Chapter 380: Let Go (Second Update)

Si Yezhi walked toward the outside and happened to see Si Ting returning.

"Greetings, Head of the Family."

Si Ting clasped his hands in salute, his knife-carved features looking somewhat tense.

Seeing him in this state, Si Yezhi found it strange

"Si Ting, shouldn't you be at the academy today? Why have you returned at this hour?"

Si Ting hesitated for a moment before saying

"I heard that something happened in the Palace."

"What happened? How come I didn't know?"

Si Yezhi was even more bewildered.

He had always sent people to maintain contact with the Palace; if something had truly happened, he should have been the first to know.

Since Si Ting was at Tianlu Academy, how did he find out?

And from the look of it, things seemed quite bad...

Si Ting looked at him, his fists tightening

"Chu Liuyue did not go to the academy today; instead, she was summoned to the Palace."

"And what of it—" As soon as the words left Si Yezhi's mouth, he realized something, and his expression shifted drastically. "Are you saying—it has to do with the Fourth Princess!?"

Si Ting nodded.

"I had a feeling something was wrong, so I came back early to check. I just happened to see Eunuch Min standing at the door."

Si Ting pursed his lips.

Eunuch Min's expression could hardly be called good.

At the very least, having seen Eunuch Min many times, he had never seen such a look on his face before.

Moreover, this was clearly aimed at their Si family!

Si Yezhi's heart gradually sank.

If it involved the Fourth Princess and a sudden urgent summons from His Majesty, he must have discovered that they had been secretly searching for Rong Zhen!

Even worse, Si Meng might have been exposed as well!

He hurriedly patted Si Ting's shoulder

"I will go to the Palace to see. You stay at home. If anything happens... you shall take charge of everything in the Si family."

As he spoke, he took a command token from his robe and pressed it into Si Ting's hand.

Si Ting's brows furrowed.

Just what had happened to make the Head of the Family this nervous? To the point of handing over the token that represented the Head of the Family's identity?

"Head of the Family, I cannot take this. You should still—"

"Take it!"

Si Yezhi's expression was stern, leaving no room for refusal.

Si Ting met his gaze and suddenly realized that the current situation might be even more troublesome and dangerous than he had imagined.

He finally gripped the token tightly and nodded

"Rest assured, Head of the Family. I, Si Ting, will definitely protect the Si family!"

Only then did Si Yezhi feel somewhat relieved. He gave Si Ting a deep look and then turned to leave.

Watching his retreating back, Si Ting felt an inexplicable sense of unease spreading through his heart.

***

On the other side, Si Yezhi followed Eunuch Min in a hurried rush into the Palace.

Along the way, he had tried several times to probe into what was actually happening, but Eunuch Min's mouth was extremely tight, refusing to reveal even a shred of information.

This only made Si Yezhi more certain of his suspicions.

—Something must have happened to the Empress!

Otherwise, Eunuch Min would not have maintained such an attitude.

The two remained silent all the way. By the time they reached the Imperial Study, countless thoughts had flashed through Si Yezhi's mind.

Si Yezhi discreetly observed his surroundings and immediately noticed that the guards of the Imperial Study were much stricter than before, and the overall atmosphere was more solemn and majestic.

His heart felt as if it were hanging in mid-air, causing him great distress.

Eunuch Min stepped forward alone and said respectfully

"Your Majesty, the Head of the Si family has arrived."

Emperor Jiawen's cold, heavy voice drifted from within the Imperial Study

"Let him in!"

Eunuch Min looked at Si Yezhi and took a step back

"Head of the Si family, please—"

Si Yezhi took a deep breath, straightened his robes, and then stepped forward to push the door open.

The moment he walked in and saw the scene inside, Si Yezhi's heart skipped a beat!

Within the spacious and quiet Imperial Study, Emperor Jiawen sat behind the desk. The memorials and inkstones on it had been swept onto the floor, leaving a chaotic mess.

And the Empress, Si Huijing, was kneeling before him!

Her magnificent palace attire was covered in stains, her usually neatly styled hair was disheveled, and her face was marked with tear tracks, her eyes red and swollen.

She knelt there, her entire being radiating an aura of despair and pain.

Si Yezhi had never seen her in such a wretched state!

"Empress!?"

He couldn't help but cry out, taking a quick step forward.

However, he quickly realized that Emperor Jiawen was also present in the study!

He hurriedly halted his steps, turned to look at Emperor Jiawen, and while suppressing the turmoil in his heart, bowed deeply

"Si Yezhi greets Your Majesty."

Seeing him arrive, the Empress's dull eyes moved slightly, and the expression on her face looked very strange.

It was as if she wanted to cry, but could no longer find the strength to do so.

Almost all the tears of her half-life had been wept dry today.

However, this did not soften Emperor Jiawen's heart in the slightest.

Emperor Jiawen looked at Si Yezhi with a heavy gaze.

"Si Yezhi, do you know why I called you here?!"

Si Yezhi felt a heavy pressure descend upon him, and almost without thinking, he knelt down

"This official does not know. I beg Your Majesty to enlighten me!"

"You don't know? The Si family was secretly searching for Rong Zhen's whereabouts—did you not know that either?"

Emperor Jiawen's voice was like a heavy hammer, striking down hard, time and again!

Si Yezhi clenched his fists.

As expected!

His Majesty already knew!

He immediately braced himself with both hands on the floor and slammed his forehead heavily against the ground!

"This official knows his fault! I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

"You know your fault? And here I thought you were fiercely loyal to me. I never expected that you were actually working in secret with the Empress to deceive me for years! Regarding Si Meng, you knew long ago, didn't you!? Si Yezhi! You have truly done well!"

The more Emperor Jiawen spoke, the angrier he became. He actually grabbed the only remaining teacup by his hand and violently hurled it at Si Yezhi!

*Bang!*

The teacup struck heavily in front of Si Yezhi!

Shards flew everywhere, and two pieces quickly grazed Si Yezhi's face, leaving bloody scratches.

But Si Yezhi did not dare to move; he only bowed his head even more respectfully

"Your Majesty, this official knows he is guilty, but none of this has anything to do with Her Majesty the Empress! At the time, it was because this official was worried that Her Majesty would be unable to protect herself in the Palace that he specifically arranged for Si Meng. As for the disappearance of the Fourth Princess... Her Majesty was also afraid that you would worry too much, so she wanted to ask for this official's help; it was not an intentional concealment! Regardless, this official is willing to bear all the consequences alone!"

Hearing this, Emperor Jiawen only let out continuous cold sneers.

"Bear them alone? Do you even have that qualification? Si Yezhi, there is no need to act in front of me. Rong Zhen did not go missing at all! She was hidden away by the Empress!"

Si Yezhi was shocked and suddenly looked up

"What?!"

Seeing this reaction, Emperor Jiawen narrowed his eyes.

"What, did your dear sister not tell you?"

Si Yezhi's mind was in chaos, and he subconsciously looked toward the Empress beside him.

"Empress, what... what exactly is going on?"

The Empress lowered her head.

She knew that there was no use in saying anything more now.

Rong Zhen had happened to appear in Seven-Corner Alley at that time, and since she herself had said those words, Emperor Jiawen had already concluded everything!

She spoke in a raspy voice

"Your Majesty, my brother truly knew nothing of this. I beg you, please let the Si family go."

(End of Chapter)