Chapter 1588: Chapter 1595: Mo Ziqi Protects His Wife (1)
Fourth Watch had passed, and the main hall of the palace was brightly lit. Rows of branched candelabras filled the room, their candlelight flickering, illuminating the grand hall to resemble daylight. Nangong Yi sat behind a Purple Sandalwood desk intricately decorated with agate and carvings of fish playing among lotus flowers. He was still dressed in the riding attire from the daytime, his previously amiable and gentle demeanor replaced by an unparalleled gloom and a ferocity that seemed capable of destroying the heavens and earth at a moment’s notice.
His own younger sister had died under mysterious circumstances. Nangong Yi was both grief-stricken and enraged. Empress Dowager Mo had already fainted from crying twice. Every time she regained consciousness, she was inconsolable, wailing and seeking death. In his grief, Nangong Yi decreed that the Temple of Dali investigate the matter thoroughly. If the truth wasn’t uncovered, he vowed not to rest until the mystery was resolved.
At that moment, a eunuch cautiously entered to report: “Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Yao has just sent word that Lan’er has regained consciousness.”
Lan’er was one of the maids whom Nangong Yu had taken to the creekside. She had attempted suicide by ramming into a tree but had failed, perhaps because her strength was insufficient or the tree not sturdy enough. She had only managed to knock herself unconscious. Thanks to the full efforts of Doctor Yao, she had now awakened.
Hearing this, a trace of menace appeared in Nangong Yi’s eyes. “Since she’s awake, why waste time? Bring her to me immediately!”
“Yes!” The eunuch answered submissively and retreated.
A moment later, Lan’er, her head wrapped in gauze, was carried in by two eunuchs. Doctor Yao followed closely behind them, holding silver needles in case of emergencies.
On the stretcher, Lan’er trembled violently upon seeing Nangong Yi. She knew she’d failed to protect her master, and there was surely no way for her to escape punishment. She could only beg that the Emperor not extend his anger to her family.
Before the Emperor could ask a question, Lan’er began to cry and exclaimed, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it has nothing to do with this servant! It’s not that I didn’t protect the Princess—it was the Princess who forbade us maids from approaching. Madam Mo asked to speak with her in private, so she made us wait far away…”
Sobbing, she detailed the events of the previous night.
As soon as she finished speaking, Mo Ziqi, who had been standing in the hall, stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, this maid is spouting nonsense. Fei’er is kind-hearted and innocent, always timid and meek—how could she possibly kill someone? I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and clear Fei’er’s name.”
Hearing Mo Ziqi’s rebuttal, Lan’er feared responsibility for the matter might fall upon her, and she quickly struggled to sit up from the stretcher, shouting, “Your Majesty, I did not lie! You can summon the maid who serves Madam Mo to confront me. That maid was wearing a pale lotus-colored padded jacket and a water-blue Xiang silk skirt yesterday. Your Majesty need only send someone to investigate to confirm this!”
The maid Lan’er referred to was Ying Chun—the very same maid who had gone to summon Nangong Yu yesterday. Before Nangong Yu could speak, a furious voice echoed from outside the main hall: “Your Majesty, since there’s already an eyewitness, why not arrest that venomous woman Mu Caifei and execute her by waist severance to comfort Yu’er’s spirit in heaven!”
Before the voice had faded, Empress Dowager Mo stormed into the hall. In the span of one night, the once proud and aloof Empress Dowager had transformed into an entirely different person. Her face was pale and swollen, her hair disheveled and dry, and her bloodshot, swollen eyes were filled with fury that burned like a blazing fire!
The officials accompanying the Emperor quickly knelt in respect upon seeing the Empress Dowager. Mo Ziqi also knelt and bowed deeply, saying, “Your Grace, please see clearly. This matter absolutely was not Fei’er’s doing. I am willing to swear on my life that there is certainly a misunderstanding here.”
“A misunderstanding?”
Empress Dowager Mo let out a pained, bitter laugh. “Mo Ziqi, Yu’er was fond of you throughout her life. If not for her affection, this palace would not have repeatedly urged for you to marry Yu’er. Mu Caifei must have harbored resentment over this, fearing that Yu’er might truly wed into your household and compete with her for favor. Thus, she seized the opportunity to strike with ruthless cruelty. My poor, foolish daughter—she loved you her whole life, and now she’s died for you. Yet, not only do you show no sorrow, but you also defend the murderer at every turn. Mo Ziqi, you have truly shattered my heart!”