Let’s go home.
Xie Xuanchen was still resting in Yu Lin Hall, it was inconvenient for them to discuss matters there. The female officials led the way, and brought her to the temple beside Yu Lin Hall. There were lush bamboos planted around the temple, and a lake not too far away. The place was quiet and would be a perfect place to read. However, Mu Mingtang was brought here alone by the female officials, which made the situation feel creepy. .
Fortunately, there were still in the Manor, and it was better than what Mu Mingtang had expected. She initially thought that the Empress Dowager would take her into the palace.
Mu Mingtang was surprised when she first saw the temple, but after thinking about it later, she understood their intentions.
Xie Xuanchen was very well-known among the public. The melodramatic scene yesterday, from the men who suffered injuries and the fire that sparked in the yard, the people knew all about it. In one night, word had spread, and everyone in town knew that Prince Qiyang had awakened.
At this very moment, if Xie Xuanchen’s wife was summoned to the palace and hadn’t come out, their reputation would be torn. Moreover, there wouldn’t be a difference whether Mu Mingtang was questioned in the manor or in the palace, since the people in Qiyang Manor stood on the same side as the emperor.
Mu Mingtang felt relieved once she knew she was still in the Manor. If she was summoned into the palace, everything would spiral out of her control. But now, since she was still in her own domain, she didn’t feel as worried.
After Mu Mingtang sat down, in a few sentences, they revealed their main intention as expected: “The Empress Dowager heard that the prince had woken up, she’s very concerned about him. Also, she has also commended you for taking care of the prince all this time when he was in a coma. Princess Qiyang, the Empress Dowager would like to know, when did the prince wake up?”
It didn’t really matter whether the question was asked by the Empress Dowager or the emperor. Mu Mingtang clasped her hands, her gaze lowered, and she remained silent. Xun, the imperial assistant saw that Mu Mingtang was silent, and asked again: “Although Prince Qiyang is from the royal family, the black iron chain was given as per the former emperor’s orders. Even the Empress Dowager didn’t dare to disobey him and remove it, what do you reckon, dear princess?”
“The Empress Dowager is correct.”
“Yesterday, Prince Qiyang went crazy again, and the Empress Dowager and the Emperor are extremely concerned about this matter. What is particularly suspicious is that the black iron chain was unlocked. You’re always by Prince Qiyang’s side, did you know how it was unlocked?”
Mu Mingtang lowered her gaze and stared at the floor for a long time. After a while, she said: “ I attended Prince Jin’s wedding yesterday, I really have no idea.”
Xun, the imperial assistant frowned, and the other female officials were also annoyed after hearing her. She then reemphasized, and said: “The former emperor stated that the black iron chain has to be locked onto Prince Qiyang, and it must be followed. The emperor said that he would forgive you if there was a reason behind defying his orders. However, he warned that he would not easily let go of anyone that disdained the former emperor’s orders. To disdain the will of the former emperor, it’s a heavy crime that could lead to decapitation. However, if you could solve this mystery for the palace, you would have done a great job and thus be exempted from all punishment? I think you know what I mean, right?”
“I’ll ask again, concubine Mu, how did you unlock the black iron chain?”
Mu Mingtang still said: “I don’t know.”
Mu Mingtang made it clear that she wouldn’t cooperate, and had angered the female officials. Xun, the imperial assistant, flicked her sleeves as she coldly said: “We all came here for your sake, but we didn’t expect the princess to be so obdurate. That being the case, you’ll stay here and meditate, until you remember what had happened.”
Xun, the imperial assistant, led the group of noble and elegant female officials out of the door, and they didn’t leave anything for her. Mu Mingtang sat inside the temple, and could clearly hear them putting locks on the door.
Great, she’s locked in now. Xie Xuanchen and her were locked in different spots, they really went through thick and thin together.
Mu Mingtang tried to push the door, but it had no slight sign of even budging. She was too lazy to try the windows, and didn’t care if the windows were locked or not. She was still in Qiyang Manor. Even if she successfully escaped, where could she possibly go?