Chapter 74: Let go of her!

Let go of her!

Having transmigrated here, the number of people Nie Jinxuan knew in this world was extremely limited, and among those few, there was only one person surnamed "Mo" whom she knew.

Subsequently, when Nie Jinxuan brought Xiao Xiu to the front hall of the Wangfu, her speculation was confirmed: the person who had come to find her was indeed Mo Yujue from the Ministry of Punishments.

Therefore, upon seeing Mo Yujue, a flash of realization crossed Nie Jinxuan's eyes. At this moment, seeing that Nie Jinxuan had arrived, Mo Yujue stood up straight and stepped forward to say,

"Greetings, Princess Consort. Please forgive me for intruding upon your residence at this hour and causing any disturbance."

Although Mo Yujue appeared cold, rigid, and upright, he was quite courteous toward Nie Jinxuan. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan immediately offered a gentle, slight smile.

"Young Master Mo, you are too formal... Xiao Xiu, serve tea!"

"Yes!"

After inviting Mo Yujue to sit inside, Nie Jinxuan instructed Xiao Xiu to go and fetch tea. Once Xiao Xiu had left, Nie Jinxuan's expression tightened slightly.

"Young Master Mo, please speak plainly. The people in the residence do not yet know about last night's events, so I ask that you do not make it public."

She had sent Xiao Xiu away merely to get her out of the room. Although she was her personal maid, in Nie Jinxuan's view, she did not want a second person in the residence to know about last night's events, aside from Yin Fengzhan.

Mo Yujue, who served in the Ministry of Punishments, was not a simple-minded man. Upon hearing Nie Jinxuan say this, he understood immediately.

"So that is how it is. Princess Consort, rest assured; since you have instructed me so, I will naturally not make things difficult for you. I came here today specifically, first, to thank you for your help last night, and second, to inform you that the murderer who committed the poisoning has been caught!"

Mo Yujue said this in a slightly rough, lowered voice. After speaking, he offered a faint smile toward Nie Jinxuan.

It was evident that Mo Yujue was not a man who smiled often. For some reason, his smile felt slightly incongruous to Nie Jinxuan. However, at this very moment, hearing what Mo Yujue said, Nie Jinxuan could not help but be shocked.

"Caught?!"

It had not even been a full day since the autopsy ended last night, and he had actually caught the murderer?! Although she had suggested some investigative methods to him at the time, even so, catching the real culprit in less than a day left Nie Jinxuan incredibly astonished.

"Yes! I followed your suggestion, Princess Consort, and sent people into the city to investigate as soon as dawn broke. By noon, we had confirmed the identities of the three deceased, which led us to learn that someone had seen them with another friend three days ago. By the afternoon, we caught the murderer on the spot at a gambling den in the east of the city."

Mo Yujue briefly recounted the sequence of events. Just then, Xiao Xiu, who had gone to fetch tea, walked in. Seeing this, Mo Yujue immediately stopped his train of thought, stood up with a stern expression,

"In any case, I thank you, Princess Consort, for your righteous assistance. The hour is late, so I will not disturb you further. Farewell."

Mo Yujue was a man of quick speech and action. After speaking, he turned to leave. Seeing him act this way, Nie Jinxuan naturally had nothing to say. After all, although she did not need to explain Mo Yujue's sudden visit to Yin Fengzhan, it would indeed be difficult to find an excuse if the women in the Houyuaner asked about it.

Therefore, Nie Jinxuan stood up and nodded toward Mo Yujue. But just as Mo Yujue turned to leave, he was suddenly called to a halt.

"Wait!"

A familiar voice, a low tone. As the sound faded, Yin Fengzhan was seen walking in directly from the courtyard outside.

Nie Jinxuan had not expected Yin Fengzhan to appear at this moment. While she was still stunned, she saw Yin Fengzhan stride in.

"Since Guard Mo has come, why the rush to leave?"

Arriving before Mo Yujue, Yin Fengzhan spoke with an unmoving expression. Yet, as he spoke, he could not help but glance at Nie Jinxuan beside him before returning his gaze to Mo Yujue.

For a moment, the large front hall was exceptionally quiet, while simultaneously permeated by an indescribable, eerie atmosphere. Aside from the two men facing each other, Xiao Xiu, standing beside Nie Jinxuan, was already so frightened she was on the verge of tears.

Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan immediately dismissed Xiao Xiu, then looked up at Yin Fengzhan not far away.

"Your Highness, Young Master Mo came to see me today, so..."

"Shut up!"

Nie Jinxuan had thought that since Mo Yujue was present, it wouldn't be right to show Yin Fengzhan too little face. But who would have thought that before she could finish her sentence, she would be interrupted by Yin Fengzhan. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan felt a surge of anger and, without thinking, retorted directly,

"Yin Fengzhan, can you be reasonable? I told you about last night's events, what more do you want? If you are unhappy, take it out on me directly; don't bite everyone you see!"

"Are you saying this Prince is a dog?"

"I didn't say you were a dog; you are the one who wants to act like one!"

"You..."

No one dared to speak to Yin Fengzhan like this. At this moment, Yin Fengzhan, enraged to the extreme, flashed before her and grabbed her by the throat. Instantly, Nie Jinxuan felt a suffocating pain wash over her...

But just then, at the very moment Nie Jinxuan felt she was about to die from the suffocating pain, Mo Yujue, who had been silent, lunged forward and reached out to push Yin Fengzhan's hand away.

Yin Fengzhan was taken aback, and as the force on her throat suddenly loosened, Nie Jinxuan fell backward due to momentum. But just as she was about to hit the ground, she was caught and steadied by Mo Yujue.

Mo Yujue then steadied Nie Jinxuan. Looking at the two of them, Yin Fengzhan, standing where he was, had turned livid!

For a time, the large front hall returned to silence. Yet this silence felt even more terrifying than before... After a moment, among the three who were staring at each other, it was Yin Fengzhan who finally broke the silence. As he spoke, he could not help but fix his gaze on the large hand Mo Yujue had placed on Nie Jinxuan's shoulder.

"Let go of her!"

Yin Fengzhan's voice was chillingly gloomy. Mo Yujue merely gave him a silent look, then lowered his head to look at Nie Jinxuan before him.

"Are you alright?"

"Mm... I'm, I'm fine..."

Despite saying she was fine, Nie Jinxuan still felt very uncomfortable in her throat. She raised a hand to pat her chest, then looked up at Yin Fengzhan before her.

"Yin Fengzhan, it is a pity you didn't choke me to death just now. Next time, remember to bring a knife; that way, you would surely succeed!"

Compared to Yin Fengzhan's gloomy gaze, Nie Jinxuan was now cold as ice. After speaking, she gently pushed away Mo Yujue's support and, without looking at Yin Fengzhan again, walked out.

Nie Jinxuan had left, leaving only Yin Fengzhan and Mo Yujue in the front hall. Yin Fengzhan looked somewhat dazed. After a moment of silence, Mo Yujue suddenly stepped forward to stand before him.

"It is rumored that Prince Chen is resourceful, steady, and calm. But seeing you today, you are nothing more than this!"

Looking directly at Yin Fengzhan, Mo Yujue spoke in a low voice. Hearing this, Yin Fengzhan's eyes flashed sharply, and he pursed his thin lips.

"My affairs are none of your concern!"

"I have never wanted to concern myself with them!"

Looking fearlessly into Yin Fengzhan's eyes, Mo Yujue walked toward the exit... but just as he brushed past Yin Fengzhan, he spoke one more time.

"However, to lay hands on your own woman, Your Highness truly makes one look at you with new eyes!"

After speaking, Mo Yujue cast a cold glance at Yin Fengzhan and walked out...

Nie Jinxuan had left, and Mo Yujue had left. In the blink of an eye, only Yin Fengzhan remained in the front hall. Standing quietly in the center of the hall, Yin Fengzhan did not move for a long time. After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly slammed his palm onto the rosewood table beside him...

"Snap—"

Instantly, a loud crash echoed, and the priceless rosewood table was reduced to a pile of splinters!

Nie Jinxuan and Yin Fengzhan fell into a cold war once again. Because this happened in the front hall, many people had seen it. That evening, Han Luoxue and the others came to Ningxiang Yuan, claiming to comfort Nie Jinxuan, but in reality, they were there to probe for information and, incidentally, feign pity for her.

How could Nie Jinxuan not understand their intentions?! Under normal circumstances, she might have been able to deal with them, but this time, she was truly angry. So, just as Han Luoxue and the others entered the gate of Ningxiang Yuan, Nie Jinxuan had Xiao Xiu send them away!

After Han Luoxue and the others left, Nie Jinxuan, sitting alone in her room, still felt very angry. After sitting quietly for a long while, she suddenly stood up and said to Xiao Xiu, who was standing at the door trembling with fear,

"Xiao Xiu, pack your things. I am going to my maiden home!"

The Xiangguo residence was located to the east of the Dongling Imperial City, adjacent to the Imperial Palace; it was the mansion of the current Senior Minister, Nie Wenhao, and also Nie Jinxuan's maiden home.

In the dead of night, Nie Jinxuan, in a fit of anger, returned to her maiden home with Xiao Xiu, shocking the entire Xiangguo residence!

When Nie Jinxuan returned to the chamber she had occupied before her marriage, not even a quarter of an hour had passed before a knock at the door was heard, and an old man over fifty years of age walked in.

Of medium height, slightly plump, with a kind face... the person who arrived was Nie Jinxuan's father, the current First-Rank Senior Minister, Nie Wenhao.

Seeing the Senior Minister arrive, Nie Jinxuan hurriedly stood up from her seat to welcome him.

"Father, your daughter is unfilial and has caused you trouble!"

Although the current Nie Jinxuan had transmigrated here and the old man before her was not her real father, since she occupied this body, she would naturally do things that lived up to this identity. As a daughter who had married out but had run back to her maiden home, she naturally had to act as a daughter should.

Thus, Nie Jinxuan spoke naturally. Seeing this, the Senior Minister, who had just walked in, could not help but be stunned.

"Uh... no, no trouble... no trouble..."

Responding in a daze, the Senior Minister then looked Nie Jinxuan over carefully. Seeing the Senior Minister looking at her in such a dazed and scrutinizing manner, Nie Jinxuan smiled gently.

"Father, what is wrong? Is there something wrong with your daughter?"

"Uh... no, no... It's just that Jinxuan is much more sensible and well-behaved than before, to the point that Father almost didn't recognize you! Haha..."

After all, she was his daughter, so after the initial surprise, the Senior Minister recovered quickly. After looking at Nie Jinxuan a few more times, he could not help but smile kindly.

"Haha~, no matter how Jinxuan is, you are Father's treasure. Come, come, sit down, let Father have a good look at you~"

As the Senior Minister spoke, he pulled Nie Jinxuan to sit down. After a brief conversation between father and daughter, the Senior Minister's expression tightened slightly, and he changed the subject.

"But Jinxuan, Father is naturally happy that you have returned today, but there is one thing Father wants to ask you... Does the Prince know you have returned this time?"

The Senior Minister got to the point. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan looked up at him, pursed her lips, and replied indifferently,

"He should know by now, but I did not tell him when I left."

"What?!... Jinxuan, you, you..."

Clearly, the Senior Minister was shocked by Nie Jinxuan's unauthorized return to her maiden home. But he calmed himself down and suddenly called out in a loud voice,

"Nie Quan!"

Nie Quan was the steward of the Nie residence and had been there longer than Nie Jinxuan had been alive. Hearing the Senior Minister's call, Nie Quan walked in.

"This servant is here. What are your orders, Master?"

"Hmm, Nie Quan, send someone to the Chen Wangfu in a while... sigh, you had better go yourself. Just say that Jinxuan missed home and came back for a visit, and that she will return to the Wangfu in a couple of days."

"Yes, this servant will go and handle it immediately!"

Nie Quan responded respectfully and walked out. Once Nie Quan had left, Nie Jinxuan, who had said nothing, pursed her lips and said to the Senior Minister with a slightly tightened expression,

"Father, I know you mean well, but I will not go back!"

"Not go back? Oh my, Jinxuan, what are you saying? You are no longer a child; you are married to Prince Chen. How can you throw such a childish tantrum? Father just said you had become sensible and well-behaved, how is it that in the blink of an eye, you are..."

The Senior Minister felt as if he were about to faint. But Nie Jinxuan had a stubborn streak in her bones, so despite the Senior Minister's earnest persuasion, she insisted,

"I am not throwing a tantrum, nor am I acting out. If you do not agree to let me live at home, Father, then I will go out and live on my own!"

"Go out and live? Where would you live?"

"I'll rent a place!"

"You..."

The Senior Minister was finally rendered speechless by anger. But regardless, he cherished his daughter. After calming his emotions slightly, he surrendered.

"Sigh, fine, fine, just stay at home! Is that okay now? But Jinxuan, you must tell Father, what is this all about? Everything has been fine for the half-year since you were married, how is it that this time... what exactly is going on?"

"Father, please do not ask about this. In any case, I have my reasons for doing this."

Nie Jinxuan would not say a word about things she did not want to discuss, no matter how much others nagged her. In the end, the Senior Minister had to return empty-handed.

But the Senior Minister remained concerned about his daughter. After failing to get information from her, he later asked Xiao Xiu, but unfortunately, Xiao Xiu had not been present at the time, so the Senior Minister never learned why Nie Jinxuan had returned to her maiden home.

Meanwhile, after the Senior Minister left, the First Madam of the Nie family, Madam Nie Chen, also sent someone to greet her, leaving word that it was too late and that Nie Jinxuan should rest first and talk tomorrow morning.

Madam Nie Chen was the second wife of the Nie residence and not Nie Jinxuan's biological mother. Nie Jinxuan felt there was nothing inappropriate about her not coming immediately; in fact, it would have been strange if she had come tonight! After all, in the memories of the previous Nie Jinxuan, this second wife was not a simple person!

The night passed without incident, and the next day arrived in the blink of an eye.

After resting at the Nie residence for a night, Nie Jinxuan finally felt some of her anger subside. Early in the morning, she got up, washed, and dressed simply, then took Xiao Xiu to the back hall. She knew that even back at her maiden home, things might not go smoothly.

Nie Jinxuan calculated in her heart, but her expression remained calm. When she arrived at the back hall, she discovered that everyone in the residence, except for the Senior Minister who had to attend the morning court, was present!

When Nie Jinxuan arrived, Madam Nie Chen, sitting in the main seat of the back hall, pursed her lips into a smile and said loudly,

"Haha~, Jinxuan is back. Why don't you come in and sit?"

Madam Nie Chen greeted Nie Jinxuan very enthusiastically. Hearing this, Nie Jinxuan walked in, stepped forward, and bowed.

"Greetings, Mother. Your daughter has returned and caused you trouble."

Nie Jinxuan repeated the same sentence to Madam Nie Chen, and as soon as she finished, she received the same result as she had with the Senior Minister the night before.

Surprise, astonishment, disbelief... Clearly, compared to the Senior Minister's brief daze, the reactions of Madam Nie Chen and the others were more dramatic. This brought Nie Jinxuan a feeling different from what was in her memories during the subsequent conversation, which appeared peaceful and warm on the surface but was actually filled with undercurrents.

Regardless, the Senior Minister was very partial to Nie Jinxuan, so the others did not dare to be too harsh. Nie Jinxuan was never one to make trouble; she went through the motions with everyone in the morning and then returned to her room to rest.

In her room, Nie Jinxuan read books and tended to flowers, and time passed quickly. By evening, just as she was thinking of eating in her room, she was informed that the Senior Minister had sent word for everyone to eat in the back hall.

Since the Senior Minister had spoken, Nie Jinxuan naturally could not say anything. She tidied up briefly and went over... but who would have thought that the moment she arrived at the back hall, she would be stunned and then frown.

It turned out that in the back hall, besides the Senior Minister and the Nie family members, there was another person—and that person was Yin Fengzhan!