Chapter 184 Assistance

The room was quiet, and the afternoon sun streamed in through the dark crimson curtains, casting a soft hue.

“Yao’er, what happened today? Who sent people to assassinate you?”

Prime Minister Mu’s face was etched with worry, his wise eyes filled with deep suspicion. Who dared to assassinate the current Empress?

“I don’t know who it was, that they could dispatch a group of assassins,” Mu Qingyao said lightly. The sunbeams illuminated her face, bringing out a faint blush. Her beauty was enhanced by a touch of allure, yet her eyes held a commanding heroism, a spirit that rivaled men. Prime Minister Mu felt a slight dizziness; this was truly his daughter, growing ever more mature and reserved.

“Assassins?” Prime Minister Mu snapped back to attention. Assassins? This was a grave taboo. Who could train a group of assassins? If they had them, there must be many more, and where were they hiding?

“It seems this must be reported to the Emperor immediately.”

He should have known already, Mu Qingyao’s smile became even more alluring.

Perhaps her return to the ancestral home for a visit was arranged by the Emperor himself. Because he couldn’t be sure of the hidden forces, he had sent her back to test the strength of those in the shadows.

Others likely wouldn’t have the power to deploy such assassins. Only she did, and it was the Emperor who had initially propelled her to the highest position.

Now, she couldn’t help but doubt his intentions. Perhaps from his current position, nothing was pure anymore. Even a simple friendship wouldn't be pure.

A thin layer of coldness enveloped Mu Qingyao, her eyes misting over slightly. She smiled faintly, “Perhaps the Emperor already knows, Father. Why the hurry?”

Hearing Mu Qingyao’s words, Prime Minister Mu felt relieved. Then, as if remembering something, he reached out and took Mu Qingyao’s hand.

“Yao’er, Father knows you are clever and wise. If you are willing, you will surely be able to help His Majesty. Please help him, won’t you? Standing in such a high position, some things are beyond one’s control. He is the ruler of a nation; there are many things he can, must, and should do, but first and foremost, he must ensure the country is not destroyed to be a wise ruler. So, if you have the ability, please help him, okay? Think of the millions of soldiers and civilians in Xian Yue. If internal strife is added to external threats, leading to turmoil and war, then Xian Yue will cease to exist. Yao’er, compared to the country, family is very small.”

Mu Qingyao looked at her Prime Minister father. His eyes were as clear as a pool of jade, allowing one to see to the very bottom.

But it was that clarity that made it impossible for her to refuse. It turned out her Prime Minister father understood everything, knew everything. He understood that she was unwilling to get involved in many matters, understood that she only wanted to leave the palace.

Actually, what he said was true. Although she had been reborn, the body she now occupied belonged to someone from Xian Yue, so she was a person of Xian Yue.

If the country fell, she would become a slave of a fallen nation. Slaves of a fallen nation were considered inferior no matter which country they went to. What about her family and sisters? Did she really want them all to become slaves of a fallen nation?

“Alright, Father. I promise you, as long as it’s within my ability, I will help him until he is stable.”

“Thank you, Yao’er,” Mu Hen’s hand trembled slightly. As Prime Minister, he would do what he could and should. The rest was up to the Emperor.

Mu Qingyao said nothing, her mind drifting to the matter of the Empress Dowager. Her most important reason for returning to the ancestral home today was to inquire about the Empress Dowager and Empress Li from her father.

“Father, I want to know how Empress Li died back then?”

Mu Hen started, looking at Mu Qingyao with a hint of unease. It had been more than a decade, why was Yao’er still bringing this up?

“That was more than ten years ago. As for Empress Li, she was actually a close friend of your eldest aunt. You can ask her; I don’t know the details,” Prime Minister Mu said, then turned and called out, “Someone, go and fetch the Eldest Madam.”

“Yes, Master,” Mei Xin responded from outside, her footsteps receding.

In the study, Mu Hen asked with concern, “Why is Your Highness asking about Empress Li?”

“It’s His Majesty. He wants me to investigate how Empress Li died and find evidence from back then,” Mu Qingyao informed her father. There was nothing to hide about this matter. Since Eldest Aunt was Empress Li’s close friend, she would surely know many unknown secrets.

“Why is His Majesty doing this?” Mu Hen frowned.

Everyone knew that Empress Li was likely killed by the current Empress Dowager, but they lacked evidence. They had lived peacefully for many years.

Yet His Majesty insisted on investigating the past. How many years had passed? What clues could possibly remain? Moreover, half of Xian Yue’s military power was now in Chu Fengyu’s hands. If His Majesty rashly investigated such matters, it would undoubtedly cause unrest.

The Eldest Madam soon entered the study. She first paid her respects to Mu Qingyao, then to Master Mu, before respectfully asking,

“Master, why did you ask me to come?”

“Your Highness has something she wishes to ask you. Please sit down, and tell Your Highness everything you know. Perhaps it will be of some help to Her Highness,” Prime Minister Mu ordered sternly. The Eldest Madam immediately nodded, “Yes,” and sat down quietly to wait.

“Eldest Aunt, I heard you were close friends with the late Empress Li. Is this true?”

The Eldest Madam was taken aback, not expecting Her Highness to inquire about Empress Li.

Recalling their sisterly bond from those years, she felt a touch of sadness and slowly nodded, “Yes, Your Highness. Empress Li’s original name was Li Yuehuan, and she was the daughter of the Prefect of Lin’an. My father was the Commissioner of Transmission, and our families had dealings, so we became good friends. We often embroidered together and discussed private matters of the boudoir.”

The Eldest Madam paused, looking at the Empress. Mu Qingyao’s eyebrows twitched slightly. She hadn’t expected her Eldest Aunt to be so close to Empress Li. If Empress Li were still alive, perhaps Eldest Sister Qingzhu could have safely entered the palace.

“Eldest Aunt, were the current Empress Dowager and Empress Li also close?”

“Yes, the current Empress Dowager’s name is Chu Mengyun. Actually, her father was just a minor official, a seventh-rank official.

“Originally, she had no connection with Yuehuan, but they met once at a nunnery and became friends.

“That Chu Mengyun was very cunning. She often visited Yuehuan, asking for advice on embroidery, poetry, or painting.

“I advised her several times to stay away from that woman, saying she was too calculating, but Yuehuan was always pure-hearted and didn’t suspect anything.

“Later, she entered the palace. Unexpectedly, Chu Mengyun also entered the palace together. Then, the late Emperor took a liking to Yuehuan. She was the type of woman who easily charmed people, and she was beautiful. Furthermore, her father was a high-ranking official of the third rank, making it a suitable match. The Emperor then conferred her the title of Empress.”