"Your Highness, Your Highness?"
Mo You returned, and Mu Qingyao withdrew her gaze to look at her. It seemed there was news. She had sent Mo You out to gather information to see how her father would deal with those people.
"You're back?"
"Yes, Your Highness. There's news. Many people on the street are discussing this matter. The case of Yuejue Temple was handed over to Prime Minister. He handled it properly. The surviving members of the Su clan, the able-bodied laborers, have been sent to join the army. As for the old, weak, and sick, they were merely expelled from the capital."
"Mm, that's acceptable," Mu Qingyao nodded, relieved. This was already the best outcome. At least a life was saved. Only being alive was the most precious thing.
"And what about those young monks? How were they dealt with?" Mu Qingyao remembered that there was still a group of people to be dealt with.
"Reporting to Your Highness, all those young monks have been sent to a bitter, cold land to be monks, forbidden to return to the capital for life."
"Mm, that's also acceptable. I've always been at ease with my father's handling of affairs," Mu Qingyao nodded.
The heavy stone in her heart finally lifted. This matter had finally concluded. As for the traitor behind it, she believed he would make a move soon. Mu Qingyao's gaze was dark and calm, a sharp glint flashing across it.
Seeing that her master's complexion had improved, Mo You's face lit up with a smile. Although her master was cold and somewhat detached, she was actually fair-minded. Those who deserved punishment were severely dealt with, while the innocent who deserved to live were treated with a touch of compassion. This was truly rare and commendable.
While they were talking, Mei Xin walked in, looking displeased. Seeing the faint smile on Mu Qingyao's face made her even more dejected.
"Your Highness, you can still smile? His Majesty hasn't visited Fengluan Palace for three days, and you can still smile. His Majesty is angry. What if he never comes to Fengluan Palace again?"
Upon hearing her mention that man, although Mu Qingyao knew the Emperor had done nothing wrong, her expression remained cold, and she spoke with displeasure.
"If he doesn't come, I'll be free and at ease. So be it if he doesn't come. Look at you, is he your master, or am I your master?"
Mei Xin originally wanted to say that the Emperor was the highest, but upon meeting her mistress's warning gaze, she immediately replied obediently, "Of course, Your Highness is." However, after saying it, she thought about it and added, "But he is the Emperor. In the palace, the Emperor is the highest."
"Mei Xin, are your skin itching?"
Mu Qingyao called out coldly, and the book in her hand flew towards Mei Xin, hitting her face squarely before falling to the ground. This girl knew she had offended her mistress, but she dared not speak. She quickly picked it up and handed it to her, wagging her tail like a puppy, "Your Highness, please don't be angry. From now on, Your Highness is the only master in Mei Xin's heart. How can anyone compare to the Emperor?"
As soon as her words fell, a gentle voice came from outside the palace doors: "What are you saying?"
The voice was full of authority and a hint of coldness. Upon hearing it, Mei Xin's face turned ashen. Oh dear, was she seeing a ghost? Why hadn't anyone announced the Emperor's arrival? Her knees weakened, and she knelt down, speaking in a panic, "This servant greets His Majesty."
Mo You, who had been standing nearby, also called out, "This subordinate greets His Majesty."
"You may all rise," Murong Liu Zun waved his hand with a darkened gaze. He came here because he missed her, not to punish these gossiping maids.
"Yes, this servant will take her leave." Mei Xin scrambled out as if fleeing from a ghost because her legs had gone weak, and she could only slink away like that. Mo You also bid farewell behind her and withdrew.
In the grand hall, Mu Qingyao acted as if she hadn't seen the Emperor, and without moving, continued to read the book in her hand. Her delicate and beautiful face was filled with coldness. Her long eyelashes concealed the brilliant light deep within her eyes as she quietly looked at the book.
After a long silence, just as she was becoming impatient, the soft couch beside her sank, and a tall figure sat down close to her. The faint scent of ambergris from his body entered her nose, causing her to look up, glare angrily, and cast a cold look at him.
Unexpectedly, she met a vast ocean. That ocean held moving deep affection. The corners of his lips curved into a gentle and soft smile, and his magnetic voice sounded, "Yao'er, it's been three days. Are you still angry?"
This man not only spoke but also acted. He reached out and took her hand. The atmosphere was extremely ambiguous, but unfortunately, Mu Qingyao was not swayed by this. She forcefully withdrew her hand and looked at him coldly.
"Your Majesty, what are you doing? Qingyao is still a criminal. Please do not tarnish Your Majesty's noble person."
Murong Liu Zun was not angry either. He hadn't come for three days because he knew she would be angry.
Moreover, he had thought carefully during these three days. Yao'er was not wrong. Ximen Zhenghao's methods were indeed cruel and bloodthirsty. If Yao'er hadn't intervened at that time, it might have incited public outrage.
Those people would eventually have cursed him, the Emperor, as a tyrant.
"Alright, don't be angry anymore. Aren't I here to visit you?"
His words were gentle and soft, and his handsome face was very close to hers. The breath he exhaled landed on her face, making her recall that night for no reason, causing her face to flush crimson and her demeanor to become flustered.
Such a unique person made the Emperor's heart flutter. His eyes were burning with desire. He leaned forward and kissed Mu Qingyao's forehead.
"Alright, don't be angry anymore."
The Emperor's fingers were intertwined with Mu Qingyao's fingers. A slight electric current passed between them, and that ambiguous and lingering feeling was truly present.
"Will we live with sincerity from now on? I was also annoyed that Yao'er kept it from me, that Lakong was actually Su Zhan."
The Emperor's wine-like breath brushed against her ear. He extended his large hand and drew her into his embrace. Mu Qingyao's cheeks burned even hotter. This man had no restraint at all. This was the grand hall. She reached out and slapped the Emperor's hand.
"Your Majesty, this is the grand hall," Mu Qingyao's anger had subsided a lot.
However, she still felt a little unaccustomed to being intimate with the Emperor so naturally. More importantly, she couldn't be sure of her own heart. Did she really want to stay and accompany this man?
After the Yuejue Temple case, her confusion deepened. Therefore, before she sorted out her emotions, she would not have any more involvement with this man.
"The reason Qingyao concealed it from Your Majesty is because the Su family actually has no relation to Su Zhan anymore. If Your Majesty had been told earlier, Your Majesty would definitely have imprisoned those people. Because I was afraid of implicating the innocent, I said nothing. I just didn't expect Your Majesty to find out in the end."
Mu Qingyao flicked away the Emperor's hand and slowly got down from the soft couch, pacing back and forth in the center of the hall.
The Emperor's dark and unreadable eyes stared at her, watching her unease. He knew she was still not used to interacting naturally with a man.
Now, he didn't blame her awkwardness. On the contrary, he cherished her purity and goodness. Some things could wait; they had plenty of time.