Pin Shanhe

Not long after, the sounds of the execution outside stopped.

Is this a confession?

Or is he dead?

The guard quickly entered and reported: "Your Majesty, Consort Meng, unable to withstand the caning, has confessed!"

Jun Qiyuan's heart leaped into his throat.

She wouldn't...

Emperor Yong immediately questioned, "What did she confess to?"

This was a question that everyone was curious about, and they all pricked up their ears.

The guard glanced at Shen Fu, his gaze carrying a hint of pity and sympathy, as if he found it difficult to speak.

Xiao Xuanjin suggested, "Why don't we bring her in and let her confess herself?"

Meng Wan was carried in; she was covered in blood, and her lips were bitten raw.

She abandoned her previous gentle and delicate demeanor and glared at Shen Fu with intense resentment.

"So what if I'm the one who caused this? That cloak, and that box of face powder, I deliberately designed them to make you miscarry today!"

Shen Fu looked on incredulously, and after a long pause, she spoke in a trembling voice, "This can't be true, right? We're best friends, how could you do this?"

Meng Wan burst out laughing and stared at her fiercely.

Why is fate so unfair? All the good things happen to you!

"It's clear that we both got into the wrong bridal sedan chairs. The Prince Xuan and the Fourth Prince are at odds over you, but I'm left out and have become the laughing stock of the capital."

"In the end, you became the Princess Consort of Xuan, while I could only be a concubine. And you talked about sharing happiness and hardship—it's utterly hypocritical!"

"Since my child is gone, your child won't live either!"

Everyone gasped in shock; how could people be so vicious?

Shen Fu looked utterly devastated, her body trembling uncontrollably.

If he hadn't been supported, he probably would have collapsed to the ground.

Xiao Xuanjin stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, looking at Meng Wan with the gaze of a dead man.

"Anyone who dares to harm my women and children will pay the price. Have you thought about how you want to die?"

Meng Wan's heart trembled violently.

She doesn't want to die!

She originally intended to endure it to the end, but the pain of the torture was simply unbearable.

In the end, she only exposed herself, but did not implicate Jun Qiyuan.

He knew that if even he fell, then no one could save him.

At this moment, Jun Qiyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief, and quickly pretended to be furious, and went up to slap her hard.

"So it really was you! All that trust Fu'er placed in you, and even my plea to Father Emperor, how could you do this?"

Meng Wan's head was knocked to one side by the blow, and she was about to retaliate when she saw the deep meaning in his eyes.

He's clearly saying he had no choice!

Only by doing so can we demonstrate our position without arousing suspicion.

"Hahaha... How could there be such a fool as you in this world, caring so much about a woman who betrayed you? If she truly loved you, why would she marry another man?"

Jun Qiyuan looked at Shen Fu with deep affection, as if he were carrying a love that would last until death.

"Whether she has feelings for me or not, as long as I love her, that's enough."

Shen Fu never expected that he would still be in the mood to put on a lovey-dovey act at this time.

It seems the "ingredients" weren't heavy enough today!

Then she can add another round!

"The Fourth Prince and I were indeed engaged, but our love was deep yet our fate was shallow; we were destined to be apart. I sincerely wished you two well, but I never expected it would cause you misunderstanding and hatred. You can hate me, but why did you take so many lives? They were innocent!"

Originally, everyone's attention had been diverted by this melodramatic "love quadrangle".

Hearing this, I suddenly came to my senses.

Does her setting up this trap against Shen Fu mean that she already knew the mother bear would appear at the palace and harm people?

Were those beehives along the way also her doing?

How could a frail woman like her have devised such a meticulous plan, managing to deceive the emperor and so many others?

Could there be a mastermind behind her?

Fearing that this would arouse suspicion again, Jun Qiyuan quickly gave Meng Wan a meaningful look.

"I had no intention of harming anyone else. I just heard that there are many wild beasts on Cangling Mountain, and that His Majesty will take everyone hunting after climbing the mountain."

"When I was young, I heard from my elders that you should never wear brightly colored clothes or put on perfume when you go out in the wild, otherwise you will definitely be attacked by wild animals. That's why I came up with this idea."

"The perfume and cloak were originally prepared for you, but I didn't expect you to already be wearing the cloak. I had no choice but to wear it myself, preparing to make my move when the opportunity arises."

"You're really lucky. I didn't find an opportunity along the way, and I thought today's plan was going to fail. I never expected that beast would actually find the palace. Heaven is on my side after all!"

Seeing her laughing wildly, Shen Fu felt secretly pleased.

She was looking for an opportunity along the way to frame Meng Wan for the "miscarriage," but she couldn't find a suitable chance.

Unexpectedly, she walked right into the door!

If we don't make good use of it, wouldn't we be letting ourselves down?

She desperately suppressed the urge to smile, but put on a heartbroken expression.

It's time to test your acting skills again!

Do you really hate me that much?

Meng Wan glared at her fiercely: "Yes, I wish you were dead!"

"Have you considered that doing this will not only harm yourself, but also implicate the Marquis of Dingyuan's family? Don't you even care about their lives?"

Meng Wan's heart sank.

She was so focused on protecting the fourth prince that she completely forgot about them.

This reminder brought me back to my senses.

"I took responsibility for my actions. It was all my idea. I had no idea that beast would show up; I just wanted to use this opportunity to frighten you into miscarrying."

Jun Qiyuan immediately chimed in: "You killed Fu'er's child, you don't think you can get away with it so easily, do you? According to the laws of the Great Yong Dynasty, you may be spared the death penalty, but you cannot escape punishment. You should be sentenced to fifty strokes of the cane. You've already received twenty, so you must receive another thirty strokes as a warning to others!"

He didn't actually want to take fifty strokes of the cane, but it was the only option at the moment.

The next instant, a voice, cold yet carrying immense power, descended with overwhelming force.

"What a joke! Your concubine killed my child, do you really think a mere fifty strokes of the cane can atone for her crime?"

Jun Qiyuan's heart sank as he met the man's cold and intimidating gaze.

"So what do you want?"

"It's simple, a life for a life!"

What?! He actually wanted to kill Meng Wan!

Jun Qiyuan was filled with shock, and his knuckles turned white from the effort.

He considered himself a man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, but Meng Wan always held a special place in his heart.

How can I just give up the life-saving grace from back then and the friendship of so many years?