Today this palace is lively
"Hmph! Miss Su, the truth of the matter is only understood by Su Qi himself. How did he play tricks on Ji Yu and the others? Moreover, is it right in Miss Su's eyes to raise her own son's head high like this?"
The queen looked coldly at Su Zimo. Ever since Su Zimo and her son appeared, her maternal family had not experienced a single good day. Since that was the case, she wouldn't let them have any good days either. Even if Mu Yunxuan stood up for them, no matter how formidable he was, he couldn't match the royal family.
"Are you saying that the young master Ji, who has been hailed as a genius since childhood, can be tricked by a five-year-old child?" Su Zimo's expression grew colder. "As for how I educate my son, that is my own business, Queen Mother. It would be best for you to mind your own affairs!"
Su Zimo sneered coldly, raising her gaze to give the queen a chilling look filled with disdain.
The queen felt a chill in her heart under Su Zimo's gaze and involuntarily turned her face away. Her complexion became even more ominous.
"Miss Su, you dare to be insolent! Is this how you speak to a queen of a nation?"
Ji Yaotian couldn't bear it any longer. How could his daughter, the mother of a nation, be spoken to in such an arrogant tone by a woman with a notorious reputation? If the Emperor cared about the feelings of Ji Yaotian's concubine, he would have to punish Su Zimo severely for her disrespect. However, looking at the Emperor's expression, Ji Yaotian didn't dare to speak up.
Mu Yunxuan glanced at Ji Yaotian, his gaze icy and piercing. The murderous intent in his eyes made Ji Yaotian's face suddenly change.
"Hmph! Insolent?" Su Zimo coldly looked at Ji Yaotian. "Duke Zhen, is it a case of 'officials can set fires, but the common people are forbidden from lighting lamps'?"
Su Zimo's meaning was clear to everyone present.
If something happened to the Ji family, they could seek justice from Emperor Haoyue. But did the Mingyue Villa have to silently accept their false accusations? Even defending themselves would be considered a great disrespect. Su Zimo had always been one to seek revenge for the smallest grievances. If the Ji family couldn't produce evidence today, they shouldn't blame Su Zimo for turning ruthless.
"Alright, enough arguing. I'm tired of these tedious matters every day. I only believe in evidence. As long as you present evidence, I will ensure justice is served."
Emperor Haoyue's cold gaze swept across the faces of everyone, finally resting on the delicate face of Su Qi.
"Qi'er, you claim that you haven't been to Duke Zhen's residence. Do you have any evidence?"
"Your Majesty, Qi'er was at home refining pills last night. Speaking of the alchemy competition that day, I suddenly remembered something. At that time, young master Ji's hair was particularly unusual, and recently, both young master Ji and Miss Ji have been covering their heads. Isn't it hard to ignore in this hot weather?" Su Qi redirected the topic towards Ji Rui and Ji Yu, his words making Ji Rui and Ji Yu's nerves instantly tense. The siblings both stared at Su Qi unconsciously.
Especially Ji Yu, he glared at Su Qi with resentment and malice. Did Su Qi discover something? Or...?
A smile played at the corner of Mu Yunxuan's lips. Could it be that Qi'er intended to...?
"By the way, Ji Yu, Ji Rui, I also find it strange. Why are you covering your heads on such a hot day?"
Prompted by Su Qi, even Emperor Haoyue regarded Ji Yu and Ji Rui with a peculiar gaze.
Ji Yu and Ji Rui's eyes flickered, not daring to meet Emperor Haoyue's gaze directly.
In truth, Ji Yaotian also found this matter strange in his heart. However, since neither of them explained it, he didn't bother to delve further. But now, hearing Su Qi's words, he suddenly had a bad premonition.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Emperor Haoyue furrowed his brow.
"Your Majesty, what does this have to do with Su Qi's attack on the Duke Zhen's residence?" The queen looked at her siblings, their eyes avoiding hers, and their faces filled with sadness. She knew that they had something they couldn't speak of.
"If it has nothing to do with it, why would Qi'er bring up this matter?" Emperor Haoyue looked displeased as he glanced at the queen.
The queen quickly turned her face away, a pang of pain flashing through her heart. She knew his ruthlessness well. If it weren't for his fondness for Chen'er, how could she always appear so brightly in front of everyone?
"Your Majesty, Su Qi is trying to buy time and hopes that you will quickly find the culprit and bring justice to my daughter. Rumors are spreading everywhere, and Ru'er's life is being ruined!" Ji Yaotian's voice filled with anger and desperation, his old face turning red.
Knowing his children well, he was aware that they didn't want to mention the matter of their hair, so he spoke up.
"Hmph!" Mu Yunxuan snorted coldly and took a step forward.
Suddenly, he used his profound energy to remove the headscarves covering Ji Rui and Ji Yu's heads.
At that moment, Qin Gonggong also entered with Helan Min and Mu Yunhan.
"Ah!" Ji Rui quickly covered her head with both hands and hid behind Ji Yu. Ji Yu clenched his fists tightly, his heart burning with anger. Was he going to fail again today? He raised his gaze and saw Helan Min. A glimmer of light flashed in Ji Yu's eyes. This time, it relied on Helan Min. He had already discussed it with her before entering the palace.
"Your Majesty, bring Miss Helan forward," Mu Yunxuan commanded.
"Yes!"
Emperor Haoyue nodded, and Qin Gonggong crouched down and walked to his side.
"Helan Min, pay your respects to Your Majesty." Helan Min trembled as she knelt down, not daring to look at anyone.
"Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Helan Min stood up and stepped aside.
Su Zimo and Su Qi glanced at Helan Min, and both mother and son had a mocking look in their eyes.
Mu Yunhan nodded towards Su Zimo and Mu Yunxuan.
"Uncle," Mu Yunhan smiled and called out, his gaze drifting towards Ji Yu and Ji Rui.
"Han'er, you're here too. It seems the palace is bustling today."
"It's about Qi'er, so Han'er came to take a look." Mu Yunhan replied casually.
Emperor Haoyue once again turned his gaze towards Helan Min. "Miss Helan, did you really see Qi'er enter the Duke Zhen's residence last night?"
Helan Min looked up in panic, biting her lip as she looked at Emperor Haoyue.
Emperor Haoyue furrowed his brow at her reaction. What does this mean?
Ji Yu and Ji Rui stared at Helan Min expectantly. Her testimony was their only way out.
"Miss Helan, think carefully before you speak."
It was unexpectedly Mu Yunhan who spoke up. He had received a message from his eldest brother and hurriedly made his way from Yun City to the Imperial Palace.
"What do you mean, Han'er?" asked the emperor.
"Uncle, originally Yunhan didn't want to say this, but upon seeing the condition of Master Ji and Miss Ji's hair, Yunhan had to remind Miss He, lest she be manipulated by others. As an alchemist, I can tell at a glance that Master Ji and Miss Ji have been involved in an affair more than once," said Mu Yunhan.
Su Qi smiled at Mu Yunhan. His uncle's arrival couldn't have been more opportune. It was more persuasive coming from his uncle than from himself.
Mu Yunhan's words were like a bombshell, shattering the composure of the Ji family members.
Emperor Haoyue narrowed his eyes and coldly looked at Ji Yu and Ji Rui.
The empress was filled with worry. She couldn't let it turn out as Mu Yunhan had said! If it were true, she, as the empress, would truly lose face.
"Mu Yunhan, stop spreading baseless rumors!" Ji Rui shouted angrily at Mu Yunhan.
"Miss Ji, why would I spread baseless rumors? Your hair is the best evidence. Do you know why your hair turned out like this? It's because you consumed Yunzhong Huan. Combined with your bloodline, your hair gradually broke and ended up in its current state. It's too much to shift the blame onto Qi'er. He is a child of our Mu family," Mu Yunhan explained.
Those words also served as a reminder to Ji Yaotian. Now that Mingyue Villa was under Yun City's surveillance, he had been careless today. He should have thoroughly understood the origin of the matter.
"Mu Yunxuan, how do you know it's Yunzhong Huan? Did you drug us?" Ji Yu, overwhelmed with anger, unintentionally admitted to having consumed Yunzhong Huan.
He Lanmin looked at Ji Yu dumbfounded. Was this the man she had wanted to marry? It turned out that the previous night when she saw him with Ji Rui, it wasn't their first time together. He had come to her early this morning, promising to marry her if she accused Su Qi of last night's incident. Can she still trust his words, a man who didn't even spare his own sister?
At this moment, He Lanmin's mind cleared up. She recalled Su Li's words, and she wouldn't dare to become a witness even if she had ten lives.
"Hmph! You've been affected by Yunzhong Huan for at least half a month. Speaking of Yunzhong Huan, any alchemist can tell at a glance. Master Ji, you are an alchemist yourself. Are you really claiming that you don't recognize Yunzhong Huan?" Mu Yunhan sneered, finding their denial ridiculous. He wasn't so bored as to secretly drug them.
"Miss He, did you really see Su Qi entering the Duke's Residence last night and drugging them?" Emperor Haoyue asked, seeing the situation becoming increasingly clear and no longer wishing to deal with them.
He Lanmin bit her lip, stealing a glance at Ji Rui. Offending Ji Rui would mean she couldn't marry into the Duke's Residence, and her father might have to resign and retire. But if she offended Mingyue Villa and Yun City, the He family would be as good as dead.
Considering the pros and cons, He Lanmin made up her mind.
"Replying to Your Majesty, last night, at Miss Ji's invitation, I stayed at the Duke's Residence. However, I didn't personally witness Su Qi entering the residence. I only heard that there were assassins at the Duke's Residence. And I was staying in a nearby courtyard not far from Miss Ji. By the time I arrived, the assassins had already left," He Lanmin confessed.
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