Chapter Seventy-Two: Challenging Imperial Power

Did Li Bao'er underestimate Princess Kangning's status in the royal family, or did she underestimate the Grand Princess's status in the Emperor's heart?

How could the Emperor, who always liked to control and manipulate Mu Cenlin, actually agree to offer a condition for exchange?

But what Bao'er was even more curious about was what kind of request Mu Cenlin would make.

All eyes in the hall were focused on Mu Cenlin, awaiting his answer.

Mu Cenlin stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his black python robe making his face appear even more stern. He exuded an invisible pressure, and as he stood in the hall, it was as if he was not being questioned, but rather leading a negotiation.

Facing the emperor's probing gaze, he slowly curved his lips into a faint yet meaningful smile. There was no warmth in that smile, only a resolute determination to win.

Mu Cenlin spoke clearly and calmly: "Your subject's request is very simple."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the princess whose expression had drastically changed and the empress who looked on with curiosity, before finally settling on the emperor's face. Each word he uttered was earth-shattering:

"Release my mother and let her leave the palace."

"What?!"

"hiss"

"He actually..."

These words caused a stir throughout the hall! Gasps of surprise filled the air!

Even the Empress, who had remained seated calmly, instantly changed her expression, her fingers gripping the armrest tightly. Consort Zhang was so shocked that she forgot to cry, staring in disbelief.

The eldest princess shrieked, "Mu Cenlin! How dare you! Do you think you can just release the people from the Cold Palace like that?! You are threatening His Majesty!"

The Empress Dowager was also shocked, clearly not expecting him to make such a request.

Li Bao'er was completely stunned.

He actually... wanted to exchange this for his mother?! She looked sharply at Mu Cenlin. He still stood straight, his profile cold and hard, but Li Bao'er felt a bittersweet resentment and obsession emanating from him.

At that moment, Li Bao'er suddenly realized that they were kindred spirits, pitiful people seeking kinship.

Emperor Mu Yeling's expression darkened completely, his gaze sharp as he stared intently at Mu Cenlin.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became oppressive. Everyone in the palace knew that the concubine in the Cold Palace was a taboo subject for the emperor, and no one dared to mention her.

There was once a fearless new concubine who, relying on her newly acquired favor, wanted to meet the legendary empress who had inspired the emperor to kneel before the Buddha and beg for her hand in marriage. As a result, she was ordered to commit suicide by the emperor.

Even worse, some servants flattered the weak and neglected the needs of the Cold Palace. When the Emperor saw this, he had the head eunuch beaten to death and all the servants exiled.

So everyone knows that the concubine in the Cold Palace has only moved to a quieter place, but her status in someone's heart has never changed.

After a long silence, the emperor finally spoke, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger, yet carrying the heavy, authoritative aura unique to emperors:

"Mu Cenlin, do you know what you're saying?"

"Your subject understands very well." Mu Cen met the emperor's gaze without flinching. "Your mother has been imprisoned in the Cold Palace for over ten years. Whatever her mistakes were back then, the hardship and loneliness of these years are enough to make up for them. Now that your subject has established his own family and residence, I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to allow your mother to leave the palace."

"Absurd!" The eldest princess was the first to jump out in opposition, her voice becoming even sharper with urgency. Zhang was now the only one who could hold Mu Cenlin hostage. If she let him go, wouldn't this madman become lawless?

"Your Majesty! How can a concubine who has been deposed in the Cold Palace be released so easily just because of the nonsense of a junior? Where are the ancestral rules? Where is the dignity of the royal family?! Zhang Shi back then..." She seemed to want to bring up the past, but she stopped abruptly when the emperor's cold gaze swept over her. Her chest heaved violently, clearly she was very angry.

The Empress also spoke slowly, her tone gentle yet her words sharp: "Your Majesty, Prince Jing's filial piety is commendable, but this matter concerns palace rules and must be handled with caution. Sister Zhang has been in the Cold Palace for many years and must have grown accustomed to tranquility. Releasing her suddenly might not be good for her physical or mental well-being." She lightly described confinement as tranquility.

Consort Zhang lowered her head, not daring to speak, but her tightly clenched hands betrayed her nervousness. She knew very well why she had become a consort, and she also knew very well what her position was in the emperor's heart. Mu Yuan's scandal and Mu Cen's request at this moment made her feel extremely uneasy.

The Empress Dowager frowned as she looked at the standoff before her, finally sighing and turning to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, regarding this matter... what do you think..."

Mu Yeling's gaze fell on Mu Cenlin again. This son always managed to frighten him. Using a storm to get what he wanted was very much like his own style back then.

The emperor remained silent for a long time, so long that the air seemed to freeze.

Finally, he slowly stood up, the hem of his bright yellow robe drawing a majestic arc.

"Princess Kangning's words and actions have been improper and her virtue lacks virtue. From this day forward, she shall be confined to the Buddhist hall of the Princess's residence to reflect on her mistakes. She shall not leave without imperial decree. The Imperial Clan Court shall send a matron to strictly discipline her." He first made a judgment on Kangning's matter, the punishment was not light, but her freedom was preserved, which could be considered as giving the Princess an explanation.

The princess's lips moved, as if she wanted to argue, but under the emperor's cold gaze, she ultimately swallowed her words reluctantly.

Then, the emperor's gaze turned to Mu Cenlin, his expression unfathomable: "As for the Zhang family..."

He paused, then said, "He is permitted to move to the Jingxin Garden, a royal villa in the suburbs of Beijing, for recuperation. All provisions shall be made according to the regulations for imperial concubines. Without an imperial edict, he shall not leave the villa without permission, nor shall he meet with foreign officials in private."

The emperor looked at him, his gaze deep, carrying a hint of scrutiny and warning, and slowly asked, "Are you satisfied now?"

However, as Mu Cen met the emperor's gaze, his thin lips parted slightly, and the three words he uttered instantly plunged the entire room into deathly silence:

"Not enough."

"..."

!!

In an instant, everyone in Yongshou Palace seemed to stop breathing!

Even Li Bao'er looked up in astonishment. As expected of the craziest person among her senior sisters, she was indeed wild.

Consort Zhang was so frightened that she covered her mouth, while the Princess was so angry that she trembled all over, pointing at Mu Cenlin, her lips quivering but unable to utter a word.

He's gone mad! He's absolutely insane! His Majesty has already made enormous concessions and compromises, and he still dares to say it's "not enough"?! What exactly does he want?!

Even the Empress Dowager, who had been sitting calmly in the back, trying to mediate the conflict, could no longer remain seated! The Empress Dowager suddenly stood up, her voice filled with unprecedented shock, anger, and urgency: "Lin'er! Stop talking nonsense! His Majesty has spoken, how can you continue to be so presumptuous! Quickly thank His Majesty and leave!"

Mu Cenlin seemed not to hear the Empress Dowager's reprimand; his gaze remained fixed on the Emperor, his voice clear and cold:

"Princess Kangning plotted to frame the Princess Consort, and merely confining her to her quarters to reflect on her actions is too lenient a punishment. It is insufficient to convince the public and cannot atone for even a fraction of her crimes. Your Majesty, I humbly request that Princess Kangning be ordered to publicly apologize to Princess Consort Jing by serving her tea at the Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet three days from now, and that her wrongdoing be made public to set an example and deter others from doing so!"

Offering tea in public as an apology?! Especially at a family dinner?! Publicly announcing their mistake?!

This is tantamount to trampling on the dignity of the Eldest Princess and Kang Ning, and even the dignity of the royal family, under Li Bao'er's feet! It's even more cruel than killing them!

"Mu Cenlin!" The emperor suddenly stood up, his pent-up anger finally erupting, his face contorted with fury.

"I have already tolerated you time and time again, and you still dare to push your luck?! Do you really think I can't do anything to you?!"

All the palace servants were so frightened that they knelt down with a thud, trembling. The eldest princess and the empress were also pale-faced.

The emperor approached Mu Cenlin step by step: "Are you testing my limits by pressing me repeatedly today? Or is it...?"

"Just because you hold military power, you think you can force the emperor to revolt?!"

Inside Yongshou Palace, there was a deathly silence.