At this very moment, she finally understood what it meant to serve the king was like serving a tiger!
Xiao Jinxing was taken away.
Bai Mowan stood in the great hall, watching the figure of Xiao Jinxing.
Without realizing it, she clenched her fists, but she dared not plead for Xiao Jinxing.
She knew very well that with the emperor in a rage, anyone who spoke would be punished along with the accused, a loss beyond worth.
Deep down she still felt some heartache.
Thinking about the twenty heavy blows that would land on Xiao Jinxing...
Bai Mowan involuntarily bit her lip again.
It was just last night they had escaped from the pack of wolves.
When they came out of the forest, the body of the Crown Prince had already been found and reported back to the Imperial Palace, and the emperor decreed that all who attended the hunting conference must enter the palace, and no one could leave the Imperial Palace before the cause of the Crown Prince’s death was investigated.
Xiao Jinxing had intended to leave her with the guards to go back and save Ye Qichi.
But no one dared to defy the emperor’s command, the leader of the guards directly took Xiao Jinxing and her into custody, forcibly bringing them back to the palace and said, "The emperor has commanded that King Chen and King Chu must return to the palace immediately. This is the emperor’s verbal edict, to defy is to resist the decree!"
Xiao Jinxing chose to defy the imperial edict, and he was ready to go back without hesitation.
He was stopped by the guards at every turn.
The guards took orders only from the emperor, and they would carry out the emperor’s orders to the end, no matter who the opposing party was!
After a fight, Xiao Jinxing was defeated.
The guards were too many, and all were Imperial Guards, highly skilled in martial arts.
Moreover, Xiao Jinxing was already overtaxed from the exhaustion of the night.
After several fights, he was shackled by the guards and forcibly taken back to the Imperial Palace.
After being brought back to the Imperial Palace, everyone was in the great hall, and the body of the Crown Prince had also been returned to the Imperial Palace, the emperor personally conducted a strict investigation into the cause of the Crown Prince’s death.
Everyone was recounting their entire hunting process.
Everyone was avoiding suspicion against themselves.
Xiao Jinxing, however, repeatedly requested to leave the palace.
His many refusals had angered the already furious emperor even more, and he had Xiao Jinxing arrested on the spot.
However, unexpectedly, on the way to the detention, Xiao Jinxing injured an Imperial Guard and with the protection of Yuan Wenkang outside the palace, he ultimately left the Imperial Palace.
Such actions naturally provoked great dissatisfaction from the emperor towards Xiao Jinxing.
Xiao Jinxing, now back in the palace, would naturally face a severe punishment from the emperor.
Bai Mowan heard the loud sounds of a caning coming from the entrance of the great hall.
She knew well that Ye Qichi could not possibly survive.
Yet, Xiao Jinxing still risked his life to save her, what for?!
From the moment they had abandoned Ye Qichi, her fate had been sealed with little hope.
After several hours, Ye Qichi might have been torn to bones by wild wolves, Xiao Jinxing knew this, yet still, he chose to infuriate the emperor...
Bai Mowan felt somewhat bitter in her heart.
The kindness Xiao Jinxing showed to Ye Qichi seemed to have exceeded her expectations.
Leaving Ye Qichi behind, her heart was also not at ease.
Her consolation was that Ye Qichi should have died half a year ago, now she had lived half a year longer, which was enough, but when she truly thought of Ye Qichi dying to save her, yet ultimately being abandoned by them, a sense of guilt lingered, thinking that she would carry this guilt for Ye Qichi for the rest of her life. She also secretly decided to fulfill Ye Qichi’s last wishes, to definitely protect her family’s Minister Mansion, however, Xiao Jinxing’s excessive concern for Ye Qichi incited a hint of jealousy in her.
The guilt towards Ye Qichi seemed to lessen by half.
She pursed her lips tightly, also quietly adjusting the tumult inside her heart.
She should not have such feelings.
If she could feel immense guilt towards Ye Qichi, so could Xiao Jinxing.
Xiao Jinxing, just because of his status, could act a bit more as he wished.
Even if he defied the imperial order, given the current situation, the emperor would at most administer a harsh punishment, but would certainly not take Xiao Jinxing’s head, so he did not need to have such concerns, doing so might just make him feel a bit better within.
It’s not that he didn’t want to save Ye Qichi.
It’s just that he couldn’t save her.
Xiao Jinxing returned to the palace once again.
Without the emperor’s permission, he still could not leave; nor could he allow the Imperial Physician to treat his wounds.
He could only endure the pain in his body as he knelt down again in the center of the great hall.
His back was already lacerated and flesh torn open.
Yet still, he had to kneel upright.