"You knew very well that we'd already noticed something was wrong with you when that arrow was shot. Yet you still dared to make repeated attempts. It seems you don't take us seriously at all."
As the words fell, two people slowly walked in from outside under everyone's stunned gazes.
Fu Lu even swallowed hard. He seemed to know who had shot that arrow just now.
Would the Empress Dowager settle accounts with him later?
He had no choice but to step forward and bow first.
"Your servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager and the National Master."
Shi Muyuan waved her hand casually without blaming him.
"We already know what happened. You've done a good job. After this is over, I will surely reward you handsomely."
Hearing this, Fu Lu heaved a sigh of relief and stepped back.
The wet nurse's hands were trembling slightly. Although she had guessed that someone had noticed, she didn't expect these two to return so soon.
However, so what? The Emperor was now in her hands.
She directly put the dagger against the young Emperor's neck.
"You'd better not move. I'm not a very patient person. If my hand trembles a bit, you might have to replace the Emperor, right?"
There was nothing they could do. They still had to consider Ji Heng's safety.
Shi Muyuan could only stop the person beside her. "National Master, don't be so impulsive. Heng'er is still in her hands."
Hearing this, the man could only withdraw his hand.
He looked cold, his thin lips tightly pursed, his hair fluttering. The sword in his hand was ready to be unsheathed at any moment, just waiting for the slightest slack from the person opposite.
He frowned. "I'm sure Concubine Shen must have offered you some irresistible benefits. As long as you tell us, maybe we can also meet your demands. Besides, what's the benefit of going against the royal family? Do you really want to risk your life for something unnecessary?"
Yes, if there weren't any absolute benefits, how would a woman like her risk her life?
Shi Muyuan knew very well that there must be some interest involved.
Although the wet nurse had been hit on her weak point, Concubine Shen must have seen something in her when she chose her. And the biggest reason was probably that she could keep her mouth shut and would never easily switch sides, just like now.
She tightly grasped the dagger as if using all her strength.
"I don't have anything I want. Besides, if Concubine Shen can't give it to me, you surely can't either."
She was like a hard bone to crack. The two looked at each other and suddenly didn't know what to say. After all, every time they used such a strategy, the people on the other side couldn't resist.
This time they seemed to have miscalculated.
Just when Shi Muyuan thought they needed to use other methods this time, the man continued. "I investigated you before. I remember you should have a son you've been raising, right?"
The wet nurse's hand completely stopped. She looked at the tall figure in disbelief. Such a secret matter. Even Concubine Shen had taken a long time to find out. How did this man know?
However, her expression proved that the man had guessed right.
Shi Muyuan also saw hope and encouraged the man to continue. She was also a bit curious. What could make a mother go to such lengths that she didn't even care about her own child and was willing to risk her life?
But the wet nurse didn't want to continue talking about this. She directly turned her head and changed the topic.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand. Now we're talking about my business with the Emperor. Don't you want this young Emperor to be okay? Or are you willing to let him die in my hands?"
Maybe because he was suddenly placed in this position, the young Emperor had always been a bit skeptical. Was the Empress Dowager really sincere in making him the Emperor?
So, there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes and he didn't say a word for a long time.
Shi Muyuan of course didn't miss the little guy's look. She understood in her heart but just felt a bit helpless. After so long, the little guy still didn't trust her.
However, if there was something she could do to reassure the young Emperor, it wasn't unacceptable.
She took the initiative to step forward. "How could we not care? But you've been stalling for so long. You must want to tell us something. It must be something Concubine Shen is unwilling or unable to agree to, right?"
These words touched Ji Heng. He thought that after following the Empress Dowager for so long, how could she have no feelings for him at all? There must be someone deliberately instigating.
Actually, normally, when killing someone, one should act directly when the other side notices. But this assassin had stalled for so long. There must be a reason.
Sure enough, the wet nurse didn't continue to cover up. She changed her attitude and put away her previous appearance. However, her expression was still cold.
"The Empress Dowager really has sharp eyes. Before, I really thought about just killing the young Emperor. Concubine Shen could still help me achieve what I wanted. But when you mentioned my son, I suddenly changed my mind."
It was true that every mother would be strong for her children. This was an unchanging truth whether in ancient times or modern times. As long as there was a breakthrough, the rest would be easier to handle.
Shi Muyuan gently let out a sigh of relief and slowly approached. "I don't know what you want to trade with me. As long as it's something I can do, I'm not unwilling to help."
As she finished speaking, she had already walked to the young Emperor's side. With one more stretch of her hand, she could pull the young Emperor over. But just at this critical moment, the wet nurse wasn't happy.
She pulled the young Emperor back again. "I don't know if the Empress Dowager is willing to agree to my request. If not, I can be cruel today even though I've raised the young Emperor until now."
Although this was a bit far - fetched, on some levels, it was really the case.
Shi Muyuan twitched the corner of her mouth, stood still beside, and her face slowly fell.
"Then tell me. What on earth do you want to do?"
The wet nurse took a deep breath and tears welled up in her eyes. "Actually, I've known for a long time that Concubine Shen simply can't do this. The only person who can probably is the Empress Dowager. I want the Empress Dowager to seek justice for my son."
In this case, Shi Muyuan seemed to understand what the wet nurse meant. But she suddenly couldn't figure out what in this world was something only she could do.
Just when she was confused, the wet nurse continued. However, this story seemed a bit too sad.
"I do have a child. Originally, after leaving the palace, I planned to live a good life with my child. But an unfortunate thing happened."