"Lady Jiao!" Yu Pin’s voice grew sharper, her eyes seemingly afla and filled with venom, "Don’t speak such nonsense, or you’ll lose your head!"
"Is that so? Then, I’ll wait for Lady Yu Pin to take off my head, shall I? Only... I’m very curious, Yu Pin isn’t favored, so how will she take my head, hmm? Hahaha..."
Long Yue laughed loudly as she left.
Yu Pin’s face turned blue repeatedly, finally letting out a sharp cry: "Ah, ah, ah—Wench! You wretch!"
"Yu Pin, who are you cursing over there?"
In the distance, another palanquin approached slowly, carrying a woman with an exceptionally beautiful appearance.
She had just passed by and heard Yu Pin cursing, mistakenly thinking it was directed at her given her imdiately displeased expression.
Yu Pin’s face changed, as this was soone who loved to provoke trouble. She quickly said, "Princess Consort Zhen, you heard wrong, it’s nothing."
"Is it? Yu Pin, you have so nerve, not only insulting but also mocking my ears? You, a concubine, daring to speak to like this?"
"Please pardon , Your Highness!"
Rank crushes those below; Yu Pin knew arguing was useless at this mont, and could only kneel and admit fault.
Yet, in her heart, she cursed Long Yue a thousand tis.
Damn wench!
Thinking that Long Yue would certainly offend the Emperor because of Duanmu Nan, she felt imnsely satisfied; that Emperor wasn’t rciful, anyone who dared challenge him was asking for death!
"Hmph, co forward, slap her thirty tis!"
With the return of Prince Lingjiang and his mother, the dynamics within the harem subtly shifted. Princess Consort Zhen, feeling her son’s chances of seizing the throne grew slimr, was in a foul mood, and Yu Pin stumbled into her path.
Thus she vented her anger, imdiately a stout old matron stepped forward and slapped Yu Pin hard thirty tis, swelling her face.
Damn, that wench did it on purpose!
Only now did Yu Pin realize Long Yue deliberately set her up, causing her to say disrespectful things because she didn’t see Princess Consort Zhen approaching from behind.
She was truly furious!
However, she believed Long Yue’s good days were numbered; Wang Qi ca back, bringing news from Guyang County, that now her master had been captured and imprisoned, what would happen next didn’t need much imagination.
Unexpectedly, Pang Longyue’s master turned out to be the orphan survivor of that family from years ago, how interesting.
...
Qianlong Palace.
Chen Zhong closed the shutters and palace gate, ordering the palace maids and eunuchs all to leave.
He approached Qi Yun’s side, respect mingled with concern: "Your Majesty, you... really intend to et that person?"
Qi Yun had already changed into new attire and replied calmly: "Indeed, this matter has weighed on my heart for years, now it’s ti to resolve it."
"But... what if that person acts violently and harms you..."
"Hahaha..." Qi Yun suddenly laughed heartily, pointing at Chen Zhong, "Old dog, old dog, with such high martial arts, if he truly wanted to kill, having entered the palace several tis, could I have evaded?"
"This..."
Chen Zhong was at a loss for words.
Indeed, Duanmu Nan’s martial arts were supre, who would dare stop him if he intended to kill?
"It seems this old servant’s insight is limited."
Qi Yun waved dismissively, no longer speaking, and turned toward the quiet room from earlier.
This quiet room led to an underground prison; back then, Li Qingmu had been placed in a private room here by Qi Yun.
Duanmu Nan was confined in the underground prison of the Imperial Palace, specifically in the Heavenly Pavilion; the environnt here was quite nice, so when Qi Yun saw him, he appeared unchanged from before.
He sat at a small, low table with a tea set upon it and a small heater beside it, as he brewed tea.
"What has brought the Emperor here? Aren’t you afraid I’ll rise suddenly and commit regicide?"
Duanmu Nan lifted the freshly brewed tea and took a small sip, looking perfectly natural, without a hint of soone in captivity.
"If I were afraid, I wouldn’t have co!" Qi Yun spoke calmly, looking at Duanmu Nan, "Mr. Duanmu had the chance to kill unnoticed, yet you didn’t; now, even more unlikely."
Duanmu Nan set down the teacup and said indifferently, "Isn’t the Emperor a bit too confident?"
"No, it’s not confidence, but wisdom!"
Duanmu Nan sneered: "Wisdom? The Emperor can’t even discern loyalty from treachery; what of wisdom?"
Qi Yun sighed softly: "Regarding the Duanmu family’s matter... Indeed, I owe you."
Duanmu Nan chuckled, his smile tinged with irony.
"Back then, it was your family’s ordeal that made realize foreign spies had infiltrated. Sixteen years ago, having just assud the throne, barely recovering from the Rebellion of the Seven Princes and Empress Dowager Xiao’s interference in palace matters, exhausted in body and mind, when the Duanmu affair arose, I sent people to thoroughly investigate. Yet, before the truth erged, news ca that the traitors had already confessed and repented."
"Hmph, is that so? The Emperor seeking excuses for his errors?"
"No, I never deny anything, what is done is done, what isn’t done I never admit to!"
"But my Duanmu family never committed any atrocity, nor cursed the Emperor!"
Duanmu Nan’s emotions slightly stirred, but still under control.
Qi Yun replied: "I know, but... it’s too late! By the ti I clarified everything, the Duanmu family had already..."
Qi Yun glanced apologetically at Duanmu Nan.
Duanmu Nan’s face paled, looking at Qi Yun with disbelief: "Our family’s cetery, was it... was it you?"
Qi Yun slowly rose, folding his hands behind his back, looking outside the bars, his voice appeared cold: "The world claims I am cruel, harsh, and unkind, yet I kill only those who deserve it!
During the Rebellion of the Seven Princes, when did I ever raise a hand against my brothers?
Hmph, those pedantic scholars, those writers lacking skill to benefit the nation, incapable in combat, only wielding pens for criticism! Them, I despise!"
He turned again, gazing at Duanmu Nan: "For my errors, I never explain or make excuses, so upon knowing the Duanmu family was wronged, I ordered gravestones erected, offering prayers. Besides, I tasked people to investigate if any Duanmu survivors remained..."
Speaking thus, he looked at Duanmu Nan, sighed: "I knew of your existence yet couldn’t find you until that ti, when on a candlestick poison was found. Then I knew you returned, seeking vengeance! But ultimately you gave up."
"You knew all along?"
Duanmu Nan was stunned, an indescribable shock on his face.
The Emperor had known of his existence and that he poisoned him?
Duanmu Nan’s heart was shaken.
"Such a tragedy occurred once, never will I allow a second ti, at least not under my nose!"
"People are dead already, what use is talk?"
Duanmu Nan laughed lightly, seeming disdainful.
"Heard your Duanmu family’s reputation was good locally, I intend to establish a shrine and temple for them, as atonent from !"
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