The former ruler of a nation did not even have a good end after his death.

As for Gao Zhuo, after being driven out of Longxiao City, he had no one to take care of him and had to rely on begging to make a living.

He was already used to living a superior life, always ordering other beggars to "offer" him food in a commanding tone, and if they didn't listen, he would rush up and beat them.

His right hand was already crippled, so he couldn't possibly beat anyone. As a result, he was beaten again and again until a group of beggars beat him to death in a dilapidated temple.

After reading the letter, Su Ruojin only said, "Those who reap what they sow will not live."

The fates of Empress Wu and Gao Zhuo were not unexpected for Su Ruojin, but she did not expect Yuan Hong to sentence Yue Ning to be torn apart by five horses.

Only Yuan Hong himself knew that he would not let any of those who poisoned Sister Jin go!

Otherwise, how could he not know about Empress Wu and Gao Zhuo's situation and let others kill them?

If it weren't for Sister Jin's abilities, she would have been killed by these people countless times.

*

Su Ruojin and Xiao Yanchu arrived at the Deng residence. Deng Yi happened to be home and, upon hearing of their arrival, hurriedly came out to greet them.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, we were unaware of your presence. Please come in, please come in."

“Lord Deng, I have just returned to the Great Chu. I heard that Mu Yao was saved by you and is willing to give herself to you as your concubine. As her elder sister, I should send her a gift. I wonder if Mu Yao is at your residence?” Su Ruojin asked.

Deng Yi suppressed his smile and sighed deeply. "Your Highness, the matter concerning the Su family is truly unexpected. As the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, I have no choice but to obey Lord Liu's orders and conduct the interrogation. This is my duty, and I ask Your Highness for your understanding."

Taking Mu Yao as a concubine was a last resort; in this way, Mu Yao would no longer be considered a member of the Su family, thus allowing her to be rescued from prison.

Although the laws of the Great Chu did not explicitly stipulate that the daughters of convicted officials could only be concubines and not wives, according to custom, apart from ordinary people, let alone ordinary officials' families, even larger merchant families would not marry the daughters of convicted officials as wives, and might not even accept them as concubines.

If Deng Yi were to say he wanted to marry Mu Yao at this point, it would be somewhat unusual.

At this point, Deng Yi hurriedly added, "However, Your Highness, please rest assured that I will not betray Mu Yao's good intentions. Saying that I am taking a concubine is just a temporary measure. After this matter is over, I will definitely formally marry Mu Yao as my wife with proper betrothal gifts and formal marriage proposal."

"Mu Yao is in the backyard. I'll have someone bring the Princess there right away."

Since he was meeting with the women of the Deng family's inner quarters, it was impolite for Xiao Yanchu to accompany them.

Su Ruojin, accompanied by Yanluo, followed the maids of the Deng family to the backyard.

Su Muyao still looked like a young lady, so it seemed that Deng Yi had not yet truly taken her into his household. It was likely that he would wait until he formally married Su Muyao.

Taking the daughter of a disgraced official as a concubine, while not violating the rules of propriety, would still bring some infamy and could even seriously affect one's career.

In this light, Deng Yi seems to be a man of honor and loyalty, as he stepped in to save the day at this crucial moment.

Su Muyi bowed to Su Ruojin, but the joy she once felt upon seeing Su Ruojin, and the affection she once had for her older sister, were gone from her face. Instead, there was only a cold indifference, as if she wanted to draw a line between herself and Su Ruojin.

"Mu Yao, are you really willing to marry Deng Yi?" Su Ruojin asked.

Su Muyao instructed her maid to serve tea to Su Ruojin. "Your Highness, as the saying goes, husband and wife are like birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly away separately. Even husband and wife are like this. I am just an adopted daughter of the Su family. Why should I risk my life for the Su family?"

Besides, everyone has their own ambitions. Deng Yi had feelings for me, and I was also fond of Deng Yi. Given the current state of the Su family, it was already a blessing that Deng Yi was able to save me from this predicament and was willing to take me as a concubine, thus sparing me from death.

Moreover, Deng Yi said that after this matter is over, he will formally marry me and bring me into the family. What more could I ask for?

"Your Highness, just consider me dead. Don't come looking for me at the Deng residence again." Hongxiao, see the guest out.

Su Ruojin looked at Su Muyao with no expression on her face and no emotion in her eyes. Her tone was as indifferent as if she were talking to a stranger.

"Mu Yao, I'll ask you one last time, are you really determined to do this?"