At this moment, looking at him, he somewhat resembled a little porcupine, extremely prickly.
"This servant has nothing to say, I only beg for death."
Chun Han's face was ashen, accepting his fate as he spoke.
Mu Qingyao, seated high, her pupils flickered a few times as she coldly questioned, "Chun Han, if you reveal the person who instructed you, I will spare you this time."
Chun Han paused for a moment. The eunuchs in the great hall who were on good terms with him were all worried for him, hoping he would reveal the mastermind, believing the Empress would let him off.
However, Chun Han only hesitated briefly, and finally spoke with a look of facing death as if returning home:
"Reporting to Empress Niangniang, no one instructed me. It is this servant who deserves to die, for wanting to harm Empress Niangniang. Because this servant was formerly the Empress Dowager's person, and seeing how the Empress Dowager has always been suppressed by the Empress, I devised this scheme to harm Empress Niangniang."
Mu Qingyao was stunned, unsure whether to applaud his loyalty or cheer for the Empress Dowager's popularity.
In a way, Chun Han was also a loyal servant, but from her perspective, he was rather detestable. Even if that time he acted was a bitter trick, she had still spent half a stalk of blood ginseng to save him; otherwise, he would have certainly died.
Yet, in the end, he not only remained indifferent but also aided Empress Dowager Niangniang in framing her. It seemed she was quite a failure as a person.
Mu Qingyao's expression was grim. Meixin and Mochou, standing behind her, were already green with anger.
"Niangniang, perhaps we should summon the Emperor, and have him subjected to severe torture. I don't believe he won't reveal the mastermind," Meixin suggested. Chun Han, standing below, trembled slightly, but ultimately continued to look at the ground with composure.
Mochou, standing beside them, had a different idea: "Niangniang, could he have some hidden difficulties? Chun Han doesn't seem like the sort of person to be ungrateful!"
At this moment, Mu Qingyao was too weary to bother whether he had hidden difficulties. The affairs of the palace were enough each day; was she to constantly focus her thoughts on him?
"Chun Han, since you claim to have harmed me, do you know the crime of harming the Empress?" a sinister voice rang out. Many in the great hall gasped, especially the few eunuchs who had formerly served under Chun Han, their breathing quickening.
"This servant knows, and only begs for death."
"Good, very good, you are loyal," Mu Qingyao's eyes darkened. She said nothing more to him.
A stubborn fool, there was no point in speaking further with him. One must be decisive. Mu Qingyao's face fell, a chill emanating from her entire person. She ordered those below, "Guards, Chun Han, as the chief eunuch of the Phoenix Palace, dared to offend his superiors. Let him be beaten with fifty planks."
Chun Han looked surprised. Wasn't he supposed to be executed? He looked up in confusion and spoke, "Niangniang?"
Mu Qingyao stared at him coldly, "Chun Han, I acknowledge your loyalty. Although the master you protected was not me, one still has principles. Fifty planks of beating. Whether you live or die is up to fate."
"Thank you, Empress Niang," Chun Han, who had been ready to die, suddenly shed tears. He kowtowed deeply three times to Mu Qingyao, "Thank you, Empress Niangniang. Chun Han only hopes to be an ox or a horse in the next life to repay Empress Niangniang."
Mu Qingyao's lips twitched. She detested this kind of ancient formality. If he truly felt grateful, why didn't he step forward now to expose the Empress Dowager? This could have helped her.
What use did she have for him to be an ox or a horse? She spoke with a sinister tone, "I will not bend the law for personal gain. Mochou, proceed to the punishment chamber and supervise. If anyone dares to show leniency, they will be punished with fifty planks, just like him, and expelled from the palace."
"Yes, Niangniang."
Everyone in the great hall heard the Empress's words. Those with a soft heart dared not be careless.
These eunuchs, without the strength to even tie a chicken, were different from ordinary men. If they were expelled from the palace, how would they survive? Therefore, no one was willing to leave the palace.
Chun Han was taken away. Mu Qingyao was also tired after dealing with this matter. Meixin accompanied her to the sleeping quarters to rest.
Mochou led people to supervise Chun Han's beating. Fifty planks were struck with loud cracks. In the end, Chun Han was not dead but not far from it. He was breathing out more than breathing in. When Mochou returned to report, the master was already asleep, and anything else could be discussed tomorrow.
The next day.
The Emperor sent someone to fetch Mu Qingyao to the Liuli Palace, stating there was a distinguished guest to meet.
Mu Qingyao pondered for a moment in surprise, then gave up. She tidied herself up, brought two maids, and got into the sedan chair waiting by the palace gate, heading straight for the Liuli Palace. A'jiu was waiting for her outside the palace gate. As soon as he saw her descend from the sedan chair, he greeted her with a smiling face.
"Greetings, Empress Niangniang."
"Rise. What distinguished guest?" Mu Qingyao couldn't think of any guest so esteemed by Emperor Xian that he would summon her.
A'jiu shook his head with a profound expression, "Niangniang will know when she goes in."
Mu Qingyao glared at him coldly. This fawning subordinate was just like his master, clearly able to tell her but pretending to be profound. She curled her lips, lifted her skirt, and ascended the stone steps. A line of eunuchs and palace maids stood before the palace doors, all softly calling out in unison, "Greetings, Empress Niangniang."
Mu Qingyao ignored them, waved her hand, and led the two maids into the great hall. Apart from A'jiu following behind her, no one dared to trespass.
The Great Hall.
Dragon-amber incense burned in the golden cauldron. The Emperor, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat on the high throne. His handsome features were adorned with a gentle, water-like smile, his brow revealing a soul-stirring beauty.
From his current state, Mu Qingyao could immediately gauge that the Emperor was in an exceptionally good mood, not just good, but extremely good. What could have made him so happy, displaying a joy she had never seen before?
"Qingyao greets the Emperor."
"Empress, you may rise," a deep, mellow voice sounded from above.
Mu Qingyao raised an eyebrow and stood up with neither subservience nor arrogance. She received a sharp gaze from the side of the hall and calmly looked over.
There sat a tall, burly man with a handsome countenance, dressed in a dark blue robe that made him appear restrained and steady. At this moment, his dark eyes glinted with a sharp light, and he was observing her without a sound.
Mu Qingyao also looked at him closely, finding him somewhat familiar. She couldn't help but look again and finally understood why he seemed familiar – the man before her bore a three-point resemblance to the Emperor's senior disciple brother, Liu Qianmu.
Could this person before her have a connection to Liu Qianmu? What exactly was Liu Qianmu's identity?
"Emperor?" Mu Qingyao shifted her gaze to the Emperor on the high seat. The Emperor gave her a gentle smile, letting her know she had guessed correctly.
It turned out the person before her was a relative of Liu Qianmu, perhaps his elder brother or something similar?
Murong Liuzun raised his narrow, long eyebrows and spoke with restraint, "Empress, this is Prince Xiang of Wanhe Kingdom, Shangguan Hao."
Prince Xiang, Shangguan Hao, looked at the cold woman before him, understanding dawning in his eyes. She was the prodigy the Prime Minister had spoken of, who had invented a military weapon called a hand grenade, capable of destroying a great hall in an instant.