Empress Dowager Xiao glanced at Xie Pan’Er and couldn’t help but laugh.

"I never expected you to have such magnanimity. Ever since Ning’Er moved into the Wanhua Palace, she has opposed you at every turn, insulting and accusing you. She even claimed you were the one who poisoned His Majesty, demanding your execution. Yet, now that she’s facing death, you are the first to plead for her!"

Upon hearing this, Xie Pan’Er was momentarily stunned and muttered, "I didn’t think much about it. I just felt that if Miss Xiao Ning’Er is involved, then there must be more clues on her. If the true culprit isn’t uncovered and she’s dead, then His Majesty would still be in danger! That’s why I pleaded for her!"

What Xie Pan’Er said was the truth, and she also believed that Xiao Ning’Er was certainly not the real culprit!

"Very well! Seeing that your concern is entirely for the Emperor’s safety, I shall not kill her for now. Guards, take Xiao Ning’Er to the Dali Temple and detain her there. No one is allowed to see her without an order from me or the Emperor, until the case is fully resolved!"

"Yes!"

After Xiao Ning’Er was taken away, Empress Dowager inquired about the Emperor’s condition and then dismissed everyone, leaving only Ji Youzhi and Xie Pan’Er.

"You both have the trust of me and the Emperor. Youzhi, investigate the real culprit swiftly. Pan’Er, you stay at the Yangxin Palace to take care of the Emperor for me!"

Upon hearing this, Xie Pan’Er hesitantly said, "Your Highness! I’m also a suspect now!"

"I believe you would never harm the Emperor. During your times with Yunhang, you faced life and death together so many times. If you truly intended to harm the Emperor, you had plenty of opportunities, and you wouldn’t wait until now."

Xie Pan’Er blinked, realizing that Empress Dowager Xiao wasn’t foolish at all!

Why did she insist on having Xiao Ning’Er executed earlier?

With doubt in her heart, she watched the Empress Dowager leave the Yangxin Palace, finally daring to take a deep breath!

"Phew... Empress Dowager is terrifying. But Miss Ning’Er is her own niece, yet earlier she..." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

As Xie Pan’Er let out a sigh of relief, she also murmured fearfully under her breath.

Halfway through her muttering, she suddenly remembered where she was, in the Emperor’s Yangxin Palace, and realized it was inappropriate to speak about the Empress Dowager like that, quickly shutting her mouth.

The Emperor, lying on the bed, saw her expression and chuckled softly.

"Allow me to tell you a secret. Would you like to hear it?"

Xie Pan’Er looked at him in confusion, her demeanor somewhat timid. Indeed, imperial power is something that can determine life and death!

"Don’t be nervous. I’m not a tiger; I won’t eat you!"

The Emperor saw that she was frightened and quickly comforted her before continuing.

"Since I was young, I’ve known that my mother, on the surface, is strong and indifferent, caring for nothing. But she has things she wants to protect. So sometimes she acts very assertive. When she’s worried or anxious, she hides her hands in her sleeves, gripping tightly, not letting anyone see her true emotions!"

"Ah!"

Xie Pan’Er was astonished, suddenly recalling the scene where Xiao Ning’Er was clutching the skirt of the Empress Dowager in a plea.

At that moment, it was with her foot that she brushed Xiao Ning’Er aside.

From this, it seemed that the Empress Dowager was indeed very angry, having no patience, and directly used her foot instead of pulling her skirt with her hands!

"So that’s how it is! If the Empress Dowager was truly anxious and worried earlier, why did she insist on executing Miss Ning’Er, then?"

The Emperor saw Xie Pan’Er’s frowning face deep in thought and beckoned her over, "Come closer, I’ll tell you!"

Xie Pan’Er leaned in, and the Emperor tapped her little nose, "If you want to know, think for yourself!"

Xie Pan’Er was stunned, never expecting the Emperor to have such a side!

At that moment, he didn’t seem like the lofty Emperor at all. Rather, he was like a big brother from next door, comforting his young sister!

With a soft "Pfft," Xie Pan’Er couldn’t help but laugh.

The Emperor laughed, his eyes curving into smiles as he watched her laugh!

On the way back to the Cining Palace, Nanny Xiao was filled with lingering fear.

"Your Highness! The way you acted earlier almost frightened this old servant to death!"

"If it scared even you, then Ning’Er must have been terrified too!"

"Oh! You really were deliberately scaring Miss Ning’Er, huh?

This old servant thought you..."

"Thought I truly intended to have her executed?"

Empress Dowager Xiao looked at the snow accumulated on both sides of the path and chuckled, shaking her head.

"With such a mind, she still dreams of becoming the Empress! She wouldn’t even know how she died by then!"

Empress Dowager Xiao had said this more than once or twice before.

Nanny Xiao, understanding her thoughts, replied, "But weren’t you too harsh today?"