As Mu Qingyao’s words fell, everyone looked towards the楼主 (Louzhu). It turned out the楼主 had such an experience, no wonder she chose to be the楼主 of the Seven Star Tower instead of an empress.
Finally, her gaze swept over the man on the bed. It was truly a case of poetic justice. He had tried to harm her son back then, and now he was harmed by his son. This emperor was indeed unlucky.
Upon hearing Mu Qingyao's words, Liu Liu cast a cold glance at Cui'er. It seemed this maid had told Mu Qingyao about the matter. How could she tell him such a thing? However, at this moment, nothing else mattered. The priority was to help the emperor.
"Mu Qingyao, Mother is angry. Do you want to make Mother angry?"
Little Mu Qingyao looked at his mother. His mother’s face was cold as she looked at him, so unfamiliar.
Had he really done wrong? He wondered doubtfully but remained silent. Liu Liu saw that he hadn't moved, while the emperor on the bed was becoming paler and his breathing was growing weak.
Cui'er’s scalp tingled as she looked at her young lady, then at the emperor, certain she had caused a great disaster.
In fact, she somewhat resented the emperor because he had almost harmed her young lady and Mu Qingyao. That was why she had told Mu Qingyao about it.
She had originally hoped Mu Qingyao would punish the emperor, but she never expected Mu Qingyao to inflict such heavy harm on his own father.
"Young lady?" Cui'er spoke timidly, lowering her head to await her young lady's punishment.
At this moment, Liu Liu was too weary to bother with Cui'er. With a chilling aura and a pale, ashen face, she looked coldly at Zhi Gu standing nearby.
"I didn’t expect that at such a young age, you wouldn’t even listen to my words. I cannot keep a child like this. Send him out of逍遥岛 (Xiaoyao Island) immediately."
As Liu Liu’s voice fell, everyone in the chamber was shocked. Especially Mu Qingyao, who trembled slightly upon hearing his mother’s words. His mother was truly angry; his mother, who loved him so dearly, was angry.
Thinking of Aunt Cui’s words – that his mother would rather get hurt herself to protect him – he realized he had truly made a mistake this time. He quickly spoke up, "Mother, don't send Mu Qingyao away. Mu Qingyao knows he was wrong. Mu Qingyao knows he was wrong."
Tears streamed down his small face, feeling extremely wronged. He bit his small lips. Liu Liu’s heart ached at his appearance, but she did not ask him to get up.
Because he had indeed made a mistake this time. No matter how great the grievances, one could not treat human lives as a game.
"Where is the antidote?"
This time, Mu Qingyao obediently handed over the antidote. This poison was something he had concocted himself out of boredom.
In fact, the toxicity wasn't the strongest. If it were, this man would have died long ago. Mu Qingyao snorted inwardly, lowering his small head, no longer daring to say anything more. He really didn't want to be sent away by his mother.
Liu Liu took the small porcelain bottle from Mu Qingyao’s hand, poured out a pill inside, and signaled Ri Ying to help the emperor up and place the pill into the emperor’s mouth. With a surge of internal energy, she sent the medicine down.
Ri Ying then let the emperor’s body rest. Everyone in the chamber stared nervously at the man on the bed. After a while, the emperor’s complexion indeed improved, and his breathing became smoother.
Nangong Yue felt the emperor’s pulse and declared he was out of danger. Liu Liu breathed a sigh of relief. She had been too nervous just now, and her body was covered in cold sweat.
If the emperor had truly met with an accident, Mu Qingyao would have carried the accusation of patricide, a stigma that would have accompanied him for life. Therefore, she did not wish for this to happen. Liu Liu stared sternly at the figure kneeling on the ground and spoke coldly.
"Mu Qingyao, do you know you did wrong?"
Mu Qingyao inwardly wanted to say he didn't know, but hearing his mother’s chilling words from above, he obligingly nodded his small head and mumbled like a mosquito, "I know."
"He is indeed your father. If you killed him, you would be ridiculed by the world, understand?"
As Liu Liu’s words fell, everyone in the chamber gasped.
Because the楼主 had finally acknowledged the emperor as Mu Qingyao's father. Cui'er immediately looked joyfully towards the bed, wondering if the emperor had heard this. See, her scheme had worked.
Although she had employed a little trickery, it had ultimately been effective.
Nangong Yue, standing beside Liu Liu, had a dark expression. His heart was filled with sadness, but he had known long ago that Liu’er was the empress, hadn’t he? What was there to be sad about?
"Yes, Mu Qingyao understands."
Little Mu Qingyao nodded. So, this man was indeed his father. However, he truly disliked him. Thinking about how he had harmed him before, and how he had even helped others bully him when they first met, the more Mu Qingyao thought about it, the more dissatisfied he felt, lowering his head and pouting.
Just then, the person on the bed stirred. It turned out the emperor had woken up. The emperor let out a soft moan, opened his eyes, and looked at Mu Qingyao kneeling on the ground, as well as the information he had just received in his mind.
He is indeed your father. Liu’er had finally admitted that he was Mu Qingyao’s father. This made him overjoyed.
The suffering he had just endured was all worth it. Liu’er had finally admitted he was Mu Qingyao’s father, which also meant she acknowledged that she was indeed the empress.
"Liu’er," Feng Xie called out. Liu Liu turned her head. She had intended to maintain a cold expression, but seeing his extreme weakness, she felt a flicker of reluctant sympathy and replied faintly, "What is it?"
"Don’t blame Mu Qingyao. It’s because I didn’t do well in the past."
As he spoke, he coughed. Mu Qingyao heard this man, called Father, interceding for him.
Although his expression showed no sign of softening, his heart had begun to melt slightly. Moreover, this man looked very pale. Aunt Cui had said the emperor was the highest official in the land. He hadn't expected him not to make things difficult for him.
Liu Liu did not want to reprimand her son in front of this man, but she would not let go of educating Mu Qingyao. If she didn't teach him now, there would be great trouble in the future. She cast a cold glance at Cui'er and said, "Take Mu Qingyao to his room for solitary reflection."
"Yes, Young Lady."
Cui'er dared not say anything more, only agreeing. She extended her hand and pulled Mu Qingyao. The two, one large and one small, quickly left the chamber.
After they left, everyone else breathed a sigh of relief. The emperor was alright now. They had truly feared the楼主 would punish Mu Qingyao.
The emperor had only just woken up and could not be overexerted.
Liu Liu ordered everyone else to withdraw.
Although Liu Liu had acknowledged Feng Xie as Mu Qingyao's father, there was no particular warmth in her gaze. She merely instructed Ri Ying and Yue Ying to take good care of their master before leaving the chamber with Nangong Yue.
Feng Xie opened his mouth as if to call her back. Watching her walk away side-by-side with Nangong Yue, his heart felt uneasy.
He hadn't expected Nangong Yue to find逍遥岛 (Xiaoyao Island) as well. The more Feng Xie thought about it, the uglier his expression became, and a cold aura emanated from him, with subtle chills seeping out into the chamber.
Within a few paces, there wasn’t even a single young maid. Everyone had long since dispersed to attend to their duties.
Liu Liu chatted with Nangong Yue all the way. They parted ways at the end of the corridor, with Nangong Yue heading to a guest room on one side, and she returning to her own courtyard.
"Hong Xiu, go and call Mu Qingyao and Cui'er in."
She sat in a chair in the main hall, her expression exceptionally displeased. Hong Xiu quickly responded and went out to fetch Sister Cui and the young master. She had also heard what Mu Qingyao had done and couldn't believe Mu Qingyao dared to poison the emperor.
After all, this matter could have cost him his life. Fortunately, the emperor liked him and was unharmed.
"Yes."
Hong Xiu walked out and went to the adjacent room to summon the pair who were playing happily, one large and one small. Upon hearing that their young lady was looking for them, the two immediately walked in obediently, exhibiting extreme remorse, their heads lowered.
"Mu Qingyao, what you did this time was too much. Since Aunt Cui told you that he was your father, you shouldn’t have poisoned him. Mother is very disappointed with what you did today."
Liu Liu looked sorrowful. To be honest, at this moment, she truly wanted to send Mu Qingyao to the palace. Because he lacked formal education, he didn’t understand many ethical norms. In his mind, there were only two concepts: if someone bullied him, he must bully them back.
What if he grew up and his abilities became stronger? If he continued to act according to his own preferences, how would that turn out?