Lin Yanxi looked up at Shen Muzhou. He was very patient and nodded at her, signaling her to speak.
She shifted her gaze back to the Empress, then leaned out from Shen Muzhou’s embrace and slowly walked in front of the Empress. She knelt down, placing her hands on her forehead, and kowtowed.
She said, “Empress, this humble woman did indeed strike the Third Princess. She was acting wildly and speaking nonsense at the time, attempting to sabotage the alliance between Nan Min and Dong Yang. To maintain the stability of both nations, I had no choice but to intervene and stop the Third Princess from her ravings.”
The Empress scoffed, “So, your intention was to strike someone, and I should thank you for it?”
Lin Yanxi replied calmly, “I would not dare.”
Shen Muzhou spoke from the side, “Perhaps we should first ask what the Third Princess said?”
His gaze swept over the two noble ladies standing nearby. They were so terrified they dared not speak, taking half a step back. “I didn’t hear.”
“I, I didn’t hear clearly either.”
He stepped forward, looking at Wang Jingjing, who was kneeling on the ground. “Speak, tell the truth. I can overlook your transgressions and those of the Six Ministries official’s mansion.”
“If you speak a single word amiss, and slander the Grand Tutor’s daughter, it is enough to warrant a death sentence. No one can protect you then.”
Wang Jingjing knelt, not daring to look up, her eyes fixed on the pair of black leather shoes before her. Recalling how these black boots had just crushed her fingers, large beads of sweat trickled down her forehead and onto the ground.
She had suffered such humiliation, yet no one stood up to say a word for her. The Third Princess was in an even worse predicament. Repeatedly, she had gained no advantage, only suffered hardship. If this led to her family being implicated, the loss would far outweigh any gain.
She remained silent for a long time. Shen Muzhou was losing patience. The tip of his shoe moved slightly, and Wang Jingjing immediately cried out, “I’ll speak! I’ll speak.”
“The Third Princess said, said Lin Yanxi was, was from the pleasure houses, specially seducing men. She said the Dong Yang Prince…”
“Is a lowly hostage. She said they were a match made in heaven, both… lowly, things.”
The Empress glanced at the Third Princess, who was huddled into a ball. What a fool.
To say such things, even if she were a princess, it was a capital offense if investigated thoroughly.
Wang Jingjing saw that everyone present was silent, and she repeatedly kowtowed, “Everything I said is the truth, the honest truth.”
Shen Muzhou suppressed his anger and asked, “Shen Huajun, is it true that you said such things?”
The Third Princess lay on the ground, barely alive, yet she remained defiant, “So what if I said it? As soon as Lin Yanxi recovered her senses, you and the Crown Prince, weren’t you both doting on her? Now even the hostage is the same. What else are they but lowly things?”
“A lowly thing abandoned by Dong Yang… Ugh! Ah, help, help, Empress, save me!”
Before she could finish speaking, Shen Muzhou yanked the Third Princess up from the ground and unceremoniously threw her into the pond.
Shen Muzhou stood by the pond, watching the person thrown into the water, “I see your mind is not clear. As a princess, you are like a jealous shrew, spewing foul language.”
“The Dong Yang Prince has stooped to reside in Nan Min for the peace of both nations. How dare you insult him?”
“The pond water is cool. Reflect well in the water.”
Shen Huajun cried more and more fiercely in the pond water, completely unaware of what she had done wrong. Why was everyone siding with Lin Yanxi? Clearly, she was the one who had been wronged.
“Empress, save me, Mother, save me!”
The Empress calmly glanced at her, then turned her gaze back to Lin Yanxi, saying, “You may rise now.”
Lin Yanxi obediently bowed again, “Thank you, Empress.”
Throughout the entire process, Lin Yanxi was courteous and methodical. Her actions might have been a bit excessive, but overall, nothing could be faulted. She was as indifferent as if the matter had nothing to do with her.
The Empress then looked at Luo Qizhe and sighed, “We have wronged Your Highness. The Third Princess has been pampered since childhood; it is I who have failed in my upbringing.”
Luo Qizhe’s body was stiff. Although the entire incident revolved around him, he always managed to remain outside the fray, calmly observing everyone, showing neither joy nor sorrow.
He nodded slightly and returned the bow.
Shen Huajun, still in the water, thought the Empress had lost her mind. The mother of Nan Min was bowing to a prince no one wanted.
Why was everyone saying she was wrong?
What had she done wrong?
Luo Qizhe was merely a stray dog. She had seen him and liked him, wanting to tease him when she had nothing else to do. But a beast is a beast; it doesn’t understand gratitude and always gives her a cold shoulder. A dog that couldn’t learn to wag its tail, and now he dared to consort with others.
“Mother, why are you apologizing to him? If not for Nan Min’s protection, Dong Yang would have perished long ago. And he, Luo Qizhe, is even more lowly and unlikable, isn’t he!”
The Empress wished she could kill this ignorant, foul-mouthed girl with a single stab.
Shen Muzhou said, “Stop your nonsense! Dong Yang and Nan Min are on friendly terms, supporting each other, with no distinction of high or low status. Nan Min’s recent drought was alleviated thanks to the Prince’s letter back to Dong Yang for aid. It is only because of this that Nan Min has managed to hold on until today.”
“Without the Dong Yang Prince, you, a princess, would have starved to death in the drought long ago.”
The Empress’s face was mortified. Shen Muzhou was correct. Dong Yang was crucial at this time. Dong Yang had just sent one hundred thousand piculs of grain to alleviate the disaster, and it was still unclear when the drought would end.
If this matter were ruined by this foul-mouthed girl, and the Emperor blamed her, she would skin this idiot alive.
The Empress rubbed her forehead and sighed, “Dong Yang Prince, all the mistakes are mine for my poor upbringing. I hope Dong Yang will not harbor any ill will towards Nan Min because of this.”
Luo Qizhe possessed a natural scholarly aura. He and Shen Muzhou both appeared to be people who did not reveal their emotions, but Shen Muzhou carried a heavier aura of coldness and detachment, making people fear him and dare not approach.
Luo Qizhe, however, made people feel comfortable. No matter how much injustice or bullying he endured, he bore it silently, evoking pity.
He furrowed his brow slightly, then gave a faint smile. “Dong Yang and Nan Min will absolutely not be affected by a mere illegitimate princess.”
These words, spoken lightly, were incredibly hurtful.
“A mere illegitimate princess.” Lin Yanxi let out a chuckle.
The Empress glanced at Lin Yanxi with some displeasure. The girl’s eyes were full of triumph, as if she had vented her anger. Where was the timid, innocent, pitiful look from before?
Such a foxy appearance, no wonder Jingxin could not compete with her.
Lin Yanxi felt a pair of venomous eyes staring at her. She quickly suppressed her smile and obediently retreated behind Shen Muzhou.
Shen Huajun, in the water, had a face bruised and pale, filled with humiliation. What she cared about most was her mother’s low status. Luo Qizhe’s words were undoubtedly pouring salt into her wound.
The one pouring salt was the man she cared about most.
She could afford to be disgraced in front of anyone, to be looked down upon by everyone, but she absolutely did not want to be like this in front of Luo Qizhe. He already looked down on her with disdain; from now on, he would have no regard for her.
“I am weary. Let us go, take our seats.”
Supported by several young maids, the Empress walked towards the main seat in the center of the imperial garden. Shen Huajun’s maid knelt before the Empress and asked, “Empress, please show mercy. The Third Princess has always been frail. May I ask, Empress, when can the Third Princess be retrieved from the pond and seen by an imperial physician?”
Her steps paused. She glanced coldly at the person in the pond. “When she admits her mistake, then first pull her out of the water and send her back to her chambers. As for an imperial physician, she spoke wildly and belittled the Dong Yang Prince. Let her suffer a bit first and repent thoroughly before calling for an imperial physician.”
“Dong Yang Prince, are you satisfied?” she asked.
Luo Qizhe bowed. “Your Majesty is the mistress of the harem. All decisions rest with the Empress.”
The Empress was pleased with his perceptiveness and said no more. Supported by the little palace maids, she walked away.
The maid repeatedly kowtowed, “Thank you, Empress, for your mercy.”
The surrounding people also dispersed. Luo Jingxin stepped forward a few paces and called out to Shen Muzhou, “Ninth Prince.”
He turned his head and stared at her expressionlessly.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she asked, “Your Highness, will you hate me because of what happened today?”
It seemed that the cruel words she had spoken earlier had deeply affected her. Who didn’t want to be kind and likable, especially in front of the one they admired?
All of this was Lin Yanxi’s fault. The Prince cared too much about that slut, which forced her to act so hastily.
Shen Muzhou’s gaze held a flicker of complexity. He forced a smile and said softly, “Xiner, I know your heart is not wicked.”
Luo Jingxin’s worried expression instantly vanished. She looked at him with a wronged and pitiful gaze, smiling with relief.
Xiner.
He had finally called her Xiner like he used to when they were children.
Shen Muzhou did not linger. He naturally took Lin Yanxi’s hand and led her towards the banquet seats. This scene fell into Luo Jingxin’s eyes. Luo Jingxin said nothing.
It was common for men to have three wives and four concubines. Today he doted on one woman, tomorrow another. Lin Yanxi, how long could you be proud?
When Muzhou tires of you, he will discover her worth. She just needs to endure a little longer.
Lin Yanxi walked a few steps with Shen Muzhou, then stopped.
Shen Muzhou asked, “What is it?”
“Go find your Xiner.”
She broke free from Shen Muzhou’s large hand, turned around, and ran two steps back to Luo Wanwan’s side, linking arms with her, and walked forward together.
Shen Muzhou was stunned. He watched her walk past him, chatting and laughing with Luo Wanwan. He looked at the small hand warmer in his hand and shook his head helplessly.
Truly a heartless little thing.
After everyone had dispersed, Luo Qizhe coldly glanced at the disheveled woman in the pond.
She had been crying and making a fuss. Seeing Luo Qizhe look at her, she immediately stopped crying and stared at him, meeting his gaze.
The Third Princess, who had always been arrogant, had a cautious look in her eyes, as if hoping for something, like a person falling into an abyss desperately trying to grab a straw.
Luo Qizhe’s deep eyes stared at her for a moment, then a smile of satisfaction appeared.
Upon seeing that smile, she fell into despair beyond anything she had ever known, a pain more agonizing than the shattered bones on her shoulders.
The palace banquet was also nearing its start time.
Luo Wanwan and Luo Jingxin sat on one side. Shen Muzhou brought Lin Yanxi to sit opposite them. Lin Yanxi kept gazing anxiously towards the far reaches of the imperial garden.
She said, “Why hasn’t Ruoyan arrived yet? Nor the Crown Prince.”
A bad feeling began to stir in her heart.
Shen Muzhou said in a low voice, “I’ll have Xiao Liu go look for them.”
Just then, a high-pitched voice from a small eunuch announced, “The Crown Prince arrives, Miss Lin Sansan arrives—”
As expected, the two of them arrived together.
A moment later, several people walked to the banquet table. Following behind the Crown Prince were two women.
One was Lin Ruoyan, and the other was Lin Yuan.
Why had Lin Yuan come?!