"Your Majesty, Empress Ming, and General Yuan Shao have arrived," The eunuch bowed before the Emperor but he couldn't hide his anxiety.
The Emperor frowned. He wondered why Empress Ming and Yuan Shao came together and couldn't help but have a bad feeling about it. The court officials also exchanged glances as they were distressed by the recent happenings. None of them pitied Qian Mu Ting for her death but cursed her for leaving a big mess behind for them to clean up.
?
Ming Yue Yin calmly entered the room with the Su sisters and Yuan Shao further behind as his position was below hers. Ming Yue Yin had a solemn expression. There was no trace of the goofy and childish attitude she showed Lory as she was visiting as the Empress of a Nation.
She exuded a noble and dignified air that made others nervous. The officials and eunuchs subconsciously looked down, unable to handle her intimidating aura. The Emperor gulped when he saw her. It was hard for the Emperor to believe Empress Ming, who was the same age as his daughter, could match the charisma of a long-standing Emperor.
The Emperor couldn't help but be envious of the late Emperor of Liangzu for having a remarkable daughter. He would feel more at peace If his daughters could have half of Ming Yue Yin's abilities.
"Empress Ming," The Emperor stepped down from his high chair and welcomed her. It was a way for him to show his sincerity.
"Greetings Emperor Qian," Ming Yue Yin gave a slight nod.
"General Yuan, I didn't know you had a good relationship with Empress Ming?" The Emperor asked calmly as he probed Yuan Shao's expression. He knew Yuan Shao was never fond of the royal family as he blamed him for his mother's demise. This was one of the reasons the Emperor paid more attention to Yuan Shao. However, he had yet to hear of Yuan Shao's close relationship with Empress Ming from his spies. Seeing the two together piqued his curiosity.
"We are merely acquaintances. I asked him to join me when I saw him on my way here," Ming Yue Yin quickly clarified with a casual expression.
It was better for them to hide their connection for Yuan Xue An's safety and for Yuan Shao to be able to leave the Kingdom smoothly. It was unlikely the Emperor would let Yuan Shao leave if he knew of Yuan Shao's relationship with the Liangzu Kingdom and Hei Shen Sect.
"Is that so…?" The Emperor did not completely believe Ming Yue Yin but he had no evidence to state otherwise.
"I'm sure you understand the reason I am here, Emperor Qian," Ming Yue Yin clasped her hands in front of her stomach and straightened her back as her expression became firm, "I want to know why the Second Princess tried to kill me and Luo Ri Yi, TWICE?"
The Emperor and the officials' hearts jumped to their throats as Empress Ming emphasized the last word sharply. They wanted to speak but they didn't find any possible excuse. They had struggled with the matter for days but they had yet to come up with a solution.
The Emperor could only wash his hands-off Qian Mu Tings' mistake. He cleared his throat, "We don't know what made the Second Princess commit such a hideous crime. You must believe me when I say none of us were involved with this matter."
"My daughter did not do what you accuse!" The sudden shouted startled everyone in the room. The Emperor gritted his teeth when he saw Han Zi Yu enter the room with two terrified young maids who didn't seem to want to be there.
"Noble Consort Yu," The Emperor's glared at her as he addressed her. It was a reminder to not cause more trouble.
Han Zi Yu ignored the Emperor's angry look. Her father and grandfather were first rank officials supported by the Huang family. She believed the Emperor and Empress Ming would not dare to harm her for her connections. Han Zi Yu's father, Han His Ping, was the right Prime Minister, and her grandfather, Han Hu Bo was the grand tutor of the Emperor and a cousin to the Empress dowager. Their influence over the kingdom was strong. It was also the reason Han Zi Yu was made an Empress in the first place.
Ming Yue Yin smirked when Han Zi Yu walked toward them with a haughty look. It was clear Han Zi Yu had forgotten she was no longer an Empress. Han Zi Yu shot Ming Yue Yin a fierce look for a second before she retracted it. Ming Yue Yin stifled with ridicule as she was quick enough to notice Han Zi Yu's look.
Han Zi Yu bowed elegantly at the Emperor once she reached him. She had decided to clear Qian Mu Ting's name. It was not because she cared for her daughter but because she realized Qian Mu Ting's guilt would also drag her down. Han Zi Yu's standing had already taken a nosedive and she could only imagine how it would worsen if Qian Mu Ting's crimes were added. Her grandfather would be cold toward her and she would lose the Han's family support.
Han Zi Yu braced herself to enter the court as she was terrified of losing her position. However, her appearance wasn't welcomed by anyone. It made them nervous. Han His Ping glared at his son, Han Hu Bo, with blame but Han Hu Bo was indignant as the one who spoiled his daughter was his father, Han His Ping.
"The Empress… Oh, I apologize… I should call you Noble Consort Yu, isn't that correct?" Ming Yue Yin sneered.
Han Zi Yu bit her lips to hold back her anger and shifted her head towards the Emperor.
"My daughter was an innocent and gentle young lady. She wouldn't have done this unless someone forced her to commit the crime," Han Zi Yu said with certainty to show she completely trusted her deceased daughter, and to raise pity in everyone's heart. She was still using her daughter as a chess piece even with her daughter's death.
Ming Yue Yin scoffed, "By whom?"
"This… I don't know who but it couldn't have been her own idea. She had no means and was not capable of doing all this," Han Zi Yu tried to reason with Ming Yue Yin, the Emperor, and the officials. Her argument worked on a few officials as they murmured their thoughts. Qian Mu Ting's past reputation was of a sweet and sensible young lady. This was still ingrained in their minds.
"Means and ability, you say?" Ming Yue Yin chuckled at the lousy trick. She mocked Han Zi Yu with a smile, "Do you think I'm a fool? I've been leaving at Yong Heng Manor for a few weeks and the Second Princess had tried to meet Long Ming on several occasions but he never entertained her. His indifference made the Second Princess hate Long Ming's fiancée, Luo Ri Yi. A hatred that grew daily. We have many witnesses who can attest to the Second Princess looking for ways to invite Long Ming for a private meeting but Long Ming always refused her. Isn't this a motive for the Second Princess to hurt Luo Ri Yi?"
Color drained from Han Zi Yu's face while the Emperor's expression darkened as Ming Yue Yin's words. Han Zi Yu's appearance worsened the situation. The Emperor was unable to salvage the situation when Ming Yue Yin snorted with disdain. Empress Ming flicked her long-wide sleeves and moved her hands behind her back.
"Did Noble Consort Yu forget what happened during her gathering? How you all humiliated Luo Ri Yi? How you even tried to play with her pet without her consent? You even cooperated with Huang Ni Yang to kill her! I have yet to ask you to take responsibility for what happened that day!" Ming Yue Yin raised her voice as her Qi spread uncontrollably.
Her strong Qi made everyone feel like boulders were pressing down their chests. They looked at Ming Yue Yin with fear. They never knew the young Empress was powerful. She was not even twenty but her cultivation had reached Emperor Level. Their Kingdom had yet to see anyone from the younger generation with a level like Empress Ming's in centuries.
The Emperor clenched his fist. It took him fifty years to reach the Emperor Level cultivation yet he had been considered a great talent. Ming Yue Yin, on the other hand, was able to reach his level at a young age. He wondered if she a monster. It was a good thing the Emperor didn't know Zhao Li Xin's level or he would have vomited blood with shame.
Han Zi Yu was pressed to the floor because of Ming Yue Yin's wild Qi. Blood trickled from the corner of her lips as she glanced at the Emperor for help but he feigned ignorance. She shifted her gaze to her father and grandfather but they seemed nailed to the ground as they were unable to move. All they could do was stared back at her with blame.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢