Chapter 606: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 606: Accusations (3)
At this moment, any effort to explain or plead would be futile. Xiao Ruiyuan could only express his unwavering determination to stand by the woman he loved, willing to share life or death with her through his resolute actions.
The two kneeling figures presented a stark contrast: one dressed in somber black, the other in bright lake blue. Though these colors seemed inherently incompatible, they unexpectedly harmonized, as if they were meant to be together, inseparable and irreplaceable.
Emperor Huian observed them coldly, his gaze growing darker. Was this woman truly the Achilles' heel of his otherwise cold and unfeeling great general? He suddenly wondered what his general would do if he insisted on charging the woman with treason. Would he resist to the end, or would he give up everything to die alongside her?
However, before this thought could fully form, a familiar, indifferent voice interrupted, snuffing it out: "Father, you already know that the beast attack was orchestrated by me. Why trouble a defenseless girl?"
Xiao Ruiyuan and Mo Yan instinctively looked towards the source of the voice, seeing Chu Heng, pale and distant, wheeling himself slowly from the right side of the hall.
Xiao Ruiyuan's eyes flickered with concern, but mindful of Emperor Huian, he only furrowed his brow and remained silent.
Mo Yan was stunned, not because Chu Heng admitted to planning the beast attack, but because of his frail appearance, as if he could stop breathing and never wake up at any moment.
Remembering why he was in such a state, Mo Yan suddenly thought of the two thousand-year-old ginseng roots she had just harvested in her space. A bold idea popped into her mind: if she were to be punished, could she use the ginseng to save herself?
Although she had originally intended to give one of the ginseng roots to Chu Heng on Xiao Ruiyuan's behalf, given the current situation, she could no longer worry about that. Compared to the lives of her family and friends, the ginseng was of little consequence.
However, the relationship between the emperor and his son seemed strained, and Chu Heng had just done something that might severely test a father's patience. Would the emperor, in his wrath, punish Chu Heng severely? Mo Yan pondered whether she should present the ginseng right away.
But before she could finish her thoughts, Emperor Huian erupted in anger. He slammed his hand on the table and, after shouting "unfilial son" at Chu Heng, expelled Mo Yan and Xiao Ruiyuan from the hall.
Standing outside the hall, under the bright sun, Mo Yan could hardly believe she had walked out of the suffocating hall alive. She turned to Xiao Ruiyuan, ready to ask if they had escaped danger, but his grim expression as he stared at the closed doors made her swallow her words.
As they left the palace, they saw Yan Junyu pacing anxiously at the entrance, fanning himself. A wave of warmth filled their hearts.
Upon seeing them, Yan Junyu brightened, snapping his fan shut and hurrying over. But before he could speak, a furry head butted him aside, nearly causing him to fall.
Mao Tuan, having pushed Yan Junyu away, leapt onto Mo Yan, rubbing against her excitedly and making soft noises. Fortunately, Mo Yan was used to this behavior and wasn't knocked over like before.
Yan Junyu adjusted his disheveled clothes, pointing at Mao Tuan in mock anger. "I'll let you off this time for your master's sake! But if you disrespect me again, I'll skin you and use your fur as a rug!"
Mao Tuan turned its head, giving him a disdainful look before continuing to nuzzle Mo Yan, which only made Yan Junyu even more annoyed.
The playful antics of these two lightened the mood for Mo Yan and Xiao Ruiyuan, easing their earlier tension and worry.
After chatting for a bit, they learned that Yan Junyu, concerned about their delay, had informed Chu Heng, which had allowed them to leave safely. They felt a surge of gratitude but were also worried about Chu Heng, who had diverted Emperor Huian's anger onto himself.
...
Inside the hall, Emperor Huian had resumed his seat on the dragon throne, but his flushed face and heaving chest showed he was on the brink of a furious outburst.
In contrast, Chu Heng, seated in his wheelchair, appeared calm. As if admitting to orchestrating the beast attack wasn't shocking enough, he casually said something that nearly made the emperor spit blood: "You have plenty of sons, Father. With new princes and princesses born every year, what's a few useless ones dying?"
With a loud crash, Emperor Huian slammed his hand on the table again, picking up an inkstone to throw. But seeing the frail figure of his most cherished son, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
He set the inkstone down, a pained look crossing his aged face. "Heng'er, what do you want? They are your blood brothers!"
"Blood brothers?" Chu Heng's lips curled in a mocking smile. "If you think those who constantly plot against me and harm my loved ones are my brothers, and I should treat them generously and forgive all their transgressions, then I have nothing more to say!"
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