Chapter 16: Imperial Majesty

Chapter 16: Imperial Might

This movement was both a protection and a soothing gesture. In Dongling Jue's eyes, however, it took on a different meaning. Under the moonlight, Mu Lan clearly saw a terrifying glint flash within those beautiful phoenix eyes.

"Princess Jinning, if I remember correctly, the man behind you should be your cousin-in-law, shouldn't he?" Dongling Jue approached through the moonlight, the corners of his lips curled in pure sarcasm. "I wonder what reaction Jin Yuanfu and your uncle's family would have upon hearing the news of your elopement."

Although Mu Lan was terrified, she carefully noticed that neither Xiao Yi nor Dongling Jue seemed to have arrived on horseback. To keep up with her speed, they must have been using the legendary Qinggong.

In that case, what were her chances of escaping on horseback now?

While she was pondering a countermeasure, Xiao Yi spoke first. "Your Majesty, please, for the sake of the Princess's single-minded concern for your safety, let her go."

"You mean, you want me to fulfill your desires?" Dongling Jue stood with his hands behind his back, not appearing angry at all. However, upon closer inspection, one would find that those deep eyes were exceptionally cold and dark, as if something was brewing. The slight curve of his lips carried a hint of mockery; under the hazy moonlight, he looked like a demon.

"Your Majesty, if I hadn't escaped tonight, I wouldn't have discovered the ambush in time. Furthermore, I was sincerely intending to deliver a message to you. Therefore, you could be said to owe me a life-saving favor, right?" Mu Lan knew he must have overheard her previous conversation with Xiao Yi, so she decided to brazenly negotiate terms with him.

"Moreover, our Xia Liang has already offered the Soul-Sustaining Grass, which is equivalent to saving the Empress Dowager's life. Isn't a favor involving two lives enough to exchange for my freedom?"

"Does Princess Jinning enjoy settling accounts so much?" Dongling Jue's gaze swept over her and Xiao Yi. "Then why don't we also count what you have done to me?"

At this point, his gaze sharpened, his tone shifting instantly as he barked coldly, "Seize those two!"

At his command, several dark shadows immediately leapt out from the darkness—they were Dongling Jue's personal guards for this journey.

These men were agile and armed with lethal weapons. Knowing he could not escape, Xiao Yi allowed them to force him off his horse and suddenly knelt, pleading, "Your Majesty, this subject only wished to protect the Princess and overstepped his bounds. Please... do not harm her."

"General Xiao." Dongling Jue took a step toward him, his downward gaze filled only with contempt and amusement. "Has General Xiao forgotten that she is already a consort of my Western Chu? Whether it be thunder or dew, all are manifestations of the Emperor's grace. Even if I were to harm her, what could you do?"

Xiao Yi's body trembled. Beneath his sleeves, his hands were clenched into fists, yet he had to exert every effort to restrain himself. "Your Majesty, please consider the sincerity of the Xia Liang Kingdom. Regarding today's mistake, Xiao Yi is willing to take full responsibility."

Dongling Jue sized him up noncommittally, then suddenly turned his gaze toward Mu Lan. "Princess Jinning, why don't you tell me yourself? Given your transgressions today, how should you be punished?"

Poisoning and desertion—just those two alone were enough to cause her ruin. Moreover, this involved her reputation and the dignity of the Emperor; even calling for her execution might not be an exaggeration.

*This wicked feudal society!* Mu Lan felt she was utterly cursed. However, looking at Dongling Jue's expression, he didn't seem ready to take her life just yet. It was likely that while the death penalty might be spared, she wouldn't escape punishment.

Thinking of this, Mu Lan bit her lip, suddenly threw herself down, and crawled on her knees toward him. She grabbed his leg and pleaded sorrowfully, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I didn't intend to run away; it's just that today, I don't know what possessed me to ride out on horseback. It wasn't until I encountered that group of people digging pits to ambush you that I realized this might be the protection of the Heavens—that the gods instructed your servant to discover their conspiracy to help Your Majesty return home safely."

"So, I should actually thank you?" Dongling Jue's tone inadvertently deepened.

Mu Lan shook her head hurriedly. "No, no, no. What your servant means is that although this was a lapse of heart, it is still an unpardonable crime. However, the priority right now is whether Your Majesty should deal with the immediate crisis first? I have already fallen into your hands; once we return to the palace, you may punish me however you wish."

In short, she had to stall for as long as possible; there was no guarantee she wouldn't have another chance to escape. Even if she couldn't escape, it was better to wait until his anger subsided.

Dongling Jue reached out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up. Meeting his eyes was his dangerous, charming, and handsome face. "A lapse of heart? In my view, it was a long-planned scheme."

He leaned in slightly toward her, saying coldly, word by word, "You said you wanted to return early to visit the Empress Dowager, so you asked me to teach you how to ride. In reality, the true reason was today's desertion, wasn't it?"

Mu Lan didn't dare look directly into those sharp eyes. This man possessed an innate nobility and majesty; with his brows lowered like this, he carried the overwhelming aura of a ruler looking down upon the world. Even though she was born in a modern society that emphasized equality, she could not help but feel submissive under such a gaze.

Seeing that she did not deny it, Dongling Jue's expression grew even colder. "You went to feed the horses every day just to find an opportunity to poison them?"

Mu Lan shrank back. This man's memory and analytical skills were too good; she couldn't even bring herself to argue. It seemed impossible to bluff her way out of this. As his tone grew increasingly frigid, she had a gut feeling that she would suffocate under the pressure of his aura in the next second.

"Princess Jinning, you truly are quite calculating." Seeing her squint her eyes and shrink her neck in resignation—her lips nearly bitten raw, looking like someone who feared death yet was trying to act brave to endure everything—the ice in Dongling Jue's eyes finally reached its absolute limit.

To use his familial affection to achieve her goals—not only were her methods cunning, but her audacity was immense. Dongling Jue flung her hand away and commanded, "Yan Feng, tie her up."

At this moment, Dongling Jue possessed an indescribable gloom. A sudden surge of hostility erupted from him, making even the surrounding air seem to turn cold.

It seemed it wasn't just anger, but also an emotion that Mu Lan couldn't understand mixed within it. She didn't know what it was, but her intuition told her that this emotion would inevitably lead to terrifying consequences.

However, Dongling Jue did not seem to intend to lash out too soon. His piercing gaze swept over and turned toward the kneeling Xiao Yi, suddenly letting out a light chuckle. "General Xiao, I have long heard of your extraordinary skills. I, too, have a heart that appreciates talent. How about I give you a chance to redeem your crime through service today?"

He spoke lightly, but the wicked smile at the corners of his mouth made those familiar with him feel a chill down their spines.