Chapter 23: The Prince is a Woman 23

“Have you heard? That person has caused a scene at the Imperial Palace again.”

“Huh? Which one?”

“Who else could it be? The sister-protecting demon, Heir Apparent Ning, of course.”

“What? Is there finally news from the Earl of Weian’s estate? What did Zhou Yuanjia do this time? Hurry, tell me! I bet he was going to get into trouble, so I should make a killing this time. Hehe, I happen to be a bit short on cash; no wonder I heard magpies chirping when I woke up this morning.”

“Stop daydreaming. Zhou Yuanjia is perfectly fine; nothing happened to him. This time, it’s the Duke of Anguo’s estate causing the stir.”

“What? The Duke of Anguo’s estate? I remember the Fifth Young Master and his wife have been deeply in love for ten years of marriage. How could that be?”

“Here is what happened...”

“Hiss...”

“My God!”

“That is so unfair!”

“If it weren't for Heir Apparent Ning, wouldn't she have been unable to clear her name for the rest of her life?”

“She did nothing wrong, yet not only was she made a scapegoat, she was even framed. No wonder she took it to the Imperial Palace.”

“I never imagined the Fifth Young Master of the Duke of Anguo’s estate was such a person...”

After hearing the details of the incident, many people gasped in shock, feeling that Ning Yulan had been profoundly wronged.

It must be noted that before this, although many envied Ning Yulan, many others had cursed her; she was a prime example used by many to vent their scorn in private discussions. Now that the truth had been exposed, it turned out that Yuan Bingjun was the one unable to conceive. To hide the truth, the Duke and Duchess had even persecuted an innocent young woman. The reputation of the Duke’s estate was utterly ruined.

That the matter could be spread so clearly and openly was, naturally, due to A-Zhen’s handiwork.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to cry out for justice at the palace, she had sent people ahead of time to manipulate public opinion. Rather than letting people guess and allowing vague rumors to circulate, it was better to present the truth directly before the public, leaving the Duke’s estate no chance to salvage its reputation.

By the time they realized what was happening, it was too late.

“Heir Apparent Ning, what is your request?” Ye Ji asked expressionlessly.

In truth, he had long known the other party's intentions, but since the process had reached this stage, he could not refrain from asking.

He was not biased toward this person; in fact, he was still feeling annoyed with her.

One thing was one thing; the accounts would be settled slowly. Now that this person had presented sufficient evidence—both witnesses and physical proof—and the Duke and Duchess of Anguo and Yuan Bingjun had turned pale and failed to refute any of it, what else was there to say?

A-Zhen raised her eyes, meeting Ye Ji’s gaze with a sincere and clean look.

Ye Ji: “...”

*She looks innocent, but she is incredibly wicked.*

One truly couldn't tell from the surface that such a person could take a beauty sent by another family into her own side; her appetite was quite large. Living such an absurd life every day, it was no wonder she looked so frail.

To be so unprincipled at such a young age—was she not afraid of a short life?

It was still Ning the Old Dog's fault—a creature who knew how to give birth but not how to raise a child. If he had been stricter with his children, would Ning Zhen's private life have become so scandalous?

“Your Majesty, the Fifth Young Master of the Duke of Anguo’s estate first committed marriage fraud, then framed my elder sister for being unable to conceive. Finally, to ensure this accusation stuck, he conspired with the Duke and Duchess to drug her, which resulted in countless physicians diagnosing my sister as infertile. My sister has been married to the Fifth Young Master for ten years, bearing the reputation of being infertile and jealous for ten years, drinking various unknown bitter medicines for ten years, and being deceived for ten years. My sister always believed it was her own fault, living with guilt for ten years, suffering severe trauma to both body and mind.”

As A-Zhen spoke these words, although Ning Yulan did not cry out loud, her eyes were red, and two lines of clear tears rolled down her cheeks.

Such silent weeping, combined with her ordeal, moved anyone who witnessed it.

“My sister truly cannot bear such an in-law and husband. I implore Your Majesty to permit my sister to divorce him,” A-Zhen finished, and Ning Yulan followed with a bow.

“Furthermore, the harm my sister has suffered cannot be resolved by a simple divorce. The Duke of Anguo’s estate must compensate my sister for her physical and mental losses,” A-Zhen continued. “Additionally, regarding the Duke’s estate’s act of drugging my sister to cause her harm, I also ask Your Majesty to punish them.”

Therefore, they would not only have to pay money and lose their reputation, but they would also have to go to prison.

Otherwise, why would she have made such a scene in the Golden Throne Hall?

As for being ruthless?

Was she?

Had the Duke’s estate not been ruthless themselves?

Since she was here, no matter how much the people of the Duke’s estate might resent her, if they dared to plot against her in the future, she would surely make them regret it for the rest of their lives.

Sensing the glares from the Duke of Anguo and his companions, A-Zhen glanced sideways at them. Her eyes were clean, persistent, and firm, with a hint of a smile—but that smile was filled with warnings.

The Duke of Anguo, who had been feeling immense resentment, suddenly felt his shoulders lose all strength. For the first time in many years, he faced a fear he could not resist. Even though she was just a young person under twenty, he had an intuition: do not oppose her further.

Otherwise, the entire Duke’s estate would suffer.

It was an absurd thought.

But in his heart, he was truly afraid.

Yuan Bingjun was very agitated. Just as he was about to say something, he was fiercely pinched by the Duke of Anguo beside him. The piercing pain in his arm caused his rising anger to deflate instantly.

The Duke of Anguo closed his eyes. In the Golden Throne Hall, before the Emperor, how could he allow his fifth son to shout and scream? Did he want the entire Duke’s estate to suffer right now?

Ultimately, he had spoiled his fifth son too much.

Ning Yulan was shocked by A-Zhen’s request and was deeply moved.

She saw the look in Yuan Bingjun’s eyes; he was accusing her of being heartless and showing no mercy after being husband and wife.

A flash of mockery crossed her eyes. From the very beginning, it was a marriage full of deception. They asked her to show mercy, but had they shown mercy when they struck at her? They could have been honest with her; they wouldn't have had to make her drink medicine, nor would they have had to drug her to make her infertile.

But they didn't.

The drugging was to ensure the problem was pinned entirely on her.

So what right did Yuan Bingjun have to accuse her of being heartless?

A useless man who pinned all his faults on his wife!

“Grant Ning Yulan the divorce,” Ye Ji said. “The Duke of Anguo’s estate should also provide compensation to Ning Yulan. Duke of Anguo, do you have any objections?”

How could the Duke of Anguo have any objections? He only wanted to resolve this matter now.

Being entangled with Ning Zhen was not a good thing.

He had not forgotten the fates of those two individuals.

“As for the matter of you drugging Ning Yulan, the evidence is conclusive. The three of you should also serve prison time.” The corner of Ye Ji’s eye twitched uncontrollably; this was the first time he had sentenced a Duke to prison.

The Duke of Anguo didn't even seem to intend to struggle, and with a quick thought, Ye Ji understood why.

It was because Ning Zhen acted ruthlessly and was difficult to deal with.

He also knew that her previous actions had offended many people, and many were secretly looking for leverage against her or trying to kill her quietly. However, she was troublesome and difficult to handle; anyone who tried to approach her not only failed to gain an advantage but instead ended up in a chaotic mess.

“In consideration of the Duke of Anguo’s past merits, I sentence you to one month in prison. As the Duke and Duchess are of advanced age and may not withstand the hardships of a cell, your sentence is commuted to one month of house arrest for reflection. Let this not happen again,” Ye Ji said. “Heir Apparent Ning, are you satisfied with this?”

As for Yuan Bingjun, since he was young, he could go to the prison.

A-Zhen naturally had no objection. As long as they went to prison, it didn't matter how long or where.

The result she wanted was simply for them to have the reputation of being prisoners.

Ning Yulan cared even less about these things. In truth, being able to uncover the truth and sever ties with the Duke’s estate was enough to satisfy her.

But her dear A-Zhen had fought for even more on her behalf.