Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince-Chapter 349: You Want Me to Grant You Marriage?

Nanny Gui glanced at the Empress, who was already terrified, and at Xue Hongwen, who looked utterly dejected. She pulled out a piece of paper from her bosom, presented it with both hands, and said, "This is the evidence."

The paper had clearly been around for a while; it was no longer the fresh white, but an aging, rusty yellow.

It was only half a sheet, with uneven edges and a tinge of grayish-black.

She returned to her original spot, knelt on the ground, and continued, "This paper details the plot that the Empress and Lord Xue had planned. Back then, this old servant was serving the Empress in Jingyang Palace and happened upon this half-burned piece of paper in the study."

Li Tianze read the content word by word, his chest heaving with emotion.

He set the paper down and his eyes turned coldly towards the Empress.

As soon as the Empress saw the evidence, she was already in a state of panic.

"Your Majesty, this... this is all fake!" she stammered with trembling lips, her hands clenched into fists, "It’s all because this vile slave wants to frame me! I truly did not do this!"

Li Tianze sneered, "I am not so blind that I cannot recognize whose handwriting this is!"

It was for this very reason that he was filled with extreme regret.

When the truth was so brutally exposed before him, his heart was nearly torn in two.

She was the sister who had grown up with him, the one he loved most dearly.

Yet, she had fallen victim to these two people’s treachery and was nearly ruined.

With each and every incident, just thinking about it made his heart ache.

If only he had listened more to his sister’s thoughts initially, things might not have reached this point.

It was he who had pushed Li Hanyan into the fire pit; it was also he who had personally severed her last strand of hope, leaving her no choice but to seek refuge with the bandit leader Shi Fuyou.

"I ask you, why did you not speak up before!" Li Tianze’s eyes were red as he stared at Nanny Gui, his voice raised in accusation.

Nanny Gui had anticipated this question and sighed softly as she answered, "I am nothing but a lowly servant, what could I have done by speaking up? Even if I had spoken, Your Majesty might not have believed me."

Li Tianze was left speechless by her words.

"Over the years, whenever I think of Princess Zhaoyang, I suffer immensely," Nanny Gui said calmly, her face showing no emotion as she simply voiced her feelings.

In the end, she kowtowed deeply to Li Tianze and said, "I leave myself at Your Majesty’s disposal."

Angered, Li Tianze was about to order her execution when suddenly Shi Zhou stepped forward, knelt beside Nanny Gui, looked up at him, and pleaded, "Please show mercy, Your Majesty. This matter is not related to nanny; she has done all she could."

Her eyes were clear as water and, with an added steadiness, resembled a profound ancient well.

Before her, even Li Tianze’s great anger had to subside, eventually leading him to sigh deeply, "Get up first. I won’t kill her."

Shi Zhou didn’t move, instead gazing steadily and defiantly at him.

In the days since, she had matured significantly from her time in Tuyun Village; although still appearing youthful, her whole demeanor had grown much more calm.

She swallowed all her pain and hatred, only allowing herself a few secret tears in the dead of night, all so she could watch the culprits meet their doom with open eyes.

Looking at her, Li Tianze saw Li Hanyan.

Back then, Li Hanyan had also knelt before him, declaring she would never marry Xue Hongwen.

A flicker of emotion crossed his eyes, and though his feelings were evident, he could only sigh deeply when he spoke.

Some mistakes, once made, are irreversible.

"Your mother was my most beloved sister, how could I possibly let these two people go?" Li Tianze no longer referred to himself as ’I’ in his conversation; in his eyes, Shi Zhou was a blood relative, the only flesh and blood left by his sister, how could he possibly not feel distressed for her?

Shi Zhou’s eyes were already red; she had endured for so long just for this moment, to confront these two villains in the Golden Throne Hall, to express on behalf of her mother those questions that had never been voiced aloud.

In the end, she would watch them with her own eyes as they headed down the road to the underworld.

Outside the hall, another person stood.

Shen Xiheng hadn’t appeared before the crowd; he stood behind the door, only revealing his eyes, quietly observing the people inside.

From the moment Shi Zhou knelt down, he had wanted to rush in, regardless of everything, and embrace her.

It was not until today that he had come to know that there was so much hidden behind all this.

Yet, Shi Zhou had never mentioned it to him; in his presence, she was always lively and bright, like the spring light of Jiangnan in March, lively and charming, untainted by any gloom.

But now, he knew how deep the shadows behind that spring light were.

He had stood outside the door for a long time until the people from the Ministry of Justice came and took away the Empress and Xue Hongwen; it was only then that he reluctantly entered the great hall, absentmindedly paying his respects.

Li Tianze saw him, somewhat surprised, "Shen Qing, why have you come here?"

Shen Xiheng moved his lips, feeling as though he had so much to say, yet not knowing what was appropriate.

In the end, it was Shi Zhou who came over and took his hand, which slightly brought him back to his senses.

He forced a slight smile and said softly, "I’m fine."

Shi Zhou didn’t speak; she knew he was lying.

He must have heard everything just now.

"I didn’t mean to keep it from you," Shi Zhou said in a muffled voice.

Shen Xiheng smiled, then patted her head to comfort her, "It’s okay."

The two looked at each other for a while, neither speaking, the atmosphere was very quiet.

Qi Yu and Li Mingjue stood by without saying anything.

However, Li Tianze sensed something was amiss and, watching Shen Xiheng’s actions, furrowed his brow with some dissatisfaction, asking, "Shen Qing, what are you doing?"

That was his own niece after all; he could not allow him to make advances on her.

Shen Xiheng paused, then realized that all his actions had been carried out in front of the Emperor.

But he didn’t feel embarrassed; instead, ignoring Li Tianze’s deadly gaze, he boldly grasped Shi Zhou’s hand and said to Li Tianze, "Your Majesty, I’ve already mentioned that I have found someone I cherish."

Li Tianze had a bad feeling, and the next second, he heard Shen Xiheng declare, "I have determined in this life that it is her."

Saying this, he looked at Shi Zhou with deep affection, his peach blossom eyes filled with sincerity.

Li Tianze’s emotions had been up and down all day, and watching Shen Xiheng’s actions, reminiscent of a frivolous man, he surprisingly didn’t feel anything.

But when he remembered the person being held was his own niece, he still felt a surge of irritation and asked, "Do you want me to grant your marriage?"

Shen Xiheng was caught off guard; he hadn’t thought that far, he was merely expressing his feelings, especially since the person sitting above was Shi Zhou’s uncle, he had to be serious.

But unexpectedly, the Emperor had thought of this layer.

Immediately, a smile appeared on his face, and looking hopeful, he asked, "Your Majesty, is this possible?"

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