Chapter 1593: Chapter 1600: Cai Wei Investigates the Case (1)
Liuzhu and Liuli Yuanchun, upon hearing this, were so frightened their souls flew away and scattered, trembling as they looked at their master.
Fei’er was also terrified, but she had no strength to confront the Empress Dowager Mo. She had no choice but to cast a pleading look toward Mo Ziqi.
In front of everyone, Mo Ziqi couldn’t say anything to her. Especially now that Empress Dowager Mo had completely lost her reason. If he tried to comfort Fei’er, it would only provoke her further. So, he merely gave her a deep look—a look Fei’er understood. It told her, “Rest assured.”
Fei’er’s heart settled slightly, but not completely. After all, Empress Dowager Mo was the reigning Empress Dowager, and Mo Ziqi was the Great General. Regardless of their aunt-nephew relationship, they were still sovereign and subject. If Empress Dowager Mo insisted on interrogating Liuzhu and the others, Mo Ziqi wouldn’t be able to stop her.
At this moment, the only one who could contend with Empress Dowager Mo was her older sister. However, involving her sister in such matters made her feel a twinge of reluctance. Yet, she had no choice but to ask her sister to take charge. Otherwise, if Empress Dowager Mo pinned the crime of murdering a princess on her, their entire family would suffer the consequences.
She quietly withdrew to the door, sought out one of Mo Ziqi’s trusted aides, and had him take her letter to the palace to seek help from the Empress.
The aide, realizing the gravity of the matter, took the letter and galloped away from the hunting ground, heading quickly toward the Capital.
…
On another rarely-traveled mountain path, Cai Wei was riding on the back of a white-furred tiger, speeding like the wind. Overhead, Brother Ying used his perspective vision to observe the ground for traces of passersby.
“Master, about half a li eastward ahead, there are two farmers carrying loads walking roughly a li ahead of you.”
Cai Wei immediately conveyed this information to the white-furred tiger. Upon receiving the information, the tiger crouched low and veered eastward, covering half a li to avoid the passersby on the road.
Thus, they maneuvered through the path, dodging and evading, until near noon, they finally reached the Capital.
Approaching the city gates, the white-furred tiger could not appear again. Cai Wei put the tiger away into the space and released a horse instead. Riding swiftly on horseback, she entered the city.
At this time, her heart was filled with yearning. Two days had passed since she last saw her babies, and her thoughts for them grew unbearable. Were it not for the fear of alarming the city’s inhabitants, she might have ridden the tiger directly into the city just to see her adorable children as soon as possible…
Inside the Mu Residence
Three satiated little milk buns were lying on the kang, playing. The warm noon sunlight streamed into the room, bathing the three little ones in its glow. The light reflected off their delicate little faces, spreading a faint shimmer that made them look like three little angels.
Lady Du sat lovingly on the kang, holding a rattle drum in her hands, delighting in playing with her three grandchildren. Although the little ones were just four months old, their personalities were already beginning to show.
The eldest prince, Nangong Jin, was a proud and aloof child. When he saw the rattle drum in his maternal grandmother’s hands, he turned his little face away, as if disdainful of playing with such childish things. On his tender, fair little face, there was even an expression of visible irritation—it was so amusing!
The little princess, Mingzhu, had a lively temperament. When she saw the rattle drum painted with a little tiger in her grandmother’s hands, she immediately burst into laughter. Her eyes curved into crescents as she stretched out her chubby arms to chase after her grandmother’s drum, which Lady Du teasingly dodged with a smile.
Lady Du placed the rattle drum above the head of the younger prince, Nangong Yu, and shook it vigorously. Nangong Yu seemed a bit slower than his older siblings. He was busy munching on his own plump, white little hands, gazing blankly at the rattle drum without much reaction. Lady Du was unwilling to give up. She brought the drum closer to his face and knocked it rhythmically. Suddenly, he let go of his chubby hand and reached out, gripping the rattle drum tightly in one hand, refusing to let go.