Chapter 284 Punishment

Xie Liuzheng was thunderstruck, feeling as if his world was collapsing!

His mother had only been summoned to the palace by Consort Li, and suddenly she had become a wanted fugitive—what on earth was going on?

Ji Yuntang was also anxious, but since the person hadn't been found yet, it was highly likely that Madam Cai was still safe.

She said to Xie Liuzheng, "Brother, don't panic for now. Let's first go to the Empress and ask for the full story. Since Mother can hide in the palace without being found, it means someone in the palace must be helping her."

Xie Liuzheng thought about it and realized she was right—not finding her was better than finding her in Consort Li's hands; it meant Madam Cai hadn't fallen into Consort Li's hands yet, which put him somewhat at ease.

In the Fengyi Palace, the Empress was also worried about this matter.

She knew that Madam Cai was gentle, virtuous, and well-mannered, definitely not the type to resort to violence. This was most likely a false accusation by Consort Li and her daughter.

But Consort Li and Luo Qianxue insisted that Madam Cai had hit them, and since Madam Cai had vanished from the palace, that meant she had fled out of guilt, making her even more suspicious.

Although the Empress was anxious, she couldn't do much to help.

It wasn't until Ji Yuntang and Xie Liuzheng arrived that she saw hope.

The Empress recounted the whole story to Ji Yuntang and Xie Liuzheng, then said to them:

"Consort Li and Luo Qianxue are still venting their grievances to the Emperor. For now, the best course of action is to find out the truth and clear Madam Cai's name. I will continue to send people to search for her—don't worry about that."

Just then, a maidservant entered, whispered something in the Empress's ear.

The Empress's eyes lit up instantly. "Is this true?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Princess Jiu sent me to inform you," the maidservant replied truthfully.

The Empress smiled. "Very well, you may go. I understand!"

She turned to Ji Yuntang and Xie Liuzheng and said, "Madam Cai has been found. She was rescued by Qingge and is now in the Feiyue Palace, safe and sound. Don't worry."

Xie Liuzheng and Ji Yuntang both breathed a sigh of relief.

The Empress wanted to send someone to fetch Madam Cai, but Ji Yuntang stopped her.

"Your Majesty, you must not!"

"As you just said, the Emperor sent the Imperial Guards to search the Feiyue Palace, but Qingge drove them out. That means Qingge is harboring Mother."

"If you bring Mother over from Qingge's place now, wouldn't that be telling the Emperor and Consort Li that Qingge committed the crime of deceiving the emperor?"

"Here's my plan: Your subject and brother will first go to the Hall of State Affairs to investigate the situation. If it is confirmed that Consort Li and Luo Qianxue deliberately framed Mother, then you and Qingge can bring Madam Cai over, and we will confront them directly. What do you think?"

"Can the two of you handle this?" The Empress's brow creased with worry as she glanced at Xie Liuzheng.

"He issued an order barring Heir Xie from entering the palace. If Heir Xie goes with you, and he sees him, won't he take it out on you?"

Ji Yuntang shook her head lightly. "It's fine. When I came, I told the Imperial Guards that I was here to perform acupuncture on the Seventeenth Prince, and my brother assists me. They didn't dare stop me."

"Madam Cai is Heir Xie's mother. Since she has been wronged, it is only right that he handle this matter."

The Empress, hearing Ji Yuntang's reasoning, could not argue further and allowed them to go.

However, she also arranged for people to wait outside and inform her immediately if anything happened.

Imperial Palace, Hall of State Affairs.

This was Ji Yuntang's third visit here.

Before she even entered, she could hear Luo Qianxue's sobbing.

Consort Li's back was turned to them, and although she wasn't crying, she seemed to be dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.

Ji Yuntang raised an eyebrow. When had Consort Li become so fragile?

Crying over such a small thing seemed so fake to her.

Just then, she heard Emperor Jingyang's voice from inside, full of tenderness.

"So, my beloved consort, what do you think I should do to Duke Rong's mansion to appease your and Xue'er's anger?"

Consort Li's eyes were moist, and her frail voice carried a hint of fragility, as if it would scatter at the slightest breeze.

"Your Majesty, this was entirely the doing of Madam Cai alone, and has nothing to do with the Duke Rong mansion. I do not wish to escalate this matter and involve other innocent people."

"On the contrary, Duke Rong, as a senior minister of two dynasties, has rendered great service to the Dongchen Kingdom. I do not want to cause you trouble or strain your relationship with the Duke Rong mansion over the affairs of Xue'er and me. We can endure a little grievance."

These words, spoken with great moral integrity, made Emperor Jingyang's heart clench, making him want to hold her in his arms and comfort her.

Even at a time like this, Consort Li was still thinking of him. She would rather suffer herself than cause discord between him and the Duke Rong mansion.

This showed how kind and wise she was.

Only someone who truly loved him would think of him so much, right?

Emperor Jingyang stepped forward, took Consort Li's hand, and gazed at her affectionately.

"My consort, helping you vent your anger cannot be considered a hardship. You are my woman, and Qian Xue is my daughter. If I cannot even protect my own wife and daughter, how can I guard the realm?"

"Even if Xie Jinrong has great merits and high prestige, he is still a subject. If a ruler orders a subject to die, that subject must die."

"Let alone merely punishing him—if I ordered his wife killed, would he dare say a word against it?"

Emperor Jingyang had no idea that every word he said was clearly heard by Xie Liuzheng and Ji Yuntang.

Xie Liuzheng rarely showed anger, but now his face darkened instantly, a flicker of killing intent flashing in his dark eyes.

His father was utterly loyal to Emperor Jingyang, working tirelessly for the Dongchen Kingdom—and this is what he got?

Just because Consort Li faked a few tears, the Emperor wanted to order his mother killed? How dare he?

At that moment, Xie Liuzheng felt like killing Emperor Jingyang!

He wished he could call Xie Jinrong here to see for himself what an ungrateful beast the man he served and assisted truly was.

Seeing Xie Liuzheng's fury, Ji Yuntang feared he might do something rash, so she reminded him.

"Brother, calm down for now. Let's see what Consort Li has to say."

"I have a feeling Consort Li still has another move up her sleeve."

Hearing this, Xie Liuzheng's anger subsided somewhat and he clenched his fists, listening intently to the conversation inside.

Upon hearing Emperor Jingyang's words, Consort Li's eyes reddened. She instinctively turned her head away, a mist of tears shimmering in her watery eyes.

Your Majesty, you are so good to me, but I am not the kind of ungrateful person who would knowingly do what is wrong.

You're standing up for me and Xue'er, and I am deeply grateful. But if you were to kill Duchess Rong, it would harm Your Majesty's reputation. I don't want people to blame and curse you because of us.

There are other ways for you to punish them on my behalf. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider.

Consort Li knelt down. Emperor Jingyang helped her up, thinking that since she said that, she must already have a plan.

Emperor Jingyang asked, "Then my beloved consort, how do you want me to punish them?"

Luo Qianxue pricked up her ears to listen. Her heart was in her throat—she was so nervous she even forgot to cry.

This was the matter she and Consort Li had discussed beforehand.

As long as Emperor Jingyang agreed, she could smoothly marry into the Duke Rong's mansion, whether Cai Guiti agreed or not.

She was determined to become Xie Liuzheng's wife.

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