Chapter 9

  A gentle breeze blew softly, a wisp of soft wind gently swaying the white silk that filled the entire prime minister's mansion.

  The surroundings fell silent.

  The child was innocent and curious, looking up at his beloved mother with a crisp voice, asking: "Mother, Tian'er has many things he doesn't understand."

  Murong Yi lowered her head and looked at Tian'er with a gentle gaze, ignoring the inquiring glances of everyone around her, including Murong Jin and Jiang Yue's piercing gazes. "Tian'er, what don't you understand? Tell me." If this world was cold and unfeeling, then the little person in front of her was her warmth. From the moment he timidly grasped her hand and said he wanted to protect her, she decided that she would be a good mother! In her past life, there were no goals, but this lifetime, she had finally found one - to be a good mother to her child, and she was determined to do it well.

  "Heavenly didn't understand, the wet nurse had told Heavenly before that only when someone in the household dies would the entire mansion be draped with white silk, so why was it full of white silk here?" Heavenly's round and pale little face was filled with curiosity, extremely adorable. Moreover, Heavenly had inherited her excellent genes, at a young age, she already had an enchanting appearance, due to her youth, she hadn't yet reached the time when her beauty would truly bloom, but in no time at all, this little face would shock the world!

  Murong Yi gazed at Tian'er with a slightly distracted expression, and in her mind, she had already envisioned the scene of a group of young girls surrounding Tian'er ten or so years later, vying for his attention. She glanced sideways at the white silk fluttering in the wind, seemingly oblivious to the astonished gazes of those around her. At this moment, nothing was more important than teaching her son. Her expression was soft and gentle, like water, exuding an indescribable warmth. Her slender fingers pointed towards the white silk as she smiled and said, "Tian'er, Nai Nang didn't deceive you; it's indeed a custom to hang white silk for the deceased."

  The little boy pouted his small red mouth, tilted his neck with a puzzled face, "Then why did grandma say no one died? Is grandma lying to people? People who lie are bad guys."

  Heh……Someone let out a cold breath.

  At this point, anyone with a bit of brains can see that these white silk fabrics are for whom they are hung, but although everyone knows, pointing it out is another matter altogether! No one will take pity on an abandoned woman who has no power or influence now. There are even people who want to make this abandoned woman suffer in silence.

  What's even more infuriating is that Murong Yi actually said to Tian Er with a straight face: "Just now, the old madam did say that no one in the manor had died. So the old madam was indeed deceiving people. However, as the mistress of the Prime Minister's Manor, she controls the lives of everyone in the Prime Minister's Manor. Even if she is deceiving people, it must be said that she didn't deceive anyone, understand?"

  Jiang Yue's face turned dark and her thumb hurt even more. Just a moment ago, she thought it was just her being paranoid, there wasn't even a scratch on her hand, so surely nothing was wrong. After all, Murong Yi was just a weak woman, what strength could she have? But in just a short while, her thumb was throbbing with pain. This wasn't the worst of it, Murong Yi had actually slandered her in public! "You..."

  Murong Yinxian's beautiful face was slightly puckered, her beautiful eyes unable to conceal the astonishment within. Murong Yi was counterattacking! A bold and reckless counterattack. Suddenly, doubts arose in his heart - when had Murong Yi become so cunning?

  "Yes, just now that beautiful aunt was saying that mother can't bear the consequences. Mother, will that beautiful aunt and grandmother let mother die because mother told the truth? Tian'er doesn't want mother to die, Tian'er can't live without mother." Little Tian'er said this at first with a serious face, one word at a time, then hugged Murong Yi in horror, her small face full of tears.

  Murong Yi blinked, are kids these days so clever? This son... seems quite intelligent. As she gazed at the tears and snot on his clothes, her mouth twitched, intelligent is intelligent, but a bit dirty, she gently patted Tian'er's back, softly saying: "Tian'er don't worry, no one has the guts to hurt me in front of everyone." After speaking, she raised her head to look at Jiang Yue, whose face had turned iron-green from their mother-son trio's three-eye-two-language exchange, and smiled: "Madam, now it's time for you to tell me, why are these white silks hung up?"

  The two other aunts standing in front of the Prime Minister's mansion, both of whom were born out of wedlock, stared at Murong Yi in disbelief. In the Prime Minister's mansion, no one had ever dared to confront Jiang Yue three times, not because they didn't want to, but because they didn't dare to. Yet, Murong Yi repeatedly provoked Jiang Yue under everyone's watchful eyes!

  Murong Yin's face was deep and solemn, as if she had a natural air of arrogance, or perhaps it was because she was deeply favored by Murong Chen in the prime minister's mansion that she didn't put others in her eyes. She narrowed her eyes and coldly stared at Murong Yi, saying: "Father will be back soon, if you have any questions, you can ask him in person."

  "Stop it, don't make a scene in front of the Prime Minister's mansion." Jiang Yue coldly shouted.

  "Oh?" Murong Yi's mouth slightly curved upwards, smiling lightly with an unspoken elegance. Can't they bear it for a little while longer? A life is easily lost, a person's reputation is easily tarnished, and they are absolutely involved in this matter. Do they deserve to trample someone under their feet forever? "If no one died in the manor, then perhaps it was to mourn for a certain noble in the palace?"

  "You! Nonsense!" Jiang Yue was shocked and lost color, how could Murong Yi be so foolish, did he want to bring disaster to the Prime Minister's mansion? Or was Murong Yi doing it on purpose, intentionally not showing mercy?!

  All around was an uproar. What on earth is going on?

  Among the clamors, Murong Yi turned back to Tian Er and said softly: "Tian Er, this is a world where the weak are preyed upon by the strong. Sometimes martial prowess is important, but what's most important is wisdom."

  Tian'er looked at Murong Yi and nodded vaguely.

  "So, Madam, give me or everyone in the world an explanation." Murong Yi said with a very calm tone.

  Murong Yin's lips were tightly pursed, and she took a deep breath. Murong Yi had changed! She was no longer the flustered and easily manipulated person she used to be. The current Murong Yi standing before her was calm and composed, every word unspoken yet calculated to perfection. Just as she was about to speak up for Jiang Yue, her gaze fell upon two figures approaching from the back of the crowd - one was her father, Murong Chen, and the other... a noble gentleman whose presence could drive women crazy with infatuation, making people dare not look him in the eye. She slightly lowered her head, perfectly concealing the adoring light in her eyes.

  Jiang Yue was at a loss, unsure of how to react when she heard a familiar voice, "You scoundrel!" It was her master! She turned around in surprise and delight.

  Murong's smile remained unchanged at the edge of her lips, and even without turning around, she had already guessed who that person was. She turned elegantly, looking towards the newcomer. The first thing to catch her eye was an unexpectedly stunningly handsome man, wearing a fiery red, extraordinary, and elegant brocade robe, with a face so enchanting it dazzled the eyes, and the wind blowing through his hair made the red color seem to dance in his devilishly charming, upward-slanting phoenix eyes, as if it were the most irresistible charm in the world. Under the blue sky and white clouds, under this dazzlingly beautiful color, his mouth was curved into a faint, seemingly unintentional smile, which was not showy but had a subtle, otherworldly quality to it. She raised an eyebrow, just about to shift her gaze away from Murong Chen, who had just scolded her, when she inadvertently met the man's eyes.

  These eyes, like an eagle's piercing gaze, are as unfathomable as a deep pool, as icy and unyielding as the snow on a mountain peak that refuses to melt for thousands of years. Like a magic mirror, they can easily see through people's hearts, revealing a ruthless smile that is as deadly as a killer's after taking a life.

  He is an inscrutable and profound man!

  But what does she have to do with him? She looked at Mu Yong Chen, who was standing beside the man, wearing official attire, a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, well-maintained and still showing a hint of his youthful elegance.

  "The commoner woman has seen the emperor."

  At some unknown time, Murong Yin suddenly walked in front of Murong Yi, her voice as soft as a gentle breeze by his ear.