Mu Qingyao’s lips curved into an involuntary cold smile.
She would not be manipulated. Although Emperor Xian might fancy her, and perhaps in his perception, falling for her was a great honor, it was not the case for her. If love was meant to be pure, was there anything pure left within him?
As for uncovering the Empress Dowager’s black hand, it was not an easy task, but she believed in one saying: the heavens’ net is vast and its meshes are wide; what is done will leave a trace. No matter how she tried to erase it, there would be loopholes. She was determined to find them.
The next day, Chun Han woke up and had himself carried to the front of the imperial concubine’s palace to wait. He wanted to thank the imperial concubine for saving his life and vowed to repay her kindness with whatever he could, even if it meant serving her like an ox or a horse.
Mu Qingyao had not yet risen. Mo Chou saw that Chun Han was still not fully recovered and told him to go back and rest, assuring him that she would inform the imperial concubine of his intentions when she received her message.
However, Chun Han insisted on waiting outside the palace gates. Having just awakened, his face was still pale, his lips a grayish white. With his head drooping, after standing for only a moment, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Mo Chou, unable to bear it, walked to the bedside within the imperial concubine’s chambers.
“Imperial Concubine? Imperial Concubine?”
Mu Qingyao’s eyes snapped open, a displeased glint flashing within them. Mo Chou calmly spoke, “Imperial Concubine, Chun Han has come to see you.”
“Mm, he’s awake,” Mu Qingyao frowned. Why would he come to see her instead of recuperating? She waved her hand dismissively, saying, “Tell him to go back and rest.”
“Imperial Concubine, I already told him that, but he refused. He insisted on seeing you before he would leave. I couldn’t bear to see him like this, which is why I woke you up.”
Mo Chou spoke softly. It wasn’t so much that she felt pity for Chun Han, but rather for the imperial concubine’s kind intentions. The blood ginseng she had so painstakingly acquired had been given to Chun Han, and yet he stood outside. Wasn't it a waste of the imperial concubine’s efforts?
“Alright, let him in,” Mu Qingyao sat up with impatience. She detested this aspect of ancient times. After helping someone once, they would immediately start talking about repaying kindness like an ox or a horse. She didn't lack oxen or horses; what kind of repayment did she need?
“Yes, Imperial Concubine,” Mo Chou acknowledged the order. Knowing that the imperial concubine was annoyed, she dared not say more. Without even setting up the bed curtains, she walked out to instruct Chun Han to follow her in.
As soon as Chun Han entered the imperial concubine’s chambers, he pushed away the two young eunuchs who were supporting him, struggled to kneel, and said weakly, “This subordinate thanks the Imperial Concubine for her great kindness. From now on, even if it means serving as an ox or a horse, I could never fully repay the Imperial Concubine’s benevolence.”
Mu Qingyao’s face was etched with black lines. See, this was exactly what bothered her. She stared at Chun Han kneeling on the ground with a grim expression. Could he offer her something more substantial?
For instance, information about any individuals within the Empress Dowager’s faction, or any significant secrets? But how much did Chun Han actually know?
Mu Qingyao narrowed her eyes in thought, momentarily forgetting to tell Chun Han to rise. She let him kneel on the cold ground. On the verge of collapse, his body swayed from side to side. Mo Chou was alarmed and quickly called out, “Imperial Concubine?”
“Mm,” Mu Qingyao came back to her senses. Seeing Chun Han still kneeling on the ground, she then coldly stated, “Rise, Chun Han. Do you have nothing to say to me?”
She did not believe that Chun Han, who had been following the Empress Dowager, would know nothing about the Empress Dowager’s background. Although it was unlikely he knew too much, he must have some understanding.
“Imperial Concubine?” Chun Han raised his head, about to speak but hesitating. Mu Qingyao, knowing he had something to say, immediately ordered the others to leave. “Everyone except Chun Han and Mo Chou, please leave.”
“Yes, Imperial Concubine,” the others in the imperial concubine’s chambers left, leaving only Chun Han and Mo Chou. Mu Qingyao lifted one side of the bed curtain, and Mo Chou immediately walked over to prop it up, standing by the bed.
Mu Qingyao, dressed in a white inner garment, her black hair cascading over her shoulders, appeared lazy and casual yet could not conceal her elegance. Even in simple attire, she remained a stunning beauty. Chun Han, still kneeling, dared not look up, lowering his head and speaking cautiously.
“Imperial Concubine, within Guangyang Palace, a hidden master serves by the Empress Dowager’s side. That master’s name is Qin Hao, and he has been working for the Empress Dowager.”
“Qin Hao,” Mu Qingyao’s expression turned cold and grim, a sharp chill surfacing in her eyes.
This Qin Hao must have defiled her sister’s man. Damn it! If she ever caught this guy, she would kill him herself. How could one so casually ruin a woman’s purity?
“Where did this man come from? Besides him, are there any other people by the Empress Dowager’s side?”
Mu Qingyao inquired coldly. Cold sweat began to appear on Chun Han’s face, but he persevered, thinking hard. Shaking his head, he replied, “The Empress Dowager is very cautious. All I know is that there is this person named Qin Hao. I don’t know anything else.”
“If I asked you to testify that the Empress Dowager had captured and abused you, would you dare?” Mu Qingyao’s eyes were cold as she fixed her gaze on Chun Han. As long as Chun Han testified against the Empress Dowager, she would definitely teach that old woman a lesson, and settle the matters of Qing Zhu and Qing Xiang along with it.
Upon hearing the Empress’s words, Chun Han froze, his eyes flickering uncertainly. Finally, he swayed and collapsed, unconscious from weakness.
Mo Chou quickly called for the eunuchs waiting outside the palace doors to come and help carry him away to rest. Inside the chambers, Mu Qingyao sat on the bed with a grave expression, motionless.
Mei Xin and Mo Chou stood before the bed, asking with concern, “Imperial Concubine, what’s wrong? Is something amiss?”
Mu Qingyao shook her head without saying anything. She couldn’t quite articulate how she felt, but she sensed something strange in Chun Han’s gaze. Most people would have been delighted to hear her offer, someone stepping forward to champion their cause.
But seeing Chun Han’s hesitation earlier, Mu Qingyao couldn’t fathom what could be troubling him. Unless…
A flash of insight struck her mind. Mu Qingyao found it difficult to accept such a possibility. If her suspicions were true, then all her efforts, including wasting half a piece of blood ginseng, would have been in vain.
Was all of this true, or was she merely overthinking? The constant string of bizarre events in the palace recently had frayed her nerves, so some matters required careful consideration.
“It’s nothing. I’ll rest a while longer. Please don’t disturb me again.”
“Yes, Imperial Concubine,” Mo Chou and Mei Xin heard their mistress say she wanted to sleep, so they lowered the bed curtains, tidied up, and withdrew outside the palace doors.
In the imperial concubine’s chambers, Mu Qingyao was able to ponder slowly at first, but unable to find any clear answers, she eventually fell asleep…
In the afternoon, Princess Xing Zhu came to keep her company. Several people were chatting inside the hall when the Emperor arrived. Everyone stood up and paid their respects to the Emperor before resuming their seats.
Murong Liu Zun swept his gaze across the people in the hall. Everyone seemed to be in high spirits. A gentle radiance spread across his handsome face as he spoke with a steady tone.
“What has everyone so happy about?”
Xing Zhu quickly went to her imperial brother’s side and said with a smile, “Imperial Brother, we were listening to Imperial Sister-in-law tell a joke. It was so funny.”
The young girl Xing Zhu’s face was flushed, like a lotus flower emerging from water, incredibly delicate. The other palace maids in the hall also had rosy cheeks.