Chapter 662: Chapter 662: Bullying by Power
Taking a deep breath, Zhong Mingxin slowly recounted how Nangong Xin had kept him under soft imprisonment in the Commandery Princess Mansion for the past ten years.
After speaking, he continued, “Emperor, I truly had no intention with Princess Mingyue, but the Commandery Princess has been unwilling to let me leave. I beseech you, Emperor, to make a judgment and restore my freedom!”
Hearing Zhong Mingxin’s account, Nolan Deye couldn’t help but flush with embarrassment for Nangong Xin’s actions. Angered, he picked up the teacup from the table and smashed it onto Nangong Xin’s body.
“Look at what you’ve done; you’ve completely disgraced our Royal Family.”
Although Nangong Xin wasn’t a member of their Royal Family, she was a Commandery Princess conferred by the court.
If word got out that Princess Mingyue went as far as to forcibly keep a man by imprisoning and poisoning him, it wouldn’t just be the reputation of the Royal Family that would suffer, but the credibility of the court would also decline.
Nangong Xin immediately knelt on the ground and after kowtowing, she started to defend herself, “Emperor, I truly like Zhong Mingxin. Moreover, for all these years, I have always been by his side. Even a lump of stone would have warmed up by now. He had clearly promised to marry me, but now he’s backstabbing me here. Emperor, you must seek justice for me!”
“I didn’t,” Zhong Mingxin immediately retorted, “I have never promised to marry you; don’t talk nonsense here.”
As he spoke, his gaze kept darting towards Zhong Niangyao, worried that she might actually misunderstand that there was something between him and Nangong Xin. If this got back to Le Yao, he would really be beyond redemption, even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
“You’re talking nonsense; you clearly promised,” Nangong Xin’s eyes reddened, “Zhong Mingxin, how can you be so ungrateful? If it wasn’t for me saving you, you would have already died. And now you say you didn’t promise to marry me—are you really intending to drive me to death?”
Listening to Nangong Xin’s accusatory words, a shadow fell over Zhong Mingxin’s eyes, his lips pressed tight, and he said no more.
He indeed wanted to leave, but had never thought to take Nangong Xin’s life. Although she had imprisoned him for many years, one fact remained true—if it were not for Nangong Xin, he would have been long dead.
Watching Zhong Mingxin’s silent demeanor, a gleam flickered in Zhong Niangyao’s eyes before she turned to Nangong Xin and said, “So, according to you, because you saved my father, he must marry you, right?”
“Does that mean to say, as long as one owes a life debt, they must repay it with their own person? Otherwise, the savior can arbitrarily control the freedom and even life and death of the one they saved?”
Listening to Zhong Niangyao’s pressing questions, Nangong Xin found herself unable to answer.
Nolan Deye, ignoring Nangong Xin, turned to look at Zhong Mingxin and asked plainly, “Tell me truthfully, did you ever promise to marry Nangong Xin? And what you just said about Nangong Xin keeping you under soft imprisonment in the Commandery Princess Mansion all these years, is it true?”
Nangong Xin looked directly at Zhong Mingxin with a determined gaze, as if ready to die should Zhong Mingxin affirm her accusations. Her eyes also conveyed an accusation of ingratitude towards him.
For a moment, Zhong Mingxin hesitated.
Seeing Zhong Mingxin’s hesitation, Zhong Niangyao frowned, stepped forward to block Nangong Xin, and said bluntly, “Act like a man and stop beating around the bush. And no matter if she did save your life, these ten years of soft imprisonment negate it all. If you still want to see your wife and parents again, then hurry up and clarify the situation.”
His sister’s words struck Zhong Mingxin with a sudden clarity.
Indeed! While he was grateful to Nangong Xin for once saving him, she had kept him imprisoned all these years, even resorting to poisoning him. Such a woman, even as a lifesaver, did not deserve his protection.
If it were not for Niangyao’s presence today, would he still be imprisoned in the Commandery Princess Mansion? And perhaps for the rest of his life?
With this realization, the life debt that once existed was now nullified by the decade-long imprisonment.
Taking a deep breath and without giving Nangong Xin another glance, Zhong Mingxin responded directly, “Replying to the Emperor, I already have a wife, and I have never promised to marry the Commandery Princess. Moreover, for these ten years, the Commandery Princess, in order to keep me imprisoned within the mansion, has continuously poisoned me.”
“I plead with the Emperor to make a judgment for me.”
Upon receiving Zhong Mingxin’s confirmation, Nolan Deye looked at Nangong Xin with eyes filled with icy coldness, “Mingyue, what more do you have to say now?”
Feeling the chill emanating from Nolan Deye, Nangong Xin shivered uncontrollably, her strength leaving her as she collapsed to the ground.
Such a response was telling of everything.
“Emperor, now that everything has been clarified, shouldn’t there be a conclusion as well?” Zhong Niangyao asked, glancing at Nangong Xin, “Considering Princess Mingyue abused her status to imprison my father for so many years, shouldn’t she receive punishment?”
Nolan Deye nodded and then proclaimed, “Nangong Xin, you’ve misused your power to oppress others and kept Zhong Mingxin imprisoned for ten years, causing him to be separated from his family all this time; truly a heinous crime. Since you have acted willfully under the title of Commandery Princess, today I will strip you of that title—”
Before he could finish speaking, Nangong Xin’s face turned even paler as she immediately pleaded for mercy, “Emperor, I truly realize my wrongdoings. Please spare me this once! Please, for the sake of my father, let me go just this once!”
Hearing Nangong Xin mention the General Nangong, who had sacrificed himself for the country, a flicker of emotion crossed Nolan Deye’s eyes, and a hint of difficulty appeared on his face.
General Nangong had sacrificed himself for the country, and now he had to punish his only daughter—indeed, it was a difficult situation.