Although their intentions were not what she had thought, Shi Muyuan didn't care. Her goal had been achieved. Since someone was willing to excuse her, why not take advantage of it?
"Big brother can understand my good intentions. I'm relieved. Please go back and comfort father. Don't let him be distracted by those people."
"Don't worry. You just do what you want. I'll keep father steady."
"Thank you, big brother."
Just like this, the meal was quite harmonious.
The three of them planned to continue chatting after the meal, but unexpectedly, something suddenly happened in Qingning Palace.
Xiao Xiao rushed in in a hurry.
"Empress Dowager, something has happened to Concubine Rui. Do you want to go and have a look?"
Shi Muyuan frowned slightly. "What on earth is she up to now?"
"I heard that she tried to hang herself. The imperial physician has rushed over. If you don't go, it's easy to be gossiped about. Maybe people will label you as a jealous woman."
Hearing this, Shi Muyuan felt a headache. Were the concubines in ancient times so troublesome? Whenever they wanted to put on a show, they would try to hang themselves. Did they really think she was an invincible ironclad?
She originally didn't want to go, but was persuaded by her two elder brothers.
"Aunt Xiao is right. You've just started to have a good reputation among the public. If it's ruined by Concubine Rui today, it may be even more difficult to gain the trust of the common people in the future."
Shi Li pursed his lips. "You go first. If there's anything wrong, let someone inform us immediately. There are too few people in your palace. After I go back, I'll ask the steward to send some more people over."
What he meant was to send people to protect Shi Muyuan.
However, in the little Empress Dowager's ears, it meant something else. She glanced at the dense crowd in the palace and twitched the corner of her mouth.
"Second brother, forget it. I think there are already enough people here. If there are more, there may not be enough space."
"It's okay. I won't let those people disturb your peace. Well, big brother and I will leave now."
As he said, he pulled the tall figure out.
When the two of them reached the gate of Shoukang Palace, they exchanged a look and then jumped onto the eaves.
The shadow guard didn't expect that although he had hidden so well and kept a certain distance from them, he was still discovered.
Almost instinctively, he used his lightness kung fu and ran out.
He wasn't a fool. The Shi family members were almost both well - versed in literature and martial arts. Now there were two of them here. He wasn't confident that he could fight them.
So, there was only one last choice - to run.
Finally, he reached the big tree at the palace gate. Just as he was about to catch his breath, someone patted his shoulder.
"Hehe, with such physical fitness, you still dare to be a shadow guard. Say, who sent you and what's your purpose?"
The shadow guard's eyes widened. He had used all his life - long skills, but how did these two brothers catch up with him?
Shi An didn't give him time to think carefully.
"Instead of wasting time talking nonsense, it's better to throw him into the dungeon of the Shi Mansion first. He will surely confess everything then."
The dungeon of the Shi Mansion was said to be full of all kinds of torture instruments. No matter how well - trained a shadow guard was, once they fell into the dungeon of the Shi Mansion, they could only confess obediently. There was no other way.
The shadow guard certainly wouldn't betray his own organization, but he also didn't want to fall into the hands of these two brothers.
So, taking advantage of their unpreparedness, the shadow guard drew out a dagger from his waist. "You're dreaming!"
Seeing that he was about to commit suicide, Shi An sneered. "You don't have the right to talk about death in front of me."
No one knew how the eldest young master of the Shi family made his move, but the shadow guard's hand holding the dagger suddenly lost its strength, and then the dagger fell to the ground.
The shadow guard gritted his teeth. Just as he was about to pick up the dagger, he found that there was a lot of blood on his hand for no reason.
This sudden strange situation made the shadow guard feel terrified. People were most afraid of the unknown.
However, even so, he was still unwilling to reveal his master.
This reaction made Shi Li impatient. He didn't intend to waste too much time on this shadow guard.
"Big brother, why don't we just kill him? After we go back, we'll send more people to protect little sister."
Just as Shi An was about to nod, a sound suddenly came from the darkness.
The two of them looked over warily.
"Who's there!"
Shi An slowly stepped forward and found a familiar person under the big tree.
His face darkened, and then a cry came from behind.
"You dare to run! Wait for me."
Seeing that his younger brother was about to chase after, he stopped him. "Since the National Teacher has come in person, let's let the man go first. We still have to give the National Teacher this face."
Shi Li wasn't a fool. He could naturally understand what his big brother meant.
He just stared at the calm - looking man.
"Then the National Teacher should give us an explanation. Who gave you the courage to send people to spy on the Empress Dowager?"
Even when caught red - handed, Cui Qizhou was not flustered at all.
"Two gentlemen seem to be wrong. I just happened to receive the news that something had happened to Concubine Rui and was passing by here."
Shi An was such a shrewd person. How could he be deceived by such words?
"Oh? Really? Just happened to pass by and just happened to meet us? And I remember that hardly anyone ever comes this way when entering from outside the palace. Are you still going to continue to argue, National Teacher?"
"If the National Teacher has nothing else to say, then come with us to the Supreme Court."
Shi Li couldn't tolerate any sand in his eyes, let alone the fact that the person in front of him was suspected of spying on his younger sister.
As he said, he was about to take the man to the Supreme Court, but with his excellent skills, he missed when he made a move.
Cui Qizhou evaded calmly. "Prince Li invited me here today to seek justice for Concubine Rui."
As soon as he finished speaking, an old - looking man suddenly walked over from the other side of the road.
Maybe because he was too fat, he had to stop every few steps. It must have taken him a long time to get here.
Shi An pulled his younger brother back.
"Did Prince Li receive the emperor's summons when he entered the palace at this time?"
Prince Li had finally reached his current position thanks to his daughter. When he heard that she had an accident today, he surely wouldn't want to lose this cash - cow.
Thinking that the person in front of him was the elder brother of the person who had harmed his daughter, he didn't look happy.
"Didn't Lord Shi also leave the palace at this time? My daughter is in danger now. If I, as a father, don't seek justice for her, I'm afraid everyone in the palace will bully her."