Chapter 85: Mo Lingyun’s Arrival

Chapter 85: Mo Lingyun's Arrival

Father Zhang held the whip, looking coldly at Zhang Luoyi on the ground.

Servants hurried forward to pull her up, forcing her to kneel.

Seeing Father Zhang lift the whip high, Gu Qingheng broke free from his restraints and rushed over to shield Zhang Luoyi.

"Ugh!"

The whip struck fiercely against Gu Qingheng's back, blood seeping through his green garment.

Upon hearing Gu Qingheng's muffled groan, Zhang Luoyi struggled to lift her gaze. Witnessing the bloodstains on his clothes, tears fell from her eyes.

"Cousin!"

Gu Qingheng gritted his teeth, forcing a smile for her.

"It's alright!"

"Drag him down!"

The subordinate promptly pulled Gu Qingheng back down, forcefully pinning him to the ground.

Seeing Zhang Luoyi's pitiful state, Zhang Luoqing smirked triumphantly, "With the way you two are so concerned for each other, one might mistake you for having some past connection!"

Zhang Luoqing's words struck a chord with Fang. She glanced between the two and, noticing the tender expression in Gu Qingheng's gaze as he looked at Zhang Luoyi, she recalled her own youth and understood the implications of that look.

...

Throughout the journey, Mo Lingyun listened to Jinger's account, veins pulsating in his forehead from anger.

They rode their horses swiftly to the Zhang residence. The servants at the entrance, not recognizing the visitors, attempted to stop them, only to be kicked aside by Mo Lingyun.

Upon arriving at the ancestral hall, they saw Father Zhang raising his whip, ready to strike.

"Halt!"

Mo Lingyun threw a dart, which sliced through Father Zhang's hand, causing him to cry out in pain and halt his motion.

Zhang Luoyi lifted her gaze to the newcomer, furrowing her brow slightly before collapsing.

"Luo'er!"

Mo Lingyun rushed forward to catch her.

Seeing her pale face and drenched state, Mo Lingyun was furious enough to kill.

He glanced around at the crowd, then scooped up Zhang Luoyi and rose to leave – Luo'er's safety was paramount.

"Bring them all to the Prince's residence!"

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After several days of gloom, Feng Xiyao reluctantly rose from her bed, motivated by the need to preserve her vitality, and made her way to the Zijin Hall.

Upon entering, she saw Kong Xue'er looking at Mo Cangyan with a bright smile as he ate.

"Your Majesty, I prepared all of these early in the morning, I hope they suit your palate!"

Mo Cangyan's expression was profoundly cold, but upon catching sight of Feng Xiyao entering through the door, a hint of a smile instantly curled up at the corner of his lips.

"Whatever my beloved concubine prepares, I cherish it all!"

"Feng Xiyao, how can you do that? Last time, you didn't even glance at what I made, and I had to force you to drink it. Yet, you love everything Kong Xue'er prepares!"

" Tyrant, you're being utterly discriminatory!"

Kong Xue'er was overjoyed: "If the Emperor likes it, I will make it for you every day!"

Mid-sentence, she noticed Feng Xiyao's arrival and approached with a displeased bow, "Your Majesty, this humble concubine pays her respects to the Empress!"

"Um," Feng Xiyao nodded perfunctorily.

She glanced at the bowl on the table, now empty, indicating that the tyrant must have enjoyed it immensely!

Feng Xiyao felt indignation stirring within her. "While it's certainly disheartening to witness my own failure, Kong Xue'er's favoritism stings even more!"

Upon hearing this, Mo Cangyan straightened his back, a delighted smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"What is the Queen here for?"

Feng Xiyao grinned softly. "Your subject misses the Emperor, so naturally, I came to see you!"

Mo Cangyan nodded. "Well, once the Queen has had her fill, she may leave!"

Kong Xue'er pursed her lips and chuckled, raising an eyebrow at Feng Xiyao. Her gaze seemed to convey, See? The Emperor is asking you to leave promptly!

Feng Xiyao was almost driven to cardiac arrest by anger.

"These shameless lovers should be locked up for good!"

Worried that she might lose control and start a fight with Kong Xue'er if she stayed any longer, she took a deep breath and bowed slightly towards Mo Cangyan.

"Since the Emperor has spoken, this subject will take my leave!" With that, she turned and left.

Mo Cangyan: "..."

This wasn't how he had envisioned it at all!

Would Feng Xiyao, this damn woman, ever know how to be coy or speak softly?

Eunuch Hai, standing by the entrance, noticed Feng Xiyao's indignation as she strode out. He hurriedly approached to inquire.

"Ah, what has happened to Her Majesty the Empress?"

Feng Xiyao's chest rose and fell with anger. "Has His Majesty been spending these past few days with Imperial Noble Consort Kong?"

Eunuch Hai nodded. "Indeed."

Observing Feng Xiyao's distressed expression, he quickly explained, "It's just to grind ink for the evening, and she will leave after that. The Emperor rarely smiles at her, so it seems he doesn't favor her much!"

"Favor her much? Your Highness, it looks like he likes her very much!" Recalling the Tyrant's priceless smile just now, Feng Xiyao spoke indignantly.

Eunuch Hai waved his hand. "Oh no, no, no, Empress. His Majesty loves you the most. Otherwise, he wouldn't have given you the jade pendant he's had since childhood, would he?"

"That jade not only has the functions I mentioned earlier, but also allows you to come and go from the palace freely. Be it high-ranking officials or common folk, all must pay respects upon seeing it!"

Amongst all that was said, what Feng Xiyao latched onto were the words "come and go from the palace freely"...

The Southern Peace Prince's Mansion.

Zhang Luoyi slowly opened her eyes to meet Mo Lingyun's concerned gaze.

"Luo'er, you're finally awake!"

Mo Lingyun grasped her hand excitedly.

Zhang Luoyi managed a weak smile...

After two days of rest, seeing that she was in better spirits, Mo Lingyun instructed his subordinate, "Bring those people here!"

As he spoke, he looked at Zhang Luoyi, "Luo'er, this prince will avenge you!"

"..."

He draped a cloak over her and scooped her up into his arms.

Zhang Luoyi wrapped her arms securely around his neck, feeling safe in his embrace.

Exiting the room, she found Father Zhang and the others kneeling in the courtyard.

Mo Lingyun placed the woman he held in his arms onto a luxurious chair in the yard to bask in the sun. His icy gaze fell upon the kneeling figures before him.

Noticing the servants trembling with fear, Mo Lingyun commanded, "Take those who dared to manhandle the Queen down and have them beheaded!"

"Your Highness, please spare us!"

The burly men were dragged away, screaming for mercy.

Zhang Luoqing watched in horror as they were taken away, shrinking back in fear. She had only known that the Duke was handsome but had no idea he could be so ruthless; it made her scream out in terror.

"Daddy, Mother, I don't want to marry the Duke anymore!"

Father Zhang's face flushed with embarrassment, regretting bringing up the topic.

Mo Lingyun gave Father Zhang, who was now drenched in sweat, a cold glance. Suddenly, he understood something and couldn't help but sneer.

"I, the Duke, am unaware when this mansion has fallen under Lord Zhang's jurisdiction!"

"Duke, this old minister knows his fault and will not dare again!"

Such people would never truly be deterred. If they had injured Luo'er, Mo Lingyun wouldn't have let them off so easily.

He signaled to his aide to bring forth the whip they had taken from the Zhang residence, swinging it in his hand.

"Lord Zhang must take responsibility for his actions. You should have considered the consequences of injuring the Duchess!"

At the sight of the whip, the trio were so terrified that they nearly collapsed.

Mo Lingyun couldn't bear to imagine how much pain Luo'er would endure if struck by it. His anger intensified.

"The Duchess, whom I cherish, was bullied to such an extent by you all. If I don't mete out punishment, I, Mo Lingyun, shall renounce my surname!"

Observing Mo Lingyun's deep concern for Zhang Luoyi, Fang immediately scrambled forward with an idea in her mind.

"Your Highness, we had no intention of treating her that way. However, we discovered an ambiguous relationship between Luoyi and that Cousin Gu from the Gu family. For the sake of the Zhang family and Your Highness, we felt it necessary to enforce family discipline upon her!"