Chapter 26: Humiliation, an aggressive lesson (2/2)
The Duke of Qin, her husband. This name made for a shining shield wherever it went. The two guards hesitated, and Princess Changping’s spirits sank. “Han Yunxi, let me go or else I’ll tell the emperor!”
With a cold snort, Han Yunxi flung Princess Changping to the side. “Go ahead. I’ll just be waiting here for the Duke of Qin to take me away himself.”
The princess bumped against a side table as tears flooded her face. Her anger made her face turn red. How could she dare look for her father, the emperor? He never agreed to let her marry Mu Qingwu and hated it when she ran off to the general’s estate. Moreover, if news of this really spread to the Duke of Qin, she wasn’t sure it’d work in her favor. Princess Changping covered her face and spoke hatefully, “Han Yunxi, you had the nerve to hit me. I definitely won’t let you off!”
When she was done, she suddenly stomped her feet before running out the door, the two guards and Mu Liuyue hastily following after her. Unexpectedly, they actually shut the door behind them, locking Han Yunxi inside. What kind of pace was this?
“Han Yunxi, just you wait! Just you wait for me!”
“Don’t think about leaving this room even half a step! I’ll definitely make you pay!”
……
Princess Changping’s clamor rose from the outside as Han Yunxi looked gloomily at the locked doors. What was wrong with this time period? Could she even save a person in this state?
Soon enough, the princess’ voice faded, though it wasn’t clear if she’d left. But at least the room was quieter now. Han Yunxi exhaled slowly as she lowered her darkened eyes. Something complicated flitted across Gu Beiyue’s gaze as he spoke.
“Esteemed wangfei, that slap just then…”
“She deserved it!” Han Yunxi snapped.
All right, so she was in a bad mood. Who’d be happy with a woman cursing at them? Yes, so she’d walked through the gates herself, but only because she had no choice. She’d never thought of herself as respectable beyond reproach, nor did she want to be the Duke of Qin’s wife. But she still had self-respect and thought herself rather decent–magnanimous with a clear conscience and nothing base about her.
Instead, Gu Beiyue replied, “Esteemed wangfei, that slap was marvelous. But Princess Changping said…that she didn’t have an arrest warrant ‘right now’?”
Slightly stunned, Han Yunxi realized that she overlooked this particular detail between everything else. She glanced nervously towards the door. It couldn’t be that…
For better or for worse, it was something unavoidable. Han Yunxi decided not to think too much and drank a mouthful of water before resuming her bedside vigil. “Imperial Physician Gu, as long as you believe me, it’s enough.”
She observed Mu Qingwu’s complexion, checked his pulse, measured his temperature, and tested his blood for poisons anew. She was very certain that the poison would appear within three days! All her conclusions she reported to Gu Beiyue–and yet as soon as she finished, someone opened the doors.
The North Court Official from the justice courts spoke up. “Qin Wangfei, this is an arrest warrant certified by the empress dowager herself. You’ve been reported for attempted assassination of the young general Mu Qingwu, so please come with me.”
The people from the justice courts had arrived!
Sure enough, Princess Changping didn’t come empty-handed, but prepared things ahead of time. She’d long planned to lock up Han Yunxi in jail! Only, to have the empress dowager issue her arrest warrant was really a bit too cruel. What was an arrest warrant? It signified that there was substantial evidence to take someone into custody without additional explanation. They’d slowly question her after she was locked up.
No matter how you put it, Han Yunxi was still the daughter of the empress dowager’s lifesaver. Was the empress dowager this eager to eradicate her and her family? In addition, the justice courts didn’t have proof that Han Yunxi was the assassin, only a wrong conclusion.
This was clearly abuse of power in the name of avenging personal wrongs!
Gu Beiyue had realized this long ago and couldn’t help but cry out, “Ridiculous!”
Han Yunxi sucked in a deep breath, cool and indifferent. She knew that this was the type of power that couldn’t be moved by a hundred explanations. She understood, too, that to survive peacefully in this world, she had to submit herself and listen to orders, but it just wasn’t something she could learn. Han Yunxi personally pushed aside the doors and walked outside, only to seen the North Court Official standing with Princess Changping, flanked by five or six officers. Ignoring the smug-looking princess, Han Yunxi gave the North Court Official a cold look.
“May I ask the North Court Official what crime this wangfei has committed?”
“You’ve been reported for assassination attempts on the young general Mu Qingwu, lying and cheating the general’s residence, and using treatment as an excuse to poison the young general,” the North Court Official stated in a loud voice, as if these things had really happened.
“A complete setup! North Court Official, I can verify that the esteemed wangfei is innocent. I was involved in the diagnosis as well,” Gu Beiyue was very much for upholding justice.
The North Court Official’s reply was frigid. “Nothing else needs to be said. This is the empress dowager’s arrest warrant. She’s very concerned about this matter, so you can save the words for the justice courts when you cooperate with us for the investigation. Those who want to give evidence can put them on record at the justice courts as well.”
“North Court Official…” Gu Beiyue wanted to keep explaining, but the North Court Official raised a hand to stop him.
“Imperial Physician Gu, it’s no use saying more. As a servant of the imperial house, you should clearly understand what an arrest warrant means.”
Gu Beiyue could only close his mouth and look at the taciturn Han Yunxi with her head bowed. His warm gaze was filled with distress. What kind of crime did this woman commit in trying to save a life?! Seeing the disappointment in Han Yunxi’s eyes, Princess Changping and Mu Liuyue felt exceptionally smug. They waited to see her lose hope, throw a fit, and cry out for injustice.