39: I'll lend you... to put his mind at ease.

Upon returning to the Princesss Residence, before Mo Yingqi could enter the main hall, he was stopped by Ying Hong.

"Imperial Son-in-Law, it would be best not to go over there right now." Ying Hong rubbed her forehead with a hint of helplessness. Mo Yingqi didn't know if it was just his imagination, but he caught a flicker of annoyance in her eyes.

"There is a guest in the main hall. Please wait a moment, Imperial Son-in-Law. Once The Two Highnesses have dismissed the person, this servant will bring you over."

"Is there a guest?"

Mo Yingqi was slightly curious. How could this be? They had just sent off two princes today, and now another guest had arrived?

"Yes. Tsk, in terms of seniority, she is considered the paternal aunt of The Two Highnesses." Ying Hong's tone made her disgust and aversion completely clear.

"Before Emperor Chengzhong (father of the late Emperor) passed away, his youngest brother followed the army on an expedition and unfortunately died on the battlefield. When his wife received the news, she was overcome with shock and, being pregnant at the time, died from hemorrhaging after giving birth to a daughter."

"Emperor Chengzhong was already critically ill at the time, and upon hearing this news, he was deeply saddened. He immediately placed the orphan under his own name, granted her wealth and honor, and instructed the late Emperor to take good care of her."

"Come to think of it, she has some history with you, Imperial Son-in-Law. The first case you investigated after joining the Pacification Bureau involved her."

Mo Yingqi's mouth opened slightly, his Adam's apple bobbed, but the words he wanted to say wouldn't come out. Truly, one really shouldn't speak or think carelessly. How could it be that just as he thought of her, she had appeared right before him?

"Why is she here?" Mo Yingqi couldn't help but frown slightly. "The Emperor personally issued the order that day, and even her daughter with the Former Prince Consort left with his father. She came here…"

"Regret, perhaps?" Ying Hong said dismissively. "She has begged everyone she could, and now that she has no other options, she has come to beg The Two Highnesses. However, The Two Highnesses hold her in extreme contempt. If you are concerned, Imperial Son-in-Law, this servant can take you to the main hall. Once The Two Highnesses have dismissed her, they will naturally go to the backyard to chat with you."

Mo Yingqi originally had no interest in this matter, but after thinking about it, he nodded and said: "Very well. But, Aunt Ying Hong, I brought some things with me. Could you trouble someone to help me move them to… the main hall?"

Ying Hong was curious about what he had brought. But since Mo Yingqi said so, it must be something important, right?

Or had he finally come to terms with things and was truly content to stay by the side of those two ancestors? So, was he moving his luggage over?

However, upon seeing the chest, Ying Hong couldn't quite figure it out. It didn't look like luggage. What could it be?

When they arrived at the main hall, Mo Yingqi once again saw the once-glorious princess—Luo Qiuping. She was still wearing magnificent clothing, but her hair was disheveled, and her face was pale.

Before the Luo sisters, she had once been a beauty famous throughout the capital. Even now, she was only in her early thirties, yet she looked as if she had entered middle age. It wasn't that her appearance was old, but rather… her state seemed extremely withered.

"Is it… you?"

Upon hearing the noise, Luo Qiuping slowly raised her head to look at Mo Yingqi, her hollow eyes filled with surprise. Back then in her residence, although Mo Yingqi was not yet a Captain and was just standing among the Flying Fish Guard, she had noticed this young man at first glance.

It was no wonder; Mo Yingqi was simply too eye-catching. Furthermore, the legs of her Male Consort had been broken by Mo Yingqi's own hands.

Luo Qiuping had grown up in the palace and, protected by the late Emperor, had been arrogant since childhood. It wasn't her first time seeing palace servants being punished.

But at that time, Mo Yingqi had picked up the punishment rod with a smile and broken the Male Consort's limbs with a smile. It wasn't a twisted, sadistic grin; the smile on Mo Yingqi's face was very calm, as if he weren't beating someone, but rather… doing something extremely mundane.

Later, although she was imprisoned, the maid who took care of her happened to see Mo Yingqi beheading a fugitive in the street. That was also the day the name "Smiling Yaksha" resounded throughout the capital.

In broad daylight, in the bustling market, Mo Yingqi still wore a smile as he drew his japanese sword and chopped off the fugitive's head with a single stroke.

"You're back?"

Originally sitting in the main seat with an indifferent expression, Luo Yongning saw Mo Yingqi, stood up happily, and walked quickly to him to take his hand.

"I suppose Commander Fang gave you time off?" Although Luo Yongan did not stand up to greet him, she looked at him with immense affection. "Why don't you sit there and wait? Once Yongning and I have dismissed her, we will take you back to the backyard immediately, okay?"

"Hehe, a fallen phoenix is truly worse than a chicken…" Luo Qiuping laughed at herself. "I am not much older than you, and I dare not use my status as an elder to pressure you. Now, I only beg you to plead with The Emperor to let me see my husband and daughter one more time. Is that not possible?"

"You don't need to beg us." Luo Yongan finally cast her gaze upon Luo Qiuping, as if bestowing charity. "The Emperor has already decreed that your husband divorce his wife. From now on, in matters of marriage and death, you two have no further connection."

"Your father is mighty indeed…" Luo Qiuping's eyes suddenly filled with resentment. "He killed six of the late Emperor's sons and wiped out their families. And then there is this one…"

She suddenly reached out and pointed at Mo Yingqi, her gaze shifting to him as well: "A year ago, you weren't even a Captain, were you? A lowly Flying Fish Guard, rising from a small flag officer to a Captain in one year. How many of the late Emperor's descendants' families have been sent to that Imperial Prison, which is like the Hall of Yama, by your hands?"

"If you point at him again, don't blame me for being disrespectful to an elder." Luo Yongning looked at Luo Qiuping with a beaming smile, but her eyes carried a hint of coldness. "Discuss your own affairs. Just based on those words of yours, and saying them in front of our Yingqi—someone who eats the salary of the Pacification Bureau—if he were to really drag you into the Imperial Prison, that wouldn't be very dignified, would it?"

"You deserve to be where you are today because of the things you've done." Luo Yongan put down the round fan in her hand, resting her chin on her right hand as she looked at Luo Qiuping with amusement. "Why did the late Emperor tell your Former Prince Consort that if he married you, he would have no future in his official career? Our dynasty is not like the previous one, where most Prince Consorts were not allowed to serve as officials and only held the empty title of Prince Consort, right?"

"It's because he didn't favor this marriage at all." Luo Yongning sneered. "You were famous throughout the capital back then. Not only were you beautiful, but your temperament was also spoiled by the late Emperor, making you arrogant and extremely willful."

Ying Hong, standing on the side, almost lost her composure upon hearing this. Arrogant might be a stretch, but as for being willful… these Two Highnesses were far more willful than Luo Qiuping.

"The Emperor once said that the late Emperor knew you were sincere at the time, but he also guessed that you would sooner or later despise that Former Prince Consort because that is your nature. When you love, it is passionate, but when you no longer love, you cast them aside. The late Emperor had even privately sent people to persuade you, but you were bright and flamboyant back then, and at the very least, you were sincere at that time."

Luo Yongan sighed, then pointed at Mo Yingqi: "Do you know what Yongning and I have done for him? Do you know how much we sisters suffered just to be with him? Your so-called sincerity is like that of a rebellious child. You know that the late Emperor would eventually compromise, keeping in mind Emperor Chengzhong's instructions and remembering that your biological father died in battle after shedding blood."

"Aunt, why bother? In the Struggle for succession among the seven sons, The Emperor still cherished brotherly affection in his heart. The people he was unwilling to deal with were dealt with by Yongning and me. Those he couldn't bring himself to kill were killed by Yongning and me…"

At this point, Luo Yongan suddenly paused, gazing at Mo Yingqi with deep affection. Her mouth opened and closed, silently uttering a sentence. Mo Yingqi had grown up with them, and Luo Yongan had taught him some lip-reading; he clearly saw what she said: "Do not, despise us."

Mo Yingqi's heart felt as if it had been struck hard. He knew that this marriage had been sought by the two sisters. In fact, he had heard some rumors, but he had never really cared. People said that these two sisters' current status was obtained through ruthlessness. But today, when Mo Yingqi really heard them say it themselves, he still felt a pang of heartache.

"Crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide—is this what you call sacrifice? Aunt, you are really… too laughable." Luo Yongning held Mo Yingqi's hand and leaned gently against him. "If The Emperor truly didn't care about the late Emperor, all the Estates and shops under your name would have been confiscated. Although you cannot live in your former luxurious residence now, all your expenses remain unchanged. What else are you unsatisfied with?"

"Don't be too greedy. Wrong is wrong. The Emperor hates people like you the most. You also know that if The Emperor hadn't insisted on inheriting the throne, he wouldn't have taken any concubines at all. Although The Emperor didn't have any love for those aunts, he believed he gave them what he could, promising them wealth and honor. As he said himself, love in the end is all about conscience."

After Luo Yongning finished speaking, her tone suddenly shifted, filled with disdain and mockery: "And don't think about using Yingqi to make a point. Back then, we sisters told The Emperor that if we could marry him, we could give up everything—the title of Legitimate Princess, whatever honor, whatever status. My sister and I had even long ago found a secluded place where no one could find us, just to stay with Yingqi, watching the sun rise and set, accompanying him for a lifetime."

The words that had reached Luo Qiuping's lips were all easily blocked by the two sisters, who sang in harmony.

"Yingqi, you and Yongning go to the back first." Luo Yongan waved her hand. "After all, she is an elder, so it wouldn't be good to be too rude. I will come over shortly."

Before Mo Yingqi could open his mouth, Luo Yongning, ignoring the fact that someone else was present, hugged Mo Yingqi's arm with both hands and walked towards the back. As she walked, she said with a giggle: "Don't worry, don't worry, sister. Even if you drink a few more cups of tea with her, I won't mind, okay?"

Luo Yongan glared fiercely at her sister. In your dreams, you want to do things behind my back, don't you? That is absolutely not allowed!

However, dismissing Luo Qiuping was inevitable. Only after the two had left did Luo Yongan turn to look at Luo Qiuping, whose face was even paler: "I have said what I needed to say, so please return now?"

"So, you invited me here, but you never intended to help me!" Luo Qiuping suddenly glared fixedly at Luo Yongan. "I was wondering why it was so strange. You sisters have always had nothing to do with me, and suddenly you sent an invitation for me to come to your residence. What exactly are you trying to do?"

"I'm not doing anything. Who told you that the first case Yingqi handled was yours?" Luo Yongan blinked innocently. "Since that's the case, I had to… borrow you, to put his heart at ease."

"Oh, that's right. I won't let you help for nothing. Actually, your Former Prince Consort has never left the capital. However, now, The Emperor has made the decision to let him remarry."

"The one he is marrying… is the maid who left the Princesss Residence with him and has been taking care of him all along."