Chapter 28: He Felt That Xiyan Had Become Like a Stranger

"It is not impossible for you to see Her Majesty, Royal Sister." Dressed in a gown of goose-yellow, Yun Xiyan appeared remarkably heroic, though even the most magnificent attire could not conceal the ambition lurking in her eyes.

Yun Qiange’s eyes lit up, much like a drowning person catching sight of a piece of driftwood. Yun Xiyan was clearly that driftwood. Ignoring the pain in her shoulder, she gripped Yun Xiyan’s sleeve, ecstatic. "Really? Can you truly take me to see Mother?"

A fleeting flash of disgust crossed the woman’s deep, dark eyes. She raised a hand to smooth her hair, inadvertently brushing away Yun Qiange’s hand from her sleeve. "Yes, but before you can see Her Majesty, you must first confess. You must admit to the murder of Princess Li Goule; only then can I take you to see the Empress. Otherwise, it would be improper and unjustified. Releasing a prisoner in secret is no different from breaking one out of jail, and I cannot bear such a charge."

Yun Qiange rubbed her chin, appearing to give the matter serious thought. After a long moment, she looked at Yun Xiyan as if she were a fool. "Tch, do you take me for an idiot? If I confess, then it becomes an ironclad fact that I did it. When Mother holds me accountable, I’ll be the one to pay the price."

"Think about it, Royal Sister. Only by leaving this prison can you explain yourself to Mother. If you stay here, you won't even have the chance to speak." Yun Qiange nodded thoughtfully, seeming to agree. "That’s true. Mother dotes on me so much; as long as I go out and explain, she will surely release me."

A chilling glint flickered in Yun Xiyan’s eyes, and she mocked her inwardly. Having such an idiotic, incompetent sister was a disgrace. Did she really think she would get an audience with the Empress? Once they met, with this written confession in hand, no matter what she said to the Empress, today would be her death day.

Just as Yun Qiange was about to sign and thumbprint the prepared confession, a voice as clear as a spring under the moonlight echoed in their ears: "Princess, is it not too rash to confess so abruptly?"

Yun Xiyan turned in shock to see Moqi Haoyu about to tuck the document away. She stopped him, her expression hardening, her tone laced with displeasure. "Brother-in-law, do you not want my sister to be released?" She could not fathom why Haoyu would sabotage her plans, nor why things kept going wrong.

"No... that is not it."

He raised his eyes to meet hers. Why did Xiyan suddenly feel so like a stranger, to the point where he barely recognized her? She had told him that keeping him by the Princess’s side was merely to...

She had said that putting the Princess in prison was only to buy time so she wouldn't disrupt her plans, and that she would eventually find the right moment to release her. But she hadn't told him that her condition for release was a confession—forcing the Princess to admit to murdering the noblewoman. That would cost the Princess her life. How could she have deceived him?

"You two are so noisy." Yun Qiange rubbed her temples. She had no patience for the two of them exchanging glances in front of her. She snatched the confession, clumsily imitated the handwriting of her predecessor to scrawl her name, and pressed her thumbprint onto the paper. "Yun Xiyan, can you take me to see Mother now?"

Yun Xiyan tucked the confession away and beamed. "Of course, of course. Come with me, Royal Sister."