At the Ministry of Justice Prison, the same two prison guards were on duty. Seeing Ning Wanwan arrive with her maidservant and a doctor, they bowed, “Greetings, Madam Princess.”
“No need for formalities, I’m here to…”
Before she could finish, a guard interrupted, “Madam Princess, please understand. The Crown Prince has ordered no visitors for Lin the Prisoner, not even you.”
Ning Wanwan’s heart sank. “I heard my father is sick. Could you please take this medicine inside?”
Fuwyi carefully offered the plague medicine prepared by the doctor. The prison guard, without looking at the medicine, directly refused, “Madam Princess, we cannot take the medicine inside.” Ning Wanwan instantly understood the situation.
*
Eastern Palace.
As Ning Wanwan arrived at the palace gates, a small eunuch hurried out, bowing and smiling, “Madam Princess has arrived. His Highness the Crown Prince has been waiting for you for days. Please, come in.”
Stepping into the Eastern Palace again, memories surged, almost suffocating her. Was this a place she could never escape?
The small eunuch led Ning Wanwan into the Chongzheng Hall and quietly retreated. Ning Wanwan stood at the hall entrance, observing a round table adorned with jade plates of delicacies and golden wine vessels.
“You’re here,” Si Yi emerged from behind the curtain, walking to the table and pointing to the seat opposite him, “Sit.” Ning Wanwan walked over, expressionless, and sat down.
“I heard you love dishes from Changqing Lou, so I invited their chefs to the Eastern Palace,” Si Yi gestured to the dishes, “I specially had them make your favorites: golden thread belly soup, purple perilla fish, lotus flower duck skewers…”
Ning Wanwan suddenly interrupted, “What exactly do you want?” Si Yi’s warm expression vanished.
He looked at Ning Wanwan with a half-smile, saying, “I thought you truly didn’t care about your father, able to endure for so long.”
“You did all this just to force me to come see you!” Ning Wanwan said flatly. “Speak. What do you want?”
“What do I want?” Si Yi suddenly laughed coldly. “Of course, I want you to kneel and beg me to release your father.”
Ning Wanwan stared at Si Yi impassively. “If I kneel and beg you, will you release him?”
“No,” Si Yi flatly refused.
Ning Wanwan continued to stare at Si Yi without speaking.
Si Yi poured a cup of wine for Ning Wanwan, his gaze filled with possessiveness. “But you can choose to marry me and become my crown princess. This way, I will naturally spare your future father-in-law’s life.” He raised his wine cup, waiting for her response.
Ning Wanwan said, “My father is timid by nature. With his personality, he would absolutely not dare to get involved in copper coin smuggling. There must be your instigation behind this?”
Si Yi put down his wine cup and did not deny it. “You guessed correctly. It was indeed a trap I set. However, flies do not land on seamless eggs. Your father’s downfall is only a matter of time.”
Ning Wanwan suppressed her inner anger. “Si Yi, didn’t you always despise me intensely?”
Why are you now determined to hold onto me?”
“In the past, I despised you. That was because I was manipulated by Lin Yu Tong. Now, I have fallen in love with you. Therefore, you must become my woman!”
Ning Wan Wan’s hands clenched into tight fists, suppressing her trembling.
Si Yi leisurely drank from his wine cup. “I give you three days to consider. If I do not receive your response, your father’s name will be on the autumn execution list.”
He put the cup down heavily, causing Ning Wan Wan’s heart to sink.
After leaving the palace gate, a light rain began to fall.
Fu Yi quickly opened an oil-paper umbrella, saying, “Miss, it’s raining. Let’s get in the carriage.”
Ning Wan Wan knocked the umbrella to the ground, looking up at the overcast sky, letting the rain pour on her face.
Fu Yi picked up the umbrella and saw Ning Wan Wan’s pained expression. Understanding she needed calm, she closed the umbrella and stood beside her.
Ning Wan Wan tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and let the rain soak her.
What should she do? Who could tell her what to do?
On the sparsely populated street, Ning Wan Wan walked ahead with Fu Yi behind her, as the Ning Guo Mansion’s carriage moved slowly through the rainy scene toward the mansion.
The rain grew heavier, and despite it being early spring, Ning Wan Wan felt colder than winter. She looked ahead, seeing only misty water vapor, which generated a sense of despair.
Suddenly, she spotted two figures emerging through the rain. One dressed in white walked ahead quickly, while the other in black followed closely with an oil-paper umbrella.
Ning Wan Wan stared until she heard that familiar, warm voice. “Wan Wan, why are you walking in such heavy rain?” Si Zhan quickly removed his white fox fur and wrapped it around her.
Ning Wan Wan instinctively looked up at his beautiful face, softly and incredulously calling, “Imperial Uncle?”
“It’s me,” Si Zhan said, supporting her shoulder and gently wiping the rainwater from her cheeks, looking concerned.
“Imperial Uncle,” Ning Wan Wan then buried herself in his embrace and began to cry.
Si Zhan held her, patting her back softly, “Wan Wan, I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”
She vowed never to marry Si Yi, as she did not want to repeat her mistakes or leave Si Zhan.
The only thing she could do was to pretend to agree with Si Yi. After her father was safe, she would escape from Biandu to prevent Si Yi from finding her. If ultimately found, she would disfigure her own face to make her stance clear.
As she was about to discuss her plan with Si Zhan, he suddenly said, “I heard your father is in trouble.”
Ning Wanwan was stunned, “The prince knows?”
Si Zhan tenderly wiped her tears, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“He has committed a capital crime. Even the prince cannot save him.” Si Zhan’s situation was already difficult, and sharing this would only add to his troubles.
Si Zhan replied, “That may not be the case.”
Ning Wanwan’s spirit lifted, “Does the prince have a way?”
Si Zhan nodded and pulled something from his body. He placed a golden token in her palm, “Take this.”
Ning Wanwan looked at the token adorned with nine dragons and two large characters: “Exemption from death.”
“A token of exemption from death?” she asked.
“Yes,” Si Zhan said solemnly, “With this, your father can be spared from execution.”
“The rumor was that before the previous emperor passed away, he issued an edict granting the title of Prince of Yi to Si Zhan and the land of Qianan, along with a token of exemption from death. This token allowed Si Zhan to avoid execution regardless of his actions, which is why the empress dowager refrained from moving against him.
Ning Wanwan pushed the token back into Si Zhan’s hand, distressed. “No, this is the prince’s lifeline. It cannot be used to save my father. It’s not worth it…”
Si Zhan took her hand and placed the token back in her palm. “If it can fulfill your filial piety, it is worth it.”
“But…” Ning Wanwan was conflicted.
Si Zhan’s expression sharpened. “Wanwan, I will not let you marry Si Yi.”
Ning Wanwan’s eyes widened. “Prince, you already know?”
Si Zhan stood and stroked her head, saying, “It’s a pity I cannot save your father.” He had not previously paid attention to Lin Zhengyang’s movements.”
By the time the Lumen Pavilion reported Lin Zhengyang’s copper coin smuggling, the matter was already exposed, making attempts to cover it up futile.
Upon learning that Prince Si Yi was in charge of the case, he understood Si Yi’s true intentions. Si Yi’s target had always been Wanwan. He intended to hold onto her tightly, regardless of the consequences. Anyone who dared to covet her would face destruction, and he would not allow Si Yi’s plans to succeed.
