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“Tianjie, you don’t need to lie. You were angry with Lóng Wei. I will protect you. So, tell me the truth,” Qiu Mu urged.

Tianjie shook his head and refused. “I didn’t send anyone after Li Hua. I was planning to, but then I withdrew my plan. I decided not to do anything,” Tianjie stated. “Please believe my words,” he affirmed. Qiu Mu furrowed his brows together and wondered who could do this.

Someone in the palace definitely knew Li Hua was going out and made immediate plans to attack her.

But, who? Who the person could be who had no fear. He openly attacked Li Hua and Liu Jin Yu just a few distances away from the palace. If Qiu Mu did not find out about it until the evening, he would be considered a fool and brainless. His father would take the title of the general from him which could never let happen.

“Brother Lóng Wei has many other enemies too in the palace,” Tianjie stated.

“But this move was unexpected. Someone lied about Xu Zifan’s message to Li Hua. Who could do this?” Qiu Mu wondered. Tianjie had not told him that he was the one who had asked his men to deliver such a message to Li Hua. He had a fear that Qiu Mu might betray him and take his name in front of their father if he failed to find the enemy.

For the first time, Tianjie found himself vulnerable. More than the King’s punishment, he feared Lóng Wei. When Lóng Wei entered the bedchamber, he looked calm and composed.

However, it was not the truth.

.....

Inside, he was that volcano who had not erupted in a long time. He had made sure that no clue would leave behind that could lead Lóng Wei to him. His hands turned sweaty again just by the thought of it. That gaze on Lóng Wei’s face, he could not forget. This was the most dumbest decision of Tianjie’s life.

Qiu Mu took his leave, and Tianjie went to the patio. His heart was restless, and he drank water a lot of times. Eunuch Shi Rang kept asking him if he was sick, but Tianjie didn’t answer him.

“Leave the chamber,” Tianjie told Shi Rang. He bowed and walked out silently.

“Someone knew about my plan. Was it Brother Mu because only he knew about it? I didn’t tell anyone except anyone,” he mumbled and crossed his arms. Who could be this fearless? He had suspicions about Zhang Xi too, but he soon ruled it out.

“He isn’t that brave to launch an attack without my support. Zhang Xi can never do this,” he murmured, and wondered if it was a eunuch. Was it Shi Rang? Was he powerful like Eunuch Lianying? After Lianying’s true face was shown to everyone, Tianjie could not deny that even eunuchs could be powerful.

~~~~~~

During the evening time, Noble Consort Xiuying looked at herself in the mirror which she was holding. She asked her servant if she looked beautiful enough, and she complimented Xiuying’s looks.

“No matter how many beauty products the Queen uses, she can never defeat me. That’s why I rule the King’s heart,” Xiuying stated and smiled.

A maidservant came inside, running and got on her knees. Xiuying was perplexed to see her. The personal attendant to Xiuying asked her why she looked worried.

“Respected Noble Consort, General Hei is waiting for you outside. He wants to converse with you and asked permission if he can come inside,” the maidservant informed Xiuying.

“Send him in,” Xiuying said, and sat straight on the floor mattress. The translucent curtain was pulled down slowly and her face was hidden.

Hei Chengxi came inside and bowed before Xiuying. She dismissed the other servants, except her personal attendant.

“Why did General Hei come to see me? What work can he have from me?” Xiuying asked with a proud face.

“I am here to arrest the Noble Consort,” Hei Chengxi pronounced.

Xiuying was perplexed to hear him and inquired if he understood what he was saying.

“I am very well aware of my words, Noble Consort Xiuying,” Hei Chengxi replied, lifting his head. “Please come silently with me to prison, where I will show you the reason behind your arrest,” he stated.

Xiuying’s personal attendant came forward and warned Hei Chengxi to be within his limits. “His Majesty will punish the General if he tries to cross his limits,” she said with a stern tone.

“Pardon me, if I went out of my boundaries. However, I am performing my duties. Noble Consort Xiuying is the one who sent the assassins to kill Princess Consort Li Hua and Miss Liu Jin Yu,” Hei Chengxi proclaimed.

Xiuying was shocked to hear Hei Chengxi’s words. She immediately stood up from her seat and stepped up. Pushing the curtain away, she glared into the eyes of Hei Chengxi.

“Does General Hei know what he is saying? Why would I do this? Does he have any evidence? How dare he accuse me without any valid source?” Noble Consort Xiuying growled at him.

“I wish my hands had not fallen on the evidence,” Hei Chengxi stated. “One of the masked men was caught alive and he told us your name. Please follow me, or else, as the General of Qiu Kingdom, I will take action in my accord,” Hei Chengxi remained polite towards her. He didn’t want to humiliate her after what she did to the young ladies in the royal family.

Hei Chengxi took out the tassel that was recovered from the captive man’s clothes, and he showed it to Xiuying. “Does this belong to the Noble Consort?” Hei Chengxi queried.

“Yes, it’s mine, but I do not know what it is doing with him. General Hei, please believe my words,” she stated and furrowed her brows together.

“I will see His Majesty first. I didn’t send anyone. Someone is portraying me as the culprit when I did nothing,” Xiuying defended herself. “Believe my words, General Hei,” she stated.

“Forgive me,” Hei Chengxi said and he tilted his head to gesture at the two soldiers behind him. They stepped forward and caught Xiuying by her arms. Hei Chengxi walked out of the chamber while Xiuying started shouting as she was dragged out by the soldiers.

The servants of her manor stood in fear as they saw Xiuying being dragged to the prison. They kept their heads low. However, the servants who were appointed in the chamber pleaded with General Hei to leave Xiuying.

They soon reached the prison, and Xiuying was thrown into the prison. Two court ladies were sent in to remove the jewelry that she had put on.

Hei Chengxi stayed outside the prison with his back towards the door and heard the shouts of Xiuying.

“Father, I informed the King. His Majesty will soon be here,” Huang Xi informed his father. Qiu Mu reached the prison and asked Hei Chengxi if he was sure it was his mother.

“Yes. The captive man accepted his crimes and told us that he did it on the instructions of Noble Consort Xiuying. I haven’t made an arrest without solid evidence. He handed me this as well.” Hei Chengxi showed Qiu Mu the tassel, which indeed belonged to his mother.

He still wasn’t ready to believe that his mother could do this. “She can never do this, General Hei. I know my mother,” Qiu Mu stood for his mother.

The court ladies came out with two boxes in their hands. They had removed the accessories from Xiuying and bowed before leaving the prison with the soldiers.

Qiu Mu stepped forward to walk in when Hei Chengxi stretched his arm out and stopped him. “You aren’t allowed to go inside,” Hei Chengxi stated.

“Why? I can go in because I am the General,” Qiu Mu argued. He wanted to see his mother.

“Second general,” Hei Chengxi corrected him. “As the senior general of the army, the second general has to listen to my command. No one is allowed to meet the Noble Consort until the King arrives,” he affirmed. Qiu Mu clenched his fist and tightened his hold on the sword.

He stepped back and gulped the anger that had built inside him. “General Hei, my mother hasn’t done this,” Qiu Mu stated.

He heard the footsteps and turned to look. It was his father, the King and behind him was the Queen.

Qiu Mu walked up to his father and told him that his mother could never do that. He was confident that someone was trying to accuse Xiuying.

“I wish it could be true,” the Queen’s voice fell into their ears. “This is the most despicable thing I have ever expected from Noble Consort Xiuying,” she stated and looked at the King.

“Your Majesty, Noble Consort Xiuying tried to kill not only Princess Consort Li Hua but also the future Crown Princess. Please be stringent on the punishment, Your Majesty,” Zhu Liling requested.