The candlelight illuminated the room, its red glow reflecting on the gilded ornaments unique to the Western Regions, making the room appear magnificent, luxurious, and noble.
The ambiguous moans and confused desires on the tiger-skin couch were given an unusual air of extravagance by this atmosphere.
The night grew more ambiguous, more beautiful with each passing night…
“Your Majesty…” she said softly, her voice soft and alluring, her face flushed, her eyes seductive.
Seeing the depth in his eyes, she became increasingly captivated, unable to extricate herself. Even though he was the one who had been drugged, why was she more eager and restless than him?
It wasn't for any other reason than that she had misinterpreted the depth in his eyes, mistaking the anger and disdain hidden within for lust caused by the drug.
“You drugged me?” he finally spoke, his voice more alluring than hers, yet ghostly, seemingly emanating from the depths of hell, even though he was right in front of her.
Yelü Lingrong immediately shivered, snapping back to reality.
His long, narrow eyes remained deep and unfathomable, and only now did she see the coldness within them.
"Your Majesty...this concubine...it wasn't some potent drug...just to add some spice, to make Your Majesty happy," Yelü Lingrong hurriedly explained, her reaction quick but still hesitant.
"I don't need it," he said coldly, rising to his feet, his court robes still perfectly in place.
"Your Majesty!" Yelü Lingrong suddenly grabbed his waist, her half-naked body pressing against him. "Your Majesty, this concubine knows her mistake, this concubine will never dare to do it again!"
He released her hand imperceptibly, his expression blank, and said indifferently, "Sleep, this concubine has no interest." Without even glancing at her again, he turned and left.
"Your Majesty, you won't stay tonight!" Yelü Lingrong blurted out, both shocked and furious. Even if he had lost interest, tonight was their wedding night; how could he leave like this! Tomorrow, wouldn't she become the laughingstock of the entire Qi Prince's residence, even the entire capital!
However, no matter how loud her voice was, Xuan Yuanche ignored her. His handsome, expressionless face remained cold and aloof; he hadn't even turned his head when he saw the curtain.
He stopped outside the door, ignoring the sounds of things being smashed inside the tent, his cold gaze turning to his right.
Hadn't the people who had watched the show long ago left? Why were there still people there?
His handsome brows furrowed slightly as he walked step by step into the bushes on his right, his footsteps becoming lighter and lighter until he was completely silent, his figure like a shadow.
The people in the bushes stopped hiding and turned to run, creating a wave in the grass.
A golden dart, held between his ten and middle fingers, flashed past and shot out the instant he stopped!
With a short "whoosh," the figure in front of him leaned forward, the movement abruptly ceasing. The entire courtyard remained quiet, except for the distant sound of things being smashed.
He remained unhurried, calm and composed, approaching step by step.
The body was hidden in the grass, only a pair of small hands were visible!
Suddenly! He stopped abruptly, his face turning pale!
"Ye Bao!" he cried out in panic, rushing forward to pick up the already unconscious Ye Bao. A golden poisoned dart had narrowly missed striking the vital pulse point on his neck!
He held him tightly and turned to head towards Jing Xuan.
Sister Li, who had been waiting, looked bewildered when she saw him carrying Ye Bao and hurrying towards them. Without asking any questions, she quickly lit a lamp and fetched a medicine box.
"If he doesn't wake up, go find a doctor! The poison can be neutralized, but the bleeding won't stop!" Xuan Yuanche held Ye Bao in his arms the whole time, ignoring the risk of removing the poisoned dart, and fed him medicine mouth-to-mouth.
"Master, the only imperial physician in the manor who can be used is Murong Wei, and she's not here. I should send her out." Sister Li said hurriedly.
"You stay here, I'll definitely be back before dawn." Xuan Yuanche said, getting up to leave.
"Master!" Sister Li hurriedly stopped him, whispering, "Tonight might not be safe, and someone will definitely come to investigate tomorrow. Master, this time is different."
"Get out of the way." Xuan Yuanche's voice was cold
. "Che, one wrong move and the whole game is lost." Sister Li's voice was also deep.
"Get out of the way!" Xuan Yuanche's voice was still cold. As soon as he finished speaking, his figure flashed away, not even waiting for Sister Li to make way.
"Xuan Yuanche!" Sister Li chased after him for a few steps, but he had already disappeared from sight. Her bright eyes were calm, full of displeasure!
At this time, the Xuan Yuan capital had long fallen into the deep sleep of the night, except for two places that were the most lively: brothels and casinos.
At this moment, Murong Wei and Xuan Yuanli were standing side by side in front of the most famous and largest casino in the capital, "Big Winner".
"This place is indeed very attractive!" Murong Wei said with a smile.
"How much does your friend owe? I will pay it for him. Go back to sleep!" Xuan Yuanli was dressed casually, his handsome face full of fatigue.
“The one the prince gave me is different from the one I won. My friend is no ordinary person. The place where he can win must be a good place.” Murong Wei said, heading inside.
“Isn’t it enough that I’ll give you three times the amount?” Xuan Yuanli remained standing still. No matter how big the casino was, it was always crowded. He wasn’t going to go in.
“Come on, put down your princely airs. Stop calling me ‘this prince.’ Look at you, you’re traveling incognito! Come on, I guarantee you’ll have a lot of fun!” Murong Wei smiled and tugged at him, also wanting to let this aloof prince interact with more people.
“Tell everyone inside to… to leave them all behind. I’ll have the whole place to myself, okay?” Xuan Yuanli asked loudly.
“Oh, what a big mouth, booking the whole place?” Suddenly, a sneer came from the side.
Murong Wei and Xuan Yuanli turned their heads to look at him. They saw that the man was fat and bloated, wearing a loose silk robe, waving a folding fan, and acting like a complete hooligan. He was a world apart from Bai Wushang, who was a refined hooligan.
The young master walked over, closed his folding fan, tapped Xuan Yuanli's chest, and arrogantly said, "What are you looking at? Don't you recognize me, Young Master?"
Xuan Yuanli didn't speak or make a sound, but Murong Wei saw the long-absent red-tailed kite appear at some point, hovering in mid-air.
"Master... keep a low profile. This is the capital. Don't reveal your identity. We need to deal with him properly!" Murong Wei hurriedly advised.
Xuan Yuanli remained unmoved, coldly watching the young master, while the red-tailed kite in the air flew lower and lower.
"Xuan Yuanli, if you summon the man-eating eagle, I'll never go out with you again!" Murong Wei didn't care about anything else and warned in a low voice. If this matter escalated, it wouldn't do her, given her already well-known reputation.
Seeing the coldness in Xuan Yuanli's eyes, the young master unconsciously took a step back, but still stubbornly insisted, "What are you looking at! If you're not convinced, come in and gamble?"
"Let's go!" Xuan Yuanli actually agreed, glanced at Murong Wei, and went straight in!
Murong Wei glanced at the young master with pity and hurriedly followed. However, she soon realized that it was they who needed pity...
Only after climbing the stone steps did they reach the true entrance of the Grand Winner Casino.
The Grand Winner truly lived up to its reputation as the largest and most popular casino in the capital, and even the entire Divine Continent.
Two round pillars supported a large, coin-shaped roof above the entrance, and on either side stood a tall, imposing stone sculpture—none other than the auspicious Pixiu, symbolizing wealth.
Murong Wei carefully examined the Pixiu, inwardly marveling at its exquisite white marble, its value immeasurable.
"Aren't we leaving?" Xuan Yuanli asked impatiently.
"Pixiu, an ancient auspicious beast, brings wealth, only taking in and never giving out. Ye Bao will definitely like it," Murong Wei said.
"Later, I… later I'll give him two!" Xuan Yuanli said, a flicker of hesitation crossing his eyes, but he still feigned nonchalance, pulling Murong Wei's hand and leading her inside.
Upon entering, they were greeted by a deafening roar of a sea of people. The brightly lit lobby was filled with round tables crammed with people, shouting "Place your bet!" "Raise the bet!" "Open!" A cacophony of curses, wails, and laughter filled the air—a veritable pandemonium of human nature.
Murong Wei subtly pulled her hand away, laughing loudly, "My lord, you can roar like a lion here!"
Xuan Yuanli rolled his eyes at her, surveying his surroundings. It was his first time in a casino, his first time facing so many people at such close range, and he had to admit, even with his feigned composure, a hint of nervousness crept
into his expression. Murong Wei observed everything, wondering if the prince suffered from agoraphobia.
But then again, it didn't seem like it. It appeared to be related to his peculiar habit of keeping a ten-step distance from everyone. Was this habit innate, or acquired?
The young master who followed in became even more arrogant, raising his fat chin toward the right-hand gate and loudly asking, "Dare you come with me?"
Xuan Yuanli, his face cold, gestured for him to enter.
"Haha, daring to ask to buy the entire 'Big Winner'? I've been around here for so many years, and this is the first time I've heard of such a thing! It's hilarious! I'll make sure you lose everything except your underpants!" The young master laughed
, his flabby flesh jiggling. Two servants cleared the way, and he swaggered away. The veins on Xuan Yuanli's forehead were already bulging, his hands clenched tightly. Murong Wei quickly stepped forward to smooth his hands, whispering, "Thirteenth Master, there are all sorts of birds in a big forest. Calm down. We'll use the winnings to buy the 'Big Winner' and show that brat what real power is!"
"Power! My status is power!" Xuan Yuanli finally exploded, roaring!
Fortunately, the lobby was noisy and no one noticed his words. Murong Wei was extremely helpless. "Keep it low-key! How will you know who the real owner of this gambling den is if you don't keep it low-key? How can you win big if you don't know who the real owner is?"
Xuan Yuanli suddenly frowned. "What do you mean?" Wasn't this woman here to win back the money her friend lost?
"I just want this gambling den!" Murong Wei said loudly.
"I'll give it to you. Why go through all this trouble? I'll kill that fatso first, then buy it and give it to you!" Xuan Yuanli rolled his eyes at her, very disdainful.
Murong Wei was speechless. How could people be so different? If it were Ye Bao or Lao Bai, they would definitely understand each other without saying a word, reaching a tacit understanding with just a glance.
If it weren't for the fact that this guy's identity was indeed useful, she really wanted to kick him out!
She was too lazy to pay attention to him and followed the young master. Xuan Yuanli hurriedly followed, disgustedly dodging the approaching crowd, and tugged at Murong Wei, roaring, "Explain yourself to me!"
Murong Wei stopped abruptly at the door, without turning her head, and said, "Your Highness, power and influence don't necessarily mean wealth. The truly wealthy aren't from the royal family. To put it bluntly, the value of just this main hall of the Big Winner Mansion is worth your entire Prince Li's mansion. What do you have to buy the whole Big Winner Mansion?"
Xuan Yuanli was speechless, unconsciously retreating, his handsome face turning completely black.
"Your Highness, you're also a person in the officialdom, how come you don't understand this principle? How come someone who can establish themselves and build their fortune in the capital, with such vast assets, doesn't attract envy? How come they can continue to thrive so smoothly?" Murong Wei asked again.
"They have someone protecting them!" Xuan Yuanli immediately replied.
Murong Wei smiled with narrowed eyes, saying, "To put it bluntly, it's called investing, understand?"
"Murong Wei, how do you know all this?" Xuan Yuanli asked suspiciously.
Murong Wei looked up at the sky again. "Your Highness, this is common sense, the so-called unspoken rules, the so-called way, in officialdom and business
. You grew up in the royal family, you wouldn't be like a princess, pampered from childhood, never having experienced anything, just responsible for holding onto your noble status as a royal decoration!" Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanli suddenly fell silent.
Murong Wei then realized that she might have been too direct. She thought that although the Thirteenth Prince was the Emperor's younger brother, if he weren't so naive and reckless, he might not have escaped unscathed in the struggle for the throne.
After a long silence, Xuan Yuanli finally spoke calmly, "I didn't grow up in the capital!"
With that, he strode towards the door, leaving Murong Wei alone, puzzled and confused. Didn't grow up in the capital? How come this is different from what she'd heard? She'd heard that during the struggle for the throne, the Thirteenth Prince was protected by Xuan Yuanlie and the Empress Dowager, and in the turbulent palace back then, he and Princess Qixi were the most carefree and at ease.
It seemed some secret was being kept, and Murong Wei, not caring to think further, hurried closer.
Inside was another large hall, but unlike the bustling outside, it was more like a private room. The vast hall contained only three round tables, various curtains, and servants attending to guests, serving tea and water.
The young master turned back and gave them a provocative look before continuing inside. Whether angered by him or provoked by Murong Wei, Xuan Yuanli quickly followed, keeping a distance of only ten steps.
Soon, another large door appeared ahead. Murong Wei was startled; it seemed the empire's territory far exceeded her expectations. To acquire land like this in the capital, one must have the backing of a high-ranking official!
Upon entering, not only Murong Wei but also Xuan Yuanli were stunned.
It was an incredibly spacious backyard, brightly lit, as clear as day, with pavilions, gardens, and hot springs—tranquil yet not deserted.
"A casino resort!" Murong Wei blurted out, surprised that the casino industry had been so developed a thousand years ago.
"The place I've booked is over there, dare to go?" the young master boasted, pointing proudly to a courtyard in a Western-style building directly ahead.
"Give me your name first!" Xuan Yuanli said coldly.
"Heh, listen carefully, next time you bump into me, keep your eyes open! I am Gu Xizhi, son of the current prime minister and brother-in-law of Prince Qi!" the young master proudly flaunted his identity.
Murong Wei's lips twitched involuntarily; who was it that didn't recognize whom?
Xuan Yuanli snorted coldly and said, "My name is Li Ge."
In this courtyard, even the servants were all dressed in Western-style fox fur and leather clothing.
Murong Wei and Xuan Yuanli followed them into the large tent, where they saw a large round table with a rotating disc. The disc was divided into twenty-four sections, each representing a number from one to twenty-four and the twelve zodiac animals, arranged in a random and unpredictable order. Facing the entrance sat a dealer (the person in charge of the gambling table). Behind him sat several alluring and captivating beauties.
To his left and right sat a man and a woman. The man, dressed in blue robes with his black hair tied up high and carrying a distinctive green bamboo sword, was in his early twenties, with handsome features and a slender build. Even sitting quietly, he exuded an air of chivalry and martial arts. The woman
was even younger, around seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in luxurious clothes and jewelry; anyone who saw her could tell she was either rich or noble.
As soon as they entered, the beauties behind Zhuang He rushed forward, not even glancing at Xuan Yuanli. They all crowded around Gu Xizhi, coaxing him in sweet, coquettish voices.
"Young Master Gu, why are you so late today? You should be punished with three cups before the game starts!"
"That's right, Young Master Chenzui and Miss Nangong have been waiting for you for a long time."
"I've been waiting for you for ages too. These three cups must be the punishment first. Or you can just watch from the sidelines tonight, and I'll place the bets for you!"
...
The women coaxed and pleaded with him to drink, and Young Master Gu patiently let them do as they pleased, completely ignoring Xuan Yuanli and Murong Wei.
The other two went about their own business, ignoring Murong Wei and Murong Wei. Only Zhuang He was polite, rising and smiling as she asked, "Are you two guests brought by Young Master Gu, or are you players?"
"Players," Murong Wei replied, sitting down next to the man.
"Yes, yes, the big player I invited at the door boasted he'd bet on the big winner, what a talent! Haha." Young Master Gu laughed, sitting down next to the women with his arms around them.
"Enough nonsense, let's begin!" Xuan Yuanli said impatiently. He'd never been to a casino like this before and knew absolutely no rules.
"Young Master Gu, where did you find such an unruly person?" Miss Nangong asked coldly.
"Heh, he's a big player, he doesn't stand on ceremony, haha!" Young Master Gu said sarcastically.
Besides the obvious sarcasm, Xuan Yuanli had no idea what they meant. He stared coldly at Gu Xizhi. If Murong Wei hadn't said those things to him earlier, he would have already flipped the table.
This was the first time he'd been so humiliated and mocked since returning to the capital! He'd remember these people!
"It's not that I don't understand the rules, my master just finds his hands too tired and will watch from the side. I'm just sitting here to help out," Murong Wei said calmly. She recognized the disc as a "roulette wheel" immediately; players had to sit, and no one behind them, regardless of who they were, could speak.
"Help out? Is this master more delicate than a woman?" Nangong asked with a light laugh.
"You!" Xuan Yuanli roared, finally unable to contain himself, slamming his hand on the table!
"Oh dear, not only delicate, but also can't afford to play!" Nangong's light laugh turned serious as she looked at Gu Dashao. "How come you brought in such shady characters today? Wasting my time, are you worthy of them?"
"Weren't we just looking for someone for everyone to play with? If they don't like it, they can get lost. Don't be angry, Jingqin!" Gu Dashao said, quickly giving the dealer a wink.
Before the dealer could even call out, Murong Wei suddenly burst into laughter, "So Young Master Gu didn't invite us here to play, but to see how you handle women's whims!"
As she spoke, she tightly gripped Xuan Yuanli's raised hand under the table. Having come this far, she couldn't afford to fail now; she needed to at least make an impression and win some money.
"Bang!" Young Master Gu slammed his hand on the table, shouting angrily, "What do you mean?" "
It means exactly what I said. Either start playing now, and I'll place my bet on behalf of my master, or you continue to be at the mercy of women, and we're not playing along." Murong Wei said calmly, casually spinning the disc, sometimes lightly, sometimes heavily, as if testing something.
"Dealer, begin! Ten thousand taels to start! Anyone without money, get out of here immediately!" Young Master Gu shouted sternly, ordering his servant to toss silver notes onto the disc with an air of wealth.
Only then did Nangong Jingqin give Murong Wei a proper look, casually grabbing a stack of silver notes in front of her and throwing them out.
The man who had remained silent glanced at the twenty-four sections of the roulette wheel, selected the section with the dragon motif, and placed his silver note.
The rules of the roulette were simple: players chose a section to bet on, the dealer tossed a die into the wheel, and the wheel spun. The die would slide across the twenty-four sections, and the section where it landed was the winning section. The wheel had two layers, one large and one small, and all twenty sections were identical. Players bet on the outer section, and the die landed in the inner section, with both sections spinning together.
A correct bet would win the player double their stake and also collect bets from other players. If the inner and outer sections overlapped after a winning bet, the winnings were doubled.
This game made cheating extremely difficult; it was all about luck!
At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on Murong Wei's hand. She looked around, glanced at Zhuang He's hand, and then, with her eyes closed, casually tossed her bet.
"Players, do you want to change this?" Zhuang He asked.
No one spoke. Zhuang He paused for a moment, then extended her gloved hands for everyone to see. She slowly spun the wheel from left to right, the first spin light, the second gradually increasing in intensity. She spun it five times, the wheel spinning faster and faster until the pattern was completely obscured, only a strip of color spinning.
The room was silent except for the creaking of the wheel. Nangong Jingqin lazily rested one hand on the armrest, watching with an air of nonchalance.
A quiet, intoxicated smile played on his lips as he toyed with his green bamboo sword.
Young Master Gu was even more indifferent, embracing a voluptuous woman.
Murong Wei, however, stared intently at the wheel, her focused expression barely concealed by her half-golden mask.
A moment later, the spinning wheel slowly slowed down, and the patterns and numbers on it gradually became clear. The dice, however, continued to roll rapidly, circling the twenty-four sections.
"Weiwei..." Suddenly, Xuan Yuanli whispered, leaning close to her ear.
"Mmm," Murong Wei responded, her gaze still fixed on the spinning wheel.
"Weiwei, I'll do whatever you say, just let me go, okay?" Xuan Yuanli's low voice betrayed his pain.
"Mmm," Murong Wei responded again, ignoring him.
"Weiwei, it's only ten thousand taels, I'll give it to you, just let me go, okay?" Xuan Yuanli pleaded.
This time, Murong Wei didn't respond. Her brows furrowed, her eyes narrowed. The spinning wheel finally stopped, the dice rolling slowly, about to stop!
"Thud!" Nangong Jingqin suddenly threw out another stack of money, very casually, without even waiting for the result of the first round.
"Hehe, Chen Zui, I'll let you win the first round!" Young Master Gu threw out his money as well, having no other choice. At this moment, the dice slowly stopped on the dragon totem.
"Congratulations, Young Master Chen." Zhuang He smiled and had the servant deliver double the bet to Chen Zui. Chen Zui
smiled lightly, unhurriedly, and still threw out 10,000 taels, placing it on the "seven".
Murong Wei was still staring at the twenty-four sections of the roulette wheel, seemingly bewitched.
"Big player, what about you?" Young Master Gu looked at Xuan Yuanli.
Xuan Yuanli was covered in cold sweat, staring straight ahead, his eyes and mouth twitching, his whole body stiff.
"Miss, aren't you going to bet this round?" Zhuang He asked.
"Yes!" Murong Wei spoke thoughtfully, reaching out to Xuan Yuanli, "How much did you bring?"
"A lot." Xuan Yuanli murmured.
"Give it all to me!" Murong Wei exclaimed excitedly.
"You, first, let, go, of, me!" Xuan Yuanli said, each word distinct. Murong Wei's grip on his hand under the table tightened, almost making him faint from the pain.
"Uh..." Murong Wei immediately released her grip, forcing a smile, "I...I didn't mean to...I...I was too..."
"It's just ten thousand yuan, why are you so nervous?" Xuan Yuanli said unhappily, his hand, which he held out from under the table, was flushed red as if it had been scalded in oil, a shocking sight!
Everyone looked at them suspiciously, wondering what these two were dawdling about.
"If you can't play, then get lost. Don't waste my time. Gu Xizhi, please stop grabbing people at the door and bringing them here!" Nangong Jingqin said impatiently.
However, Murong Wei completely ignored him, excitedly grabbing Xuan Yuanli and demanding, "How much silver did you bring? Hand it all over!"
"Easy, easy, here it is. It's not much, just 500,000 taels." Xuan Yuanli said, raising one hand high, gesturing for Murong Wei to take it herself, while blowing on his swollen, red hand.
Hearing the words "500,000 taels," Gu Xizhi and Nangong Jingqin exchanged a glance, both suspicious and silent.
Murong Wei took out a thick roll of silver notes and placed it on the rabbit totem without hesitation, smiling as she said, "This is it."
"All players, aren't you going to change anything?" Zhuang He asked calmly as usual. Seeing no one speak, she started spinning the wheel again, her movements exactly the same as before.
"Murong Wei, are you crazy?" Xuan Yuanli whispered, having not had a chance to stop her earlier, nor had he felt comfortable doing so.
"Consider it a loan from you, I'll pay you back in a bit." Murong Wei smiled, still staring intently at the wheel, thoroughly enjoying the experience.
“Murong Wei, I feel like the name Nangong Jingqin sounds familiar,” Xuan Yuanli whispered again.
“I’ve never seen Young Master Gu treat her so politely; her backing must be stronger than the Prime Minister’s. She must be the daughter of some general,” Murong Wei said casually.
“No, it seems…it seems…” Before Xuan Yuanli could finish speaking, Murong Wei suddenly grabbed his hand again.
“Let go!” Xuan Yuanli reflexively shook her off, afraid of her strength.
At the same time, the spinning wheel slowly stopped, and the dice rolled slowly from Nangong Jingqin’s side toward Murong Wei’s betting area, getting closer and slower.
Murong Wei tensed up, holding her breath. Unable to grab Xuan Yuanli’s hand, she clasped her hands together tightly. The
previously calm crowd couldn’t help but tense up because of her appearance.
Only Xuan Yuanli frowned, looking at Nangong Jingqin with a suspicious expression…
Nangong Jingqin, Nangong Jingqin, Nangong Jingqin…
Nangong Jingsi!
Suddenly, Xuan Yuanli was shocked. This time, he tightly grasped Murong Wei's hand!
No wonder it felt so familiar; he should have guessed. Although he hadn't met her and didn't really know her, he had heard the name before!
It was her!
"Ah… I won!"
At the same time, Murong Wei exclaimed, her hand immediately reaching out and gripping it tightly!
"One hundred thousand taels, hahaha, two hundred thousand taels to cover me, plus their bets!" Murong Wei was overjoyed, genuinely happy.
Even with several gold vaults, she could still maintain a shrewd mind when faced with money, just like her son.
She could estimate the speed of the spinning wheel and the force of the dealer's five spins; this was much easier for her than estimating the destructive power of a bomb explosion!
She didn't even notice that Xuan Yuanli had something to say to her. She hurriedly pulled her hand away, pushed back all the silver notes the servant brought her, and said, "Again, this time I'll choose the rat!"
"Lucky bastard!" Nangong Jingqin pretended to be disdainful, casually tossing out the silver notes again. She liked playing the roulette wheel because it required no skill and relied entirely on luck.
"Heh, again, I don't believe it's such a coincidence!" Young Master Gu sneered, also throwing out his money.
Silently intoxicated, unfazed by honor or disgrace, she placed her bets with elegant movements.
However, after several rounds, Murong Wei consistently won, and this woman always bet very generously, betting as much as she had, winning by doubling her winnings. Even the composed Zhuang He couldn't sit still anymore. In no time, she had a pile of silver notes in front of her.
Xuan Yuanli was also excited. He had never worried about food or clothing in his life, and for the first time in his life, he was happy about the word "money."
"Impossible!" Suddenly, Nangong Jingqin spoke coldly.
The previously restrained Young Master Gu slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly. "Guards! Search them! These two are definitely cheating!"
Murong Wei's hand holding the silver notes froze. She frowned and looked at Nangong Jingqin. "What, can't afford to play this game anymore?"
"You cheated! Guards, search them! If you find them, chop off their hands!" Nangong Jingqin shouted fiercely.
Murong Wei wasn't surprised. She looked at Zhuang He, pointed at Nangong Jingqin, and smiled, "Zhuang He, could it be that your accomplice is her?"
"Stop talking nonsense! Guards, arrest them!" Young Master Gu roared, rolling up his sleeves as if he were about to take matters into his own hands.
Murong Wei smiled, calmly putting away the silver notes, and said, "What's the panic?" "I presume the three of you are all important figures, so how about we talk..."
However, before she could finish speaking, the curtain was suddenly lifted, and an official swaggered in, followed by a group of officials.
A servant stepped forward and shouted, "Don't move! The constable is conducting a routine inspection!"
Murong Wei nearly choked on her saliva upon hearing this. "A constable conducting a routine inspection? A police inspection, huh?! And this thing is causing trouble!"
Nangong Jingxue glanced at Gu Xizhi and Chen Zui, a cold smile playing on her lips, and lazily sat down.
Gu Xizhi also calmly took his seat, seemingly not needing to deal with the situation himself.
The constable strode over, and upon seeing Nangong Jingqin and Gu Xizhi, he quickly smiled obsequiously, "My lords, it's just a routine inspection, please forgive me!" Nangong
Jingqin didn't speak, but glanced at Murong Wei casually, her meaning clear.
The constable looked at Xuan Yuanli, then at Murong Wei; these were the only unfamiliar faces. His gaze finally settled on the pile of silver notes that hadn't been completely put away in front of her, and he coldly asked, "How much?"
"Not much, this is a tribute..." Murong Wei handed over the money, and Zhuang He also spoke up, "A total of five million six hundred and thirty thousand."
The constable counted the silver notes Murong Wei had offered, put them in his sleeve, coughed a few times, and said, "Don't you know the rules of the capital? The maximum limit for gambling in major casinos is two hundred thousand taels! You can calculate how much you've exceeded."
"Not much, not much, the excess is all a tribute to you, sir." "Murong Wei hurriedly said, eager to cultivate this relationship so she could negotiate business with Gu Xizhi and the others. Bringing in Thirteenth Master Xuan Yuanli would at least allow her to invest and eventually swallow this big winner. The first thing she'd do then was dig up those two mythical beasts in front of the gate and give them to Ye Bao, then she'd be overjoyed, grinning from ear to ear.
"Is that so?" The constable smiled, his fat bulging, his eyes narrowing into slits.
"Absolutely!" Murong Wei smiled, deftly handing over all the silver notes on the table.
The constable's eyes were almost closed with laughter as he collected the notes, saying, "Guards, take this woman and this man back and punish them according to the law. The other three aren't worth much, so we'll let it go."
Murong Wei was stunned, her jaw nearly dropping. Was this some kind of blow?
"Why? According to Xuan Yuan's laws, accomplices are punished together. Don't you know that?" Xuan Yuanli asked coldly.
"Heh, do you know who they are?" "The constable sneered.
"How would I know..." Xuan Yuanli was about to reveal his identity when Murong Wei quickly grabbed his hand to stop him.
She wasn't afraid the constable wouldn't be biased, but she was afraid he would be fair and release people behind her back.
"Let me tell you, this is the young master of the Prime Minister's mansion, the brother-in-law of the Prince of Qi, Young Master Gu, and this... hehe, the younger sister of Consort Si, the sister-in-law of the current emperor! The second young lady of the Nangong family! This young hero is the eldest young master of the Shen family, the overlord of the martial arts world, Young Hero Chen Zui!" The constable introduced them one by one, as if he were talking about himself, extremely arrogant.
"Sir, you've collected quite a few silver notes. Although we're nobody, we still have some silver, right? How about we buy a favor?" Murong Wei asked with a smile.
"Hehe, young lady, I'm sorry, but today we arrested two people from every courtyard in the entire Big Winner's Club. It's not that I'm being unreasonable, but the higher-ups are investigating this matter thoroughly. We need to hand over some people. You're just unlucky. Let me tell you the truth, if you have connections, hurry up and try to smooth things over. Once you're in jail, it won't be so easy for you to get out!"
Hearing this, Xuan Yuanli, who was about to explode, finally quieted down. He gave Murong Wei a complicated look, it seemed that someone in the court had taken over Big Winner's Club before them.
"Take her away! Take her away!" the head constable shouted, bowing and scraping with Nangong Jingqin and the others before retreating.
Murong Wei let the soldiers hold her down, while Xuan Yuanli dodged their hands and walked away on his own.
Soon, the tent returned to calm.
"Chen Zui, do you think that woman really has good luck?" Nangong Jingqin said, checking Murong Wei's position, but found nothing unusual.
"She must have calculated it, the speed of the spinning wheel, the strength of the dealer." Chen Zui said, lazily getting up to leave.
"It's more fun if you don't play a couple of rounds, it's all about luck!" Gu Xizhi quickly tried to persuade her to stay.
"The higher-ups are investigating, aren't you two worried?" Chen Zui smiled as she stood up, her tall and slender figure moving slowly away as she asked.
"Hehe, even if it's a huge matter, my sister will cover for me! What are you afraid of? Why don't you come to the capital? I'll take you to the palace tomorrow, okay?" Nangong Jingqin chased after her.
Chen Zui waved her hand, not turning her head, "Don't look for me, I'm leaving in a few days!"
With that, she lifted the curtain with her bamboo sword and slowly went out. The person who hurriedly entered past her was a eunuch, Xiao Zhuozi from Consort Si's palace.
"Sister, you wanted to see me?" Nangong Jingqin was startled, forgetting to chase after Chen Zui, and quickly asked.
"Second Miss, Consort Si wants you to go back to your residence to get a medicine called 'White Dew,' and deliver it to a person surnamed Bai at Youle Tower on Xuanwu Street before dawn." Xiao Zhuozi quickly reported.
"Bai Lu, isn't that a hemostatic medicine?" Nangong Jingqin asked suspiciously. "This medicine is very rare, why is Sister giving it away so easily?"
Youlelou was the most luxurious restaurant on Xuanwu Street; it was virtually impossible to book a room unless you were a powerful figure in the capital.
However, tonight, the entire Youlelou was booked.
Nangong Jingqin's carriage slowly pulled up at the entrance, awaiting announcement.
"Miss, is that person a man or a woman? Is he a friend of Consort Si? Why did Consort Si become so anxious after just one sentence from him?" a maid whispered. The Consort Si mentioned was the Imperial Consort Si who had sent Nangong Jingqin to deliver medicine. She was the only Imperial Consort in the harem, and also Xuanyuan Lie's only woman.
Legends about her had never ceased in the capital, not for any other reason than that the usually strong-willed and autocratic Xuanyuan Lie, because she came from a wealthy merchant family rather than a powerful court official, could not make her Empress, yet he left three thousand concubines in his harem vacant for her.
Legend has it that if she were unhappy, Xuan Yuanlie could skip court for an entire month; if she smiled, he could grant a general amnesty; and she was showered with the emperor's favor, yet remained unassuming and patient. There were also completely opposite legends, that she loved luxury, and that Xuan Yuanlie's extravagant and wasteful measures were all to please her.
The legends were countless, but very few had actually seen Consort Si. Even those who served in the palace only knew her name, never her face.
"I'm also puzzled. Before entering the palace, my sister didn't have many friends. She's been in the palace for five or six years now, living a secluded life. With so many mistakes the emperor has made, she still doesn't have a single friend. How did she come to know this Bai guy?" Nangong Jingqin said suspiciously.
"Second Miss, should we tell Master about this?" the maid asked again.
"It's just a bottle of Bailu, isn't it? It's expensive, but our Nangong family can afford it. We'll know who it is when we see him looking for someone," Nangong Jingqin said.
A short while later, the manager of Youlelou arrived in person.
"You must be Miss Nangong, right? The lady inside sent me to collect medicine, saying it was ordered by Consort Si," the manager said with a smile.
"What, you asked for the medicine but didn't come to collect it yourself?" Nangong Jingqin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The lady is busy. This medicine is life-saving, please give it to me quickly," the manager said hurriedly.
"Who is this Bai woman?" Nangong Jingqin asked.
"She's a young lady. Her husband is bleeding profusely, and many doctors have seen him. They insist on Bailu medicine; only the Nangong family in the capital seems to have it," the manager said.
"Young lady? I'll take it in myself. Lead the way," Nangong Jingqin said, starting to walk inside.
Just then, a carriage sped up and stopped abruptly at the gate, rushing about in a great hurry.
The manager frowned, but Nangong Jingqin was startled. Wasn't this the carriage her sister sometimes used to travel from the palace to the mansion?
A woman dressed simply, wearing a bamboo hat and veiled her face, hurried down.
"Where's the medicine?" The woman held out her hand to Nangong Jingqin. Her hand was fair, smooth, and very well-maintained. Nangong Jingqin snapped out of her daze and instinctively handed her the white dew.
"Go back. Don't tell anyone I left the palace, or else your 'Big Winner' won't be saved." The woman warned in a low voice, her tone sharp.
"Big Winner?" Nangong Jingqin was startled and turned to leave.
The shopkeeper then recognized the woman and quickly led her inside without a word.
"Did you tell her about Young Master Bai's identity?" the woman asked as they walked.
"Your Majesty, don't worry, I only said it was a young lady who wanted to save her husband," the shopkeeper replied.
"In which room?" the woman asked again.
"In the attic on the top floor," the shopkeeper said.
The woman was visibly startled, then said, "Pass down the order: no one is allowed to approach. Dismiss all the doctors and bring a pot of hot tea."
With that, she hurried up to the top floor, removing her straw hat to reveal her true face.
What an ethereal face it was!
Her skin was fair and rosy, without a single blemish. Her features were delicate and refined, with a high nose bridge and luscious red lips—perfect as if she had stepped out of a painting. Her large, watery eyes were clear and captivating, inspiring an instinctive protectiveness in both men and women.
She seemed very familiar with the place; upon reaching the top floor, she hurriedly pushed open the door and exclaimed, "Che, what happened to you!"
However, what she saw was not what she had imagined. The injured person was not the one she cherished, but a child.
Inside the room, Xuan Yuanche sat leaning against the couch, one leg propped up on the couch supporting the child, the other holding a bowl of medicine, feeding him spoonful by spoonful. His face was frighteningly grim. The child's eyes were tightly closed, his face pale, and a white veil wrapped around his neck, through which faint traces of bright red blood could be seen.
"Che, who is this child…" Nangong Jingsi approached, asking in bewilderment.
"Give me the medicine," Xuan Yuanche said without looking up, supporting the child's head.
Nangong Jingsi didn't ask any further questions and quickly handed over the medicine, wanting to help hold the child, but Xuan Yuanche turned away from her hand.
She was startled, and it took her a while to recover. Xuan Yuanche carefully placed the child on the couch, tore off the white veil, and immediately, the small wound on the neck began to bleed again, growing larger and larger!
Nangong Jingsi's delicate brows furrowed. This wound was clearly inflicted by his usual poisoned darts, so why was he in such a hurry to save
the child? Just who was this child?
Xuan Yuanche looked focused, his fingertips dabbing at the wound with the White Dew ointment. After only a few strokes, the blood on the wound quickly mixed with the ointment, solidifying and forming a scab.
"Can I keep this medicine?" he asked casually, still carefully examining the child's wound.
"Hmm." Nangong Jingsi nodded, her small face still showing a dazed expression. She had clearly seen him breathe a sigh of relief just now, when the child's wound was healing. She had clearly seen him let out a huge sigh of relief.
From childhood to adulthood, she had never seen him care so much about anyone or anything, and when had she ever seen him hold a child so tightly?
Xuan Yuanche carefully examined the wound, then gently wrapped the child in white gauze. After thoroughly cleaning and examining the wound, he held the child in his arms again, leaning back on the couch. The furrowed brows that had been tightly furrowed until now finally relaxed.
Only now did he look at Nangong Jingsi properly, and said softly, "Why are you here?"
"I thought something had happened to you. Isn't today the wedding? What are you doing here?" Nangong Jingsi asked, puzzled.
"It's already dawn. There's no wedding today," Xuan Yuanche said, gently patting the child in his arms with tender affection.
"This child is..." Nangong Jingsi asked tentatively.
“I accidentally injured the child of the imperial physician in the manor,” Xuan Yuanche said.
“The imperial physician, is that Murong Wei’s child?” Nangong Jingsi asked hurriedly, having heard of this woman in the deep palace.
“Yes,” Xuan Yuanche replied indifferently.
“Shouldn’t he have returned to the palace with the Empress Dowager long ago? How did you accidentally injure him?” Nangong Jingsi asked.
“I don’t know, I met him at Yelü Lingrong’s place, I thought he was Cai Zai,” Xuan Yuanche said.
“I only heard the Emperor mention yesterday that the Thirteenth Prince is very fond of this mother and son and wants to take them away. You were caught by this child, who can guarantee he won’t talk nonsense to the Thirteenth Prince when he wakes up.” Nangong Jingsi’s eyes darkened.
“He didn’t see anything.” Xuan Yuanche’s voice remained indifferent, but his eyes were cold.
“Yelü Lingrong has arrived at the manor, Che, do you think the Emperor will still let you get away with it?” Nangong Jingsi asked.
“You shouldn’t have left the palace yourself, go back.” Xuan Yuanche changed the subject.
“What do you plan to do with this child?” Nangong Jingsi asked again.
Xuan Yuanche remained silent, his head bowed, his eyes calm and focused as he gently stroked the child's soft hair.
"Che, Cai Zai has been a spy planted by Xuan Yuanlie for so many years; he knows a lot about you. All the women in the Qi Prince's mansion have come with ulterior motives. How long are you going to hide?" Nangong Jingsi questioned loudly.
Her Nangong family was the largest merchant family in the capital, dealing in business untouched by the court. She had been close to several princes since childhood and was deeply favored by Xuan Yuanlie. However, no one knew that from a young age, she only held the Seventh Prince, Xuan Yuanche, in her heart. Even after entering the palace, even with Xuan Yuanlie's boundless affection for her, she remained devoted to Xuan Yuanche. Seeing several princes die one by one at Xuan Yuanlie's hands, she had spent countless sleepless nights and days filled with anxiety, all for his safety.
She even deliberately tried to please Xuan Yuanlie, deliberately seducing him, to uncover all sorts of information—about the undercover Cai Zai, about the women of the various factions within the Qi Prince's mansion.
Every time, she couldn't wait to tell him, but he always had the same attitude—cold and indifferent, unhurried, merely avoiding the issue, merely keeping himself safe and leaving no room for doubt, never thinking of resisting or retaliating!
"Mommy...Mommy..."
Suddenly, the child in his arms murmured, like a whisper, his little hand grasping at nothing, as if trying to grab something.
"Ye Bao, be good." He whispered, reaching out his large hand, not taking Ye Bao's hand, but letting him hold it.
"Old Bai...Mommy...Old Bai...Ye Bao hurts...Mommy..."
Ye Bao kept murmuring, starting to toss and turn restlessly.
"Ye Bao, be good, go to sleep...it's alright." Xuan Yuanche coaxed softly, holding him even tighter, seemingly completely immersed in his world with the child, leaving Nangong Jingsi aside.
Nangong Jingsi was completely helpless against him. She'd been subjected to his coldness for a long time. She said earnestly, "Che, I only know that the autumn hunt has begun. Be very careful."
With that, she turned and left. Although she was a favored concubine, able to command the wind and rain and have whatever she wanted, she lacked one thing: freedom.
Before Xuanyuan Lie finished his court session, she had to return to the palace.
Xuanyuan Che's attention was entirely on Ye Bao, and he only gave a faint reply.
"Mommy... Ye Bao hurts so much... Mommy..."
Ye Bao's murmured voice, filled with tears, seemed to contain anger, but Xuanyuan Che couldn't understand the rest.
He leaned closer, and after a while, he finally understood. Ye Bao said, "Mommy... Ye Bao hurts so much, Mommy, you must avenge Ye Bao."
"Silly child!" Xuanyuan Che couldn't help but smile. "Danger has come to the capital. How should we 'deal with' you?"
Even though it was already broad daylight, the cell was still dimly lit.
Murong Wei and Xuan Yuanli, both shackled, were clattering towards the interrogation room.
"Your Highness, you've never experienced anything like this before, have you?" Murong Wei asked with a smile.
"Yes, shackles on my hands, fine clothes and sumptuous food," Xuan Yuanli said calmly, his head lowered, his expression unreadable.
Murong Wei was taken aback. Just moments ago he was making light of the situation, joking around. Why the sudden change in tone? What did he mean by "shackles on my hands, fine clothes and sumptuous food"?
Could this guy have been imprisoned before?
"Let's go. I've already informed the people at the manor. This matter will be reported directly to my brother, the Emperor. There'll be a good show to watch soon," Xuan Yuanli said, tilting his head back, urging her impatiently.
"It's clearly because you're walking slowly, isn't it?" Murong Wei gave him a disdainful look and quickened her pace.
"Murong Wei!" Xuan Yuanli called out to her.
"What?" Murong Wei stopped, not even turning her head. Ever since he was put in shackles, this guy had been acting strangely.
"Thank you," Xuan Yuanli said.
"Thank you?" Murong Wei's lips twitched. This guy definitely had a problem.
"I don't think I dislike people getting close to me as much anymore," Xuan Yuanli said abruptly, walking ahead.
Murong Wei was full of suspicion, not asking further, but she felt that this guy seemed to have some secret, a secret from the past.
"Come on! What are you waiting for!"
This sharp voice fell, followed by a raised whip, and the jailer behind urged them on.
Murong Wei hurried forward, not speaking to Xuan Yuanli again. When they arrived at the interrogation room, they saw the same constable who had brought them in, lounging lazily, a straw dangling from his mouth, glancing at them sideways.
After a while, he sat up straight, coughed a few times, and said, "The bet is so big, I don't think you're an ordinary person. Tell me your name first."
"What, you didn't ask before arresting someone, and now you're asking?" Xuan Yuanli asked coldly.
"Oh, still acting tough here? Do you know that even the son of a third-rank official in the court has been interrogated by me here?" The head constable stood up, cracked his short whip, and said sternly.
"My father is more than a third-rank official." Xuan Yuanli said coldly.
"Heh, let me tell you, if I dare to lay a hand on someone, even a first-rank official, they'll have to stay here obediently and tell me your father's name!" The head constable sneered.
Murong Wei looked at the head constable's arrogant appearance with disdain, patted her heart, and stepped aside.
"My father has been dead for a long time." Xuan Yuanli said again.
"Hmph, kid, I can tell you're an ignorant brat the moment I see you. In this court, who isn't a monkey when the tree falls?" The constable shook his head helplessly.
"Have you heard of Xuanyuan Lingxiao?" Xuanyuan Li asked calmly.
"Never heard of him!" the constable answered decisively, but the next moment, his expression completely collapsed. "Xuanyuan... Xuanyuan..." "The late Emperor!" he exclaimed, then knelt heavily on the ground with a thud.
Xuanyuan Li casually tossed him a token, lazily leaned back on the couch, finally losing his temper, and roared, "Just because I don't know your unspoken rules doesn't mean I'm easy to bully, doesn't it?"
The constable, who had been staring blankly at the token, jumped up from the sudden shout, then fell to his knees again. "Your Highness, spare me! Thirteenth Prince, spare me! I was blind and didn't recognize your greatness! I was wrong! I was just following orders! Thirteenth Prince, spare me!" "
Who is the master behind the Big Winner?" Xuanyuan Li questioned loudly.
"The second young lady of the Nangong family, Nangong Jingqin!" the constable quickly replied.
"Who is investigating her? Who gave you permission to conduct the inspection?" Xuanyuan Li asked again.
"It's the Empress Dowager!" the constable reported truthfully.
"The Empress Dowager?" Xuan Yuanli was startled, looking suspiciously at the equally astonished Murong Wei.
Murong Wei walked over and said calmly, "The Empress Dowager also wants a share?"
"No, I dare not say, Your Highness, please spare me. You are the Empress Dowager's own son; you can ask her, she will surely tell you." The constable pleaded repeatedly.
"Just say it, what are you afraid of?" Xuan Yuanli roared again. He hadn't roared all night, and Murong Wei thought he had changed his ways.
"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager said that if even half a word of this is revealed, the entire yamen will be executed. Please spare me, Your Highness! Spare me!" The constable kowtowed repeatedly.
Xuan Yuanli was about to speak again, but Murong Wei quickly stopped him, whispering, "There's something fishy about this. Let's go back and discuss it."
Xuan Yuanli nodded without even thinking, so obedient.
"Don't tell anyone about what happened today, not even the Empress Dowager. Otherwise, we won't just spare the lives of everyone in your department, we'll take the lives of your entire family. Do you understand?" Murong Wei threatened.
"Thank you, young lady! Thank you, Your Highness, for sparing my life! I understand!" The constable kowtowed repeatedly, not daring to look at Xuan Yuanli again. After several kowtows, he stood up and bowed to lead the way. "Your Highness, this way please. I'll see you out."
As soon as Xuan Yuanli got into the carriage, he couldn't wait to ask, "What's the strange thing you mentioned?"
Murong Wei looked at him suspiciously and smiled, "Why are you suddenly so humble?"
"Tell me quickly!" Xuan Yuanli urged. He had to admit that he could learn much more from Murong Wei than from his elder brother. After returning to the capital, his elder brother taught him only power, status, and privileges, while Murong Wei taught him what privileges, status, and power could be obtained and exchanged.
"Tell me first what Nangong Jingsi's identity is," Murong Wei said.
"My brother's favored concubine, his exclusive favorite," Xuan Yuanli said.
"So, just now, the head constable of the Daying family dared to say that Nangong Jingqin was the emperor's sister-in-law!" Murong Wei asked.
"Yes, although there is no empress, Consort Si's power is no less than that of the empress," Xuan Yuanli said.
"Does Consort Si want to seize power in the harem?" Murong Wei asked again.
"No, Consort Si likes luxury and often makes my brother go to great lengths to carry out large-scale construction projects, which have several times overdrawn the national treasury. Apart from that, she lives a secluded life and rarely appears even at palace banquets. She has little interest in power in the harem, and she has no need to compete for it," Xuan Yuanli explained.
"Then what conflict do you think exists between the Empress Dowager and her?" Murong Wei asked seriously.
"Only one person: my mother disapproves of her extravagant behavior," Xuan Yuanli said.
"Is her extravagance just a matter of a day or two?" Murong Wei asked again.
“It’s been like this since she entered the palace, quite a few years now. My brother doesn’t even respect the Empress Dowager, he only respects her.” Xuan Yuanli said harshly, clearly not having a good impression of Consort Si.
“Then there must be other reasons,” Murong Wei said, puzzled.
“There’s one more, but it seems…” Xuan Yuanli hesitated.
“What?” Murong Wei asked.
Xuan Yuanli hesitated for a long time before whispering, “Prince Qi…”
"Prince Qi?" Murong Wei exclaimed in surprise. How did this mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship get involved with Prince Qi again?
"Consort Si has been on good terms with her brothers since childhood, and she was especially fond of Seventh Brother, but in the end she married the Emperor," Xuan Yuanli said in a low voice.
Murong Wei was suspicious and didn't dare to speak rashly. This matter could be serious or trivial.
“Not many people know about this. My mother mentioned it to me a little, but she still harbors some resentment,” Xuan Yuanli said. After a moment of thought, he continued, “It shouldn’t be because of this, right? Since Consort Si entered the palace, she hasn’t had any contact with Prince Qi.”
Murong Wei leaned closer suspiciously, her mind racing with various fantasies. She whispered, “Thirteenth Prince, do you think Prince Qi, such a cold person, might be depressed and rarely smiles because… his beloved was taken away?”
Xuan Yuanli sneered, “You’re overthinking it. Seventh Brother is a heartless and ruthless person. I bet Consort Si’s feelings are one-sided.”
“Maybe so. Look at him, he’s never been wholeheartedly in love with anyone. With so many wives and concubines in his household, he must have been hurt and fallen in love. Anyway, the Emperor sends women to his household whenever he has them, and he doesn’t care,” Murong Wei teased, a complex look flashing in her eyes.
"You're overthinking it! Which royal man doesn't have multiple wives and concubines?" Xuan Yuanli rolled his eyes at her.
"Didn't you say the emperor only has one Consort Si? And you, kid, aren't you too young to get married yet?" Murong Wei joked.
"Hehe, my brother is the emperor. If he can't even control his own marriage, who else in the Xuan Yuan family can he control? As for me, I hate women more than anything in this life, and I have no intention of getting married!" Xuan Yuanli said with a cold laugh.
"Kids love to act mature and talk big. When our Ye Bao was three, he said he wanted multiple wives and concubines. When he was four, he said he wouldn't marry anyone but Mommy. When he was five, he said he was set on Princess Qi Xi. When he was six, he was disillusioned with Princess Qi Xi. Who knows which beautiful girl he's having a secret rendezvous with in the palace right now!" Murong Wei teased. Xuan Yuanli
didn't pay much attention. The carriage slowly stopped in front of the Li Prince's Mansion. Murong Wei was hesitating whether to stay at the Li Prince's Mansion for a few more days or return to the Qi Prince's Mansion. Xuan Yuanli, who had just gotten out of the carriage, was silent.
"Thirteenth Prince, could you take me to the palace to see Ye Bao today?" Murong Wei said, lifting the carriage curtain. She was immediately shocked to see Xuan Yuanli standing motionless, surrounded by palace guards at the gates of the Prince Li's residence.
"What...what's going on? Your Highness, have you broken the law?" Murong Wei murmured.
"I don't know. These are my brother's personal guards; it's unlikely they're after me," Xuan Yuanli said softly, stopping in his tracks.
"It's even less likely they're after me. I haven't offended him recently," Murong Wei said, lowering the curtain, a sense of unease creeping into her heart.
A guard rushed forward, respectfully reporting, "Thirteenth Prince, His Majesty is furious and is personally searching the Prince Li's residence."
"What happened?" Xuan Yuanli demanded sharply.
Before the words were even finished, Xuan Yuanlie, still in his court robes, burst out of the door, his cold face hardening with anger. "Thirteenth Prince, where is Murong Wei?"
Inside the carriage, Murong Wei trembled. She really hadn't done anything wrong; it could only be Ye Bao causing trouble. Without thinking, she lifted the curtain and jumped down, shouting, "Your Majesty, I'm here!"
"You! Heh, the Prince of Qi's wedding, why didn't you go?" Xuan Yuanlie asked coldly.
"Your Majesty, the Thirteenth Prince asked me to go with him to do some business." Murong Wei immediately pulled Xuan Yuanli as a shield.
"Brother, what happened? She really has been with me the whole time." Xuan Yuanli asked, equally puzzled.
Unexpectedly, without a word, Xuan Yuanlie abruptly pulled Murong Wei aside and turned to lead her to a nearby carriage.
"Let me go! Your Majesty, you need a reason to arrest someone. Besides, I'm from the Qi Prince's residence. Shouldn't you inform the Qi Prince beforehand?" Murong Wei struggled and asked. She thought she was strong enough, but she didn't expect that even a woman's strength is no match for a man's. Xuan Yuanlie could easily subdue her by grabbing her arm with one hand.
"Do I need to explain to Xuan Yuanche when I do things?" Xuan Yuanlie said sharply, his suppressed dissatisfaction with Xuan Yuanche bursting out without reservation. What had happened to turn this old fox into a raging beast?
Xuan Yuanli quickly caught up and, to Murong Wei's surprise, grabbed her right hand, saying seriously, "Brother, you promised to give Murong Wei to me. What exactly do you want?"
Murong Wei was being pulled from both sides and could only look up at the sky. When did she become someone who could be given away with a word? Even if she was someone, when did the ownership fall into Xuan Yuanlie's hands?
"Get out of my way!" Xuan Yuanlie said coldly.
"Explain yourself, or you won't be taking her away!" Xuan Yuanli roared, forgetting his status.
"You dare to yell at me like that? Guards, place Prince Li under house arrest! No one is allowed to visit him without my order!" Xuan Yuanlie said coldly, turning around and shoving Xuan Yuanli hard.
Xuan Yuanli didn't dare dodge, falling heavily to the ground, huffing like a child, shouting, "Brother! You promised me!"
"Guards, take him back to the manor!" Xuan Yuanlie said coldly, pulling Murong Wei away.
Murong Wei stopped struggling in vain. A soft spot in her heart seemed to have been touched. She looked at Xuan Yuanli, who was slumped on the ground, and smiled helplessly. Perhaps only a prince like Xuan Yuanli, who acted like a child, could live a carefree life in the capital.
She didn't know what had happened, being personally forced into the carriage by Xuan Yuanlie. She only knew that this matter was probably related to the Qi Prince's manor.
The wedding was just last night, and it's not even noon yet. They should still be asleep in their bridal chambers this morning. What could possibly have happened?
Murong Wei had expected to be taken to the imperial prison, but to her surprise, Xuan Yuanlie disregarded the palace maids and eunuchs along the way and personally escorted her to the imperial bedchamber.
"Your Majesty, what's the matter? Perhaps it's a misunderstanding," Murong Wei said tentatively.
"Heh, this matter really has little to do with you," Xuan Yuanlie said with a cold laugh, suddenly shoving Murong Wei, causing her to stumble over the high threshold, landing hard on her right leg.
"Lie, what happened?" Suddenly, a voice as clear as shattered jade came from inside. Murong Wei looked up and saw a slender woman standing by the beaded curtain, lifting it with one hand. Her skin was fair and rosy, her features delicate and beautiful, especially her large, watery eyes, which were clear and captivating, instantly evoking feelings of pity and tenderness.
Xuanyuan Lie strode in, pointing at Murong Wei coldly, and said, "What's wrong? Xuanyuan Che's wedding is approaching, and you actually dared to leave the palace to meet him in secret! Let me tell you, Yelü Lingrong was someone I pushed onto him; this woman is the one he truly cares about!"
These words shocked not only Consort Si but also Murong Wei, leaving them speechless...
A hush fell over the room. Xuan Yuanlie and Nangong Jingsi stared at each other, one utterly bewildered, the other seething with rage.
Murong Wei, while surprised, was even more confused. Even if Prince Qi and Consort Si were having an affair, what did it have to do with her?
Where did Xuan Yuanlie get the evidence that Prince Qi truly cared about her?
And even if Prince Qi did care about her, what did it have to do with her?
After several coughs, she finally spoke timidly, "Your Majesty, you misunderstand, you misunderstand. This humble subject is merely a physician in Prince Qi's household; how could I possibly care?"
"Shut up!" Xuan Yuanlie roared immediately, his voice no less powerful than his thirteenth brother's lion's roar.
Murong Wei gave Nangong Jingsi a resentful look and could only reluctantly shut her mouth.
Finally, Nangong Jingsi made a move, showing no sign of panic. She even poured Xuan Yuanlie a cup of tea and said calmly, "Your Majesty, you've already insisted that my departure from the palace was for a secret rendezvous. Have some tea to calm your anger, and then throw me into the imperial prison."
"You!" Xuan Yuanlie roared, his grip on Murong Wei's arm tightening suddenly.
Murong Wei endured, sensing that this matter was not simple, and seemed unwilling to believe that Prince Qi would be that kind of person.
"Your Majesty," Nangong Jingsi said, showing no fear of the emperor, and placed the tea in front of him.
"Don't think I wouldn't dare!" Xuan Yuanlie shouted sharply, violently knocking over the tea.
Nangong Jingsi silently lowered her head and slowly knelt down.
"Guards! Take her to the imperial prison!" Xuan Yuanlie roared, trembling with rage.
Several eunuchs immediately rushed in, but seeing the scene before them, none dared to step forward. What kind of person was Consort Si? The emperor would certainly not truly punish her.
"Take her away now!" Xuan Yuanlie shouted sternly.
Before the eunuchs could even make a move, Nangong Jingsi stood up and walked out.
Murong Wei secretly admired her; this woman was far too calm, not even crying out for justice?
However, just as she stepped across the threshold, Xuan Yuanlie's voice became even more frightening. He said, "You stop right there!"
Murong Wei was startled again. So this woman wasn't calm; she had the confidence to back it up. It seemed that being a favored concubine wasn't for nothing.
Nangong Jingsi turned around, waved away the eunuchs beside her, and said calmly, "Your Majesty, no matter what, this matter has nothing to do with outsiders. Release this lady, and I will explain everything to you."
Xuan Yuanlie sneered, "You like going to the imperial prison so much, don't you? I'll let you go and find out the truth!"
Nangong Jingsi frowned slightly and said, "Why does Your Majesty insist that I left the palace, and why does Your Majesty insist that I met Prince Qi?"
"Guards! Bring her in!" Xuan Yuanlie said coldly.
Soon, several waiters dressed as restaurant servants were pushed in. Murong Wei clearly noticed that Nangong Jingsi's hands were trembling; it seemed this was true!
The servants knelt tremblingly, not even glancing at Xuan Yuanlie.
"Raise your heads and look carefully. Does this person frequently visit Youle Inn?" Xuan Yuanlie said sternly.
The servants timidly raised their heads, glanced at Sifei, and immediately asserted, "Yes, it's her. She only went once today."
"What did she go there for?" Xuan Yuanlie asked angrily.
"She... every time she goes there, she goes into the room. I... I don't know what she does. I only know there's a man in the room, a regular customer of the innkeeper," the servants answered timidly.
"Bang!" Xuan Yuanlie finally released Murong Wei, slamming his hand down on the table, shattering a fine piece of precious golden nanmu wood. He glared at Nangong Jingsi and demanded, "That person is Prince Qi, isn't he?!"
"Since Your Majesty would rather believe these servants from who-knows-where than believe me, what is there for me to argue about?" Nangong Jingsi retorted. "
I said, today I will make you admit defeat!" Xuan Yuanlie said, waving his hand, and the manager of Youlelou, who had been waiting outside, was brought in.
"Who is the man in the room?" Xuan Yuanlie asked.
"It's Prince Qi," the manager replied truthfully.
"What else do you have to say?" Xuan Yuanlie looked at Nangong Jingsi.
Nangong Jingsi suddenly burst into laughter, saying, "Your Majesty, if I said I've never been to Youlelou, don't know these servants, and have never seen this manager, would you believe me?"
"No!" Xuan Yuanlie said coldly.
"So, I still maintain that Your Majesty would rather believe outsiders than believe me. Why hesitate to accuse me when you're determined to find fault?" Nangong Jingsi retorted.
"You!" Xuan Yuanlie was speechless with anger.
But Nangong Jingsi seemed determined to provoke him, continuing, "Fortunately, I haven't given birth yet. If Your Majesty hadn't been so displeased today, and hadn't casually summoned a few midwives from outside the palace to insist that my child wasn't His Majesty's, wouldn't I be in even greater dire straits?"
Xuan Yuanlie's forehead veins bulged with rage. Murong Wei wisely moved a good distance away, pouring herself a cup of tea to quench her thirst.
It seemed this charade was far from over!
Just then, a cold laugh suddenly came from the doorway, a laugh as chilling as that of an ancient demon. The Empress Dowager Dong had arrived.
Dressed in opulent attire, adorned with jewels, her hands, with nails as long as scallions, rested on Eunuch Liu's arm as she coldly stepped across the threshold and entered.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty be well." Nangong Jingsi bowed, showing proper etiquette.
The Empress Dowager Dong did not allow her to rise. Instead, she walked around Nangong Jingsi, scrutinizing her as she sneered, "You say the Emperor just randomly sent someone to slander you? What about your sister?"
Upon hearing this, Nangong Jingsi's face turned deathly pale! Xuan Yuanlie, standing nearby, was also somewhat surprised.
"Guards! Bring her in!" the Empress Dowager Dong suddenly shouted sharply.
This time, the person brought in was someone Murong Wei had finally recognized—the woman from the Daying family, Nangong Jingqin!
Murong Wei remembered the constable's words and immediately understood the situation. This time, it wasn't Xuan Yuanlie who wanted to cause trouble for Prince Qi, but rather the Empress Dowager Dong who wanted to cause trouble for Consort Si!
Having found Consort Si's weakness, she was using the Daying family to threaten Nangong Jingqin!
But what did this have to do with her?
"Jingqin, tell me everything you know. Don't be afraid, I'll protect you!" the Empress Dowager Dong said coldly, her words clearly carrying a hidden meaning.
“My sister… she often goes to Youle Tower. Before, I don’t really know what she went there for… Last night she… she sent someone to ask me to take ‘White Dew’ to Youle Tower for someone. I went there intending to go in and see, but the manager stopped me. Then my sister came herself and told me not to tell anyone she left the palace. As for what she went there for, only the manager knows.” Nangong Jingqin said timidly, not daring to look at Consort Si.
“Consort Si, do you still want to deny something?” the Empress Dowager asked with a cold laugh. Xuan Yuanlie,
who had been silent all along, finally reached his breaking point. He stepped forward and grabbed Nangong Jingsi’s chin, coldly saying, word by word, “You have disappointed me greatly!”
Nangong Jingsi remained silent. At this point, the more she said, the more mistakes she would make. All her hopes rested on Prince Qi.
"Do you still like him?" Xuan Yuanlie was furious, like a mad lion. Ignoring everyone present, he coldly questioned her, almost crushing Nangong Jingsi's jaw. "Tell me! Do you still like him?"
"Speak! Answer me! What's so good about him? Everything he can give you, I can give you too. And everything he can't give you, I can give you as well. Why are you doing this to me? Why are
you lying to me!" "Speak!" Xuan Yuanlie became more and more agitated with each question, his large hand moving down to grab Nangong Jingsi's neck.
The room was silent. No one tried to persuade or stop her. Murong Wei frowned, knowing she shouldn't interfere at this time, but she couldn't help herself. After all, the other person had just spoken up for her. So she strode forward, grabbed Xuan Yuanlie's arm, and said, "Your Majesty, Nangong Jingqin is the mastermind behind the Great Winners. Your Majesty and I were unfortunately arrested and imprisoned in the Great Winners' house last night. We learned some things, and I wonder if Your Majesty would be interested in hearing them first. Perhaps they are closely related to this matter!"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanlie lowered his hand, which was about to be raised. At the same time, Nangong Jingqin, who hadn't noticed her presence until now, finally noticed her.
"The Thirteenth Prince was imprisoned last night. What happened?" The Empress Dowager was the first to speak, glaring at Nangong Jingqin, clearly unaware of the matter.
Nangong Jingqin coughed heavily, also looking at Murong Wei. At this moment, all eyes were on her.
"What do you know?" Xuan Yuanlie said sharply, turning around and suddenly grabbing Murong Wei by the collar.
“Last night, Your Majesty and I went to the Daying family and bumped into Miss Nangong. We accidentally got into a mess, and the constables raided the place. We were arrested and imprisoned. In prison, I heard that the Empress Dowager has been investigating the Daying family and has gathered a lot of evidence. It seems she intends to find out who is behind it all,” Murong Wei said. Although she embellished the story somewhat, it was still a truthful account.
Xuan Yuanlie was not Xuan Yuanli; he was well aware of the complex relationships involved and the entanglements of this matter.
Firstly, the Empress Dowager had always been at odds with Nangong Jingsi, and naturally, she would also be at odds with Nangong Jingqin. Investigating the Daying family was a matter of course. However, why was Nangong Jingqin allowed to testify after the investigation?
Secondly, even if the matter was true, how could Nangong Jingqin's relationship with Nangong Jingsi compare to her relationship with the Empress Dowager? Why would Nangong Jingqin side with the Empress Dowager?
The room fell silent; those with guilty consciences remained silent.
Nangong Jingsi cast a grateful glance at Murong Wei, but her expression quickly changed. Xuan Yuanlie coldly looked at Eunuch Liu and asked, "Have the people who went to the Nangong residence returned?"
"They have, Your Majesty. The only Bailu in the Nangong residence is indeed missing. The Second Miss was not lying," Eunuch Liu replied truthfully.
Murong Wei was stunned, and Nangong Jingsi was also taken aback. No one had expected that Xuan Yuanlie had already interrogated them and sent people to investigate!
"Nangong Jingsi, I am still disgusted by your deception!" Xuan Yuanlie said coldly. Although he was angry at Nangong Jingsi, he turned around and grabbed Murong Wei, shoving her away unexpectedly.
Murong Wei stumbled and fell heavily to the ground. Before she could even understand what was happening, Xuan Yuanlie strode over and stomped hard on her, coldly saying, "Nangong Jingsi, I'm not here today to question you, but to tell you that the person you've loved wholeheartedly since childhood doesn't love you at all. He cares most about this woman. That day in Yanxi Palace, he and the Empress Dowager Cixi joined forces to threaten me with the late Emperor's edict. The first time he publicly broke ties with me was because of this woman!"
Hearing Xuan Yuanlie's words, Murong Wei's heart skipped a beat.
Was it really like that when Prince Qi saved her that time? She only thought it was Prince Qi repaying her for saving her life.
After that time, apart from the wedding banquet, she hadn't seen Prince Qi at all, so how could he be important?
Xuan Yuanlie's foot on her grew heavier and heavier, injuring her, but questioning Nangong Jingsi.
"Look carefully, this is a woman who has already given birth to a child, half of her face is disfigured, and Xuan Yuanche is willing to turn against me for her? Heh, back then, when I married you, did you ever see Xuan Yuanche say a single word? Nangong Jingsi, I will make you regret this!" Xuan Yuanlie said angrily.
"She is Doctor Murong?" Nangong Jingsi only then realized Murong Wei's identity.
"That's right!" Xuan Yuanlie said coldly.
"So what?" Nangong Jingsi's voice suddenly wavered, and she said coldly, "Your Majesty, she saved Prince Qi, so it's only right for Prince Qi to repay her!"
"Hahahaha!" Xuan Yuanlie suddenly burst into laughter. "Nangong Jingsi, have you finally admitted it? Have you finally admitted you care?"
He laughed and grabbed the innocent Murong Wei, his hand suddenly gripping her neck. His laughter continued. "Nangong Jingsi, look closely. You know Xuan Yuanche better than I do. Repayment? Is he someone who understands the meaning of repayment?"
Murong Wei was being choked so tightly she could barely breathe. She felt that all the imperial concubines were madmen. Taking advantage of Xuan Yuanlie's inattention, she suddenly broke free of his grasp and retreated a great distance. Enraged, she shouted, "I'm not a third party! Go find Prince Qi if you dare! This has nothing to do with me!"
Nangong Jingsi looked at her, shaking her head repeatedly, her attitude clearly different from before. She even shouted angrily, "I don't believe it! I just can't believe it! Impossible!"
These words further provoked Xuan Yuanlie, who stepped closer to Murong Wei, his voice sharp, "I'll make you believe it today! Guards, prepare the carriage for Prince Qi's residence!"
Murong Wei retreated again and again, frowning as she looked at Nangong Jingsi. This woman was doing it on purpose, deliberately using her to lead this matter to Prince Qi's residence. How insidious!
"It's true that it has nothing to do with you, but you can make him suffer!" Xuan Yuanlie's voice turned cold, having already cornered Murong Wei.
Murong Wei had no choice but to compromise. Resistance now would only lead to death. Perhaps, going to Prince Qi's residence would offer a chance for a turnaround.
Even if she could endure being wanted by the entire nation, she had to consider Ye Bao's sake.
She glanced coldly at Nangong Jingsi, then looked directly at Xuan Yuanlie and said coldly, "If you want him to suffer, go find him!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Xuan Yuanlie grabbed her hair and violently dragged her off the wall, slamming her to the ground.
The impact was excruciating; Murong Wei felt as if her heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys were about to shatter. She gritted her teeth and got up, saying, "I came to help the Thirteenth Prince. A doctor's heart is benevolent; I only intervened to save Prince Qi when he was seriously ill. Since that's what you think, then please!"
"Don't think that just because the Thirteenth Prince is your backer, I'll believe you! Someone, go to Yanxi Palace and bring Ye Bao here!" Xuan Yuanlie said coldly.
"Your Majesty, you are the supreme ruler. It's one thing to make things difficult for a widow like me, but why make things difficult for an orphan?" Murong Wei asked, a hint of stubbornness in her eyes.
"An orphan and a widow, heh, I've long wanted to know if they really are an orphan and a widow. Today is the perfect opportunity!" Xuan Yuanlie sneered, grabbing Murong Wei's hand and personally dragging her outside.
After taking only a few steps, Murong Wei abruptly shook off his hand, glanced back at Nangong Jingsi who was being escorted in by Eunuch Liu, and coldly said, "I can walk by myself!" Both
she and Nangong Jingsi had underestimated the seriousness of the matter. She had muttered about Xuan Yuanlie's abilities, while Nangong Jingsi had overestimated her own importance.
Back in Yanxi Palace, Xuan Yuanlie had suspected her, but had remained indecisive. This time, however, he was using Nangong Jingsi's infidelity as a pretext to make a big fuss.
And the Prince of Qi's poisoning was the beginning of Xuan Yuanlie's plan to eliminate this legitimate prince!
While Xuan Yuanlie seemed to be blinded by jealousy, he was actually the most clear-headed one!
The group left the palace in a grand procession, and the Empress Dowager Dong, who had remained silent, walked step by step towards Nangong Jingqin.
"Jingqin, you also wish to enter the palace as a concubine, don't you?" the Empress Dowager Dong asked with a smile.
Nangong Jingqin immediately knelt down, pleading, "Your Majesty... I've said everything I could, please spare the Nangong family."
"Heh, the horrific acts of murder you committed at the Da Ying family are enough to seal your Nangong family a hundred times over! This matter isn't over yet, come with me to the Qi Prince's residence!" The Eastern Empress Dowager said coldly, then turned and left.
The group left Xuanwu Gate in a grand procession, but discreetly headed to the Qi Prince's residence in a few carriages. Even if Xuan Yuanlie was arrogant, he wouldn't openly go to the Qi Prince's residence just for an affair; after all, he was the one being cuckolded.
The Qi Prince's residence still retained the remnants of last night's festivities, with bright red lanterns hanging everywhere, and even the red carpet in front of the gate hadn't been removed.
Yelü Lingrong had already returned from paying her respects to the Western Empress Dowager and was receiving tea from the concubines in the main hall.
Even the usually lazy Consort Xi had arrived, but Consort De was late.
Yelü Lingrong insisted on waiting until everyone arrived before beginning. She was currently seated in the main seat, surveying the large group of women in the hall. Her maid, Saya, was introducing them, while the women below were already whispering amongst themselves.
"Where's the Prince?"
"I heard he didn't even stay at his Hibiscus Courtyard last night."
"That's right, I saw the lights in Jingxuan go out and come back on last night. Sister Li said the Prince stayed there last night."
"With so many sisters in our household, this is the first time someone hasn't been favored on their wedding day, hehe."
"Shh… Xue Ji is from her Liusha Kingdom. Be careful what you say in the future, or you won't even know how you died. I heard this princess was originally intended to be married off to the palace, but the Emperor pushed her to the Prince. I think the Prince is just angry!"
"Impossible! Our Prince would get angry? His temper is so cold it's like he has no temper at all. I've never seen him get angry with anyone." "
The whole capital is talking about that imperial physician. I just felt he cared about him."
...
Just then, a report came from outside the door. It wasn't Consort De who had arrived, but the Emperor.
Everyone was immediately shocked. The Emperor rarely came to Prince Qi's residence, especially not at this time.
Yelü Lingrong quickly got up and led everyone out to greet him. But as soon as she stepped out the door, she saw the Emperor coming with his hands behind his back. To his left was Consort Si, who rarely showed her face, and to his right was the arrogant Empress Dowager Dong, who had never bothered to come to Prince Qi's residence.
Behind the Emperor's tall figure, Eunuch Liu seemed to be holding a woman who was struggling...
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Your Majesty Consort Si..." Yelü Lingrong led a group of concubines to bow.
Xuanyuan Lie stopped, glanced into the main hall, and said coldly, "Where is Prince Qi? Is he still paying his respects to the Empress Dowager and hasn't returned yet?"
As soon as Xuanyuan Lie finished speaking, a cold voice came from behind. It wasn't Prince Qi, but the Empress Dowager Xi.
"That child hasn't come to pay his respects yet. I also want to know where he is." The Empress Dowager Xi seemed to have followed Xuanyuan Lie, arriving almost immediately.
As she spoke, she walked past, giving a cold glance to Murong Wei, who was being held captive by Eunuch Liu, before looking at Yelü Lingrong, who was bowing again. She said indifferently, "Did you find Ye Bao?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I had Aunt Li search the entire Prince Qi's residence, but we didn't find the child," Yelü Lingrong replied truthfully.
Murong Wei, who had been struggling, froze upon hearing this and blurted out, "Where is Ye Bao?"
"I left in a hurry last night and forgot that the child was still at the residence. That's why the Emperor asked me for him today, and I've been looking for you!" the Empress Dowager Xi said.
"Thirteenth Prince, ask if he's with you!" Murong Wei said hurriedly, panicking.
Although Ye Bao loved to play, he knew his limits. He must have gone to the Prince Li's residence to find her.
"Someone, go to the Prince Li's residence and check." The Empress Dowager immediately ordered, then turned to ask Xuan Yuanlie, "Your Majesty, why are you in such a good mood, bringing Consort Si to the Prince Qi's residence?"
Xuan Yuanlie smiled eerily, dragging Murong Wei in front of him, and said coldly, "Go tell Xuan Yuanche that I have something to ask him. If he doesn't come out, I will cripple this woman."
Murong Wei was worried, letting Xuan Yuanlie drag her, her mind filled with Ye Bao. That brat must stay at the Prince Li's residence, otherwise she didn't know what to do. He had already been placed under house arrest by Xuan Yuanlie, and now looking for someone was just an act.
"Your Majesty, what did Che'er do to anger you? If you want to vent your anger, wait for him to come and vent it on him. Why are you bullying a woman like Doctor Murong?" The Empress Dowager asked coldly.
"Bullying a woman is already quite lenient compared to what he did." Xuan Yuanlie wasn't angry, but cold, a chilling coldness. One hand tightly encircled Murong Wei's neck, trapping her, while the other, dodging her struggles, covered half of her gold-threaded mask.
Murong Wei's heart skipped a beat. She reached into her pocket and grabbed her only remaining stun gun. If anything happened to Ye Bao, she would definitely fight them to the death, regardless of whether he was an emperor or a prince!
"Is that so? May I ask Your Majesty, what exactly did Che'er do?" the Empress Dowager asked again.
Xuan Yuanlie avoided answering, glancing around at the surroundings, and said coldly, "Seventh brother, what are you afraid of? If you have the guts, you should have the guts to admit it! You're not coming out, are you!" As
soon as he finished speaking, the hand covering Murong Wei's mask suddenly trembled, and instantly, half of the gold-threaded mask shattered into pieces. Amidst the flying gold dust, Murong Wei's half-burned face was completely exposed to everyone.
"Ah..." Nangong Jingsi cried out, her genuine fear impossible to conceal.
"Look at him, he even fancys a woman like that," Xuan Yuanlie sneered.
All eyes immediately turned to Murong Wei's face, some with disdain, some with terror, some with mockery...
"Heavens, she's so ugly! Even Consort Si was frightened!" Consort Xi exclaimed, her face contorted with exaggerated terror.
"No wonder she always wears a mask," Yelü Lingrong said calmly.
"That mask was so beautiful, it was all a lie! Haha. Ugly freak, liar!"
"She really is ugly, I won't comment further."
"She looks like a ghost, if it were me I would have killed myself long ago, instead of making a fool of herself."
...
Murong Wei couldn't tell who was saying these things. She remained motionless, held hostage by Xuan Yuanlie, eerily quiet. Amidst countless disdainful gazes and mocking words, her eyes cleared as she looked ahead.
Ahead, Xuan Yuanche appeared out of thin air, slowly approaching.
He was also looking at her, his narrow eyes still holding that cool, quiet composure.
Meeting his gaze were not only Murong Wei, but also Xuan Yuanlie and Consort Si beside him.
Soon, everyone noticed the arrival of Prince Qi, and everyone turned to look. Amidst so many surprised and puzzled gazes, he finally stopped, saying calmly, "Your Majesty, it seems you've come to interrogate me? Could it be that Doctor Murong has committed some offense?"
"You know perfectly well what you've been up to in the Youle Tower! I'm here today to tell you, I want this imperial physician from your household!" Xuan Yuanlie said coldly.
"Since you've come to question your brother, why take it out on a woman?" Xuan Yuanche asked.
"What, feeling sorry for her? Have I mistreated her? I'm about to make her my concubine; I'm too busy spoiling her!" Xuan Yuanlie sneered, then grabbed Murong Wei's hair, forcing her to look up. He coldly asked, "Weiwei, isn't that right?"
Murong Wei was furious. She couldn't break free, but her mouth wouldn't stop. This dog of an emperor wanted to interrogate her, so she'd let him ask thoroughly. She glanced at Nangong Jingsi beside her and loudly proclaimed, "Prince Qi, the Emperor suspects you of adultery with Consort Si and has come to catch you in the act. If you really did it, admit it, so as not to implicate an innocent person like me!"
These words caused an immediate silence. All of Prince Qi's wives and concubines panicked. This matter could be serious or minor! At worst,
the entire Prince Qi's household would be executed; at worst, they themselves would be silenced!
Murong Wei once again became the object of everyone's attention, a hateful gaze!
Xuan Yuanlie's face was as dark and gloomy as the clouds rolling in before a storm. Murong Wei felt as if the strand of hair he was pulling was about to be ripped out, the pain making her head numb.
But at that very moment, she wanted to laugh out loud, to see Xuan Yuanlie's greasy face directly.
Silence fell over the entire room. Nangong Jingsi lowered her head, while a smile flickered in Xuan Yuanche's eyes, unnoticed by anyone, as if it were nothing more than a trivial matter. He said calmly, "Your Majesty, is it as Doctor Murong said?"
"You!" Xuan Yuanlie was furious. He yanked hard, tearing out a lock of poor Murong Wei's long hair. She cried out in pain and instinctively reached out to stop him, but Xuan Yuanlie immediately bound her hands.
"Che, if this matter isn't explained clearly today, the entire Qi Prince's Mansion will be buried with Consort Si!" Xuan Yuanlie's voice was cold.
"The last time I saw Consort Si was at Youle Tower. I merely asked Consort Si for a rare medicine, which she personally delivered. That's all. How could you, my brother, consider it adultery?" Xuan Yuanche asked calmly.
"Bring the witnesses!" The Empress Dowager spoke coldly, and a servant brought forward a servant and the manager of Youle Tower.
Xuan Yuanche glanced at them and said, "They are indeed from Youle Tower."
"Speak, did you often see Consort Si going to Youle Tower?" Xuan Yuanlie asked sharply.
"Yes, often. She always goes to the same room!" the servant answered truthfully.
"Who is in the room?" Xuan Yuanlie asked again.
"I don't know, only the manager knows," the servant replied.
"That room is where Prince Qi always stays when he comes to Youle Tower, it's on the top floor," the manager quickly answered.
"Nangong Jingqin, speak!" The Empress Dowager pushed Nangong Jingqin.
"Last night, my sister asked me to secretly deliver a bottle to Youle Tower, and told me to keep it a secret. The manager lied and said it was for a woman, I didn't know it was for Prince Qi," Nangong Jingqin said truthfully.
"Why be so sneaky when it's just delivering medicine? If you want Bailu, you can just ask the Nangong family directly, why ask Consort Si for it?" Xuan Yuanlie asked coldly.