Chapter 145 If you don’t chase him, you’ll be completely out
"Miss Zhao, why are you mute?"
The corners of Concubine Zhe's lips curled up, and she stared at the girl below with a smile. Her gaze swept across her overly pretty little face, and a hint of displeasure flashed in her eyes.
The weird and strange thing,
Foxy.
"Your humble servant knows she was wrong. Please punish me, Empress Zhe." Su Cheng knelt down quickly and decisively without any hesitation.
"I have a complicated life story, born in humble circumstances. I was only found and brought back to my ancestral home by my father after I turned eighteen. On the day of the palace banquet, I hadn't yet mastered the proper etiquette. My family members pressured me to not embarrass them. They banded together to paint my face black, insisting I appear in public with that look."
In order to shift the blame, Su Cheng's words were full of loopholes. She looked at the woman at the top with complicated emotions in her eyes.
Su Cheng was gambling. She moved out of the Zhao family because she was betting that even if the woman in front of her could detect the loophole in her words, she would give her some face because of the Zhao family behind her and would not dare to punish her excessively.
Zhao Hu is a fourth-rank official and has military merits to protect him. Although he cannot stand in front of Concubine Zhe, the position of Minister of War has been vacant for a long time and he is the only one who can take it. Even if Concubine Zhe dislikes him, she cannot directly confront him and make things difficult for him.
As expected, seeing Su Cheng kneeling down in a proper manner, Concubine Zhe's expression instantly turned ugly. She curled her lips into a smile and whispered, "I've heard that the relatives of Lord Zhao are difficult to deal with. Now that you've mentioned it, I know the rumors are true."
"You should get up first." Concubine Zhe pursed her lips, a glint flashing in her eyes as she whispered, "You are not to blame for this."
"Your Majesty is so magnanimous. I feel so guilty about it." Su Cheng stood up slowly, not caring about her numb knees, and sat back in the chair steadily.
"I heard that you and Mu'er have been in close contact recently?"
Concubine Zhe suddenly spoke up, dropping a bombshell, "Mu'er has been looking for you at the Zhao family every few days. Is this true?"
Su Cheng straightened her expression and shook her head gently, "Your Majesty, this is pure rumor. I caught a cold some time ago and couldn't even get out of bed. How could I meet with the Third Prince?"
"Besides, I have only recently arrived in the capital and have never met Your Highness. How could we have such close contact?"
"We've never met before?" Concubine Zhe chuckled softly, but if you covered her mouth and nose, you'd see no smile in her eyes. "Mu'er is of marriageable age, and I've painstakingly found all the noble ladies in the capital who would be suitable for him, but he chose you specifically and threw out all the portraits of those ladies."
"Miss Zhao, is this what you mean by a complete stranger?"
Su Cheng lowered her eyebrows and spoke respectfully, saying softly, "Please, Madam Concubine Zhe, please understand. This servant and the Third Prince do not know each other. There must be some misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?" The smile on Concubine Zhe's face instantly disappeared. She slammed her hand on the table and shouted, "Su Cheng, I have given you the opportunity to tell the truth again and again. Don't miss it!"
Su Cheng frowned, not understanding why she was holding on to him so tightly. "Your Majesty, everything I said is true."
"Every word you say is true." Concubine Zhe curled her lips in a cold smile, her tone cold, "Then who was the woman who ate mutton noodle soup with Mu'er today?"
"Mutton... noodle soup?" Su Cheng was stunned. A chill instantly surged into her heart, and cold sweat soaked her back. She was so shocked that she couldn't speak, "How could it be..."
The next moment, the door of the main hall of Zhongcui Palace was suddenly pushed open with a loud noise.
Su Cheng turned around stiffly and saw Yan Mu standing at the door with a pale face and anxious expression.
His clothes were still plain, just in a different color, and he didn't even have any extra accessories. At first glance, people would not regard him as a noble person.
"Miss Zhao..." Yan Mu's face was pale. He stood motionless in front of the main hall door, like a puppet with its strings cut, without a soul. "You..."
Behind him were a group of servants, their clothes had obvious signs of being torn, and it was obvious that they tried every means to stop him but were unable to do so.
Yan Mu opened his mouth slightly, and the fear in his eyes did not seem fake.
Su Cheng came back to her senses, stood up calmly, and bowed deeply to him, "Your humble servant Su Cheng greets His Highness the Third Prince."
Hearing her address, Yan Mu couldn't help but take two steps back, his expression dazed, and he murmured, "Miss Zhao, please get up quickly, I didn't mean to..."
He was about to explain when he was stopped by the higher-ranking Concubine Zhe, "Mu'er, come here."
Yan Mu raised her eyes, wanting to speak but stopping herself, "Mother, I have something to tell you..."
"Mu'er!" Concubine Zhe suddenly widened her eyes and asked loudly, "Where have you learned all the rules?"
Yan Mu's heart sank and his face flushed. He realized the pressure his mother was putting on him and was speechless for a moment.
Concubine Zhe glanced at Su Cheng beside her, suppressed her anger, and whispered, "It's too late, the palace gates have been closed long ago. Madam Gui, take Miss Zhao away. I have already prepared a side hall for her."
"yes."
A nanny who was almost as thin as a skeleton came forward, looked at Su Cheng coldly, and whispered, "Miss Zhao, please."
Su Cheng stood up, without even looking at Yan Mu standing at the door, and only bowed to Concubine Zhe, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I will take my leave."
After she finished speaking, she followed Aunt Gui and walked straight out of the main hall.
When passing by Yan Mu, Su Cheng didn't even raise his head, his expression was calm as if nothing had happened.
"Miss Zhao..."
Su Cheng did not stop and ignored his words.
Yan Mu's breath was choked as he watched her walk past him. He didn't know where he got the courage from, but he suddenly reached out and held her wrist, "Ms. Zhao, don't go."
"Your Highness..."
"Yan Mu!"
Before Su Cheng could speak, Concubine Zhe could no longer sit still. She stood up abruptly and scolded him in a deep voice, "Are you crazy in front of so many people? Even if you don't care about yourself, you should at least consider Miss Zhao's reputation!"
Hearing this, Yan Mu trembled, but still refused to let go stubbornly.
Su Cheng raised his eyes to look at him, exerted force on his wrist, and broke free from his restraints. His words were as cold as ice, "Your Highness, please respect yourself."
Yan Mu paused, his eyes flickered, and his body seemed to be shaky.
Su Cheng stopped looking at him and walked away.
It was not until the door of the main hall was closed that Yan Mu suddenly came back to his senses. Without hesitation, he turned around and ran outside.
Just as his fingertips touched the door panel, the woman's voice, concealing her anger, sounded behind him.
Concubine Zhe stared at his back indifferently, and said in a low voice, "Mu'er, do you know the consequences of chasing after him?"
Yan Mu placed his hands on the door panel and turned stiffly. Meeting his mother's cold gaze, he finally mustered the courage to resist. "I don't know, but I know that if I don't chase her, I'll be completely eliminated."
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