Chapter 533: Appealing to Emotion
Mu Yan found it difficult to sit still, so he walked up to his nephew, bent down to his level, and tried to persuade him kindly.
"Fengzhe, don't listen to her nonsense."
"Before you left the palace, I took out all my savings and gave them all to you. Have you forgotten so quickly? That was a hard-earned reward from my aunt. Even my aunt herself was reluctant to spend it."
"I love you because you are our family, our flesh and blood, and we cannot abandon you."
She couldn't hold back her tears, which fell gracefully.
"Didn't you say that you would never leave your aunt?"
He Shu stretched out her arms and hands to protect Feng Zhe.
"The Imperial Concubine has a noble aura, and it is unrealistic to pretend to be pitiful."
"If you hadn't met me and wanted to befriend Fengzhe, would you have been so kind? Please forgive me for speaking frankly, but this is an attempt to curry favor with you in advance and a plot. How can there be any affection?"
Mu Yan didn't want to pay attention to outsiders and focused on persuading Feng Zhe.
"You have been loved by your aunt since you were a child, and you have been cherished by the Mu family. Don't you remember? The whole family cares about you. You are your aunt's life. If you leave, how can I live?"
Being ignored by her, He Shu was displeased and tried to find words to divert her attention.
"If your Majesty has anything to say, just come to me. Please don't hurt Fengzhe."
Mu Yan was instantly angered by her.
"I appealed to your emotions, how can there be any harm?"
He Shu took advantage of the situation to plan to win back her beloved son.
"Letting your brother-in-law favor his concubine over his wife and ignore Fengzhe, isn't this hurtful?"
When Mu Yan first heard it, she didn't believe it at all.
"What do you mean by favoring a concubine and destroying a wife? That's nonsense!"
The imperial concubine stood up, and He Shu could not sit down either. While speaking, she slowly left her seat.
"Mr. Ning's affair has long been known to the world. How could the Imperial Concubine be ignorant of it? She is just pretending to be ignorant and watching from the sidelines."
Mu Yan heard the truth and was suddenly shocked.
"Does the whole world know?"
He Shu intentionally or unintentionally tried to sow discord between them.
"The Imperial Concubine is cold and heartless now, just like when Fengzhe was trapped in Xingliang, she did not rescue him at all and pretended that she could not rescue him, not caring about his life at all."
"Was this done by a relative?"
"It's obvious that Bong Chul is not your family."
Mu Yan couldn't stand any slander and refuted it loudly.
"What do you know? How do you know we didn't help?"
"What have we done that you would ever hear?"
She said nothing more, but turned to her nephew again, tears in her eyes, and spoke with deep emotion.
"Fengzhe, now that things have come to this, can't you forgive us? I have never lied to you. We really tried our best to save you. Later, the rumors that helped you get out of trouble were indeed caused by your mother."
When talking about the heart-breaking things, Ning Fengzhe looked sad and lowered his eyes in regret.
"I have not heard of the rest, so I cannot judge. But I know clearly that the rumors were not spread by my mother."
Mu Yan pointed at He Shu with his spear, suddenly furious.
"How can you be so clear? How can you make such a rash conclusion? This is just another piece of nonsense from her, right?"
"Forget everything she said and listen to me carefully."
She was so angry and sad that she gnashed her teeth and beat her heart, almost bursting into tears.
"You were trapped in Xingliang for nearly a year. During this time, we used countless strategies and tried many methods. Even if the results were all failures, you can't deny our family relationship. During that time, we did nothing but just wanted to rescue you."
"When you came back and saw me, didn't you say, 'Can you see how thin I am?'"
Touching the true feelings in his heart, Ning Fengzhe's pupils trembled, and a hint of sadness rippled across their eyes.
Seeing that he was somewhat moved, He Shu took a step forward and carefully protected him behind her.
"The one who is talking nonsense is obviously you."
"Fengzhe is not the biological son of Lord Ning and his wife, so how can there be any kinship between you two? You lied to me and took it seriously. You are the most ridiculous person in the world."
"Perhaps, the Second Young Master Ning and the Third Young Lady Ning are not the biological children of Lord Ning and his wife. Madam Ning has never given birth to a child. Otherwise, why would Lord Ning favor his concubine over his wife?"
Mu Yan was furious as both his beloved sister and nephew were slandered and started roaring.
"If you dare to talk nonsense again, I will report to the emperor and have your tongue ripped out!"
"My brother-in-law loves my sister deeply, and this is known to everyone. When they got married, how many people envied them? You come here with this fallacy to ridicule me, but you won't achieve your goal, and I will laugh at you instead."
He Shu smiled leisurely, not moved at all.
"You favored me and killed my wife. What's the truth? Your Majesty, you can check it out before you laugh at me."
The corners of her mouth were raised, but her words were full of melancholy and frustration. The contrast was sharp and ironic.
"I respectfully remind you, Your Majesty, to take the soothing medicine first, and then ask for the result. Otherwise, if you die of anger, I will cry every day and feel miserable. Please, for the sake of our sisterhood, don't make me so sad, okay?"
Not wanting to be laughed at by her, Mu Yan pretended to be calm and indifferent.
"This is ridiculous. I don't need to verify it."
"Fengzhe stays, you can leave now."
Ning Fengzhe's small hands tightly grasped He Shu's arms through her sleeves.
"I don't want to leave Empress Xiuyuan."
Mu Yan frowned and glared.
"Fengzhe, don't be willful!"
Ning Fengzhe manipulated his words and dealt a heavy blow to Mu Yan.
"The Imperial Concubine is very vicious. I am afraid my life will be in danger if I stay here. Please allow me to leave."
Mu Yan was so angry that he felt dizzy. He held his forehead and sat down nearby.
"Come here, lock him up in the side hall and let him reflect on his mistakes."
He Shu stopped the palace maid and carefully protected Fengzhe.
"What did Fengzhe do wrong? Why should the Imperial Concubine punish him? Even if he did something wrong, it should be handed over to Yin Sitai for punishment."
"The palace has its own rules and laws. If Your Majesty wants to punish the person on your own, please get the emperor's permission first, and then go to the main hall of the Mengxuan Palace to ask for the person."
Seeing that she cared for Fengzhe sincerely, Mu Yan still couldn't believe it.
"He Shu, face the reality, he is my nephew!"
"You miss your son so much that you're actually competing with my sister for him?"
"If you are sick, please call the imperial physician to see you. How can you make trouble in my palace?"
He Shu is still full of confidence.
"I am fine, thank you for your concern."
"My concubine and I respectfully bow and take our leave."
After the ceremony, she protected Fengzhe and swaggered out of Zhaoyi Palace.
Mu Yan was unable to stand up and stop him, nor did she have the power to force him to stay. She could only watch Feng Zhe walk away.
Xianglu hurried forward to show concern.
"Are you feeling unwell, Madam?"
"Would you like to see the imperial physician to check your pulse?"
Mu Yan shook her head slightly.
"Need not."
"I will be able to recover my strength after a short rest."
"Go outside the palace and ask if it is true that Ning Hanwang favored his concubine and killed his wife. You must find out everything and don't be lazy."
Xianglu responded respectfully.
"Yes, slaves obey."
After Xianglu left, Mu Yan lay on the couch and took a short nap.
After a while, the sound of fragrant footsteps was heard hurriedly. Mu Yan was half awake, so he opened his eyes and stood up.
"how?"
Xianglu was unhappy.
"Reporting to Her Majesty, it is indeed as Her Majesty Xiuyuan said..."
Mu Yan was furious.
"To hurt my beloved sister and nephew and damage my reputation, Ning Hanwang, how can you do this?!"
"Tell him to come see me immediately without having to bathe or change clothes!"