The palace hall filled quickly that night.
Word had spread—
Princess Xueying had confessed.
A scandal.
A disgrace.
Something worth witnessing.
—
Officials gathered.
Noble ladies whispered excitedly.
Even servants lingered at the edges, pretending not to watch.
At the center—
Xueying stood quietly.
Calm.
Composed.
Too calm.
—
"She really admitted it?"
"I heard she wrote it herself…"
"How shameless…"
The whispers buzzed like insects.
But this time—
They didn't touch her.
—
Zhao Meilin entered last.
Elegant.
Confident.
Victorious.
The moment her eyes landed on Xueying—
A small smile curved her lips.
"…So you decided to make this easy," she murmured under her breath.
—
"Your Majesty has arrived!"
Silence fell instantly.
Li Jianhong took his seat, his gaze sweeping across the room.
"…I've heard there is something to address."
—
Zhao Meilin stepped forward.
Graceful.
Perfect.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
She held up the letter.
"This was delivered to me earlier."
Her voice carried clearly.
Confident.
Certain.
—
"It is a confession," she continued.
"From Princess Xueying herself."
Gasps filled the hall.
All eyes turned.
—
Li Jianhong's expression darkened slightly.
"…Xueying."
Xueying stepped forward.
Calm.
Unshaken.
—
"Did you write this?" he asked.
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
The answer sent a wave through the room.
—
Zhao Meilin smiled.
Victory.
Clear and complete.
—
"But," Xueying continued softly.
The single word cut through everything.
The hall stilled.
—
"I wrote it… for you."
Her gaze lifted.
Straight to Meilin.
—
The smile on Meilin's lips froze.
—
"What do you mean?" she asked carefully.
Xueying tilted her head slightly.
"Did you read it carefully?"
A flicker of unease passed through Meilin's eyes.
Just for a second.
—
"…Of course," she replied.
"Then read it again," Xueying said calmly.
Silence.
—
Li Jianhong gestured.
"Read it."
—
Meilin unfolded the letter again.
Her eyes scanned the lines.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
Her expression changed.
Slowly.
Almost imperceptibly.
—
Because hidden within the elegant words—
Was something else.
Subtle.
But undeniable.
—
The phrasing.
The tone.
The structure.
—
It wasn't a confession.
—
It was a mirror.
—
"Strange, isn't it?" Xueying said quietly.
Her voice carried.
Clear.
Controlled.
—
"It sounds exactly like the rumors that have been spreading about me."
A pause.
Then—
"But those are not my words."
—
Murmurs broke out.
Confusion.
Doubt.
—
Xueying stepped forward.
"One would have to know those rumors very well… to write something like this."
Her gaze remained on Meilin.
Sharp.
Unmoving.
—
"And yet," she continued, "this letter was found in my chamber."
A pause.
Then—
"And delivered directly to you."
—
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
—
Meilin's fingers tightened around the paper.
"This proves nothing—"
"It proves enough," Yichen's voice cut in.
He stepped forward.
Cold.
Certain.
—
"It proves someone wanted this seen."
His gaze shifted to Meilin.
"And wanted it believed."
—
The tension snapped.
—