Chapter 123 – Clarify the Matter

Upon hearing this, Miantang slowly leaned back onto the back of her chair, which was originally straight. There was no other reason, just because of a guilty heart.

 

“What… What kind of bandits?”

 

Mo Ru continued to answer truthfully, “Someone once saw these four people on the Mountain of Yang. It seems that the kidnapping of the imperial tribute case handled by the prince was committed by these four people… Moreover, when the State of Dong Rebellion occurred, someone had seen these people… They were all the leaders who caused trouble.”

 

Miantang took a sniff and muttered in a low voice, “When the members of the Mountain of Yang tribe were offered amnesty and enlistment to rebels… They were all pardoned… Besides, even if they participated in the State of Dong Rebellion, they were forced by famine and now they have become good citizens. They have worked very hard in the escort agency and are almost the age for marriage. Why… Why bother to settle old accounts?”

 

Cui Xingzhou raised his eyebrows and said, “As you say, as long as they get married and have children, you will let bygones be bygones? So if we start a rebellion by killing people and stealing goods… We will not have any burden anymore.”

 

Liu Miantang was once again speechless… Well, she thought she didn’t have that dark past after getting married and having a child… Thinking about it so much, she felt guilty.

 

“They are actually good people, Your Highness. Can you please forgive them outside of the law? For the sake that they are my workers…”

 

“How can I take advantage in the face of the law?”

 

Miantang stopped talking and stood up holding her stomach before walking out.

 

Cui Xingzhou frowned and asked, “Where are you going?”

 

Liu Miantang said without turning her head, “Return to the Residence!”

 

It seems that the identity of the four brothers has been compromised. In fact, the old accounts of the Mountain of Yang are all small matters, but the one in the State of Dong was the most fatal. Once convicted, the whole family couldn’t run away from punishment.

 

Miantang knew that they would not confess themselves until the end of their lives, but she couldn’t watch them suffer, let alone be killed. She personally engraved the integrity of loyalty and righteousness on them. If they had not misunderstood her death, they would not have participated in the State of Dong Rebellion and aspired to avenge themselves.

 

Now that they are in trouble, how can she be selfless and care for her own peaceful and stable life?

 

Miantang knew that if she could reveal her identity and honestly confess her mistake to Cui Xingzhou, she might have a 30 percent chance of forgiving herself and pardoning the four brothers.

 

But according to Cui Xingzhou’s cautious eye, there was still a 60 percent chance that he might be so angry and kills these four brothers to prevent his family scandal from spreading, and then detains herself, waiting for her to settle accounts after giving birth.

 

So if she indicated her identity, it was very likely that she will lose her freedom and watch as the four brothers are executed.

 

After careful consideration, Liu Miantang felt that she could not risk their life.

 

Since she couldn’t come up with any decent reason to persuade Cui Xingzhou to release them, then she won’t waste time here. She will just return to the residence and think of a way. Since they are in the military department, they always have to be transferred to the criminal department for trial, and this middle section seems to be the importance of saving them.

 

For a moment, Miantang’s thoughts had boldly jumped to another place, walking hastily.

 

She didn’t look back, naturally not realizing that Cui Xingzhou was already trembling with anger. However, his voice still didn’t show the slightest hint, and he only asked in a deep voice, “After all this time without seeing me, is there nothing else you wanted to say to me?”

 

Miantang held her stomach and lifted her skirt as she was about to leave the yard. Without looking back, she raised her voice and said, “Even if you are busy, don’t forget to eat and dress properly. Take care of your health.”

 

The sound had not yet dissipated, but the person had already left without a trace.

 

Mo Ru was used to the hurried arrival and departure of the princess consort. She was originally a quick person, but since she came to intercede for her escort agency’s staff this time, it was normal for her to stand up and leave without hope. After all, the prince was still working in the official office, so he doesn’t have time for a long chat.

 

It’s just that the prince was just preparing to eat but didn’t even move his chopsticks a few times. So when the princess consort left, Mo Ru stood beside the prince and said attentively, “Your Highness, hurry up and eat while it’s hot. The princess consort has warned you to take good care of your health.”

 

Before he could finish speaking, Cui Xingzhou suddenly raised his foot and kicked the table with a clang, causing the vegetable and rice to overturn all over the ground. He then coldly said to Mo Ru, “Get out.”

 

Mo Ru was too scared to speak, so he quickly lowered his head and walked away.

 

Where can Cui Xingzhou have the appetite to eat? He was full of anger!

 

He originally intended to give her another chance to confess voluntarily. But when the matter has risen to the situation now, she still hid it as if nothing had happened.

 

Liu Miantang, good job!

 

On the other hand, Liu Miantang didn’t know she walked off so cleanly that she almost angered Prince Huaiyang.

 

Along the way back, Miantang’s mind turned a thousand thoughts. Kidnapping prisoners was a bit crazy and unreliable. So she can only ask for another pardon.

 

Liu Miantang thought of Liu Yu for a moment. As an emperor, it should be easy for him to grant amnesty to a few uncivilized prisoners.

 

But she couldn’t go begging Liu Yu. If she really did this, where would she place her husband’s face?

 

Turning to seeking second place, Miantang decided to follow the path of Empress Shi.

 

After deciding, Miantang didn’t want to delay. So she ordered someone to deliver the post to the palace. But before the post could be sent out, it was rumored that Empress Shi was about to give birth to a prince after breaking through the water.

 

This post cannot be delivered at all.

 

Miantang collapsed on the bed, feeling that after becoming pregnant, there was even less brain power left that was already insufficient.

 

Was it God’s intention to make those four brothers suffer? Or could she only have personally begged Liu Yu to save their lives?

 

Just when she was at a loss, Cui Xingzhou finally returned to the residence.

 

However, the prince’s face was livid, and at first glance, his mood was extremely calm.

 

After returning to the inner courtyard, before Miantang could get up, he slammed the post she had originally submitted to the palace onto the table.

 

“Why did you take the initiative to submit a post this time?”

 

Miantang said calmly, “The empress has given birth before and is now pregnant. Naturally, I would like to greet the empress concerning her health and also talk about her experiences in raising children.”

 

Cui Xingzhou felt that he hadn’t noticed before that this woman can lie without blinking her eyes. She spoke so openly, and he laughed back angrily, “When did you become the queen’s best friend? How come I don’t know?”

 

Miantang stood up and took a sip of water, then calmly asked Cui Xingzhou, “If I want to ask the queen for something, I naturally need to get closer. The prince seems upset, are you going to argue with me?”

 

Cui Xingzhou clenched his fist and asked her, “We have known each other for a long time. Have I ever vented my anger on you and fired evil fire at you?”

 

Miantang thought for a moment. When they were on North Street before, he had inexplicably become angry. But later she realized that it was she who spoke ill of Prince Huaiyang and cursed in front of the owner. No wonder Master Cui was angry.

 

After that, he also had moments of frustration due to business, but at most he spoke less and never beat or scold his wife like a drunken man on the North Street, causing evil anger.

 

Miantang has been thinking about how to help the four brothers out of trouble for the past two days, but at this moment, she has noticed that Cui Xingzhou’s emotions are not right.

 

Since he wasn’t frustrated, was he angry at herself?

 

Miantang looked up at Cui Xingzhou and finally saw the chilling expression in his eyes.

 

She pursed her lips and silently looked at him.

 

Cui Xingzhou was also so angry with this stuffy-mouthed iron gourd that he could rise to immortality. He asked, “I’ll give you another chance, dear. Have you ever wanted to tell me anything?

 

Liu Miantang asked tentatively, “Did those four people tell you everything?”

 

Cui Xingzhou simply stopped speaking, holding onto the chair with both hands, his gaze deep, and his thin lips tightly pressed into a line. The person was still handsome as before, but his entire self was carved like a thousand years of ice, exuding a sense of awe.

 

Miantang took a deep breath and felt that no window paper couldn’t be pierced in the world. Since she couldn’t hide it sooner or later, she would die early and have a better life. So she simply said, “They told you, I… am Luwen in the Mountain of Yang!”

 

Cui Xingzhou did not seem shocked but remained motionless. His handsome eyes were fixed on Liu Miantang, but his eyes were filled with surging lava.

 

However, after Liu Miantang spoke this sentence, she seemed to be much more relaxed as if detoxifying. She has been feeling guilty about hiding Cui Xingzhou from herself, and now that she has told him everything, she will just let the flow goes!

 

Cui Xingzhou looked at Liu Miantang for a while and finally said, “You lied to me about losing memory.”

 

Liu Miantang honestly said, “I really can’t remember what happened on the Mountain of Yang. If it weren’t for those four brothers who I met during the chaos in the State of Zhen, I wouldn’t have known I had this identity myself… I wanted to tell you at that time, but I couldn’t speak up.”

 

She saw that Cui Xingzhou was already as gloomy and silent as a stone carving, she knew that he was very concerned about her dark past.

 

Can she not be clear? After all, every time Cui Xingzhou recalled fighting with Lu Wen, he gritted his teeth and wished to tear apart Lu Wen’s virtue.

 

It wasn’t until Liu Yu later declared himself emperor that the situation was better.

 

But that’s because he thought Liu Yu was Lu Wen. And now he suddenly realized that he was being played around by his nemesis and even married her. How can a man with strong self-esteem like Prince Huaiyang tolerate it?

 

Although she had never thought many times before about where they would go if things were exposed, now that they were in this situation, Miantang didn’t want to cry and plead for Cui Xingzhou’s forgiveness.

 

She has also been deceived before, knowing that it feels uncomfortable, so she doesn’t want to use her tears to beg him to tolerate her intolerable past.

 

She thought for a moment and walked into the inner room, pulling out the long-written divorced letter from her pile of account books.

 

“I lied to you, it’s my fault. I was just greedy for the time I spent with you and procrastinated like this. Although I can’t recall it, I’ve heard others say how much you hate Lu Wen… We had a romantic relationship, just like you said before. Cheating is deceiving, but our relationship is also true. Let’s break up peacefully now… Can you see if this is written properly? What’s more that needed to be added, we can discuss. If you think that this is not enough to relieve your anger, you can be the one sending me away too.”

 

Cui Xingzhou looked like a monster, staring at the paper in front of him. The veins in his clenched fists and hands had already collapsed, but his mouth was calm and he said, “Leader Lu is so visionary. You even prepared in advance.”

 

Liu Miantang turned her head and didn’t want her tears to flow down.

 

How should she say it? When writing this, she hopes she won’t use it for a lifetime.

 

¹TL/ Notes: Oh no!! At last, it still came to this situation T.T