Chapter 59: Rescuing Chu Xi

Qi Huan paused upon hearing this, a fleeting, imperceptible emotion flashing deep within his eyes. He then shook his head and said, "No, I am already betrothed to Princess Lanxin, and the wedding day is fast approaching. Huan'er cannot do this."

"Yet if you so desire, your aunt can have the Emperor issue an imperial decree immediately."

Qi Huan offered a helpless, faint smile. "Chu Xi and Grand General Mo are deeply devoted to one another; Huan'er has no intention of seizing what is another's. I merely implore you, Aunt, to save her. She is most certainly not the culprit who poisoned the Dowager Madam Mo."

The Empress Dowager sighed. "This mourner feels likewise. However, the Court of Judicial Review has always enforced the law with absolute impartiality. Now that the Dowager Madam herself has directly accused her of poisoning, and the Marquisate insists upon her guilt, the matter is exceedingly thorny indeed."

Qi Huan immediately kowtowed, pleading, "Your nephew implores you, Aunt, to save Chu Xi."

At this juncture, the Left Chancellor spoke up, "This affair is indeed difficult to manage. At the time, only Chu Xi, Qian Mengyun, and the Dowager Madam Mo were in the room. Now that the two of them adamantly accuse her, reversing the verdict will likely prove arduous."

Hearing this, Qi Huan grew anxious, his eyes brimming with indignation and reluctance.

"Your Majesty, Chu Xi is clearly wronged; there must be someone plotting against her from the shadows. Are we simply to watch her endure false accusations and humiliation for a full decade, just as your nephew did? How did your nephew survive those ten years? The pointing fingers of those around me, the myriad baseless charges—they tormented my body and soul alike. Chu Xi is merely a young and delicate woman; if she were to suffer such a fate, it would be utterly unjust."

At the mere mention of Qi Huan's past decade, a sharp pang pierced the Empress Dowager's heart. Instantly provoked, she resolutely declared, "It is not so difficult after all. First, have the Court of Judicial Review release the prisoner, and then go to the General's Manor to interrogate the old dowager once more. Tell her that if it is discovered she lodged a false accusation, it will inevitably implicate Mo Zixiao's future official career. I refuse to believe we cannot force the truth out of the old woman."

The Left Chancellor nodded in agreement. "Perhaps this approach might truly succeed. Yet once Chu Xi leaves the Court of Judicial Review, where shall she be sent?"

This was indeed a conundrum that momentarily stumped Qi Huan.

The Empress Dowager, however, hooked the corners of her lips into a meaningful smile and continued leisurely, "She will be sent back to the General's Manor, of course."

Upon hearing these words, Qi Huan's face registered utter astonishment, his eyes filled with perplexity. He hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty, why is this? The Dowager Madam Mo intentionally framed Chu Xi previously precisely to drive her away from Mo Zixiao. Now, to send her right back into the General's Manor—no matter how one looks at it, this is casting her into a fiery pit. Is this not leading a sheep directly into the tiger's mouth?"

Hearing Qi Huan's words, the Empress Dowager slowly shook her head, an air of calm assurance gracing her features. "You, child, need not worry. After this ordeal, the Dowager Madam Mo will no longer dare to treat Chu Xi rashly. She originally thought she could use this opportunity to banish Chu Xi completely, but the current situation has slipped entirely beyond her control. From now on, this matter will only bring her greater vexation. As for this mourner, acting thus is also meant to vent some injustice on Chu Xi's behalf. Chu Xi is fundamentally a good girl, and to see her schemed against so by the Dowager Madam is more than this mourner can bear to watch. Besides, that embroidery of a Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix remains unfinished; how could I allow any harm to befall Chu Xi?"

The Left Chancellor said, "Let us defer to the Empress Dowager's wisdom on this matter. This may already be considered treating Chu Xi with the utmost benevolence."

Qi Huan lowered his gaze in contemplation for a moment, realizing that this indeed constituted the most favorable outcome possible.

He therefore kowtowed in gratitude, "Many thanks for Your Majesty's grace; Huan'er shall engrave this upon his heart for the rest of his days."

"Silly child, rise quickly. Your knees have grown so sore from kneeling that your aunt's heart aches."

Only then did Qi Huan attempt to stand, but his legs had completely ceased to obey him, aching so fiercely that he could not rise at all.

Seeing this, the Left Chancellor felt a sympathetic pang and immediately stepped forward to support him. "You child, when did you become so stubborn?"

Qi Huan seated himself upon a carved wooden chair nearby, lifting his head to smile happily at the Empress Dowager. That radiant smile was like a bright moon parting the gloomy clouds, warming the hearts of both the Empress Dowager and the Left Chancellor with deep affection.

Having been detained within the Court of Judicial Review for a day and a night, Chu Xi was finally released.

At that moment, the Prime Minister's carriage was already waiting outside the gates. Seeing her emerge, the coachman immediately stepped forward.

"Lady Chu, our Eldest Young Master instructed me to escort you back."

Chu Xi looked at the coachman with surprise, asking, "The Eldest Young Master?"

The coachman nodded. "The Prime Minister's Eldest Young Master, Qi Huan."

Hearing this, a wave of pleasant surprise washed over Chu Xi. "So it was him."

"It is indeed I." Qi Huan suddenly stepped forward from behind the carriage with the graceful air of a jade-faced scholar.