Jiang Yuzhou, lost in self-blame, did not notice, but Xiao Changning saw it. She lunged forward and directly threw Murong Yao to the ground.
As their eyes met, Murong Yao saw the worried expression on Xiao Changning’s face and instantly felt happy—she still cared about him.
He reached out and wrapped his arm around Xiao Changning’s waist, flipping himself upright.
Fortunately, Lu Ran’s martial arts were exceptional, and he managed to block the attack in time.
“How dare you!” Lu Ran’s shout immediately halted the two groups.
Immediately after, the Imperial Forest Army soldiers who had been crouching outside Kelai Restaurant rushed in, surrounding the area layer upon layer until it was completely sealed off.
Meanwhile, Lu Ran chased in the direction from which the dagger had flown.
The crowd, which had been whispering moments earlier, fell silent at once.
With the Imperial Forest Army here, who would dare cause trouble?
Cao Xu and Feng Shen’s groups glanced at the Imperial Forest Army, glaring at each other across the divide.
Feng Shen thought to himself: Could it be Minister Cao? Did he call for reinforcements, fearing his son would suffer?
Cao Xu was equally bewildered: The Imperial Forest Army? Feng Shen is just the son of a third-rank military officer—could he have powerful backing?
Both of them lost their earlier arrogance, each more cowardly than the other.
After all, they were the uneducated, spoiled sons of officials. While they were adept at causing trouble and brawling, none of them were fearless in the face of the fierce Imperial Forest Army.
Several Imperial Forest Army soldiers restrained them, forcing them to kneel in the corridor.
The onlookers, terrified by the arrival of the Imperial Forest Army, scattered in all directions. The owner of Kelai Restaurant also closed the shop.
Jiang Yuzhou hurriedly asked, “Sister Guifei, are you injured?”
Xiao Changning rotated her wrist, wincing. “Ouch—that hurts.”
“It must have been bumped accidentally just now.”
A guard handed the knocked-down dagger to Murong Yao. “Bixia, I will take them to the dungeon for interrogation immediately.”
Seeing Xiao Changning injured and grimacing in pain, Murong Yao tightened his grip on the dagger and said darkly, “No need for the trouble.”
“Summon Cao Wenhai and Feng Yuan here. We’ll conduct the interrogation right here!”
“Yes, sir!” The Imperial Forest Army acknowledged the order, and a squad rushed out.
Jiang Yuzhou supported Xiao Changning and tentatively asked, “Should we find an Imperial Physician for Sister Guifei first?”
“Yes!”
Eunuch Feng, disguised in plain clothes, immediately understood and ordered a young eunuch to return to the palace.
Meanwhile, the clueless Cao Xu continued to shout arrogantly, “Who do you think you are?”
“How dare you make me kneel? Do you believe that when my father arrives, I’ll make you pay?”
Feng Shen, kneeling beside him, rolled his eyes at this fool. With the Imperial Forest Army clearing the way, this person must be someone of high status, yet here he was still shouting—truly unafraid of death.
Feng Shen quietly shifted two steps to the side, staying away from him, lest he share his low IQ.
Seeing someone so oblivious, Eunuch Feng immediately ordered his attendants to give him a thorough beating.
Only when Cao Xu cried out and begged for mercy did they let him go.
Although neither of them knew who the person before them was, after the beating, they both behaved themselves.
In less than half an incense stick’s time, Cao Wenhai, the Minister of Rites, arrived, sweating profusely. Holding up the hem of his robe, he rushed up the stairs to the second-floor corridor in great haste.
Seeing his father arrive, Cao Xu felt as if he had seen a savior and burst into tears.
“Father! Father, you’re finally here! These ruffians…”
With a loud thud, Cao Xu was kicked and slammed against the railing. Before he could react, he was forced back to his knees by the Imperial Forest Army.
Cao Wenhai turned his head and angrily shouted, “Shut your mouth!”
Cao Xu, who had been kicked, was red-eyed and finally learned his lesson.
When he saw Murong Yao, he was so frightened that his legs went weak. Just as he was about to kneel down, a loud clattering sound was heard.
A pile of plates and dishes were thrown out of the private room, their fragments covering the corridor.
Cao Wenhai glanced fearfully at the emperor and sighed inwardly, “Well, kneel then.”
As soon as his knees touched the ground, the broken porcelain shards caused a piercing pain. “Bixia, your humble servant is incompetent and failed to discipline this wretched beast.”
“He has offended Bixia. Please forgive him, Bixia.”
With that, he kowtowed loudly.
Murong Yao, his face dark, ignored him. Cao Wenhai dared not rise and remained kneeling motionless.
The two young scions were terrified. Was the person before them the emperor?
Cao Xu didn’t even dare to breathe heavily. “I just cursed him!”
To act violently in front of Bixia! This is a death sentence!
Hearing Minister Cao’s words, Feng Shen felt a chill run down his spine and trembled as he shrank further into the corner.
Inside the private room, Empress Jiang Yuzhou stood with her hands behind her back, watching the comical scene of the three men. She let out a soft, amused chuckle.
Murong Yao raised his eyes, his icy gaze falling on her face. “Does the Empress still have the nerve to laugh?”
“Uh…”
Jiang Yuzhou wiped the smile from her face and muttered softly, “It wasn’t your consort who was caught in an affair. Why can’t I laugh?”
Murong Yao was left speechless by her words and silently swallowed his anger.
Feng Yuan, who arrived shortly after, saw the row of people and instantly understood. Noticing the broken porcelain shards covering the floor, he also knelt down on them.
“Bixia, everyone has been brought here.”
Jiang Yuzhou spotted Imperial Physician Song rushing over. After seeking Murong Yao’s permission, she took Xiao Changning to the adjacent private room for treatment.
Murong Yao threw the dagger in his hand in front of the men. “Whose is this?”
The four bewildered faces looked at each other, none of them speaking.
After all, Minister Cao and Adjutant Feng had just arrived. What if they said the wrong thing?
“Very well!” Murong Yao stood up. “Lu Ran, pull out all their tongues.”
“Bixia! Wait.” Adjutant Feng stepped forward first. He slapped Feng Shen and pointed at the dagger on the ground. “You unfilial son, speak up now.”
Feng Shen cleverly replied, “Bixia, this humble servant has never seen this dagger before.”
“This humble servant is utterly loyal to Bixia and would never dare to assassinate or commit such a treasonous act.”
Feng Shen’s words nearly scared the hearts out of the three others present.
Sweat beaded on Cao Wenhai’s forehead, falling in layers. Wasn’t it just a fight? When did it become an assassination attempt?
This was a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine clans!
Cao Xu hurriedly defended himself, “Bixia, although this humble servant is somewhat unruly, I would never dare to rebel or cause chaos.”
“It must be someone who took advantage of the crowded and chaotic situation to deliberately frame us.”
Murong Yao stood up and looked across from Kelai Restaurant. “I also find it quite strange.”
“Your loyalty, from both families, is known to me.”
Hearing this, the men collectively sighed in relief. As long as there was no death penalty for assassination, it was fine.
Lu Ran hurried in from outside and leaned close to Murong Yao’s ear. “The person escaped.”
“Go back and receive your punishment!” Murong Yao’s icy voice held no warmth.
“Yes.”
Murong Yao glanced at the men. “Your family matters, handle them yourselves.”
The men, feeling as if they had received a great pardon, were about to express their gratitude when Murong Yao’s words cut them off.
“These two…”
He pointed at Cao Xu and Feng Shen, who were cowering on either side, and said, “Castrate them.”
“Send them into the palace to amuse me.”
“Your servant obeys!”
Eunuch Feng waved his hand, and the attendants immediately sharpened their knives, advancing toward the two.