Chapter 240: Power

While speaking, the soldier had already seized Liu Jinming's shoulder; Liu Jinming tried to say something, but his mouth was stuffed, and everyone in the main hall watched each other's eyes and hearts, fearing the Killing God would notice.

Mo Junyan looked at Chi Nan Yi and whispered, "Are you injured?"

Knowing he had come for her, Chi Nan Yi curled the corner of her lips and said, "No."

"Then that's good." Mo Junyan glanced at Qing Shan; the other tilted his head aside, and the two kneeling on the ground felt the gaze projected onto them, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

"Prince… Prince…"

"I…"

Before they could finish, several soldiers had already escorted them to the cell.

"Come with me."

Chi Nan Yi followed him to Prince Li's residence.

"Prince, do you really intend to take Liu Jinming's life?"

"And if not?" Mo Junyan said coldly. "As a court official who forms factions, abuses power, tramples lives, takes and gives bribes, and now sets his sights on you, taking his life would be easy." Mo Junyan pulled her hand, furrowing his brows: "The reason they acted this way is because of me, Yi'er—have you ever blamed me?"

"Blame you for what?" Chi Nan Yi laughed and said, "Blame you for protecting me in front of everyone? Or blame you for killing the people who bullied me?"

"I…"

Without waiting for Mo Junyan to answer, Chi Nan Yi's cool hand covered his face, seeing the fleeting shock in his eyes. Chi Nan Yi laughed and said, "I have never been a coward, nor would I lay others' faults on you. Even without you today, they would have set this trap for me. I'm not upset because I'm burdened by you, but because I'm not yet strong enough to openly protect the ones I wish to protect. If you don't come today, I could still take them away, but it would require a great deal of trouble." She took from her bosom the jade pendant Mo Junyan had previously given her: "You said this can only be worn by Prince Li's consort, so it cannot be displayed before people yet. I used to think that as long as one is strong, everything is irrelevant, but today I realized the meaning of power."

Mo Junyan, hearing this, smiled and tapped the tip of her nose: "Power? As it happens, I have as much as I need here. If you marry me, everything I possess will be presented before you."

"No, the rights I seek are not to cling to anyone, but to belong to me, to Chi Nan Yi herself, just as with you. The title of Second Prince may be a shackles for you, but Prince Li is different; it is something you earned with your own merits. You have defended Daqi with your life over and over; this right and respect are what you deserve."

Chi Nan Yi's words were like a beam of light, illuminating Mo Junyan's twenty years of dark life.

He, unable to restrain his emotions, pulled Chi Nan Yi into his arms, his fingers lightly brushing her hair, inhaling the faint fragrance on her, sighing, as the thousand‑pound stone in his heart seemed shattered by her words.

This right and honor are what he deserves.

"Prince."

Yun Shui's voice sounded outside the door: "Prince, a message has come from the palace, asking you to enter immediately."

Mo Junyan furrowed his brows, and Chi Nan Yi patted his back: "The news traveled quite quickly."

"The Empress and Crown Prince would hate not to eliminate me quickly; such a good chance, how could they forget?" Mo Junyan let go of his hand, whispering, "Wait for me here."

At that moment, Yun Shui continued: "Prince, the Emperor said to have you bring Miss Chi into the palace as well."

"And bring me too?"

"This is clearly the rhythm of accusing me of a crime."

Although Chi Nan Yi was unwilling, she could only steel herself and enter the palace.

At the entrance of the Imperial Study, Li Gonggong smiled and said, "Prince, there are several high officials discussing matters with the Emperor in the Imperial Study. The Emperor has ordered that if you arrive first, you may enter; as for Southern First Young Master, he must wait outside for a while."

Let her wait outside? Mo Junyan sneered, seized Chi Nan Yi's wrist and whispered, "This Prince is tired; push This Prince back to the residence to rest."

And that direction… was the way out of the palace.

Li Gonggong, seeing this, hurriedly blocked them: "Prince, what are you doing? The Emperor specifically ordered to see you."

"Move aside."

"Prince, you are making it difficult for this old servant! If the Emperor learns that this old servant drove you away, he will surely take my life."

"In the end, it's Li Gonggong's life, not This Prince's life." Li Gonggong heard this and was startled.

Prince Li's meaning was that as long as Southern First Young Master stood outside, he would take his own life.

Li Gonggong had no time for anything else; he hurriedly forced a smile and said, "Prince, don't be impatient; allow this old servant to go in and report."

Li Gonggong jogged into the Imperial Study, and shortly heard the Emperor's voice from within.

"You stinky brat, aren't you coming in?"

It was clear the Emperor was truly angry, yet he was helpless with his own son.

When the two of them entered the Imperial Study, several ministers were still there, among them Left Minister Meng Hui, who stood there with a sallow complexion.

"Your Majesty."

The Emperor, seeing Chi Nan Yi bow, remained composed and said nothing.

It seemed he didn't intend to have her stand.

"Father, if the Emperor wishes to trouble people, this son and Southern First Young Master will leave first."

The Emperor, hearing this, glared at him fiercely: "Stand up."

"Mo Junyan, do you really think I cannot do something to you?"

"This son doesn't mean that. However, punishment must have a reason; it can't be that because this son executed a corrupt official, you must be punished."

"Corrupt official?" Right Minister sneered, "Does Prince Li have evidence that Master Liu is a corrupt official?" He glanced at Chi Nan Yi standing beside Mo Junyan, his tone contemptuous: "When a murder occurs, the people need an explanation; it can't be said that because Master Liu offended Prince Li's male favorite, the killing was a silencing act!"

"Male favorite?"

"What are you saying?" Mo Junyan furrowed his brows, saying in a deep voice, "Male favorite?"

"What, Prince Li hasn't heard the rumors from the streets? Nowadays the gossip says Prince Li behaves intimately with his male favorite, which is indecent and disgraces the imperial family." Su Lao shouted angrily, "Your Majesty, severe punishment is needed to appease the people!"

"Ha, I originally thought Right Minister, as the Emperor's right and left arm, could discern right from wrong, but now it seems you are no different from those common folk, even far inferior."

Chi Nan Yi's words made Su Lao's face darken: "How bold, you think you can speak so freely in front of the Emperor?"

"Then what are you?" Mo Junyan's gaze was cold, and he said coldly, "Has the Right Minister become too self‑important, thinking that because your family's granddaughter clings to the Crown Prince, your Right Minister's residence can look down on all heroes?"