nycdaug Chapter 213 The Truth is Unexpected
Chapter 213 The Truth is Unexpected
Before long, the guard hurriedly returned to report: "Your Majesty, Li Anyang has woken up and is on his way here."
The guard knelt on one knee, speaking urgently, with fine beads of sweat still clinging to his forehead.
The crowd waited inside the hall, the atmosphere so heavy it seemed as if water could drip from it.
The hall was completely silent, and everyone's expression was very serious.
Li Anyang was brought in, her face as pale as paper, her expression filled with fear and anxiety, her body trembling uncontrollably. Behind her followed Prime Minister Li, whose brow was furrowed, his expression full of worry.
When Li Anyang and Prime Minister Li entered, they saw the Emperor, the Regent, the Imperial Noble Consort, and others in the room, which made them even more uneasy.
Their gazes swept over the people in the room, and seeing their serious faces, their hearts sank to the bottom.
Prime Minister Li and Li Anyang bowed to the Emperor, the Regent, and others in turn. Li Anyang, in particular, knelt on the ground, not daring to rise, his head bowed deeply, his body almost touching the ground, barely daring to breathe.
But then she thought again, and with the Emperor present, she concluded that the Regent had invited the Emperor to intervene on her behalf. After all, the Regent had personally come to the prison to take her out.
It seems that the Regent pleaded with His Majesty to release her.
The emperor said coldly, "Li Anyang, do you know your crime?"
The emperor's voice was icy cold, his eyes filled with majesty and anger.
Li Anyang was startled when he heard the emperor's cold voice. Could it be different from what he had imagined?
Li Anyang was still afraid. His eyes darted away, and he dared not look directly at the emperor. His voice trembled as he said, "Your Majesty, my daughter does not know what crime she has committed."
The emperor said sternly, "Li Anyang, look at the person before you!" The emperor's finger pointed directly at the fake Zhou Yuan. His expression was serious and solemn, his eyes piercing.
The real Zhou Yuan was already standing behind the screen before Li Anyang and the others entered.
Li Anyang raised his head, glanced in the direction the emperor was pointing, and said without hesitation, "Your Majesty, this is the Regent!"
Li Anyang looked at Prime Minister Li, puzzled. When Prime Minister Li saw Zhou Yuan, he felt that the current Regent was somewhat different, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Prime Minister Li frowned, his gaze sweeping over the fake Zhou Yuan, his heart filled with doubt.
The emperor said coldly, "Li Anyang, do you know your crime?"
The emperor roared again, his voice growing increasingly stern!
Li Anyang looked bewildered, looked up at the emperor, and then at the regent beside him. "Your Majesty, my daughter has committed no crime whatsoever."
Li Anyang's face was full of innocence and confusion, and his voice was trembling with tears.
Su Yinyin said, "Li Anyang, don't play dumb. What is the purpose of your collusion with this fake regent?"
Su Yinyin's voice was clear and stern, her gaze fixed on Li Anyang.
Li Anyang stared in astonishment, her face full of disbelief, and said, "What fake regent? My daughter doesn't understand what you mean, Princess."
“This is fake.” Su Yinyin pointed her finger directly at the fake Zhou Yuan, her tone firm.
Li Anyang shook his head vigorously, his expression resolute, and said, "Princess, he is the Regent Prince. Why do you say he's an imposter?"
"Li Anyang, you're still trying to deny it! This person is an imposter, do you dare say you didn't know?" Su Yinyin sneered, her eyes filled with disdain and anger.
"Impossible, impossible, how could this be fake? I don't believe it, I don't believe it!" Li Anyang's face instantly turned deathly pale, and he collapsed to the ground, muttering to himself.
Prime Minister Li panicked at this moment, realizing that his daughter had been used as a target without his knowledge.
This is going to destroy the Li family! Rebellious daughter! Rebellious daughter! Prime Minister Li was filled with despair and anger, and glared fiercely at Li Anyang.
At this moment, the real Zhou Yuan emerged from behind the screen. When Zhou Yuan's figure appeared before everyone, Li Anyang and Prime Minister Li's eyes widened instantly, their mouths agape, their faces filled with astonishment.
Li Anyang's fingers trembled, and his voice became stammering, "What...what exactly is going on?"
When Li Anyang saw the two regents, she already knew who had been with her that night.
She realized she had been outmaneuvered by the Dowager Consort! She knew it; how could the Dowager Consort be so kind as to let her become the Regent?
Over the years, she had kept a close eye on the Regent's movements. She had also tried to curry favor with the Dowager Consort. But the Dowager Consort remained indifferent to her.
Moreover, the way she looked at her was as if she were looking at an enemy. Yet she had no grudge against the Empress Dowager.
When the Dowager sent someone to find her, she told her that she was willing to cooperate with her to help her get into the Regent's bed and make it a fait accompli.
Given the Regent's personality, and with the Dowager Queen pleading on his behalf, the Regent will surely marry her as his queen.
When the Dowager Princess spoke to her so eloquently, she believed her. The result was…!
Li Anyang was filled with regret and self-blame, and tears welled up in his eyes.
"Li Anyang, you've been used to this extent, and you still don't know how to repent." Zhou Yuan's face was ashen, and his eyes revealed deep disappointment and anger.
Prime Minister Li knelt on the ground with a thud, his forehead pressed against the ground, his voice filled with fear and guilt: "Your Majesty, Regent, this old minister truly knew nothing of this matter; it was my daughter's fault for being confused."
The emperor angrily said, "Prime Minister Li, you have failed to properly educate your daughter and cannot escape your punishment."
The emperor's voice boomed like thunder, filled with anger and majesty.
Li Anyang was completely disoriented at this point. "Your Majesty, spare me! Someone instructed me to do this. I am also a victim."
Li Anyang wept bitterly, kowtowing repeatedly and begging for mercy.
Su Yinyin said, "Then quickly tell the truth, who exactly instructed you?"
Su Yinyin's eyes were sharp as she stared intently at Li Anyang.
Li Anyang bit her lip. "It's...it's the Imperial Concubine." Li Anyang said the Imperial Concubine's name without hesitation.
The Imperial Noble Consort shouted angrily, "You're talking nonsense! How could I do such a thing?"
The Imperial Noble Consort's eyes widened in anger, her voice sharp and piercing!
Su Yinyin looked at the Imperial Noble Consort, "Your Highness, even now, you are still trying to deny it."
Su Yinyin's gaze was firm, meeting the Imperial Noble Consort's eyes without fear.
The emperor glared angrily at the fake Zhou Yuan and commanded, "Speak! Explain your affair with Li Anyang clearly."
The emperor's eyes were filled with rage, and his voice was authoritative and unyielding.
The fake Zhou Yuan knelt on the ground, his mind racing, trying to figure out how to save his life: "Your Majesty, it was the Dowager Consort who personally arranged for me to wait for Li Anyang in the backyard of the Prince's mansion. She also instructed me to make it seem real with Li Anyang. She also arranged for another person to disguise himself as Shadow and bring the Princess to the door of her room."
The fake Zhou Yuan's body trembled incessantly, and his voice trembled as well.
The fake Zhou Yuan continued, "After the matter was accomplished, the Empress Dowager granted me an antidote pill and left without worry. I had no choice but to obey the Empress Dowager's arrangements."
As the fake Zhou Yuan spoke, he kept kowtowing.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I was bewitched and listened to the Empress Dowager. She coerced and tempted me. I was so foolish!" Li Anyang now truly knew she was wrong.
Li Anyang cried so hard that his voice became hoarse.
“Your Majesty, this is a lesson I learned in blood. I have come to realize that love is mutual, not one-sided. Please spare my father. He is loyal to Your Majesty and truly knows nothing of what I have done.”