"No."
Meilin's voice came out too quickly.
Too sharp.
—
"You're twisting things," she said, forcing a smile.
"This is clearly her doing."
—
Xueying didn't argue.
Didn't raise her voice.
Instead—
She took a step closer.
Calm.
Steady.
—
"Then answer me," she said softly.
Meilin's eyes flickered.
—
"How did the letter reach you so quickly?"
Silence.
—
"And why," Xueying continued, "did you believe it immediately… without question?"
The room shifted.
Eyes turning.
Watching.
Thinking.
—
Meilin's composure cracked slightly.
"I—anyone would believe it—"
"Not anyone," Xueying said.
"Only someone who already knew what it would say."
—
Gasps.
Whispers rising again—
But different this time.
—
Yichen's gaze hardened.
Because now—
He saw it clearly.
—
"This was planned," he said.
The words landed heavily.
—
Li Jianhong's expression darkened further.
"Zhao Meilin."
The authority in his voice silenced everything.
"Explain yourself."
—
For the first time—
Meilin hesitated.
—
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
—
"I was only trying to protect the palace's reputation," she said quickly.
"I acted out of concern—"
"Concern?" Xueying repeated softly.
A faint smile touched her lips.
Not warm.
Not kind.
—
"Then why did you not bring it to Father first?"
Another pause.
Another crack.
—
Meilin's grip tightened.
"I—"
"You went to the court instead," Xueying continued.
"Publicly."
"Deliberately."
—
Silence pressed in from all sides.
—
Zhao Lihua finally stepped forward.
"Enough," she said calmly.
"This has gone too far."
Her eyes flicked briefly to Meilin.
A warning.
—
"It was a misunderstanding," she added smoothly.
"No harm was intended."
—
Xueying looked at her.
And for the first time—
She didn't feel small.
—
"No harm?" she repeated quietly.
Then—
"Someone forged a letter."
"Placed it in my chamber."
"And spread rumors across the palace."
—
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
—
"That is not a misunderstanding."
—
📖 CHAPTER 27 — The First Taste of Power
The hall was silent.
Completely.
Utterly.
—
Because something had changed.
Not just the situation—
But her.
—
Li Jianhong rose slowly.
His presence filled the room.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
—
"This matter will be investigated," he said firmly.
"Until then—no further accusations will be made."
His gaze swept across the hall.
Stopping—
On Zhao Meilin.
—
"Do you understand?"
"…Yes, Your Majesty," she replied, her voice tighter than before.
—
But the damage—
Had already begun.
—
The whispers that followed were no longer about Xueying.
—
"They planned it…"
"Was it really Miss Zhao?"
"She acted too quickly…"
—
Doubt.
Suspicion.
Turning.
—
Yichen stood still, his gaze resting on Xueying.
And for the first time—
There was something new in his expression.
Not just concern.
Not just protection.
—
Respect.
—
As the court began to disperse, Xueying turned to leave.
Her steps calm.
Measured.
—
"Xueying."
She stopped.
Yichen approached.
—
"That was…" he paused slightly.
"…unexpected."
A faint breath left her lips.
"I told you," she said quietly.
"I wouldn't stay still anymore."
—
He studied her.
Carefully.
—
"…You planned all of that."
"Yes."
No hesitation.
—
"Even the letter?"
"Yes."
—
Silence.
Then—
"You let them think you were guilty."
Her gaze didn't waver.
"They already did."
—
Something in Yichen's expression shifted again.
Deeper this time.
—
"You're dangerous," he said quietly.
—
For a brief moment—
Something almost like a smile touched her lips.
—
"Only to those who try to hurt me."
—
From across the hall—
Zhao Meilin stood frozen.
Her expression no longer calm.
No longer controlled.
—
For the first time—
There was something else.
—
Fear.
—
Because now—
She understood.
—
This was no longer the same girl she used to torment.
—
This was someone who could fight back.
—
And win.
—