Chapter 132: with translation of chapter title

Pei Yunxi felt utterly wronged, crying fiercely, as if she had never harmed anyone before, completely framed.

She had thought that crying like this would make the Father Emperor feel pity and soften, not hold it against her, so while crying she stole glances at the emperor.

Mu Yuanzhi also thought the emperor would surely soften, after all, she was his only precious daughter crying so miserably.

Pei Shangling also spoke up pleading: "Father Emperor, actually this matter really has nothing to do with Yunxi; she didn't intend to harm the Qilin, it's all a misunderstanding, her falling into the pond counts as punishment."

However the emperor remained unmoved; after taking a few deep breaths, he flicked his sleeve and said: "It seems you are to be sent to Forever Lane to reflect."

What?!

Pei Yunxi: a bolt from the blue!

She is to go to Forever Lane?!

Has the Father Emperor gone mad?!

Don't you know what Forever Lane is?

All because of that damned little Qilin, the Father Emperor actually wants to lock her up in Forever Lane?!

Simply unbelievable!

Mu Yuanzhi also thought she had misheard; the emperor would actually be willing to lock Yunxi up in Forever Lane?

Could it be just to scare Yunxi?

"Father Emperor! How can my younger sister go to a place like Forever Lane? That's where deposed consorts and criminals are imprisoned!" Pei Shangling exclaimed anxiously.

Mu Yuanzhi chuckled, "Oh, Pei Shangling, you're so anxious! When she was locked up in Forever Lane, you were clapping with delight, saying this would make her learn her lesson."

"How come Forever Lane is off-limits? I've been there too!" Mu Yuanzhi said casually.

Pei Shangling was instantly speechless; looking at Mu Yuanzhi, he felt a pang of sorrow.

Indeed, when she was locked up in Forever Lane, he had supported it…

Back then, Mu Yuanzhi was also framed like this little sister; how heartbroken and anguished she must have felt!

Pei Yunxi shot Mu Yuanzhi a resentful glance; this Mu Yuanzhi is so vicious, kicking someone when they're down—clearly it was that damned little Qilin who harmed her!

She seems to have forgotten that the root of everything is herself; today's events are all her own doing.

Mu Yuanzhi wished Yunxi would die right away; locking her up in Forever Lane is letting her off easy!

No one noticed the Chief Eunuch giving a glance to a guard outside the door; the guard understood, left Xuanshi Hall, and went to find the Virtuous Consort.

The Chief Eunuch was a bit anxious, hoping the Virtuous Consort would arrive in time.

He couldn't bear to see this poor little princess locked up in Forever Lane.

After suffering so many years in the common folk, even if she made a mistake, shouldn't that merit some forgiveness?

Besides, the Emperor's fury today came from losing face before the foreign envoys; once his anger subsides, who will he feel pity for if not himself?

"Come on! What are you standing there for? Take Princess Yunxi away!" the emperor bellowed, waving his hand forcefully.

Seeing the guards file in, truly panicked, Pei Yunxi shook her head defiantly: "I don't want to go to Forever Lane!"

Going to that ghostly place even once would make her lose a layer of skin!

Mu Yuanzhi watched leisurely, wondering whether the emperor was truly being harsh or just trying to scare Yunxi.

The emperor's dear daughter is frightened to this extent, and he still feels nothing?

Pei Yunxi kept struggling; the guards didn't dare really hurt her, unsure whether to pull or not, at a loss.

"Yunxi! Yunxi!"

The Virtuous Consort arrived unannounced; she had been restless, pacing near Xuanshi Hall, and when the guards came to report, she was utterly terrified.

How can the emperor be so ruthless!

"Mother Consort!" Upon seeing the Virtuous Consort arrive, Pei Yunxi instantly felt hope ignite!

She flung open the guards who were loosely watching her, lunged at the Virtuous Consort, and the mother and daughter embraced, weeping bitterly; the Virtuous Consort comforted Pei Yunxi while saying to the emperor: "Your Majesty! You cannot send Yunxi to a place like Forever Lane! Yunxi has led a hard life, suffering for years in the common folk, lacking food and warm clothing; only with great difficulty did she survive to adulthood, only to finally meet us..."

The Virtuous Consort, speaking through tears, wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, then continued her lament: "Please, for the sake of Yunxi's years of suffering, do not let her endure further hardship."

"Mother Consort! Being able to see you, Father Emperor, and my brothers is already enough happiness; please don't cry." Pei Yunxi clung to the Virtuous Consort, and the mother and daughter dissolved into tears again, their sobs echoing throughout the hall for three days.

"If Your Majesty is truly angry, punish me instead! I am willing to take Yunxi's place in Forever Lane!" the Virtuous Consort lifted her gaze, her tear-filled eyes unusually resolute.

Mu Yuanzhi looked coldly at the Virtuous Consort; when she herself had been about to be locked up in Forever Lane, the Virtuous Consort had likewise held Yunxi and wept, saying much the same pitiful words, which only made Yunxi's father and brothers more indignant.

She had wondered then why the Virtuous Consort didn't say a word for her—was it fear of the Father Emperor's punishment?

Only now did she realize that, for her own daughter, the Virtuous Consort also feared nothing of the emperor's dignity; it's just that she wasn't that daughter.

Even now, is the emperor still not softened?

Mu Yuanzhi turned her gaze to the emperor; the emperor remained silent, and Pei Shangling boldly stepped forward to help the Virtuous Consort and Yunxi rise, but before he could finish his move, the emperor's stern voice boomed: "Who gave you permission to help them?!"

Pei Shangling froze in place, and Yunxi and the Virtuous Consort instantly stopped crying.

"Fine, since the Virtuous Consort also wishes to go to Forever Lane to reflect, let her go together!"

The emperor's words almost made the Virtuous Consort lose her footing.

What is he saying?!

He actually wants to lock her up in Forever Lane too?!

The Virtuous Consort could not believe it.

For all these years, she had thought she held weight in the emperor's heart—she had borne two princes, managed the six palaces, raised the emperor's favorite adopted daughter, and now she is also the birth mother of the daughter the emperor longs for; she had assumed becoming empress was merely a matter of time, never expecting him to treat her as a guilty consort to be punished!

The Virtuous Consort felt chilled to the bone; she regretted her momentary impulsiveness, thinking she could rely on favor and act arrogantly—if she too were swept away, who would come to rescue Yunxi?

Pei Shangling immediately dropped to his knees: "Father Emperor, this is unacceptable; the Virtuous Consort is no longer young and could never endure the environment of Forever Lane! I, your son, am willing to take her and Yunxi's punishment!"

"Brother Shangling! Even now you still shield the Qilin! If you just tell the truth, I and Mother Consort would be fine!" Pei Yunxi truly couldn't fathom whether Pei Shangling had gone mad—why else would he protect the Qilin?

If it weren't for Pei Shangling's brain having a hole, how could she have come to this!

The Virtuous Consort didn't understand what Yunxi was saying, but since her daughter spoke with such conviction, it must be right: "Shangling, didn't you hear what your sister said? Was the Qilin threatening your life?"

She said this, her gaze vicious as she looked toward the Qilin and Mu Yuanzhi.

Qilin's face was utterly indifferent; at worst, he and Pei Shangling would die together! Anyway, for his senior sister, he has no regrets.

Pei Shangling's heart was in agony at this moment; he could not speak, for if he did, Mu Zhiyan would hate him for the rest of her life.