"Sheng Yunrong, please accept the order." A eunuch read out the imperial edict and turned to leave.
Sheng Yunrong took the imperial edict and couldn't help feeling nervous.
Pei Jinxiao walked up to her, held her hand, and encouraged her: "No matter what happens, I will be with you."
Sheng Yunrong smiled slightly, flashing a firm light: "Your Highness, I believe you."
The imperial edict stated that Sheng Yunrong was canonized as the Imperial Noble Consort and moved into the palace. This meant that she would leave Prince Jing's mansion and become a member of the royal family.
…
Sheng Yunrong followed Pei Jinxiao closely, walked through the gloomy corridor, and finally arrived at the cell. The sound of iron locks and the chill made Sheng Yunrong shiver. Pei Jinxiao frowned, turned around and said to the jailer, "Open the cell door."
The jailer trembled as he took out the key and opened the iron door of the cell. Sheng Yunrong looked inside and saw that the cell was dark and damp, with a musty smell. She couldn't help but frowned, thinking to herself, "How can an innocent person be imprisoned in such a place?"
In the cell, a figure huddled in a corner. Hearing the sound, he slowly raised his head. Sheng Yunrong was stunned when she saw this person. The person in front of her was pale and ragged, but his eyes revealed a firmness and unyielding spirit.
Pei Jinxiao walked into the cell and said to the man, "You are innocent. I will take you out."
A trace of doubt flashed in the man's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and said, "Thank you, Lord Pei, but I won't leave. The people imprisoned here are all innocent people, and I want to wait with them for their innocence."
Sheng Yunrong's heart moved, and she asked, "What's your name?"
The man smiled gently and said, "My name is Lu Yi."
Sheng Yunrong and Pei Jinxiao looked at each other, and they both understood what the other meant. Sheng Yunrong said, "Lu Yi, do you know where you are now?"
Lu Yi shook his head and said, "I know this is a prison cell, but I don't care. As long as I can prove my innocence, what's the harm even if it's here?"
Sheng Yunrong nodded and said, "Okay, in that case, we will help you prove your innocence first. But before that, you must tell us how you were wrongly accused."
Lu Yi was silent for a moment, and then said, "This is what happened. A month ago, the Sheng Mansion held a banquet, and a family heirloom was stolen at the banquet. The people in the Sheng Mansion suspected that it was me, so they arrested me."
Pei Jinxiao frowned and asked, "Where is the evidence?"
Lu Yi said: "Evidence? They said there were traces of treasures on me, but I couldn't prove my innocence. I did go to Sheng Mansion that night, but I didn't get close to the treasure. I was just admiring the moon in the garden, but they caught me red-handed."
Sheng Yunrong looked at Lu Yi in confusion and asked, "Was there anyone else in the garden that night?"
Lu Yi nodded and said, "Yes, there is another person. His name is Li Ming, and he is a servant of the Sheng Mansion. That night, he was patrolling in the garden."
Sheng Yunrong and Pei Jinxiao looked at each other, and both of them had the answer in their hearts. Sheng Yunrong said, "Okay, let's go find this Li Ming and let him prove your innocence."
Pei Jinxiao nodded and said, "That's right. As long as we find Li Ming, we can prove your innocence. Let's go."
The three of them left the cell, and Sheng Yunrong turned to the jailer and said, "Release Lu Yi, and we will go find Li Ming."
The jailer hesitated for a moment, but still did as he was told. Lu Yi walked out of the cell and looked at Sheng Yunrong and Pei Jinxiao with gratitude.
The four of them came to Sheng's house, and Sheng Yunrong took Lu Yi straight to the garden. At this time, the garden was in a mess, and Sheng Yunrong couldn't help feeling guilty. She looked at Lu Yi, and a trace of apology flashed in her eyes.
Lu Yi smiled and said, "Miss Sheng, don't feel guilty. As long as I can prove my innocence, these are nothing."
Sheng Yunrong nodded, and the four of them began to look for Li Ming in the garden. Sheng Yunrong said, "Li Ming, come out, I have something to ask you."
After a while, a middle-aged man came out from the corner. It was Li Ming. When he saw Lu Yi, his face suddenly turned horrified.
Sheng Yunrong looked at Li Ming coldly and said, "Li Ming, why do you want to wrongly accuse Lu Yi?"
Li Ming was so scared that his legs went limp. He fell to his knees and said, "Miss Sheng, I...I was wrong. That night, I did see Lu Yi in the garden, but I didn't see him approach the treasure. I was forced to say this by the housekeeper of the Sheng Mansion, otherwise they would kill me."
Sheng Yunrong and Pei Jinxiao looked at each other, and both of them understood the truth of the matter. Sheng Yunrong said, "If that's the case, then tell us who stole the treasure that night."
Li Ming hesitated for a moment and said, "It was the steward of the Sheng Mansion. He instructed me to wrongly accuse Lu Yi."
Sheng Yunrong sneered and said, "Okay, let's go find the housekeeper now."
The four of them came to the housekeeper's office of the Sheng Mansion, and Sheng Yunrong asked, "Housekeeper, why did you wrongly accuse Lu Yi?"
The housekeeper was so frightened that his face turned pale. He said, "Miss Sheng, I...I was wrong. I deliberately framed Lu Yi because I was jealous of him."
Sheng Yunrong looked at the housekeeper coldly and said, "Do you think you can get what you want by doing this?"
The housekeeper shook his head and said, "I know I was wrong. I beg Miss Sheng to forgive me."
Sheng Yunrong said: "I can forgive you, but you have to pay the price."
The butler nodded quickly and said, "I am willing to pay any price."
Sheng Yunrong said: "Then go and die."
The housekeeper stared at Sheng Yunrong with eyes wide open, looking at her in disbelief. Sheng Yunrong said coldly: "Since you dare to frame an innocent person, you should be punished. Pei Jinxiao, do it."
Pei Jinxiao responded and chopped off the butler's head with a sword, and the butler's head rolled to the ground. Sheng Yunrong looked at this scene and couldn't help but sigh. She looked at Lu Yi and said, "Lu Yi, your innocence has been proven, you can go."
Lu Yi shook his head and said, "Miss Sheng, I won't leave. I want to stay in the Sheng Mansion and seek justice for those who have been wronged."
Sheng Yunrong looked at Lu Yi with a hint of admiration in her eyes. She knew that there was one more honest and kind person in the world. She smiled and said, "Okay, then let's work together to seek justice for the innocent."
…
The tunnel was winding and led to more than one place. Sheng Yunrong, carrying her bag, followed Xiang Zhu and a caravan heading to the border to do business. They passed through the tunnel and came to a vast desert.
Sheng Yunrong looked at the endless desert in front of her, with a hint of determination in her eyes. She turned to Xiang Zhu and said, "Xiang Zhu, it will take us a long time to reach the border, you have to be mentally prepared."
Xiang Zhu looked at Sheng Yunrong with worry in her eyes. She bit her lower lip and said, "Miss, I will follow you, no matter how many difficulties and obstacles there are ahead."
The caravan traveled through the desert, with scorching sun during the day and biting cold wind at night. Sheng Yunrong and Xiang Zhu both looked a little tired, but they gritted their teeth and persevered.
One night, Sheng Yunrong and Xiang Zhu were sitting by the fire, eating dry food. Sheng Yunrong looked at Xiang Zhu and found that her face was full of fatigue. She couldn't help but say distressedly: "Xiang Zhu, you have worked hard."
Xiang Zhu smiled slightly and said, "Miss, I am not tired. As long as I can follow you, I will be satisfied."
Sheng Yunrong looked at Xiang Zhu with emotion, and a warm feeling surged in her heart.