Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi left the prince's manor, their steps heavy.
The paper tucked into Luan Wencheng's chest felt as light as dust, yet it pressed down on his heart, making it difficult to breathe.
The two walked with quickened steps towards the Dali Temple.
The Minister of Dali Temple stared at the confession in his hand and leaped from his chair in shock.
"This, this..."
His face was contorted with horror, his eyes wide and bloodshot, his breathing rapid, and the veins in his temples pulsed. After a long pause, he still couldn't calm his shock.
"How could this be?"
The Minister of Dali Temple pressed down on the confession and questioned Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi.
Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi felt their throats tighten, unsure how to answer. How could they dare to speculate on the Minister's words?
"Sir, should this matter... be reported?"
After a long silence, Luan Wencheng broke the stillness.
The Minister of Dali Temple sat and stood, stood and sat, repeating this motion. After a while, he gritted his teeth and said, "Report it!"
News of Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi leaving the prince's manor would certainly reach the Emperor's ears. Since that was the case, concealing it would only arouse the Emperor's suspicion. The prince and the Emperor had a long-standing animosity. This confession, whether truth or fabrication, must be presented to the Emperor. How it would be handled thereafter would be for the Emperor to decide. As an official, the most feared thing was to misinterpret the imperial will.
Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi breathed a sigh of relief. The stone that had been weighing on their hearts finally lifted. Now that the Minister had decided to report it, whether it led to thunderous rage or a devastating storm, there was a higher authority to bear it. The lightning would not strike them directly. What began as an assassination case had now evolved into a struggle for imperial power. Truly... Luan Wencheng sighed.
He would go pray to the Buddha tomorrow!
After Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi withdrew, the Minister of Dali Temple copied the confession, sealed it in an envelope, and instead of submitting the memorial to the Central Secretariat, he took the inner courtyard route and presented it directly to the Emperor.
Ji Hong read the memorial at lightning speed. After finishing, he angrily threw the memorial to the ground.
"This is outrageous, utter nonsense!"
An inner attendant hurried forward to retrieve the memorial. Upon a glance, he was so frightened that he knelt on the ground.
The memorial stated clearly that the assassin confessed that the entire plot was orchestrated by the Emperor.
The inner attendant wished he could cut off his own hands, but it was too late for regret. He could only tremblingly close the memorial and hold it in his palm.
"Bring it back!"
"Yes!"
The inner attendant rose, but did not stand steadily, stumbling to the ground. However, his grip on the memorial did not falter. He landed face first, but dared not cry out in pain, or even make a sound. Using his elbows, face, and any other parts that could support him, he propped himself up, lowered his head and bent his body, and hurried backward to Ji Hong, presenting the memorial.
"Get out!"
Ji Hong roared.
The inner attendant bowed in thanks and retreated backward out of the imperial study.
After the inner attendant left, Ji Hong's furious demeanor vanished, his expression becoming calm. He reread the memorial, and then reread the confession several times, before tucking the confession into the memorial and setting it aside.
With this confession, the assassination case could be delayed for months.
...
Since Luan Wencheng and Wang Yuyi obtained the new confession, their visits to the Shen mansion became less frequent.
After all, if this matter was indeed instigated by the Emperor, they were now seeking evidence of the Emperor plotting to harm a prince. If found, it was a crime punishable by beheading and confiscation of property; if not found, it would only be considered their incompetence. They knew the weight of the matter.
A month and more passed in the blink of an eye.
Mu Xiaoxiao, who had been under house arrest for a month, was released today and immediately rushed to the prince's manor.
"Your Highness, the County Princess requests an audience!"
Upon hearing that Mu Xiaoxiao requested an audience, Nan Shiying's scalp tingled. What did she want?
Nan Shiying felt that emotional debts were the most difficult to handle. However, given the situation, she had nothing to hide. She had initially thought that their companionship and openness along the way had made her no longer persistent, but she did not expect that the first thing this girl would do after her release was to come find her.
"Your Highness?"
Seeing Nan Shiying remain silent, Lu Wan asked with some confusion.
"Forget it, forget it, let her in!"
Nan Shiying pressed her temples and instructed the maid to bring her in. Mu Xiaoxiao had been to the prince's manor before, but her mood today was particularly different. As she followed Lu Wan into the Xinyuan Pavilion and stood outside the door, hearing Nan Shiying's voice from within, she subconsciously tightened the sleeves of her robe.
"County Princess, please!"
Lu Wan pushed open the door and gestured for Mu Xiaoxiao to enter.
Mu Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and stepped into the room.
Lu Wan: "..."
Why did the County Princess look as if she were stepping into a dragon's den? It was truly strange.
Entering the inner room, Mu Xiaoxiao saw Nan Shiying seated on a soft couch. The light filtering through the window fell on her face, tracing the bridge of her high nose and settling around her lips. Mu Xiaoxiao remembered Feng Luan's lips, and lost in thought, her earlobes flushed slightly. Nan Shiying raised her eyelids, her gaze falling upon Mu Xiaoxiao. Seeing her dazed, her brow subtly lifted.
"Greetings, Your Highness. May Your Highness be blessed with peace and longevity!"
Mu Xiaoxiao snapped back to attention and quickly paid her respects.
"There is no need for such formalities between us, please sit!" Nan Shiying straightened slightly and pointed to the soft couch beside her, inviting Mu Xiaoxiao to sit and talk.
Mu Xiaoxiao straightened up and sat down beside Nan Shiying.
Lu Wan cleared the fruits and candied preserves from the table and replaced them with new ones. Nan Shiying waved her hands at Lu Wan and the others, signaling them not to stay and serve.
Lu Wan and the others withdrew and closed the door.
"Has your body fully recovered?"
Nan Shiying pushed the fruits towards Mu Xiaoxiao and asked softly.
Mu Xiaoxiao's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head slightly, her voice as soft as a mosquito's: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I have recovered."
Nan Shiying coughed lightly and asked again, "Is there something you need today?"
Mu Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, looked up at Nan Shiying, and said, "I heard my mother say that Your Highness once suggested I marry Wei Yuan?"
Nan Shiying's tea-drinking paused. Gazing into her vitreous eyes, she felt her throat tighten inexplicably. However, she nodded amiably: "Yes."
"Is he a good person?" she asked again.
Nan Shiying smoothed the corner of her garment: "Compared to other young masters of noble families, he is... decent."
"Then I will marry him!"
"What?"
"I will marry him."
"Nonsense!"
Nan Shiying put down her teacup, her eyes filled with anger: "Marriage is not a trifling matter!"
"I am not being nonsensical."
Mu Xiaoxiao's voice was still very quiet: "I have reached the age for marriage. My mother has been very worried about my betrothal during this period. Originally, I had foolish notions and did not wish to marry. But now... my heart remains unchanged, yet it is not tolerated by the world. Since that is the case, I might as well choose a suitable husband, not seeking mutual affection, but only mutual respect and a peaceful life."
"..."
Nan Shiying's face turned pale.
What did she mean by 'my heart remains unchanged, yet it is not tolerated by the world'??