Chapter 61 Is it difficult or not?
Liu Qi had just been pressured by Jin Fangjun Mu Zhen two days ago, so he was well aware of the situation. However, not knowing Mu Xi's intentions, he had to first give an official answer: "There is a mother and daughter from the Cao family in custody. However, Cao Qinshi's sentence has already been handed down. The King had already executed her the day before yesterday. Cao's daughter was convicted of stealing valuable items from her master's household, which is a serious crime. She has refused to confess and the case has not yet been closed."
"Today I will clear Cao Pan'er's case and take her out." Mu Xi was not yet familiar with the rules of this world and could not speak in official jargon, so he could only speak directly.
Liu Qi stroked his goatee: "This... how does the Crown Prince intend to close the case?"
"Didn't you say that Cao Pan'er stole the master's things? I am the master, and now I'm testifying that she didn't steal them. Wouldn't that close the case?" Mu Xi knew that things wouldn't be that simple, but she wanted to make complicated matters simple today.
Liu Qi glanced around, then lowered his voice, feigning mystery: "Your Highness, may I speak to you in private?"
Mu Xi nodded, feigning reluctance.
Liu Qi raised his hand in a gesture of invitation: "Your Highness, please have some tea in the side hall first."
Mu Xi was exhausted, so she gave herself a chance to rest and followed them.
She was always followed by a group of people, and she wasn't afraid that Liu Qi would play any tricks.
Upon arriving at the side hall, Liu Qi served tea and dismissed the servants: "Since Your Highness has come from the Jin Fangjun residence, you should know that the Cao woman was personally escorted by your steward..."
Mu Xi took a sip of tea and, without waiting for Liu Qi to finish speaking, raised her hand to stop him: "Lord Liu, let's not beat around the bush. I'm afraid you know more about Cao Pan'er's matter than I do. But no matter what, it's ultimately my family matter. Bringing it to the Court of Justice would only make us a laughingstock. Therefore, I'm here today to take Cao Pan'er back, and that will close the case. Wouldn't that also help you solve a case, Lord Liu?"
"This..." Liu Qi finally understood the intention.
Snap—
Mu Xi slammed the wooden brocade box on the table, opened the lid, and revealed a box full of gold leaves: "Lord Liu, no matter what valuable things Cao Pan'er is accused of stealing, the contents of these boxes should be enough to offset it. As long as Lord Liu is willing to drop the case immediately, the rest will be yours."
Liu Qi's dim old eyes suddenly lit up, but he still dared not reach out: "But... this case was personally reported by your esteemed third young master..."
Mu Xi raised an eyebrow: "Does Lord Liu think that I, the heir of the Jin Fangjun Mansion, am inferior to the Third Young Master?"
"No, no, no... How could that be? I had no such intention." Liu Qishan quickly waved his hand, but then changed the subject, "Why must Your Highness make things difficult for me? In the end, Lady Cao is just a servant of your household. How to deal with her is not up to the Court of Justice. But the person who reported her is the Third Young Master, who is also your brother, isn't he? Why don't you two brothers discuss this together? As long as the aggrieved party comes in person to drop the case, then I..."
"The aggrieved party? Since this is a matter concerning Jin Fangjun's family, then I am the one with the grievances. I'm here today to close the case, aren't I?" Mu Xi was determined to gloss over the matter and be nice to everyone.
Liu Qi was not easily fooled: "You...you and Cao Pan'er...Cao Pan'er had already...already...before she went to prison, could it be..."
Mu Xi knew that her visit today would inevitably involve gossip, but she didn't care: "I know that Cao Pan'er has been in the Court of Justice for six months, but is already eight months pregnant. So, does Lord Liu intend to delay any longer? Cao Pan'er is about to give birth. She is a servant of the Jun family, and the child she gives birth to will naturally be the property of the Jun family. If she gives birth in the Court of Justice prison and unfortunately dies along with her unborn child, how will Lord Liu explain that?"
Liu Qi was unwilling to get involved in such matters. He was not sure he could gain much benefit, but he would only cause trouble. However, he did not want to offend either side: "What the young master says is true. If the aggrieved party cannot come to close the case in person, but the servant's family can come to redeem her, I can explain it to them."
Adhering to the principle of being easy to talk to and negotiate, Mu Xi kept her temper in check: "Cao Pan'er's family? Wasn't Cao Pan'er's family sentenced to immediate execution by Lord Liu the day before yesterday? Is Lord Liu trying to make things difficult for me, or is he deliberately making things difficult for the Cao family mother and daughter, wanting to wipe them out completely?"
Liu Qi maintained a pitiful expression: "This... Your Highness... What grudge has this humble official held against these orphans and widows? It's all because your household has been plagued by a series of thefts, assassinations, and vendettas..."
Mu Xi backed down again: "Lord Liu, I'd like to have a proper discussion with you now, but if you don't release Cao Pan'er today, and she and her unborn child die one day, then even if I wanted to make peace with you again, it would be against all reason and morality."
"This..." Liu Qi hesitated because he was worried about the Gao family and the Gao clan behind the Third Young Master.
Despite using both soft and hard tactics, it still didn't work.
Mu Xi couldn't afford to waste any more time, so she stood up and said, "I know Lord Liu is in a difficult position. In order to avoid making things difficult for Lord Liu, why don't I make things difficult for him a little more and do something to help him make an appearance, so that I can have an explanation."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mu Xi ordered the four bodyguards who had followed him: "Men, seize Lord Liu."
"It's been set up?" Liu Qi still didn't understand what that meant.
The four bodyguards who had been guarding the side hall entrance rushed in and surrounded Liu Qi.
Liu Qi's eyes widened: "Your Highness, are you going to tie me up..."
"Hey... Lord Liu, please don't misunderstand." Mu Xi picked up the wooden box containing the gold leaves and shoved it into Liu Qi's arms to shut him up. She then instructed her attendants, "Support Lord Liu so that he won't be too heavy to walk."
Liu Qi's goatee trembled as he still couldn't react: "Although... this is tantamount to holding this official hostage..."
"How can you call it kidnapping?" Mu Xi beckoned and took out an official seal from a wooden box held by Tao'er. "The seal of Prince Jin Fang is here. Since Prince Jin Fang was able to instigate Lord Liu the day before yesterday, why can't I, Prince Jin Fang, do the same?"
"That was...that was Your Majesty's decree, and I was simply following orders." Liu Qi remained clear-headed.
The crown prince's seal has no practical use; at most, it's a symbol of status, used to intimidate people in crucial moments.
Mu Xi couldn't fool him no matter what she did, so she had to hold the imperial seal high above Liu Qi's head: "Lord Liu, no matter how much I plead with you, you won't listen. So guess how many times this seal can hit your head?"
"What?" Liu Qi was completely taken aback and couldn't react at all.
The Crown Prince's seal is made of solid copper with a thin layer of gold plating. It feels like a brick in your hand, and if you hit it with even the weakest force, it can crack your head open.
Mu Xi smiled warmly: "If Lord Liu does not agree, I will just use the imperial seal to crack open Lord Liu's head. But I guarantee that Lord Liu will not be in any danger. However, if this matter gets out, I will say that Lord Liu did not trust my identity and disrespected and insulted the golden seal bestowed upon the Crown Prince by the King. In the process of the dispute, I accidentally hit Lord Liu's head."
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