Chapter 122: Like calls to like, a match made in heaven.

Xia Jiujiang scoffed, "You claim I framed you out of fear that you would enter the Prince Jin Estate, yet the evidence clearly shows that you were the one who orchestrated this scheme against Prince Jin. When it failed, you tried to drag me down with you."

Emperor Zongkang’s expression turned cold. Princess Anya could target anyone she pleased, but the moment it became clear that someone had attempted to scheme against Jun Buwen, the Emperor’s doting gaze vanished instantly.

Princess Anya was incensed. "So what if I was plotting against you? I wanted to marry Prince Jin, but I failed. It is you—by what right do you deserve to marry him? But my target was Prince Jin; how did it end up being Xia Mingxuan? It must be your doing!"

"Do you have any proof?"

Xia Jiujiang’s single question left Princess Anya speechless. Without evidence, her words were worthless.

Gnashing her teeth, Princess Anya glared at Xia Jiujiang. "Whether you admit it or not, I know you are the one behind all of this."

Xia Jiujiang looked toward Xia Mingxuan and remarked, "That’s a strange thing to say. If it wasn’t me, isn’t Xia Mingxuan, the other party involved, right here? It is truly odd that Princess Anya doesn't suspect him but chooses to suspect me instead."

Xia Mingxuan was seething with rage. Earlier, he had claimed he walked into the room himself and then lost consciousness, so he couldn't accuse Xia Jiujiang of drugging him. He never expected that his own testimony would turn him into an accomplice, effectively helping to cover up the truth of Xia Jiujiang’s alleged schemes.

Xia Jiujiang looked at Xia Mingxuan with a mocking smile. It was his own cleverness that backfired, pushing the blame onto her. One must reap what one sows.

At this moment, Xia Mingxuan interjected, "I was already unconscious when I entered the room. How could I have possibly plotted against Princess Anya?"

Xia Jiujiang replied, "Oh, there you have it. It all boils down to the fact that Princess Anya saw Prince Jin didn't fall for her trap, so she decided to use Xia Mingxuan to frame me instead. I never imagined Princess Anya would go to such lengths—even sacrificing her own virtue—just to deal with me."

Princess Anya was so infuriated by Xia Jiujiang’s words she nearly coughed up blood. It was she who had been schemed against, yet it was being twisted as if she had willingly cooperated. How could the two be the same?

Xia Jiujiang continued, "However, I think Young General Xia and Princess Anya are quite fated. There is a saying: 'one does not make friends without a fight.' Back at the Great Li State Temple, the Princess caught Xia Mingxuan for harassing her, and now they have ended up together. To me, it is a perfect match."

*Pah!* A perfect match? It was more like a match made in hell.

Unreconciled, Princess Anya pleaded, "Uncle Emperor, Xia Jiujiang is spouting nonsense..."

Emperor Zongkang roared, "Shut your mouth! To think you would dare plot against Prince Jin! Look at how many people are here; do you think you can cover up what happened between you and Xia Mingxuan? Take some time to prepare for your marriage into the Prime Minister’s estate, and that will be the end of it."

Princess Anya whined, "Uncle, I don’t want to..."

Emperor Zongkang’s face darkened instantly. He thought of how she had originally intended to target Jun Buwen. If things hadn't gone awry, it would be Jun Buwen and Princess Anya who were currently disgracing themselves before the Southern Kingdom.

The Emperor pushed her away and declared, "This matter is not up for discussion. Either you marry, or you will be stripped of your titles and demoted to a commoner. Choose one."

Had it not been for the memory of the late Grand Princess Anyang, the Emperor would never have been so indulgent toward Princess Anya. But his patience had its limits, and if she did not learn to restrain herself, even his affection would eventually be exhausted.

Seeing the Emperor’s genuine anger, Princess Anya realized she had touched a nerve. Demoted to a commoner? She could never accept that. If she were a commoner, her status would fall far below that of Xia Jiujiang.

"I... I will marry," she whispered.

Xia Mingxuan was deeply unwilling. Even if Princess Anya agreed to marry, he had to consider if he wanted to take her as his wife. She was arrogant, headstrong, and looked down on everyone; nothing good would come of this union. But for now, he had no choice but to follow her lead.

Looking at Xia Mingxuan’s disheveled state, one could see that Jun Qianye’s expression was no better.

Xia Jiujiang’s gaze shifted to Jun Qianye. "Seventh Prince, you are quite amusing. Yan Wan was never my person to begin with. I don’t know what you were trying to achieve by coming here and meddling—perhaps you were frustrated that your own involvement in defiling Xia Yue'er was discovered by the Emperor, and you wanted to shift that blame onto me as well?"

Jun Qianye’s face turned ghastly. Being misunderstood by Emperor Zongkang was a major blow to his reputation. He had hoped to seize the opportunity to frame Xia Jiujiang while she was already under suspicion, but once again, she had slipped through his fingers.

Why did every scheme against her fail? Jun Qianye refused to believe it.

Emperor Zongkang glanced at Jun Qianye. "You, too, go back to Zhaohua Palace and reflect on your actions. You are incapable of achieving anything and only serve to ruin things."

The Emperor looked at Nanny Chun and Yan Wan with profound disgust.

Emperor Zongkang glared at them. "Nanny Chun, I already showed you mercy when you slandered the Princess Consort at the Furong Garden by only giving you twenty lashes. Yet here you are, escalating your behavior. Do you truly believe that because you raised Princess Anya, you have a golden pardon to do whatever you please?"

Nanny Chun kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy. "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, have mercy!"

The Emperor shouted, "As a member of the palace staff, you dared to plot against a Princess Consort. Have you grown bold enough to defy the heavens? Guards! Take Nanny Chun and Yan Wan to the dungeon and execute them by lingering death!"

"Your Majesty, have mercy! Princess Consort, please spare us!"

Their miserable cries echoed as they struggled, but they should have considered the consequences of failure the moment they decided to plot against Xia Jiujiang.

Ming Ze bowed to the Emperor, his tone laced with disappointment. "Since Princess Anya and Young General Xia are truly in love and this incident has occurred, my request to marry the Princess is hereby withdrawn. I ask for your understanding, Your Majesty."

Emperor Zongkang replied, "Third Prince of the Southern Kingdom, you are too kind. The matter of Princess Anya is the fault of the Li State; I hope the Southern Kingdom’s envoy will not take offense."

At this moment, Eunuch An spoke up, "Your Majesty, the banquet at the Yueque Palace is about to begin. Please make your way there."

Under the Emperor’s gesture, the Third Prince of the Southern Kingdom, Ming Ze, departed the side hall. Before leaving, he glanced at Xia Jiujiang. Having witnessed her turn the tide, his eyes shone with brilliance, though Xia Jiujiang remained indifferent to his gaze.

A faint smile played on Ming Ze’s lips. This Xia Jiujiang was truly... becoming more and more interesting.

As the Emperor and the Southern Kingdom envoys left, the Seventh Prince, Jun Qianye, Princess Anya, and Xia Mingxuan remained on the floor like deflated balloons, unable to stand.

Xia Jiujiang stood before them, looking down from above. "When the Seventh Prince and Princess Anya hold their wedding, I shall certainly send a congratulatory gift. I wish you both a long, loving life together."

With that, Xia Jiujiang left the side hall with Jun Buwen. Jun Qianye watched her retreating figure with icy, malevolent eyes. All his obsession and desire had turned into a burning rage; he would ensure Xia Jiujiang met with a ruin from which she could never recover.