Chapter 178 What is loyalty and righteousness?

Mu Xi remained unmoved, her face cold and expressionless.

This man deserves to die, not because he is a perverted pirate, nor because he angered Bai Su, but because he actually exposed Mu Xi's identity.

"Lan'er..." Zhu Mingjun let out a sharp scream, broke free from the guards, rushed over and covered Guan Lan's neck, "Lan'er... Lan'er, how are you?"

Sulan's body twitched twice, then fell silent.

Zhu Mingjun, his hands covered in blood, cupped Guan Lan's face in his hands, tears streaming down his face as if he were crying out his lungs. After a long while, he finally managed to lift his distorted face.

Her eyes burned with undisguised, deep-seated resentment, fixed intently on Bai Su: "You wicked woman...you killed him...you killed my Lan'er..."

Bai Su killed people like chickens, completely ignoring them. Instead, he turned his blade back to Mu Xi, cupped his hands in apology, and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I acted impulsively just now..."

Mu Xi raised her hand: "Alas... it's not General Bai's fault, it's only human nature. Guan Lan seduced Zhu Mingjun, and Zhu Mingjun corrupted General Dai, causing General Dai to fall into the pirates' trap and perish in the southern border. What a pity... what a pity..."

The death of a pirate "Fourteenth Young Master" is nothing.

Mu Xi was determined to make all the reasons clear.

Zhu Mingjun was still wailing in agony, and there was actually some genuine emotion in her cries: "Lan'er... Lan'er... you died unjustly, we still had so many good days ahead of us... Aww... Aww..."

Mu Xi had to raise her voice to drown out Zhu Mingjun, her words clearly echoing throughout the courtyard: "Pirates who flee without permission will be executed without mercy; guards who neglect their duties and fail to properly supervise will be severely punished."

"Yes..." Bai Su and his subordinates responded in unison.

"As for Zhu Mingjun..." Mu Xi looked down at Zhu Mingjun, who was sobbing uncontrollably, feeling somewhat troubled.

At this point, it's hard to say how much value Zhu Mingjun still has.

Just then, a shout came from the outer courtyard: "Report... The King's decree has arrived! The King's decree has arrived..."

At the sound of shouts, a gaunt clerk dressed in the uniform of a post station official, led by two guards, hurried into the inner courtyard.

This was the edict that Mu Xi and the others had been waiting for for a long time, and it finally arrived before the New Year.

The minor official approached Mu Xi, bowed, and then unfurled the edict, reading it aloud at a high pitch: "By imperial decree, the southern border has recently been unsettled, with rampant pirates. Zhu Mingjun Mu Cong, who holds a title and occupies a vital territory, has not thought of repaying the favor, but has neglected his duties; he has colluded with pirates, committed robbery and plunder, and wreaked havoc on the coastal frontier; he is arrogant, extravagant, and disregards all shame; these three crimes are punishable together, arousing the wrath of both gods and men! He is hereby escorted back to Moyang to await trial and judgment."

The southern border was in peril, but thanks to the protection of Heaven, the soldiers fought bravely. Prince Muxi of Jinfang is loyal, brave, and devoted to the country, possessing both wisdom and courage. He is hereby ordered to depart on an auspicious day after the New Year festival, to lead Dai Rong and the generals who have rendered meritorious service in pacifying the southern border to Moyang to receive their rewards.

The soldiers of the various armies originally under the command of the General of Zhennan have fought bravely and loyally in battle. With the chaos now largely over, maintaining local stability is of paramount importance. They are hereby ordered to return to their respective camps and defend their posts. Their provisions and salaries will continue as before. All officers and soldiers are to remain at their posts and are not to move without orders. The arrangements for their deployment and retention will be determined by the court after a thorough review of their merits and demerits.

Well... that's pretty much the result.

Mu Xi bowed and accepted the order with both hands.

The messenger was sent out by Bai Su's subordinates.

Mu Xi turned around and looked at Zhu Mingjun again.

Zhu Mingjun, exhausted from howling, now sheds tears while holding Su Lan's corpse.

Mu Xi gestured for Guan Lan's body to be carried away.

The guards escorting the body upstairs couldn't separate the man from the corpse.

Zhu Mingjun seemed to have lost his soul as well, but he still clung tightly to the corpse.

Mu Xi truly hadn't expected Zhu Mingjun to be so heartbroken: "Alas, you probably don't know yet, but Jian Zhi is dead, and Jian Xiong has become the new 'King of Wanzhu Mountain' and is currently carrying out internal purges. Even if this 'Fourteenth Young Master' doesn't die here, he will die at Jian Xiong's hands."

Zhu Mingjun ignored it.

Mu Xi had no choice but to instruct Bai Su again: "You handle the rest. Arrange for someone to change his clothes later, make sure he's clean, and make sure he's alive before returning to Moyang. If necessary, give him two more of those 'Xiaoyao Pills'. The order mentioned earlier that he also needs to 'await trial and judgment,' so he needs to look presentable."

Before Bai Su could answer, Zhu Mingjun suddenly reacted.

He released his grip and stood up unsteadily, a chilling sneer on his face: "You want to see me make a fool of myself? What can you do to me? As long as I go to Moyang and see the King, I will still be Zhu Mingjun. At that time, you...you...you...can't do anything to me."

At first, Zhu Mingjun pointed at Mu Xi and Bai Su, but later he started pointing randomly in circles.

Mu Xi was afraid he might go mad, so she quickly gestured for him to be taken away. Finally, she added, "If it doesn't work, find a doctor to take a look at him. If he really goes mad, it will only be a relief for him."

"Yes," Bai Su replied.

Mu Xi didn't care whether Bai Su later found a doctor for Zhu Mingjun, but she figured out something.

It was truly strange that Zhu Mingjun showed no fear whatsoever when he was escorted back to Moyang to meet the King of Yu.

Moreover, how could he be sure that after meeting King Yu, King Yu would not only not take the opportunity to punish him, but would even return his title to him?

unless……

Mu Xi then recalled what Marquis Shen Lun of Yong State had said before: that King Yu had colluded with pirates back then, and that pirates had infiltrated the current Red Carp Guard.

Therefore, it can be inferred that given the personality of King Yu, it would be hard to believe that he would actually appoint the eldest son of the former Yan family as the ruler of the Southern Territory unless there were some shady deals involved.

If so, it's highly likely that Prince Yu was able to make contact with the pirates, and it's possible that Zhu Mingjun acted as the matchmaker back then.

Zhu Mingjun is still so fearless, perhaps he still has some weakness against the Prince of Yu?

Zhu Mingjun's mansion remains empty to this day.

Should we take this opportunity to search? Although it's dangerous, and if the King of Yu finds out, it will surely lead to our deaths. But if we have relevant evidence, who knows if it might come in handy in the future?

At present, Mu Xi's plan is to seek stability, which means she does not intend to cooperate with Marquis Shen Lun of Yong State to overthrow King Yu. After all, as a member of the Mu clan, she is already a beneficiary of the existing system.

What will happen in the end if one betrays their own surname to help the former enemy, Qianyan, restore his kingdom?

This is something Mu Xi has never been able to understand: why did her scumbag father, Jin Fangjun, make such a choice?

Loyalty and righteousness?

Whose loyalty?

On the continent of Yansheng, the rise and fall of dynasties is just like the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms of the previous era. In the end, what is the loyalty of a person? Perhaps even he himself doesn't know anymore.

After struggling with the decision for two days, Mu Xi finally decided to discuss it with Mu Xun.

Mu Xun replied, "Liang Shuo and Peng Hai were already ordered to search when they were still alive, but unfortunately they found nothing."

"Under orders? Under whose orders? Lord Shen?" Although Mu Xi intended to distance herself from Shen Lun's affairs, she was still uncomfortable.