled with Mu Zhengnan's silence and Su Yuting's testimony, everyone trusted her completely and began to criticize Shen Yingxue: "She went to see her lover and then tried to shift the blame onto someone else..."
"Exactly, they dared to do it but didn't dare to admit it, and even framed their own sister, really..."
"It really was Shen Lixue who framed me, why don't you believe me?" Shen Yingxue was heartbroken, crying her eyes out. She glared at Shen Lixue fiercely, thinking, "She tricked me again, you bitch, you bitch, you bitch!"
"Guards, take Mu Zhengnan to the Ministry of Justice prison and await joint trial by the three courts!" Prince An appeared before them at some unknown time, tall and elegant, with unfathomable obsidian eyes.
Everyone was shocked. The Ministry of Justice prison was a place where one could enter but not leave. It seemed that Mu Zhengnan's days were numbered. This was his own doing; who told him to murder Prince An's fiancée and then sneak out of his cell...
Guards escorted Mu Zhengnan, palace maids supported Shen Yingxue, and the crowd pointed and whispered, creating a somewhat chaotic scene. Su Yuting glanced discreetly at the crowd, and in an inconspicuous corner, a young palace maid in red gave Shen Yingxue a deep look before quietly leaving. Su Yuting gently raised her lips, a strange smile appearing on her face...
In Changchun Palace, a young palace maid recounted what had happened beside the artificial hill. Consort Li sat upright on a mahogany chair, her eyes slightly dark, the expression in them unfathomable: "Did Shen Lixue really say that?"
She went to Yongning Palace to see the Empress Dowager. The small room where she and Consort Tian discussed matters was the only way to Yongning Palace...
The young palace maid in red lowered her head and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly. This servant would not dare to conceal a single word!"
"Sister, it seems Su Yuting was telling the truth." Tian Meiren put down her teacup, her gaze grave. Shen Lixue had left Yongning Palace ahead of Su Yuting; it was Shen Lixue who had overheard their secret. "Sister, if that secret gets out, we'll be in serious trouble..."
Consort Li suddenly raised her eyelids, a cold glint flashing in her bright eyes: "Rest assured, I will never let Shen Lixue leave the palace alive!"