"Your Majesty, how could you deign to visit this prison?"
Shangguan Hao turned and waved his hand. An Dingfeng and the accompanying officials from the Ministry of Justice silently retreated.
An Dingfeng cast one last glance at Qingyao before also quietly withdrawing. Inside and outside the cell, only Shangguan Hao and Qingyao remained, along with Mo Chou and Bing Xiao, standing still in a corner of the prison.
"Speak," Qingyao knew what this man wanted to say. She spoke with a blank expression, as if unaware of his intentions.
Shangguan Hao's gaze was sharp, a fleeting killing intent flashing in his eyes.
Following that, a hint of gentleness appeared on his handsome features.
"You have only two paths now. One, cooperate with me, and the position of Empress will always be yours. Hand over that man. Two, you protect that man, but neither you nor anyone from the Mu family will be allowed to live."
"This?" Qingyao's expression grew solemn, as if she were shocked. After a long pause, she asked, "What do you intend to do to the Mu residence?"
Shangguan Hao inwardly snorted. As expected, the Mu residence held greater weight. He supposed it was natural; they were her kin, her father and elder sister. He couldn't believe she could watch them be killed.
He heard that the man had gone mad, his meridians damaged. At most, he was just a fool now. Was she truly willing to sacrifice the lives of the Mu family for a fool?
"If you insist on keeping that man, then the entire Mu household will not be spared." Shangguan Hao coldly threatened Qingyao.
Qingyao was stunned, unable to react for a long time. Finally, she supported her head with one hand and said, as if perplexed, "Let me think about it."
"Very well. I will give you only three days. If you haven't decided by then, then prepare to receive the corpses of your father and other relatives."
Shangguan Hao flicked his sleeves and left, his mind already calculating. He would order the Ministry of War to deploy a large portion of their forces to surround the Mu residence, allowing not even a fly to escape. Anyone who dared trespass would be killed without mercy.
His pupils were dark. After he left, the prison returned to silence.
Qingyao raised her head, her previous confusion gone. A cold, mocking smile played on her lips. She was merely stalling for time. Did that man truly think she would hand over the Emperor? How laughable.
The Empress was jealous and attempted to murder a royal descendant. This matter had already reached the ears of everyone in Lin'an City, from the bustling streets to every alley. Discussions about it were rife.
Many were incensed by the Empress's imprisonment. She had rendered immeasurable meritorious service, and even if she had harmed a royal descendant, she didn't deserve imprisonment. The imperial court, too, was filled with intrigue.
Upon hearing the news, Prince Nan'an, Murong Liuzhao, was beside himself with worry. However, he was currently under surveillance, and even the Prince Nan'an residence had not escaped this misfortune. Nevertheless, with the Empress captured, he could not stand idly by. Even if it cost him his life, he would rescue her from prison.
After the morning court, Prince Nan'an returned to his residence and secretly summoned his subordinates.
"I need to go to the Ministry of Justice's prison."
"Your Highness, this matter requires caution. If Your Highness were to rashly enter the prison, it might cause trouble for the Empress."
"Fear not. The one guarding the prison is the Great General An Dingfeng. Although the Ministry of Justice is also monitoring, they will still show me some respect. Not everyone in the imperial court answers solely to the Emperor. As long as I see the Empress, she will surely have a plan."
"Very well, then your subordinate will accompany Your Highness."
Prince Nan'an nodded. If he could rescue the Empress, he would ensure she and the Emperor left Lin'an City as soon as possible for Mount Tianshan. The Emperor could not practice martial arts, and his intellect was impaired, so he could only recuperate far from Lin'an City. Once he fully recovered, it would not be too late to return to the capital.
"Have Duan Ri go to the eastern suburbs and inform Mingyue and Shen Yu to prepare to leave the capital."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Geng Han immediately walked out and instructed Duan Ri to go to the eastern suburbs, to the entertainment district, to notify Mingyue and Shen Yu. He would accompany His Highness to the Ministry of Justice's prison.
In the eastern suburbs, within the bamboo mountains of the entertainment district.
Despite the cold winter, the bamboo groves in this part of the mountain remained verdant. Amidst the green, a little girl was playing with a small insect on the ground. Behind her was a recliner, where a man was resting. His dark hair was tied up with a jade hairpin, his face exquisitely smooth and moist, his brows long and narrow, and his thick eyelashes concealed his indifferent eyes. He slept soundly, draped in a cloak.
As soon as Duan Ri appeared, he pulled Shen Yu and Mingyue aside and whispered.
"The Empress has been imprisoned. His Highness is devising a way to save her. Prepare yourselves to leave Lin'an City at any moment."
"The Empress was arrested and sent to prison?" Shen Yu and Mingyue exclaimed in shock. Their voices immediately alerted Xiao Yu'er, who was nearby. She leaped up and rushed over, grabbing Mingyue and exclaiming, "Are you saying my mother was arrested and sent to prison?"
As soon as her voice rang out, Shen Yu and Mingyue looked worriedly at the man resting on the recliner behind them. Seeing that he showed no signs of waking, they felt relieved. The Emperor had been much calmer these past two days.
Mingyue lowered her voice and said with a heavy tone, "Princess, we just received news that Her Highness has been arrested and taken to prison?"
"Ah, what should we do?" As Xiao Yu'er's anxious voice fell, a gust of wind swept through.
Before everyone could react, the man who had been sleeping on the recliner flashed over with lightning speed. A chilling coldness flickered across his exquisite face. He bared his white teeth and roared.
"What happened to my wife? Who locked her up?"
He had actually woken up long ago, but he didn't know who the Empress they spoke of was. It was only when Xiao Yu'er mentioned "mother" that he realized it was his wife. The thought of his wife being arrested and imprisoned drove him almost mad. He recalled the scene of himself being bound by chains; was his wife also bound? The thought of this made Murong Liuzun roar like a madman, unleashing his palm strikes as he darted through the forest. The torrents of inner force flew out, and in the bamboo forest, thick bamboo stalks, as wide as bowls, fell with a splash.
Seeing the situation, Mingyue was horrified. The Emperor was using his inner force again. He had only just started to recover. They had been too careless, forgetting his unparalleled agility. They should have been more mindful of his words earlier. What should they do now?
Several people simultaneously shouted into the air, "Your Majesty, please calm down, please calm down!"
Yu'er also cried out in fear, "Father Emperor, quickly come down! Mother will be alright, Father Emperor, please come down."
However, Murong Liuzun paid no heed to their calls. He continued to fiercely hack at the bamboo, his powerful winds whipping his dark hair. His spotlessly clean white robes fluttered in the wind. A furious expression crossed his handsome face, his eyes blood red. Mingyue grew anxious.