Chapter 13

The Aloof Crown Prince's Nemesis (Chapter 13)

The night passed in the blink of an eye.

Overnight, Su Wan ordered her people to deliver the forged case file and incriminating evidence to the Censorate. The file was an extraordinarily convincing imitation, reproducing the handwriting of the Shen Family's former steward. Every word pointed to Shen Zhiwei's father having secretly colluded with an enemy nation, presenting his guilt as indisputable.

At court the next morning, the chief censor strode forward with the file in hand and loudly presented his report.

"Your Majesty! I have recently obtained a handwritten confession concerning the Shen Family's treason! The evidence against the Shen clan is conclusive! Now Shen Zhiwei, the daughter of a condemned criminal, is residing in the Eastern Palace. This poses a grave danger to the realm! I implore Your Majesty to issue a decree committing Shen Zhiwei to the imperial prison and ordering a thorough investigation!"

The memorial, together with the forged handwritten confession, passed through the attendants' hands to the imperial desk.

An uproar erupted throughout the Golden Throne Hall.

Civil and military officials whispered among themselves, their gazes turning toward Crown Prince Xiao Heng, who stood below the throne. Many ministers who had already harbored doubts seized the opportunity to voice their agreement. Calls for punishment rose one after another.

Standing among the court officials, Xiao Heng felt his heart suddenly sink.

He had anticipated that Su Wan would take a desperate gamble, but he had not expected her to produce such convincing false evidence and place it directly before the emperor.

The emperor examined the confession in his hands, his brows tightly furrowed and his expression dark.

"Is this truly so?" The emperor tapped his fingertips against the imperial desk, sweeping his gaze over the assembled officials.

"Every word is true!" The chief censor bowed and kowtowed.

Xiao Heng stepped forward, the sleeves of his black court robes sweeping sharply as he spoke in a ringing voice. "Father, the authenticity of this confession has yet to be verified. A woman cannot be condemned on the strength of a single document! Please allow me to establish whether this evidence is genuine before you make your judgment!"

"Your Highness! The physical evidence is right here. What need is there for further argument?" Several senior ministers immediately stepped forward to object.

The dispute raged on in court, each side pulling against the other with words. After a long silence, the emperor finally issued his decree.

"For now, Shen Zhiwei should no longer remain freely in the Eastern Palace. Confine her to its Quiet Reflection Pavilion under strict guard, with no permission to come or go at will. The Three Judicial Offices shall jointly verify the authenticity of the case file. Once the investigation is complete, a decision shall be made."

The decree had been issued. An imperial command could not be defied.

Though every fiber of Xiao Heng's being resisted, he could not openly disobey the emperor. After court was dismissed, he hurried back to the Eastern Palace.

The Quiet Reflection Pavilion stood in the most secluded corner of the Eastern Palace. Its courtyard walls towered high, its gates were locked, and guards surrounded it. Though it was not a prison, it amounted to house arrest.

Shen Zhiwei had already received the imperial decree. She neither panicked nor cried out, merely standing quietly beneath the covered walkway. The night before, she had vaguely sensed a calamity approaching, yet when the day truly arrived, a chill still spread through her heart.

Hearing footsteps, she turned and saw Xiao Heng hurrying toward her, looking travel-worn.

The feelings that had blossomed during their days together surged through her at that moment. Her eyes reddened slightly, but she still restrained her emotions and said softly, "Your Highness, there is no need to quarrel with the court on my account. The emperor's will cannot be defied. I will remain in the Quiet Reflection Pavilion and await the outcome."

Seeing her force herself to appear calm, with fear hidden in her eyes, Xiao Heng felt as though a hand had clenched tightly around his heart.

All the guards nearby were dismissed, leaving only the two of them in the courtyard. He stepped closer and gently drew her into his arms. His embrace was strong and warm, shutting out all the wind and rain of the world beyond.

"You have suffered because of this." Xiao Heng's voice was low and filled with guilt. "I failed to protect you and let you fall into confinement. Wait here with your mind at ease. I will prove that the case file was forged and clear your name."

Shen Zhiwei leaned against his chest, listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat. Her nose stung, and at last two streams of clear tears rolled down her face.

"I'm only afraid... that when the Three Judicial Offices examine it, the forged evidence will fool everyone. By then, even Your Highness will be powerless to turn the tide."

"That will not happen." Xiao Heng raised his hand and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, his gaze utterly solemn. "Even if the entire court declares you guilty, I will do everything in my power to uncover the truth. I will never let you bear an unjust accusation. But during these days, you must be careful in everything you do. Dragons and fish mingle in the Quiet Reflection Pavilion. Beware of anyone trying to harm you in secret."

Since Su Wan had already forged incriminating evidence, she would never stop at a single case file. House arrest was precisely the best opportunity for her to strike again.

Shen Zhiwei nodded firmly. "I will remember your warning, Your Highness."

After their brief moment of tenderness, Xiao Heng had no choice but to leave. As heir to the throne, he could not linger in a place of confinement and invite gossip. Before departing, he quietly stationed his most loyal personal shadow guards around the Quiet Reflection Pavilion to protect her from concealment and guard against every covert attack.

The news soon reached Su Wan.

Upon learning that Shen Zhiwei had been confined to the Quiet Reflection Pavilion, Su Wan sat beside her chamber window, a smug smile lifting the corners of her lips.

"With her confined, things will be much easier."

The maid standing beside her still looked uneasy. "Miss, the crown prince is already on his guard. If we act now and are exposed, the consequences will be unthinkable."

"Silly girl, why would we need to take her life ourselves?" Su Wan lifted a cup of floral tea and took a light sip, a cold gleam flashing in her eyes. "Everyone now believes the Shen Family committed treason. All I need to do is bribe a palace maid serving in the Quiet Reflection Pavilion and make it look as though Shen Zhiwei could not bear her guilt and took her own life out of fear of punishment. Once she is dead, there will be no living witness to refute anything.

"Then, even if the crown prince is full of suspicions, what can he do to me without evidence?"

The maid shuddered and answered quietly, "I understand. I will make the arrangements at once."

A deadly conspiracy had already begun to shroud the Quiet Reflection Pavilion in silence.

Meanwhile, Xiao Heng outwardly went to his study to review memorials as usual, but in secret he had mobilized all his trusted people and sent them out on separate tasks. Some investigated the paper, brushwork, and ink of the forged confession, following strands of spider silk and traces of footprints to find the forger behind it. Others quietly watched Su Wan and everyone entering or leaving the Su Residence, with orders to report even the slightest unusual movement immediately.

But Su Wan acted with extreme caution. Every instruction passed through layers of intermediaries. Finding something to hold against her was harder than climbing to heaven.

Dusk deepened, and the gates of the Quiet Reflection Pavilion remained tightly locked.

Candlelight flickered within the courtyard as Shen Zhiwei sat alone by the window. She clasped a begonia-shaped jade hairpin Xiao Heng had given her earlier, her heart tossed up and down with anxiety. She knew that house arrest was only the beginning. The true danger was drawing closer, step by step.