Chapter 213 Entering the Palace

Chapter 213: Entering the Palace

Xu Muyan felt a headache coming on. Since the other party had previously saved his wife and son, he naturally wouldn't suspect Ji Yuntang's account.

However, this was truly too difficult to investigate!

The room contained aphrodisiacs and many men's footprints, and the culprits had acted on their master's orders to teach Prince Qi a lesson.

It was highly likely that these were Luo Feizhou's enemies from outside.

Someone had taken a dislike to him and arranged for people disguised as assassins to humiliate and teach him a lesson.

But what about the aphrodisiacs?

It couldn't have been the assassins who planted them, could it?

Ji Yuntang clenched her fists, her face filled with indignation. "I'm afraid we'll have to wait for Prince Qi to wake up to get to the bottom of this."

"This Princess also wants to know who dared to covet my beauty and abduct me. When I find that person, I'll make sure they pay!"

Luo Sinian was speechless.

He was utterly shocked.

She was such a good actress, wasn't she?

Wasn't she the one who abducted herself?

How would she make the other party pay?

The more he interacted with Ji Yuntang, the more Luo Sinian felt his worldview being overturned.

She was like a slippery fish, impossible to get a handle on.

Luo Sinian now understood perfectly well that Ji Yuntang had meticulously arranged the room before escaping, planting plenty of false clues.

From the men's footprints to the strands of hair at the scene, and even the blood she had left in the alley outside.

She had even perfectly used the large hole in the roof that he had jumped in through.

He had to admit, she was a genius.

It was Luo Feizhou's bad luck to have crossed her.

Luo Sinian felt much more at ease. He felt no sympathy for Luo Feizhou whatsoever—after all, he had been the one to set his sights on Ji Yuntang in the first place.

She was his third brother's princess. Wanting to sleep with her? Did he even deserve that?

Xu Muyan glanced at Ji Yuntang, then turned his head and looked at Luo Feizhou, who was wrapped up like a silkworm chrysalis on the bed, furrowing his brow.

"Princess Ye, even without your prompting, I will thoroughly investigate this and give both Prince Qi and you a satisfactory explanation."

"However, given Prince Qi's injuries, the palace will likely learn of this soon. You—"

Xu Muyan was about to tell her to prepare herself mentally because the Emperor and Consort Chu might summon her.

But before he could finish, the sharp, drawn-out voice of Eunuch Zhang came from outside the door.

"By His Majesty's decree, I am here to summon Princess Ye to the palace for an audience."

Xu Muyan's eyes darkened instantly. He hadn't expected the palace to act so quickly.

In the Dongchen Kingdom, everyone knew that Luo Jingshen and Luo Feizhou were the Emperor's favorite sons, and their maternal clans held considerable power.

Now that Prince Qi was so severely injured, given Consort Chu's fierce protectiveness of her son, would she let Ji Yuntang—the only witness—off easily?

Xu Muyan thought that was impossible.

He looked at Ji Yuntang with a worried gaze, seriousness flickering in his eyes.

"Princess Ye, perhaps I should accompany you to the palace?"

He might not be able to help much with the big matters, but based on the clues he had gathered at the scene, he could certainly provide sufficient testimony on her behalf.

Ji Yuntang was about to say there was no need to trouble Xu Muyan, that she could handle it herself.

But before she could speak, Xie Liuzheng stepped forward and threw an arm around Xu Muyan's shoulders, grinning with familiar ease. "Great! If Assistant Minister Xu is going, then this Heir wants to go too."

How could he miss such a good chance to watch the excitement?

Fearing that Eunuch Zhang might refuse to let him into the palace, Xie Liuzheng's eyes darted around, and he immediately pulled Luo Sinian over, a roguish smile curving his lips.

"This Heir and Prince Chen were also witnesses. If we accompany the Princess Ye to see His Majesty, you don't mind, do you, Eunuch Zhang?"

Luo Sinian was speechless.

Had Xie Liuzheng just used him as a shield?

Even if Xie Liuzheng hadn't spoken, Luo Sinian had already planned to go to the palace with Ji Yuntang.

He knew in his heart that the few of them were all in the same boat now. As long as their stories matched, they wouldn't have to fear Emperor Jingyang and Consort Chu catching them out.

Luo Sinian pondered for a moment, running the story through his mind, then said in a deep voice, "Heir Xie's words are exactly what this Prince intended. Both he and I saw those assassins. We fought against them in the green bamboo grove outside the city and rescued the Third Princess-in-law. Perhaps we can provide some useful clues."

As he spoke, he cast a glance at his guard, Su Mu, who stood by the door.

Su Mu instantly understood his intent, gave Luo Sinian a slight nod, and quietly slipped away from Baixiang Tower.

Eunuch Zhang now found himself caught in a big dilemma. Why did Xie Liuzheng, that rascal, have to stick his nose into this?

And he had even dragged Prince Chen along.

The other party was Emperor Jingyang's biological son. Since Luo Sinian was offering to testify, how could he refuse?

"Prince Chen, His Majesty only summoned the Prin—"

Before Eunuch Zhang could finish, Luo Sinian interrupted him.

"Say no more, Eunuch Zhang. This Prince has made up his mind. We will set off for the palace immediately."

Eunuch Zhang's mouth twitched. He bowed respectfully and said, "Yes, Prince Chen."

Before leaving, he glanced at Luo Feizhou, who lay on the bed, and found his appearance truly pitiful and unbearable.

When had the proud Prince Qi ever been so humiliated?

With a flick of his whisk, Eunuch Zhang ordered the guards behind him, "Consort Chu is worried about Prince Qi's health. Take him along as well."

Two guards immediately came to carry Luo Feizhou. They lifted him like a stone, one holding his head and the other his feet.

Qing Feng, worried they might hurt Luo Feizhou, also hurried over to help.

Thus, the group that was originally meant to escort only Ji Yuntang into the palace suddenly turned into a mighty procession.

Dongchen Imperial Palace.

Looking at the familiar Hall of State Affairs, Ji Yuntang let out a helpless sigh.

It hadn't been long, yet she didn't expect to be back so soon.

Eunuch Zhang saw Ji Yuntang hesitating outside the Hall of State Affairs and assumed she was afraid.

He gave a cold laugh while maintaining a respectful expression. "Princess Ye, please go in. Don't keep His Majesty waiting."

Xie Liuzheng sidled over with a sly grin and lowered his voice: "Don't be afraid, Princess Ye. With this heir and Prince Chen here, we can definitely make black look white."

Ji Yuntang raised an eyebrow and shot him a sidelong glance, as if to say, "What makes you think I'm scared?"

However, having Xie Liuzheng, that mood-lightening devil-may-care troublemaker, around did make Ji Yuntang feel much lighter.

After Ji Yuntang entered, she realized the Hall of State Affairs was already packed.

Not only Emperor Jingyang, but also the Empress, Consort Chu, Consort Li, Luo Qingge, and Luo Qianxue were all there.

She followed protocol and bowed to everyone: "Your servant pays her respects to Your Majesty, the Empress, Consort Chu, Consort Li..."

Emperor Jingyang did not tell her to rise. His face livid and his voice angry, he demanded: "Princess Ye, why did you ask Prince Qi to meet at the tavern? Is his injury related to you?"

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