Emperor Ximing frowned deeply, naturally understanding the seriousness of the matter. This scandal had spread throughout the streets and alleys, tarnishing the imperial family’s reputation. Regardless of how disappointing Chu Qingqiang was, this matter still required a dignified conclusion.
He sighed deeply and waved his hand. “Eunuch Lu, draft an imperial decree on my behalf.”
“Fifth Princess Chu Qingqiang and merchant Xiao Tianqi have found love together. I have already approved their marriage agreement. Three days from now, a wedding ceremony will be held for them.”
After speaking, Emperor Ximing looked at Chu Qingqiang, who was kneeling on the ground. “After leaving the palace for marriage, from now on, you may no longer call yourself a princess, nor can you use the imperial surname Chu. I no longer have you as a daughter.”
“Father Emperor…” Chu Qingqiang cried mournfully, not expecting the matter to be so serious.
Emperor Ximing didn’t even look at Chu Qingqiang as he addressed an imperial guard in the hall, “Look carefully. From now on, this woman is just a commoner. No matter what happens, she is not to be brought into the palace.”
“Those who violate this order will be executed immediately!”
Hearing this, Empress Dowager Zheng sighed slightly, knowing that Chu Qingqiang’s life had essentially been ruined.
Yet even now, she still didn’t quite understand how Qingqiang, who had been perfectly fine before, had become entangled with a merchant’s son.
…
…
“Father Emperor, daughter knows her mistake. Please spare daughter this once.” Chu Qingqiang pleaded with her last bit of hope.
“Get out!” Emperor Ximing’s anger didn’t subside. “Guards, throw these two out of the palace!”
Chu Qingqiang and Xiao Tianqi were dragged out of the great hall.
Emperor Ximing, with a grim face, stormed out of the hall in a rage, and the Empress immediately hurried after him.
Empress Dowager Zheng stood in place, glancing at Mu Yunjin beside her, her eyes thoughtful.
……
When leaving the palace, Mu Yunjin deliberately chose to exit through the back palace gate.
Sure enough, as soon as she stepped outside the palace gate, a figure lunged at her, grabbing her arm tightly.
Fearing that Chu Qingqiang might touch her wound, Mu Yunjin raised her hand to shake off Chu Qingqiang’s arm, then looked at her with smiling eyes. “Oh? Where is Young Master Xiao?”
“Mu Yunjin, all of this was your doing, wasn’t it?” Chu Qingqiang glared at Mu Yunjin, never before having felt such resentment and bitterness.
Mu Yunjin folded her arms, reaching up to touch her ear. “Fifth Princess, what are you talking about? I don’t understand…”
“Oh, wait, I shouldn’t call you Fifth Princess anymore. Now you’re just a common citizen.” After speaking, Mu Yunjin covered her mouth and laughed.
“Mu Yunjin, you’re ruthless!” Chu Qingqiang said with a gloomy face, gritting her teeth.
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow. “Ruthless?”
After speaking, she laughed again. “How am I ruthless? Why are you wronging me like this? I even found you a husband with immense family wealth to ensure you can still live in luxury for the rest of your life. If I were truly ruthless, I would have directly found you a beggar from the streets…”
“You…” Chu Qingqiang was left speechless, never having met someone who could commit such shameless acts yet speak so righteously.
“Well, at this point, you should stop trying to contact the people from Huayue Pavilion and just focus on being Madam Xiao.” Mu Yunjin picked at her fingernails.
Chu Qingqiang suddenly had a bad feeling. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing much, just that I heard the Huayue Pavilion in Xinyao City caught fire last night. The entire pavilion was burned to ashes…”
Chu Qingqiang stumbled backward, her legs giving way as she collapsed powerlessly to the ground, looking more disheveled than ever before.
“Mu Yunjin, as long as I’m alive, I will personally kill you.” Chu Qingqiang’s teeth were nearly breaking from how hard she was clenching them.
“Heh, I’ll be waiting.” After speaking, Mu Yunjin cast a sidelong glance at Xiao Tianqi, who was spying from a corner nearby.
After making eye contact with Mu Yunjin, Xiao Tianqi nodded at her with a smile.
Mu Yunjin returned the smile with a nod, then turned and walked away.
After Mu Yunjin left, Xiao Tianqi ran out, pretending to help Chu Qingqiang up from the ground, but she pushed him away. “What benefit did Mu Yunjin give you that made you conspire with her against me?”
Xiao Tianqi had originally been somewhat cautious around Chu Qingqiang because of her princess status, but just now in the hall, the Emperor had made it clear that he no longer wanted this daughter.
Now, naturally, he didn’t hold this disgraced former princess in any regard. He coldly laughed, “Qingqiang, come home with me. Our Xiao family won’t mistreat you.”
“If you don’t come with me, I’m afraid you’ll have nowhere else to go,” said Xiao Tianqi.
Chu Qingqiang bit her lip, stood up, and, ignoring Xiao Tianqi, quickly walked toward the General’s Mansion.
At this point, only Muyue could help her.
Xiao Tianqi stood in place, watching Chu Qingqiang’s retreating figure with amusement, silently saying, “The Sixth Prince’s wife keeps her word.”
He had met this Fifth Princess a few times before, but she had never given him a proper glance. Now, once he brought her into the Xiao family, he would see how to deal with her.
……
At the entrance of the General’s Mansion, Chu Qingqiang rushed to the door but was stopped by the guards.
“This princess wishes to see Miss Qin.” Chu Qingqiang composed herself and looked at the guards at the door.
The guards, still unaware that Chu Qingqiang had been stripped of her title, immediately ran in to announce her arrival. After a while, they came back out. “Fifth Princess, our young miss doesn’t wish to see you.”
“What?” Chu Qingqiang was surprised. Qin Muyue had always been her best friend. How could she not want to see her?
“No, step aside. This princess must see Muyue.” Chu Qingqiang tried to enter, but the guards firmly blocked her.
Seeing this, Chu Qingqiang became furious. She gathered true qi in her palm and was about to strike the two guards when a blast of palm energy came from inside the door, hitting Chu Qingqiang squarely in the chest. She flew backward, falling down the steps at the entrance of the General’s Mansion.
Then, Qin Muyue’s figure emerged from inside.
“Muyue…” Chu Qingqiang struggled to get up, spitting blood, not expecting that it was Qin Muyue who had struck her. Her eyes were full of disbelief.
Qin Muyue walked out the main door, narrowed her eyes, and smiled. “What lowly commoner dares to cause trouble at the General’s Mansion? Do you have a death wish?”
“Muyue, you…” Chu Qingqiang was too shocked to speak.
“The Emperor’s decree has been issued, and as subjects, we naturally must strictly obey it. Now that you’re no longer a princess, who gave you the audacity to harm people at the General’s Mansion?” Qin Muyue curled her lips, coldly surveying the disheveled Chu Qingqiang.
Hearing this, Chu Qingqiang suddenly burst into laughter. She sat up, wiped the blood from the corner of her lips, and said, “Qin Muyue, you’re something!”
“Your trick of using others to do your dirty work is quite masterful, hahaha.”
Qin Muyue curled her lips slightly, clasped her hands behind her back, and looked at the guards at the door. “Next time, if this woman dares to come and cause trouble, beat her every time you see her!”
“Yes, Young Miss.”
After speaking, Qin Muyue was about to turn around.
“Qin Muyue, aren’t you afraid I’ll tell Chu Li everything?” Chu Qingqiang shouted angrily at her retreating figure.
Qin Muyue stopped in her tracks, turned around, and her lips curved in a pleased smile. “Mu Yunjin already gave you a way out. Why do you come here seeking death?”
Chu Qingqiang froze.
……
When Mu Yunjin returned to the mansion, she was in an excellent mood.
Just as she stepped through the door of Liquan Pavilion, Chu Li was sitting at a stone table in the courtyard, holding a cup of tea. Upon seeing Mu Yunjin, he gave her a meaningful look.
Mu Yunjin paused, then gave Chu Li a strained smile. “Good morning.”
“It’s not early anymore,” Chu Li took a sip of tea and said calmly, “You’ve certainly been busy today.”
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin guessed that Chu Li already knew about the Chu Qingqiang matter, so she didn’t try to hide anything. She sat down and said, “So, are you satisfied with how I handled it?”
Chu Li pressed his lips together tightly, looking at Mu Yunjin with eyes full of deep meaning and a trace of anger. “Forgetting the pain once the wound has healed—that’s exactly the kind of woman you are.”
Mu Yunjin didn’t understand why Chu Li seemed somewhat angry. She slightly furrowed her brow. “You’re not feeling sorry for your fifth sister, are you? But you don’t strike me as someone who values family ties, so why are you angry?”
“Mu Yunjin!” Chu Li was truly angered by her nonchalant attitude.
“What?” Mu Yunjin truly didn’t understand what Chu Li meant.
Chu Li frowned, his voice dropping low, “Chu Qingqiang has connections with the Eastern Lin Kingdom. By stepping forward and cutting off their connection, aren’t you afraid of being targeted by Eastern Lin?”
“I…” Mu Yunjin was at a loss for words; she hadn’t considered this aspect.
“So what do we do now? What’s done is done.” Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, looking at Chu Li with pitiful eyes.
Seeing this pitiful gaze, Chu Li’s anger subsided a little, but he still reached out and poked her forehead in displeasure.
Mu Yunjin covered her forehead, glaring at Chu Li.
Chu Li sighed helplessly, stood up, unwilling to say more, and prepared to return to his room.
After taking a few steps, he stopped again, turned to look at Mu Yunjin with a defeated expression. “Next time you want to do something, tell this prince beforehand. This prince will do it for you.”
After speaking, he walked into the room and closed the door with a bang.
Hearing the door close, Mu Yunjin’s body trembled slightly. She rolled her eyes, processing Chu Li’s words, and a smile curved her lips.
Chu Li, this secretly passionate man.
……
Back in her room, Mu Yunjin was again startled by someone standing there.
She poured herself a cup of water and sat down. “Qiqi, why do you always appear so silently?”
Qiqi giggled and sat down beside Mu Yunjin. “Of course I’m here to report good news to my master.”
“Is it done?” Mu Yunjin looked at Qiqi.
“Naturally. Not only was the Huayue Pavilion burned to the ground, but our people also went to the Eastern Lin Kingdom and burned down the Yuehua Pavilion as well.” Qiqi raised her chin proudly.
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin gave her a thumbs up. “Well done.”
“What about the rumors I asked you to spread?” Mu Yunjin asked further.
“Yes, everything has been taken care of. Xiumei disguised herself as Liniang and infiltrated the Eastern Lin Kingdom’s palace, meeting with Rong Min. So now, Rong Min will only think that Chu Qingqiang has been playing him all along, and won’t suspect any other reason. Master, you can rest easy.” Qiqi also took a sip of water.
“That’s good. This matter is resolved, then.” Mu Yunjin said.
Qiqi nodded, but then her eyes showed a trace of worry. “Master, when Xiumei was leaving the Eastern Lin palace, she encountered the Crown Prince of Eastern Lin. That man is a formidable character; he immediately saw through Xiumei’s disguise.”
“Oh? There was such an incident?”
“Yes, fortunately, Xiumei ran quickly and escaped the palace guards. However, the members of the Eastern Lin royal family are indeed all extraordinary. They may be our biggest opponents in the future…”