Chapter 199

"I want to see Father Emperor!" Pei Yunxi couldn't care less about that.

Seeing each other stirs some affection; Father Emperor must have already calmed down, and seeing her suffer so much he'd surely feel sorry for her!

The Imperial Court of Justice couldn't care less; he waved his hand impatiently: "Take her away."

"You can't take me away! I want to see Father Emperor!" Pei Yunxi struggled desperately; the Imperial Court of Justice soldiers holding her wouldn't show any tenderness, their actions rough, pulling and tugging.

Mu Yuanzhi coldly watched Pei Yunxi's disheveled state.

It's not enough; Pei Yunxi still has a chance to turn things around.

To completely prevent Pei Yunxi from making waves, the Imperial Court of Justice needs to uncover more direct evidence, and the Son of Heaven's attitude is also an important part of that.

"Mu Yuanzhi! Don't get too pleased too soon!" Pei Yunxi began directing her hostility at Mu Yuanzhi: "You, Mu Yuanzhi, will surely come to a bad end!"

"Rest assured, this time you will die first." Mu Yuanzhi smiled, curling her lips.

This time?

Pei Yunxi froze for a moment, but she soon had no time to worry, being shoved along.

"Xier!"

Consort De, no, should say Consort Deng, came stumbling over: "Xier!"

"Mother Consort!" Pei Yunxi thought she had seen a lifeline, her eyes brightening: "Mother Consort, save me!"

The Minister of the Imperial Court of Justice didn't even put a mere consort in his eyes; when Consort Deng came over heedless, he had the guards stop her.

"Consort Deng, please don't make things difficult for us, otherwise..."

"How otherwise?!" Consort Deng seemed still to regard herself as the Consort De who oversaw the six palaces, putting on airs: "You're merely a subject, yet you dare to act presumptuously before this palace!"

"Consort Deng, how are you still the mistress of a palace? Why do you still call yourself 'this palace'?" Mu Yuanzhi kindly reminded.

Consort Deng's face turned pale instantly; she had indeed been demoted and was no longer the mistress of a palace, but this matter being exposed—whether by others or her adoptive daughter—left her with nowhere to put her face.

"Zhier, must you exterminate us mother and daughter?!" Consort Deng exclaimed in grief and indignation, "After all, we've had a mother-daughter relationship! How can you be so ruthless?"

Qilin flared with rage: "Are you speaking human words?!"

"Who is exterminating whom? It's your daughter who repeatedly tried to take my life, and you who shielded and indulged her." Mu Yuanzhi no longer found it astonishing that Consort Deng twisted right and wrong; she only gave a cold smile: "Our mother-daughter bond is long broken, severed by your own hand."

Her mother consort had long been dead.

"No!" Consort Deng shook her head, "Impossible! How could my Xier harm anyone? She's so kind!"

Consort Deng didn't believe it at all: "It must be your jealousy of her! Why are you jealous of her? You've taken so much from her, occupied her position for so many years—why are you still not satisfied?"

Qilin: "Are you crazy?"

"What should we do if Consort Deng is crazy, Minister of the Imperial Court of Justice?" Mu Yuanzhi asked the Minister of the Imperial Court of Justice, taking advantage of the situation.

The utterly annoyed Minister of the Imperial Court of Justice directly said: "Naturally, a madman is locked away in the madness tower!"

As soon as those words were spoken, Consort Deng dared not utter a sound.

Right now, His Majesty basically doesn't want to see her; if these people add fuel to the fire, and His Majesty really believes her, it would be utter ruin!

She never imagined that the daughter she had painstakingly raised would be so vicious! And she even wanted to lock her adoptive mother away in the madness tower!

What sin did she commit to raise such a white-eyed wolf!

"Mother Consort! Mother Consort!" the taken-away Pei Yunxi cried out unwillingly, constantly turning her head to look, hoping her mother consort could save her.

However, the present Consort Deng dared not speak; she feared that if she spoke, she would be exploited by those with ulterior motives—it would be a loss not worth the gain.

Right, she still has Ling'er! Ling'er is a noble prince; these people certainly wouldn't dare to do anything to Ling'er!

Consort Deng quickly wiped a tear from her face and went to find Pei Shangling.

"Minister of the Imperial Court of Justice."

Mu Yuanzhi caught up with the Minister of the Imperial Court of Justice as he walked to the gate of Yong Lane, seemingly casually asking: "I heard Father Emperor went last night to the Rebels-subduing General's residence; is he planning to let the general go to battle?"

Her straightforwardness made the Minister of the Imperial Court of Justice not think much, and he said: "I haven't heard that His Majesty intends to let the Rebels-subduing General go to battle; today the general still hasn't come to court, perhaps he's still ill."

Ji Shihuai outwardly claimed he was sick and unable to attend court.

"I see, thank you for the information, Minister of the Imperial Court of Justice."

"Your Highness, you're too polite; I have other matters, so I won't disturb you."

"Take your leave, sir."

After he left, Qilin approached: "Senior sister, it seems you can't find out anything?"

Not exactly; at least the Son of Heaven hasn't taken any further action yet.

Has the Son of Heaven already learned that Ji Shihuai is gone?

No one could answer her.

"Or should we go look for the future crown prince's consort?" Qilin said.

Better to go directly look for Xixi.

Didn't she run away?

When Qilin had just returned, he heard that the prospective crown prince's concubine had run away—too bad his senior sister still missed her.

No one is meeting her; she can't get far.

If that's the case, why doesn't the court pursue her?

Who knows what the Son of Heaven is thinking? Do you think his series of actions resemble those of an emperor with a brain? Mu Yuanzhi whispered.

Qilin shook his head.

The officials who had previously questioned the Son of Heaven's practices heard that those who were dismissed were dismissed, those who were imprisoned were imprisoned; of course the Son of Heaven would surely find another excuse.

I think Xixi might still be in Jingcheng. Mu Yuanzhi speculated.

Qilin widened his eyes: "She's still there despite the danger?"

The most dangerous place is the safest place; if she runs about recklessly, it would only increase the danger.

Then where should we go to find her? Qilin asked.

"Go." Mu Yuanzhi looked at the Qilin.

"Me?" the Qilin pointed at himself doubtfully, "Where should I go to look for?"

"Go find a monk." Mu Yuanzhi said, "He might have a solution."

"You want me to go find him..." the Qilin felt some resistance.

"Of course you should go, I'm not comfortable seeing him." Mu Yuanzhi said.

The Qilin pursed his lips: "Alright, I'll go."

After he ran off, Mu Yuanzhi walked alone and saw Pei Shangling and Deng Jieyu coming toward her; they seemed to be arguing, Deng Jieyu tearfully tugging at Pei Shangling, who remained completely unmoved.

They must be arguing about Pei Yunxi, right?

Mu Yuanzhi pretended not to see and walked straight away.

"Ah Zhi!" Pei Shangling's face lit up with joy upon seeing Mu Yuanzhi.

Deng Jieyu grew even angrier at the sight, she angrily shook off her son's hand and scolded: "How can you still be thinking of Mu Yuanzhi?! Ling'er, are you possessed? It's her fault that your younger sister is now imprisoned in the heavenly prison, who knows how much more suffering she'll endure!"

"Mother Consort, I've told you many times, it's Pei Yunxi who wants to harm Ah Zhi!"