Life had not been peaceful for her since this woman entered the palace. Was it true that one thing countered another, and her misfortune had arrived? No, she was determined to destroy this woman.
"I am the Empress Dowager. If I die, the Mu family will be annihilated for nine generations, not just by killing her alone."
The Empress Dowager's venomous words echoed. This was, after all, a logical argument. Poisoning a member of the imperial family would certainly lead to the extermination of their entire clan. Mu Qingzhu had poisoned the Empress Dowager, and she had even admitted it. Killing her was already a great mercy.
However, Mu Qingyao did not want Mu Qingzhu to die, so she did her best to save her life.
"Empress Dowager, what you said is not wrong, but don't forget that the imperial family's executions must pass through the Ministry of Justice.
"If it undergoes trial by the Ministry of Justice, there must be a cause and effect before a case can be filed. Then why were men appearing in Guangyang Palace? Mu Qingxiang was defiled, committed suicide by crashing into a pillar, and on that day, it was the Empress Dowager who sent people to bring the Mu sisters into the palace. What unspeakable things will the gossiping tongues of the world say?"
"There are two unmarried princesses in the palace, yet men can move about freely, leading to the defilement of the second Miss Mu. This is a great scandal for the imperial family. Does the Empress Dowager truly want to make it public?"
Mu Qingyao's voice was sharp and cold, her piercing gaze fixed on the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager was momentarily stunned. Mu Qingyao's words were entirely correct. If this matter were to be tried by the Ministry of Justice, it would inevitably involve the second Miss Mu. Then, the presence of men in the inner palace, what about the royal family's credibility? The Princess Yunying was still unmarried.
The sleeping chambers fell into a deathly silence. Everyone was unsure how this situation would be resolved, and no one dared to say more. Now, they could only let the Emperor decide.
Murong Liuzun looked at Mu Qingyao. Her face, like water, was covered in frost. Her entire being exuded a cold, sharp aura as she stood in the sleeping chambers.
If he refused her today, she feared there would be a rift between them. Moreover, he had owed her a promise.
But if he agreed, he feared the Empress Dowager would not be convinced, and poisoning members of the royal family was inherently a grave crime.
Murong Liuzun flicked his sleeve, adorned with magnificent embroidered dragons and phoenixes, and issued a restrained, stern command.
"Mu Qingzhu's death sentence is commuted, but she will not be spared punishment. She shall receive fifty heavy strokes."
Upon hearing the Emperor's words, the Empress Dowager's body stiffened, her expression turning sinister and unclear. She glared ferociously at Murong Liuzun, "My son, she attempted to poison me, and you can spare her?"
"Mother, do you truly wish for matters of the imperial family to be leaked? Furthermore, fifty strokes are enough to kill a person."
The Emperor's cold words silenced the Empress Dowager. In the sleeping chambers, Mu Qingyao gazed at Emperor Xian with a chilling intensity, her arrogance and defiance evident. His actions were all she could hope for. As for the fifty strokes, whether Mu Qingzhu could endure them was a matter of her life.
"Qingyao has an impolite request, which I ask Your Majesty to grant."
"Speak." Murong Liuzun's voice was decisive. As long as she spoke it, he would grant it.
Mu Qingyao turned and glanced at Mu Qingzhu, then calmly asked, "May I personally administer the punishment?"
"No!" The Empress Dowager and the Princess immediately objected. Mu Qingzhu should have died, but she had managed to escape. And the person they truly wanted to deal with had not been touched at all. If this Mu Qingzhu was ungrateful, then she should not expect to escape death.
"Your Majesty, do not forget the promise you made that day," Mu Qingyao reminded the Emperor coldly.
In truth, she felt a pang of pity at the thought of Mu Qingzhu being beaten. However, if she did not supervise the punishment, and it was carried out by the Empress Dowager's people, they would surely exert all their strength, beating her to death. In that case, she would still die, and even more miserably.
If she were to supervise, no matter how fierce the eunuchs were, they would not dare to beat her to death. At most, her skin would be torn and her flesh bruised, but her life could still be saved, making her efforts worthwhile.
"Granted."
Emperor Xian's deep, unfathomable eyes held a cold, piercing gaze. A hint of cool, enchanting charm was visible at the corners of his eyes. His restrained and steady voice spoke.
The Empress Dowager and Princess Ru Yin exchanged glances. Ru Yin immediately read the signal from the Empress Dowager's eyes and spoke coldly, "I also wish to supervise the punishment. This woman attempted to poison my mother. I fear someone may abuse their power and let the criminal go."
"Granted."
Emperor Xian's breath was steady as he waved his hand. His tall, straight figure suddenly rose, his imperial yellow robe embroidered with flying dragons appearing dazzlingly sharp. A cold, unfathomable aura enveloped his handsome face, his thin lips pressed together, revealing a hint of cruel indifference at a glance.
The night was deep, past the hour of the rat.
The Empress Dowager was out of danger, and all matters had been handled. Emperor Xian bade farewell to the Empress Dowager, leading his eunuch Ajiu and a few young eunuchs away from the sleeping chambers. At the entrance to the chambers, he paused, looked back at Mu Qingyao with a fleeting concern in his eyes, and then strode away.
After the Emperor left, and with the Empress Dowager out of danger, the Noble Consort and Ximen Xinyue took their leave and returned to Weiyang Palace.
Just now, they had been staring dazedly at the Emperor, but the Emperor's arrogant and cold demeanor had not been directed at them at all from beginning to end. The two women could not help but feel disappointed, and their disappointment only deepened their resolve to have the Emperor favor them as soon as possible.
In the sleeping chambers, Mu Qingyao led two maids to Mu Qingxiang's side. The blood on her head had already dried, but she had not yet woken up. Mu Qingyao immediately ordered Meixin, "Take her to Fengluan Palace, have the imperial physicians examine her, and also watch her carefully, do not let her get into trouble again."
"Yes, Your Ladyship."
Meixin's throat inexplicably tightened. She had not expected the second miss to experience such a thing, to be defiled. How would she live her life after this? Anyone would be unable to bear it.
Meixin and Xiyu together helped Mu Qingxiang up. Before leaving, they glared fiercely at Baozheng. The group left the sleeping chambers and returned to Fengluan Palace to seek treatment from the imperial physicians.
Finally, Mu Qingyao and Princess Ru Yin together led Mu Qingzhu to the Chastisement House to receive her fifty strokes. As they were leaving, Mu Qingyao looked coldly at the Empress Dowager. If she had any reservations before, she had none now. She wanted to see who would ultimately prevail.
"I must find out who it is that moves freely in the inner palace!"
These chilling words echoed within the sleeping chambers. The Empress Dowager was startled, her face in the lamplight dark and uncertain, her heart filled with dread.
It seemed she would have to let Qin Hao leave the palace to hide for a while. If this woman investigated, she might truly uncover the truth.
The Inner Palace Chastisement House, a place specifically for punishing offending eunuchs and palace maids. In the small space, various whips and boards hung on the walls.
In the center of the room was a long, square stool. A person would lie on it, then their hands and feet would be bound, and they would be beaten until their skin was torn and their flesh was blurred. Some could not bear it and fainted, only to be revived with cold water and continue the beating.
Mu Qingyao watched as Mu Qingzhu was tied down, her heart feeling as if it were being scalded by oil, experiencing an unprecedented boiling and surging emotion.
Princess Ru Yin, on the other hand, was impatient, urging, "Quickly, I'm tired. Let's finish so I can go back to sleep. What are you dawdling for?"