The Prince Wants to Assassinate Me Every Day-Chapter 917 - 501: Bai Mowan’s Humiliation (First Update)
"Reporting to the Empress, your subordinate did not act indecently towards this young woman. Today, your subordinate escorted Princess Youyou to play at Qixi Palace. Princess Youyou asked your subordinate to retrieve the ink paintings she had drawn over the past few days for Princess Anqi to see. On the way, he encountered this young woman, who nearly fell, and your subordinate kindly supported her. Unexpectedly, this young woman claimed that your subordinate acted indecently and jumped into the lake. Your subordinate feared a casualty, and thus jumped in to rescue her." Zhang Wenhe explained.
"That’s not true, Empress." Hearing this, Qing Yan was in utter distress, crying non-stop, "When he supported me, he pulled me into his embrace and said I smelled nice. I barely managed to free myself, then jumped into the lake to end my life, and he came down and continued acting indecently towards me in the water... I don’t want to live anymore..."
An Ning’s gaze was cold.
Qing Yan spoke with such heart-wrenching intensity.
Moreover, Zhang Wenhe was indeed the only outsider besides Xiao Jinxing, and unlike Song Yanqing, Zhang Wenhe was always within the Imperial Palace, whereas Song Yanqing did not spend the night within the palace.
"Empress, your subordinate did not." Zhang Wenhe also knelt on the ground, explaining.
An Ning naturally knew Zhang Wenhe would not do such a thing. She was very clear about the kind of people around her.
Years ago, Zhang Wenhe was also a person of martial arts, highly skilled, but was severely injured due to a coward’s betrayal. He escaped to Xuzhou, and happened to be found by An Ning, who treated his wounds. Afterwards, Zhang Wenhe went back for revenge. Once a person without ties, to repay An Ning’s kindness, he stayed by her side. An Ning happened to need a martial arts expert, so she allowed him to stay. Zhang Wenhe has been by her side for three years, primarily taking care of An Luming and Youyou, and managing all matters at the villa in Xuzhou.
"Empress, this pertains to a woman’s chastity, a matter damaging to a woman’s reputation. If the event did not occur, why would Qing Yan say such a thing and even seek to jump into the lake to end her life!" Bai Mowan spoke loudly, "I ask the Empress to bring justice for Qing Yan! Not just for Qing Yan, but to provide fairness for all concubines and palace maids of the harem. Zhang Wenhe was brought into the palace by you from outside, and is the only outsider aside from His Majesty allowed to stay in the harem overnight. His very presence is irresponsible towards all the women in the harem, and now this disgraceful matter has occurred. If the Empress cannot handle this fairly and impartially, it fails to assure all concubines in the harem and also fails to account to His Majesty!"
An Ning looked at Bai Mowan.
The aggressive attitude was still strong, with no restraint despite her demotion to concubine.
An Ning also knew that today’s matter was difficult to clear of accusations, completely different from the day An Luming and Xiao Yanqi had a fight. Moreover, Zhang Wenhe had just admitted himself that he supported Qing Yan and indeed went into the lake to rescue her; the two had physical contact, which was impossible to explain clearly.
Xiao Jinxing, that damned Emperor, really knew how to shift blame.
Did he know that harem affairs are the hardest to determine?! 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
An Ning spoke, "What does Bai Concubine think? How should I provide justice for Qing Yan?"
"I believe Zhang Wenhe betrayed the trust given by His Majesty and you, Empress. As the sole outsider staying in the palace overnight, it demonstrates immense trust from both of you, yet he showed no gratitude and committed such an intolerable mistake, disgracing the royal family. His crime is exceedingly grave!" Bai Mowan declared righteously, "I hope the Empress can sentence Zhang Wenhe to execution by strangulation to serve as a warning to others!"
An Ning’s face visibly turned grim.
Her fists clenched involuntarily.
Bai Mowan truly could say anything.
"Before all the concubines and His Majesty, I ask the Empress to punish Zhang Wenhe immediately!" Bai Mowan said, kneeling heavily on the ground, kowtowing forcefully to An Ning.
What she displayed was typical of righteous grandeur with deep master-servant affection.
Xiao Jinxing was about to speak.
An Ning stated directly, "Zhang Wenhe has betrayed the trust bestowed by me and His Majesty, committing such a grave crime, so naturally he must be punished."
Zhang Wenhe lowered his head.
He did not offer a defense for himself.
His life was originally saved by An Ning, and for these few years at her side, she treated him well.
If he were to be executed now, he would have no complaints.
"However, before imposing severe punishment, there are matters I must clarify. As the Master of the Harem, I certainly will not wrong anyone, and indeed will be fair and just." An Ning’s presence was commanding.
Other concubines were also startled by the intense confrontational atmosphere between the Empress and Bai Concubine.
The concubines knew well Bai Mowan’s former glory in the palace, but due to not having interacted with An Ning, they were unaware of the Empress’s capabilities to surpass Bai Mowan and become Empress.
After witnessing today, it was clear she was no saint.
"Qing Yan." An Ning’s gaze shifted.
Qing Yan knelt on the ground, still sobbing constantly.
Upon hearing the Empress’s voice, she was frightened, trembling with fear.
She silently clenched her teeth, knelt, and replied, "This servant is here."
"You just said Zhang Wenhe acted indecently towards you; was it intentional, or was it a hurried rescue without consideration for male-female distinctions?" An Ning guided.
"He intentionally..."
"Zhang Wenhe has been in the palace for many days, always respectful and courteous, never overstepping. Yet today, he has behaved differently towards Qing Yan, making it truly hard for me to believe. Of course, I am not denying that Zhang Wenhe may have tarnished Qing Yan’s chastity. Even if it was an act of hurried rescue, it indeed harmed Qing Yan’s reputation. Zhang Wenhe ought to be responsible for Qing Yan." An Ning naturally shifted the focus, turning what was deemed as indecency into a necessary physical contact during a rescue.
Bai Mowan upon hearing was naturally displeased; how could she allow such an excuse to pass over the situation.
The concept of an unavoidable physical contact due to rescue might warrant several blows as punishment at most, but Bai Mowan sought Zhang Wenhe’s death. She wanted Zhang Wenhe to accompany Mo Kun in the afterlife!
"Empress, a moment ago Qing Yan was very clear, Zhang Wenhe acted indecently, not merely an urgent rescue. I ask the Empress not to favor him because he is your person, and deliberately change the concept to reduce Zhang Wenhe’s crime!" Bai Mowan spoke candidly.
The tone was not at all weak.
"A moment ago Zhang Wenhe also stated clearly, he merely acted out of a hurried rescue and had no intention of inappropriate behavior towards Qing Yan."
"Empress, this is favoritism towards Zhang Wenhe. I already stated earlier, this concerns a woman’s chastity and reputation. If it wasn’t true, why would Qing Yan say these words and ruin her own reputation!"
"Zhang Wenhe is fully aware that he is the only outsider within the harem aside from His Majesty, understanding completely that even the slightest overstep meant a death sentence! How could Zhang Wenhe knowingly commit such an offense?! Or is chastity more important than life for Bai Concubine?!" An Ning raised an eyebrow.
Bai Mowan’s expression suddenly changed, An Ning instantly hit her sore spot!
An Ning’s gaze clearly showed provocation, "If chastity is more important than life, why then is Bai Concubine still alive?!"
