Chapter 56 Truly Weak and Exhausted
Upon recognizing the person, I felt a sudden dizziness and almost fell over.
Thankfully, Tao'er, who followed behind, supported him: "Young Master, slow down, you are still recovering from your serious injuries."
Mu Xi felt a sharp pain in her chest, and she was so short of breath that she couldn't speak.
All that remained was a self-deprecating laugh: "Heh, this is good. One of the personas Jin Fangjun Muzhen arranged for the original owner to avoid suspicion was that she was frail and sickly. Now, she doesn't need to pretend to be frail and sickly anymore. She is truly weak and sickly."
Mu Xi was on the verge of tears, while Lian Qiao, though discovered, did not panic or try to escape. Instead, she huddled to one side, scattering her petals haphazardly, as if afraid of being discovered by others.
Mu Xi ran out of strength after making a slight movement, and out of the corner of her eye she noticed Lian Qiao's hesitant expression, so she said, "Come in with me."
Lianqiao lowered her head and obediently followed.
Mu Xi turned back into the house, first sitting down slowly in the main hall, and then having Tao'er stand guard outside.
Once she had caught her breath, she asked, "Is there anything else you need to say about Granny Cao and her daughter?"
Lian Qiao twisted her fingers around her clothes, still hesitant to speak.
Mu Xi couldn't stand people dawdling like this, and given how weak she had been just now, she couldn't help but speak sharply: "Just say what you have to say. If you don't want to say anything at all, what were you doing sneaking around outside just now?"
Lian Qiao was so frightened that she knelt down with a thud: "Young Master, please have pity on Granny Cao."
"What happened again?" Mu Xi had been asking Mu Xun every day for days, but she hadn't heard any progress from Mu Xun.
As soon as Lian Qiao opened her mouth, she spilled everything: "Your Highness, I just heard that Granny Cao has been sentenced to immediate execution in three days."
"Ah..." Mu Xi was startled, and her breathing became rapid again after it had just calmed down.
How could it be so fast?
It would have been better if this matter hadn't been handled at all; why did Mu Xun make it worse?
Meanwhile, there was still no movement from Cao Pan'er's side.
Her mind went blank for a moment, and then she began to wonder if Mu Xun had been just giving her the runaround these past few days.
Thinking of this, Mu Xi asked again, "How did you find out about this?"
Lian Qiao replied, "This servant heard people in the manor talking about it in private. I heard that the notice from the Court of Justice has been posted, and now everyone in the entire Moyang City knows about it, including everyone in the manor. Everyone is talking about it in private."
"You heard it? You came to me immediately after hearing it?" Mu Xi suspected Lian Qiao's motives and didn't want to be used by someone for no reason in a moment of impulsiveness.
In fact, Lian Qiao was someone from Mu Xun's courtyard. Last time, she could be said to have been asked to deliver a message for Granny Cao, and she had no choice but to do so. But what about now?
Lian Qiao understood the implication of the question and kowtowed to the ground, saying, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I didn't mean it, but... but..."
"Just say what you have to say." Since her serious injury, Mu Xi has been greatly weakened and has little energy left to distinguish whether someone is putting on an act or being genuine.
Lian Qiao had no choice but to confess: "I just heard those people say that the reason why Granny Cao was sentenced to immediate execution so quickly is because... because the Lord personally went to the Court of Justice to settle this matter quickly for the sake of the Lord's family's reputation."
"Huh?" Mu Xi was surprised again.
Lian Qiao added, "Since I have been entrusted by Granny Cao, I thought... I thought... Sister Pan'er has not yet been rescued, and Granny Cao has passed away. It would be such a pity if the mother and daughter could not even see each other one last time."
"Do you know why Granny Cao turned herself in?" Mu Xi had already raised this question when she first met Lian Qiao, and now that it was the second time, she had to be even more cautious.
Lian Qiao realized that she had talked too much and was so frightened that she quickly kowtowed again: "Young Master, please don't be angry. I don't know anything. I usually just relay messages between the Second Young Master and Granny Cao. The Second Young Master and Granny Cao have treated me well. I have no ulterior motives, no ulterior motives."
"Even if you know, so what? I see that you are loyal and devoted to Granny Cao and her daughter. As long as you remain loyal, I will protect you." Mu Xi didn't reveal her true feelings, but asked again, "Do you have anything else to say?"
Lian Qiao was already terrified and couldn't think of anything else. She hurriedly shook her head and said, "No, no."
"Then you may leave. I have my own plans regarding the matter of Granny Cao and her daughter." Mu Xi dismissed Lian Qiao.
As soon as Lianqiao went out, Tao'er came in.
Mu Xi directly instructed, "When the Second Young Master returns, have him come to see me immediately."
"Yes." Tao'er clearly noticed that Mu Xi's expression was off, so she didn't dare to ask any more questions.
After saying only a few words, Mu Xi felt weak and slowly got up to return to her inner room.
It's likely that for a long time to come, her body will remain in this weak and frail state.
Even so, there was no choice but to tough it out.
First, make sure you're well-rested so you'll have the energy to question Mu Xun when he returns.
Mu Xun returned to the manor in the evening.
Mu Xi had the kitchen bring dinner to the inner room, inviting Mu Xun to eat while they discussed matters.
Mu Xun did not refuse and changed his clothes before attending the banquet.
These days, Mu Xun has been leaving early and returning late.
Mu Xi felt somewhat guilty; she was the one who gave the order, but Mu Xun was the one who actually carried it out.
So, I first showed my attitude and put on a warm smile: "You must be tired after a busy day. I specially asked Tao'er to make these dishes that you like."
Mu Xun nodded without being polite, but seeing Bao Fan devour all the food, he couldn't help but frown: "Aren't you afraid of overeating if you eat like this all the time?"
Bao Fan is now familiar with everyone around Mu Xi. Before he could even swallow his food, he uttered four words: "Your Highness eats too little."
Mu Xi leaned against the bed, not having much energy to eat with Mu Xun at the same table. She only had Tao'er serve her two delicious side dishes, and after eating a couple of bites of chicken porridge, she was full.
Mu Xun took a couple of bites of food, but didn't seem to have much of an appetite, and then put down her chopsticks.
So Mu Xi dismissed everyone else and then asked impatiently, "You must have something important to tell me today, right?"
Mu Xun's expression remained unchanged, as gentle as ever: "It seems you've already heard about it."
“That’s right, and I also heard that Father personally arranged for Granny Cao’s execution.” Mu Xi grew angrier the more she thought about it during the afternoon of waiting.
But she didn't intend to ask Jin Fangjun Muzhen.
Asking will definitely not yield any results and will only damage the relationship between the two.
The only option is to target Mu Xun.
Mu Xun did not deny it: "Indeed, but Father has his reasons. Dragging this matter out will not benefit anyone. Since Madam Cao Qin has taken the initiative to step forward, we should not let her down. Why not close the case here and let the Han family matter pass as soon as possible? This would also appease the West Courtyard."
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