The memorials were heavy, and it wasn't long before Mo Qianxue felt sour in her waists. Luckily, she had strong perseverance and could still hold on.
"You read them?" Counting the time, the Emperor finally spoke.
His tone was much calmer than before. It could be seen that the quarrels between the ministers were useful. At least the Emperor was much less angry at Mo Qianxue.
"Yes, your majesty. I've finished reading these." Her arms trembled a little after raising for too long. And the voice was full of respect and calm as before.
Although not getting the desired result, the Emperor was satisfied with Mo Qianxue's manner.
Asking the eunuch to take back the memorials, the Emperor asked again, "Do you plead guilty?"
As the memorials in her hands were taken away, Mo Qianxue looked up again and replied, "Your majesty, the ministers' literary skill is impeccable, but I still don't know what crime I committed.
The ministers only knew my killing on the street and immediately accused me of defying imperial authority. But I'd like to ask, have they investigated and found out the reason of my act?" Prince Jing, who had remained silent, asked, "Then what's the reason?"
The question came right on time. Other officials were also curious, but considering their stance, they didn't dare to ask it now. The Emperor would not ask, because he didn't want to so easily give Mo Qianxue a chance to explain.
Prince Jing, the previous emperor's uncle, was an imperial member, so his question naturally represented the Emperor to some extent.
Mo Qianxue secretly thanked the prince for his rescue, "Your majesty, I was besieged by a group of beggars on the street, so my first reaction was immediately taking out silver and scattering on the street, but to my surprise, those beggars didn't want money at all."
Prince Jing asked, "Such a strange thing happened? How come beggars didn't want money?"
Prince Jing's questions seemed unintentional, but every word hit right to the point to help her. Mo Qianxue wasn't stupid, seizing this opportunity, and replied, "Your majesty, those beggars not only didn't want money, they were also martial artists. Moreover, they were clear who I am since I took the official road, and came up to corner me. Stupid as I am, I know they weren't kind civilians but rogues."
Anyway, the beggars were dead already. It was up to her who they were.
"But for the fact that my nanny and servant girls knew martial arts and my guards tried their best to protect me, I'm afraid I've died on the street already." Mo Qianxue began to play the emotion card. When necessary, it was smart to display some feminine weakness.
At this time, there was blood on her cheeks, and drops of blood stain on her white clothes like red plum blossoms. Even if the Emperor had an iron heart, it softened at the sight.
Observing the Emperor's countenance was eased, Mo Qianxue added, "Of course, it's not a big deal if I died, but I really worried that if these rioters can assassinate me on the street today, they will also be unable to sneak into the palace and assassinate your majesty tomorrow.
Your majesty represents the supreme power and is known as a wise emperor ever. Under your governance, the country is thriving in peace. How could there be any errors? Therefore, I'd like to suggest that your majesty make a thorough investigation into this incident and figure out whether there is a person behind the scene. Otherwise, how could a batch of beggars acted so boldly to make a riot in the imperial city and assassinate nobilities…"
In the world, the one fearing death most was an emperor; the one greediest for power was an emperor; and the one most liked compliments was still an emperor.
The Emperor's murderousness had mostly been dissolved by the officials' quarrels. Now Mo Qianxue's logical and reasonable speech naturally reminded him of the possibility that if the rioters dared to besiege Mo Qianxue's carriage on street, they would also dare to besiege the imperial carriage…
Then there wouldn't be peace in the imperial city, which really meant a doomed future of the country.
It was enough to give Mo Qianxue a lesson over this matter. There was no need to kill her now.
By punishing her, she would get this lesson and meanwhile his benevolence be demonstrated.
Of course, he had more plans…
Mo Qianxue knew more inside stories than she appeared. He hadn't considered this before. He, as an emperor who worked with conspiracies all day long, now understood that there must be someone behind the scene who wished Mo Qianxue a death. Thinking this through, the Emperor looked benevolent again.
His original intention had been to scare her and he had lost control only because of the thought of that familiar figure.
He still needed to leverage this incident to tussle with the Feng, Ning and Xie families. How could he ruin this chess piece so soon?
Mo Qianxue had stayed in the Wang village for half a year, which was a fact hard to be concealed. The news firstly came out of the Xie family. Even the Empress knew that Mo Qianxue and Ning Shaoqing was a couple in the Wang village. How could the Emperor not know?
Now nobody made it public only because all those that knew it didn't wish to witness Mo Qianxue to follow Ning Shaoqing back to the Ning family.
By then, the Ning family would become a tiger with wings. It had boasted financial power and hidden troops. If it obtained military power today, it would be untouchable in real terms.
If this was to come, the Emperor would at once name a crime on Mo Qianxue and sentence her to death. He wouldn't allow Mo Qianxue to live in the Ning mansion, either as his wife or concubine.
However, he was caught by surprise that in this emergent moment, neither Ning Shaoqing nor the Nings had showed up to rescue her.
He was puzzled.
According to reliable news, Ning Shaoqing loved Mo Qianxue seriously.
The death of the Founder brought a chance to reshuffle the military power, but the greater the hope of all parties, the greater their disappointment would be.
Many cities on the western border were conquered and retrieved by Mo Tianfang. Therefore, those troops only listened to the orders of Mo Tianfang and didn't recognize the imperial power. The imperial court had sent news for many times to call back those generals and had been turned down by various excuses.
A general at war is forgivable for not taking the emperor's command.
Moreover, these generals, like Mo Tianfang, came from the grassroots level without the burden of a family or with families all lived in the army. Hence, these people were out of his control.
If being pushed too hard, they were very likely to start a rebellion. If so, it would be a hot potato either the court sent troops to crack them down or let it be.
If the court sent troops to crack them down, it required military expenses and troops which would affect the whole country. And he wasn't confident to defeat them.
If his troops did defeat them, it was fine. But if not, they would constitute a threat in the future.
Originally, this matter had come to a dead end, but the return of Mo Qianxue brought back a chance to sort it out.
Politics meant compromises. Now matter how the Emperor disliked Mo Tianfang, he was one of the supporters of the imperial family.
He shouldn't be too strict on this matter. However, this riot incident was also an opportunity for him to arrange his own people into important positions.
He could reasonably strengthen the guarding of the imperial palace, dismissing some people and arranging some others to fill the vacancy.
The Emperor didn't talk. Mo Qianxue didn't dare to say much and just kneeled there.
She predicted that the Emperor would take this opportunity to make a big move. A political storm of Tianqi was in the air, but she wasn't sure who would become the final winner of this storm.
All major families and powers were waiting.
The messier, the easier for them to gain benefits.
Most of them were clear about this. While the Emperor was working on a scheme, all others were thinking the same, as to how to seize the maximum benefit in the next round of tussle.
As for Mo Qianxue, the fuse of this battle, they didn't care so much.
Nobody could tell who was the hunter and who was the prey until the last second.
"So, you mean, by killing dozens of people, you're not guilty but meritorious?" The Emperor already had his plan and finally remembered there was a Mo Qianxue kneeling on the ground, asking ironically.
"Your majesty. I didn't. I don't dare to say I'm meritorious. I believe any noble member would do the same in such a situation due to the loyalty to this country."
"Huh?" The Emperor snorted, "So, I shouldn't punish you and have to reward you."
The snort contained dissatisfaction. As long as Mo Qianxue dared to argue for herself again, he would fury into a fury again.
Kings and bears often worry their keepers!
Mo Qianxue thought for a moment, "I shouldn't get a reward. I still did something wrong in this incident, in that I didn't report it to your majesty in time, so as to arouse so much misunderstandings which irritated your majesty and troubled the ministers… In order to make up for my wrong-doing, I'd like to stay grounded for seven days and apply for a halt of yearly allowance for three years."
Staying at home for seven days could avoid outside troubles, so that she could take these seven days to clean her house.
A halt of yearly allowance was even better!
She had learned from the butler that in the past five years when her father wasn't in the capital, the yearly allowance of the Founder mansion had been taken away by the Mo clan. Now that she was back, she wouldn't allow those greedy people take advantage of the Founder mansion anymore.
The Mo clan had helped in her parents' funeral and sent three sons to the mansion to observe mourning for her in the name of filial piety. If at this moment, she proposed to take back the yearly allowance, they would accuse her of being infilial and ungrateful.
Now, this suggestion both pleased the Emperor and let the Mo clan suffer a loss of financial resource. What a good idea! She wouldn't let them take away her money and buy hitmen to kill her again.
She wasn't that stupid!
This was her first warning to them.
Mo Qianxue's remarks made the Emperor comfortable bodily, complimenting him and meanwhile saving moneny for him, both of which were right to his delight.
Currently, the state treasury was nearly empty. The yearly allowance of the Founder mansion was not little, so the three years of halt would be quite an income to the treasury.
The Emperor was satisfied but pretended to be embarrassed, putting on a fake smile, "I shouldn't let your loyalty down, then I approve. Now, away…"
To leave the court earlier and he could discuss with his brainpower sooner as so how to change placement and let the imperial supporters get more benefit.
Joy for some and agony for other. Anyway, the Mo clan must be agonized right now.
Such a disaster turned into a trifle. The ministers admired her good luck and imperial petting, but they didn't understand her resentment.
Until walking out of the Jinluan palace, Mo Qianxue didn't dare to touch her scar. It hurt so much. She took out a handkerchief and began to wipe along the blood stain.
She hadn't wipe in the palace because she wanted to make the Emperor feel a little guilty and not punish her severely.
Su Qi caught up from behind and greeted with a playful smile, "Miss. Mo of the Founder mansion…"
Mo Qianxue looked calm in the palace, but it was impossible not to be nervous. In addition, she had been kneeling in the front, so she didn't notice Su Qi standing in the line behind. When she turned around and saw Su Qi, she was surprised.
That accident couldn't totally disappear from Mo Qianxue's mind.
After all, this was the first time they met after the last close physical touch.
She couldn't help glancing at his neck, and, seeing there wasn't a scar, felt relieved.
As Mo Qianxue turned around, Su Qi saw the scratching wound on her forehead and felt distressed. Then, at the sight of her eyes falling on his neck, he felt both bitter and warm.
Yet, astonishment dominated his mind.
He couldn't imagine that a girl should have such energy in her as to stay calm in court and remain clear-minded to seek a way out.
The two, having their own thoughts, looked at each other.
Mo Qianxue didn't know what to say, while Su Qi was too distressed to say anything.
Su Qi returned to earth first, "I escort you back." He promised to protect her. Just now in the palace, she performed well and powerful, leaving him no chance.
Now, he could send her home openly.
Let those who intended to take advantage of her rethink about it before they approached her.
The court ended, and Feng Yuchen was still in a dream.
That self-composed girl was really the fragile Xue who stayed behind him and nanny when things happened?
When he returned to himself, Mo Qianxue had already left the palace. He ran out in a hurry but heard Su Qi suggesting to send her back.
He recalled what had happened in the palace. Although the Su family didn't throw a stone at her, it didn't help her either. At this moment, he showed up and pretended to be so kind. This made Feng Yuchen displeased, "Thanks for your kindness, lord Su. I'll send my cousin home. Don't bother to take the trouble."
Su Qi ignored him and only looked at Mo Qianxue.
It was known to all that she had the Feng family behind her.
However, although the Feng family was power, its headquarter wasn't in the capital or comparable to the Su family.
If she couldn't reply on the Ning clan to fight against the Mo clan, then she could borrow power from the Su family first.
With this card, she could both deter the Mo clan and strengthen the protection for herself.
Moreover, she trusted Su Qi.
Thinking of this, Mo Qianxue smiled, "Cousin, you're thinking too much. The seventh lord is an old friend of mine. It's alright to let him escort me back."
She had promised Xue to treat Feng Yuchen nicely, but she wouldn't permit him to step in her business.
Hence, running in the middle of the street, the carriage of the Founder mansion was escorted by two guards.
Both pulled a cold and terrifying face, but it couldn't conceal their prettiness…
One was the future master of a first-level noble family, and the other was a legal son of a super family. Both were outstanding young men, perfect candidates dreamed by noble ladies.
Across the whole Tianqi, there was no lady as admirable as Mo Qianxue, because of the two young men, of such identities, who willingly served as guards and escorted besides her carriage.
Su Jinyu watched how Su Qi had helped Mo Qianxue get into the carriage and rode on his steed, escorting her, thoughtfully.
So courageous! So sophisticated-minded!
If Su Jinyu wasn't married, he would also join the competition…
His wife was Luo Caihe, the legal daughter of the Luo family which had now lived in seclusion. He had married her for three years, each day of which was spent almost the same, without joy or pain.
This lady's manner had gained appreciation of everybody in the Su family. With a good family background and education, she was elegant, scholarly, filial and managed the domestic affairs well.
She had even prepared concubines for him and treated servants nicely. Everybody said it was a good match, but he always felt there lacked something.
Like every noble lady, she was beautiful and reserved, always carrying a faint smile and tearful eyes and lovable sadness. Either her smile or sadness was too understated, too impalpable and sometimes lifeless and gloomy.
Only Mo Qianxue had that kind of high-profile and sharpness and the courage to stay calm at any moment.