The previously empty training grounds fell so silent you could hear a leaf drop...
Until the very mont of his death, Sixth Li Young Master's eyes remained wide open, as if unable to comprehend.
Why... how dare she? His Li family were imperial relatives by marriage...
If only... if only he had known this would happen today...
But it was too late for regrets.
Monts later, amidst the palace servants' horrified screams, An Ning leisurely retrieved her longbow, not even glancing at the corpse lying not far away.
She only frowned at the visibly terrified maid beside her who had lost all composure: "What's going on? Didn't I say that when I'm practicing archery, no ordinary person should disturb ?"
Then she added with a light laugh: "See? This is what happens with accidental injuries!"
"After all, you all know your princess's archery has never been particularly good, right?"
"Your... Your Highness..."
The maid knelt heavily on the ground, completely distraught and unable to form any words.
Especially when she saw the vivid red bloodstains on the steps not far away, and then looked at the princess before her who acted as if nothing had happened.
A cold winter breeze swept through the training grounds, making all the palace servants shudder involuntarily.
Undoubtedly, no one believed this was an "accident" at this mont.
Especially when they saw the long arrow embedded in Sixth Li Young Master's throat.
Poor archery skills?
Poor in such a perfectly precise way?
Rembering the princess's actions over the past half year, everyone shuddered again.
By the ti the panicked palace servants brought the imperial physician, Sixth Li Young Master's body on the cold winter marble had already turned completely cold.
Countless streams of blood continued flowing from beneath him, leaving no possibility of survival.
Not that there could be—with an arrow through the throat, even the legendary physician Hua Tuo returned to life couldn't save him!
Witnessing his cousin's body firsthand, Zhao Zhen, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, nearly blacked out. If not for Eunuch Zhang's support behind him, he might have collapsed right then.
No one could have imagined that the cousin who had been happily conversing with him just monts earlier, whom he had earnestly advised, would lose his life in re monts.
And the culprit was... was...
Looking at his biological daughter who clearly didn't treat this as anything significant, Zhao Zhen felt another wave of dizziness. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the young girl slowly step forward, her gaze casually sweeping over the surrounding palace servants.
After a mont, he heard her look up with a light laugh, her usually bright eyes filled with amusent: "Father, are you sure you want to have this conversation here?"
When had Fukang grown so tall...
Facing the young girl's openly amused expression, Zhao Zhen remained silent for a long ti, silently swallowing back the blood that rushed to his throat. After a while, he slowly closed his eyes and said hoarsely to the attendant beside him: "Maoze, you go personally, make sure... make sure my cousin is properly taken care of..."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"But Your Majesty, about Sixth Young Master's matter, should we inform the Li family..." Sneaking a glance at the composed princess nearby, Zhang Maoze bowed and cautiously inquired.
After a long silence, Zhao Zhen wearily waved his hand: "Not for now. Keep the news about my cousin suppressed..."
***
In Chuigong Hall, the familiar purple-gold incense burner continued slowly emitting fragrant smoke.
After an unknown length of ti, the Emperor's weary, hoarse voice finally ca from above: "Why did it co to this? Why did it have to co to this!"
"Fukang, if you truly were unwilling, Father..."
If only he had known, this marriage arrangent should never have been.
Undoubtedly, Zhao Zhen genuinely regretted it at this mont. Especially seeing how his daughter seed like a completely different person after just half a year.
Perhaps due to diligent archery practice, An Ning had grown exceptionally fast over the past half year. Though just a ten-year-old girl, she now reached an adult man's chest height.
Her previously slightly chubby face had completely shed its earlier innocence, revealing so of a young girl's bright beauty. But most importantly was her temperant...
If not for witnessing these changes gradually before his eyes, Zhao Zhen might have suspected his daughter had been replaced.
Killing soone without blinking—and that soone being her blood-related uncle and future husband—then acting as if nothing happened while smiling and talking to him.
Even... even...
Zhao Zhen couldn't help wondering if this idea had ford half a year ago, the mont Fukang proposed learning archery.
And what about the so-called "tantrums" over the past half year? Was her poor archery just a deception to make others lower their guard, even delivering the prey right to her?
When had his Fukang developed such terrifying determination!
Thinking of the obedient daughter who used to curl up on his lap and act coquettishly just half a year ago, Zhao Zhen's heart ached again. Beneath his wide sleeves, his hands trembled: "You... you... why did it co to this! Just because of an unsatisfactory marriage arrangent..."
To go to such lengths with careful planning, even taking a human life for it...
"Father, aren't you joking?"
Interrupting the unfinished words, An Ning below showed a trace of light mockery in her eyes: "An unsatisfactory marriage? Why did it co to this... Hah!"
"In fact, Father, you should have been able to imagine this. When you disregarded your daughter's wishes and bestowed her like an object to bring glory to your maternal family, this outco was already predetermined!"
Quietly watching the other's seemingly devastated "anguished" appearance, An Ning rested her chin on her hand and said with a light laugh: "Don't even talk about making marry this ugly, worthless man. In fact, every mont my na is associated with this person is endless torture!"
"I had no choice. Your daughter doesn't want to die, so soone else had to die!"
And it had to be soone else...
Staring directly at the Emperor's suddenly pale face, An Ning continued: "In fact, Father, you had many opportunities over the past half year..."
"But you didn't take them. Even watching your daughter transform day by day into what I am today, watching the forr Fukang die day by day, you still did NOTHING!!!"
"So?" An Ning's eyes reddened as she forced back tears, yet still managed a light laugh: "Who can we bla for this?"
"All of this is the bitter fruit you yourself cultivated, Father!"
"As for that so-called uncle, since he dared to covet honors that didn't belong to him, he couldn't expect to avoid all risks, could he?"
As the young girl's mocking voice faded, after an unknown length of ti, a weary and pained question finally ca from the empty hall: "Fukang, even so, human life matters greatly. How could you be so audacious? Aren't you afraid..."
"Afraid? Afraid of what?"
Sitting composedly in the chair below, An Ning showed no concern: "Your daughter isn't even afraid of death, so what else is there to fear? Rather, Father, may I ask—would you actually let your daughter die?"
An Ning tilted her head slightly: "They say you've spent half your life practicing 'benevolence.' But what does benevolence an?
Imperial grace and ministerial loyalty constitute benevolence, parental kindness and filial piety constitute benevolence, compassion for the suffering constitutes benevolence. If you could deal such a heavy blow to your only young daughter, do you think history will still attribute this character to you?"
"Or rather, if the child is not properly taught, it's the father's fault. With a daughter as ruthless as , what will happen to your reputation?"
Looking directly at the other's extrely pale face, An Ning continued gently: "Father, as the saying goes, grief and regret are the most useless emotions. Shouldn't what you need to do now be helping your daughter cover this up 'without any waves'?"
"Father, don't forget—Uncle's body is still outside!"
Only after the young girl's still-immature figure disappeared did Zhao Zhen collapse against his chair back, murmuring intermittently: "Why did it co to this..."
"Why did it have to co to this!"
anwhile, watching the princess erge unscathed from the hall, the attendants who had witnessed the scene with the Emperor shuddered involuntarily.
But the next mont, they heard her address them with complete naturalness: "Well, today before everyone's eyes, Uncle Li unfortunately stumbled and fell from the steps to his death..."
"Upon receiving this news, though Father and I are deeply grieved, we should promptly notify the Li family relatives so Uncle can be laid to rest early. Don't you agree?"
Stumbled? Rembering the obvious long arrow in the man's throat and the large bloody hole, everyone fell silent for a mont. But looking at the completely unhard princess before them...
After a mont's silence, they all responded in unison: "Your Highness speaks most rightly!"
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