Shi Muyuan waved her hand feebly.
"We may have silenced these people for now, but we can't stop the gossip. There are so many people in the capital. I'm afraid this matter will spread across the whole Liang Dynasty before long."
"What shall we do then? Are we just going to let things go as they are? Your Highness, you've done nothing wrong. You're innocent, but you're being slandered by these people. And those generals are so presumptuous!"
Hearing her words, the young girl fell into deep thought. Actually, this wasn't what she was most worried about. She just couldn't understand why Ji Huang had suddenly mentioned He Hui.
In the past two years, that woman had kept a low profile and never left the palace. If it weren't for Ji Huang's mention, she would have forgotten that there was such a person in the deep palace.
"Let's go back to the palace first. By the way, where are the prince and the general now?"
"I heard that after the caning, both of them fainted from exhaustion. The emperor had them placed next to the imperial study."
"Sigh, the emperor has a soft heart, but this matter can't just be left like this. We have to go and take a look."
Just like this, they left quietly without anyone noticing.
When they returned to the palace, they happened to meet Fu Lu who was coming to find her.
Seeing the sweat on Fu Lu's forehead, she knew that there was another commotion.
"Let's go. Let's go and take a look first."
"Hey, Empress Dowager, slow down."
"How is the situation now? Tell me first."
Hearing this, Fu Lu felt a headache coming on.
"As soon as the prince and the general woke up, they knelt down in front of the imperial study and refused to get up. The emperor was extremely angry and ordered no one to interfere. If they keep kneeling like this, they may leave behind some root diseases."
As they were talking, they had already reached the door. Looking at the stubborn backs, she sent someone to help the two of them up.
"If your minds are not clear, go wash them in the pond in the imperial garden. The emperor is already in a bad mood, and you just have to come and add to the chaos at this time."
All of Ji Huang's determination softened when he saw her.
"Mother, you've always been the most reasonable person. Hui'er has never been well - treated in the harem. She has been looked down upon for years. Since you all don't like her, I'm willing to take her back to my mansion. This is a win - win situation. Brother has never refused my requests. Why does he refuse this time?"
Shi Muyuan rolled her eyes in her heart. How could anyone be in a good mood when their own younger brother was about to cuckold them?
"I won't agree to this either. Go in and apologize to your brother. I'll decide to let this matter go like this. You two have made great contributions when you came back. Why do you have to do such a stupid thing instead of marrying a good - family girl?"
When Lan Xi saw her, his eyes turned into stars.
"Empress Dowager, I can marry into your family. If you keep me by your side, no one will say anything. I've earned enough silver in the past two years. I can support you."
Shi Muyuan twitched the corner of her mouth. This guy who added to the chaos without knowing the right time was really a headache.
"Are you two really going to insist on this? Even if you don't listen to me?"
"Empress Dowager is so kind - hearted and reasonable. Why don't you just agree to us?"
As soon as Lan Xi finished saying this, his forehead was hit by a teacup and was broken.
"Shameless! How dare you two! Since I've said so much and still can't persuade you, just go back to the northwest and never come back to bother me!"
"Then, Your Majesty, let us take our beloved ones back with us."
These words almost made the young emperor faint from anger.
The young girl felt sorry for him. He was so young but had experienced so much.
"Your Majesty, don't be angry. I'll reason with them again. They're not unreasonable people."
"What's the use of reasoning? They came back this time just to anger me. Mother, just let them kneel here. I don't believe they can kneel here until the seas run dry and the rocks crumble."
After saying that, the young emperor flicked his sleeves and left. Shi Muyuan could only ask Fu Lu to follow him to make sure nothing happened.
She looked at the two of them and sighed.
"Come in and talk."
The two of them looked at each other and hesitated. It wasn't until she said again,
"If you don't want to make things clear, then just kneel at the door."
Seeing the two of them hurriedly following her in, Shi Muyuan asked Ziyi to close the door.
"Tell me. You've been outside for two years and always went to the martial - arts training ground when you entered the palace before. When did you meet He Hui?"
Ji Huang had no choice but to tell all that had happened two years ago. However, he took all the blame on himself.
"Mother, don't blame her. It was my fault after I got drunk."
This might be believed by others, but she was a new - era woman from the 21st century. So - called "drunken debauchery" had long been proven by experts to be non - existent, unless a sober person did something with a drunk person.
With this thought in mind, her eyes narrowed slightly, and her expression turned cold.
"Humph, this is absolutely impossible. Drunken debauchery? Huang'er, you've been set up and you don't even know it. Mother knows you're a responsible man, but this is by no means an excuse to be used by others."
Ji Huang was stunned and subconsciously didn't want to believe it.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Mother, how could a woman use her chastity as a guarantee?"
"Women in this world are different. There are many who have evil intentions and will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. It's precisely because Mother has seen so much that I don't want you to be deceived. If you trust Mother, don't mention this matter again. I'll ask your brother to find a reason to send He Hui to the cold palace."
The person who was a little hesitant at first immediately changed his face when he heard the words "cold palace".
"No! It was all my fault as a man. Why does Mother blame an innocent woman? I'll never change my mind. Otherwise, how am I different from those men who abandon their wives and children?"
In the end, this heart - to - heart talk ended unhappily. Shi Muyuan returned to Shoukang Palace with a worried face.
Seeing the person sitting at the table, she walked over with a headache.
"Place them in the palace first. Let them think about the pros and cons of this matter these days."
"Mother, I'm not worried about this. It's just that when we weren't aware, someone in the harem has already reached out their hand."
Knowing who he was talking about, Shi Muyuan also felt annoyed.
"Back then when I had an accident, the people I sent out all came back. I thought she would be obedient, but I didn't expect her to have been preparing for so long behind our backs. Well, we've been in danger many times before, and it's definitely related to her. But Heng'er, what are you going to do?"