"Your Ladyship, what is happening?"
The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered. She had seen Yun Mo's movements just now, and she had also seen the blue marks on Yun Xiao's arm. Her heart was filled with immense anger.
Had another consort in some palace secretly interfered? How detestable! Her expression darkened abruptly, and she shouted at the attendants below, "Bold servant! How dare you bully your master! Do you think because your mistress is foolish and witless that you can secretly harm her?"
The Empress Dowager's roar stunned Xiu Xiu, who was kneeling in the center of the hall and had not yet risen. For a long time, she could not speak.
She hadn't done anything. Her gaze shifted to the Empress, and she suddenly understood. It turned out the Empress had stayed in the inner chambers earlier to create these blue marks. What exactly did she want to do?
Her face was filled with confusion and dread, and she quickly kowtowed and begged for mercy.
"Your Ladyship, spare my life! Your Ladyship, spare me! This servant has done nothing."
"Bold servant! You dare to quibble! It seems you won't confess how you harmed the Empress without torture."
As the Empress Dowager spoke, she commanded, "Lin An, drag this treasonous servant out and beat her to death."
At the Empress Dowager's words, Xiu Xiu was so terrified that her soul scattered. Her body went limp, and she could no longer speak, only gasp.
Yun Xiao, who had been standing by Prince Yun's side, couldn't help but slightly lift the corner of her lips.
This woman was truly venomous. Without asking anything, she casually pulled out a scapegoat. It seemed lives were as insignificant as dust in her eyes.
However, since she was about to let Xiu Xiu die unjustly, her body suddenly surged forward, and she hugged Xiu Xiu.
"Sister, sister," she cried mournfully. Yun Mo, seeing this scene, understood somewhat. It seemed this girl cared deeply for Xiao'er, otherwise, why would Xiao'er be so sad? His expression immediately darkened, and he spoke coldly.
"Wait a moment..."
Lin An, along with several eunuchs, stood to the side. He looked up at the Empress Dowager on her throne, awaiting her instructions.
Seeing Prince Yun step forward, the Empress Dowager waved her hand, and the eunuchs retreated to the side. The Empress Dowager smiled and asked.
"What is it, Prince Yun?"
Yun Mo's face was covered in frost. He said in a deep voice, "Your Ladyship has forgotten your words from that day. Prince Yun's manor does not bring in a single maid or servant.
Your Ladyship promised that no one would harm Xiao'er, yet now she is covered in wounds. Moreover, how could a mere servant be responsible for these matters? I fear it is those women in the harem."
As Yun Mo's fierce words fell, a fleeting trace of displeasure crossed the Empress Dowager's alluring and beautiful face.
Yun Mo was too presumptuous, daring to question her so brazenly. Did he forget she was the Empress Dowager of the present dynasty?
Even the Emperor showed her some respect. This Yun Mo was truly detestable. However, at the moment, the Empress Dowager took a deep breath and adjusted her breathing. For now, she had to endure.
"Prince Yun, rest assured, this Empress Dowager will investigate this matter thoroughly and will definitely give Prince Yun an explanation."
A smile played on the Empress Dowager's lips, but her eyes were sinister and terrifying. If she found out who had interfered, she would flay them, grind their bones to dust, and scatter their ashes. They wouldn't even be able to leave the palace.
"Good, this Prince will await that explanation. Now, this Prince wishes to take Xiao'er back to Prince Yun's manor to recuperate."
As Yun Mo finished speaking, Yun Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed her goal had been achieved.
Yet, there was a slight pang of guilt in her heart for using Prince Yun's kindness and for frightening Xiu Xiu. However, being able to leave the palace was a good thing. She smiled and hugged Xiu Xiu tightly...
Because Yun Xiao was injured, the Empress Dowager permitted her to return to Prince Yun's manor to recuperate.
In reality, these injuries were merely drawn by Yun Xiao using the dark kohl for eyebrows, layered with a thin layer of wax. These blue marks had become evidence of grievous wounds.
Even if the Empress Dowager was unwilling to let her return to Prince Yun's manor, she couldn't find an excuse, especially since Prince Yun now held great power, and she had to give him some consideration.
In the hall, after the crowd had dispersed, the alluring and beautiful Empress Dowager could no longer contain her rage. With a wave of her hand, a set of expensive tea ware on the low table shattered.
The eunuchs and palace maids in the hall dared not breathe, all kneeling with a thud and crying out in fear.
"Your Ladyship?"
"Lin An, go and investigate immediately. See who disobeyed orders and secretly interfered!"
The Empress Dowager's eyes flashed with furious sparks. A cold smile curved her lips. She wanted to see who else dared to tamper in secret!
Lin An responded, looked up at the Empress Dowager, and hesitated, preparing to withdraw. Lin An had served the Empress Dowager for over twenty years, and his every move was known to her. She asked sternly, "Lin An, what do you have to say?"
Lin An lowered his brows and respectfully replied, "Your Ladyship, this servant believes no one in the harem would dare to harm the Empress. Liu Zhaoyuan has just been punished, as everyone has seen. Who would deliberately court disaster at this time?"
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager felt his words made sense. She had been blinded by anger earlier.
In this harem, it was likely that no one would dare to lay a hand on that foolish woman now. But what about the foolish woman's injuries?
Where did they come from? Could it be? The Emperor? That's impossible. The Emperor would never send anyone to harm the foolish Empress. He had promised her he would endure. Then who could it be?
It was a pity that the foolish woman couldn't say anything. If she could, it would be known with a single question.
"But besides them, who else would wish the Empress harm?" the Empress Dowager murmured.
Lin An glanced up at his mistress and cautiously said, "Your Ladyship, it is likely people with ulterior motives. Think about it, if Prince Yun's manor clashes with the imperial family, wouldn't someone else benefit?"
At his words, the Empress Dowager was stunned. She remained silent for a long time. There were too many people lurking in the shadows...
Yun Xiao, accompanied by two eunuchs and palace maids, and Yun Mo, each in an oil-green soft sedan chair, left the imperial palace.
At the second palace gate, Prince Yun's manor's magnificent carriage was waiting. Everyone abandoned the sedan chairs and boarded the carriage. Yun Mo placed his daughter in the front compartment of the carriage. The eunuchs and palace maids had their own carriage, following behind as they traveled towards Prince Yun's manor.
Inside the carriage.
Yun Mo gazed at Yun Xiao with a heart full of pity, reaching out to hold her delicate hand.
"Xiao'er, it's your father's fault. I should have insisted you not enter the palace. It was your father who harmed you. If I had shown you less affection daily, you wouldn't have become a pawn."
Yun Mo murmured his earnest words. Yun Xiao looked at his overflowing paternal affection, and a warmth bloomed in her heart. She truly wanted to tell him that she was no longer foolish, but she ultimately restrained herself.
If she spoke out rashly, she feared it might startle Prince Yun. Her daughter had been foolish for more than a decade, and suddenly becoming well was something anyone would find hard to believe.
Moreover, with the current volatile situation, the more people knew she was fine, the more trouble Prince Yun's manor would face. What would the Empress Dowager and the Emperor think of him? Therefore, it was better to wait and see.
Yun Mo did not notice Yun Xiao's unusual behavior and continued to speak.
Perhaps because he knew Yun Xiao was foolish and witless, this Prince Yun spoke without reservation, his true emotions revealed, which deeply moved Yun Xiao.