sbdcsierra Chapter 220 How could I accept this?
Chapter 220 How could I accept this?
Just as Lu Yangyang had guessed, in just three days, after Princess Liduan made a big show of having the prefect invite all the guests from that day to the government office for her to identify, Xue Wanning, who had been refusing to admit any involvement in the matter, finally spoke up. She admitted that she was resentful because Princess Liduan had ruined her marriage, and wanted to teach Princess Liduan a lesson. She knocked her unconscious and secretly sent her out of the Princess's residence.
As for any claims of poisoning or harm, they deny them entirely.
But since things had come to this point, and with her confession, even though the Crown Prince sent someone to plead for her, Xue Wanning was ultimately convicted of intentional murder and exiled three thousand miles away.
Thus, the marriage she had just arranged with the Crown Prince had to be called off.
After all, the two were betrothed by imperial decree. Such an accident was tantamount to slapping the emperor in the face. If the engagement was not called off, it would only make the emperor lose even more face. Even though the prince was reluctant, he had no choice but to send someone to the Guangping Marquis's residence to call off the engagement.
When the maid from the Guangping Marquis's residence brought this matter to the prison, Xue Wanning, who was usually calm and composed, finally felt her eyes red with hatred.
From a young age, she meticulously planned and schemed, believing she could easily control everything. She could control the Guangping Marquis's mansion, and further control the Shengguo Duke's mansion, or even control the Crown Prince. She clearly had so many opportunities.
She had clearly escaped from a dead end, just a hair's breadth away, every single time, just a hair's breadth away. She would either be the lady of the Duke of Sheng's mansion or the Crown Prince's consort. She would have her day of triumph eventually, but every single time, it was ruined!
She had never hated anyone so much. She was so close to getting everything, but it was all ruined. It was all Princess Liduan's fault. Why did she have to live? If Princess Liduan had died, none of this would have happened. If she had died, she could have lived a life of wealth and honor instead of being stuck in prison waiting for exile!
Why did things go wrong? Why didn't the assassin kill Li Duan? Or why didn't they just stab her to death right there in the Princess's mansion? Such a good opportunity, missed, led to so many changes and to the present situation!
"Miss, don't be afraid. I'll stay with you. The Marquis said he'll secretly have someone take care of you. Once the exile is over, we'll find a way to bring you back." The maid looked at Xue Wanning's bloodshot eyes and couldn't help but whisper to comfort her.
"Get out, get out—" Xue Wanning grabbed the cell door and suddenly shouted sharply.
The maid had never seen her so frantic before, and she was so frightened that she kept backing away. After a long while, a hand suddenly landed on her shoulder. She looked up in horror and saw the Seventh Miss Xue Wanyue standing behind her, wearing a veil.
Xue Wanyue whispered to her maid, "You go out first, I want to say a few words to my elder sister."
The maidservant scrambled away.
Xue Wanyue slowly walked to the cell door, bent down slightly, and approached the cell.
Xue Wanning looked at her coldly, "What? Even you've come to laugh at me? Do you deserve it? Have you forgotten who gave you everything you have now!"
Xue Wanyue's lips, hidden beneath her veil, curled slightly, but her eyes were filled with panic: "Big sister, what's wrong? I... I came here because I have something to tell you."
Her voice was timid, and she remained as obedient and docile as ever.
Xue Wanning stared at her with surprise and doubt. More than a year had passed, and Xue Wanyue had grown up and looked even more like the late Empress. If it weren't certain that the late Empress had never given birth since becoming the Crown Prince, people who saw Xue Wanyue's face now would probably mistake the two for mother and daughter, or sisters.
However, the late Empress was as bright and dazzling as the moon in the sky, while Xue Wanyue had a similar face but a very timid personality and temperament. The difference between the two could be seen at a glance.
But her appearance gradually calmed Xue Wanning down. Yes, she still had this trump card. Even if it was just for this trump card, the Third Prince would save her.
"What do you want to talk to me about? Who sent you?" Xue Wanning looked at Xue Wanyue and lowered her voice, "The Third Prince?"
Xue Wanyue shook her head and said softly, "No, it was my own idea to come."
Xue Wanyue looked around. Perhaps considering that Xue Wanning was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Guangping and the fiancée of the Crown Prince, she did not lock her up with the other prisoners, but gave her a separate cell. There was no one in the cell next to her, so it was much quieter.
Xue Wanyue suddenly knelt down and lowered her voice: "Elder sister, what I'm about to say might anger you, but I truly mean it. I want to say that you must take good care of yourself. After the exile ends, Father will find a way to arrange for you to return to the capital. At that time, you might as well go and plead with the Third Prince or the First Prince. Even if you can't become the principal wife, it's still better than wasting your life elsewhere."
Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.
Xue Wanning's expression changed drastically, and she looked at her in disbelief: "What did you say? Say it again?"
Xue Wanyue kept her head down and remained silent. Xue Wanning angrily grabbed her arm and demanded sharply, "You..."
As soon as she spoke, seeing Xue Wanyue's timid eyes, she suddenly understood: "It was Father, Father sent you to tell me these things, right?"
Xue Wanyue spoke timidly, "Big sister, I'm so sorry, I, I..."
Xue Wanning trembled with hatred.
What was she doing this for? Was she only thinking of herself? In the entire Guangping Marquis's mansion, there wasn't a single person she could rely on. If she didn't find a way, the mansion would be ruined sooner or later, and even her title might be lost. Now, she'd barely gotten into trouble, and her good father was already sending people to persuade her to become a concubine. That's right, given her current situation, even if she returned safely, finding a good marriage was impossible, let alone marrying into a wealthy or powerful family. Her only way out was to become a concubine, a nameless and unranked one at that.
Xue Wanning wanted to laugh.
Why? She was once the fiancée of the heir of the Duke of Sheng's mansion, and the fiancée of the Crown Prince. Xue Wanning was beautiful and talented, and she was also cunning and resourceful. How did she end up like this? Down to the point of becoming someone's concubine?
That's ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous.
Now that things have come to this, she is not without options. She could marry her cousin, but her uncle has been exiled and her cousin has been stripped of his eligibility to take the imperial examinations. How could she be willing to marry him?
How could she possibly accept this!