Chapter 27: Praying for the Emperor's Bestowal of Marriage

Madame Liu did not expect Mo Zixiao to be waiting right at the entrance of the Prime Minister’s estate. Could it be that he already knew everything?

It was too late for that now. The deed was done; there was no turning back for him.

Thinking of this, Madame Liu took a deep breath, then looked at Mo Zixiao and sneered, "Oh, if it isn't General Mo? What a coincidence. Are you here to discuss matters with the Left Prime Minister?"

Mo Zixiao sat tall and imposing on his horse, the curve of his lips carrying a chilling, bloodthirsty murderous intent.

"My business is not with the Left Prime Minister, but with the Emperor when I enter the palace shortly."

Madame Liu’s heart sank. Was he going to the palace to lodge a complaint with the Emperor?

But then she reconsidered: the current Emperor was the Left Prime Minister's own nephew. What could a mere military general do to sway him? Moreover, the situation was already set in stone; this Tiger Fang General was likely powerless to change anything.

With this thought, Madame Liu stepped down from the stairs and said with a look of disdain, "Then I shall not delay General Mo any further. Farewell." With that, she boarded her carriage.

However, before she could even settle into her seat, she heard Mo Zixiao giving stern orders to Pang Hu outside: "Arrange men here. Guard the front and back gates and all exits tightly. If anyone is carried out horizontally, report it to me immediately. I am heading to the palace now to see the Emperor; I want to see if the laws of the Ping Kingdom are truly nothing more than a facade."

Upon hearing this, Madame Liu gripped her handkerchief tightly and hurried the coachman to drive back to the Marquis's estate.

Winter days grow dark early. It was already the hour of the tiger when Madame Liu finally stepped through the gates of the Marquis's estate.

Seeing her return, the Marquis of Chu immediately stepped forward to ask, "Why are you back so late? You were gone for the entire day."

Madame Liu quickly ordered someone to bring her tea to moisten her throat before sitting down, looking tense as she said to the Marquis, "I ran into Mo Zixiao at the entrance of the Prime Minister's estate. He and Pang Hu were on horseback at the gate, acting as if they knew something."

The Marquis of Chu slapped his thigh upon hearing this. "Damn it. He came to our estate this afternoon, but turned back in a rage halfway through. He must know everything."

Madame Liu wiped her mouth with her handkerchief. "So what if he knows? This is a matter between our Marquis estate and the Prime Minister’s estate; what does it have to do with him? Besides, the Emperor is the Left Prime Minister's own nephew. Even if Mo Zixiao complains to the throne, it won't matter. Furthermore, his engagement to Xi'er was voided long ago; what right does he have to lodge an imperial petition?"

The Marquis frowned and asked, "Did he tell you he was going to lodge an imperial petition?"

Madame Liu shook her head and repeated what had happened at the Prime Minister's gate. The Marquis listened with furrowed brows but remained silent, which made Madame Liu feel a sense of unease.

"My Lord, what is the matter?"

The Marquis sighed and shook his head. "Do you know that there are further incursions by foreign enemies on the southwestern border? A city has already fallen. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor are currently deeply worried about this. If Mo Zixiao refuses to lead the army to the front at this time, consider the consequences."

Madame Liu paused. "So the Emperor is being held hostage by Mo Zixiao, and he has no choice but to grant whatever he requests?"

The Marquis nodded solemnly. "Exactly."

"My Lord, what should we do then? When will our Yong'er be able to return to the capital and reunite with us?" Madame Liu began to weep.

The Marquis stood up helplessly. "Have the carriage prepared."

Madame Liu asked, "It is so late, and it is already dark. Where are you going, my Lord?"

"To the Prime Minister’s estate."

Madame Liu was surprised. "Are you planning to bring Xi'er back?"

The Marquis shook his head. "No, I am going to ask the Left Prime Minister to move Xi'er out and separate her from that freak to ensure her survival. Once the war in the southwest is settled, we can let the Prime Minister’s estate deal with her as they please."

Madame Liu’s tears turned to joy. "The Marquis is wise."

In the windowless side chamber of the Prime Minister’s estate, Qi Huan had already returned to his own quarters, leaving Chu Xi alone to stare blankly at the dim candlelight.

After eating the bun Qi Huan had given her, Chu Xi realized she had not died of poisoning. She couldn't help but tease herself, "Chu Xi, it seems your time hasn't come yet."

"The Marquis is here," Qi Huan said as he walked in from outside.

Chu Xi turned her head to look at him. "Chu Jingzhi?"

"Yes." Qi Huan took a paper bag from his robes and handed it to Chu Xi.

Chu Xi took it and asked with a sorrowful smile, "Why is he here? To collect my corpse?"

Qi Huan sat down. "You were sent here by the Marquis's estate; by now, everyone in the capital likely knows. The Marquis's estate is in a precarious position right now. He likely came to plead for your life to be spared."

Chu Xi raised an eyebrow. "Does that mean the Left Prime Minister’s wife won't send that servant to bring me a poisoned food box tomorrow?"

Qi Huan chuckled. "Likely so."

Chu Xi set down the paper bag containing the food and choked back a sob. "So what? As long as I am alive, I am destined to be used by them again and again. I escaped today, but there is always tomorrow. Even if I were to die, no one would feel any regret or sadness."

Qi Huan looked at her and smiled. "We are quite well-matched, in a way. If that venomous woman were to let you go, perhaps we could stay here as companions until we grow old. Would you be willing?"

Chu Xi looked up at him in surprise. "Didn't you say you liked pretending to be a woman? That is why the Left Prime Minister despises you. But you are the only son of this estate; even so, how did you end up in such a state?"

Qi Huan lowered his long, narrow eyes and spoke slowly. "The current wife of the Left Prime Minister is actually my maternal aunt, the younger sister of my late mother. When I was ten, I mistakenly fed her a bowl of contraceptive soup. Since then, she has been unable to bear children, and she began her various retaliations against me."

Chu Xi finally understood. "So, this bloodthirsty demon is actually the Left Prime Minister's wife, and she is projecting this onto you for revenge, right?"

"Exactly. But I cannot escape the blame."

"Because, in the end, it was your actions that led to the tragic deaths of those young women."

Qi Huan nodded painfully, then stood up. "Eat your food and get some rest. I am leaving."

Chu Xi watched his slender back, which was filled with sorrow, and a deep sense of sympathy surged in her heart.

Meanwhile, Mo Zixiao was kneeling in the Emperor’s throne room. The seventeen-year-old Emperor was pacing back and forth in agitation.

"General Mo, this is a private matter within a household. How do you expect me to handle it?"

Mo Zixiao raised his gaze to meet the young, foolish Emperor and said in a deep voice, "I ask for an imperial decree of marriage." His words rang out with undeniable resolve.