Chapter 57

  Although the most dangerous place may also be the safest, its hazardous factors cannot be ignored. If she stays for a long time and is discovered by Xuan Yuan Ye, then she will become a fish in a barrel.

  The room was full of dust and cobwebs everywhere, but Meng Cuiying didn't dare to move or touch anything carelessly. She could only slightly bend her waist and carefully avoid the cobwebs one by one as she walked inside.

  The furnishings in the room are extremely simple, with only two chairs, a table, and a bed. It's not hard to see that this should be the room where the maids used to live.

  It's probably because there are fewer maids in the current King Yi's mansion, so no one lives here.

  Meng Fu Ying walked to the front of the bed, which was also covered with a layer of dust, so she didn't sit down, but stood at one side close to the wall corner. Although it's unlikely that anyone would come here, she still wanted to be careful, especially after thinking about Xuan Yuan Ye's cold face and his relentless pursuit of her.

  She knew at this moment, she couldn't be careless in the slightest, because her opponent was too dangerous.

  Meng Fu's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she pondered what to do next.

  At this moment, outside the Hou Wang Fu, Xuan Yuan Ye actually stood on the bridge himself. Those civilians had to go through his personal inspection before they could leave.

  The Emperor and Empress Yu did not leave either, and those ministers also stood behind the Emperor one after another.

  The queen was not present because she had been demoted to the Cold Palace for drugging Meng Yu earlier.

  The empress dowager did not come either.

  Roufei's face looked a bit unsightly, with a pair of extremely beautiful eyes that hid an obvious anger, and her body seemed to be slightly stiff due to that anger. However, when her eyes swept past the crown prince and Xuan Yuan Ye, they seemed to flash something quickly.

  At this moment, no one spoke again, after all, such a thing, at this kind of occasion, it's not suitable to say anything.

  Everyone looked at Xuan Yuan Ye standing on the bridge.

  The people surrounded by one another, carefully and cautiously walked past him, no one dared to look at him. Even if they didn't look, when passing by Xuan Yuan Ye's side, they couldn't help but tremble slightly. Some of the more timid ones were even so scared that they knelt on the ground.

  Xuanyuan Ye's eyes were fixed tightly on the pedestrians passing by, and as he saw the surrounded people becoming fewer and fewer, his face also became increasingly gloomy.

  When the last commoner walked past the bridge, Xuan Yuan Ye's hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched tightly once, and his eyes scanned over the ministers beside the Emperor, all of whom were familiar faces without any unusual expressions. Moreover, not many ministers had come today, only those with great prestige in the court were qualified to come here.

  It seems she managed to escape again, Xuan Yuan Ye's eyes narrowed once more.

  From crossing the bridge to arriving at the Yue Wang Fu, it was only a few steps away. In such a short period of time, where could she escape to?

  Unless she got off the sedan chair and left after crossing the bridge, but if she left at that time, it would be a bit abrupt, because everyone was crowded forward to watch, and if she walked out at that time, she would definitely attract attention.

  At that time, Qing Zhu was closely following the sedan chair, and Su Feng was also paying attention to this side. Moreover, he was looking in this direction at that time, so she couldn't have left at that moment.

  He was certain she must be in that crowd, but somehow he couldn't find her.

  Her eyes flashed slightly, her lips curled up slightly, and she suddenly shouted at the guard beside her, "Search the Wang Mansion."

  With her cleverness, it's highly likely she'd take this risk.

  "Search the palace? Seventh brother, she can't be foolish enough to hide in the palace, and we've been standing here all along, she didn't even have a chance to get into the palace." Xuan Yuan Mo finally couldn't help but speak up.

  Those guards were also somewhat stunned, and upon hearing Xuan Yuan Mo's words, they too hesitated, without immediately taking action.

  "Search." Xuan Yuan Ye's lips moved slightly, a simple yet irresistible command that made the guards dare not linger for another moment, and they hastily ran into the palace.

  Xuanyuan Ye quickly walked into the Wang Fu, and the Emperor and Rong Fei also followed behind.

  However, those ministers naturally did not dare to stay any longer. After all, this was not a glorious thing. If they continued to stay here, it was likely that they would be implicated and suffer the consequences, so they all requested to leave.

  The emperor's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and he waved his hand somewhat irritably, indicating that they could all leave. The ministers, having received the order, hastily retreated like fleeing.

  Only the crown prince and a few princes followed the emperor and Concubine Rong back into the Yi Wang Fu.

  "Search for him thoroughly, no place can be missed." Xuan Yuan Ye's eyes swept slightly, then coldly commanded.

  Although there were not many people in the palace of King Yi, it was a big deal. If they really searched for it, it wouldn't be something that could be done in a short while.

  Those guards heard Xuan Yuan Ye's order and dispersed one after another, all hastily going to search.

  "She actually dared to run away from her wedding, it's really too ridiculous." At this moment, there were no outsiders left, and the gentle concubine finally spoke out in anger, her usual soft voice also carrying a hint of extremism due to her indignation.

  It's normal to be angry because of her son's shame. So at this moment, whatever she says or does is not excessive. Moreover, she has always been a very simple-minded person who wouldn't hide her emotions.

  "Alright, calm down and let it go. The matter has already been decided." The emperor let out a soft sigh, but his face, which had been gloomy just moments before, slowly regained its composure as he gently comforted the gentle concubine. However, in the depths of his eyes, a hint of something unusual flickered.

  Roufei's anger should have been a spark, and by rights, it should have triggered everyone's indignation, especially the emperor's. After all, Meng Zuiying had done something to shame the imperial family.

  However, no one had expected that the Emperor would have such an attitude and even advised Consort Rou to calm down.

  Everyone looked at the emperor with a look of astonishment, especially the crown prince, whose eyes flashed with a hint of ruthless determination.

  Only Xuan Yuan Ye still had a cold and indifferent face, without any surprise.

  "Your Majesty, can I calm down now? Yan'er is my only son, and Meng Cuiying actually ran away on the day of their grand wedding, letting Yan'er suffer such humiliation. How can I remain calm at this moment?" The emperor's comfort seemed to make Consort Rou even more agitated, her voice rising slightly, with anger becoming increasingly evident.

  The emperor was stunned for a moment, but he didn't say anything else. He hadn't expected that Meng Cuiying would actually run away on their wedding day, which was indeed embarrassing for Yan'er. But what shocked him even more was that this little girl had managed to escape under his careful arrangements.

  That girl is indeed quite capable. The dignity of the imperial family is indeed important, but there is one thing that is even more important than this dignity.

  So in a sense, he didn't think it was that bad of a thing, or rather, the girl's runaway marriage could actually help him out greatly.

  If Yan Er really wanted to marry her, she would eventually become Yan Er's queen, he believed in Yan Er's ability.

  Moreover, he knew that Meng Yuntian doted on this daughter to the bone, and not to mention Meng Yuntian's several lifesaving graces towards him, but Meng Yuntian's loyalty to the Xuan Yuan dynasty was enough for him to tolerate that little girl.

  At that time, Jing Er was a marriage between two countries, involving the relationship between the two countries. How could he not know about Jing Er's little tricks? He tolerated such things.

  Today's events, after all, are just internal affairs of the Xuan Yuan dynasty. This tolerance is not difficult for him, in fact, he knows that Shadow has been running around Jing Er these days, and it's likely that she has also figured out this point about him.

  That girl is clever and cunning like a fox, she will definitely be able to help Rong Er in the future. If Rong Er likes her, he won't mind either.

  He was originally a sentimental person.

  But his feelings were...

  "Yes, that ugly freak is really too much, actually ran away from marriage. Seventh brother was willing to marry her, she should be grateful, but instead she ran away. That ugly freak won't have gone stupid again, will she?" Xuan Yuan Mo's mouth was always poisonous, and it still was now.

  Xuanyuan Fan's eyes flashed slightly, quickly hiding a few points of dissatisfaction and a few more points of worry.

  "Hehe... She definitely hasn't become stupid, if she had, could she have escaped?" Xuan Yuan Chen's thoughts were relatively simple, and upon hearing Xuan Yuan Mo's words, he immediately retorted, and at this moment, only his face still held a faint smile.

  He was originally a playful person, so this matter for him, wasn't that complicated, only the excitement in his heart due to playfulness.

  "Yan'er, what do you plan to do after finding her?" The gentle concubine suddenly asked again. With Xuan Yuan Yan's search method, she believed that it wouldn't take long before he would definitely find Meng Cuiying. Now, she wanted to know what Yan'er would do after finding Meng Cuiying.

  The usually gentle eyes seemed to have a hint of viciousness in them, as if they were furious.

  Actually, it was somewhat unwise of Rong Fei to ask this question at this time, but everyone knew her simplicity and understood her emotions at the moment, so no one said anything.

  The prince's eyes lightly swept over the gentle concubine, and it seemed that something had slipped away in the depths of his eyes. The corners of his mouth curled up into a faint smile. "Yes, I'm also curious, Seventh Brother brought that woman back, how will he deal with her? Will he cut her into a thousand pieces?"

  The crown prince smiled lightly and said something that was cruel to the extreme, as if being cut by a thousand knives was as natural as drinking water or eating.

  Her words paused slightly, her lips curled up, "However, being cut into a thousand pieces seems too cheap for her, she made Seventh Brother so embarrassed, how can cutting her into a thousand pieces be enough to vent his anger? It's better to strip her naked and parade her in the streets later, that would be more satisfying than killing her. As for the people of Hou Wang Fu, they will naturally all be killed too. What does Seventh Brother think of this palace's suggestion?"

  The prince still had a faint smile on his face, his eyes staring straight at Xuan Yuan Ye, exuding sharpness and also hiding a hint of inquiry. He wanted to know whether Xuan Yuan Ye's elaborate scheme was due to the woman's runaway marriage angering him or because...

  The emperor's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and his eyes also showed obvious dissatisfaction. It was really surprising that he could say such a thing. Was this something a crown prince should be saying?

  "As the crown prince of a country, you actually say such vulgar words. Do you think everyone is as despicable as you?" Xuan Yuanfan suddenly roared in anger, his outburst was truly unexpected by everyone, and his words were too sharp, too biased, leaving no room for the prince to save face at all.

  Although Xuan Yuan Fan has always supported Xuan Yuan Ye and opposed the Crown Prince, it was only in private and not openly.

  On the surface, he would still be somewhat perfunctory, but at this moment, Xuan Yuanfan however...

  "Hah, Eighth Brother, why are you so excited? Could it be that you're involved in this matter too? Or perhaps you helped that woman escape? Otherwise, relying solely on her own abilities, how could she have achieved such a feat?" The Crown Prince's cold smile slowly spread, his gaze fixed on Xuan Yuan Fan, yet with a hint of ruthlessness hidden within.

  "Don't stir up trouble here, our relationship with Seventh Brother can't be broken by your few words." Xuan Yuan Fan's eyes blazed with anger as he retorted loudly.

  "Heh heh, does this still need me to stir up trouble? Your tense attitude is really too suspicious." The crown prince, however, just lightly laughed and turned his gaze back to Xuan Yuan Ye, asking with a deeper meaning, "Seventh brother, what do you say?"

  Xuanyuan Ye's lips curled up slightly, his cold face didn't show any unusual expression, he looked at the crown prince and said slowly word by word, "You just want to know how I will deal with her after I catch her back. I can tell you that your bloody violent and lowly methods are indeed not worthy of my use. When I do things, I only target the person involved, she made a mistake, I won't be so ignorant as to shift the blame to Hou Wangfu. Everyone knows about Hou's loyalty to Xuanyuan Dynasty. Are you trying to stir up chaos by killing people from Hou Wangfu? Today's humiliation is nothing compared to Xuanyuan Dynasty, I can still tell them apart."

  Xuanyuan Ye's words were reasonable and left no room for rebuttal.

  Meng Yuntian's loyalty is known throughout the land, and for so many years, every time there was a disturbance, it was Meng Yuntian who went to quell the unrest. If because of this matter, the people of the Houwang Fu were beheaded, it would certainly chill the hearts of the people all over the world, and make all the subjects of the Xuan Yuan Dynasty feel cold and frightened.

  When the time comes, it will surely cause great chaos.

  He wouldn't do that naturally, and Father King would never do that either. However, when he said those words, a few strands of resentment rose in his heart. That woman probably also recognized this point, which is why she dared to be so arrogant.

  "Heh heh......" The prince sneered coldly, "Seventh brother is indeed very righteous, but only towards himself. In that case, this palace wants to see how seventh brother will deal with the woman after catching her."

  "That's my own business, since the Emperor has decreed and bestowed marriage upon her, she is now my woman. As my woman, it's my family affair, and I'm afraid it doesn't concern the Crown Prince." Xuan Yuan Ye retorted with a cold smile, unhurriedly.

  In one sentence, Meng Fu Ying attributed today's runaway marriage to family matters, meaning that all things were his own affairs of Xuan Yuan Ye, and had nothing to do with the imperial family or anyone else in the world.

  As for those who are embarrassed and ashamed, he didn't feel anything because he never cared about others' opinions.

  He was angry only at the woman's escape, he hated only that she would be so heartless.

  So no matter what, he would bring her back and make her know the consequences of daring to run away on their wedding day.

  The emperor was slightly stunned, and his eyes flashed with a few points of approval. Ruo Er's actions had always been to his liking, so he didn't have to be embarrassed anymore.

  The prince's smile on his face suddenly stiffened, he didn't expect Xuan Yuan Ye to answer like this, he thought Xuan Yuan Ye would cover it up a bit, but unexpectedly, he was so direct.

  Roufei's face also changed slightly, the anger in her eyes had not dissipated, it was very clear that she hated Meng Cuiying to the extreme, so she was not very satisfied with Xuan Yuan Ye's words.

  However, Xuan Yuan Ye did not say that he would not punish Meng Fu Ying, so at this moment she could no longer say anything and could only endure her dissatisfaction.

  "It's better to let the Queen Mother rest, please go back to the palace and rest first." Xuan Yuan Ye turned to Rong Fei, his icy face faded a bit, his tone softened a lot, and his voice was full of respect.

  Just as his long eyelashes slightly drooped, his eyes seemed to flash quickly.

  Roufei's eyes widened slightly, and she saw Xuan Yuan Ye's filial piety. A satisfied smile spread across her lips, and the anger in her eyes slowly dissipated, restoring her usual gentleness. Her red lips parted, and that soft, intoxicating voice sounded again, "Alright, Mother will go back first. You can handle this matter yourself."

  Xuan Yuan Ye has already made it very clear that it's his own business, so she won't interfere anymore. She can't interfere anymore either.

  One face full of kindness, one face full of gentleness, looking at Xuan Yuan Ye's eyes, it was even more heart-wrenching.

  At this moment, she seems to have forgotten the unhappiness that Meng Cuo Ying brought her. In her eyes, there is only simple love and pure feelings.

  That stunning face, those pure eyes, are like a fairy who doesn't eat human fireworks.

  Having stayed in the imperial palace for twenty years or so, yet still able to maintain such purity, is this really a miracle in this world?

  She is simple, yet able to grasp the subtleties of advance and retreat!

  "Yes, I understand." Xuan Yuan Ye slightly lowered his eyes and responded in a low voice, still with the same respect as before.

  "Let's go, I'll leave too. This matter will be handled by Rong Er herself." The emperor said softly, with one hand around the gentle concubine, slightly turning his body and walking away.

  He held the gentle wife's hand, very gently, without using force, as if afraid of hurting her. However, in that gentleness, it seemed to lack a few degrees of the fervor of true love between men and women, or perhaps old couples were like this too. After all, time had passed, and people had grown old...