“Enough. There isn’t anything to be indignant about. Take this and head to the Imperial Jail. Pass the letter to the Third Miss of the Su’s mansion,” said Empress Dowager Feng Hanyan as she took out a letter and passed it to Feng Lan.
“Empress Dowager, what does this mean?” Feng Lan asked curiously as she saw that there was no signing off on the letter.
“You don’t have to ask so many questions. Just do as you’re told! Hopefully, this letter could save the Kingdom of the Heavenly Phoenix from a disaster.” Empress Dowager sighed as she looked outside the window.
“Yes, Empress Dowager. I’ll be on my way…” Feng Lan did not ask further. With the letter in her hands, she turned around and left Feng Yi Palace for the Imperial Jail.
Empress Dowager looked outside the window and sighed gently, as she remembered what that person had told her. “The Crown Prince of Heavenly Phoenix would not be able to survive through this ordeal. The passing of the Crown Prince would result in the demise of Heavenly Phoenix. The only one that can prevent all of this from happening is the third daughter of Su’s mansion!”
She had never understood what was the meaning of those words that that person had left behind. The Third Miss of Su’s mansion was an infamous good-for-nothing! What kind of abilities could she have?
Besides, she had heard that the Third Miss of Prince Su’s mansion had an illicit affair with someone else and had committed suicide due to humiliation. Then, she really felt that that person had predicted the future wrongly.
It was only until the night before when she had heard the news that Crown Prince was murdered on his wedding day and that the murderer—Eldest Miss of Su’s mansion—had actually appeared in the bridal chamber and had an affair with the Crown Prince. It was then that she knew that this incident was not simple…
Why would someone take the initiative and give up their virginity to a retarded Crown Prince? It was even the Crown Princess’ biological sister and on the night of their wedding! This did not make sense at all…
As expected, under the Emperor’s rage and through interrogating the sisters of the Su’s mansion, both of them had completely pushed the blame to the Third Miss of the Su’s mansion. It was then that she realized that the person, who had already died six years ago, had come back in one piece.
Also, she was no longer a good-for-nothing. Together with the information she had gathered from the people in court that day, she then strongly believed that that person was speaking the truth. Coming to think about it, why would that person predict wrongly…?
Hopefully, Yuntian would not turn a deaf ear to her words, and he would be able to safeguard the Su family’s hard work in the Heavenly Phoenix for the last thousands of years. She could only do so much, but Che’er…
“Send someone to deliver a letter to Prince Feng’s mansion and invite Che’er to come and sit at my place when he’s free. Just say that I miss him.” Feng Hanyan told the servant girl waiting outside.
“Yes, Empress Dowager!” The servant girl replied and went on her way.
Imperial Jail
Feng Lan entered the Imperial Jail easily with her Phoenix badge and arrived at the cell that Su Ruoxi was detained in. She saw that Su Ruoxi was sitting peacefully inside as if she was closing her eyes to rest them, and there was a light smile on her face, which did not look like she was on her deathbed at all.
The feature that attracted her the most was Su Ruoxi’s appearance that was breathtaking. Even a woman like Feng Lan could not help but be stunned by her looks…
“Her Majesty, why did you come to the Imperial Jail?” Su Ruoxi opened her eyes slightly and asked Feng Lan in a seemingly smiling manner.
“You know me?” Feng Lan was taken aback and asked her, as she did not think that the other party could recognize her.
“No, I don’t. I just guessed who you were.” Su Ruoxi laughed and said.
“Empress Dowager sent me here to pass you this.” Feng Lan paused for a while, and it was clear that she did not know how to continue the conversation after Su Ruoxi’s words, so she could only take out Empress Dowager’s letter and made her visiting intention clear.
Upon hearing that, Su Ruoxi raised her eyebrows and looked at Feng Lan. Without taking the letter, she asked, “I don’t think I know Empress Dowager though…”
“I’m not too sure about this as well, but Empress Dowager instructed me to come here,” said Feng Lan awkwardly, as she did not expect that this woman would not even give a face to Empress Dowager.
After looking at Feng Lan for a few seconds, Su Ruoxi realized that her eyes were clear, and she really was not lying. Seeing her insistence and her unwillingness to take back her hands, it seemed as though she would not leave until Su Ruoxi accepted the letter. In the end, she could only take the letter in Feng Lan’s hands.
Feng Lan did not expect Su Ruoxi’s eyes to be so sharp, and she almost could not take it any longer. Thankfully, she finally accepted the letter. If not, she really did not know how she was going to go back and explain to Empress Dowager.
Su Ruoxi opened the letter in front of Feng Lan, and her brows started to knit tightly. Then, a fireball appeared in her hands, which directly burned the letter into ashes. She looked at Feng Lan and said, “May I trouble you to help me pass the message to Empress Feng Lan. I can’t guarantee about the things she said. If people don’t offend me, I will naturally not do anything in return, but if someone offends me, then I’m sorry. I will uproot the entire problem.”
“Okay, I will pass on your message to Empress Dowager. I’ll take my leave first.” After Feng Lan finished what she was saying, she left the Imperial Jail as if she was escaping.
It was the first time that she had seen a woman like Su Ruoxi, which made her feel even more pressure than when she faced the Emperor. In front of Su Ruoxi, she felt as if she was as insignificant as a speck of dust.
She had no clue why a miss of the Prince’s mansion could actually stir up such feelings in her. This was too weird…
Feng Lan returned to Feng Yi Palace without much thinking and passed on the message to Empress Dowager.
“I understand. You should go back first.” Empress Dowager nodded.
“Yes, Empress Dowager.” Feng Lan bowed and took her leave.
Imperial Study
Su Yuntian sat on the main seat while Chancellor Lin Mengxue and Imperial Concubine Xue—Lin Mengxue—were kneeling on the floor. Su Yuntian said with a black face. “The two of you can just stop kneeling. I have already made up my mind and won’t change it.”
“Emperor, Ruoqi and Ruolin are both innocent! They’re at the prime of their youth! Asking them to observe the Crown Prince’s mourning for three years would be akin to ruining them.” Lin Mengxue said indignantly.
“Yes, Emperor, I hope you will reconsider your decision.” Lin Zewen immediately said as he kowtowed.
“Hmph, I have already announced my imperial edict. I can’t just take it back whenever I wish.” Su Yuntian said unhappily.
“Emperor, the elder of the Alchemy Clan wishes to see you.” At this moment, a eunuch yelled at the top of his lungs from outside the door.
“What? Elder of the Alchemy Clan?” Su Yuntian was taken aback when he heard the news.
“Emperor, Ruolin is the elder’s favorite disciple. He must have come here to talk about Ruolin. If you’re still so stubborn and want Ruolin to…” Lin Mengxue immediately grabbed the opportunity to speak up.
“This…” Upon hearing that, Su Yuntian hesitated. Why did he forget that Su Ruolin was the disciple of the Alchemy Clan’s elder? If he had offended the Alchemy Clan just because of a mere Su Ruolin, it would be very disadvantageous.
Thinking of this point, Su Yuntian had made up his mind and immediately yelled toward the eunuch to announce the elder’s arrival.
“Both of you, get up first,” said Su Yuntian as he looked at Lin Mengxue and Lin Zewen, who were kneeling on the floor.
“Thank you, Emperor.” After thanking him, Lin Mengxue and Lin Zewen stood at the side.
Not long later, an elder with white hair and beard walked in. Looking at Su Yuntian sitting on the main seat, he merely nodded his head slightly and said, “Greetings, Emperor.”
“Elder, there’s no need to be courteous.” Immediately, Su Yuntian came down from his seat and asked, “May I know why are you here today?”
“I came because of my disciple—Su Ruolin. Even though I don’t know what she did to anger you, I heard that the person who had set my disciple up had already been arrested. Perhaps, the Emperor would be willing to take me into account, and let my disciple and her older sister go so that I could teach them back at home?” The elder said sternly toward Su Yuntian.