Ninth Imperial Glorious Phoenix Chapter 803

Chapter 803: Please Forgive Your Highness

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Yuwen Chu restrained Mingzhu in his arms, his expression stern but his tone not so harsh. "Fu Mingzhu, you've been spoiled by me. Even if this is not your fault and the spy by your side did it, you can't escape the blame for being negligent in your duties as a superior. If it were anyone else, they would have begged for forgiveness long ago. Are you still daring to trouble me?"

Mingzhu's mind raced through thousands of thoughts in an instant. Only now did she truly feel relieved. The benefit of marrying an understanding person was evident here. Yuwen Chu wasn't being led by the nose. Otherwise, he would have been cursing at her by now. She sincerely said, "I know I can't escape responsibility and disappoint you, Your Highness. But you haven't doubted me, have you? Since you haven't doubted me, still believe in me, and stand by my side, why should I beg for forgiveness? Or perhaps, do you want me to beg for forgiveness?"

Yuwen Chu pulled her to sit down. "I do wish you would beg for forgiveness, but not for this matter. It's for something else." He glanced meaningfully at the bed, deliberately lightening the mood. Mingzhu relaxed a little, understanding his intention to ease the tension. "Seriously though, how can you be so calm when you're involved in such a big mess?"

"The situation has already happened. Is it useful to be anxious? Is it useful to scold you? Besides, you're already upset." Yuwen Chu poured her a cup of tea. "Your maids and servants can't be detained like this forever. When you go out, you have to take them with you. Otherwise, if there's suddenly a new group of people around you, even if there are no rumors, rumors will start. So that spy can't be tortured for a confession. We have to question them carefully, find some clues, lock onto the target, release her, and catch her red-handed."

Mingzhu frowned. "I'm afraid there's not enough time."

"Indeed, there isn't. Fu Mingcheng is already on his way, and he probably knows more than we do." Yuwen Chu took a sip of tea and whispered, "So now we can only cut the Gordian knot. Execute all the people serving you. That way, even if he comes, there will be no evidence against us. Can you do it?"

Kill Su Lan and the others? Mingzhu was shocked. "Even if there is a spy, most of them are innocent. Moreover, isn't it suspicious when people suddenly die? I disagree."

Yuwen Chu furrowed his brow. "You should know that this conspiracy aims not only to sow discord between us but also to smear me. Even if it's for my sake, you're unwilling?"

Mingzhu lowered her eyes and, after a long time, shook her head softly, whispering, "Please forgive me, Your Highness. I can't do it."

Yuwen Chu was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled. "I knew you would say that. Don't you know that those who achieve great things overlook minor details?"

Mingzhu felt dry-mouthed and couldn't figure out what Yuwen Chu was thinking. She knew that to ascend to that position, one had to be decisive and sacrifice the interests of a few for the greater good. It was common practice. She wasn't familiar with the others and couldn't see them, so she could pretend not to know. But Su Lan and the others were different. They had grown up together, spent every day together. She couldn't easily take their lives.

She said softly but firmly, "If people under my command have done such a big thing and I didn't know, it's my negligence, my mistake. But Su Lan and the others shouldn't bear the consequences. If things escalate, I'll bear them. I won't drag Your Highness down."

"Do you think if you bear them, it has nothing to do with me? Naive." Yuwen Chu set down his teacup and walked out. "This matter is not up to you anymore. Go to the study and search. Perhaps the prophecy and all the evidence will be there."

Mingzhu wanted to follow him, but Donghui stopped her, whispering, "When His Highness has made up his mind, no one can persuade him."

Sure enough, Yuwen Chu said before leaving, "Without my order, Wangfei is not allowed to leave the hall. Anyone who dares to let her out will be executed." With that, he strode into the darkness.

Why did he change his mind so quickly? Mingzhu was momentarily stunned. Donghui pulled her sleeve, signaling her to look outside. A servant was kneeling in the corridor, cleaning the floor. Everything else seemed normal, with no indication of anything out of the ordinary.

Mingzhu turned and ran to the study. Whatever Yuwen Chu was planning, she had to find the prophecy early so that Su Lan and the others could have a chance to escape.

Yuwen Chu walked out of the hall and rubbed his temples tiredly. Zhou Shuyi asked softly, "Are you going over now, Your Highness?"

Yuwen Chu said, "Gather everyone, light a stick of incense, and tell them that if no one confesses by the time the incense burns out, they will all be executed. Also, tell them that Wangfei has been confined by me."

Zhou Shuyi was a little surprised. He hadn't seen any intention from His Highness to punish Wangfei when they were in the rear chamber earlier. How come his mind had changed so quickly? It was the first time since the establishment of the mansion that everyone would be executed, but he didn't dare to ask more questions. After all, this was a huge trouble that couldn't be easily resolved.

Someone hurriedly came in from outside and whispered, "Your Highness, Marquis Huaiyin has taken Fu Zhan's father, brothers, and younger brother. They're heading towards the Fu Mansion now."

Yuwen Chu sneered, "They'll probably come here later. It's really one twist after another." He saw Fu Lin standing by the side with a worried and uneasy expression, so he waved for him to come over. "You, come with me."

Fu Lin already knew what had happened behind the scenes. He hurriedly caught up with Yuwen Chu and began to explain, "Nephew dares to vouch for the members of the Xiangye family. Aunt Fu doesn't know anything about this matter and has nothing to do with it."

Yuwen Chu said indifferently, "I know."

"But then...?" Fu Lin didn't finish his question about why Yuwen Chu still wanted to restrict her movements, as Yuwen Chu glanced at him, Zhou Shuyi also signaled for him not to say more and just follow along.

The group soon arrived at the prison. Su Lan and the others had already been gathered in a room, a third of the incense stick burnt down. Su Lan had no expression on her face, Su Mei's face was full of despair, Qingqian was crying bitterly in Zheng Momo's arms, and Zheng Momo sat upright, still dignified with a clean bun and neat clothes. Several second-tier maids were crying with their heads in their hands.

Ye Xiu approached and whispered, "It's been confirmed. Su Ju had seen Su Lan and Donghui before she died, and then there's Qingqian and Cuinong."

Donghui was promoted by Yuwen Chu himself and was loyal, so naturally, he believed in her. Therefore, he looked at Su Lan and Qingqian. "Did you two meet Su Ju?" After getting a confirmation, he asked, "Who is Cuinong?"

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