Commoner Queen: Falling in Love with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince - Chapter 35

“Teaching a new daughter-in-law? Perhaps it’s more than that. You incited Li Guochao to assassinate Lord Ding simply because he refused to collude with you, and you used the Emperor’s favor to your advantage, recruiting many outsiders into the court to occupy important positions. What are you plotting? Your ambitions are as clear as day. And also, you and Li Guochao have been bullying the officials in the court, extorting money from them, demanding bribes to buy positions—if I remember correctly, a sixth-rank official position costs six hundred taels of silver…” Yi Han revealed her involvement in corruption and bribery.

“Enough, don’t say any more,” her face turned pale. She knew everything he said was true.

“There’s more…” Yi Han continued, looking at her as she seemed to hesitate to speak.

“These are all false accusations, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she denied vehemently.

“Whether they are false accusations or not, when it reaches the Emperor, I believe he will decide. After all, I have irrefutable evidence.” He had long wanted to expose the evil deeds of Princess Li, but because his Father, the Emperor was old and wouldn’t have much time left, he couldn’t bear to see him hurt. He delayed taking action out of mercy, allowing her to continue her misdeeds. Now, he could no longer tolerate it. He wanted her to pay the price for her actions.

She almost collapsed.

“Your Highness!” Ying Shui rushed to support her.

She couldn’t let him do this, or everything would be over. She fell to her knees. “Please, I beg you, don’t do this. You may look down on me, but for the sake of your father, can you bear to make him sad?” Princess Li begged desperately to save her life and everything she had.

“If you really care about my Father’s feelings, you shouldn’t have done all these things,” he coldly turned his head away.

“Spare me this one time. I admit, I have wronged Murong Ziying, but I am kneeling before you, begging you. Don’t you have any mercy?” Princess Li knelt, looking pitiful.

“It’s too late.” The damage had been done, and he refused her plea. “Seize them!” He shouted angrily at the guards.

The guards immediately surrounded the panicking Princess Li and the terrified Ying Shui, lifting them up.

“Your Highness, please don’t!” Murong Ziying couldn’t bear to stop him.

“I can’t listen to you this time,” Yi Han said in pain, pointing at Ying Shui. “Look, last time I spared this woman, and how did she repay you? Don’t be soft-hearted anymore. They are beyond forgiveness!” His anger flared again, and there was no turning back.

“They did hurt me, yes, but people should show mercy when they can. Please, Your Highness, forgive them.” She continued to plead. It wasn’t that she was generous, nor that she didn’t feel anger at their cruelty, but their actions were understandable. Her existence threatened their positions, and they were just following the usual palace intrigues. There was no need for the Crown Prince to take it so seriously.

He shook his head firmly. “Don’t speak another word for them. Take them away!” His mind was made up, and no one could change it now.

“Wait, Your Highness, I have the Emperor’s death exemption token. Even if you go to the Emperor, you can’t do anything to me. You might strip me of my favor and have me demoted to a cold position, but you cannot kill me. As for your poor father, perhaps this will make him depressed until the end!” Princess Li smugly produced the death exemption token, something she had painstakingly obtained by acting flirtatious with the Emperor. She had foreseen this possibility and prepared a way out for herself.