She cast a hopeful look at the person beside her.
Master Sikong didn't let them down at this critical moment.
"Everyone, please calm down. I came with the Empress Dowager today just to explain this matter," he said.
As soon as he opened his mouth, all the commoners fell silent at once. Dozens of pairs of eyes stared intently at Master Sikong.
"As long as Master Sikong speaks, we're willing to believe," someone said.
"Yes. Master Sikong has never told a lie in all these years," another added.
Shi Muyuan couldn't help blushing at the words of the commoners below. She always had a guilty feeling, as if what she had done today was just asking Master Sikong to help her tell a lie.
However, the current situation didn't allow her to regret.
Master Sikong didn't beat around the bush either. "Everyone has been misled by someone with ulterior motives. Now I've investigated the whole matter thoroughly with the national master. It's all a plot against the Empress Dowager."
Hearing this, although the commoners still had some doubts, they believed most of it.
But there were always some trouble - makers in the crowd.
"Even so, how can Master Sikong explain the sudden change in the Empress Dowager's personality a few days ago? Everyone saw it at that time."
Hearing this, Cui Qizhou deliberately glanced at the person who had lowered her head out of guilt.
He had suspected this matter ever since he received the news, but he had no evidence at all. The information from his subordinates was the same.
However, he definitely didn't believe in the so - called monster transformation.
He wasn't a three - year - old kid. Only a fool would believe such nonsense.
Seeing Shi Muyuan remaining silent, those trouble - making commoners became even more insolent.
"If the Empress Dowager can't explain this clearly, it proves that you're really a transformed monster. We'll offer you as a sacrifice to heaven."
Hearing this, Shi Muyuan took a step back and pondered what to do next.
Just then, Cui Qizhou protected her behind him and stepped forward himself.
"Because the Empress Dowager had a near - death experience before and realized the true meaning of life, she changed herself. Isn't this a good thing for all of you? Or do you hope that the Empress Dowager will return to her old self?"
These words might sound a bit harsh, but they were solid truths. As the main subject of the discussion, Shi Muyuan silently scanned the faces of all the commoners.
But this glance meant something else to the other commoners.
Those commoners couldn't help but recall the things that had happened before. They hadn't forgotten the Empress Dowager's cruelty. It seemed that it was really true. Wasn't the current Empress Dowager just perfect?
After the commoners thought this through and combined it with what Master Sikong had just said, their previous doubts instantly vanished.
"We were impolite today. Please forgive us, Empress Dowager. We just did this for the sake of the Daliang Dynasty," they said.
They had said everything that should and shouldn't be said. Even if the original owner were here, she probably couldn't find a reason to refute. Not to mention that Shi Muyuan, a time - traveling girl from modern times, just wanted to live a good life.
She waved her little hand and said, "Everyone was deceived by someone with ulterior motives. I can understand. But please don't act like this again. Now, all of you may leave quickly."
As soon as she finished speaking, the crowd dispersed.
After confirming that there was no one around, Shi Muyuan suddenly remembered something.
"Shouldn't we have arrested those people who were inciting trouble just now? Maybe we could find a clue."
Cui Qizhou couldn't help rolling his eyes and said bluntly, "Isn't it a bit too late for the Empress Dowager to think of this now?"
A look of embarrassment appeared on her face. With those commoners around just now, she hadn't remembered.
But the next moment, Cui Qizhou waved his hand, and immediately several guards escorted the trouble - makers out.
Now, Shi Muyuan really admired this man from the bottom of her heart. He not only made a decision in the shortest time but also had high - speed execution.
Even she, a modern person, felt a bit inferior.
However, the man just interrogated them on the spot.
"Who sent you here to cause trouble?"
The people kneeling on the ground, although clearly very scared, still didn't want to say anything.
The Minister of the Supreme Court thought his chance to shine had come. He coughed lightly and said, "If you don't want to say, that's okay. Just come with me to the Supreme Court. I'm sure you'll have a lot to say to us then."
At this, the people on the ground all trembled.
Even if they were outside, they had all heard of the means used inside.
No one who entered the Supreme Court had ever come out unscathed.
Suddenly, no matter how much courage they had, they didn't dare to oppose anymore.
"Sir, please spare our lives! We'll tell you everything."
Sure enough, it was the abbot who had instigated these people.
With their confessions, the three of them didn't stop for a moment and went straight to the abbot's courtyard.
At this moment, he was still gloating in his room, counting his gold. His expression was full of greed, something the others had never seen before.
"By the time you suppress the public opinion, I'll already be long gone with the money. Then you won't be able to find me. Empress Dowager, this can be regarded as a little interest I've sought for Concubine Xiao."
"Really? Then have you ever thought that it's not so easy to seek this interest?"
Shi Muyuan couldn't hold back anymore. She directly pushed open the door and stared coldly at the person inside. Just thinking that this man had almost killed her, she didn't have a good look on her face.
The abbot was obviously very surprised by their appearance. He immediately stood up, put the bag on his back, and pretended not to know anything.
"What do you mean, Empress Dowager? I don't quite understand. Has the matter outside been resolved?"
"By now, you don't need to hide anymore. Everyone knows."
Since the words were so clear, the abbot simply stopped pretending. He tightly held the bag in his hand and stared back at them.
"What do you want to do?"
They had never seen such a blatant person who had done something bad. The abbot really broadened their horizons.
Shi Muyuan was a bit angry. "What you've done is an outrage to both man and God. How dare you still have the face to ask us?"
The abbot sneered. "Don't overestimate yourself, Empress Dowager. I just made you experience what it's like to be despised. And you can't even bear it. What about the things you did before? Instead of saying that what I've done is an outrage to both man and God, you'd better think about what you've done."
She was unable to refute his words. Shi Muyuan knew that she would always live in the shadow of the original owner.
Just then, Cui Qizhou stepped forward.
"You've shifted all the blame onto the Empress Dowager. I find it ridiculous. The things the Empress Dowager did before might not have been perfect, but she did them all for the sake of this country. And what about you? You helped Concubine Xiao plot a rebellion. What right do you have to blame others?"