Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The Princely Heir Is a Woman 11

Ye Ji did not expect the person he had cast aside to appear in his sight again so soon.

To forget such a person, he busied himself from dawn till dusk every day, thinking that with time, he could completely erase Ning Zhen, who greatly affected his emotions.

This time, the other party had come voluntarily to him. Though he did not wish to see them, he couldn’t refuse the reason they sought an audience.

Among those below, except for Ah Chen, none were calm, most were trembling in their legs. Without extreme self-control, they might have collapsed.

This matter was incredibly serious, involving a Secondary Third Grade official of the Court. The Minister of the Ministry of Imperial Stables actually disguised himself as a mountain bandit. It would have been one thing to pretend to be a bandit, but he was caught; worse, he pursued ill deeds, and the guise of a bandit was to humiliate his daughter-in-law.

What was even more shocking was that this was a conspiracy between father and son.

As if that wasn’t outrageous enough, Li Bianxing, to cover up his crime, directly stabbed his father to death.

The chilling atmosphere from above led those in the hall to believe that the young Emperor was furious, so much that they didn’t dare breathe heavily, their backs soaked in sweat.

Ye Ji was indeed angry, but not to an irreparable extent.

Dealing with Li Junzhang’s matter was straightforward; handling the Li Family as necessary would suffice, and losing one Minister of the Ministry of Imperial Stables wouldn’t affect much. Over recent years, he had already cleaned house from top to bottom more than once, larger incidents had happened, and this wasn’t that significant. Currently, Beixia was bursting with talent, able to instantly promote someone capable to fill the vacated position.

What annoyed him was that his previous restraint had been in vain once more!

Yet the person below him knew nothing, only he endured the torment.

He faulted Li Junzhang and Li Bianxing, this father and son pair, for their vile actions, disguising as mountain bandits to humiliate a daughter-in-law and wife; such inhuman deeds they dare concoct.

Filthy creatures deserved to be chopped up and fed to dogs!

“Princely Heir Ning, what do you seek?” Ye Ji coldly glanced at Li Bianxing, who lay on the ground like a dead dog, then inadvertently swept his gaze over Ning Yuwan, who stood dutifully next to Ah Chen with her head lowered. To still stand here amid such a scandal was indeed commendable fortitude.

Truly a sister of Ning Zhen.

The Li Family needed to be dealt with promptly, and it was essential to extricate Ning Yuwan, the victim, hence his inquiry.

Ye Ji’s demeanor remained grave and sincere; he showed no partiality towards anyone, all events and evidence indicated Ning Yuwan was an innocent victim.

How Ning Zhen discovered this matter, or why it was so timely, was no longer important.

“Replying to Your Majesty, Li Bianxing, who killed his father and harmed his wife, is unworthy as a husband and son, vile in conduct and devoid of morals. The seventh sister of this humble minister cannot bear such a husband. Today, a letter of separation is penned, from henceforth the two shall part ways.” Ah Chen finished speaking, noticed some movement from Ning Yuwan beside him, and gently supported her.

Ning Yuwan steadied herself and bowed to the person above: “This humble daughter requests Your Majesty’s approval.”

Originally, Ah Chen had suggested writing a letter of repudiation, that would have been favorable. Ning Yuwan insisted on a letter of separation, considering it the repayment for Li Bianxing’s past kindnesses, granting him one last dignity, even if it meant nothing to him.

For the magnitude of the Li Family’s offense to be cleansed, it required the Emperor’s consent.

Ning Yuwan was somewhat anxious, growing up in a pressuring environment left her lacking confidence in this Son of Heaven, considering he was also a man; how many men understood a daughter’s sufferings?

Ah Zhen said the Emperor was a wise ruler; it was her belief in Ah Zhen that gave her the courage to stand here.

Glancing at Ah Chen, Ye Ji was both amused and irked, as if once again he was being used for a divorce on paper. In his view, this letter of separation was no different from a repudiation.

This person had already dismissed two husbands on behalf of her sisters. Should word spread, he wondered what those remaining spouses in Prince Ning Mansion would think.

Afraid they might not sleep well tonight.

A sudden premonition struck him, noncompliant individuals might all be divorced by Ning Zhen. The thought amused him.

Ye Ji let out a chuckle, rendering the hall even more silent.

Yet undercurrents stirred within Li Bianxing’s heart: could it be that the Emperor also found Ning Zhen’s actions excessive? Ning Yuwan was once his wife; though misfortune befell the Li Family, she shouldn’t just leave.

He had unhesitantly driven a dagger into his father’s heart, believing that since the two families were one, Ning Zhen would have to conceal the event for Ning Yuwan’s sake. With this leverage, could he not treat Ning Yuwan well as her husband?

He never expected Ning Zhen intended to escalate the matter, much less that Ning Yuwan would agree to making it public, choosing rather to risk being pointed at than let the Li Family’s name not be disgraced.

How did he not know Ning Yuwan had such a steely heart? For all he showered her with tenderness.

“Approved,” Ye Ji pronounced.

The person below was so sincere, though not raising their head to look at him, he could sense the anticipation for his agreement.

Bending over too long was indeed tiring; it was better to resolve this matter swiftly.

Ye Ji’s expression darkened as he silently drew a breath, again unknowingly affected by the situation, often unable to control it. Luckily, the request was a personal matter; if it concerned state affairs, he would truly need to find a way to prevent such occurrences.

Ye Ji cast a profound look at those below, hoping this person would behave and not harbor any thoughts of endangering Beixia.

For the rest, he would tolerate it.

The stability of Beixia was his bottom line.

“Thank You, Your Majesty.” Ah Chen raised her head, meeting Ye Ji’s complex gaze — its wariness and caution didn’t concern her.

He remembered nothing, being guarded was normal.

In fact, his attitude already showed considerable influence; over time, he would understand, she harbored no intent of harming Beixia, alleviating his internal dilemma.

Ning Yuwan followed in expressing her gratitude.

Encouraged by Ah Chen’s gaze, she retrieved the prepared letter of separation from her sleeve and took two steps forward to place it beside Li Bianxing, softly speaking, “From now on, we are unrelated,” then quickly returned to Ah Chen’s side.

The Minister of the Ministry of Imperial Stables’ disguise as a bandit to persecute his daughter-in-law implicated the entire Li Family, resulting in Li Bianxing losing his head. Although the investigation confirmed Li Junzhang’s actions as a bandit were not treasonous or meant for roadside robbery, the impact was still quite negative, and the future and reputation of the Li Family, spanning three generations, were completely ruined. Unable to withstand the storm in the Capital City, the Li Family soon relocated.

Under Ah Chen’s protection, Ning Yuwan remained unaffected by the various discussions outside, recently recuperating at Prince Ning Mansion.

The courtyard Ah Chen prepared for Ning Yuwan encompassed all the likes remembered from the Commissioner’s memory and through information gathering, which the former wholeheartedly appreciated.

The incident with Li Bianxing imposed a significant psychological shadow on her, and she had been melancholic lately.

Noticing Ning Yuwan frequently sat in silence with furrowed brows, Ah Chen decided such idleness couldn’t continue, as excessive rumination leads to illness, so she decisively assigned Ning Yuwan a task.

When one is busy, there’s no time for idle thoughts; this she understood from experience.

Ning Yuwan was somewhat bewildered, what, she was to go out to inspect all of Beixia’s shops? Could she do it?

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