The court was summoned again.
Urgently.
Unexpectedly.
—
Xueying stood quietly as the tension filled the hall.
She could feel it.
Something was coming.
Something bigger.
—
"Your Majesty," Zhao Meilin stepped forward.
Her voice calm.
Confident.
—
"I have brought someone who can testify."
A man was dragged forward.
Rough.
Nervous.
Terrified.
—
"This man," Meilin continued,
"claims he has met Princess Xueying outside the palace."
Gasps echoed instantly.
—
"Speak," the king ordered.
The man trembled.
"I—I saw her," he stuttered.
"She met me in secret—gave me letters—"
"Enough."
The word cut through the room.
—
Xueying stepped forward.
Calm.
Unshaken.
—
"Look at me."
Her voice was quiet.
But it carried.
—
The man hesitated.
Then slowly—
He lifted his head.
—
Their eyes met.
—
Silence.
—
"Have you ever seen me before?" she asked.
A pause.
Then—
"…Yes."
The answer came too quickly.
Too forced.
—
Xueying's gaze didn't change.
"Then tell me," she said softly,
"what was I wearing?"
—
The man froze.
—
"I…" he stuttered.
"Red… silk—"
"That is wrong."
The words landed instantly.
Clean.
Sharp.
—
"I have never worn red outside the palace."
Murmurs exploded.
—
The man panicked.
"I—I must have mistaken—"
"Or you were told what to say."
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
—
Zhao Meilin's expression darkened.
Just slightly.
—
"Enough games," she said sharply.
"Are you calling him a liar?"
Xueying turned to her.
Calm.
Steady.
—
"No," she said.
"I'm calling this a setup."
—
The tension snapped again.
—
Before anyone could speak—
Li Jianhong rose.
His presence overwhelming.
—
"This ends now."
Silence fell instantly.
—
He looked at Xueying.
Then—
At Yichen.
—
And something shifted.
Something decisive.
—
"To prevent further disgrace to the royal name," he said firmly,
"Princess Xueying will be married."
The words echoed through the hall.
—
Gasps.
Shock.
Whispers exploding.
—
Xueying froze.
Just for a second.
—
"Her husband," the king continued,
"will be chosen immediately."
—
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
—
Yichen's expression changed.
Subtly.
But deeply.
—
Because he already knew—
—
He was the only choice.
—
Across the hall—
Zhao Meilin's lips curved slowly.
—
Because this—
This was the twist she had been waiting for.
—
If she couldn't destroy Xueying—
—
She would trap her.
—