C124

"The eldest daughter of the direct line is Xue, the daughter of the deceased. She deserves to be compensated, and because the investigation reported her meritorious service, she retains the marriage with Wang Mu that she won. "But..." Mu Zheng paused for a moment as he spoke and looked at the two of them with a troubled expression. He couldn't show favoritism.

"As the daughter of a sinful subject, Xue Luoyun also has to take part in the mission. As the future concubine of the Seizure King, Xue Duan Sheng cannot be harsh on her in the process of taking office. If anything happens to her, he will absolutely not let her off lightly. " Mu Zheng was still very considerate towards Xue Muyun.

"Your majesty, you can't do that! Xue Luoyun, she …" Mu Yong wanted to plead for Xue Ruyun. Although Mu Zheng had already thought about Xue Ruoyun, this place was quite remote and dangerous, and the road ahead was filled with many difficulties and obstacles. Mu Sheng was extremely worried.

However, Xue Luoyun stopped him.

"What's wrong?" Mu Ying anxiously turned his head to look at Xue Ruyun.

Xuelao Yun lightly shook his head, indicating that he should stop speaking.

She knew that the emperor was in a difficult position. Although the emperor was high and mighty, those who didn't fear death and admonished their officials were all watching his every word and action closely.

In addition, the empress dowager had some opinions of her, so she didn't want to cause any more misunderstandings between the two brothers because of her. It also increased Her Majesty's misunderstanding of herself.

Mu Sheng looked at him, his face full of worry. In the end, he didn't say anything.

"This subject thanks Your Majesty." Xue Duan Sheng kowtowed deeply, indicating that he accepted fate. This judgment of Mu Zheng's was already the best for him. He had nothing to say and did not dare to ask for more. However, he had been an official for many years. It had taken him a great deal of effort to advance step by step to this point. In the end, his efforts had all come to naught. Now that he was reduced to being a small county magistrate the size of a sesame seed, his heart was filled with sorrow.

However, thinking back, she was lucky to be able to keep her life. Xue Duan Sheng knew that the Emperor hated him in his heart, but he didn't kill him because the Emperor had been an official for many years and the Emperor's court was filled with admonishments for him. If he continued to quibble now, he might anger the Emperor, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Someone, peel off his official uniform." Mu Zheng ordered.

"Yes." A few guards stepped forward.

Subsequently, Xue Duan Sheng was stripped of his official's hat and uniform before changing into a worn-out official's uniform, looking extremely miserable.

"This subject greets Your Majesty." Xue Duan Sheng paid his respects in accordance with the etiquette system, and his tone was filled with grief.

"Leave!" Mu Zheng didn't even bother to look at him.

"This official will take his leave." Xue Duan Sheng raised his head, and for a moment, he seemed to have aged significantly. He slowly walked back out and reluctantly looked at the hall that he had stayed in for so many years. Finally, he turned around and left.

After everyone had left, only Xue Luoyun, Mu Sheng, and Mu Zheng were left in the hall.

Mu Zheng looked at Xue Ruyun with a complex expression in her eyes. For a moment, she sighed with emotion. She thought of the past, thought of Little Butterfly, thought of her various experiences with Xue Ruoyun, and thought of her eventual fate with her.

He didn't expect that the real cause of Xiao Die's death would be revealed by her daughter. The one who killed her was actually her husband, how ironic was that. She had let down Little Butterfly, so she didn't have the face to face Xue Ruyun again.

"Your majesty, are you alright?" Xue Ruyun worriedly asked. He knew that this matter had dealt a great blow to him.

He was already sad about the departure of Die. This matter had been plaguing his heart for many years. Now that Xiao Die was killed by someone, how could he be at ease.

Mu Zheng waved his hand and sighed. He heavily sat back on the cold Dragon Throne and weakly said, "You may leave. I want to be alone and quiet."

"But …" Xue Ruyun still wanted to say something, but he was very worried about Mu Zheng's condition. However, Mu Sheng held her back and lightly shook his head.

Mu Zheng's personality was one that he understood the best. At this moment, it was best to leave him alone in peace and quiet and vent his emotions. After Xue Luoyun and the others left, Mu Zheng was no longer able to control his emotions, and began to sob softly.

At this point, the murder case had finally come to an end. He hadn't thought that a small murder case would cause so many old events. He had also investigated the cause of his mother's death. Xuelao Yun endlessly sighed. For power, for status, for the sake of actually being able to do anything between people.

However, he did not expect that because of this incident, his father would be involved, causing the entire Xue Residence to be implicated. Even he himself had to follow Xue Residence out of the city.

"But this is my own life." Xue Ruyun sighed in his heart. No matter what it was, he already had a plan.

Thinking about parting ways with Xue Ruyun, Mu Sheng felt a very bad taste in his heart. He had already gotten used to visiting Xue Luoyun's little courtyard every day. Even if he didn't go, knowing that she was in the same place as him in the capital, he would feel satisfied and happy. Now that she wanted to leave, she suddenly felt that the entire capital was empty.

When Xue Ruyun saw Mu Ying didn't say a word, he thought he was angry at the Emperor. He did not know that he was sad and separated from himself.

In fact, Mu Cheng also knew that Mu Zheng had already shown mercy to her by reserving her marriage with Xue Ruyun. Such a judgement was already a matter of face for him. As the daughter of the Xue Clan, Xue Ruyun should have been willing to suffer this sort of pain with his father. This was something that could not be doubted.

"Are you okay?" Xue Ruyun asked Mu Sheng in a low voice.

"I'm fine." Mu Sheng forced a smile as she shook her head. She looked pitifully at the weak her.

At this time, Xue Ruyun should have been worried about her. Going to such a remote place, she still didn't know what kind of life she was leading, but she wasn't worried at all, and was still concerned about her.

"Let's go for a walk on the mountain." Mu Sheng lifted his head, feeling the situation for a moment before suddenly speaking.

"Sure." As he spoke, he jumped onto his horse.

"Take mine." As Mu Ying said this, he suddenly wrapped his arms around Xue Ruyun's waist, just like how he did the first time he kidnapped her. Holding her in front of him, he sat on the back of a horse and galloped away.

"What are you doing?" Being embraced like this by Xue Ruyun made him feel somewhat shy.

"That horse has some problems, sit on mine." Mu Sheng covered it up and felt that Xue Ruyun seemed to have lost weight. When he hugged her, all he felt were bones.

"Really? Why didn't I notice it?" Xue Ruyun did not struggle, but allowed him to hug him. Ever since he confirmed his marriage, Xue Luoyun had already secretly regarded him as his lover, the person he relied on in this world. Therefore, he would let him handle some harmless matters.

When the news of Xue Duan Sheng being deported arrived, the Xue Estate was extremely shocked. Especially Xue Shaoli and Xue Lianfeng, they were even more heartbroken, crying and making a ruckus, not daring to believe it.

The two of them never thought that their father and Rage would actually commit such a heinous act. Their statuses had plummeted, and they went from heaven to hell in an instant. He still didn't know what kind of life he was going to have in the future. Especially after the marriage that they had painstakingly arranged for so long. It turned into a bubble in the blink of an eye, like a multicolored bubble blowing out. It instantly shattered.

They hated Xue Luoyun so much that they kept cursing her and using the world's worst language to attack her. But what was the use of all that? When they had caused enough trouble, scolded enough, and cried enough, the two of them gradually understood their current situation. They hurriedly went to find the one whom they loved to part with for the last time.

As he was crying, Xue Lian ran to the crown prince's mansion. He wanted to plead with the crown prince to help her, so he took his leave. However, Mu Zhuoyun had long since heard of this matter. It was he who had helped to find the crime by pretending to be a ghost. Xue Duan Sheng and the others deserved it the most, so how could he go back and plead on their behalf?

He had long been tired of Xue Lian's painting. She had been proclaiming every day that she was the future Crown Prince's consort, always running to the Crown Prince's Palace. Sometimes, she would even take the position of Crown Princess to teach her servants a lesson, making Mu Zhuoyun unhappy.

Mu Zhuo didn't have any feelings for her in the first place, so she was forced by the emperor to agree to her marriage. Now that news arrived and she was able to break free from her restraints, she was overjoyed.

Mu Zhuo became even more annoyed when he heard Xue Lian cry out for his help. Since it was something that royal father had decided on, what methods could he come up with? Do you really want me to go against my royal father? This Little Butterfly was his taboo. No one dared to touch her, and Xue Lian painting even dared to ask for his forgiveness. He simply did not understand the situation, and did not even consider his own safety.

Mu Zhuo asked the servants to go straight to her and tell her that she was not there. With that, she picked up the kettle and carefully watered the plants.

"Why don't you let me in? Be careful that I return to the crown prince and behead you." Xue Lian stood at the door proudly while pointing at the guards and cursing wildly. He still hadn't realized his current status and position was completely different from before.

At this moment, a serving maid came to report, "The crown prince is not in the residence. Young miss, please go back." Then he asked the guard to cover the door.

"What? The Crown Prince is here every day at this time? Who are you trying to trick? Let me in." Xue Lian was extremely arrogant and usually stepped on these people under his feet.

"Heh, since Miss knows, why bring it upon yourself? You made me say that the Crown Prince didn't want to see you and purposely hid from you so that you would be willing to do so?" The head maid had both hands on her hips, exuding an overbearing aura. Normally, he would have had enough of this Xue Lian who was trying to put on a show of strength. Now, it was different from the past. It was time for him to retaliate.

"What? You dare to speak to me like that? Do you know who I am?" Xue Lian roared and stretched out his hand to hit someone.

"I am the Crown Princess." The head maid held Xue Lian's hand, making her unable to move. Following Xue Lian's usual tone, she said in disdain.

"If you know, why aren't you letting go!"

"Come on, in the future, we'll let you bully us more because of the crown prince. Now that the crown prince has broken off his marriage with you, you're nothing. It's just a pipe dream for you to want to enter the crown prince's mansion." The head maid spat.

"You, you're too presumptuous!" Without his protective umbrella, Xue Lian could no longer maintain her might. She glared hatefully at the head maidservant, wishing that she could eat her.

The head maidservant scratched her fingernails, not even bothering to pay attention to her.