Chapter 54 (1/2)

Chapter 54

Scheming Boy

Ban Xiang looks out to the sky outside, ”Your Ladyship, if you want to run away with the 7th king, you must hasten.  If you waste any more time, you will get discovered.”

At that moment, a little maid rushes into Mo Qi Qi's chamber with a delighted face, ”Your Ladyship, there is a good news!  The guards outside Feng Yang Palace have been sent away!  His Majesty has retracted the order of your house-arrest!  Dong Fei's case has been solved, she was murdered by her two maids.  They hated her because she was cruel to them.  They took advantage of you punishing her as a cover and murdered her.  They buried her in the rose garden.  If the corpse is discovered, the blame would lie on you.  The emperor has ordered the prime minister to investigate everything and has announced your innocence.”

Mo Qi Qi is stunned.

Ban Xiang happily exclaims, ”This is great, Your Ladyship!  Congratulation, Your Ladyship!  Your misfortune has started to turn into a blessing!”

Mo Qi Qi continues standing there in a daze; she finds this hard to believe.  What is going on?  From what the 7th king said, it will be hard to divert the blame from her.  Jun Qian Che should know all that, why didn't he convict her?

”The emperor has arrived!” A voice announced from outside, pulling Mo Qi Qi back from her daze.

Jun Qian Che is wearing a black robe embroidered with golden threads.  He walks in with large strides, looking so overbearing and dominant.

Mo Qi Qi immediately curtsies, ”Greeting, Your Majesty.”

”Get up,” Jun Qian Che looks at her, his two hands tucked on his back.

”Yes, Your Majesty.”  She stands up and smiles happily at him while asking, ”It is so late, why is Your Majesty here?”

Jun Qian Che replies, ”To see if the empress is still here.”

Mo Qi Qi is shocked as she maintains her smile, ”Your Majesty knows how to crack a joke.  It is night, if chenqie is not in here, where else should chenqie be?” Don't tell her this jerk knows about her plan to run away with the 7th king?  No way; if he knows, he would have ordered her execution long ago instead of talking so calmly to her like this.  She should stop scaring herself.

”You must have known by now, about Dong Fei's case.” Jun Qian Che walks past Mo Qi Qi and sits on one of the main seats.

Mo Qi Qi turns around to face him and obediently nods, ”Yes.”

”Now that this matter has ended, the empress can put her worry to rest.” Jun Qian Che drinks the tea that Ban Xiang has just served.

Mo Qi Qi smiles as a tangle forms in her heart.  What does he mean by that?  Is he hinting at the truth?  If she continues to pretend that she doesn't know anything, will it p.i.s.s him off?  Honestly, even she doesn't know if Dong Fei was really murdered by the previous owner.  Jun Qian Che has basically helped her; should she be good and admit fault?  But if she does, what if he takes this chance to threaten her?  Such dilemmas.

After making a long consideration, Mo Qi Qi decides to be honest, ”Your Majesty, chenqie heard that Dong Fei died because of her miscarriage and her injury from the Art of San Zhi.  Back then, chenqie didn't know that she was carrying the dragon seed and had caused her to have a miscarriage, that really was chenqie's fault.  And then, that injury from the Art of San Zhi—”

”That is enough.  The investigation shows that she was harmed by her two maids.  It has nothing to do with you, remember that.”

Mo Qi Qi is stunned.  She curtsies in front of him, ”Yes, chenqie will remember that.”  What Jun Qian Che means by that is, it does not matter if she harmed Dong Fei.  He will not pursue the matter.  Since when has he become so benevolent?  Does he have any other motive?  Oh, she gets it now!  It must be because of Mo Clan's influence.  He hopes that he will receive Mo Clan's loyalty if he spares her.  He also wants her to be thankful to him and in turn, speaks in favour of him in front of Duke Zhen.  Hehe, Jun Qian Che is such a scheming boy.

After saying that, the two of them falls into a silence.