Mu Qingyao's dismissive words did not bother Chu Qianyi. Gazing at the woman who was staring at him coldly, a warmth surged in his heart.
This was a phenomenon he had never experienced in over twenty years. If he could, he truly wished to take her away from all this strife. Unfortunately, she was the Empress now. One had to be strong enough to stand by someone like him, he mused, his gaze darkening.
"Your Majesty the Empress is truly heartless."
His dejection carried a hint of desolation.
Nan'an Wang Murong Liu Zhao, who had stood behind him with a perpetually somber expression, felt his eyes about to burst into flames. He coldly ordered Mu Qingyao, "You've had your laugh and seen enough of the spectacle. Why don't you leave? You are not welcome here."
Mu Qingyao looked at him with a half-smile, her eyes possessing a magical quality that could strangely soothe the soul.
Nan'an Wang Murong Liu Zhao, who had initially been so ferocious he wanted to strike her, gradually found himself immersed in those clear, transparent eyes. He felt a warm radiance envelop him, gradually calming him down.
Mu Qingyao waved her hand and commanded in a deep voice, "All of you, withdraw. I have something to say to Nan'an Wang Ye."
"Your Majesty," Mo Chou cried out much louder this time, and the others also voiced their disapproval.
Nan'an Wang Ye was currently like a fierce leopard or lion. The Empress had just provoked him a moment ago. If they all left, Nan'an Wang might not let the Empress off. Who could bear such a responsibility? Several faces turned pale.
Only Chu Qianyi smiled, patting the Minister of Justice on the shoulder, "Let's go. Her Majesty the Empress has given an order. If you disobey, your rice bowl might not be secure."
Upon hearing this, the Minister of Justice dared not say anything more and could only gravely acknowledge the order, "This minister takes his leave."
"This servant (subordinate) takes their leave." Mo Chou and Bing Xiao spoke with resignation, their hearts pounding in their throats, praying Nan'an Wang would not go mad. Their master was the Empress, and she had come to help him.
The prison became quiet.
Mu Qingyao and Nan'an Wang Murong Liu Zhao, one inside and one outside, their cold gazes met and clashed in the air, finally returning to peace.
Nan'an Wang Murong Liu Zhao was not a foolish person; he had simply been too agitated earlier. Now, thinking about it, this woman would certainly not have come to the Ministry of Justice's prison just to mock him. Therefore, she must have something to discuss with him. "Speak, what does the Empress wish to discuss with this King?"
"I actually did not wish to interfere in this matter. However, you should know that the assassination of the Crown Princess this time concerns the fate of two nations."
Mu Qingyao paused. She was too lazy to tell this man that she was acting because the Emperor had granted her a promise.
Murong Liu Zhao, who was well aware of the stakes, listened to Mu Qingyao's clear and decisive words, gazing at her without moving. Mu Qingyao continued.
"If Xian Yue and Dan Feng fall out, it will benefit the other five nations. Therefore, many people are watching the Emperor, and he cannot act directly. Only I can secretly investigate this matter. Do you understand now?"
Mu Qingyao briefly explained the situation. Murong Liu Zhao's handsome and imposing features flashed with confusion, his dark and unfathomable eyes fixed on the area outside the prison.
However, Nan'an Wang felt something was amiss, and he raised his sword-like eyebrows, "Why are you helping this King?"
"You are too foolish. You should know that I am not helping you. We have always been on the same side. This is not called help; it should be called allies fighting side by side. It is you who has consistently failed to grasp the situation."
Mu Qingyao glared at him coldly with annoyance. Although this man was loyal, his dull mind truly had issues. He always thought poorly of her and remembered it.
Could he not use his own brain to analyze things a little?
"You?"
Murong Liu Zhao was choked with anger. This woman, just when he had praised her numerous good qualities, now spoke so maliciously. Yes, this woman's mouth was too poisonous; this was a flaw, and he had finally discovered her weakness.
However, upon reflection, what she said was not wrong. His all-out targeting of her stemmed from his inherent disbelief in women. Therefore, he would target her in everything. If he thought about it carefully, he would realize that this woman's courage and boldness were no less than that of a man; on the contrary, they surpassed it. With this realization, his anger subsided considerably.
At worst, he would treat her like a man from now on.
"All I want to ask you now is, did you kill the Crown Princess? Do not hide anything from me, otherwise, you will be a sinner to Xian Yue?"
Murong Liu Zhao rolled his eyes. Couldn't she stop saying things that made him want to hit her? He shook his head with a stern expression.
"This King absolutely did not kill the Crown Princess. I am well aware of the current situation."
"I have some doubts," Mu Qingyao added.
Nan'an Wang was about to go crazy again. Why was it that he, who was always as cold as ice, could not tolerate even a little provocation from her?
It was infuriating. Nan'an Wang was angry at his inability to control his emotions and slammed his fist against the prison door, making a loud clang.
Mu Qingyao became more composed. Although she knew he would not go completely mad, if she continued to provoke him, she feared this man might truly lose control, and she would be the one to suffer.
"Alright, then let me ask you, why was your personal jade pendant found in the Crown Princess's chambers?"
As soon as Mu Qingyao finished speaking, Nan'an Wang raised his dark, luminous eyes, looking at Mu Qingyao with flickering uncertainty. A look of loss and heaviness crossed his untamed, proud face, making one unwilling to blame him.
Mu Qingyao's mockery slightly subsided, and she spoke with a cool tone.
"What happened?"
"Last night, after this King left Biyun Pavilion, I led my guards back to my residence. Who knew that halfway, I would encounter the Crown Princess? She had knocked out the eunuchs in Hutou Alley and sneaked into the palace, wanting to enter the Emperor's Liuli Palace. How could this King allow her to act so recklessly? Therefore, I personally apprehended her and sent her back to her temporary palace. The personal jade pendant could have been casually torn off by her. As it was dark, this King did not notice."
Murong Liu Zhao's eyebrows furrowed, his broad forehead creased like the character "川" (chuan), and his narrow, long eyes were filled with the coldness of winter, freezing everything within three feet with a chill.
Mu Qingyao's expression stiffened upon hearing his words. A fleeting brilliance crossed her beautiful, fair features. She hadn't expected such a turn of events. However, she hadn't seen this part in the case files. Why hadn't he mentioned it?
While thinking, she suddenly realized, perhaps this man was trying to protect her reputation.
Impossible, wasn't he someone who always treated women as mere possessions? Since when would he be willing to bear such a charge to protect a woman's reputation? Moreover, he had led people into the palace yesterday to find fault with her.
Mu Qingyao was not so narcissistic as to believe Nan'an Wang liked her or anything. Clearly, this man was acting for the sake of Xian Yue.
If such a matter were brought to the Ministry of Justice, the world would know that the Empress had spent the night with the Crown Prince, and the reputation of the Xian Yue royal family would be damaged. In this light, he was indeed loyal.