The Empress Who Divorced Her Husband Was So Arrogant
The Empress Dowager's reprimands caused Mu Rong Liu Zun's elegant brows to furrow even tighter. Her face was grim, and for some unknown reason, she felt uncomfortable. She believed that with Mu Qingyao's capabilities, she would never do something so foolish. The Emperor's lips curled, and he spoke with cold authority.
"Changsun Zhu, you'd better tell the truth. Don't make things up, or I will never spare you, nor the Qingluo Kingdom behind you."
Changsun Zhu smiled brilliantly, a hint of interest flickering in his narrow eyes. He glanced at the Emperor indifferently. He was not afraid of the man before him, nor the Empress Dowager of Xian Yue.
In terms of strength, his Qing Jiao Kingdom was no less than Xian Yue. However, if he fabricated a reason, it would inevitably harm Mu Qingyao, which he did not wish to do. Although he had slandered Mu Qingyao, allowing her to leave the palace, did he really want to do this?
Changsun Zhu's eyes were filled with deep thought.
In a flash, two agile figures streaked over the heads of the crowd and landed beside Mu Qingyao and the Emperor. Two respectful voices rang out.
"Your subordinate (this servant) greets His Majesty, the Empress Dowager." It was Mo Chou and Hua Li Ge, the commander of the palace guards.
"Mo Chou?"
At this moment, Mu Qingyao calmly called out Mo Chou's name. Mo Chou, as if receiving a command, spoke in a deep voice:
"Reporting to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager, Changsun Zhu sent a letter to Feng Luan Palace late at night, requesting to see the Empress. The Empress feared falling into a trap, so she sent this servant to find Commander Hua. In fact, we have been waiting outside Bi Yun Pavilion the entire time. The Empress only exchanged a few words with Crown Prince Changsun."
As Mo Chou's voice fell, Mu Rong Liu Zun and Prince Nan An Mu Rong Liu Mo breathed a sigh of relief.
Changsun Zhu's eyes flashed with sharpness. This woman was incredibly cunning. Fortunately, he hadn't spoken to frame her earlier, or the enmity would have been great. He cupped his fists.
"Yes, it was I who summoned the Empress late at night. I wished to tell the Empress something. This is the second time I have met the Empress."
The Empress Dowager did not expect the situation to have turned upside down. The woman who was in grave danger moments ago had now miraculously escaped. The more she thought about it, the more unwilling she was. Her face darkened with displeasure, and she gritted her teeth, questioning him.
"Crown Prince Changsun, since you have only met the Empress once, why did you summon her here late at night? Pray tell, what are your intentions?"
"I fell in love with the Empress at first sight and summoned her at night, hoping she would accompany me to Qingluo Kingdom. However, the Empress refused. It seems my charm is not as great as that of the Emperor of Xian Yue,"
Changsun Zhu spoke with self-deprecation, his mournful voice carrying a hint of desolation and helplessness, as if it were all true.
Emperor Mu Rong Liu Zun was stunned. His gaze quickly swept over Mu Qingyao beside him, and finally landed on Changsun Zhu.
He did not know if Changsun Zhu's words were true or false, but this man had abducted the Empress once before. He was determined to take Qingyao back to Qingluo Kingdom, which was truly detestable.
Mu Rong Liu Zun's face suddenly darkened, and he issued a chilling command: "Guards, escort Crown Prince Changsun back to his temporary residence."
"My apologies."
Changsun Zhu cupped his fists, preparing to leave, his peripheral vision catching Mu Qingyao's glance.
He saw the woman's beautiful eyes fixed on the deep, boundless night, not even glancing at them. His heart couldn't help but tremble.
Could she think he had deliberately set a trap? He, Changsun Zhu, was not that petty. But now there was no time to say more. He streaked away, not needing guards to escort him, and vanished into the night sky in an instant.
The Empress Dowager knew the Emperor intended to protect Mu Qingyao. Now, with Mo Chou and Hua Li Ge as witnesses, the woman had escaped another ordeal tonight. Her face was ferocious and ugly as she flicked her hand and snorted coldly.
"Empress, you are on your own. Although you have not committed any unchaste acts today, as a woman of the harem, meeting a man in the middle of the night is inherently improper behavior. If it were to spread, what would become of the royal family's honor? I have said all I need to say."
With that, she stormed off, leading the eunuchs and maids of Guangyang Palace.
Prince Nan An Mu Rong Liu Zhao, seeing the trouble he had caused, dared not say a word. He cautiously glanced at his imperial brother. "Imperial brother, your subordinate takes his leave."
"You may go."
Mu Rong Liu Zhao led a team of guards and quickly withdrew. The crowd that had been dense moments ago was now reduced to a few people. Only Emperor Mu Rong Liu Zun and Empress Mu Qingyao, along with their personal retinues, remained.
"Empress, it is getting late. You should return and rest."
Mu Rong Liu Zun's voice was sharp and cold. Thinking of Mu Qingyao, the Empress, meeting another man at Bi Yun Pavilion in the middle of the night, although he knew nothing had happened, he still felt uncomfortable in his heart.
Although they were not united by love, she was still the Empress. If rumors were to spread, what face would the royal family have?
Mu Qingyao withdrew her gaze from the dark night and looked at Mu Rong Liu Zun, her eyes as deep as the last two stars in the sky.
She had not expected this man to protect her, and it was false to say she was not grateful. However, thinking that his actions were based on mere gossip, her expression turned cold. She calmly curtsied.
"Qingyao takes her leave."
After speaking, Mu Qingyao led Mei Xin and Mo Chou, two people, away from Bi Yun Pavilion and returned to Feng Luan Palace.
Tonight, even if the Prince Nan An hadn't appeared, the Empress Dowager would have. She had long known there were people loyal to the Empress Dowager in Feng Luan Palace. She would never let this person go and would punish them severely.
A cold, bloodthirsty light flickered across Mu Qingyao's face. She wanted to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, to let the eunuchs and palace maids in the palace know that she was not someone anyone could provoke.
Behind her, Mei Xin whispered softly, complaining about Mo Chou.
"Since you and Commander Hua were outside, why didn't you come out earlier? You let the Empress be bullied by Prince Nan An!"
"It was the master's command," Mo Chou replied in a deep voice. She had wanted to rush out several times just now, but remembering that her master had told her to wait for the Empress Dowager, she endured. Upon hearing Mo Chou's words, Mei Xin finally had nothing more to say.
However, a knot formed in her mind, and she didn't understand why her master had done this.
Mo Chou, on the other hand, seemed to understand. Perhaps the master wanted to see if the Empress Dowager would appear, and use this opportunity to expose the Empress Dowager's people in Feng Luan Palace. That person would likely not have a good end.
In front of Bi Yun Pavilion.
A tall, slender figure stood quietly. His handsome features were covered in a layer of frost. His dark eyes were deep and unfathomable, his lips tightly pursed, and the hostility emanating from him made even the surrounding air feel cold and frozen.
A Jiu, standing beside him, had no idea what the Emperor was thinking and dared not say anything, respectfully waiting.
Mu Rong Liu Zun furrowed his elegant brows, his lips curling into a cold, unrestrained smile. Tonight, he seemed to have lost his composure. For that woman, his usually calm heart had been disturbed. This was a great taboo for a king.
Although that woman was outstanding, intelligent, and exceptional, he was still the ruler of a nation. He could indulge women, but he could not let them disturb his state of mind.