Empress Dowager Xiao glanced at Xie PanāEr and couldnāt help but laugh.
"I never expected you to have such magnanimity. Ever since NingāEr 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 sheās facing death, you are the first to plead for her!"
Upon hearing this, Xie PanāEr was momentarily stunned and muttered, "I didnāt think much about it. I just felt that if Miss Xiao NingāEr is involved, then there must be more clues on her. If the true culprit isnāt uncovered and sheās dead, then His Majesty would still be in danger! Thatās why I pleaded for her!"
What Xie PanāEr said was the truth, and she also believed that Xiao NingāEr was certainly not the real culprit!
"Very well! Seeing that your concern is entirely for the Emperorās safety, I shall not kill her for now. Guards, take Xiao NingāEr 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 NingāEr was taken away, Empress Dowager inquired about the Emperorās condition and then dismissed everyone, leaving only Ji Youzhi and Xie PanāEr.
"You both have the trust of me and the Emperor. Youzhi, investigate the real culprit swiftly. PanāEr, you stay at the Yangxin Palace to take care of the Emperor for me!"
Upon hearing this, Xie PanāEr hesitantly said, "Your Highness! Iām 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 wouldnāt wait until now."
Xie PanāEr blinked, realizing that Empress Dowager Xiao wasnāt foolish at all!
Why did she insist on having Xiao NingāEr 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 NingāEr is her own niece, yet earlier she..."
As Xie PanāEr 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 Emperorās 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 PanāEr looked at him in confusion, her demeanor somewhat timid. Indeed, imperial power is something that can determine life and death!
"Donāt be nervous. Iām not a tiger; I wonāt eat you!"
The Emperor saw that she was frightened and quickly comforted her before continuing.
"Since I was young, Iāve 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 sheās worried or anxious, she hides her hands in her sleeves, gripping tightly, not letting anyone see her true emotions!"
"Ah!"
Xie PanāEr was astonished, suddenly recalling the scene where Xiao NingāEr was clutching the skirt of the Empress Dowager in a plea.
At that moment, it was with her foot that she brushed Xiao NingāEr 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 thatās how it is! If the Empress Dowager was truly anxious and worried earlier, why did she insist on executing Miss NingāEr, then?"
The Emperor saw Xie PanāErās frowning face deep in thought and beckoned her over, "Come closer, Iāll tell you!"
Xie PanāEr leaned in, and the Emperor tapped her little nose, "If you want to know, think for yourself!"
Xie PanāEr was stunned, never expecting the Emperor to have such a side!
At that moment, he didnāt 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 PanāEr couldnāt 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 NingāEr must have been terrified too!"
"Oh! You really were deliberately scaring Miss NingāEr, 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 wouldnāt 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 werenāt you too harsh today?"